1 September 2011

 

Many artists try to capture the seasons on their canvases by painting what they see around them.  Many produce wonderful work.  However, neither picture nor paint could ever replace the real thing.  When you traverse the main road into Gunnislake, look across to the Devon side of the River Tamar, and you will see what I mean.  This scene is like a massive canvas in front of my sitting room.  It always feels amazing and complex.  At the moment, the colour is still green, but there are already very light shadows that in a month or so will be changed into a colourful pattern of red, orange, yellow and burgundy, as the leaves start to fall from the trees.  Every year, strangely enough, it feels as if I have noticed this for the very first time.

 

The earth is like God’s display of the finest artwork.  Those who say that there is no God may see the blue skies that fade into light pink in the evening, or the flowers that no paint or artist’s palate can attempt to match, or the trees that change into an amazing display of colour when autumn arrives; but for them, these things sadly give no intimation of God's eternal kingdom, the city with gold walls and gates of precious stones, what C. S. Lewis described  as ‘heaven that opens like an onion, each layer more beautiful than the last’.

 

The search for heavenly things is always open to us; while in our church calendar, September opens up a particular opportunity for us  –  ‘Welcome to Church’ Sunday on 25 September.  As in previous years, the task for us all, as individual Christians, is to give warm and personal invitations to people in our own circle of contacts.  It is a Sunday to encourage others to regain confidence in joining this big family, ‘the Church’, providing for some people an opportunity to ‘return’.  In times gone by in this magazine, we have read testimonies of those who joined our parish churches as a result of this Sunday.  In the wider church, there is evidence of ‘unchurched’ people responding, and I think that the key factor is a genuine and friendly invitation.

 

The leaves may fall, the daylight may begin to shorten, and it may already feel that the frosts will soon return. Yet this special Sunday could be for many like moving from the autumn colours to the new growth of spring that blossoms into summer.

 

There are other things this month which may particularly lend themselves to inviting other people to come with you: on Saturday 10 September, the Devon Historic Churches Trust ‘Ride and Stride’ day, our priest-in-charge Michael is walking 19 miles round the churches of our mission community with anyone who wants to join in for all or part, and Jennifer Venning is doing a sponsored ‘hymn request’ in aid of the Trust all day at St Michael’s, Brent Tor.  On Sunday 11 September at 11 am in Tavistock church, there is an open PCC meeting to discuss the third strand of Tavistock church’s current priorities  -  children, young people and families  -  when Wendy Roderick will present the paper which has been prepared by her working group for information and discussion  -  after a slightly shortened service and quick cup of coffee.

 

And St Eustachius' festival weekend, the weekend around St Eustachius’ day, is clearly an important weekend for St Eustachius’ church!  On Saturday 17 September, there is the annual cricket match at the Ring, starting at 1.30 pm, with all spectators and players warmly invited to tea in the pavilion half-way through the afternoon, and the bar open at the end of the match.  Then a special photograph will be taken at the festival communion at 9.45 am on Sunday 18 September, with the Friends’ cream tea in the afternoon, and festival evensong with guest preacher at 6 pm  -  closely followed by a lecture in church on Wednesday 28 September on representations of St Eustachius in art, by renowned local lecturer Geri Parlby.

 

Also worthy of mention is the special service in Tavistock parish church at 7 pm on Thursday 29 September (St Michael and All Angels’ day), when the Revd Denis Hutchings will celebrate the 50th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood.

 

‘Coming back’ to church is ultimately about coming to God the Father, through Jesus Christ, and experiencing the changing, gentle work of the Holy Spirit.  Your challenge and my challenge is to bring a guest that will stay as family.  Please do use this prayer:

 

God our Father, who welcomed the dawn at the beginning of creation

and who welcomes every new day as if it is the first,

renewing nature and renewing our souls,

we give you praise that you welcome each of us

into your presence as individuals, precious and unique.

As we prepare to welcome people back to church,

remind us of that loving presence

so that we may embody it among us.

We pray that through us,

those we invite will experience your presence too.

For what we do is in Jesus’ name.

Amen.

With much love to you all,

Paula