From Rev'd Tom

Dear Friends,

Welcome to March everyone. March seems like a pivotal month. Winter is drawing to a close, the daffodils make their appearance, the hedgerows start to wake up and the first day of Spring is on the 19th.

On the 5th of March, the season of Lent begins with Ash Wednesday and so we travel along the well-trodden path, through Lent, through Holy Week to the joy of the risen Christ on Easter Sunday. For Christians this is the most profound time of year, a time of reflection, a time to think about where we have gone wrong and to commit to positive change.

For 2000 years we have done this and there is a sense of connection right back to those events in Jerusalem at the time when Christ walked the earth. We are also connected, I think, to all those people who have worshipped in our churches through past generations as well as those in the world today. I find a great comfort from that sense of continuity and remain very grateful for being a part of that.

However, much of the world does seem to be in turmoil: politically, socially, economically and environmentally to name just a few. We hear of conflicts around the world which can make us fearful and anxious not only for those directly affected but for ourselves as we worry for the future. But that does not mean that there is nothing that we can do though, we help where we can, be good to those that we meet and look for ways to serve the wider good.

To help me discern how to do this I often pray the Serenity Prayer. I hope that it helps you too.

The Serenity Prayer

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change;  

courage to change the things I can;                                                                                                                                                                      

and wisdom to know the difference.                                                                                                                                                              

Amen.

God bless, Tom