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church : revd jo's letter : august 2007 added 13/07/07 One of the penalties of being a public figure is that the media are always trying to wrong-foot you, and will misreport you at every opportunity. The Bishop of Carlisle was recently reported as saying that the floods which hit the North so badly were God's vengeance on humanity. In fact, the Bishop had said that they were the planet's revenge on those who have failed to care for it. The Bishop was vilified for offering what is nowadays an unacceptable image of God - a vengeful figure who punishes his people - when all he had done was to suggest that human greed and disregard for the earth had caused the floods. Public figures just can't win. I absolutely agree with the Bishop. The felling of trees, which take up water, and the building of houses on natural flood plains must account in part for what has happened. Our carbon emissions cause global warming and climate change. We have to accept more severe weather patterns as a result. But this is not confined to the UK, of course. I was saddened while in Borneo, back in February, to see thousands of miles of rain forest felled in order to produce palm oil for the cosmetics industry and for bio fuels. The entire microclimate is changed, many beautiful and rare species of animal and bird are deprived of their natural food and habitat, and are in imminent danger of extinction. Tribes-people are deprived of their natural homeland. Human greed and self interest is destroying the planet, and throwing God's gift of a wonderful world back in his face. The story of Noah comes to mind; God made a covenant with the earth, and we have broken it. So the pile of sandbags on the green at Castle Bytham and the flood barrier in the porch of Careby church may become a regular feature. The automated flood warning from the NRA will continue to wake me in the middle of the night, with warnings that the Glen at Essendine is rising rapidly. And greed causes other problems. There have been many thefts of copper, lead and other valuable metals from churches in this area recently. If you should spot any people or vehicles which look suspicious near our churches, please let the police know immediately. But it's not all gloom and doom. Thanks to a thorough investigation by Paul Hamblin, we learn that we haven't, after all, got Death Watch Beetle in Castle Bytham Church. We have had two beautiful weddings (in glorious sunshine) at Careby. Two delightful little boys, Harry and Oliver are to be baptised this month at Careby. And I think the kindest people on earth live in these villages. Our daughter-in-law is very seriously ill (and our second son has just had a nasty accident and is in hospital with his right arm broken in 3 places) - but I have been overwhelmed by the number of kind enquiries, prayers, and offers of help in a difficult time. I am so fortunate to be a Parish Priest in these villages, and am more grateful than I can possibly say to you all. So if I am not seen in the villages as often as I should be, I hope you will understand why. Last month I announced a concert to be held at Castle Bytham, but this had to be cancelled for reasons completely beyond our control. I do apologise for this, but hope that it will take place in the Autumn. Look out next month for details of another fundraising event to take place here, as well. With every good wish Jo |
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