We are in the holiday season – the origin of the word holiday is Anglo Saxon meaning Holy Day – a consecrated day or holy festival – a day on which work is suspended.

 We have moved a long way from the Anglo Saxon context, but it is beneficial to be reminded of the importance of taking time away from work – time for reflection, rest, and restoration in our busy lives.

 The Old Testament of course is quite clear about the Sabbath – the seventh day – a day set aside to focus on our Creator.  But long before the change in the law that allowed Sunday trading, the majority of the population in the western world were moving away from the Old Testament model of the Sabbath.

 There are many who still hold to the principle of abstaining from work on Sunday, but there are many Christians who do not, even if it is only spending some time in gardening or DIY activities.  It is important to remember that we would find life very difficult if for example the work of the emergency services, and those who provide public transport and our heat and light were not at work every day of the week. It is pertinent also to remember that we would not be able to take a newspaper on Monday, if it wasn’t for the work of others on the previous day.

 Apparent conflicts between what are the precise letters of the law in the Bible and how we interpret them have become an issue in the appointment of Jeffrey John as Bishop of Reading.  St Mary’s was blessed with the gifts of Jeffrey John in his addresses at the Good Friday service this year, and I personally have enjoyed and benefited from his teaching in my training for the ministry in lectures he has given.  It is my personal view that Jeffrey has acted with great dignity in this conflict about the interpretation of scripture applied to sexuality.

 As I write, part of the paper on these issues intended to be published later this year, has been leaked to the press.  The debate will continue, but I believe that the people of Reading have lost someone who would have led the church in that place with great wisdom and insight.  As the Archbishop of Canterbury has now said “We must give ourselves the proper opportunities honestly to think through what has happened and to find what God has been teaching us in these difficult days”.

 To turn to some good news, many will know Barbara Moreland who is a regular member of our congregation and who also assists with the chalice and reads the gospel.  Barbara has been attending the Reader’s course at Southwark Cathedral for the past year and we are now pleased to announce that she has been formally selected to become a Reader.  Her training will continue, but we have already enjoyed Barbara’s first sermon on the importance of our cathedrals in the life of the church.  We congratulate Barbara and look forward to her Reader ministry at St Mary's.

Sunday 7^th September, is our Patronal Festival and we shall be welcoming Richard the Bishop of Kingston who will preach at the 9.30 Eucharist. This promises to be a joyful occasion and will be the first time that Bishop Richard has attended St Mary's. There will be a shared lunch at midday in the Church Hall to which you are all welcome.  The Church will provide wine and soft drinks but each guest will be asked to provide an item of food.  In the evening there will be a service to which congregations in the Merton Park Council of Churches have been invited and this will be followed by tea and cakes in the hall.  Fuller details of these events can be found elsewhere in this edition of the magazine.

 Finally I wish you all a very good August and whether or not you are able to take a holiday I trust that you will find time to relax, to reflect, to be refreshed and to enjoy the continuing warm weather.

 Sincerely,

 John

Top of Page