From the heart

Dear friends,

It is still dark and gloomy. Winter drags its feet with a week of grey and icy wind from the east. The national mood is perfectly summarised by the Southport families, speaking over the weekend for the first time about the horrific murder of their young girls last July. They are “looking for the light.” Their story is harrowing, their grief a lifelong sentence. Who will walk with them on this dreadful road, I wonder? In the landscape of loss pious platitudes are cold comfort. Companionship, a listening ear, respectful silence, friendship that is faithful, (that is, both dependable and prayerful), and safe spaces for sharing of story can be footholds on the rocky path.

I wonder who you turn to, when you are hurting? St Valentine (on Friday) aside from being a chance for a marketing/spending splurge between Christmas and Mothering Sunday could be an opportunity for all of us not just to pretend we are young lovers again, but to give thanks for the care and consideration that we receive every day; from the small neighbourly acts of kindness that make our community worth the name, to the faithful love of God in Christ, who knows the deepest places of our hearts, and who does not condemn.

“The greatest gift is love”, wrote St Paul in his letter to the Corinthians. The greek word used is “agape” (pronounced “agapay”) which means “self-giving”. The King James bible famously translated this as “charity” – perhaps to try to communicate this outward movement. The earliest communion services in the church were described as “agape meals” – a simple form of bring and share supper in which the death and resurrection of Jesus would be recalled. Christ’s giving of himself upon the cross for each of us is held up as the exemplar of love for us to emulate if we can. St John describes it in his letter: “My friends, if this is how God first loved us, so too should we also love one another.” (1 John 4:7-11). Herein is light. Let us hold closely to one another as we walk in it.

Worship Services for Sunday 16th February 2025

9.30am Informal Worship at St John’s Stoke Row with Revd Romey Poston

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

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

Nature notes

At twilight for the last few days we have been visited by a tawny owl. “Hoo, Hoo,” she goes, over in the trees by the track. We still have not spotted her, but she, I am sure, knows all about us. The two woodpeckers visit the two nut feeders, front and back, red rumped and splendid. For them, the blue tits show due deference. There was one day of sunshine last week, and it was a joy to get into the garden to tidy things up  a little. Winter always makes such a mess!

The orange-suited workmen (seasonal visitors?) who caused such disruption last week with their open and shut methods of road closure are back again today “for one day only” – we are promised, once more cutting the main road between Checkendon and Stoke Row. The wildlife in the lanes and hedgerows groans, as traffic volumes and driver frustration mounts, and verges are also mounted and churned to mud. More mud.

Returning to St Valentine, here are two absolute classic love songs from the 70’s: 10cc’s 1975 smash hit “I’m not in love” (which took me years to understand…he really is) and from the soundtrack of Saturday Night Fever, the BeeGees “How deep is your love“. Both give a good chance to reflect on and give thanks for those who mean (or meant) so much to us. Light a candle, whatever you else you may do this week.

God bless you

Revd Kevin.