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A monthly letter from Michael
September 2010
Dear All,
As I write this, the news is full of pictures of flood devastation in Pakistan as we prepare for harvest once again. We should indeed be thankful for our benign climate and reliable agriculture.
How can we help less fortunate nations, in long term as well as short term? The European Union has pledged to multiply by four the amounts Christian Aid can raise for aid projects, and parishes in our Yeovil area, including our own, have agreed to take part in a joint attempt to raise £5000 – an average of £125 per parish – for a project in Burkina Faso which will dramatically improve the food security of people on the edge of the desert there.
Burkina Faso on the edge of the Sahara remains one of the world’s poorest countries; its difficult climate for growing food means people have been particularly affected by increases in food prices. This Christian Aid project will help them to increase their crop yields and income, as they are trained and equipped to adapt sand dunes to become more fertile and to protect their land. They will build large compost heaps, construct ditches and plant trees along dunes; they will be given improved seeds (eg cowpea, sorghum, onions, potatoes) and fertiliser. Improved fencing and wells, and training in chicken and sheep production and in giving vaccinations to animals will also help. Total project costs are about £1.5 million and Christian Aid nationwide is asked to raise nearly £300,000, so Yeovil area’s share is a small but vital part.
Our money will be wisely and honestly used as Christian Aid with its good reputation works with local churches and community groups; Burkina Faso is a very poor country so our money will benefit the most needy; and this project aims to help people become self-sufficient. For these three reasons I believe this is worthy of our full support, and I hope the benefice as a whole can raise more than its share. Specific events will be held, and also please see your church treasurer if you would like to make a donation.
We thank God for our harvest, and we hope we can help others have good harvests in the future.
Your friend & vicar
Michael
Dear All,
As I write this, the news is full of pictures of flood devastation in Pakistan as we prepare for harvest once again. We should indeed be thankful for our benign climate and reliable agriculture.
How can we help less fortunate nations, in long term as well as short term? The European Union has pledged to multiply by four the amounts Christian Aid can raise for aid projects, and parishes in our Yeovil area, including our own, have agreed to take part in a joint attempt to raise £5000 – an average of £125 per parish – for a project in Burkina Faso which will dramatically improve the food security of people on the edge of the desert there.
Burkina Faso on the edge of the Sahara remains one of the world’s poorest countries; its difficult climate for growing food means people have been particularly affected by increases in food prices. This Christian Aid project will help them to increase their crop yields and income, as they are trained and equipped to adapt sand dunes to become more fertile and to protect their land. They will build large compost heaps, construct ditches and plant trees along dunes; they will be given improved seeds (eg cowpea, sorghum, onions, potatoes) and fertiliser. Improved fencing and wells, and training in chicken and sheep production and in giving vaccinations to animals will also help. Total project costs are about £1.5 million and Christian Aid nationwide is asked to raise nearly £300,000, so Yeovil area’s share is a small but vital part.
Our money will be wisely and honestly used as Christian Aid with its good reputation works with local churches and community groups; Burkina Faso is a very poor country so our money will benefit the most needy; and this project aims to help people become self-sufficient. For these three reasons I believe this is worthy of our full support, and I hope the benefice as a whole can raise more than its share. Specific events will be held, and also please see your church treasurer if you would like to make a donation.
We thank God for our harvest, and we hope we can help others have good harvests in the future.
Your friend & vicar
Michael
August 2010
Dear All,
July sees the end of the school year, and some teachers leave as well as pupils. I heard a retiring teacher speak of why he’d gone into schools in mid-life. Drawing his inspiration from the seashore where foaming sea meets rocky cliffs, this scientist saw that creativity and complexity, new things and exciting things, were born out of the interplay between chaos and order. He asked himself where better would he find that boundary between chaos and order than in adolescents’ minds?
That story of a fulfilling second career led me to think (as much does!) of the church; it is often seen very much on the side of order. To onlookers it may thus appear dull and predictable; indeed those of us within may prize that very predictability and not be sufficiently ready for risk and uncertainty.
The retiring teacher had been energised afresh in mid-life by the new and exciting possibilities at the boundary between uncertainty and order. The issues around women bishops in the national church and new orders of service in the five parishes present complexity and creativity where new life can be born. In whatever sphere of life, we can and sometimes do move beyond our comfort zones and out to that boundary glimpsed by the teacher – and, who knows, maybe regain some of the excitement of our adolescent years.
After all, it was Nicodemus who asked Jesus how could a man be born again when he was old; and Jesus told him – read John chapter 3 as it can’t be summarised easily.
Your friend & vicar
Michael
Dear All,
July sees the end of the school year, and some teachers leave as well as pupils. I heard a retiring teacher speak of why he’d gone into schools in mid-life. Drawing his inspiration from the seashore where foaming sea meets rocky cliffs, this scientist saw that creativity and complexity, new things and exciting things, were born out of the interplay between chaos and order. He asked himself where better would he find that boundary between chaos and order than in adolescents’ minds?
That story of a fulfilling second career led me to think (as much does!) of the church; it is often seen very much on the side of order. To onlookers it may thus appear dull and predictable; indeed those of us within may prize that very predictability and not be sufficiently ready for risk and uncertainty.
The retiring teacher had been energised afresh in mid-life by the new and exciting possibilities at the boundary between uncertainty and order. The issues around women bishops in the national church and new orders of service in the five parishes present complexity and creativity where new life can be born. In whatever sphere of life, we can and sometimes do move beyond our comfort zones and out to that boundary glimpsed by the teacher – and, who knows, maybe regain some of the excitement of our adolescent years.
After all, it was Nicodemus who asked Jesus how could a man be born again when he was old; and Jesus told him – read John chapter 3 as it can’t be summarised easily.
Your friend & vicar
Michael
July
2010
Dear All,
It is heartening to see how well the five churches and communities support each other’s events. That was the case at Marston for the annual church Garden Party last month – what a great afternoon! Many people worked hard and none more so than Jane and Hugh Privett in whose garden we were. Thank you, Jane and Hugh! A total of approx. £2250 means nearly up to last year’s figure. It is surely good that we work together wherever possible across the benefice.
I have just come back from the Songs of Praise at Ashington on a scorching afternoon, and again an inspiring occasion in a beautiful place. Work has just started there on the installation of electricity and then hopefully new heating and electric light.
Our worship is refreshed and enriched when prayers are led by members of the congregations, and there is to be a training evening on Tuesday 6th July from 7.30 till 9 in Marston village hall committee room. There’ll be new ideas, practical suggestions and resources to share; this is both for those already on their church’s intercessions rota and also for those who are wondering if it is something they’d like to do. Hilary Hayes will lead the event – all are welcome and please bring any resources you’ve found useful. Such training is an example of what we can easily do together rather than in our separate parishes.
Chilton Cantelo School support our churches in many ways, so here is just a ‘plug’ for their fete on Saturday afternoon 3rd July – do go, because last year’s was huge and full of good things. And you’ll see that work has started on Chilton Cantelo church tower and roof, after their sterling work on grant applications plus generous giving and fund raising.
Your friend & vicar
Michael
Dear All,
It is heartening to see how well the five churches and communities support each other’s events. That was the case at Marston for the annual church Garden Party last month – what a great afternoon! Many people worked hard and none more so than Jane and Hugh Privett in whose garden we were. Thank you, Jane and Hugh! A total of approx. £2250 means nearly up to last year’s figure. It is surely good that we work together wherever possible across the benefice.
I have just come back from the Songs of Praise at Ashington on a scorching afternoon, and again an inspiring occasion in a beautiful place. Work has just started there on the installation of electricity and then hopefully new heating and electric light.
Our worship is refreshed and enriched when prayers are led by members of the congregations, and there is to be a training evening on Tuesday 6th July from 7.30 till 9 in Marston village hall committee room. There’ll be new ideas, practical suggestions and resources to share; this is both for those already on their church’s intercessions rota and also for those who are wondering if it is something they’d like to do. Hilary Hayes will lead the event – all are welcome and please bring any resources you’ve found useful. Such training is an example of what we can easily do together rather than in our separate parishes.
Chilton Cantelo School support our churches in many ways, so here is just a ‘plug’ for their fete on Saturday afternoon 3rd July – do go, because last year’s was huge and full of good things. And you’ll see that work has started on Chilton Cantelo church tower and roof, after their sterling work on grant applications plus generous giving and fund raising.
Your friend & vicar
Michael
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