Vicar’s Voice – May 2021

We can attribute ‘change’ to many months of the year, but I think May is the month of the biggest changes.

The force of nature gets to work to change our landscapes and gardens, as flowers and trees bud and blossom, crops grow and yield, and these events inspire and perhaps challenge us with renewed energy to get busy with tidying up our gardens and patios, refreshing borders with bedding plants and veggie patches with all kinds of produce. My love is pots and pots of red geraniums, which were my dad’s favourite flower, and when they are in full bloom, I feel dad is watching down and smiling at the glorious blooms……and my efforts!!

(Photo: my dad at his greenhouse “potting on”)


Mandy's Dad - potting on.jpg

May is also seen as the beginning of the wedding season, when many couples choose this month for their life changing event of marriage. This year many will marry under covid restrictions having had to postpone from last year. And with the easing of lockdown, they can share their big day with at least a few more than 6 family or friends attending.

Exams are being prepared for, the results of which can be life changing for them and for those alongside them at work or home.

Of course for some people, a change may be less welcome and we pray for those going through an unwelcome or unplanned change, that restoration and newness may ultimately come of it.

May brings change and we all hope that change will be in the air this month as Step 3 of the Governments Road Map out of the Lockdown comes to pass, and the light will truly be at the end of the tunnel for June 21st.

Change is something we all experience in our lives at some time or other.

Christians who celebrate the Easter Mystery open themselves up to being changed people, through the death and resurrection of Christ. In church during each service of Holy Communion, we proclaim the Easter mystery,

Christ has died! Christ is risen! Christ will come again!.

And the message of the Easter Mystery is that because He loves us, we are reminded of God’s love for each of us and like nature, it changes us, it re-energises us in our faith and our lives ready to meet him when he comes to earth again. And the greatest gift from God is to love and be loved, and that knowledge of love gives us the strength and ability to adapt to change when life throws it at us.

Whatever this month of May brings to you, I pray you live and love it well.

With love and blessings, Rev Mandy Xx