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On the Spot

February 2025: Time

I’m writing this at the beginning of a new year.  Christmas, with all its celebrations and accompanying stress seems like a long way away now. Was it only a few weeks ago we were singing carols? The adverts are now encouraging us to book up the summer holiday.

The shops, filled, it seems, since last October with decorations and Christmas music, have moved on very quickly. The next big thing is Valentine’s Day. Hearts, cards and romance now dominate their shelves. It’s time to celebrate, declare our love for someone we know with boxes of chocolates and bunches of flowers.

It made me think how sad it is that life moves on so quickly from one event to another. We always seem to be looking forward to the next thing and somehow missing what’s happening today. We’ve hardly had a chance to enjoy today, when we’re thinking of tomorrow. As a result, memories are difficult to make and life can become very shallow.

A verse from Psalm 31 has helped me a lot through these past two years, following bereavement and cancer treatment: “I trust in you, O Lord; you are my God. My times are in
your hands”. Life is not always easy so how are we to respond to times of pain and sickness?  Do we put on a happy face and pretend all is well?  Do we blame God or try to find strength within ourselves to get through a crisis?  Or can we be honest and trust that God is with us, an ever-present help in trouble as another psalm, Psalm 46 reminds us.

Our times are in His hands – there will always be difficult times, but knowing that He is with us through all the ups and downs of life, can give us great comfort and reassurance.

Engraved in the metal work of a sun dial in Niagara Park are these words: “Make time, save time, while time lasts. All time is no time when time is past”.

Time is very precious. Knowing that it is in God’s hands, can ease the stress of life and give us a peace that can only come from Him. He knows the timetable of our lives. He asks us to trust Him with our lives and with our time.

So when you find life rushing past so fast that you can hardly find the time to think, remember this verse and allow yourself time to thank God for today, and appreciate all he wants to do for you and through you today!

Pam Williams


Please note there is no  On the Spot for January, as the last edition of Catch This was for December & January.


 

December 2024: For what are we hoping ?

As I write this, Donald Trump has just been voted in as the next President of the United States.  Just a few days ago the Conservative Party voted in Kemi Badenoch as their leader and in the summer, we voted in a Labour government by a significant majority.  How all this makes you feel will depend on your political position but, in political voting, there is one thing at its heart – the hope of better things to come.  Whether or not that hope will be realised or dashed, only time will tell.  When society fears, it reaches for hope in change. When individuals suffer, it is hope that sustains.

 

On 5 November, Sir Chris Hoy spoke in an interview on the BBC about his desire to give hope to others like him who have a similar prognosis; he has stage 4 cancer. The programme
was entitled, Finding Hope and presents a positive approach to dealing with such adversity.

 

Linked to this are two questions: ‘For what are we hoping?’, and ‘On what do we base that hope?’  If we hope for a change in the political landscape, we vote based on our trust in the party or individuals who might be able to make that happen.  As we look at conflicts around the globe, we hope for peace but are left feeling helpless as there appears to be little upon which to rest that hope, as we see leaders or factions consumed by power, greed and anger.

 

So many people around the world, but especially in the Middle East, are hoping for peace. This was also the case over 2000 years ago, as Judah found herself an occupied nation and annexed by Rome. 
The birth of Jesus was heralded, by those who were present in the area, as a truly glorious event.

 

As Jesus began his ministry, it was soon clear that something very special was happening, even though many had the wrong idea about who he was.  To see a new ‘king’ perform signs and wonders would have given the people of Judah so much hope but that hope was for the wrong change.

 

At the end of November, we celebrate a Sunday entitled Christ the King. The Gospel reading has Jesus saying, “My kingdom is not from this world”.  

 

Our hope is not in the earthly: it is in the heavenlies and a kingdom which cannot be destroyed or affected by the weaknesses and frailties of humanity. Our hope – seen in part now but in full for eternity – is in the love of Jesus Christ.  As God the Son, he laid aside all that majesty to die but be raised so that we could exist for all time in the love of God.  Our hope, just like the Kingdom of God, is not of this world. The Psalmist knew this all too well when he wrote, “We put our hope in the Lord.  He is our help and our shield.  21In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name.  22Let your unfailing love surround us, Lord, for our hope is in you alone.” (Psalm 33:20-22)

 

I pray that as you set your eyes, not on the earthly, but on the heavenlies, this Christmas, you will renew your trust and hope in the person of Jesus Christ, the ultimate source of all hope, love, joy and peace.

Grace and peace.

 


 

November 2024: Why do we remember?

November comes at a time of year when the leaves are falling, the days are growing shorter and the weather is usually getting colder. Although, as I write this in October we are in the aftermath of the wettest September on record. 

 

November is often seen as a time of remembrance.  We start with commemorating All Saints' Day on 3 November when the church has traditionally given thanks for the lives of all the many saints who have brightened the world with their good and sometimes quirky lives.  This is also the date that St. Leonard’s celebrates its patronal festival, so we have the rare opportunity to join the congregation at Shipham for an 0800 Holy Communion service followed by breakfast, before travelling across to Axbridge for Parish Communion.
 

 

Also on Sunday 3 November at 1600 at St. Leonard’s, Shipham, we hold our All Souls’ service when we recall those known to us who have died and we give thanks for their lives.  This is not a Communion service and is particularly suitable for those who have lost loved ones at any time. We will read out the names of everyone who has had a funeral or committal in our benefice in the last three years in which one of our Ministers has been involved, and there will also be an opportunity for everyone to light a candle in remembrance of their loved one, however long ago the loss may have been.

 

The following week, on Sunday 10 November, the focus is on those who've lost their lives in war, serving their country in the two World Wars and in more recent conflicts.  On each of these occasions, we reflect on the past.  We have Remembrance services in Axbridge and Shipham, both starting at 1050, and Rowberrow at 1600. 

 

So what is the value of remembering?  Sometimes, as we look back, we are in danger of looking through rose-tinted spectacles.  The danger is that we see only a selective picture.  But there is also a danger of living entirely in the present, without ever reflecting on the past.  

 

In January we will once again be running a course called The Bereavement Journey.  Losing loved ones is never easy and the process of letting go and arriving at a place where we can remember well is 
complex and takes time. This course helps provide us with the tools to do this and it is suitable for anyone, with or without faith, who has lost anyone at any time.  The course runs for 7 weeks from Tuesday 7 January in the Church Rooms in Axbridge next year. Do look at this month’s issue of Catch This or contact me for more details.

 

 In the book of Genesis, at the beginning of the Bible we read “God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light” (Genesis 1.3).  That light which came in the darkness of night to reconcile, to heal and to restore, was Jesus Christ;  a sign that God had kept his promise and remembered his broken people.  In this season of Remembrance let the living remember: “From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the Lord is to be praised.” (Psalm 113.3)

Every blessing,  

Sue

 


 

October 2024: Harvesting our talents

We find ourselves in harvest season, which I love.  It is a time to stop and take stock of our blessings.  I am very aware that this might not be the easiest thing to do, as many folk in our community are struggling with all manner of challenges but we do have blessings for which to give thanks to our heavenly Father.  Each year at harvest, I seem to come up with a theme that flows through each service I do. Last year, I gave thanks for the amazing produce that is locally grown and on our own doorsteps; in some cases, literally, as people sell or give away produce at the end of their drives.

 

This year I was struck by the sheer variety of produce which is available to us in our supermarkets. Morrisons sell 15 varieties of potatoes, 12 types of tomatoes and about 60 types of loaf. This is in stark contrast to the shelves in stores around the world where to have just one type of bread would provide the food for the day. With choice, however, comes responsibility: we all make our own decisions based on many factors, but I hope that we will choose what to buy with a mind to its provenance, if possible.

 

This harvest I have stopped to give thanks for a different variety of gifts – the gifts and talents that are   in   our   churches   and   communities.   Gifts of prayer,  of   encouragement,  of  hospitality,  of welcome and of reconciliation.Gifts of loving care, of support, of practical help, of being a good neighbour. The list goes on and on, so I apologise if I have missed out your particular gift.

 

The wonderful thing is that God has made each one of us unique, with our own personalities and skill to give to our communities. We need to embrace our uniqueness and not strive to be like anyone else.

 

Paul, in his letter to the Corinthians, talks about this twice: once, when he talks about spiritual gifts of the Holy Spirit being different and given for specific purposes (1 Corinthians 12:4-11); then, in the second part of the same chapter, he talks about each one of us being equally valued as a member of the body of Christ. No one has a right to think of themselves more highly than others; conversely, no one should diminish their own place in that community.

 

We really are blessed to have so many gifts and talents used in our communities. This harvest, I do thank God for all his provision, not least in the variety of produce and people which enrich our lives. May you, too, be able to stop for a moment and give thanks to God for his gifts to us, however they might be received.

 

Grace and peace,

Alistair

 


 

September 2024: Exciting times

Wow, what a time of worship we enjoyed together on 4th August at St Gregory’s, Weare.  This was a vision of the possibilities to come.  At the start of the service each group of folk identified which parish they came from.  This was important as we needed to recognise the different parts, before we could come together.  The amazing thing to me was that all were evenly spread throughout the congregation.  During the service the singing was uplifting, the giving of the peace was all inclusive, and the sense of hope for the future, tangible.  After the service, the biscuits were delicious and the conversations excited.

 

As we look to the future, the hard work of deciding how we integrate the four parishes, whilst valuing what already exists, will start.  This work will need all of us to undergird it
with prayer.  Prayer for grace, wisdom, and generosity in understanding one another.  Like any new family unit, old traditions will have to be integrated with new traditions.

 

We are not alone in treading this path to a new benefice. In our own Deanery there are three groups of parishes that are following their own paths to forming new benefices.  Throughout the Diocese of Bath and Wells, there are something like 28 new benefices being formed. Some are finding the process more difficult than others, but the grace of God is to be found in each situation.

 

In Bishop Michael’s thoughts for this month, he describes how, in providing so much high-quality wine at the wedding of Cana, “Jesus is showing us that at heart, God is abundantly and astonishingly generous”.  God’s grace has been abundantly, astonishingly and generously shared with us all.

 

God’s grace has enabled Crook Peak to not only survive the last three years in vacancy, but to become a parish confident in its place in the Kingdom of Heaven.  God’s grace has enabled the parishes of Rowberrow, Shipham and Axbridge to weather the storm of Alistair’s illness and become confident in their place in God’s plan.

 

Our faith in the living Jesus has enabled us, as I said, to weather the storms we have faced in the past.  Our faith in Jesus and God’s extravagantly given grace, will enable us to withstand any future storms together, as a new benefice.

By Gary Orriss

Reader (Lay Minister) to Crook Peak Parish

Lay Dean Axbridge Deanery


 

August 2024: Gifts

It’s no secret that we recently moved house after 49 years at Beech Road downsizing to a smaller property nearer the centre of Shipham. As we are both in our late seventies, we were glad we have not left moving any later in our lives!

Right from the word go, both of us were convinced that God was with us in this venture and when we looked back, we could see how things that looked bad turned out to be a better way after all. Also there were several times when a fortuitous conversation gave us answers to seemingly intractable problems. Unasked for signs of God’s free grace. We both believe prayers were being answered big time!

As I was sitting in our new beautiful garden, I realised for the first time, that, unlike our previous garden, I had had no hand in its creation. What I was looking at was a gift: although it had been untended for several months, it was in lovely condition with few weeds and a lot of colour. I found myself looking at it for what it is, a gift, rather than thinking of all the jobs needing to be done as I would have done before. I suddenly realised that here in front of me is a gift and I knew I needed to receive and enjoy it as such, a gift of the love and care from the previous owner all for me.

It made me wonder, especially as we seem to be surrounded by negativity and in the recent election, heard much about all the things that may be wrong, that we need to spend time thinking about good things, those things which have come unbidden and undeserved, God’s gifts of grace. There are lots if you stop and take the time to reflect and think about them!

As Christians we believe that the greatest gift is the knowledge of God’s unconditional and undeserved love and acceptance revealed through Jesus Christ. If we think about it, it is a love none of us can have any hope of ever deserving. Yet it’s there, free for all of us, regardless of our past or present circumstances. But like all presents it needs to be opened and if you do you will find forgiveness, acceptance, new life packed in there too. Jesus had no boundaries to those he would bless, he even forgave those nailing him to the cross.

I believe he stands with hands outstretched, inviting us to receive God’s love.

All we have to do is say yes. 

By Peter Rutter


 

July 2024: One body

Paul, in his letter to the church in Corinth, makes an excellent analogy between the human body and the body of Christ – the Church. As we read chapter 12, we see this analogy unfold. Sadly, the church in Corinth was in difficulty, with divisions and quarrels amongst other things. So in this chapter, as we receive it today, Paul is addressing the issue of self-importance and self-deprecation. The God-inspired analogy works so well in this scenario and cuts to the heart of those who have been causing upset and division. He begins quite directly, “There is one body, but it has many parts. But all its many parts make up one body.” Then he progresses, “Suppose the foot says, “I am not a hand. So I don’t belong to the body.” This is an important lesson for us all. Self-deprecation can lead to communities not flourishing. We can exhibit such a British trait of playing down what we do but it is important that each one of us sees our gifts and talents as being, firstly, God-given and, secondly, vital for the benefit of the whole body. 

Two things come out of this: we need to exercise the gifts and talents that we have as well as avoiding putting down someone else. As Bishop Michael writes in his letter for this month, “All of us are needed.” Paul ends this passage with this: “If one part suffers, every part suffers with it. If one part is honoured, every part shares in its joy.” The first part of this is so true for us as we have suffered so much loss over the past couple of years so it is even more important that we share in our joys in order to build up the body. 

Our body will be growing and, in some respects, this has already been happening. At a previous Deanery Synod, it was formally agreed that Axbridge, Shipham and Rowberrow would be combining with Crook Peak parish; a new, bigger body for us all. As we reflect on 1 Corinthians 12 in relation to this, we need to recognise that all of us will have a role to play in how this happens. Whilst there may be change which might be challenging, we can focus on the joys which a greater community can bring. I have been delighted to see Crook Peak folk travel to some of our special services in the past months and equally delighted to see that there is much travel in the opposite direction. Already, we are exploring what it means to be together and that will stand us in good stead for when we become one, officially, at the end of 2025. 

On 4th of August, we will have a completely united service at St Gregory’s church in Weare at 10am. There will be no other services on that day in the hope that we will all gather together in praise and worship; a wonderful opportunity to get to know each other. It would be lovely to see many of you at that Holy Communion service where my introduction to The Peace will take on an even greater significance, “We are all one in Christ Jesus. We belong to him through faith, heirs of the promise of the Spirit of peace.” I pray that peace will reign as we celebrate each other’s gifts and learn what it means to be a larger part of Christ’s body here on earth. 

Grace and peace to you all. 

Alistair 


 

June 2024: Are we running a good race? 

With the Olympics approaching, it’s always interesting to see which athletes are competing again, hoping to win another medal or break another world record. You always wonder how they can keep up the level of training required over four years.

 

Someone who was in the headlines recently was three-time Olympic gold medallist, Adam Peaty, who has been selected as part of the British team for Paris 2024. He holds the world record for 100m breaststroke and has won Gold at both Rio in 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Olympics. But it was interesting to read how he credits his motivation to continue competing, not just to his coaches, but to his Christian faith and church community.

 

There was a time when he couldn’t cope with the pressure and isolation of competing and his mental health kept him out of the pool. It was a very lonely journey and despite his success, Peaty found the three years since the last Olympics in Tokyo difficult. He broke up with the mother of his young son and struggled with depression and alcoholism. He felt burnt out and wanted to give up his faith as well as his swimming.

 

But he decided to go back to church in Nottingham and realised that here was a community who was there for him no matter what – people who came from all walks of life who accepted him. This helped him get his life into perspective and to feel at home there.

 

When interviewed by BBC Sport, he explained that his Christian faith helped him to stay grounded and be a better athlete. Also to be a better father and friend, being accountable to others. He said reading the Bible encouraged him during the challenging moments. Looking ahead to the Olympics, Peaty said he has been highly blessed and feels he has already personally won, regardless of the outcome.

 

This is such a positive story for all of us, whether we’re Olympic athletes or not. Living out the teachings of Jesus is not always easy – in fact it has been compared to running a race. We’re encouraged to throw off everything that gets in the way and run with endurance the race set out for us. St Paul, after many trials and difficulties could say that he had fought the good fight, he had finished the race, he had kept the faith. He encourages us to persevere, stay focused, and run the race of faith with endurance.

 

We may not be an Olympic athlete, but we too can find strength and encouragement by joining a Christian community; and reading the Bible can give us spiritual guidance and direction too. The life of Jesus in the gospels can inspire us and give us hope for the future, as it did for Adam.

 

Have a great summer of 2024 Olympics!  

Pam Williams


 

May 2024: The blame game

“He made me do it!”, the cry used to ring out in our household as one son or the other sought to salve his conscience over something he had accidentally or even deliberately done. 

 

We seem to live in a blame society these days, always wanting to point the finger at some individual or organisation which has slipped from grace. Beware! When you point a finger, three other fingers are pointing back at you!

 

This made me think about how Jesus would handle the potential for blame.

 

I’ve looked in the gospels and can find no record of him blaming anyone Yes he criticises people such as the Pharisees for hypocrisy and not looking after the poor, and the sick etc, but criticism is very different from blame.

 

I wonder what I would do if I was being held down on a cross and someone from the occupying enemy forces was hammering large nails through my wrists and feet before subjecting me to a cruel humiliating and painful death? What would I think about the Romans? The Jewish leaders? The crowd who called for his crucifixion? What does Jesus do?

 

"Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing!"

 

Amazing! That would never occur to me. I’m sure I would be screaming abuse at anyone within earshot. But forgive? Wow!

 

I think our blame society has lost sight of the act of forgiveness. I expect many will remember the bombing in Enniskillen where a father endured holding his daughter as she died in his arms. What did he do? He forgave the IRA! Yes, there was no argument the IRA had committed the atrocity and were to blame but he saw beyond that, the past couldn’t be changed, but as a result he together with others in similar situations worked for peace in Northern Ireland which eventually bore fruit with the Good Friday agreement.

 

Forgiving isn’t easy, it isn’t, "Sorreeeee!" as a small boy was forced to apologise to his brother. It is a journey, it can be costly as a lady who lost her daughter in the London tube bombing will tell. She gave up her role as a Christian priest because she found herself unable to forgive the terrorists but I believe the very act of knowing and accepting she couldn’t and needed to was the first step towards being able to forgive on a long journey she may never be able to complete.

 

Forgiveness is desperately needed by the world as the first choice towards Reconciliation. Facing the pain, even your abuser. Desmond Tutu’s Peace and Reconciliation tribunal in South Africa is testament to the power of forgiveness and avoided a potential bloodbath there.

 

For most of us the need to forgive is nearer home but every bit just as important. ‘Forgive us as we forgive’ in the words of the Lord’s Prayer. God has forgiven us, maybe He wants us to forgive others too?

 

Forgiveness is so much more about healing than the blaming!

 

Blessings, Peter Rutter


March 2024: Be transformed

As I write this, the snowdrops, crocuses (or is it croci?), and the first daffodils are flowering and spring is just starting to poke its nose through.

It’s difficult in the murky days of February to write something for you to read at the end of March shortly before Easter. But then isn’t that what the journey through Lent is all about?

Up to about the year 1300, the main emphasis of the church was the gift of eternal life through Jesus’ passion and resurrection. Christmas was, comparatively speaking, a festival of lesser importance. Yet, if you think about it, it is the most amazing blessing available to us from God our Father. John’s gospel says: ‘For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.’ Easter in a nutshell!

I believe that this promise is not something confined to when we die but something that we can start to experience in the here and now. We are fortunate to live in the countryside and have no difficulty in experiencing nature bursting into life all around us, a kaleidoscope of colours and blossoms. In the next few months, be amazed at how many shades of green there is! Watch the first butterflies emerging especially the sulphur-bright Brimstone.

Even if you are housebound, open the windows and listen to the birdsong all around.  Nature is in overdrive (if you can remember cars with that feature!)

But all this only comes about because of the presence of winter, life was always there, it was just that we couldn’t see it. So with us, we may be going through a difficult time in life of pain or loss or illness or doubts that challenge the very roots of our faith in God, or we may not have a faith at all, but that doesn’t change the fact I believe in that his presence is always there even if we can’t feel it.

Just like winter the life is still there, hidden, waiting for us to see it, the unconditional love of God never goes away, we simply lose sight of it.

So this year come with us during Holy Week, enter the darkness of the Tenebrae service, join us with the story of the last supper on Maundy Thursday evening and walk the passion on Good Friday with us. Enter the tomb on Easter Saturday to be transformed to new life on Easter Sunday. The Christian message is about love, forgiveness and life, life in abundance!

A very happy and blessed Easter to you all.

Peter Rutter

 

 

 

Last Updated by HJF 31 Jan 2025

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