Tuesday’s: 7 – 9pmat Withywood ChurchBS13 7ENAn opportunity to be creative and explore church and the world around us.‘Come along and see’For more information please contactRev Derek Maddoxderekmaddox8@gmail.com›
Dear friendsI wonder what church is to you? At Morning Prayer last Friday, we read Psalm 61, and the four images of refuge, strong tower, tent, and shelter of wings which the Psalmist used to describe their relationship with God, spoke powerfully to us both in our relationships with God, and how we see our coming into our church. There are times when it feels like a place of refuge - for us personally perhaps if the rest of our life feels difficult, as well as a refuge for those who may need warmth, food, or company. There are times when we need a strong tower - something that upholds truth, that feels secure, that is security, as the Psalm says, against the enemy. Perhaps we need this when it is difficult to discern where truth, trust and security can be found in other parts of our society. There are times we need the softness of a tent - a place to find shelter, a home, comfort. or simply a place to "be". And times when we need the gentle touch of the feather found in the shelter of the wings. I wonder if we need this particularly when we feel a bit battered and bruised by life, or other people's judgements, or our own fears and anxieties.You might like to read the whole Psalm to get the whole context.<div>It feels like a beautiful reminder that we need our church environment, community, even sense of being church, to be all of these at different times. Entering into the space with a sense of expectancy that church is more than just another building, and that we are more than just a random group of people, and that we seek to be transformed in our encounters, enables that expectancy of holiness. But it also requires us to be compassionate with each other, recognising that we come with our different needs - how can one place be all four images at the same time? One way is to continue to consolidate our various expressions of gathering, and I pray that you are able to participate in these as we celebrate the diversity of our community.A further way is to pray for each other without ceasing - one of the joys of being a parish priest is the expectation that we pray every day for the cure of souls within the parish - I pray for you each day. We also send out a weekly audio prayer on email for anyone who would like to have a sense of corporate prayer. We meet online for Morning Prayer every Monday at 9am, and in church every Friday morning at 9.30am, where we pray, read the Bible together, and share fellowship. It would be wonderful to welcome you to these.The other way is to hope and expect that when we gather together the name of the Lord is praised, as Psalm 61 concludes.Any structure - whether literal, or metaphorical, or made of stone, cloth, feather, or people, needs a foundation. Perhaps being reminded of these foundation stones of gathering to worship, prayer, reading scripture and praising the Lord's name will continue to allow this structure, this beautiful body of people that is the church, to grow. So whether you need refuge, a strong tower, a place to "be", or the shelter of wings, I pray you will find it here.With every blessing</div>BeckyRev Becky Waring
Dear friendsI took the week off last week. I stayed at home, didn't access any emails or social media, and literally 'got my house in order'. It was good to inhabit a different energy, to pause, to paint garden fences, to clear out cupboards, to read novels, to see friends and family. It's also good to be back, and it feels as though we are on the cusp of something exciting as we prepare to gather regularly again.We keep talking about getting "back to church", and I wonder if that's helpful. We won't be going "back" as we know it, for a while. However we will be going forward: to be church in new ways, some of those ways because of ongoing restrictions,on numbers and activity, also because I believe that our creator God continues to create, and will reveal a way forward.I'm reminded of the prophecy from Joel, that "the Spirit will be poured out on the people, sons and daughters will prophecy, the young shall see visions, and the old shall dream dreams".I believe we are in a time of visions and dreams, where we can be creative, where, as I've said previously, we can discover treasures old and new.What is your vision or dream of how church should be? I would love to hear from you, either by telephone, or as the weather improves, over a cuppa in the garden!The PCC are in the process of praying and discerning what God may have been revealing to them during lockdown about the potential way forward. Some of this will relate to the way we worship on Sunday morning, but this is only part of who we are as church. We are also a fellowship of believers, the bride of Christ, witnesses to the community, and as many have said over time "the local church is the hope of the world". The ongoing work of the foodbank is a visible practical response to the needs of our community. I am also extremely grateful for the work of the pastoral team who have been consistently keeping in touch with those who are more isolated during this time - perhaps a less visible response, but essential none the less.We are also the Lord's people who gather around the Lord's table, and this week we are anticipating our first Eucharist service since lockdown, to be held in the church grounds. The service will go ahead outdoors unless the weather is torrential rain or thunderstorms, in which case we will hold the service inside the church building. It would be wonderful to gather together.Finally I continue to give thanks for you, and pray for you, as our pilgrimage through this time continues. I also pray that you will experience, as I have, those times of gift of different energy, of sabbath and rest even if the four walls remain the same.I also continue to pray for our young people - for those who received A level results yesterday, and those expecting GCSE results next week. I pray for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on that generation - wouldn't it be incredible to hear the visions of those young people, just as Joel prophesied.With every blessing, as alwaysBecky