Well, the last week has been fairly unique! What a joy and a privilege it was to be licensed by +Robert, Bishop of Tewkesbury, as Priest-in-Charge of St James. It was really encouraging to me that so many parishioners and members of the local community came along on a dark Monday evening to welcome me into the life of the parish. So, what have I been up to in the first week? Well, as Trevor reminded me, I only really work one day a week so I've been putting my feet up and relaxing. If only! I reminded Trevor in turn that I don't work at all on a Sunday; I come to church to worship God. It has been really exciting this week, meeting so many different groups from across the church and community. I've been to a school assembly taken by the excellent Storytellers team. I've been up to the Friendship Café on Tuesday, Art4Life and Wednesday Welcome in the church on …Wednesday. It was great to meet Salim, Chair of Trustees at Jama Al-Karim Mosque. On Thursday I was arranging a baptism, 3 funerals sadly, meeting the staff at Coop Funerals, attending the Gloucester Community Building Collective AGM, and, putting the service for Remembrance Sunday together. So, it has been busy certainly, but I wouldn't call any of it 'work'. It has been a privilege to begin to get to know such a wonderfully diverse community full of hopeful, compassionate and talented people. The rhythm of morning prayer on Zoom has helped sustain me alongside times of private prayer, as well as knowing that so many of you are praying for Juliette and I as we settle in.
As I have been putting our Remembrance Day service together I have had the opportunity to reflect on how communities are strengthened through diversity and enriched by being open to different voices. As Christians we believe that all people are created equal in the image of God. It is a joy to know that each day I will encounter Christ in each person that I meet. It is though, a challenge to live out that reality that we are all one in Christ Jesus, brothers and sisters in Christ. It is very easy to see difference and division. But, whenever we create a divide between US and THEM, we discover that Christ is always on the other side.
So, let us, as we are told in Romans 14:19, "pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding". I am looking forward to next week and more opportunities to discover places of hope, joy, peace, and love within Barton and Tredworth; more spaces in which mutual upbuilding occurs. I am sure I shall meet many of you reading this in those places. If you want to get in touch then call or send a message to 07503164309 or 01452 489083.
Until then, may you know God's peace and blessing in your life.
Rev Steve