Walk in the Light

Dear friends

It has been a blessing to see the sun, at long last, over the last few days. We emerge, blinking, into the light, after a winter gloom that has gone on for far too long. We can only hope and pray that the world at large gets the message – that there are other ways of solving problems than by violence, and/or money. Shining a light (truth? justice? mercy?) can reveal a different path, although St John is realistic regarding the human heart. “People love the darkness rather than the light because they prefer to keep their wickedness hidden.”  The Lenten invitation is to put away this side of our nature, and to come again to Christ, the light of our lives. “Those who do what is true come to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that their deeds have been done in God” (John 3:19-21)

In the garden, the sunlight is waking everything up; tawny owl is calling in her tree, badger is digging the lawn (moss) for leatherjackets, and the overslept Narcissi, “February Glory” have at last burst into bloom, rejoicing in their pot and bringing a welcome lift to us all. The pecking order is in full operation on the bird feeders, and the apple trees are pruned and tidy, and one rotted stump simply being lifted away. Rectory Rhubarb, a little weary from all the frost, is good and green in youthful vigour. The areas of main crop rhubarb dug out last year have refused their eviction order, and are simply starting again, to the gardener’s amazement, and wry humour. The cultivated croci  at the front haven’t lasted long (muntjac?) before being nipped off, but the wild croci all around are left untouched, presumably because they aren’t so bright, so are invisible at night. Or they just don’t taste as good.

Worship Services for Sunday 16th March 2025

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

11am Family Baptism Service at St Peter and Paul, Checkendon with Canon Kevin Davies. A friendly all age service service, with the music group, and refreshments afterwards.

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

Pray for

The families and friends of Sara (Sue) Hall and Mary Weller, whose funerals are at Checkendon this morning at 11.15am and on Saturday (15th) at 11am respectively. You are very welcome to join us for either or both of these services, as we say fond farewells to two valued members of the Checkendon community.

Please also give thanks for the safe arrival of Sophie Alice Hildred, who will be baptised at Checkendon this coming Sunday at the Family Service. Again, you are warmly invited.

This week’s Lenten challenge is a book to read. Rupert Shortt is a Roman Catholic, and one of the UK’s most gifted contemporary apologists for the Christian faith. His latest book has the provocative title “The eclipse of Christianity” and is published by Hodder. It is a wide ranging analysis of “how society got to here” and offers plenty of helpful insights. It is not a book to rush, but one that you can chew over, being divided into three main sections: western society, the church, and contemporary culture.

Whether you’ve been touched by loss in the last few months, or are currently caught up in the 6 nations rugby, you’ll find a blessed overlap in the hymn Abide with Me, here sung by Hayley Westenra at the Rugby League challenge cup final at Wembley in 2009.

May the Lord bless you and keep you.

Revd Kevin