My friends,As I write it is a rather damp, blustery, grey summer’s day, but off in the distance I spy a little patch of beautiful blue sky and the sun peeking around the clouds. I don’t know about you but I find it difficult to know what to wear while the weather is so higgledy-piggledy, big warm coat or shorts and t-shirt.The climate puts me in mind of the story Aesop told of the Sun and the North Wind who were having an argument about who was most powerful. They noticed a man walking along in his big winter coat, and the North Wind started to boast, saying “I will show you how strong I am because I will blow so hard that I’ll blow that man’s coat right off”. Of course, the more the cold North Wind blew, the more the man pulled the coat tight around him. “Okay,” said the Sun popping out from behind the clouds, “now it's my turn.” The Sun shone warmly down on the man and very soon he had taken his coat off, enjoying the warmth on his skin.And what’s the moral of this ancient tale? That gentle kindness and warmth can often achieve better results than force and bluster. Or, as one C20th Indian writer put it, the powerful are not the ones who trouble others, but the ones who show mercy to others.What do you respond to best: warmth and kindness or aggression and manipulation? To put it another way, Albus Dumbledore or Miss Trunchbull?As the Son of God, Jesus had the power to be an almighty bully had he chosen to, all cruel force and angry bluster like the chilling North Wind. It’s true that he was powerful, breaking down barriers, smashing cruel bullying systems, but he treated people with warmth, dignity and compassion. His love was and is his superpower.Earlier this year I had four letters tattooed on my arm: GGGC. They are there to remind me of the values, a kind of Rule for Life, I try to live by every day, which are Grace, Gratitude, Generosity and Curiosity, things I see when I look at Jesus. I have them tattooed on my arm because I am prone to forget – when I’m feeling particularly meanspirited those letters are there to encourage me to be better.I wonder what the values are that you try to live by every day, and who or what inspired them? My prayer for you is that, whatever weather this summer brings us, in your hearts you will know the true power of sunshine warmth and blue sky hope.God bless you.Rev Angie xPhoto by Klein He on Unsplash
As always, our Parish News is packed with stories from all our villages, a helpful listing of the many events in our parishes, wildlife notes, book reviews, lots of small ads, and of course a Chuckle Corner.You can click the DOWNLOAD link to view the Parish News in PDF format.
In his last video before a summer break, Bishop Richard explores different ideas of rest and what might be the key to happiness.Bishop Richard's weekly video #210You can find a transcript of this week's video on the diocesan website.
In this week's video, Bishop Richard encourages us to think about we say to each other, and why. He reminds us of the apostle James' counsel of restraint in our everyday lives: "Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry” [James 1:19]. How do we engage with others on social media or in our conversations?Bishop Richard continues: 'Our words to one another reveal the secrets of our heart more than we realise.' Do we seek to be kind and loving in our interactions with all people? Bishop Richard suggests: 'If we are to raise the spiritual temperature of our common life we need to find ways of turning outwards: developing a sort of transcendent curiosity to what God is doing in the lives of others.... James' advice to listen is an encouragement to all of us to be quicker to seek the good of others than our own.'Bishop Richard's weekly video #208You can find a transcript of this week's video on the diocesan website.
In this week's video, Bishop Richard reflects on the ordination last weekend of five deacons and five priests in Hereford Cathedral.He says: 'A deacon is called to remind the whole people of God about the priority of service.... Paul’s letter to the Ephesians reminds us that the primary task of ministry is not to do everything ourselves but to encourage the whole people of God to own their responsibilities as baptised Christians to live for Christ and make him known to others.''Ordained ministry exists to facilitate that effective ministry by everyone else.'Bishop Richard's weekly video message #207You can find a transcript of this week's video on the diocesan website.
As always, our Parish News is packed with stories from all our villages, a helpful listing of the many events in our parishes, wildlife notes, book reviews, lots of small ads, and of course a Chuckle Corner.You can click the DOWNLOAD link to view the Parish News in PDF format.