The Vicar’s Light Reflections

Light Reflections… “Let your light shine…” (Matthew 5.16)

As I write, it is exactly a month since I became your new Vicar and time has flown by, it has certainly been a whirlwind four weeks. It has been a busy time ministering across three parishes, getting used to the Sunday Service Rota and having the joy of conducting my first Baptism, my first Wedding and the privilege of supporting two families who sadly said farewell to loved ones. I have also led my first All-Age Service at Mellor and we had our first ‘Outdoor’ Forest Church at Balderstone, both of which were well supported and enjoyed by all. I have also visited our three schools and look forward to leading Collective Worship from the new Autumn Term and getting to know our school families.

I would also like to say once more a huge thank you for the wonderful welcome you have given me and my family, and especially for the very special Licensing Service. It is a day I will not forget.

And this leads me onto the two Readings I chose especially for my Licensing. They are both very personal to me and have guided me on my Christian journey. The first is the wonderful passage from Isaiah 61:1-7, which is in fact what Jesus reads from the scroll in the synagogue (Luke 4:16-21). Here Jesus says that the scripture of bringing good news to the poor, of releasing the captives, bringing sight to the blind and letting the oppressed go free is now fulfilled in Him. In Christ we are indeed set free as we hear and respond to the good news He brings. However, further on in the Isaiah passage I have been reflecting on these verses: “They will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, to display his glory. They shall build up the ancient ruins, they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations.” V3b-4

As Jesus invites us this summer to “Come away to a deserted place…and rest a while” (Mark 6:31), to recuperate and rest; and whilst we enjoy our holidays we may wish to reflect on these verses and on the words build, raise and repair. In our own lives and in our churches, let us ask ourselves and ponder on:

• what needs building up?

• what new things need to be raised?

• what needs repairing?

And underpinning our faith and lives as Christians is the fact that we all are called to tell the good news of Jesus’ saving grace, and this is vividly put in the other reading I chose, Romans 10:14-17. Here St Paul quotes Isaiah “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!.” v15 May your feet be beautiful feet as you tell and live out your faith for all to see and may you be a planting of the Lord to display His glory. Have a super summer; stay safe and have fun and find time to rest well.

Blessings Rev’d Karen

Christ Centred…Kingdom Focused

____________________________________________________________________________