Looking sideways

Dear friends,

I remember the cycling proficiency lady that came to our Primary School who impressed upon us all the life saving need to look in every single direction including behind you, when negotiating traffic on a bicycle, and especially at road junctions. “Right, left, right again, ahead and behind, then do it again!” I feel the world could do with her advice at the moment, as we stand on the edge (or perhaps in the middle of) a global junction that is the equivalent of the Handycross roundabout, with a very large articulated container jack-knifed across multiple lanes, and everyone swerving everywhere.

For while all our attention remains focussed upon the middle East, there are other areas of global stress which should, like Tolkien’s Ring of Power, not be forgotten; Ukraine/Russia, Chinese ambition, the Arctic, climate change. We need to keep talking and spending time with friends in Europe and across the pond. Our politics must rapidly move (is that an oxymoron?) beyond the happy navel gazing (fixing the NHS, fixing social care, “delivering” – whatever that means ), that assumes the rest of the world is a benign and reliable place. Fiddling with your water bottle or otherwise looking down, are the cyclist’s worse possible crime when you are on the move. Whatever you are doing on the road, you should not be looking at your feet. You look at your pedals in the workshop, and before you are start off, then not at all. Unless, of course, you find that they’ve fallen off.

Here among the lanes we daily see cyclists taking their sport or their leisure. One encounter of mine with a stationary cyclist a year or so ago stays with me. It could well be a parable of our times. The lycra clad sportsman was staring intently around him, and then at his mobile phone, obviously seeking direction. “Do you know where you are?” I asked, attempting to emulate the Good Samaritan as I passed by on foot. “Yes,” he replied, with certainty. Then, a hesitation. “But I don’t know where I’m going.”

While the world careers on its chaotic course, put a little certainty into your charts and come to church for our celebration this Sunday. We will pray, and pray again. The Lord be with you all.

Worship Services for Mothering Sunday 15th March 2026

9.30am Informal Worship at St John’s Stoke Row with Mr Peter Ferguson

11am Mothering Sunday All Age Worship at St Peter and Paul, Checkendon with Canon Kevin Davies. A friendly and informal celebration with songs, spring flowers and Simnel cake.

Midweek zoom service: Wednesday Evensong at 5.00pm  410 935 129

Home thoughts from abroad

Revd Emma Lowth ministers in London to Iranian Christians and refugees. She reports that there were widespread celebrations among them at the news of the US intervention, and Khamenei’s death. They regarded him as an evil man who had caused the death of thousands of their fellow Iranians, not least the twenty thousand in the January protests. The situation now is uncertain however, as the next steps for their country are not yet clear, and most of her contacts are unable to communicate in any way with loved ones back home. Also the different ethnic groups of Iranians often have very different views as to the way forward. She asks us to “please pray for freedom for the people of Iran – from political, spiritual, psychological, and religious forms of oppression. Pray for a strengthening of the hidden but growing underground church, so that it may be able to withstand the inevitable instability and minister love, grace and peace to their fellow Iranians.”

Our “Ten Minute Tuesday” Lent series continues this evening at 8pm. I’ll be reading extracts from Richard Foster’s book “Celebration of Discipline”, which explores some of the classical disciplines of the Christian life, with the aim to help us all on our spiritual journey as disciples of Christ. The zoom numbers you need are:  Meeting ID: 842 3186 5923 Passcode: 598598. Everyone is welcome, wherever you are in the Team ministry.

Here’s the Lenten blessing used at this season in the Church of England. “Christ give us grace to grow in holiness, deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow him. May the blessing of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, be with us all.” Amen to that.

Your Rector, Canon Kevin.