As we begin a new year, Bishop Richard steers us away from the pseudoscience of 'manifesting' and the limitations of positive thinking, and instead invites us to face 'the future in prayer, trusting in the presence and action of God. The locus is neither in our own abilities nor in a pseudo pagan manipulation but in confidence in the oft-quoted, “I don’t know what the future holds, but I do know who holds the future”.'He continues: 'As we begin our Year of Engagement, we will be called out of our comfort zones. Fear keeps us locked up in the comfortable and familiar. We will be called to engage with new people well outside the confines of the church, to listen undefensively, to share humbly and to act lovingly. This will stretch us...'.Bishop Richard's weekly video #227There is a transcript of this week's video on the diocesan website.
I have a huge problem with diaries. I just love them. I get so excited by the potential of a new diary. But every year, and it's getting worse, I become terribly indecisive. I need an A5 page-a-day diary because I'm so busy doing busy things. On the other hand, what I really need is a smaller week-to-view diary that can fit neatly into my bag and take everywhere with me. Now I'm a vicar there's the added complication of whether or not I should get a big vicar diary full of important churchy information which I will probably never look at. The biggest revolution in this whole date recording saga has been the introduction of diary apps on my phone. I've been using one for years, I love it, it's so easy and pretty and colourful, but it's not like having a lovely book you can write in. So, as I start this new year, I have two diary apps and three diary books, and I need to make a decision!Our global markets and capitalist systems mean that consumer choice is revered. The plethora of diary choices for indecisive vicars is the least of it. Decision anxiety is a huge 21st century problem, along with drastically reduced levels of satisfaction and contentment. I'm a firm believer in choice, but too much of it isn't necessarily a good thing. Pottering around town window-shopping has morphed into hours lost down the rabbit hole of online browsing. And if you do venture out to the high street and fancy meeting up with a friend for a coffee, you find yourself having to make fifty decisions just to get your hot drink.Our lives are complicated. I'm rubbish with new year resolutions, but I do want to try simnplifying things a bit this year, to hone a more contented, grateful heart. It's going to require some discipline, not my strongest quality, but I think it could be worthwhile to work out what are my simple pleasures, like an afternoon spent with a comfy chair, a cup of tea, a lovely view and a good book. Time with friends, time to ponder and to dream, time in God's company. I wonder what your hopes are for the coming year? Whatever comes, my love and prayers are with you for good health and every good blessing. May the Spirit of peace bring peace to your heart.Rev Angie xImage by Myriams-Fotos from Pixabay
As always, our Parish News is packed with stories from all our villages, a helpful listing of forthcoming events, lots of small ads, and even a Chuckle Corner to make you laugh!Subscribers, please remember to pick up your copy from St Weonards Village Post Office & Stores. And don't forget your 2025 subs. Thank you!Click to download the January edition of the Parish News in PDF format.
In this week's video, Bishop Richard considers how we can find hope in this season of Advent when 'there is much in the news that could make us depressed.' He reminds us that 'Jesus never promised his followers an easy life. In fact, he said, “in this world you will have trouble.”' So where does our hope lie, and what actually is Christian hope?Reflecting on recent readings from the book of Revelation, Bishop Richard suggests that 'the goal of this writing is to expose a deeper reality lying beneath the one we see. This is not about changing reality, so much as imbuing events with a deeper significance. It is placing their contemporary history into an eternal perspective.''Advent hope lies in our confidence that God is at work moving history to a good conclusion, even when at times it doesn’t feel or even look like it.'Bishop Richard's weekly video #225There is a transcript of this week's video on the diocesan website.
