A monthly letter from Michael
February 2012
Dear All,
A good education is one of the best gifts for a child, but many youngsters in Pakistan have no hope of any education. I am delighted that the five churches’ project has been so well supported so that the vital work of Starfish Asia can develop.
I write a week before the Project Finale service and final figures will be in the next issue. In giving we learn, and so our sympathies and feelings for others deepen. So here are two extracts from recent reports from Starfish Asia in Pakistan:
Sanwal is the eleven year old son of a poor family near Faisalabad. He lives and works at a brick kiln. In August Sanwal was trapped by two men who assaulted and tried to abuse him. Sanwal resisted and, as a result, he was doused in meths and set alight; he suffered 30% burns. Starfish Asia was able to provide help for his hospital expenses, but it is small defence against further sufferings. Sanwal should be in school, preparing for a life of dignity and respect.
And again: Recently Punjab province was in the grip of a terrible mosquito-
I hope that, as well as giving, we have also learnt about life in another part of the world and that Pakistan’s poor have come into our prayers to remain there. Their lives perhaps set our own country’s financial uncertainties in their proper proportion.
Your friend and vicar,
Michael
January 2012
Dear All,
A happy New Year to everyone! I hope that you will be able to have some rest and keep warm as we go through midwinter.
Christmas is over, but when I was doing pre-
Truly, life is particularly uncertain as we start this new year; Christians believe that God’s love remains sure and certain, that is his love for his suffering world and his love for you and me individually. What though leads us to believe that this is the case? In the words of the Christmas gospel, ‘In the beginning was the Word....and the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth’.
In Sunday worship in the churches over the next few weeks, we do take time to reflect on the meaning of Christmas; come and join us, for we’re all on a journey of discovery in uncertain times.
I also want to express my thanks and delight for the Nativity Play in Mudford church early in December; the church was full and with many children. This revival of an old tradition was made possible because of the vision and hard work of Lydia Gane and Jean Jones, together with excellent support from many others. A real highlight!
Your friend and vicar,
Michael
December 2011
Dear All,
Stephen Hawking is a genius in science, but a religious remark of his leaves me wondering – he said ‘God may have originally decreed the laws of nature, but it appears that he has since left the universe and does not now intervene in it’.
With better manuscript evidence than any other writings of their time, the New Testament documents disagree with Hawking’s assertion, and they proclaim that God indeed intervened on earth in the birth and life of Jesus of Nazareth. Christians today experience a God who still lovingly intervenes through answers to prayer and by his daily presence.
It’s tempting to see Christmas as the great escape from reality, some fun and feasting
before the cold, dark midwinter really kicks in. But it’s equally an opportunity
to face up to reality and to meet God -
The New Testament contains the wonderful words ‘God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself’. For those who know their need for such reconciliation, Christmas is a great time to be looking for truth and meaning, and in our five parishes we hope we can help one another in our looking and finding. As you look through the rest of this issue you’ll see what’s available and happening. Merry Christmas!
Your friend and vicar,
Michael
