Last month one of the regular bi-monthly Play and Praise Services coincided with St Valentine’s Day, so the theme, unsurprisingly, was love! Margaret Cross (who wasn’t able to be there that day) had prepared all the craft materials – heart shaped cards to be coloured in and with “jewels” to be stuck on them, along with the names of those chosen by the children. The children loved it, and worked very well together, some even choosing the names of their friends to go on the hearts.As part of the service I walked around the church with the children, showing them some of the stained glass windows and asking them if there was anything about love in the pictures and scenes depicted in the windows. It turned out to be a very interesting exercise, and if you haven’t had a close look at the very beautiful, and varied, windows in the church I would thoroughly recommend it.The very modernistic “creation” window, based on the first Chapter of the Book of Genesis, by Linda Walton above the South Porch evoked an almost unanimous response from the children – no love there – but one child disagreed and, nodding her head vigorously, said the creation of the world by God was all about love – “like a mummy and daddy”.The Leigh family window provoked mixed responses, but some of the children were agreed that the scenes of Jesus’ healing various people were about love.The beautiful window in the Arley Chapel of Mary and the baby Jesus was a very definite yes – a mummy and her baby – all love! But it was the main East window, above the altar, by Charles Kempe, that provoked the strongest reaction – looking at the stark details of the crucifixion portrayed in the window a lot of the children grimaced and turned their heads away – no love there. Again however one child nodded their head hesitantly while fixing her gaze on the crucified Christ and said yes, there was love there, for Jesus to die for us, but she didn’t really know how or why – out of the mouths of babes! I could have wept!This Lent we will be thinking a lot about love, and there will be a number of occasions (Ash Wednesday, The Stations of the Cross, Palm Sunday and Holy Week to name but a few, as well as the weekly Compline Service and ecumenical Lent Group) to reflect on that child’s poignant and profound observation as we read and pray about both the creation and the crucifixion: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life” (John 3:16) – the how and the why! And, given the discussions and the decisions made in General Synod last month, we might also want to be thinking and praying about how we, as individuals and as a church community, can play our part in the continuing care of God’s creation, which is so necessary and so urgent.May God bless each one of us richly in this season of Lent.The Revd Alec Brown.
Dear friends,By the time you read this we will be in Lent and I will be no longer reading fiction together with making valiant attempts to live more simply. I have discovered a great independent shop. Weigh of the World is the first zero waste shop in Northwich. They provide customers with the ability to refill food and cleaning products in their own containers. They are trying to get people to move away from single use, throw away items. This is a great find especially as the Church of England have given a 40 day challenge to #Live Lent – Care for God`s creation.The Archbishops of Canterbury and York write,” Lent is a time for reflection. It is a time to re-evaluate, a moment where we can turn away from the luxuries and distractions of daily life and face God. In so doing we face light, love and life.”Our world was created by God. He looked at it and said it was good. God put us in charge of looking after the world. We don’t appear to be doing a great job. Each of us needs to remember our place in creation. It may come as a shock but you are not centre of the universe – I quite often forget. Each of us is a small part of a network that incorporates galaxies, billions of people and a cosmos that stretches back to the dawn of time.If we look outside of ourselves and look instead to others and the world then we can make a difference. As humans we have a responsibility to care for God`s creation. Where does this start? Not with George Eustice, the new Minister for the Environment - but with you and me.Let`s make a differenceLove Christina
Dear friends,I have many heroes and heroines and one of them is Nadia Bolz-Weber. Nadia is aLutheran Pastor from Denver. If you“google”her, you will see a trendy tattooedwoman with an interesting past. Her language can be choice, she can offend, butboy can she preach. She set up a church called “the Church of Saints andSinners”which offers welcome to all. She shares God`s love to those on the marginsand shows that the Good News of Jesus is inclusive.Nadia recently reflected on the Beatitiudes in Matthew 5. In the Beatitudes, Jesuslavishly blessed those who were around him on the hillside, people that the societyof the day did not have much time for. Perhaps Jesus was blessing the ones aroundhim who wouldn`t otherwise receive a blessing. She therefore re-imagined them forpeople of today.Blessed are the agnostics. Blessed are they who doubt. Those who aren’t sure, whocan still be surprised.Blessed are those who have nothing to offer. Blessed are they for whom nothingseems to be working..Blessed are the poor in spirit. You are of heaven and Jesus blesses you.Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are they for whomdeath is not an abstraction. Blessed are they who have buried their loved ones, forwhom tears could fill an ocean.Blessed are they who have loved enough to know what loss feels like.Blessed are they who don’t have the luxury of taking things for granted any more.Blessed are they who can’t fall apart because they have to keep it together foreveryone else.Blessed are the motherless, the alone, the ones from whom so much has beentaken.Blessed are they who laughed again when for so long they thought they neverwould. You are of heaven and Jesus blesses you.Nadia aims to turn the world upside down – like the early church.We are fast approaching Lent so why don`t we do something unconventional.Perhaps rather than giving something up we could do something, perhaps leave ourcomfort zones, undertake random acts of kindness? I`m open to ideas.Whatever we do, let`s make sure we bless others.Love Christina
From the VicarWriting this letter in the immediate aftermath of the general election, and in the last weekbefore Christmas, and looking forward to the coming year, I am very conscious of the rangeof feelings and emotions which people across the parish, and country, will be experiencing.In the run up to the general election the Archbishops of Canterbury and York wrote apastoral letter encouraging members of all churches to “...set aside apathy and cynicism andto be people of hope” and also, as each of us is called to honour the gift of truth, that thisshould be done “...with humility and in love.” In their letter the Archbishops make the pointvery clearly that those who hold different political views from our own are not “...ourenemies” and remind us all that taking part in the democratic process is a “privilege and aresponsibility” and that as Christians we should be guided by a “love for our neighbours,near and far, and seek the common good that truly benefits us all.”I know I really appreciated the wisdom and thoughtfulness of the Archbishops’ letter, and aswe look forward to the New Year and all that it will bring, it is my earnest prayer that weshould all continue to heed the wise words of Justin and John. As citizens we do of coursediffer in our political persuasions, but as Christians we are all united in our faith and in ourlove and respect for our fellow citizens, however much we may disagree with thempolitically. Our shared faith brings us together in a way that transcends ideology and dogma,race, class and creed – it is no accident that some of Jesus’ most powerful teachings aredrawn from examples of relationships between groups of people traditionally seen as beingopposed to each other – Jews and Samaritans most famously in the case of “the goodneighbour”. In a different way this is what each one of us is called to do and to be – goodneighbours to all around us, loving and caring for all, especially the most disadvantaged inour society, but also those with whom we disagree the most.The Archbishops end their letter in these words: “Let us be filled with hope and call on Himwho is the ever- present guardian and final judge in our nation and in our politics.” As thewise men were led to the infant Messiah by the light of the star, so may we all, in thisseason of Christmas and Epiphany and in the coming year, continue to be led by Christ andto walk always in his marvellous light, which dispels all darkness from our hearts and minds.May God bless each one of us richly in this coming month and year.The Revd Alec Brown.
