2022 Area Letter for December from one of the Area Staff Team; How quickly time moves on! The last Area Letter I wrote, was in February, right at the end of the Christmas season as we celebrated Candlemas. Yet here we are in this Advent Season, preparing for another Christmas! It is Autumn going on Winter, with long days of darkness, of chill and of putting on thicker clothes and coats to keep us warm. The central heating is on and fires lit to cheer us! But who doesn’t like taking a walk, kicking the fallen leaves, underfoot!? However, I don’t like these dark chilly deary days, much preferring the long warm days of summer light and colour. In the darkness of this season, we can become a little gloomy in ourselves too. Gloomy not just because of the dark dreary days, but also because of what’s happening both in our own lives and in the world; of all the events taking place and of the precarious economic outlook, making us think of what we can or cannot afford, especially in this season of excess. We cannot but be affected by circumstances, both near and far. These can test our resolve and our faith. Of course, all this is nothing new; with the exception of climate change, much of what is happening around the world has happened before in one way or another. All these things can be a real distraction for us making our Advent preparations and celebrating once again the coming of God into his world on that first Christmas Day. It can be difficult to reconcile all this, with what’s going on. Thankfully God knows what he is doing! It is no mistake that God comes to be with us, in the form of a helpless poor baby. The scriptures describe him as Emmanuel (God with us) who comes at the darkest time of the year. It is this helpless baby, who came to bring light, life, healing and wholeness to all the dark places of the world and to our lives. It is precisely because of this, that in whatever circumstance we may find ourselves, we can and should rejoice in God’s wonderful gift to us in his Son Jesus Christ. Christmas is a time to remember, to give thanks, as well as to give and to receive, and to celebrate in the most special and precious ways with those we love and those around us. We are called to be that light shining for Christ. To be that special gift to all whom we meet. I do like that Christmas is a celebration of the ‘Light of the World’ coming among us, to be with us, to experience what we experience, bringing hope for today and tomorrow; God’s love shining in the darkness. Yes, it is a season of excess, but rather than material excess, it is a celebration of an excess of love, freely given to all who put their trust in Jesus, the light of the world. May He be your light, your love, joy, peace and your hope as you journey on. Blessings and peace Charles Rev Charles Dale, minister with PTO across the Area.
Area Letter from one of the Area Staff Team – November 2022 Dear friends, Every year in November, the village in which I lived as a child, held a firework party on the community playing fields. We would all wrap up warm in woolly hats, scarves and mittens (I remember it being much colder back then!) and drink tomato soup from polystyrene cups. Then, we would watch the huge bonfire and feel its heat before the highlight of the night, the firework display. In reality, I’m sure the rockets and roman candles weren’t very impressive, but they were enough to spark in me a lifelong love of fireworks and bonfire night. I have been to many 5th November firework displays since but none quite compares to the live, silent, extravaganza of whizzes and bangs on the breakfast Radio Two program of the late, wonderful, Sir Terry Wogan. Perhaps you remember it too? He would describe passionately every sparkle, flash and tumbling cascade of colour going through his head. In an article for the Telegraph in 2011 reflecting on the shows Wogan commented “There were begrudgers who complained about the lack of parking and toilet facilities, and burnt-out fireworks on the carpet around the radio, but I like to think that there are some who remember, with a sigh, the solace of fireworks on the wireless”. Funny, the things we remember! The Christian faith is a “remembering” faith. Every week as we break bread and drink wine together we follow Jesus instruction to “do this in remembrance of me.” (Luke 22:19) We remember that God has made himself near to us. And in November we add to our remembering. From All Saints Day (1st Nov) to the first Sunday of Advent (27th Nov) we look back over our history as Christians and as a country and reflect on the lessons the past can teach us. We are inspired by the lives of the saints and humbled by the sacrifice of those who gave their lives that we might be free. More specifically, our annual “Remembering Services” this year sneaking into some churches on October 30th may give us the space to bring our memories of those we love that have died, to God. In the longer hours of darkness and in the absence of the sun’s warmth we have a place to stop, light a candle, wrap up warm and remember. Our Remembrance Day Sunday services on November 13th might also hold more poignancy this year as we remember back to the pageantry displayed by our Armed Services during our late Queen’s funeral parades. Remembering is so important and what better way than to remember with others. God our Father As we remember those who have gone before us this November Give us the comfort of knowing that they have gone only as far as you and you are very near. Amen Yours, Jules Rev Jules Walker, Interim Team Vicar, Uttoxeter Area of Parishes.
It has been an amazing summer of sport; with the England ladies’ football team winning the European Championship, and the fantastic events of the Commonwealth Games. If you have been following all of this, then you will recognise the sense of joy and elation the various successes have given us. Being aware of the nation urging on the Lionesses and kicking every ball, swimming every stroke with Adam Peaty probably in the whole of Uttoxeter and beyond, we realise it is a collective feeling that we are joining in. There is no other euphoria quite like that of winning, of fulfilling what was set out to be achieved, whether that is on a personal level, as a group, or vicariously through others with whom we associate. When I was studying for a basic managerial certificate many years ago, we were looking at beliefs, and the tutor asked what we believe in. One student said, “I believe in Sport for All” (which was quite the jingle back in the 90’s). Unfortunately, I am not an actively sporting person; I am not built for sport – basically I do not have the physical flexibility for such games as cricket (ask anyone who has seen me try to bowl), or golf, or tennis, or any field sports. At a majestic ‘five foot five and a half’ I stand no chance in the air competing for a football. So, I am a supporter. But even as such, success and winning can be very thin. My football team is from the lower divisions (Tranmere Rovers), and they seem to spend more time being average to poor than lifting the silverware! Disappointment, failure, lack of success can all be very disheartening; and not just in sporting terms, this is keenly felt in all aspects of life – including church, and our own personal journey of faith. In Hebrews, Saint Paul speaks of running the race with perseverance, of fixing our eyes on Jesus. Instant success in any endeavour is never guaranteed, but we live in a society that places great store on achieving such as celebrity status through X-factor, The Apprentice, and the like. Euro-millions, the postcode lottery, and gambling adverts draw the unwary into thinking life-changing amounts are there for the taking, at the spin of a wheel. As people of faith, are we too being drawn into thinking there is a formula for instant success, of filling our churches overnight? Ultimately, our faith is not a spectator sport, we are called to be active participants in growing the kingdom. Sometimes this can seem most daunting, that is why Paul’s words of encouragement are so heartening. “Persevere”, he says. We persevere by focussing on Jesus, setting aside the disappointments and inabilities that we may experience on the road, rather gaining momentum through what we can do. And for many of us, I imagine, it may not be the big things that will make a difference. Jesus engaged with people by walking alongside them, by having time for them. During interviews reflecting on the legacy of the Games in Birmingham, a recurring theme was that of welcome, inclusivity, and friendliness. Not so much the Bull in Centenary Square, the new stadium, the opening and closing events, but the warmth and love people experienced. The most basic of human needs is to feel loved and special, to be a part of something larger (perhaps even indefinable), something which speaks to our inner being. Giving of our time for others, no matter how much it seems to intrude on the business of our lives, is a beautiful way to offer this hospitality to all those we meet, and it can be one of the greatest expressions of God’s love. What was my answer to the question “what do you believe in?” – that Jesus Christ is alive and at work in the world today. Every Blessing, John.Rev John Lander, self-supporting minister, Uttoxeter Area of Parishes (Bramshall)
I don’t know what you associate August with. For me it’s usually a month of relaxation, anticipation, hope and anxiety. Plans often come to fruition in August, with a holiday and household jobs on the to-do list and the simple pleasure of enjoying the carefully planned and nurtured fruit and vegetables from the garden. However, already some of that is not as expected- one particularly kamikaze bird has got under netting to strip the redcurrants off the bush! For those awaiting exam results it’s a time of anxiety and hope, dreaded and wanted in equal measure. A time when the future might head in the anticipated direction or be jumped onto a different path. For parents and grandparents, the school summer holidays are here - inspiration, energy, and patience may be the order of the day. When things go as we expect, the day goes well and life is easy. However, not every day and every task turn out as expected. Even if we’ve willingly said “yes” to undertaking something we may not find it is how we anticipated it. At these point, turning to God for support and trusting in a plan unseen for all of us is not usually our first line of thinking – mine is usually panic and stress first and prayer later, if I’m honest! But I am trying hard to change this. I’ve spent two years on a steep learning curve on the Reader training course with a group of nine others from across Lichfield Diocese. Our backgrounds and churches are very mixed, but we’ve really got on well and learnt much from one another’s approaches to challenge. We have all stepped out of our comfort zones knowing we felt God calling us to this vocation but often feeling at sea in the reality of the things we were being faced with. Like those leaving school or jobs, we’ve needed to trust our instincts and the advice of others. This has guided us through taking each task gradually, climbing step by step. Hope remained at each frustrating point of confusion although anxiety often clouded the way forwards. Fittingly, one of last assignments had us investigating Joseph (singing the musical through was not enough unfortunately!). His story is in Genesis chapters 37-50 and is remarkably modern in its themes and relationship problems. The basic Andrew Lloyd-Weber storyline holds up well. Joseph’s life sees highs and lows as he is favoured by his father, left for dead in a well by his brothers, sold into slavery, found to be a brilliant dream interpreter and ultimately (with a few more twists) ends up vizier of Egypt. Surely, he could not have anticipated any of this. Life must have been full of anxiety; plans made and shattered; hope bubbling up at times as he tried to find a way out of his situation to live as he wanted; and then unexpected success. God had a plan. Joseph complied by trusting and doing his best even though initially he does not seem to have acknowledged God there with him. God has the big picture but trusting we have a place in it, and he has a plan for us, is hard. Perhaps next time you feel you’re being taken out of your comfort zone, trust your instincts and other’s perceptions of you and have a go. Life is full of new beginnings and unexpected challenges, but you can be sure who you face them with. Have a good August. Stephanie Goodwin Reader-in-training, Uttoxeter Area of Parishes
