So we bravely move into British Summer Time! One day you're in shorts, and the next day you're back in Jeans and a jumper! Such is the summary of our day-to-day lives - some days are great, and others perhaps less so. I am, however, struck by how we are into the 2nd quarter of this year, and life seems to not lack pace. If we merely cruise along, we will have let this year float away. I am determined to not reach Autumn without having made something of this year, even when some opportunities are already escaping me. And that makes me annoyed!
I am distinctly aware of just how many in the church are having to manage and cope with elderly parents and the required management of their lives. We are not on our own! In fact, the chatter over coffee after the service can, for some, be a moment to touch base over the week's challenges. It is "very" not easy to be in this place of having to deal with finances, health, carers, medications, power of attorney paper work, house clearances or "matters technical" such as the right button to press on the remote control or what's now gone wrong on the mobile, heating, online banking, spam emails, phishing scam phone calls, paperwork, or trying to explain what an app is, let alone how to use one. To have such loved ones nearby locally is one thing, to have them live further afield is taxing indeed. For most, these seasons creep up upon us when we were least expecting them, and rarely do we fit them into our existing fast-moving realities. Sometimes you can laugh at it all, and others find yourself weeping or angry or in despair, These are real emotions and are okay. Don't feel guilty. The honest reflection, I think, first seen in The Diary of Adrian Mole, is akin to being parents to your own children, whilst finding yourself parenting your own parents! The expression in The Secret Diary escapes me for a moment [answers on a postcard, please]. And having to cope with all of this, particularly when an emergency comes along, is very, very not easy! And that's being polite. The stress, worry and the sense of being pulled in all directions, whilst finding part of you is sublimanally grieving underneath, either by what's happened, or even by what's not happened yet, its all so very difficult. Perhaps we should form a club of like-minded WBC individuals who can share their woes and tribulations?
The Easter period for us in WBC was a truly joyful and amazing one. Many have provided very positive feedback of the United Good Friday Worship, and to celebrate on Easter Sunday with a Baptism was very thrilling. I observed just how many churches across the SW peninsula were actively involved in Baptismal services. So much so that it was reported and remarked upon by local media. God is clearly doing something new in the UK. To try to label precisely what that is, seems to be a potentially clumsy action at this point. Calling it a "Quiet Revival" may well make us feel warm and fluffy inside, but its premature to give what is happening a title or to analyse it. It seems best for us to engage prayerfully and with all our energies in this current wave and see where it goes.
Going back to how good Easter was, let me put a different personal perspective: it crept up on me, and that's not happened before. What got me this time around was the late breaking up of schools - essentially into Holy Week, or was it simply that Easter was early? Whichever it was, being asked to do Easter assemblies in Holy Week completely threw me, when normally I am doing my best to keep my head above water in Easter preparations. I have this problem at Christmas too and have now inked out those traps in that season. Clearly I am going to have to do the same now for Easter! Even after all these years, I am still mastering my diary so that there are no surprises. Know that feeling?
We have introduced a new channel to our Joyned communication called "Creative" - all of you are creative in numerous ways. Join Joyned Creative channel and share your creations!
I meant to say (and remembered on our dog walk) that Pope Leo is having a top quality run at the moment as he engages prophetically with the challenge of North American war engagement. He is saying publicaly what so many of us in reality think and feel. The contrast is great wherein previously the North American church seemingly acted with prophetic utterance in some areas, now that is gone and lost. If ever they needed to stand up and be counted, this is the time!
Into all of your day-to-day diary and care challenges, and just survival and coping of life, I pray God's peace and blessing.
Pastor Sam
