Author: Laura Thomas

Lent Letter from Julie Hobbs

Posted on by Laura Thomas

This year seems to be flying by – already we are seeing the first shoots of Spring and, in the shops, batter mixes and lemons prominently displayed to herald the coming of pancake day (Shrove Tuesday) on 1 March. The following day, Ash Wednesday, marks the start of Lent, a period of six weeks leading up to Easter.

In Lent, we focus on Jesus going into the desert to fast and pray before beginning his work for God. Jesus went through a desert experience and it’s something we are all familiar with in one way or another isn’t it? The physical desert is a barren, oppressive place, but the spiritual/emotional desert is pretty difficult to cope with too. The landscape of our interiors can have no flowing water, no colour, no fragrance, no softness or beauty, just barrenness and silence.

It’s easy to be disturbed by this. Who finds it easy to come faithfully to sit with emptiness and offer praise to God in this situation? It’s tempting to be scared and self-pitying, turning inward to lick our wounds. But there is hope, great hope. Jesus has been to the desert. He encountered temptations of evil, yet evil was unmasked and defeated by the absolute sovereignty of God. In all our own desert struggles, the desert can be the place of encounter, as it was for Jesus; to learn not only the deceptions of evil, but to experience the presence of God. Far from being a place of barrenness, the desert is discovered as the place of renewal and strength; the place where we can begin again. As we lean into and accept the stillness, then we are able to hear God’s gentle voice calling us to trust in His goodness.

My prayer for us all is that, when we find ourselves in the desert, we will be able to faithfully follow Jesus through it and, out of our experience, to bear great fruit. I am mindful of the words of Isaiah that bring me comfort and hope:             

“See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?  I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland”, Isaiah 43:19.

May God bless you and keep you in His love and care during the Holy season of Lent

Children’s Ministry Update

Posted on by Laura Thomas

Children & Families Minister Emma Stafford will be stepping back from her role, as she moves to a new job in a Primary School, working with children with special educational needs. 

A huge thank you to Emma for all she has done in the past few years, we’re praying for Emma and for all the family. Emma’s last day in post is Sunday 20 February.

We will be recruiting for a new Children and Families’ Minister in due course – with more details on that coming soon.

Emma Stafford

A Letter from Tom

Posted on by Laura Thomas

The days are gradually beginning to lengthen and the optimist in me is looking out for the first signs of Spring – let me know if you see any!

I am one of four siblings, and surprisingly three out of the four of us are ordained in the Church of England. My parents scratch their heads in bemusement as to how that happened!

My eldest sister, Clare, is chaplain of an Oxford College and has recently published a lovely book of forty reflections called ‘Unveiled: Women of the Old Testament and the choices they made’. I’ve been using it as my daily reading this month and, with a character a day, it’s been moving and inspiring to reflect on their lives and to learn of their strength and faith.

So many of these women are portrayed as marginal figures in scripture, written as supporting roles in storylines dominated by men. It’s safe to say gender equality wasn’t quite the priority it is today. But even though women like Miriam, Tamar or Jephthah’s daughter (you’ll have to get the book to find out who she is) are written as small parts in the grand story of scripture, that is of course not how God sees them, and it’s not how he sees you or me. 

To Him, the bible says, we are front and centre stage. It says He sings over us as we sleep (Zeph 3.17) and that we are ‘the apple of His eye’ (Psalm 17.8), which is another way of saying that such is his love, he can’t take his eyes off us. What a comforting thought. 

Below are some pictures  taken from ‘Unveiled’ which you may find interesting. They are painted by Clare’s son Micah, who is an artist. He has painted 40 beautiful portraits to accompany each character. These are a few of my favourites-  I hope you like them. You can get the book from most good book shops!

Clare and Micah are coming to St Michael’s to speak about their book at the next Saturday Breakfast on 12 February. Do come and join us if you can.

Be assured that you are regularly in our prayers.

Warmest regards,

Revd Tom Benyon, Associate Vicar