Wednesday 10 July 2024

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

It was great joy to welcome James Morgan as our Assistant Curate last Sunday. James was very touched by all the support he received, and he and Lilian send the message below. Please continue to keep James and Lilian in your prayers.

Message from James and Lilian
Lilian and I would like to thank the whole church community for your support during my years of training as an ordinand. We experienced several challenges (health, family concerns overseas, and work overload!) and were able to face them thanks to your prayers and encouragement. We are very grateful for the generous collection for ministry funds as I begin my four-year curacy with you.
With our love and prayers for you – James and Lilian Morgan

African Event: A Big Thank You
All those who attended the African Event last Saturday thoroughly enjoyed it. The food was absolutely delicious, and it was a joy to share fellowship together as we listened to African music. Jorum also talked about the history of Christianity in Africa and shared something of his own experience.
I want to say a very BIG thank you to all those who worked so hard to organise this event.

Malcolm and Maggie Guite
While David and I are away on holiday (22nd July - 5th August), Canon Maggie Guite will be taking the services. I am delighted that Malcolm and Maggie (who are good friends of ours) will be coming to St Ursula's and I have no doubt you will enjoy their time with you and be greatly enriched by all they offer.
I am attaching a brief biography of Maggie and Malcolm so you know something about them.

Songs and Sonnets Evening with Malcolm Guite, 2nd August
Malcolm has offered to read some of his poems and sing some of his songs at St Ursula's, Friday 2nd August, 19:00. Many of you will be familiar with Malcolm's poems as I often include one at the end of my email message. He is wonderful to listen to, so do come along if you are around in August.

Taking Time to Wonder
Life can be very stressful for many of us. Sometimes, we are so busy and so distracted by so many things that we don't take the time to appreciate the world around us, and all the gifts God has given us. We need to make time for 'wonder': to wonder at the beauty of the created world, to wonder at all we receive in relationships with others, and most of all to pause in wonder before our holy and loving God, the Giver of all good things. Perhaps over the summer period, especially if we have opportunity for a break away from work, we can make more time to wonder and be thankful to God.

You might like to reflect on the two poems below to help you to do this. I have quoted both these poems before, but they both bear reading many times.

Leisure
What is this life if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare?-

No time to stand beneath the boughs
And stare as long as sheep or cows:

No time to see, when woods we pass,
Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass:

No time to see, in broad daylight,
Streams full of stars, like skies at night:

No time to turn at Beauty's glance,
And watch her feet, how they can dance:

No time to wait till her mouth can
Enrich that smile her eyes began?

A poor life this if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.

(W.H.Davies)

I thank you God for most this amazing day

i thank You God for most this amazing
day: for the leaping greenly spirits of trees
and a blue true dream of sky; and for everything
which is natural which is infinite which is yes

(i who have died am alive again today,
and this is the sun’s birthday; this is the birth
day of life and of love and wings: and of the gay
great happening illimitably earth)

how should tasting touching hearing seeing
breathing any—lifted from the no
of all nothing—human merely being
doubt unimaginable You?

(now the ears of my ears awake and
now the eyes of my eyes are opened)

(E. E. Cummings)

With love in Christ,
Helen