June 2025 Letter

So what do you do Vicar?
  I was asked recently about why I was so busy and what did I do? 
Surely, all I do is preach on a Sunday? (in your heart of hearts that maybe what you are thinking)...... 
Well, this is not an exhaustive list but here are some of the things that I am involved with, and I did already talk a bit about baptism last month. There is the obvious preaching, preparing and leading services. Proclaiming hope and God’s love is a weighty and enthralling call, and can take time to grapple with scripture and the message that God is asking me to give, whether we are talking to adults or children with the message.    Some of each day is taken up with reading the bible and praying, praying for all the people that God is putting on my heart across the three villages. 

But it isn’t my preaching that informs my pastoring.  Pastoring or ministry is what I do, and preaching is a small part of pastoring. 

Pastoring is the thrill of baptizing the baby I prayed for while in the womb, also watching that baby grow up, seeing them at Jimmy’s baby and toddler group and being part of their week. 
Pastoring is the ache of visiting a beloved member in the hospital when they were ‘just fine’ the day before – and I am gutted by their sudden suffering, they have become my friends.
  Pastoring is also getting to spend every week (term time) in High Wych school, getting to know your children, taking collective Worship and it is one of the highlights of my week. 
Pastoring is the hearing of confessions of seekers and saints and sinners alike. It’s hearing the ‘I’ve never told anyone this before …’ roll off the lips of one who is longing for restoration.
  Pastoring is holding space for the disgruntled when they feel like change is coming too quickly for them.  It’s listening.  Shepherding.  Guiding. 
Pastoring is leading teams of eager people who want to be led and inspired for new ministry.  Holding the space and listening to all the new people met through toddlers, Wednesday Welcome, Messy Church, all the fun activities we do and the many dog walks.  It is the privilege that we actually get to walk with people in their valleys and mountaintops alike. 
Pastoring is also excel spreadsheets, strategic plans, budgets, magazine articles, social media posts, forward planning throughout the year to lead worship and prayer and outreach into our communities, not to mention all those community meetings with regard to new housing and village life.  Also all the admin etc around the many funerals, weddings, baptisms, that have taken place in our Benefice over the past few years.. 
Pastoring is pre-marital counselling and officiating weddings, growing our family in Christ as families contemplate baptism, and being around when marriages and relationships fail.  Encouraging people to take steps to find out more about God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit through courses such as Alpha, and also leading people into a deeper understanding of God’s love for them. 
Working out what God is calling us to pray about, what injustices may need to be rectified, and how we can work better to restore our environment and ease climate change. What do I do when I am not preaching? Well, as you can see, just a few things.  But I can tell you it’s all a thrill to wake up and do what I do every day.  I would not do anything else.  
Carrying the light of Christ with me in whatever circumstance I find myself in is a true privilege, I do my best and would always appreciate your prayers. 
Fun things coming up in May/June 
31st May   Community Dog Walk starting from St Mary’s, Gilston at 2.30 pm. 31st May    
Community Cream Tea from St Mary’s, Gilston at 4.00 pm. 
8th June      Community dog Walk from St James at 2.30 pm followed by refreshments. 
21st June    Paintings and Prosecco at St Mary’s, Gilston from 3.00 pm – 9.00 pm. (see flyers throughout the magazine for further details). 
My hope is that you will want to explore what a journey of faith could mean for you and your family and would like to talk to me further:- 
‘Stand at the crossroads and look; 
Ask for the ancient paths, 
Ask where the good way is, 
And walk in it, 
And you will find rest for your souls’.  Jeremiah 6:16 
Every blessing                         Your Priest Alison