June Message

June begins remarkably this year, with Thy Kingdom Come taking place as we begin to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee weekend, a weekend which concludes on Sunday as we celebrate the beginning of the Church- often called the birthday of the Church, at Pentecost.

Our villages are once again pulling out all the stops to celebrate the remarkable 70 year reign of Queen Elizabeth II, and what’s truly remarkable is the role Her Majesty’s Christian faith has played in sustaining her throughout that time. We all need heroes in our lives, people who we look up to, people we want to be like, to emulate, people who make us better. Our Queen is The Supreme Governor of the Church of England for very good reasons. She is a wonderful role model of faithful and dedicated service for young and old alike. Her prayerful presence and wisdom is a welcome reminder of all that is good about our faith.

The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee falling on the weekend of Pentecost, which concludes Thy Kingdom Come, is no coincidence. Faith is about community, about relationships, and about us being enabled as community by the power of the very same Holy Spirit Jesus gave to his disciples, just as he had promised.

It has been an incredibly tough couple of years for everyone. As June begins, the celebrations in our villages truly feel like a fresh start for all of us, like we are emerging from the darkness of pain and hurt and are empowered to meet and chat and see one another once again as God sees us. As beloved, unique and special members of God’s creation.

At the end of June we’ll be joined by a trainee vicar, known as a curate, in the five Anglican Churches. Pippa will be welcomed at a Benefice service at Maesbrook on Sunday 26thJune at 10:30am. Please come and say hello.

Have a wonderful Jubilee Weekend and may the blessings of Pentecost infuse everything you do this June.

Yours in Christ

Revd Chris