The musings of one of God’s smallest creatures on events in and around the Parish over the past fortnight . . . . A very busy time around The Presbytery over the past two weeks as a lot of high level maintenance was completed . . . . . . . Fr D was delighted that with the arrival of an articulated cherry picker long awaited works at high level on the church building could be commenced. Following the last quin-quennial buildings survey we knew that there was a reasonable amount of ‘at height’ work to be done in order to keep up with the necessary maintenance on the church. Earlier in the year spot-work on the roof tiles was completed (not to fix leaks but to help ensure that leaks do not develop due to tile movement and breakages). It was decided that the most cost effective way to undertake the maintenance of the tower, various wooden features, and high level guttering/downpipes, would not be to use scaffolding (very expensive to erect and take down and then, in between, has to be rented!) but to use a cherry picker. When the workmen got up to the tower it was not a moment too soon as several isolated sections of rot were discovered which would not have lasted much longer before spreading throughout the structure. Matters were caught just in time and the offending sections were removed and new wood sections made and fitted in before painting (the workmen commented that the wood was just drinking up the undercoat layer!). Working around the building the cast iron gutters were wire brushed to remove flaking paintwork before being sanded down and repainted with specialist paint; afterwards the same routine was used on the downpipes. When the workmen came to the metal cross above the entrance to the church it was originally assumed to be black but, on rubbing down, it was discovered that it was originally gold in colour, so this was restored. Whilst we had the equipment on site time was taken to make sure that the various gullies between expanses of tiles were functioning properly - several of them needed to be cleared of old sections of cement which had fallen out and new cement inserted where gaps had formed over the years. It is hoped that all these works will mean that no major works will be necessary again until between ten and fifteen years time - Fr D certainly hopes that he will never have to face roof works on the church whilst he is still here! At the time of writing we are waiting for the cherry picker to be collected and returned, giving us back the whole of the car park . . . . . . . .

Luke’s Gospel, more than any others, has an emphasis on money, possessions, and wealth. Luke includes parables about riches (such as last week’s parable about the rich man who built bigger barns) that are not found in Matthew, Mark, or John. The Gospel also states several times that Jesus directed his disciples to go out and continue his ministry without taking any personal belongings along with them. It’s a challenge that is hard for most of us to hear, and we can quickly go to rationalizations about why we may not be called to do the same thing. Of course it would have been just as hard for Jesus’ disciples to hear too. But instead of reacting to what sounds like bad news to us (“sell your belongings and give alms”) can we instead listen for the good news in the directive? After all, Jesus didn’t come to make our lives more difficult, or impoverished. He said that he came so that we may have life, and have life in it’s fullness. So if he is asking us to sell our possessions, he must have good reason.  The good news is that in letting go of physical possessions, we get an “inexhaustible treasure” in return that no thief can reach, nor corruption can touch. “Where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.” When we come to our last moments on this earth, where do we want our treasure to be? In our material belongings? Or in the store of love we have given and received amidst our relationships? Questions of the week  What might you be invited to let go of (“sell”) so that you can have more freedom in following Jesus?  What does it mean to you that “where your treasure is, there al so will your heart be”? Where is your treasure at this time in your life?

The musings of one of God’s smallest creatures on events in and around the Parish over the past seven days . . . . Around The Presbytery it has still been busier than usual for the summer holiday time . . . . . As he had no families to be working with on Saturday morning Fr D had a young couple wishing to marry next year. Most of the paperwork that is required has now been completed and we are awaiting confirmation of the dates of the Deanery Marriage Preparation Day which normally takes place in the New Year. After Morning Prayer, Mass, and Exposition on Tuesday morning Fr D was looking at the progress of the landscapers who were removing the hedging from around the car park. Sarah had ‘coned-off’ part of the area on Monday so the men could begin without any cars ‘in situ’ when they arrived at 08.30. By the time Fr D looked in, great progress had been made on the project (which made him think that the estimate of three days would be achieved). When he looked again at the end of the afternoon three quarters of one side had been completed and a very different scene was exposed (a view of the Leg of Mutton field)! Having celebrated Morning Prayer and Mass on Wednesday Fr D set about work on the newsletter, very different this time as it was to be a ‘double issue’ whilst Sarah has a well-earned rest. In order to do this Fr D needed to amend the template and cope with a Holy Day (Assumption) during the first week as well - it was quite a challenge. The landscapers continued their work in the car park, turning the corner, removing the remaining greenery to leave half a length of trunks by the end of the day. Thursday morning, having celebrated Morning Prayer and Mass, Fr D checked in with the landscapers who said that they would be finish by mid-afternoon. After this he was off in the car down to the diocesan offices at Crawley where he pursued work on another of his marriage cases that he hopes to bring to judgement early in September. He also had a list of queries to respond to that had built up in his ‘in-tray’ since he was last in at the office. When he arrived home in the evening and looked at the car park it was very different. He has now told the fencing contractors that all is prepared for the new fence to be erected which will probably begin in late August/early September.  Following Morning Prayer and Mass on Friday Fr D heard that the workmen will be coming next Tuesday to start work on the spire – it’s all go . . . . .