A message from the Vicarage

July 2010

Dear Friends,

Dear Friends,
 
The usual cheerful remark to make in July is that the nights are drawing in, and that we are nearer to next Christmas than last Christmas; which is true, if not particularly helpful. Most people will be looking forward to summer holidays - or, if working in the tourist industry, hoping that the holiday season will be good this year.
 
Church people often look forward to the summer as a time of fewer meetings, more free time, slightly emptier diaries. Sadly, this can also turn into a time of slackening off in our worship as we seek to enjoy the all too fleeting English summer.
 
The winter mindset - "I can't come because it's cold and wet" - turns into the summer mindset - "I can't come because it's hot and sunny" (or, if it's a poor summer, the first one does double duty).
 
The summer months should, of course, give us the opportunity for some leisure, for a break in the normal routine. But at the back of our minds there should also be some planning for the autumn, so that it doesn't take us by surprise when the next magazine is due to appear [by which time daylight will have shrunk by three hours!].
 
I particularly want us to think and pray about Back to Church Sunday, 26th September. We made a start last year, but there is more that can be done. We can all be thinking about and praying for two or three people we could invite to come to church with us on that day. There is a lot of goodwill to the church out in our communities, and Bishop James has urged us to make good use of what he calls "a huge opportunity".
 
I can do no better than quote the Bishop's words. "This year I will be inviting someone. So will you join me in encouraging everyone in the diocese to put this simple question to a friend "Would you like to come to church with me?" "
 
Please use at least a little bit of the summer to start the process, especially the praying part - and then get the date in people's diaries - so that they will know what we are talking about when we remind them in September!
Have a good summer.
 
Yours sincerely,

Peter Calvert.

Priest in Charge
Leven Valley Benefice

From Our Book Shelves

Lists of books about Faith, which the owners are happy to share, will be found in each of our churches. If you would like to add some of your own, please let John Taylor know. (31665)

PNC