Julie's Jottings for August

This month in church we are pausing a lot of regular activities as many of our families will go away on annual holiday.  It is a time for recuperation and refreshment. Getting away gives us time to reflect and reset from a perspective that is different from the usual routines.  For anyone not planning a holiday, a day out such as the ‘Day at the Seaside’ can offer the same, albeit shorter, time to recuperate, reflect and restore us. (See current events on 7 August)

This month the church also offers some feast days to refresh us. On Sunday 17 August, we will be celebrating the Feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary, our patronal festival. Mary is both God-bearer and the nurturer of the church. This feast day inspires us to shape our church in the spirit of compassion.

On Sunday 24 August we also enjoy the feast day of St Bartholomew (also known as Nathanael).  He is one of my favourite saints.  He didn’t do any great sensational deeds, but Jesus recognised him as a person of integrity. He started off like many of us, expressing scepticism and questioning whether anything positive could originate from Nazareth. Upon meeting Jesus, however, his pursuit of truth was acknowledged as a genuine commitment to authenticity and integrity, free from deceit. He wanted evidence, and Jesus invited him to see for himself rather than instructing him what to believe. This encourages us to think for ourselves as well as inviting us to be receptive to truth wherever it comes.

A further opportunity for refreshment this month is offered as St Mary’s Church invites you to Choral Evensong on Sunday 24 August at 5pm, led by Rev Sarah West with music from The Byrd Choir. This event marks the return of Evensong to St. Mary’s, responding to several requests from the community.                                                                                                      Rev Julie Norris