Last month we looked back to give thanks for the past year and to look forward to the year to come and reflect on what God might be asking of us. At the Midnight Service, Shemil our curate, shared the news that for him the future was in his new appointment as the chaplain for the Oxford Brookes University. This means he will be leaving us on 12th March which is much earlier than anticipated, but we pray that God will bless him in this new service for the kingdom in the coming years. More details of Shemil’s leaving will appear in next month’s news letters.
For the parishes, life will go on much as usual. In March we will start our preparations for Easter with our Lenten observances. Lent has traditionally been a time of self examination, prayer and preparation. In our parishes we will be holding our Lent Cuppa and Chat or Bible study groups, where we explore, share and encourage each other in our faith. These groups are for everybody, you cannot know too much or too little, you don’t have to have come before or to know your bible, everybody will find a warm welcome. If you have any questions this is a place to start looking for answers.
As part of my preparation I have been given a book called Dethroning Mammon written by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby. ISBN 978-1-4729-2977-8 I haven’t read it all yet, but the first couple of chapters have already started to raise a few questions. In the book Justin, who had a career in industry, reflects on the role that money and wealth has on our world images. He reflects that we give value to those things that we can see. That the people that we see around us we value more than those we don’t know on the other side of the world. One of the phrases that struck me was a quote from archbishop Helder Camara who said, “when I feed the poor they call me a saint; when I ask why they are poor, they call me a communist”. The quote reflects the difference between the seen and unseen. Justin reflects that we need to see the world through Jesus’ eyes to value people and things as Jesus does.
Justin then goes on to suggest that we value what we can measure. That if we can measure a person’s wealth, then we value them, and further more he suggests that what we can measure then can control us. He looks at the power of economics and our financial system and the way that our lives become controlled by this. Inflation, depression, sales figures, profit, loss, living wage, interest rates, the best deals, Martin’s bargins… This can be quite a challenging thought and certainly gives me something to think about.
This is also the time of year when we begin to think about the structure of the church, namely the PCC or Parochial Church Council. These are elected members of the church congregations who have a role in running the church with the church wardens. PCC members serve for three years and church wardens are elected on an annual basis. For the correct running of the church these structures need 2 churchwardens’ and six PCC members. These members will be elected in March and April, but now is a good time to think who do you want to represent you in the coming year, or maybe could you be the representative for others? What value do we put on service, those who have served us and what value serving others brings?
Mark’s Gospel chapter 10 verses 43-45
Jesus said, “whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Charity Soups
Do you have a charity you support? Do you like home soup making? Would you like to put the two together? During Lent (March and April) on Friday lunch times at the Reading rooms in Croughton. Various people are offering home made soups and bread with tea/coffee and sharing any money made between the Reading Room (now with its new heating system) and the charity of their choice. If this sounds like you then come and talk to rev Simon for more details. If you just want to enjoy a good home cooked meal come along and eat. Fridays in Lent 12:30-1:30pm.