Madeley Village

At 54, my friend Dave has just taken a redundancy package from his work.  He has worked for the same firm since leaving college – over 30 years!  He told me that going into work on his final day was a very surreal experience – saying goodbye to all his old work colleagues – and so begins the rest of his life!

Dave is one of the fortunate ones – his “settlement” means he doesn’t have to work again, even if he still has a family to support through college.  But the scary bit Is …  what to do now?

Thankfully, Dave is fit and well.  He could travel the world and go on lots of holidays?  He could finally have a bit more “me time” and take up some new hobbies?  He could finally get around to all those jobs he’s put off for years.

“Retirement” is still a relatively recent phenomenon.  These days some of us might be retired as long as we have worked and so finding a purpose beyond our paid employment is vital.  But what?

Of course, people do so many different things and the options (with the internet) are almost endless.  But being involved with our local community, in one way or another, is and can be so beneficial and so vital.

It is, of course tempting to be “footloose and fancy free” – no responsibilities!  But in so doing we easily loose our rationale and our humanity.

From a faith perspective, God has prompted us to be within this community at this time, so how can we make our community a better, fairer and more pleasant place to live, to bring up children, to sustain the environment?

There are many local groups and volunteering opportunities – enough to fit the skills and enthusiasms of any of us: the local tidy up group, the Village Hall committee, the Parish Council, the Food Bank and many more. 

Dave is a great friend and I have no doubt he will find a new niche for his skills.  I hope he will have opportunity to pursue his interests, but I hope too that he will find an outlet for his great talents and a worthwhile opportunity to serve.  Because in serving we find our reason for being.

Peter Chantry

Sometimes people ask me: What’s a parish church?

The answer is: One that serves ALL its residents regardless of background, creed or colour.

All Saints’ remit is to be available as a place of worship and a community of believers and inquirers that is open to EVERYONE.  A parish church doesn’t just serve one group of people but is there for everyone who lives in the parish (and beyond) regardless of whether we believe in God or not or indeed, if we’re not sure!

Of course All Saints’ focus is on welcoming anyone to Sunday worship where we gather to Praise God but we are also open many times during week for all kinds of reasons: to support young families through their first years; to offer practical help to those going through a crisis via the Food Bank; to give people opportunity for private prayer and last but not least,as place for fun and friendship in music making and small group fellowships.

Celebrations and tough times happen in all families and as a parish church we offer support to anyone who wants to get married, to baptise children or to give thanks for the life of a special family member.  You don’t have to be a regular church goer to have a wedding, a baptism or a funeral at All Saints’– please simply ask and we will do our best to help.

The church is the one organisation that exists for the benefit of its non-members!  Jesus demonstrated his inclusive love in so many ways.  No one was or is unimportant to Him.  And we, as a parish church aspire to be the same – to welcome each and everyone who comes through the door on a Sunday or any other day of the week: You are always VERY welcome.

God ISN’T just for religious people – He is for us all – because, as the Bible tells us, He knows us AND … He loves us whoever we are and whatever we have done or not done.  We hope that will be your experience when you step across the threshold.

Peter Chantry

Two years ago on Mothering Sunday my Mum died after 12 years of living with Dementia.

Those twelve years saw her go from an independent and capable person to someone who literally needed everything doing for her.

My dad died before the dementia took hold so my mum, with reduced capability became increasingly vulnerable.

Thankfully for my brothers and I, very good residential care was available, and my mum lived happily in two very good Care Homes and was able to enjoy her life and our visits for many of those years.

Supporting someone with Dementia is HUGE!  It is challenging, scary, often exhausting, sometimes overwhelming and can be very lonely. 

Isolation in living with dementia is very tough and emotions and feelings can run wild.

Thankfully in recent times dementia is being more widely talked about and the support systems are improving.  Dementia is scary and those affected need to know that they are NOT on their own.

At Church, we have committed ourselves to try to support all those who are living with dementia to help them to find friendship, support and understanding.  With the help of the Diocese we are putting on two workshops at All Saints’ Madeley – see poster later.

If this is an issue which affects you – please do consider joining us and helping us together to be more inclusive, understanding and supportive of those who are living with dementia.

Peter Chantry

The heart of the Christian faith is God’s love and forgiveness.  We ALL make mistakes and we all need forgiveness which is precisely why God sent Jesus into the world.

It is remarkably arrogant if we think that we have never done anything wrong and dangerously blinkered if we think others have more to answer for than we ourselves. 

Shamima Begum was 15 years old when she went off to Syria to be a so called “Jihadi bride”.  She was a child when she made that dreadful decision.  Dreadful for herself; dreadful for her family; dreadful for humankind.  But is she BEYOND forgiveness?

The actions of ISIS are indefensible but the battle for hearts and minds means that vulnerable young people like Shamima Begum make these dreadful mistakes.

Our British Home Secretary has rescinded her citizenship of this country and made her a person of “no state”.  Is this really what we want to happen?  Is Shamima Begum beyond forgiveness?

There is a story in the gospels where a sinful young woman is brought to Jesus so that he can pronounce what should happen to her?  Jesus says nothing!  The leaders persist: What should happen to this woman?  Jesus looks at the leaders and says to them: “Let him who is without sin throw the first stone!”  After a few minutes … all the self-righteous men have disappeared!

Justice, security and good government are vital but so is forgiveness – not to say that that is easy – it isn’t.  But, on Good Friday (April 19^th) we focus in on Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice for forgiveness which is both restorative and challenging for you and me.

Peter Chantry