Vicar’s Letter June 2018

Earlier this year, we did a “Prayer Stations” project around church.  Our School children were invited to come and spend time thinking about the world, their lives and God!

It was wonderful to see them enjoying the church’s holy space and spending quiet time engaged with big questions and to think about their prayers for the world.

Amongst other activities, they were invited to write their names on a BIG HAND to signify God’s love for them.  They also hung “doves of peace” onto a prayer tree and wrote the names of places around the world undergoing tension.

What was particularly fascinating was to read the Questions that the children had for God.  They included: Is it nice in Heaven?  Why do people fight in wars?  Why do you let so many people suffer?  AND … What do you think about me?

What excellent questions!

Thinking deeply about what’s going on around us and who we are in the bigger scheme of things is important for us all, whatever our age.  The answers to the children’s questions aren’t always easy but that doesn’t mean to say they aren’t important.

The concept of heaven is both comforting and challenging – especially when we pray: your kingdom come, your will be done on earth … as it is in heaven.  Heaven conjures up all manner of images – some helpful, some not – but the Christian understanding of heaven is that it is full of God’s loving kindness – something God wants to give to all people.

We live in a fearful and unjust world.  People often say: It’s not fair!  … and it isn’t.  We who call ourselves Christians are called by Jesus to be channels of hope and help and advocacy.  If we say that “God is love” (as the Bible does) then how are we sharing that love to make this world more like heaven?

Coming soon to Madeley and Betley: a new Curate!

John Beswick Pallister, his wife Laura and their 6 months old daughter Matilda are moving to M & B at the end of this month.  John will be working at St Margaret’s and All Saints for the next few years.  As a Curate he is a training Vicar.  John comes with experience of working for the Post Office.  Laura is a modern languages teacher.  They are greatly looking forward to meeting us all.

So, please pray for them all but especially for John as he is ordained deacon at Lichfield Cathedral on Saturday 30th June at 6pm.  We look forward to welcoming them all to our services on Sunday 1st July.

Peter Chantry

About Stephen

Lay Chair of All Saints' Church Council and Treasurer. Retired Head of University Secretariat at Keele, Secretary of North Staffs Classical Association, Secretary of North Shropshire CLP, former Woore Parish Councillor & Vice-Chairman of Woore Neighbourhood Plan Team, now complete. Chairman of Sir John Offley's Almshouse Trust, Madeley.
This entry was posted in Uncategorized. Bookmark the permalink.