LETTER FROM REVD LOUISE
Dear Friends,
Thank you to all who grew and provided plants and bric-a-brac for the sale on May 17th. And to all who came and helped in any way, as well as our very generous customers. Approximately £340 was raised for Church funds, for which we are very grateful. I wasn’t able to be there as my son was getting married that day but I hear it was a very happy and positive time. Well done, everyone!
As part of Shoebury in Tune I am delighted to say that our Community Choir will be performing in St Peter’s on June 14th at 7.30pm. Entrance is free but donations will be very welcome. Thank you to Sandra and Helen for all the hard work they have given to this project. Do come along and support out choir.
On June 22nd we have a very special day and we hope you will be able to attend. In addition to our morning services, we have our Open Garden from 1-4pm, followed by Songs of Praise in St Andrew’s at 4.30pm. Thank you to Karen and Alan for sharing their beautiful garden with us for the afternoon. We will be singing lots of your favourite hymns at the service. If you would like to suggest a hymn or song and offer to introduce it, please let me know.
Sadly, this will also be the service at which we will say farewell to Deji, Helen, Grace, Miriam and Ruth. After a wonderful 18 months with us, Deji will be licensed to work at St Chad’s, Chadwell Heath, before his ordination in September. They go with our love, prayers and gratitude. We would like to give them a gift so if you wish to contribute, please put some money in an envelope and bring it to either church, or pop it through my door (42 Church Road). Thank you.
I love walking and, if you’ve ever seen me striding around, you’ll know that my default speed is unnecessarily fast. Last night I felt the need to charge upstairs for something and, because I wasn’t looking where I was going, I stubbed my toe on the wooden stairs. It really hurt! In fact, for a couple of hours I thought I may have broken something. Twenty-four hours later I’m limping a bit but all is on the mend. What a daft thing to do!
Rushing around, not really paying attention to our surroundings is, sadly, not uncommon in our modern world. Sitting on a train glued to our phones, not noticing the changing landscapes. Running along the seafront, earplugs in, missing out on the gentle sound of the waves or the jingling of the masts at the Yacht Club. So glued to the TV that we miss the birds on our window sills.
We miss out on so much because we’re not paying attention. And it seems to me that is true in our relationship with God, too. Do we rush into the day without pausing to give thanks and offer the day to God? Do we fill our time with reading the news, or a novel, or a magazine and never have time for the Bible? Are we so busy chatting before a service at church that we don’t notice God prompting our thoughts?
What do we miss out on because we’re not paying attention? Well, I hope none of you ends up with a stubbed toe because you were rushing around, but it is a reminder to me to slow down a bit, to pause, to ponder and to breathe.
We offer an opportunity to spiritually ‘breathe’ every Thursday at 1pm at St Andrew’s. Our 20-minute service called ‘Be Still’, is a wonderful oasis to catch up with yourself and God. There’s no singing or interaction expected of you. Just peaceful music, Bible readings and prayers. Why not give yourself a treat and come along?!
As the Psalmist said, Be still, and know that I am God (Psalm 46.10).
God bless you,
Louise.x