Spring – the time for sowing and planting – and it’s nearly here!

The Bible contains many references to plants. Jesus described himself as the vine; Hosea wrote about ploughing the soil prior to planting. In Psalm 1 we read, “He (a man who follows God), is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither.”

Perhaps as you choose and sow your seeds, in the place you have prepared, and water them and watch them grow, until you can harvest the crop, or enjoy the flowers, you may consider your spiritual life, and include the thoughts in your prayer time. 

• How have you prepared yourself to receive God’s word? 
• What choices have you made? 
• What could you do to nurture God’s life within you? 

At the same time, we need to remember and pray for those who struggle with these matters, and, on a much more practical note, to pray for farmers everywhere as they work to produce food: this is a Coptic prayer from Egypt printed in the Christian Aid Prayer Diary:

Bless, O Lord, the plants, the vegetation and the herbs of the field,
that they may grow and increase to fullness and bear much fruit.
And may the fruit of the land remind us of the spiritual fruit we are to bear.
Amen

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Something to do

Light a candle and sit quietly, watching the flame. Think how a flame gives warmth and light: both of these are essential for life. Remember how God spoke to Moses from the burning bush. Remember how Jesus came as ‘The Light of the World’. Pray that your heart will be warmed by hearing God’s word, and your path lit as you follow Jesus.

A Prayer of St. Columba

My dearest Lord,
Be thou a bright flame before me,
Be thou a guiding star above me,
Be thou a smooth path beneath me,
Be thou a kindly shepherd behind me,
Today and for evermore.

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Dear Friends,

All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it.
1 Cor 12:27

This month I want to say two simple words – Thank you.

Thank you to all the people who volunteer at All Saints and contribute to our life together. People who volunteer in different ways, some practical, some spiritual, many that are both. Churches run on volunteers and they are frequently not easy to replace when for whatever reason they are no longer able to continue their service.

Service is a good word for volunteers. We may think of the servers as those who robe and assist at the altar during Holy Communion. We may think of ‘The Service’ as what we gather for on Sunday (or during the week). Both are related to worship. When we volunteer at church it is a part of our worship – our offering to God. And like all of our worship volunteering not only is a gift to God but enriches each of us spiritually.

http://www.cartoonchurch.com/

So do we have enough volunteers at All Saints? Well I have never known a Vicar who said that we had enough Volunteers! At All Saints we do pretty well however. Many congregations struggle, especially for the more spiritual roles such as serving, welcoming, hospitality, interceding or leading children’s work. There are many other areas of church life where we are well served too – after 16 months I still feel I am only exploring the tip of the iceberg of who does what! Whilst we would always welcome more people in these areas I am very impressed by the quantity (and quality) of those who give of themselves in these roles.

However where we struggle a little is in volunteers for some of the more one off practical things that need doing - working parties for example! There are a number of things that need special attention through this year. One is the impression we give at the entrances of the Church – our car park entrance is in good condition, but many people walk through the vicarage driveway. Another is the impression we give from the front of our hall, which is beginning to look a little tired. Those of us on the Mission Action Group have been thinking about these and other areas as we look towards the future.

Volunteering should never be about compulsion but vocation. Vocation means every one of us being who God has called us to be - it is not just about the ministry team! God has called each of us to a rich and rewarding life with him as part of his family the church. The Bible speaks of how we are one body with many parts – each with an essential role to play. If you would like some help reflecting on what your part may be in the body of the church then please drop me a line – I will be glad to talk and pray with you.

So here’s to the volunteers in all aspects of All Saints life. Every single one is valued and appreciated.



God bless,
Eddie

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JANUARY TASKS

There is a picture in ‘Scouting for Boys’ of Lord Baden-Powell sitting amidst the family fun of Xmas Day, writing letters. He said that a present wasn’t really yours until you had said ‘thank you’! – so, I ask, “Have you written your Xmas ‘thank you letters’ yet?” – And, while you are about it, why not write a letter to God as well, to say thank you for all his blessings, and for the greatest gift of all, the gift of His Son? 

And, have you made any New Year Resolutions? Mine is almost always the same (- which tells you how bad I am at keeping it!): I vow to be better at keeping in touch with my friends and relations by visits, letters and ‘phone calls. I reckon it would be good to include God in that list as well, and to try and spend time listening and being more alert to His presence!

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Sun 18th Jan Pulpit Swap - Revd Duncan Campbell will be preaching

Mon 19th Jan 8pm Kingswood Baptist

Tues 20th Jan 8pm Garston Community Church 

Wed 21st Jan 12.15pm North Watford Methodist

Thurs 22nd Jan 5.30pm - 7.30pm Leavesden Road

Baptist Family Flexi Church with singing, arts and crafts, activities and family food all welcome. Children must be accompanied by an adult

Fri 24th Jan 8pm Woodside Church of the Nazarene

Sat 25th Jan 10.30am Grace Communion at St Peters

Sun 26th Jan 4pm Christ Church

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Dear Friends,

Happy New Year!

In the New Year it is traditional to take a thoughtful look at ourselves and where we are – even who we are. I was reminded of this early December when I had to fill in a form describing the worshiping tradition and spirituality of the parish. Like many of these things the form soon descended into ‘Christianese’!

One option was Central – or ‘Middle of the Road’. Every Parish I have ever worshiped in thought it was ‘Middle of the Road’. Unfortunately the ‘Middle of the Road’ is always moving about - and there is a lot about us at All Saints that is not ‘Middle of the Road’. We have votive candles, incense, a robed choir, processions, servers, statues of saints, Stations of the Cross, and our main Sunday service is always Holy Communion. Not only do we have these things but we inhabit them - they are a part of how we pray, how we live and how we worship. We are not ‘Middle of the Road’.

So perhaps we are High Church - well this wasn't even an option! High always seems to come with a following ‘and Dry’ and All Saints is anything but dry. There is an infectious enthusiasm to our worship and family life, evidenced in how we share the peace, greet one another and wave flags. I know a few folks in a Matins congregation who would consider us rather Happy Clappy!

http://www.cartoonchurch.com/

Happy Clappy was also not on the list, but Charismatic was. You may associate Charismatic with Evangelical teaching and loud worship bands. Yet in Anglicanism the Charismatic started in churches much like All Saints and spread through places of pilgrimage like Walsingham. Archbishop Ramsey was a great supporter of the movement too. At All Saints we have an openness to the Spirit, especially expressed in prayer ministry and the laying on of hands, and in some of the more modern hymns, chants and songs we sing.

Inclusive was also (sadly) not on the list. At All Saints we have an openness to all people and their ministry irrespective of their gender or who they have fallen in love with. Fr. Jeffry John is an inspiration to many of us too. Last year Fr. Jeffrey visited All Saints with other ordained men and women who are members of the Society of Catholic Priests - he would describe himself as Anglo-Catholic.

As would I.

I am an Anglican Catholic, which ddoesn'tmean I am secretly a Roman Catholic, any more than an Anglican Evangelical is secretly a Baptist Evangelical. What it does mean is that I see Anglicanism as part of a great family of spirituality that includes Lutherans, Wesleyans, Roman Catholics, Orthodox, Middle and Far Eastern Christians. Catholic to me is a broad inclusive term that speaks of spirituality and depth. It sums up the richness of sign, symbol and sacrament we treasure at All Saints, and our welcome to all.

And so I put Catholic. And to reflect our openness to the work of the Spirit among us in action, prayer and song I went for … Contemporary Catholic.

Which doesn't really matter that much – forget the label, it was only for a form! But I hope the process of getting there reminds us of what is so special and unique at All Saints, as individuals and as a worshiping congregation. We bring together different paths and experiences into a community rooted in a precious history, centred on breaking of bread and sharing of wine as we offer our all to God. This New Year, may we all grow into the fullness of what God has called us to be.

With love.


Fr. Eddie

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For Christians Christmas is about the journey that God makes. God comes to us.

Rather than us as human beings reaching out to try and touch God, God reaches out and touches us amid the mess and dirt of human life. Among the animals Jesus is born and laid in a manger.

And it means this. God understands; God understands what it is to be human, to grow up, to feel sad, happy, lonely, and insecure, to feel pleasure and joy. And in that understanding we can meet with God. We can encounter God just as Mary and Joseph, Shepherds and Magi did 2000 years ago.

My prayer for you this Christmas is this. That you encounter God. Be it in the singing of carols, the gathering of family and friends, the sharing of food and presents, or in worship in Church. For this is the simple meaning of Christmas.

God is with us and we can know him. We can share Life with God.

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