Blessings from the Vicarage

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

In December 2010, I was supposed to have an interview for the post of Priest-in-Charge of the churches of Frensham and Dockenfield (as the parish then was part of the Benefice of Rowledge), but snow stopped play! As a result, I couldn’t be interviewed until a month later when the snow had cleared. (Do you remember the snow that year?) Nevertheless, at interview I still gave the same presentation that I had prepared before Christmas (as it seemed so apt), which was on ‘modelling a system to encourage people of all ages to come to church’. Rather hilariously (as the snow had all but gone) I suggested that bringing people into church was like making a snowman! With diagrams on a flip chart and actions (I really wanted the post!) and elucidating that one firstly looks at and values the snow one has, makes a decent sized ball with it and then rolls it in more snow which ‘sticks’ to make it bigger. Then, once one has made the big base body, one can then work on the torso, head, and add the accessories of eyes, nose, arms, etc. … I leave you to interpret this as you wish regarding growing the members of the church…!

However, the most important and wonderful thing that I shared and explained in this presentation was that every snowflake was completely unique, and therefore every person in this journey should be uniquely valued, because what they bring to the whole is essential.

Being different is important. If we are not different in body, mind and spirit, then creation would become stagnant and life would be meaningless. But it takes great effort to live with difference – it takes listening and learning; it takes tolerance and patience; it takes evolution of self; it takes discipline and prayer; it takes loss of ego, control, possession, greed and much more. It means valuing everything and everyone; it means accepting that people need to be as they are, how they are and where they are; it means being grateful for the gifts that each individual can bring to a situation; it means loving all people unconditionally…

Now, all this may sound like a tall order for each of us, and, a bit like the front picture on this December issue: as I don’t know if we will have snow this winter, I also don’t know how much of the above we can achieve personally to ensure everyone knows they are loved this Christmas. But what I do know though, is that this month we will celebrate the birth of the One who, when He grew up, gave Himself totally in many and diverse ways so that we may truly comprehend that we are all, individually and corporately, loved infinitely and eternally by God. As we celebrate Christmas this year, even if we don’t have snow or the chance to look at individual snowflakes, may we live in awe, love and respect with regard to the differences in everyone, and follow the example of the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ.

With love and prayers,

Jane