Dear All,

I trust and pray that you have all enjoyed the lovely warm sunshine that we have experienced throughout August, and that it has not caused too many problems for the keen gardeners amongst us! Looking at the weather forecasts and speaking to friends and family elsewhere in the country, we certainly have been blessed with slightly cooler weather than a large percentage of the nation.

While away on the Isles of Scilly at the beginning of August, I had the privilege of taking Sunday services on both the islands of Tresco and Bryher. In one of the church vestries, my eye was caught by a fascinating piece of our history: a historic strong box, rather than a modern safe, used for securing the communion silver. Heavy, heavily reinforced, and built to withstand the elements, it stands as a powerful testament to how deeply our predecessors valued the sacred vessels of the Christian faith.

Strong boxes and safes are built for one purpose: to protect what we deem irreplaceable. In the history of the church, these boxes held the silver chalices and patens used to celebrate the Eucharist. These items were valuable not just for their precious metal, but for the sacred stories, generations of worship, and holy mysteries they carried. We naturally want to lock up and secure the things we care about most.

Yet, seeing this sturdy old box brought to mind the words of Jesus from the Sermon on the Mount:

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:19-21)

This passage offers us a profound challenge. The physical strong box, no matter how securely forged by human hands, will eventually age. The silver inside, while precious to our heritage, is ultimately an earthly treasure. Jesus reminds us that the most valuable things we possess cannot be locked away in a vestry safe or hidden behind a locked door.

Our true treasures are the things of heaven: faith, love, kindness, community, and our relationship with God. These are the riches that never rust, never degrade, and can never be stolen.

As we look at the historic treasures of our parishes, let them serve as a beautiful reminder of our past, but let them also challenge us. Where are we investing our deepest energy? Are we spending our lives building earthly security, or are we rich in the things that matter to God? Let us pray that our hearts are always found securely anchored in heaven, stored safely in the grace of Christ.

I wonder what you view as your own treasures? What are those things in your life which are truly special or completely irreplaceable?

Often, our greatest earthly treasures are found in the communities we build and the shared times of worship that connect us to one another. With that in mind, as we look ahead to a new season this autumn, we have some wonderful opportunities to gather, refresh our faith, and welcome new chapters in our parish life. Please do take a look at the services listed elsewhere in the magazine and if you have not been with us recently it would be great to see you, in addition we have the following services starting again in September:

Families@4 – Sunday 27th September 4pm at St Thomas’ Church, Heamoor

September marks the return of our Families@4 service. This will be the start of a brand-new chapter for us as we have said a huge thank you and goodbye to Jo Thomas and Kay Alexander. Both Jo and Kay were absolutely instrumental in setting this service up. They worked tirelessly to ensure it took place every month, always bringing great, engaging ideas that perfectly suited all the families attending. We are so incredibly grateful for their ministry, and we look forward to continuing this special service as we step into its next phase. To this end we will be holding a meeting on the 13th September at 4pm at St Thomas’ Church to share information for anyone who would like to get involved with supporting this service.

“A Heart to Praise” – Every Saturday from September, 7pm – 8pm at St Thomas’ Church, Heamoor

Also recommencing this month is “A Heart to Praise”. This weekly service offers a wonderful opportunity to come together for an hour of contemporary praise, prayer, and worship. Everyone is warmly welcome to attend, and it is especially perfect for those who enjoy a more contemporary style of worship. It is a fantastic way to anchor your weekend in fellowship and prayer.

Whether you are looking for a lively space for family worship or a reflective hour of contemporary praise, I encourage you to join us as we invest in our community and store up those heavenly treasures together.

Every blessing,

Chris