FROM THE MINISTRY TEAM I am writing this in France, where we are on holiday with the family, including our two grandsons of 3 and 5 (5 as of today!) We’ve been coming here for many years and have noticed that whereas 10 or so years ago, we never knew if the summer holiday would be fine and warm, or chilly and rainy, the temperature for several recent years is consistently in the 30’s and it doesn’t rain, apart from the odd shower. Last week it was in the mid to high 30’s! So, we’ve had no problems with the weather, for example, while visiting a theme park called Terra Botanica, where the rides, the activities and the exhibits all relate to plants and nature – the children had a brilliant time. Today we visited the local bioparc which is dedicated to the protection of endangered species, and where the habitats resemble as far as possible those of the animals in the wild – the rhinoceros enclosure is many football pitches in size, and the elderly lions have their own retirement home! Harvest is already underway around us, with huge tractors on the narrow roads, so we feel very much at home in that respect! The land is parched, though most of the crops comprise sunflowers, corn and hemp, which don’t seem to mind the dry conditions. It reminds me, living as we do, in a farming community in Suffolk, that farmers are united in their concerns over their harvest, wherever they live. Another example, if we needed one, that more unites us than divides us. The view from our windows in France might be different from that across the Rec. in Coddenham, where I live, but together with our experiences at Terra Botanica and the Bioparc, it makes me appreciate the wonder of all of God’s creation. That took me to thinking about the Crowfield Flower Festival over the Bank Holiday weekend. The theme this year was “Time” and, in preparing the celebratory service on the Sunday morning of the weekend, I had been lucky enough to see the descriptions of all the proposed arrangements. We listened to the wonderful Bible passage (from the book of Ecclesiastes, probably written by King Solomon 3000 years ago) which told us that there is a time, a season for everything under the heavens. You may remember the song “Turn, Turn, Turn,” by the Byrds from the 1960’s, which uses the words of Ecclesiastes and we sung it, accompanied by David Tydeman, at the service. So whatever time, season or activity the arrangements focussed on, they all celebrated them in the beauty of flowers and foliage: different seasons of the year and times of the day, harvest produce, joyful activities that we join together to enjoy, the love we have for one another and that God has for all of us, and our desire for peace – something I’m sure we all pray for. The poet W H Davies wrote : “What is this life if, full of care; We have no time to stand and stare.” Standing and staring and enjoying nature can be extremely relaxing and uplifting. So, wherever you are, and whether or not you made it to Crowfield, do take time out to appreciate the beauty of the world around you and if you were very observant, you might have found Auden’s words attached to one of the arrangements at Crowfield!Rev Helen Norris
From the Ministry team I am writing this the day after our afternoon Benefice Worship service in Bob and Alex Pratt’s garden and what a joy it was to be there and celebrate together. It is always very encouraging to meet and worship together with others from across the Benefice and, while all our services are open to anyone from across the Benefice (and indeed from anywhere!), in August there are two further opportunities in particular for us to come together: Choral Evensong at Stonham Parva at 6.30 p.m. on Sunday 17th August, and then the Benefice Holy Communion service at Stonham Aspal at 10 a.m. on Sunday 31st August. In the words of St Paul to the people of Ephesus: ‘Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.’ (Ephesians 5.19-20). And St Paul also said something similar in his letter to the people of Colossae when he wrote: ‘Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.’ (Colossians 3.15-17) August is also a time when many people are on holiday, and if you are fortunate enough to be going away then, I wish you safe travels, enjoyment and refreshment. And, as the summer is a time when many Christian holiday camps take place, let us pray for those leading, helping and attending them, that those who already trust in Jesus will be strengthened in their faith and that those who do not yet do so will come to understand what Jesus achieved on the Cross. We have a wonderful Saviour. Henry Stanford Reader