Each morning people, places, businesses, and streets within our parish boundary are prayed for. This morning it was King’s Barton Street and Leonard Road. I realised I did not know where they were. A quick google maps search revealed that I had in fact seen them both on my travels. I have walked past both, King’s Barton Street many times, but not paid them enough attention.

I feel that is a reasonable analogy for what I am trying to do at the moment in many different aspects of my role as Parish Priest. I am consciously trying to meet everyone and visit everywhere but alongside that I am really trying to pay attention. To listen to the stories and experiences that have shaped the people and the places within this Parish. To discern where God might be calling the people of this area to be, to act, and to serve one another. I have had a real struggle with many different names but feel I am getting on top of it, at last! Today I learnt that my name, Stephen, has a similar meaning to Ade (in Yoruba) which is ‘crown’ or ‘royalty’. Also, the stem ‘Chin’ means ‘Belongs to God’ or ‘God owns’ in Igbo. Understanding a name really helps to understand the person a bit more. I will now look at all the Ade’s I know as my royal brothers and sisters! A name reveals so much about our families, traditions, cultural and religious heritage.

In the Gospel reading this Sunday we will hear John call Jesus the ‘Lamb of God’. It will be good to pay attention to this and allow it to soak in. We worship a God who is not just the lion of Judah, but also a lamb, who lived and died a life of humility, sacrifice, forgiveness and love. A lamb who asks us, whether we think of ourselves as Kings and Queens or belonging to God, to follow in His footsteps towards a love that gives all that it has for our neighbours.

With peace and best wishes,

Rev Steve