Hertingfordbury Parish News: October 2003

Clergy Letter

Dear Friends,

For those in education, a new year has just begun. For some, it will mean a whole new way of looking at the world. New classes, schools, universities. New teachers, classmates, a whole new timetable. New challenges to be faced, an adventure into learning that can be enjoyed or not, but one that has to happen because the law of the land demands it.

For us in the Church we have entered the last phase of the annual Christian calendar. In the coming weeks we will celebrate, yet again, Harvest, Advent, Christmas. I say, yet again, but I do not suggest that they will be 'old hat' or mundane because we have been there before. Each Harvest Festival challenges us to be generous to our neighbours – mostly unseen. Advent brings us to a time of preparation, not of Christmas feast and festivity, but to remember the journey our Lord's earthly parents had to take as His birth was imminent. To think of the shepherds in the fields challenged by the Heavenly Host, the search for somewhere to rest and for Mary to give Birth. Then joy of joy, Christmas Day; we Celebrate the Birth of Our Lord Jesus Christ. How do we do this? We give and receive gifts, we eat lavishly, and we consume drink, some alcoholic, some not. Prior to this we may have been to Church, for what? To sing carols, to hear the story again because it is worth the re-telling?

All or some of this may apply to us. Unlike education, attendance to church is not the law of the land, it is voluntary. So do we take the repetitive seasons for granted? I hope not. The challenge for our Parish is laid clearly before us…the future is in your hands…don't simply support the known, but like the people at the beginning of my letter, be ready to be challenged, and to accept the challenge in whatever form it greets you. We each have a ministry, find out what yours is and experience the joy and satisfaction it will bring.

The journey may be long but never lonely…see you on the road.

Love and blessings,

Rev'd Rosemary

Please note: Although the Hertingfordbury Parish News is produced by St. Mary's PCC, the opinions expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the PCC.