From the Parish Priest
Dear friends,
I would like to begin my letter this month by thanking all those of you who have been so kind and supportive to me over the past three months.
Inevitably, my mother’s illness and passing have had a disruptive effect on our church routines, and I thank you all for your patience.
As I write this, we are almost at Midsummer, and nearly halfway through the calendar year. The “busy times” in our church life are now behind us, and we enter the long period of Green, or “Ordinary Time,” when we are asked and encouraged to live out the story of Jesus in our daily, ordinary lives.
“Ordinary” is such a strange word, as in God’s love, all things are extraordinary. I hope and pray that you will work daily to proclaim, in your words and actions, the extraordinary grace of God that we have been celebrating in the life of Jesus over the past six months, and now celebrate in our own lives.
Our church life, particularly when we gather for worship, should be a joyful celebration of God’s love in our lives. We have been blessed recently with some wonderful celebrations of weddings and baptisms, where God’s love and joy have been utterly tangible and present.
This is not something that can be manufactured by the priest or leader, but something that happens when the worshipping community gathers with the intention of living in and celebrating the love of God in their lives.
Over the summer, let us work to infuse all our worship and gatherings with Christ’s hospitality and joy, and encourage others to join us in this wonderful vocation.
With love and prayers,
Philip