This month’s letter from the clergy
Dear Friends
It hasn’t rained for two days! This does feel like an occasion for celebration, however short-lived the respite from the rain might be. Layers of clothing have been removed, gardening has started in earnest, spring as perceived by ordinary mortals as opposed to meteorologists has arrived. We’ve had to wait for it; weeks of damp, grey, wet weather have passed. Patience is a virtue, they say.
This feels to me like a picture of our recruitment of a new rector for this group of churches, the Coln River Benefice. We’ve been patiently (or occasionally less patiently) waiting for the process to happen; there have been false dawns, steps made along the road. At the moment, we’re waiting for a cycle of advertising to complete and the closing date for applications is nigh – and hopefully, in God’s goodness, we will end up with a new rector. If you’re interested, the advertisement is on the website of the Diocese of Gloucester.In the meantime, it’s very much business as usual. There have been many encouragements along the way. People are getting married, babies are being baptised and funerals are taking place. The routine of services in eight churches is firmly established. Attendance at church services is encouraging. As an example, over 500 people attended church services in this community over Christmas, and over 200 at Easter.
God promises in his word, the Bible, that He has plans for us.
The book of Jeremiah tells us:
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord,
“plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”That promise applies to each of our lives, of course, as well as to the Coln River Benefice. God is blessing us now, and will bless us in the future, and in due course will provide us with a new rector.
If the meantime, we can be contacted through our Area Dean, Revd Katrina Scott. She is acting as point of contact for urgent pastoral matters, and for baptisms, weddings and funerals. She can be reached on 07940 791380.
Wishing you every blessing Tony Barron