July 2025, letter from the rector

Dear Sisters and Brothers,

What matters? Many things matter, here are three: trusting God, following our vocation, talking about Jesus.

I do trust that God will give me the words I need, and that I am attentive so that I might realise. As with so many things, the prayer that Jesus taught can direct us: '..thy will be done'. How long will it take me? A lifetime of getting things wrong as well, sometimes, as right. For me trusting God is about asking for forgiveness for when I mistake my desire, for what is right. It is a prayer for the grace to know the difference. I trust in God to work his plan through my mistakes as well as those times when I see, mainly through the beauty of other people, his way, and his image.

Following our vocation is both complicated and simple. Again the prayer that Jesus taught, the Lord's prayer, directs us: thy will be done. What has God called you to? What is God calling you to? Trust God. It can sometimes be an affirmation, a knowledge that all is well and that you are Christ's hands and feet in the world, doing whatever it is you are doing. Sometimes it seems like a nudge...God moves you into a different phase, season, place. It can be complicated, an upheaval, a whole change in priorities even. It can be simple, a feeling of attunement and flow. It can be both, and all of those things. God calls us, so that his perfect love finds a home in us.

The third thing, talk about Jesus. It can be easy, and can be challenging. Do you know the Icon of Christ and Abbot Mena? It's a beautiful image, I've added it below and is sometimes referred to by this title: Christ and His Friend. In the icon, which dates to the second half of the 6th century, Jesus has an arm around the shoulders of Abbot Mena. All kinds of things are beautiful about this image, and among them the view that Jesus is our friend, that he has his arm around our shoulders. This, I believe, is so lovely. Talking about Jesus, about how there are scenes in the gospels that make me feel I could be there, because Jesus' words and actions have an utter authenticity, humanity, and divinity about them, feels natural as I think of Jesus as a friend with an arm around my shoulders, someone I naturally want to tell others about.

Thank you for making me feel so welcome here. Truly, it is so appreciated. As I look forward to getting to know you better I hope we can draw on our faith and be missional people, trusting God, following our vocation, talking about Jesus. I am looking forward to fitting in (I hope I will!) with the ways you show love for one another across our wonderful benefice of five churches, and love for the communities they abide within. Jesus said "By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another" (John 13:35).

With much love for all we share in the Gospel of Christ, I am ever yours, Fr David

Image, in the public domain, from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Icon_of_Christ_and_Abbot_Mena