New Beginnings
Dear friends,
It's that time of year when term starts again for our schools, some children start for the first time and many go back after the summer break (which when you're a child seems like a very long time and not long enough at the same time!) It's often a time when we think about fresh starts as the harvest happens and the fields are prepared for the next crop. As we approach the time when we celebrate Harvest in church we might think of songs like "We plough the fields and scatter the good seed on the ground".
But it is also a time of endings. It is a time when the evenings are shortening and the trees begin to turn. We head into autumn (even if the weather doesn't know it!) and then into winter where a lot of living things rest and recharge ready for the spring. The natural world around us goes in seasons just as we do and there is that wonderful reading from Ecclesiastes chapter 3 where it talks of times and seasons for everything. But it goes on to say "God has set the spark of eternity in human hearts" (Ecclesiastes 3:11).
That can be both a source of great encouragement to us but also great frustration. It is easy to feel torn between loving the life we have and the wonderful world around us and being aware of the greater glory which awaits us in eternity. Paul talks of that a lot in his letters in what may be considered today to be someone with depressive tendencies. But he also works for the kingdom, for building up the Church and for serving his sisters and brothers.
In the legal world there is a test called the 'reasonable man test' where a person's behaviour can be compared against what would be, as objectively as we can measure it, a reasonable person's response in a given situation. As you can imagine it is fraught with problems and challenges. There was a phrase which used to be very popular when I was younger and has fallen a little out of favour now but is still around saying "What Would Jesus Do?" abbreviated to WWJD? In many ways that is like the reasonable man test.
The problem is, none of us knew Jesus the man. Yes we know Jesus as the Son of God but we did not walk this earth with Jesus the man. We cannot possibly predict or know how he would have behaved so really we're asking what God would do and then that becomes quite a challenge! I suggest a better question to ask ourselves (though admittedly not as snappy) would be "What would the best version of myself do?" Of course that abbreviates to WWTBVOMD which is a bit of a long abbreviation and not particularly memorable! But yet I think the question is more helpful. Wherever we are with our faith (or even if we have none) we all strive to be the best version of ourselves. God has made us who we are an we honour God by being the best version of ourselves.
As we stand at the change of the seasons, let our old selves fall away like the leaves which will drop from our trees in the coming weeks and let our new selves sprout up like the first signs of new crops we see when winter breaks. And let's use the time in between to recharge and to realign ourselves. And whatever season we are in personally (as the weather doesn't help us know!), let us keep the faith.
September Services
Sunday 17th September
9:15am - Holy Communion @ St. John the Evangelist, Littlewick Green
10:30am - God in Quiet @ St. Mary the Virgin, Hurley
11am - Holy Communion (BCP) @ St. James-the-Less, Stubbings
Sunday 24th September
9am - Come to the Table @ St. James-the-Less, Stubbings
10:30am - Harvest Festival Communion @ St. Mary the Virgin, Hurley
Harvest Supper at Hurley
On Saturday 23rd September we are having our first Harvest Supper in the parish which will be in the Priory Room next to Hurley church. It starts at 7:30pm so arrive from 7pm and we will be serving food and drinks and having a little sing-song (if you have any requests, send them my way!)
Music and Arts at Hurley
You may have heard me mention this already but this is our community-focussed festival which will be taking place in May 2024. It is for the whole community and includes "at Hurley" simply so that you know where it is! It is a celebration of all that draws us together as villages and communities in this place. But it starts on Saturday 7th October at 7pm with a Young Soloists Concert. Find out more information and book your tickets here.
Parish Walking Group
What a great morning 10 of us enjoyed on Monday morning - walking along the towpath at Boveny Lock and chatting to the lock keeper, rescuing a slow worm from bicycle tyres, discovering a hop creeper, viewing the interesting 12th century church of St. Mary Magdalene, used by the 'Bargees' and also sitting and enjoying the sunshine for those who wanted a rest rather than more walking. We shared fellowship and coffee at Dorney Court garden centre. The next walk is on Monday 9th October so diarise the date and try to join us.
Morning Prayer at 9:15am
Wednesday St. James-the-Less, Stubbings
Thursday St. John the Evangelist, Littlewick Green
Friday St. Mary the Virgin
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