Reverend Mary Barnes shares her
thoughts each month.
I love watching cookery programmes and pouring over the latest cookery
magazines. I enjoy trying new recipes and getting ideas to update favourite
family meals. One major change over recent years is that we are now encouraged
to look at and choose food that is in season and relish the ever changing seasonal
choice on offer in our supermarkets and through farmers' markets. I believe it is
good to choose food in season but it can be challenging to adjust and change the
family meals to use the freshest and best ingredients on offer.
The church ebbs and flows as it moves through the different celebrations and seasons of the year and this is reflected in the different hymns, music and prayers that we use. The changing seasons offer us different aspects of our faith to reflect upon.
February 22nd is Ash Wednesday and in the service people can receive the sign of the cross in ash on their foreheads. It marks the beginning of the six weeks of Lent as the church prepares for the celebration of Easter. Lent is sometimes viewed as a time of 'give something up' but it is an important time of preparation for Easter. The 'giving up ' offers time to focus on what is important and to declutter. The benefit of decluttering is not just doing without wine or chocolates or whatever your choice, but creating space in our lives for rest and time to reflect. Too often our lives are full and I certainly end up rushing from one thing to another. Taking time out is an important aspect of the Christian year and our Christian lives. It gives us space to think about what is important and maybe to reassess whether we give it sufficient time and priority in our planning.
The gospels are full of accounts of Jesus taking time out from the demands made upon his ministry. He took time to be with his friends, talk with them, share meals and especially took time apart from the bustle and noise of life to be still and to pray.
The church ebbs and flows as it moves through the different celebrations and seasons of the year and this is reflected in the different hymns, music and prayers that we use. The changing seasons offer us different aspects of our faith to reflect upon.
February 22nd is Ash Wednesday and in the service people can receive the sign of the cross in ash on their foreheads. It marks the beginning of the six weeks of Lent as the church prepares for the celebration of Easter. Lent is sometimes viewed as a time of 'give something up' but it is an important time of preparation for Easter. The 'giving up ' offers time to focus on what is important and to declutter. The benefit of decluttering is not just doing without wine or chocolates or whatever your choice, but creating space in our lives for rest and time to reflect. Too often our lives are full and I certainly end up rushing from one thing to another. Taking time out is an important aspect of the Christian year and our Christian lives. It gives us space to think about what is important and maybe to reassess whether we give it sufficient time and priority in our planning.
The gospels are full of accounts of Jesus taking time out from the demands made upon his ministry. He took time to be with his friends, talk with them, share meals and especially took time apart from the bustle and noise of life to be still and to pray.
Vicar's Message
From the Reverend Mary...