Dear Friends
In the month following New Year's resolutions, I thought it might be helpful to focus on
the idea of if you had 3 wishes, what would they be ? Listeners to Radio 4's Desert Island
Discs will be familiar with the concept;-one piece of music, one book, one luxury. What
about us in a situation of free-choice ? Well, if it helps to get you going, here are
mine………
a) An end to the bickering of party Politics ( as if any one party could believe it has
the monopoly of common sense and the most talented MPs) OK, I know coalition governments
get a bad press, but there's no limit to wishful thinking in the game of 3 choices!
b) An end to the current fashion for ridiculously overpaid media people telling us all how
to think, with no right of reply; have you tuned in to current youth-orientated programmes
on radio and TV lately? - the standards of behaviour of the presenters can be quite
dreadful. What is being done to alleviate the boredom and lack of motivation of young
people? The hopes for the new millenium should certainly focus on youth; let's work for a
sense of urgency in raising standards, even in small ways; but keep our sense of humour
too.
c) That people will remember what the Church stands for, and all that it has done, and
continues to do, in supporting education in particular, from primary (Aided or Controlled)
schools, right through to Further Education in its many forms ; also that God continues to
be worshipped in each parish throughout the land week-by-week, in thanksgiving and
recognition of His many gifts to us. You would be right in thinking that these 3 wishes
seem linked, and no doubt I might choose a different 3 on another occasion. But in this
month when the season of Lent begins (Ash Wednesday is February 12th this year), a period
of reflection is very appropriate. Our Lent Groups will meet 5 times in the 3 villages on
the theme of Prayer-'Praying for a change'; the times and venues are in the "notes
and other dates. Also we are preparing for the Annual Vestry and Parochial Church Meeting
on Thursday 17th April at 7.30pm in the Village Centre, which entails the annual revision
of the Church Electoral Roll between 20th March and 3rd April, you need to be on this to
vote at the APCM, but the Vestry Meeting) which immediately precedes it to elect the two
churchwardens, requires simply that you are on the civil Register of Electors.
For some, the reaction to all this might be "so what? but I hope that for most of
you, the reaction is one of quiet thankfulness that the Church goes on with its work,
ministering with and to the whole community, and that, Yes, you might feel able to come
and hear about that endeavour, Young people often want to take a positive step to
affirm their belief, and this we call Confirmation, when promises made by parents and
godparents at baptism are confirmed for oneself. If anyone would like to join the group
preparing for June 8th at Swaffham Bulbeck Church when the new Bishop of Huntingdon, John
Flack is confirming candidates from the Fordham Deanery parishes, it's not too late to
join in, so do get in touch with me, so that the Church continues to be renewed and kept
relevant.
Every blessing,
Mark |
