God is Big

Dear friends,

We watch a number of TV series in our house (usually all at the same time which gets very confusing!) It is a good way of relaxing and a good form of escapism which we all need from time to time. There are some obvious examples of films or TV series which are overtly Christian. For example, if you haven't watched The Chosen yet then it is well worth a watch. Likewise with the film, The Passion of Christ.

But I often find that my own faith and beliefs are enriched by other, more secular TV series as well. Perhaps it is because they are not bound by the same constraints as those which are trying to portray a religious message. Whatever the reason, I often find they make me ask questions about God which I might not otherwise ask.

One of our favourite TV series from recent years is called Supernatural - it lasted for 15 seasons so it's a big watch! But, as you might expect, it explores the supernatural world (ghosts, monsters, vampires and so on). Angels are introduced and, eventually, we meet God as a character. Only this God is different - this God is a writer who wants to control the universe in all its detail.

I won't spoil any of the story but it really made me think about how involved I think God is in the world; what my idea about angels are (are they even real?); what happens to us when we die - these were all questions which this series brought up in my mind. It has been similar with other series and films which just make me think about the world and about God in different ways.

Have you ever found that? Or perhaps with a book that you've read which isn't overtly religious in its nature? We, as humans, are fascinated by the 'other' - the spiritual world; the beyond; what might be out there. Fiction gives us a safe space to explore this but if we leave it in the world of fiction then it becomes nothing more than another story to us. If we use it to think about our own belief and our own faith then we might just find ourselves travelling closer to God and finding out a new dimension to God that we didn't know existed before.

Wherever you are on your journey of faith, let's think about how God interacts with us through our real world but also through those worlds which we create for ourselves in the fictional universe. And as always, keep the faith.

August Services

20th August - 10am @ St. Mary the Virgin, Hurley
Riverside Service - We gather on the Riverside to worship in the great outdoors. Come and join with us to celebrate the beauty of our world as we join in Communion. Wet weather plan is in the church but I am hoping for a dry day!

27th August - 10am @ St. John the Evangelist, Littlewick Green
Summer Communion - As we approach the Bank Holiday, we celebrate the Great British Summer with a Communion service in a slightly different way. Come along on 27th to find out more and to share in the feast together.


Sunday 20th August - Church or Football?!
A note for all you football fans! Wonderful news about England reaching the final of the football World Cup. Just to reassure you that the service on Sunday will be finished in time for you to get home for kick-off (and to reassure those non-football fans that this was already the plan!) So you can join us for our worship in the great outdoors and also enjoy watching England play against Spain (and we hope the Lionesses do well!)

Exciting News

Music & Arts Hurley is about to be born… 

A festival of music and arts is to take place in Hurley on the 2nd – 4th May 2024. This is a parish-wide event for all the communities in which we live. This exciting initiative will feature performers and artists predominantly from the surrounding area and will provide a platform for high quality talent within the community.

Concerts, presentations and social activities will take place in St Mary the Virgin Church, Monks Barn and its surrounds. The festival will present a varied programme which will aim to appeal to a wide range of tastes in music, spoken word and the arts.

As an introduction, a Young Soloists Concert will take place on Saturday 7th October 2023 at 7pm in St Mary the Virgin Church. This will feature four talented young performers who will each present a short programme of pieces, and the concert will be followed by a reception to highlight the forthcoming festival.

The website for the festival, together with tickets for the concert, will shortly be available online. Please make a note in your diaries not to miss what promises to be a superb evening of music.

Morning Prayer
A reminder that we are not meeting for Morning Prayer during August but there are resources in our churches for your prayer life, or you can explore online options such as Pray as You Go or Lectio 365 - well worth checking out. We will return in September to do prepare to join us physically again.

Our churches are open for private prayer:
Littlewick Green – open every day 11am – 4pm
Hurley – open every day 8am – 4pm
Stubbings – open Monday to Friday 9am – 12 noon

Parish Office
Please get in touch with Claire via the office e-mail (office@burchettsgreenparish.org). She is there on Monday-Friday mornings and can be contacted on 01628 820077 as well. For anything which you need I can also be contacted on vicar@burchettsgreenparish.org and 01628 822974, - please note my day off is usually Tuesday.

Blessings to you all,

Tom