June 2001

Text for the month

“The harvest of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law” Galatians 5.22

Thought for the month:

“Our Father! We plead with thee, in the name of Jesus, revive Thy Church. Make every believer to be indeed a temple full of the Holy Ghost. Make every church, in its believing members, a consecrated company ever testifying of a present Christ, ever waiting for the fullness of the power from on high. Make every preacher of the word of minister of the Spirit. And let throughout the earth Pentecost be the sign that Jesus reigns, that His redeemed are His body, that His Spirit works, and that every knee shall bow to Him. Amen”

Andrew Murray “The Spirit of Christ”

Letter from the Vicar

Dear Friends,

As we celebrate Pentecost this month, on Sunday 3rd June, and Trinity Sunday on 10th June, we will also hopefully be celebrating a more positive mood in our nation. It has been a soul sapping last six months has it not? First we had the petrol crisis, then the floods, then the foot and mouth crisis, and now a very cold Spring. Hopefully the summer will bring better tidings, with the beauty of God’s creation in evidence and (for me at least!) the excitement of a general election (though I write this before any official announcement). I wish to turn our attention to pastoral matters this month. Christine our honorary curate and I are this month launching a new initiative called the “Pastoral Visiting Team”. As this is an important initiative I feel it should be explained through this article. Mother Teresa, when visiting this country some ten years ago, said “In the poor countries it is poverty that is the real curse, but here in the West the curse is loneliness”.

In my seven years of ministry I have learnt how true these words are. Many people, especially those bereaved by the loss of a husband and wife, but also those who have never married or those who have undergone the pain of a divorce or separation, struggle with living alone. Of course many can adapt well to the experience, but, for a large number of people, even years of living alone can still leave a sense of loneliness deep in their hearts. Perhaps you know someone who is like this, or perhaps even you may feel like this a bit yourself at times. The Pastoral Visiting Team will be run in order to express the church’s concern for those living alone who might occasionally appreciate a visit. However, it will not be just people who live alone who will be visited.

There are people in the community who are ill, or suffering from one handicap or another, who find it difficult to get out, and who also might appreciate a visit, even though they may not live alone. The Pastoral Visiting Team will visit such people too. Also we hope to visit anyone who would simply appreciate a visit as a way of getting to know the community better - perhaps newcomers to the area. For this project to work properly we will need your help.

Firstly, would you like to be on the team? All this requires is a commitment to visit one or more people on a regular basis (either weekly, fortnightly or monthly depending on your availability), building up a friendship with them. There is the option of coming to a monthly meeting, held in the lady chapel of the church directly after the 10am Sunday service, and lasting no more than fifteen minutes, at which we will pray for any particular concerns that have arisen from the visiting. However, if you cannot make this meeting each month please do not let this put you off becoming a visitor. It may be that you already visit someone but would like this visiting to become officially tied into the work that the team does. It may be that you have never visited anyone before, but would like the opportunity to be a listening ear to someone in the community who would appreciate it. Either way, please contact Christine or I directly and we will talk with you about how you would like to help.

Secondly, if you know of someone who you think may like a regular visitor, please again let Christine or I know. Of course, the visiting will be arranged in a very sensitive manner. When I ran this scheme in Paddock Wood I learnt quickly that not everyone wants a visit, and some will only want the clergy to visit! So I feel I have some experience in matching people up in an effective way. Finally, you can of course have more than one person to visit if you so wish. Our first 15 minute Pastoral Visiting Team meeting will be at 11.20am on Sunday July 1st in the Lady Chapel at church. If possible, please let Chrsitine or I know in advance if you wish to attend the meeting or join the team. You do not have to be a regular church goer to be a visitor!

With all good wishes

Simon Tillotson