Wentworth Church

Vicars Letter

Last modified on 2010-02-25 15:20:16 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

Dear Friends, 

 You are probably like me in enjoying the annual turning of the seasons. Even this past winter has had its attractions. Nobody can say it hasn’t been a proper winter, can they?! One day when Sylvia and I could not get the car out we walked over the fields from Scholes, starting at Red House Farm, through the copses, by the lakes and then up to the Doric Lodge. Amazingly the Garden Centre Restaurant was open for a well earned cup of coffee too. But the valley we walked through looked beautiful (as it always does) under its carpet of pure white snow. Now we shall be looking forward to Spring and to the wonderful display of daffodils along the Back Lane, so generously donated by the Airey’s to mark the Millennium and planted with the aid of village labour.

 I also enjoy the turning of the church’s year, from Advent via Christmas, Easter, some of the great festivals, such as St Peter’s Day, and finally back to Advent again. There is nothing divine about this progression, it wasn’t enjoined upon us by Jesus. But it has been developed over the centuries by the church as a means by which we may, once again, live through the great turning points of our salvation. Specially chosen bible readings and prayers help us to do this and so, as with the seasons, do such details as the changing colours. White or gold for seasons of great joy, like Easter, and purple for more solemn times, for example.

 Lent is such a solemn time leading us towards Good Friday and the remembrance of Christ’s death on the cross, on which he died that we might live. It also commemorates our Lord’s 40 days in the wilderness when he fasted and prayed at the beginning of his ministry. Could anyone do that just off the cuff, as it were? I don’t think so. The Jesus we know from scripture was, clearly, a man of prayer throughout his life. He must always have set aside time for meditation and prayer, as well as periods when he chose to go without (fasting). You could say that this is much more difficult in our hectic modern world, and it probably is. However, the church’s year does help in two ways. It reminds us of the need to set aside time for God. And it also gives the opportunity. I mentioned last month how we can do this in Lent through a resolution to worship more regularly and through studying the bible together. It is also a good idea, and easier for many, to try to read the bible quietly, on one’s own. Sylvia has put a handful of study guides in church and these are available for anyone to borrow.

 Incidentally, if this reads like a criticism – You don’t come to church regularly enough, says the Vicar! – It isn’t so. We are greatly blessed at Holy Trinity by a large and loyal congregation and by a smaller but faithful group at Harley. We don’t match the 1,040 said to come to Fulwood every week but (and it’s a guess) we are probably in the top third for church attendance within the diocese.

 I wrote about the Vicarage last month. Repair work has now begun and will take several months. Please do NOT post anything for me to that address or use the letter box until further notice as the locks have been changed and the house is inaccessible. Until further notice either give me things on Sunday, leave a note in the vestry, or write to me at home (my address is given in the note at the back about magazine contributions and, if not this month then next, will also be on the back cover).

 I am delighted that this year as well as a number of adults expressing their wish to be prepared for confirmation there are also a couple of young people. Sylvia and I will be working with the adults and she and another church member will do most of the preparation for the youngsters. If any other people – from 10 years to 90 years! – are interested, please let us know within a week or two.

 Finally, news about people. Sadly, a very long-standing member of the church, Arthur Greenaway, died suddenly last week. I don’t often do this, but were I to rank people on the sincerity of their faith, Arthur would have been close to the top of the scale. As some will know, he never missed his daily visit his wife Janet’s grave and was always to be found in church then too, quietly, and on his knees. A true Christian gentleman.

 Happily, where one life ends, another begins. And Wentworth is seemingly overrun with babies at the moment! The latest additions are John and Kirsty Pearson’s daughter Rebecca and Michael and Melanie Booth’s little girl Charlotte. Congratulations to both families!

 Richard