Vicar's Letter

July 2014

[Our Spiritual Message for this month has been kindly written by Barbara Sabin]

Dear Friends

The editorial in the May issue of the Parish Magazine by Roy Smalley I found to be extremely interesting and most worthy of debate. White wine or red wine used for Communion? The question is WWJD (what would Jesus Do?) and what do the scriptures say? The message of scripture is the message of salvation for all people. Jesus was a Jew. He is our Salvation. We read in the scriptures in Genesis Chapter 3 verse 15 the promise of Salvation. “….he (Jesus) will crush your head, and you (Satan) will strike his heel”. Throughout the Old Testament scriptures we see Jesus revealed. The Israelites were in bondage to the Egyptians and a leader was raised in Moses to free the people and in Exodus Chapter12 we learn about –

THE PASSOVER
“The Lord said to Moses and Aaron in Egypt, ‘This month is to be for you the first month, the first month of your year. Tell the whole community of Israel that on the tenth day of this month each man is to take a lamb for his family, one for each household. If any household is too small for a whole lamb, they must

June 2014

A DISQUIETING THOUGHT

 

[Our leading article this month was written by Roy Smalley – thank you very much, Roy]

 

A new innovation has crept into our service of Holy Communion recently, which I disagree with, and which I find deeply disturbing. I refer to the use of white wine. Holy Communion is not a meal in conventional sense. We are not asked: “Do you prefer red or white wine?” It is a sacrament – an outward sign of inward grace – initiated by Jesus himself at what turned out to be his last meal with his twelve disciples (not eleven, as depicted on our reredos). He knew that his death was imminent, despite the welcome he had received only a short time earlier from the crowds as he entered Jerusalem on a donkey. He knew that the religious leaders were planning to ‘fix’ him. After all,

May 2014

[The editorial for May has been written by Ann Collier.  Thank you Ann, for taking time during you busy schedule to write this article]  

 

Dear Friends,

April 2013

“WERE THE WHOLE REALM OF NATURE MINE?”


[The editorial for April has been written by Rev John Barrett. Thank you John for taking time to help us during our period of interregnum]

March 2014

LENTEN DISCIPLINE?



[The editorial for March has been written by Rev Trevor Morley. Thank you Trevor for taking time to help us during our period of interregnum]



Fortunately by the time that you have received the magazine you will have survived yet another, what has been termed, "Blue Monday"! Said to be the most depressing day of the year which this year’s was 27th January. It's a piece of pseudoscience which received a lot of publicity eight years ago when a Welsh psychologist published a formula by which his reason for identifying a particular date for this disturbing event could be calculated. Unsurprisingly it had to do with the winter season when the Christmas glow had faded away, New Year’s resolutions had been broken, cold winter weather had set in and credit card bills would be landing on doormats across the land – whilst the January pay-cheque was still some way away. The short daylight hours, lack of exercise and eating comfort food I suppose were also implicated in the general lowering of mood at a time of year when the thoughts of the returning spring and summer months were a little way off.


It is the breaking of New Year resolutions is a factor we could all easily identify as one which lowers our self-esteem. Once again we are made to realise we don't have the willpower we thought was ours and secretly see ourselves once again as ‘a bit of a failure’. For that reason, as perhaps for many of you, I for many years have made my only resolution to

February 2014

CANDLEMAS/GROUNDHOG DAY


[Our Editorial this month has been written by Rev John Barrett. Many thanks for doing this and for all the services you have conducted (so far) during the interregnum]


Today many people may not be aware that on February 2, we celebrate an ancient feast, common to the Church of both East and West, which used to have a great significance in the rural calendar. In fact I was hunting around the Internet for information about Candlemas yesterday and I was surprised that there was more information put on by witches than there was by Christian groups. Lots of witches celebrating a time of the year which naturally forms a transition period in winter - there is a sense in which, thank God, we are moving into brighter and better days.


As Candlemas traditions evolved, many people embraced the legend that if the sun shone on the second day of February, an animal would see its shadow and there would be at least six more weeks of winter. Bears or badgers are watched in some European countries, but the German immigrants who settled in Pennsylvania found an

January 2014

RESOLUTIONS AND PROMISES


[Our message for January has been written by the Magazine Editor with input from Richard Buckley. I would like to thank Richard for his input on this]


I understand that quite a lot of people still keep up the habit making New Year Resolutions. But how many of you keep your resolutions throughout the year? I start the year by making resolutions but I have never kept them. Oh, I start the year with good intentions, but by the time March comes along the enthusiasm has waned. Then, when the year is nearing its end, the feeling of regret often takes over for not having the conviction of carrying out my promises.


And saying goodbye to an old year and welcoming in a new one isn’t always easy. What lies ahead of us might seem rather overwhelming, and what’s behind us might still linger on, leaving feelings of confusion, uncertainty, even resentment. It is natural though to worry about the unknown. And equally normal to be sorry to end what may have been a particularly happy twelve months. However, go on we must.

We have this need to see the whole picture, to understand everything. Well, we can’t but that’s not up to us.

Step forward positively, trusting that everything is seen and understood. Greet the New Year with the words of Dag Hammarskjold: “For all that has been, thanks. For all that will be, yes.”

December 2013

[Our Christmas Message this year comes from Peter, Bishop of Doncaster]
 

A couple of months ago on National Credit Union Day, I joined - along with Susan Jordan, Chief Executive St. Leger Homes - the South Yorkshire Credit Union. Credit Unions are an excellent way of saving and mutually benefit others in our communities who are less fortunate. When you invest in your local credit union you know it’s your neighbours or colleagues who are benefiting. They offer an alternative to bank and building societies and are easier to open. Savings are insured by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme and payments can be made into accounts at local collections points or directly deducted from your wages.

The Government’s changes to welfare benefits mean that people will need an account to receive their payments and the credit union is an ideal option for those who don’t currently have a bank account and want a safe place to save money and access affordable loans.

I was inspired to join the credit union because of a deep rooted concern that has grown over the past twelve months for those affected by crippling debt created by taking out loans from ‘Pay Day Lenders’ or ‘Door Step Lenders’. I hope that some of what I pay into the credit union will be able to facilitate loans to support those in financial difficulty. It’s only a small gesture but if we all did something similar it would turn into a very significant one with positive implications. This doesn’t sound very Christmassy I know, but


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