I can’t believe that I am writing a Vicars Voice for September already! This year seems to be flying by, especially in the light of what has gone before last year.
September, a time of new beginnings, and certainly never more so than the start of the new school year.
There is so much potential for this new start. A new class and teacher, a new school, new friends to be made. New lessons to be learnt. A new academic year and a time for new hopes and dreams. And no doubt there will be new school shoes, pencil cases and lunchboxes to be bought.
I wonder what are your memories of the start of a school year?
For me, I remember putting together a new pencil case, wrapping up my text books in old wrapping paper to decorate them. It may be easy to look back in fondness at our school days, or maybe not! “They” say (whoever “they” are!) that schooldays are the best days of your life. I’m afraid I have to confess, in my book, “they” are wrong. I don’t look back on my school days in any shade of rose-tinted glasses. The joy of learning came for me at a somewhat advanced age.
This month, in some of our churches, especially in St Felix in Rendlesham and St Edmunds in Bromeswell, we are starting some new initiatives for young people and families in ways which make an adventure of learning more about Jesus, but in a fun way. One of these ways is by starting Messy Church, a way of being church involving craft, sharing food, and celebrating faith, because having Jesus in your life should be fun, and exciting and a real adventure getting to know Him. I hope you will encourage the youngsters to come along…better still…come along with them!
This month also sees our churches beginning to celebrate Harvest, giving thanks for all that is gathered in from the crops in the field, the fruit of the vines and the fish in the sea. We take so much for granted, and Harvest gives us a focus not only about the food on our plates, but those who sow, nurture and harvest in all weathers and conditions, the fishermen who brave the wild seas, together with those whose crops have failed, where no rains falls for months on end, and those who rely on the handouts of others.
As we read in the Old Testament Book of Ecclesiastes , “to everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven”
With love and blessings,
Rev Mandy Xx