St Lawrence Church Bidborough

St Lawrence Church, Bidborough



Know God, Show His Love, Grow His Church

Southborough Team

Vicar’s Views - May 2008

Bidborough Church

The view was from a few hundred feed up, through some trees, and across Minehead bay to the Butlins ‘Skyline’, which looked like a cross between a large marquee and the Millennium Dome, and which was home for the week for the 5000 folk at ‘Spring Harvest’. Five days of worship, teaching, and relaxation - very enjoyable. But on this rare sunny and mild morning I had ‘skipped classes’ and gone for a walk up this wooded hillside. With my trusty penknife always in my pocket, my eye spied a suitable looking straight length of branch on a fallen tree, and I set to work to whittle myself a walking stick (as you do !). In the next hour, as I cut and pared and smoothed, I thought about the business of creating and being created, and about the Creator himself and us, his handiwork.

Three things struck me. Firstly, I noticed what a long time it took me to cut the stick I wanted away from the rest of the dead tree before I could make it into something useful. I remembered that the Bible has something to say about that in relation to the Christian life too, and how quick we are to hang on to our ‘old ways’ (Ephesians 2:1-3).

Secondly, I thought about how God shapes the lives of his followers. Unlike the stick, which had no choice but to yield to my clumsy knife-strokes, our Christian formation is a partnership between us and the Creator, and the tool that is used is not a celestial penknife, but God’s word - the Bible. it is even referred to as a ‘sharp’ tool (Hebrews 4:12)

Thirdly, as my hands grew tired from holding stick and knife, so the blade slipped and nicked a finger. The scratch and the drop of blood reminded me of the greater pain that the Creator has endured in the process of our formation - Good Friday pain. Blood has been shed for us, for which we thank God (Revelation 1:5b)

Whittle birdPleased with my handiwork, and resting comfortably on my new walking stick I completed my walk. My pride was cut short as I rounded a corner and found the work of a far greater whittler than I (see picture !).

But I had enjoyed my time with God, there on the hill and at Spring Harvest, and was reminded of one more verse - Isaiah 40:31.

‘Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary’.

Stephen Hills


Previous Views


News

Daily Prayers

BCP Morning Prayer
CW Morning Prayer
BCP Evening Prayer
CW Evening Prayer

Daily Prayer provided by the official Church of England web site, © The Archbishops' Council of the Church of England, 2002-2006.

C.A.M.E.O.

Cameo
Thursdays
4:00 - 4:45pm,
beginning 6th Mar.
Come And Meet Each Other and enjoy a cup of tea at the small Village Halls.

Annual Church Meeting

11th May
Review of the year and election of DDC meetings.

Christian Aid Week

11th - 17th May

Free Rice

Free Rice
Click on the rice bowl and you will be offered a word and four possible meanings. Click on the correct one and the advertisers on the site will pay for 20 grains of rice to go to the hungry of the world. Watch the grains of rice accumulate as you play – 5000 grains are a bowlful!

Hope 2008

Hope 2008
Visit the website for more details of this national initiative.

Traidcraft

There is a Traidcraft stall in Church on the first Sunday of every month. Please support this worthwhile project, which last year sold £7000 worth of goods in local churches.

Brownies

We welcome the 1st Bidborough Brownies for Church Parade during family services.
Brownie

St Lawrence Recipe Collection

Still available, at £5.00 per copy.
Contact Jenny Heyes or Deborah Snelling.

Copyright © 2004-2008 St Lawrence Church. All rights reserved.