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This a parable for those who like me tend to get too impatient for the finishing line. 

One morning I discovered a cocoon in the bark of a tree, just as the butterfly was making a hole in its case and preparing to come out. I waited a while, but it was too long appearing, and I was impatient.  I bent over it and breathed on it to warm it.  I warmed it up as quickly as I could, and the miracle began to happen before my eyes.  The case opened and the butterfly started slowly crawling out. 

I shall never forget my horror when I saw how its wings were folded back and crumpled. The poor, wretched butterfly tried with its whole trembling body to unfold them. Bending over it I tried to help it with my breath.  In vain.

It needed to be hatched out patiently and the unfolding of the wings should be a gradual process in the sun. Now it was too late. My breath had forced the butterfly to appear, all crumpled before its time. It struggled desperately, and a few seconds later, died in the palm of my hand.

Adapted from a story by Nikos Kazantsakis. 

Patience is a good thing. I like being around patient people who don’t get irritated easily or overreact to circumstances that are out of their control. There is a calming presence that patient people have about them.

But practicing patience is something that many of us are not very good at. It is also not something we celebrate and value in our culture. We live in a day and age where we can fly anywhere in the world, download the newest music, and record all kinds of TV shows or films.  As far as the world is concerned, what is the point of pursuing patience in our lives when there is so much to experience?

But patience is a fruit that church leaders desperately require. But we need the Holy Spirit to help it to grow in us.

 Most rural churches are struggling, with congregations tired, perhaps even burned out. They tend to be of senior age, discouraged by dwindling numbers and increased responsibilities. Church leaders need to be constantly discerning how best to lead within the framework of old systems, structures, and traditions that have shaped the culture of the Church of England for many years but can feel at times like straightjackets.

But healthy change takes patience and time. Congregations are made up of individuals. For change to happen in an entire congregation, it is dependent on change taking place in the lives of those who make up the congregation. This doesn’t happen overnight. It often takes a great deal of time. 

Patience and calm assurance are needed to help people experience true, Gospel change in their lives. 

Love and prayers

Annette

I am writing this from a camping site on our caravan holiday with our two Labradors who are currently sprawled out blankets on our settees fast asleep!  I am tired.

Last night at around 1am we were greeted with an amazing thunderstorm. Our chocolate Labrador Daisy slept soundly through it.  However, our rather nervous white Lab Yuki, is terrified of storms.  At the first sign of thunder, she tried to hide.  In a small caravan that is quite a challenge! We discovered her shaking and panting by the door with her nose wedged into a corner.  When I opened the bathroom, she crept into the shower and sat with her back hunched facing the wall. I eventually managed to coax her out with doggy treats, joined by the chocolate Lab as any mention of food manages to penetrate her subconscious!  It complicated manoeuvres.  

I was able to encourage Yuki onto our bed, which opens across the end of the caravan and cover her with the duvet. I hoped it would make her feel safe. There we lay for a couple of hours.  She trembled through the whole experience only stopping for a few seconds to listen every time the thunder rolled.  She snuggled close licking my hand as I stroked her, but my presence was not enough to reassure her. I felt very sad that she was going through such a horrible experience and helpless. If I moved, she moved to get closer to me, so I knew that my presence provided comfort at some level.

There are many times in ministry when I watch people struggling through difficult circumstances. I want to make it all right, but I know it is not possible.

The experience made me reflect on some of the things that I have learned about how to help each other through difficult times.

  1. If you worry about knowing what to say to someone who is struggling, remember most of what you say is better than saying nothing.  The phrases, "I'm so sorry," or "I'm thinking of you," or "I'm praying for you," can be enough.

2. There is nothing more humbling than asking for help even for simple things like meals, babysitting or a lift so Instead, of offering your help suggest specific ways that you would like to help.

3. What people are going through has probably been faced before. People do survive and generally things do get better but individuals need to know that the pain they feel is real and to move through it in their own time to properly heal.

Sit with them. Listen. Let them be honest about their challenges. Let them be angry and resist the urge to fix them, heal them, or placate them. Just be with them.

4. Support, but don't preach. Avoid all cliché, trite phrases, and platitudes. Listen, love, and give time, energy, resources... and yourself. Avoid giving advice when they haven't asked.

5. Life is hard and messy. Let them know you are thinking of them, praying for, and loving them.

6. Don't make it about yourself. Don't complain about how your friend's struggles make you feel.

7. People are different. Some want hugs whilst others aren't touchy-feely. Some people want company, others prefer to sit alone. Some people want you to do things without asking, others want you to run it past them first. Some people want someone to cry with and talk to, others reserve that trust for a select few. Support them accordingly.

Life can be messy, but with love, we can help each other survive even the toughest times.

Dear All
What an exciting Angel Festival weekend!
We had 25 entries in our Children’s Art Competition to draw an Angel of Peace. Our resident artist Chris Turner was persuaded to judge the entries and spent almost 2 hours looking at them. The attendees at the coffee morning running simultaneously with the judging were able to listen to his comments on the drawings and the positive impact of engaging in creating on health. Chris has even offered to run an art workshop for adults who would have enjoyed taking part in the competition.

Lots of different people knitted and painted beautiful Angels to hide within the village. I know that the knitted angels were particularly coveted. 55 people joined our special Facebook page where families shared stories and photos of smiling children having discovered hiding angels. Notrees fed back that some of their residents enjoyed making the stones and hiding them after my visit. I shall make sure they hear about the joy they gave to those who found the stones.
We started our weekend with a very informative talk by Lou from MIND (who are receiving all the
profits from the weekend). We established some great links with the organisation including offers for training and support for our pastoral care team. This talk was followed by an inspiring one by Alice Armstrong Scales, with just a glimpse of the work she does in helping people develop positive mindset practices for a happier life. My husband, Dave has always been rather skeptical about coaching, but he came away quoting Alice’s tips and relating her stories to experiences that he has faced at work. We will be repeating the evening in the Spring, so keep a lookout for the ‘keep this date’ notice. It is one not to miss. I had three particularly significant conversations about mental health as a result and I know that I was not the only person approached.

I had a baptism in Church following the service. They knew about the Angel Festival and
children in the party appreciated being able to look for stones in the churchyard afterward. There are still some more to discover and take home!
Dave had lots of conversations about the angels when he was out walking the dogs and heard
people chatting to others about the stones and knitted angels.
I think coming out of the church enables a strengthening of relationships with our community.

Sadly, we clashed with the Orienteering, the Dog Show, and the Craft and Food Market. Although it was sad that only a few families came to our special service on Sunday, I think the congregation liked hearing about the links that we had made and meeting some of our junior artists.  

How reassuring that the Bible affirms the belief that we do have guardian angels.
The weekend was a wonderful illustration of Saint Paul’s image of the Body of Christ witnessing
unity amid diversity with different parts working together as one.
Oh, there was lots to celebrate.

A huge thank you to all those who were involved.

Revd Annette
 

I think the whole Benefice will be thinking about angels to coincide with the Angel Festival
at Kintbury and the Feast of St Michael and All Angels at Inkpen which celebrates its
Patronal Festival on October 1 at 11:15am. If you are like me, you don’t often think about
angels but a surprising number of differing people have, and written about them. Billy
Graham, the great American evangelist, wrote about angels as did Dr Jane Williams,
Archbishop Rowan’s wife, who wrote a delightful book on angels. And a clergy friend of
mine from Somerset, John Woolmer, who had taught maths at Winchester College and was
an expert on butterflies also wrote on angels. So, there is no shortage of interest in them, or
literature about them.
As I think about Angels and their role in life, it is worth making a few basic points. According
to the Judean-Christian Scriptures, ie the Bible, they occur in both the Old and New
Testaments. They were active in the events of both: from the giving (ie the literal or physical
handing over of the Ten Commandments) of the Law at Mount Sinai, to the announcement
of the birth of Jesus in the New Testament; and much else besides. It seems to me that they
have three main roles as messengers, guardians and warriors and appear in each of these
three roles in the scriptures. Also, the angelic order is a separate created order to humans.
If humans were the pinnacle of God’s earthly creation, angels were a heavenly order which
served God himself and are distinct from humans. Although it seems that some angels
rebelled against God (fallen angels), so having a will of their own, from which the origin of
evil or Satan or Lucifer (Isaiah 14:12-15) came. And other angels may have cross-bred with
women (Genesis 6:4) but this seems a difficult and rather shadowy story with only
temporary repercussions.
Whatever the exact description of angels should be, there is no getting away from their
reality in the scriptures and without them there would be a real gap in the whole of the
created order. There is no doubt that in the glimpse of heaven that John is given in the
Apocalypse, and which Isaiah has in his own vision of heaven (see Isaiah 6), that they are
part of the reality of heaven and the future, and just occasionally they appear on earth to do
God’s bidding; and perhaps you have entertained angels unaware! So, let’s enjoy and
celebrate their ministry and work this weekend as part of God’s creation and activity. We
would be the poorer without them !

Having conducted the last wedding for this year I am taking two weeks annual leave to relax.  I anticipate spending time painting angels for the St Mary’s Angel Festival in Kintbury.  It will be a good reason to stay away from my computer and become absorbed in some creative mindfulness, two things that I struggle to do.  I have set myself a target to produce at least 100 Angel Stones as my contribution to the village hide and seek so I think I am going to be joyfully busy!  Thank you to my unofficial churchwarden who very kindly supplied me with two bags of stones when she recognised how much I was enjoying the painting.

Along with the stones, there are some beautiful and unique knitted and crocheted angels to hide in the community made by members of the congregation. 

People who find the hidden angels over the weekend of Friday, September 29th to Sunday 1st October are encouraged to take a photograph and upload it to the dedicated Facebook site, and then to either give it a home or to re-hide it!
Each angel comes with the message, ‘peace be with you’, a loving reminder of the hope in the message of the angels at the first Christmas.

There is a whole weekend of activities so do have a look at the posters and website. All the proceeds from the weekend are going to be donated to the mental health charity MIND which is helping us to launch the weekend at a special event on Friday.

There are more than 250 references to angels in the Bible. So here are some questions you may want to ask about angels:
What are angels like?
They are described as spiritual beings created by God to serve and glorify him.  They were created before humans, and they do not die.  Like humans, they have free will and can choose to serve God or rebel.
What do angels do?
They worship and serve God. Some are assigned as warriors and guardians or as messengers. Some have authority over certain religions. But they are not gods, and we should not worship them.
How many angels are there?
Loads! Ten thousand upon ten thousand!
Do humans become angels after they die?
No. Angels and humans are different created beings.
27 percent of UK residents say they believe in God (you.gov), but according to an Ipsos survey, 46 percent of British adults say they believe in guardian angels, and three out of four of those people think that their guardian angel has protected them from danger. 

Why do you think it’s easier for people to believe in angels than in God?

We are hoping in St Mary’s that the Angel Festival will bless the village and also start conversations about what messages God might have for us today.  Please do come and join in the joy and we hope you will find yourself experiencing that message of love and peace!

Unfortunatly there was an issue with our email accounts and nothing was being recieved. Our deepest appologies if you sent us an email and had no reply, these are now back up and working with all issues resolved. 

Kind Regards

Tamara 
07359 327072

wbb.office.contact@gmail.com
Office Administrator
Walbury Beacon Benefice
Please note that I only work part time, This may mean there is a delay in getting back to you. But I will attempt to respond as soon as I'm able to. 

I’m sure everyone reading this will already be fully aware of the spiritual importance to a community
– perhaps especially in a rural, or village community – of the church building, usually so prominent a
feature of the landscape. Often, as well, the church and churchyard are a treasure trove of local
history – monuments, wall plaques, gravestones, inscriptions and the very fabric itself. In some
wonderful cases this may be virtually unchanged over centuries, like our very own Avington where
we shall sing a Harvest Evensong this Sunday – as it would have been celebrated in that ancient
building since the Reformation. In other churches generations of local people have altered parts of
the building to suit changing needs and perceptions. Not always, we feel, advantageously – but it
still becomes part of the unique history of each unique building.

Two of our Kintbury local historians have been looking through the documents stored in our “tin
trunk” in the vestry, and come up with some fascinating finds. A set of instructions written in
immaculate copperplate from a gentleman designing his own future memorial stone and including
(possibly grudgingly) those family members who had predeceased him. An 18 th Century letter sent
through the postal system to the vicar of Kintbury, but to be “left at the Blacksmith’s shop near
Kintbury” (at Elcot). Was that the way the post was distributed to the village? I have attached a
photo of an item which really catches my attention – a double page spread (2 pages out of 8) of a
densely written sermon composed in the late 1700s, for the benefit of the local congregation, by the
Rev’d Thomas Fowle. Don’t let me hear anyone, ever, complain about the length of a sermon again!
Our churches hold our spiritual, religious, emotional, community history and identity. Let us
treasure them, preserve and protect them, maintain and resource them – both for our present
worship and for coming generations of local inhabitants.

A parishioner said to me recently: “the past can be the community glue and is embodied in the
church”. And community, of course, forms our present and builds foundations for our future.

On Sunday we had a relaxed, outdoor Animal service in Inkpen. We had around 30 people including some children, around 12 dogs and a chicken (who tried to join in with the hymns)!  The animals were amazingly well behaved, and after some general sniffing to make friends some even fell into a gentle slumber on the grass.  It was a joy-filled gentle time together. The high point was meeting all the dogs and hearing their families’ sharing anecdotes about them.  It was obvious how fond everyone is of their animals.  

Animals and their wellbeing are such an important part of who so many of us are.  They are also an important part of God’s creation, but animals are not just here for human amusement and to provide some companionship for us as we live our earthly lives. 

In the Bible, there are clear references to animals and their role in creation. In the first chapters of Genesis, God was pleased with his whole creation of animals, plants, water, and humankind. Although we are called to have “dominion” over the animals, it is not in the sense of dominating them, but rather of stewardship for them. 

The Psalms (Psalms 8, 24, and 65) refer to animals. The Old Testament prophets also spoke about the importance of animals. Isaiah described the restoration of Israel as, “I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert, the wild animals will honour me, the jackals and the ostriches; for I give water in the wilderness, rivers in the desert.”  And Jesus made his final journey riding into Jerusalem on a donkey on Palm Sunday. 

I was interviewed live on radio about a pet service I was holding in a Church. They wanted me to bring Daisy then just a puppy with me. The interviewer was rather frustrated as Daisy was silent and did not indicate her presence to the viewers. No excited barks on cue, just a very laid-back pup. Eventually after lots of attempts to provoke a noise she simply stretched out, groaned fortunately very loudly, and lay down.  I am not sure the bored yawn was quite the noise he was seeking but it made us laugh.  

One of the questions that I was asked on radio was whether I believed that there were animals in heaven.  Rather than tell you what I said I wonder how you would have responded.  

C.S. Lewis believed that animals receive a sense of self or personality from an association with their humans. “If a good sheepdog seems “almost human” that is because a good shepherd has made it so,” says Lewis. Lewis believes that animals who have enjoyed a personal relationship with a human, have a better theological chance at immortality. That just as our belief and love in Christ may lead to heaven, so the love of our pet may allow them in too. Of course, we don’t know if we will see them in heaven, but these thoughts certainly give me hope that I may meet my beloved pets again in another life.  

Archbishop Demond Tutu wrote in the introduction to “The Global Guide to Animal Protection” (2013), “it is a kind of theological folly to suppose that God has made the entire world just for human beings, or to suppose that God is interested in only one of the millions of species that inhabit God’s earth.”

The love that our pet animals show us tells us something about the love Christ has for us, unconditional, pure, and selfless and above all, living in the moment, rejoicing in nature, and not worrying about what tomorrow brings. 

It is obvious through many shared stories how important animals are in people’s lives, both Christians and non-Christians.  I hope those relationships may help people to discover or strengthen their spiritual connection with God. 

The glory of God is there for all to see if we would but take time to notice.

Confession time! Dave and I have spent most free evenings over the last two weeks watching back-to-back episodes of The Handmaid’s Tale on Prime television.  The dystopian television series is based on the 1985 novel by Canadian author Margaret Atwood. I had not read the book.

Halfway through the first series, I recommended watching it to my daughter. Her comment was, "it is far too depressing". True. It gave me some very disturbing dreams!

The story is challenging, not so much because of the storylines (although they are harrowing) but because they remind you of news stories and documentaries. It is possible to identify real-life examples for every storyline and not from the distant past. 

My history teacher taught us as A-level students that wars originate from disagreements over power, money, or sex. It is a good reason why History is taught to examine possible motives and personalities rather than just facts and dates.

Offred the main character is a Handmaid in the Republic of Gilead. She is permitted to leave the home of the Commander and his wife once a day to walk to the food market.  The signs and labels in shops are pictures rather than words because women are not permitted to read. She must lie on her back and be raped once a month. She is held down by the Commander's wife and must pray that the Commander makes her pregnant. As there is a decline in the number of births, Offred and other Handmaids are valued because they are fertile. Any infringement of imposed laws is met with a range of harsh punishments from the loss of a finger, being sent to a colony with radioactive waste, public hanging, or being beaten to death.

The story runs in parallel with memories from Offred when she lived with her husband, played with, and protected her daughter, had a job, money of her own, and access to education and knowledge.

It is poignant.  It is even funny on occasion. There are unexpected and horrifying moments, It provides a social commentary on the abuses of power, fertility, and patriarchy.  There was a beautiful moment in the series when Offred having helped the pregnant and terrified commander’s wife deliver her baby, finds she can offer an element of forgiveness. It was reminiscent of something described by Corrie Ten Boom when she met her captor.

As one critic described it, ‘The Handmaid's Tale scathing satire, dire warning, and tour de force.’

If you ever need to be reminded of how sinful we really can be as humans, and why we should constantly reflect on our own behaviour I recommend it.  The story illustrates how corruption can take hold, particularly in extreme situations. 

The book has been regarded as anti-Christian, anti-Islamic, and far too sexually and violently explicit. It presents a religion that has gone wrong.  I think it is a justified warning as all religions have the capacity to be used for evil. 

Penguin Random House the publisher created a flame-proof copy of the novel……..which just about says it all.