Greetings to you all
Hello everyone,
I am so pleased to be writing this in glorious sunshine today! The first day for a while, and my dog Trey is also enjoying it, laid out on any patch of sunlight he finds shining in the windows! Perfect.
Not that I am wishing the months to rush along – that has been my message this winter season, as we moved from Christmas into the early months of the year, let us not just rush headlong into the next season, let us try to savour where we are. Whilst I no longer have an open fire, I remember acknowledging (maybe with rose tinted glasses) the sense behind the saying ‘wood warms you twice, when you chop it and when you burnt it’! We can find hidden pleasures in the cold winter season.
I have found myself watching some of the Winter Olympics – now those competitors are certainly folks who dig deep and savour the blessings of the winter season. How skilled and devoted they are. It is often when I watch such talented sportspeople that I realise how vast is the wealth of the gifts and skills we have been given by our creator; there is no way I would go zooming down a snowy steep incline, or do back flips whilst on ice skates! Great to watch though, and as I say it shows the blessings of snow and the cold season. Admittedly, here in West Bucks we have been blessed to not have the terrible floods of many in the UK, winter is not just snow and cold now.
But the weeks do go by of course, and we are to welcome the coming of Spring and all that will bring us. In our gardens and fields, with our flowers returning and the lambs, calves and crops coming up. The floods and rain easing across the country. And during this next season of the Church year, we have Lent, focussing us on preparing for Easter and all the joys of celebrating this festival – not just the chocolate, which I do love, but the love of God shown in the Risen Christ.
Something which helps us all is the great love and kindness shown when a call for help is given from those in need, so I do thank you for the generosity of giving to our local food banks and to baby basics. And I know so many of you look out for each other, a smile, a chat with someone certainly makes the day go by so much better; bless you as you bless others.
Whatever your faith, or none, our churches are open to all. Please do visit them, have a look around, sit and enjoy the space. Join us for worship as we seek together. The world is such an amazing creation, we all can do with time to reflect on where it comes from, where it is going and maybe say a pray to our creator.
All blessings to you all,
Revd Paula
Reverend Paula Smith 01280 701631
