From the associate minister... 

Dear friends

As we come towards the end of the year, I have a confession… just lately I have been feeling like I don’t know whether I’m coming or going! My husband, Rob, has spent quite a lot of time in hospital, which has put me in a bit of a whirl. But I had also not realised how dependent I had become on the school holidays punctuating my year to give me a sense of what season it was, and, like Pavlov’s dogs, I responded to the school bell to let me know whereabouts in the school day it was too. 

I am realigning myself to new rhythms of life here at SBC. Of course, if I look out the window of the office I share with Katie and Hilary, I can see the changes of season. But I am challenged to take note of what season God is calling me in and the work of his Spirit in our church. Many of our great hymn writers call us to take note that seasons change, while God remains constant and faithful, (‘Summer and winter, and springtime and harvest’ and ‘We blossom and flourish like leaves on a tree, and wither and perish – but naught changeth Thee’ – bonus points if you can name the hymns!).

Throughout the Old Testament God called his people to take time out at different times of the year to remember and celebrate his goodness to them. There are seven Jewish festivals mentioned in the Bible, and of course there is the weekly festival of Shabbat, a day to rest. These times to stop, celebrate, repent, spend time in community, rejoice, remember, feast, fast and worship, ground the worshipper in time and space with God at the very centre. 

We all need rhythm and routine. I am therefore really looking forward to the Monday–Thursday daily prayer and reflection that we will be holding over Zoom from 4 November. This won’t replace my own prayer and Bible reading, but is a great way to begin the day, realising that I am in this with others in our church community. Creating a daily rhythm of praying with others is life-giving and I hope that you will join us, as and when you can. The Zoom link will be on our website, but here are the details too:

Monday–Thursday (from 4 November) 9.15–9.30 https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89443073299? pwd=dywBQowb7BqGug8GkKsw24uMofa0uN.1 Meeting ID: 894 4307 3299 Passcode: 349678 God bless you