Newsletter: 11/11/2022

Dear friends,

Since we will be talking about Remembrance this Sunday and recalling our fallen sisters and brothers I thought I would reflect a little differently in my newsletter this week.

As some of you will know, our dog died at the weekend, very suddenly and unexpectedly. Obviously there is a grief which goes with that and thank you for the kind messages you've sent to us as a family. But it made me think about our relationship with animals and how closely we sometimes work with them.

We can probably all recall an animal who we've seen who is 'working' whether it is a horse in a parade or in London; a guide dog helping a visually impaired person to navigate around; a therapy pet used to help children struggling with their mental health. There are many ways in which we work with animals and they support many of us in our lives. That is without mentioning the countless pets who provide companionship to millions of people in our country.

I ended up thinking about how that all fits in with God's plan for the world as a whole. God didn't just create people but the whole world and all the animals in it. So what does that mean for us and, the question which came from our eldest daughter (6), what does it mean when they die? I wrote a poem a number of years ago called "Do dogs go to heaven?" There is some wonderful imagery among many dog (and possibly other pet) owners of the 'Rainbow Bridge' which is where dogs who have died await their owners to join them in the fulness of time.

Setting aside the deep theology for a moment, it is important to reflect upon how we think God views animals. One verse which always challenges me is Psalm 8:6 which says "You made them rulers over the works of your hands; you put everything under their feet". It has a sense of domination of the world about it rather than harmonious living. But they have the same breath of life in them as we have in us and we both get that from God.

So I turn to the book of Job – an unlikely place to look for encouragement about animals you might think! But in Job 12 as Job is responding to his friends' trying to persuade him he must have done something to upset God, Job talks of animals. He says this:

"But ask the animals, and they will teach you,

    or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you;

or speak to the earth, and it will teach you,

    or let the fish in the sea inform you.

Which of all these does not know

    that the hand of the Lord has done this?"

 Job says that the animals understand the power of the Lord, often better than people do! Job is telling his friends that he is no worse than them and even the animals know this. God's creation is a wonderful balancing act which we are only beginning to understand the intricacy with which it is created.

As we remember our fallen sisters and brothers this weekend, let us also call to mind those animals who give of themselves, sometimes even their lives, in service of us and our friends. Without them, what would our world look like? Let's give thanks to God for the wonders of the created world which we have been given stewardship over and let's care for it as a whole.

Remembrance Day

Just a reminder about Remembrance Day that all our churches will have a service at 10:45am on Sunday 13th November. Do please join us at whichever church feels right to you as we remember the incredible sacrifice which so many people have made for our freedom over the years.
If you wish to join us for a communion service there will be one at 8am on Sunday 13th at St. James-the-Less, Stubbings.

Coffee Morning - 7th December
It will be the monthly coffee morning in the Soltau Centre on 7th December so do join us to have some fellowship together. This will also include the draw for our Christmas hampers! So do make sure you buy your tickets for the raffle which are available from the Parish Office or do get in touch with me.

Love Christmas 2022
St. Peter's in Maidenhead are co-ordinating Love Christmas 2022 which is a project aimed at extending love and kindness to the least, the last and the lost across Maidenhead. They are planning to deliver 500 bags of kindness to isolated elderly, families facing a difficult Christmas, refugees and asylum seekers. If you want to know more please go to www.stpetersmaidenhead.org.uk/lovechristmas where you can find details about how to get involved or how to support them.

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
As you may be aware, our Parish Administrator Claire is having some time off from today following surgery. In the meantime, we will be running reduced hours in the office so the best way to get in touch is via the office e-mail (office@burchettsgreenparish.org). There should be someone in the office on Monday and Thursday morning and I will be available as many Wednesday mornings as I can. For anything which you need I can also be contacted on vicar@burchettsgreenparish.org and 01628 822974, - please note the vicar's day off is Tuesday

Blessings to you all,

Tom