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the church : revd jo's letter : july 2006

added 17/06/06


If I see you in church on Sundays, you’ll know that I have been moaning for weeks about my vegetables – or to be more precise, about my lack of vegetables. My first sowing of carrots and parsnips produced nothing at all; the second sowing produced a few carrots and no parsnips at all; the third sowing produced a few more carrots and still no parsnips at all. The onions are still a bit sparse and unenthusiastic, but are beginning to look a bit happier.

But on the other hand my marrows and squashes are a mass of flowers, the runner beans are racing up the poles, the autumn-sown broad beans heavy with pods, and the raspberries looking set for a bumper crop.

And that’s gardening; some you win and some you lose. The snails, slugs and pigeons are definitely among the ones who win, though.

When I was working for my Theology degree, one of the things we had to do was to reflect theologically upon life – to try and work out just where God fitted in with everyday things and with our own lives. One summer, a group of us took up a challenge to see who could find the most obscure theological point in the most routine action or event. I think that might have been a good vegetable year, because I don’t recall making theological points out of blighted marrows or cabbage-White-damaged Brassicas. But I could do quite well this year, I think. Those absent parsnip seeds lie hidden in the earth, waiting for the warmth and the summer rain to urge them into life. Our lives are so often dormant and unproductive until God’s love urges us into new life. If the parsnips don’t germinate until July, maybe our lives, too, will reach fruition and take new directions long after we might have expected them to, because God has his own purpose and plans for each one of us. The slugs and pigeons probably merit a theological reflection too, but I won’t pursue that one.

And what is God asking of us this July? One thing is a sense of direction as far as our mission to others is concerned. On July 10th, at Edenham Regional House, there will be a celebration of faith, consisting of a supper, a discussion about mission and an act of worship. It starts at 7.30, and all are welcome. You need to let Andy Hawes, our Rural Dean, know if you intend to go.

On a more local note, as mentioned last month, we shall celebrate the Feast Day of Saints Peter and Paul on Sunday July 2nd. At Creeton, whose Patronal Festival it is, with Evensong from the Book of Common Prayer (and hymns) at 6.00, to be followed by drinks in the sunshine. (We know it will be sunny, because St. Medard’s day, June 8th, was hot and sunny, and like St. Swithun, St. Medard guarantees us 40 days of rain if it’s wet on his day, or sun if it’s fine.) Why not come and join us, and thank God for his blessing on us as we hear the lovely sixteenth century language in a beautiful, pastoral setting. If you can’t manage that , we celebrate St. James’ day at Castle Bytham on July 25th with a Communion service at 7.00, followed by more drinks in the sunshine.

I always like reading banns of marriage, seeing young couples joyfully planning for that wonderful day, and knowing that they want God to be a part of that day, and of their lives together. On July 16th , 23rd and 30th we shall hear the banns of Kim Smith and Mark Buckley, just as in June we heard those of Steven Clark and Emily Bines. Do remember them in your prayers, and rejoice in the gift of human love.