From the Parish Priest
I have had a lovely Summer! I have not had my Summer Holiday yet, I will be enjoying that when this letter is published, but in spite of working and being very busy we have had a lovely summer.
We haven’t done anything particularly exciting, or gone anywhere exotic, but what we have had is a very busy household with lots of visitors. We have enjoyed many a joyful evening in our garden, and round our dining table.
As someone who comes from a very small family, I am always in awe of the large family groups that appear in church for Funerals and weddings. Uncles, Aunties, Cousins, sometimes numbering into the forties and fifties, are quite a shock when you are from a family where you only have five blood relatives!
Despite having only one aunt, and no cousins, I can never truly say that I have a small family! In fact I have an enormous and wonderful family. The rule is that Family may, or may not, include relations!
The members of our family that have come and shared the summer with us are all indispensable and much loved. It matters not if some are actually related or not, they are all essential members of our family and we would not be without any of them: even with some of their/our peculiarities!
We often hear of the Church being described as a Family, and that is quite appropriate, we are all related in and through Jesus. We may fall out and bicker, and not always agree, but we are a family and we should always look out for, care for and give thanks for each other.
With love and prayers,
Philip