Greetings to you all
Hello all,
I was thinking back to how much I used to enjoy Athletics at school in the summer months.
I particularly liked the track events, my favourite being the relay and running third or fourth base. No matter how hard we practised our running, the most important thing was the baton change, if we got that wrong, that was it - everything went wrong, it was so hard to get back on track – literally sometimes!
Thinking biblically, I have read of Jesus handing on the task of spreading the gospel message to his disciples, likened to him passing on the baton to us, for us all to spread the good news and the great message of loving our neighbour. Um I can see that is a good analogy, and also how easy it is to drop the baton on that task!
But what made me think about it writing for this link newsletter, was how wonderfully I have seen the baton being passed on from previous amazing volunteers to new volunteers, those who have taken on work around our churches. We still have a few vacancies in some parishes –so if you want to join in please do! THANK YOU to all new volunteers who have joined the teams. In fact, some things have really taken off as people have got the bug – because helping in this way is quite addictive as we see the rewards and working as part of a team! All the individual contributions come together to such great effect, and show such neighbourly love!
This is true in all aspects of our life; we should never think our individual contributions do not mean much or make any difference. We can feel overwhelmed by the enormity of tasks sometimes, those on our doorstep or further afield globally. Loving and caring for our neighbour, in the real sense, as in next door neighbour or metaphorically and reaching out across the globe, is SO valuable and certainly does make a big difference. Feeling part of a team contributing is great, I really loved passing on that baton to 4th place having given my all!
So, I finish saying I do hope you have had a refreshing summer, hard to feel as I write in one of our heat waves! Do come along to visit our churches with the lovely harvest decorations during this coming season, join our harvest services. Never forget these parish churches are yours, they are community gathering places to wander and wonder in together.
Ring me for a chat if you would like to, I always welcome a chat,
All blessings to you
Revd Paula
Reverend Paula Smith 01280 701631
