Julie's Jottings for September

September marks a period of transition, with schools reopening, workplaces launching new projects, and community groups starting fresh ventures. The Church also experiences renewed activity during this time.
Starting up again at St Mary’s:
Monday Pilgrim Study Group: resumes 1 September, 2pm
Saturday Coffee morning: returns 6 September, 10.30am
Family and Parish Communion Service: includes Pet Service on 14 September, 10am
Thursday Lectures: restart 11 September, 7pm with a talk on ethics and pig-human transplants
Youth Group: launching 21 September after the morning worship in Church
Evensong Service: traditional Evensong on 28 September, 5pm      

New beginnings often bring openness to learning and renewed commitment, along with excitement and anxiety. Recently, a four-year-old starting school shared his excitement about seeing nursery friends. When I mentioned that feeling worried is normal and that remembering God is with us can help, he replied confidently, 'I know that'.

Throughout the centuries people have drawn on their faith to steer them into new ventures. Taking space amid daily busyness helps maintain calm, energy, and creativity. We offer a monthly Quiet Space - a guided retreat with friendly company-which attendees find helpful for reducing stress, clarifying thoughts, boosting focus, and achieving peace. The next Quiet Space takes place in the Church on 24 September at 7pm.

This reminds me of something written by T S Elliot in Burnt Norton.                                                
                                                                                                                                                                                             Rev Julie Norris

 

Reflection for the month - September

For our children awaiting their examination results this has been a time of stressful anxiety. When the results finally arrived it was thankfully for most of them a time for 'Congratulations' At the moment this seemed hardly to be a big enough word for what they had achieved. Proud parents were proud too of what other people thought of their children and the excellent way in which they had worked so hard for their successes.

I wonder how many of the youngsters understood how all of this, great though it is, is just a beginning. Do they understand that life is like a race - an obstacle race at that, with hurdles to get over, sometimes several every day. The starting pistol was fired the day they were born, and it could be said that at this point they have now almost run the first lap. Those who have done really well are ahead of the field and hopefully can see a clear track stretching out in front of them. No-one knows of course where the finishing line is or will be, and there are plenty of side tracks which can lead off to wasted time and energy. Hopefully with good advice they will keep well away from them!  So too there are always seemingly smart people who will try to convince of a short cut to the next lap – not credible, there are no short cuts to the real finishing line.  As our youngsters step out we urge them to trust their own judgement and always believe in themselves, but not to fear asking us for help. We pray that they will safely go far. We shall always be there for them, thinking of them and wishing them great success in whatever they decide to do. 

In our prayers we must also remember the less successful of our children whose under achievement in their exams might have left them feeling bewildered, lost, without value to themselves and to society. All are equal in the eyes of our loving Creator, a moment of failure now can easily turn into a life of successes. We pray for all that it may be so. Amen

                                                                                                                                                                                                        David Peacock