July Jottings at the Vicarage

Apologies to all over the debacle of the Gift Day envelopes that were not available to put in the June copy of the magazine –  hence the late delivery.  Suffice it to say that we are still waiting for the ones sent by Royal Mail and received a second batch in only two days when sent by DHL.  If all goes to plan you will have this months magazine a little early , complete with Gift Day Envelope, and still have time just to get it to church or the Vicarage by the 29th June when we shall be celebrating St John the Baptist  Day with an 11am service of Holy Communion, including a Baptism, followed by a bring and share lunch in the vicarage gardens.  Any envelopes to hand will be offered at the altar that day, others on subsequent Sundays.

For many of us the month of July will have wonderful memories of the end of the school year and the start of the long summer holiday, but do you remember how long it took you to start saying “I’m bored”!  As a grandparent now it often seems that children today need or at least want, more of their parents’ attention than was the case when I was a child.  IN some ways that is almost directly the opposite of the way we as God’s children, seek his attention – or mostly don’t seek his attention.  Given God’s great love for us and the way that that love is manifested in the birth, life, death and resurrection of Jesus, all in order to save us, it is surprising to me how most people seem able to conduct their lives mainly without thought of God even when in great need.  In conversation over coffee with a clergy colleague in Ripon I was asked why there appeared to be little or no hunger, indeed no appetite of any size for God,  in the city, beyond those who go to the cathedral.   In our villages, we are maintaining  the exiting congregations except for death and incapacity of members and our Children led church services are well attended.  But the life of the church, the willingness to be part of those who care for the building and the churchyard which has been and does play such a large part in the life of the village and school just isn’t there.  There is a small team  of individuals who care for and clean the church and another small team who care for the churchyard cutting the grass and hedges.  Caring for our surroundings, looking out for community, taking part in all aspects of the life of the village from sports to having a drink in the pub are all the kinds of things that Jesus calls us to do and be an encouraging joiner.  In one village school I know of, several times a year they hold a Make a Difference Day, teaching the children that everyone is able to have some small part in changing the things that need to change in our home, community, and society – even the world!  Whether they attend church or not these children are well on the way to true discipleship, and they are being given a firm foundation on which to build God’s Kingdom for all people.  So my question for all of us this July is simply this: what can YOU do, what changes can you make in what you do to make a difference in part of, or even the whole, community in which you live?

Blessings
Robb