Dearest friends

I've just come back from a few days away in Portugal with my closest female friends. We have been to the same place three times now, and because we're so familiar with it, we are on holiday the moment we arrive. As it's only a few days we don't do anything "touristy" - we just lie in the sun, swim in the pool, and in the evening go out for delicious local food. It was bliss, and thank you for all of your well wishes before I went, encouraging me to have a good time! I'm so grateful to Revd Dr Simon Taylor for covering the Sunday services in my absence.

The friends I went with I have known for many years, we have shared stories of having children at the same time, running a toddler group together, doing the "Moonwalk" in London where we walked the route of the London Marathon overnight to raise money for Breast Cancer Care, and lots of evenings over the 20+ years of our friendship where we have put the world to rights over cocktails and a curry! Only one of these 5 other women are Christian, and they are the safe place in which we can talk about anything and everything.

I know that sometimes friendships are for a season, and I wonder if like me, you may have had friends that were incredibly close for a while, but that in time when life circumstances, geography, work or whatever you had in common changes, the friendships come to a natural end. So to have a circle of friends that have remained close is very precious, and something we all fiercely protect.

Whether for a season, or long lasting, we are meant to be in relationship - we are created by God in this way. I was speaking with Rosemary this week and she attended a child minding course where even science has concluded that babies are born with an inherent need for relationship - at last science catching up with something that we, as people of faith, have always known!

Loneliness is a terrible thing - which is different of course to being alone: there are times when I cherish the opportunity for space and stillness, where I don't speak to anyone, reminiscent of Laura's message last week about the times when we just need to lie down in green pastures. But loneliness is more than this: one can even feel lonely in a crowded room.

Part of combating loneliness is, I think, spaces to share stories, to congregate, to find common interests. One of the things we have been thinking about is starting a mid week opportunity to get together in church. We're thinking of calling it "Well-being Wednesday", where you might like to bring a hobby along to do (I think I'm going to bring my sewing machine and ask Eileen for some guidance!), or you may want to bring the newspaper and do the crossword. You may like to just enjoy a cuppa and a conversation, or bring a book to read, do a few jobs around the church, or in the church grounds. The possibilities are endless, and I would love to hear your ideas, indeed even if you think this is a good idea.In the meantime, we have opportunity to gather as ever this weekend. Tomorrow we gather to say a final goodbye to Jessamine Skuse. Jesse always had care and concern for others, and I'm sure she would have been first through the door of "Well-being Wednesday"! On Sunday morning, we have our beautifully peaceful 8.30am Holy Communion service, and then at 10.30am our "All together Communion" which is less formal and more interactive, as we gather with all ages to worship.

I wish I could have brought the Portuguese sun back with me, but in the absence of that, I'm so pleased to be back with you, and I look forward to seeing you.

God blessBecky