Who is First?
Dear friends,
As we approach the beginning of term and mourn (or celebrate?!) the end of the summer holidays, I was reflecting the other day on how we consider some things to be of pivotal importance in our lives. I love doing weddings - it is one of the most joyful services I take and it is great to journey with the couple who are getting married. But one I did recently in Hurley was beset by the English summer (i.e. rain!) The bride's dress got muddy around the bottom and we all got a little damp on the way in and out of church. Yet, despite this, both the bride and groom couldn't stop grinning.
It was a joyful occasion - they were married, they celebrated and they made the most of it. As I say to any wedding couple, the weather is the one thing we can't do anything about on the wedding day! But over the last few years I've noticed the phrase "sun worshippers" rearing its head again as folk head off abroad to enjoy some sunshine and warmth. There is obviously nothing wrong with that (we enjoy doing it ourselves!) but what is more important to us in our lives? The weather may be a trivial example but what about the Internet? Or our computers? A regular meal or drinks out at the pub? Imagine life for a moment without those things - would you notice their absence strongly? Can we say the same about our relationship with God? If we suddenly (or gradually) fell away from our faith, would we notice? As God fall's down the leaderboard of our heart, do we do anything about it?
We are told to put God first, above everything else in this world because God is bigger and better than anything in this world. Perhaps we might sometimes need to check the scores; look at the table of points; see where God has been placed in the race to our soul. I encourage us all this week to reflect on what comes first in our lives - perhaps we meet God through our work, through our holidays, through the sunshine! That is wonderful but those things are the means to an end, not the end themselves. As we journey into the autumn, let us put God first and keep the faith.
September Services
As we return to 'normal' services, we will be going back to the following pattern:
Sunday 3rd September
9:15am - Holy Communion @ St. John the Evangelist, Littlewick Green
10:30am - God Through Music @ St. Mary the Virgin, Hurley
5pm - Evensong (BCP) @ St. James-the-Less, Stubbings
Sunday 10th September
8am - Holy Communion (BCP) @ St. James-the-Less, Stubbings
10:30am - Holy Communion @ St. Mary the Virgin, Hurley
4pm- Family Service @ St. John the Evangelist, Littlewick Green
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 - Friends and Family Communion @ St. Mary the Virgin, Hurley
Walking Group
On Monday, 11th September at 10am meet outside the main door of Littlewick Green Church in order to share lifts to Boveny for our walk along the river. You may choose to walk 50 metres or up to 40 minutes whichever suits you best. We will pop into the ancient Bargers little church before having coffee and chatting at Dorney Garden Centre tea room.
Harvest Suppers
On Saturday September 23rd September we have a Harvest Supper in Hurley - 7:00pm for 7:30pm, tickets are £10 and can be obtained from David Burfitt.
Details of the other Harvest Suppers/Lunches will follow next week
Soltau Centre Works
Work is ongoing in the Soltau Centre so do please continue to pray for the completion of those works and for all who are there helping out. If you need any more information about that please contact me or Claire.
Morning Prayer at 9:15am
Morning Prayer is starting up again next Wednesday (6th) - do join us for 20 minutes as we pray together
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