What Matters?
Dear reader,
What matters to you?
This is a question some health care professionals are being encouraged to ask their patients. For some it will be to manage their condition/disease/injury so that they can spend time with their family, for some it will be to walk down the aisle without crutches, for some it might be to continue to be able to come to church, for others it will be to run a marathon! Wasn’t it amazing to see in the news the story of the woman whose arm was bitten off by a crocodile but only a few days later continued with the wedding service she had been planning; and could still say that it was the happiest day of her life. When we are working for something we really believe in we can have God given amazing resilience.
What matters to us? It is also a question that the Church of England’s “Thy Kingdom Come” initiative challenges us to consider. Over ten days between Ascension and Pentecost many people across the country are praying specifically for five people who they would love to see know more about Jesus. What difference would it make to us and to them? As we pray we are called to be thankful- to appreciate things and people around us, to receive help from God and to accept help from others. Life is hard enough even with God so let’s not make it worse by trying to live as if God and Church don’t matter.
This week at St Mary’s in Uttoxeter we have had the privilege of welcoming a wonderful group of Year 4 children from most of the first schools in the area. Together we have explored “Pentecost Experience” which was lots of fun. We made bunting which blows in the wind of the Spirit, we worked together to make poppies of remembrance, and a flame picture and we are bold enough to do acts of kindness. We shared God’s love with each other, and all had a lovely day in the Church and in the garden around it.
Just like the disciples found when they were changed by the Holy Spirit - when something is important there is lots to talk about and the disciples talked in different languages. By the Holy Spirit our words and actions, prayers and kindness can change what matters.
Through the Holy Spirit, by prayer and action may Thy Kingdom Come.
Jesus matters, you matter, the Church matters. Hurray.
Every blessing
Lucy Toyn