Pastoral Letter
Revd Jean Boulton-Reynolds
Vicar, Holy Trinity Church
Excitement, anticipation, worry, sadness, hope, fear, joy, concern,
confusion, uncertainty..... which of these would you identify with as
we begin another year? If I'm honest, I have experienced more than one
of them recently in one way or another.
I moved, with my family, to Holy Trinity in November and since then
we have been settling into our new home, settling into our new church,
coping with family bereavement, and celebrating Christmas in a new place.
For me personally, I have also begun a new journey as spiritual leader
with the people in the parish of Holy Trinity.
Most of these have been accompanied by positive emotions of joy and
anticipation but we have also experienced sadness and concern in our
bereavement. So, what has helped us to keep confident, hopeful and smiling
in this time of change?
There is the warmth of welcome we have received from so many people
and a real sense of joy that we are here. There is also the greatly
appreciated support from church members as I have felt my way into our
worshipping life.
Above all there is the certainty of faith rooted and renewed in the
Christmas event of God's amazing gift of his Son among us. This gift
is what can stir the hope which lies deep in the heart of all of us
no matter what the emotions of our present circumstances.
And we are given another opportunity soon into the New Year to be further
encouraged in this hope with the celebration of the Epiphany –
wise men from another culture in the East who faithfully followed the
hope within them, found the Christ child and offered him the gifts of
a king.
Two years ago I celebrated New Year in the harsh Thar desert of Rajasthan
in India with the impoverished Dalit people (the 'untouchables'). They
have suffered severe famine from years of drought and each day is purely
about survival. I learnt from them that it is possible to live in hope
despite the most awful circumstances. Not only did this challenge me
but it revitalised my faith and encouraged me to see God active and
giving in the most unexpected places and people.
On the day of Epiphany I was at an oasis in the desert. Slowly making
their stately way towards us were several camels. I thought about the
wise men from another culture and another time who also saw God in the
unexpected and knew this was a special moment to treasure.
All of our churches in Barnes are places of ongoing renewed faith and
hope, places of welcome and warmth, places to discover our purpose and
place in a life which reaches beyond and into eternity. This is what
keeps the smile on my face. |
