July,/August 2025
Dear Friends
Ever since I discovered the deadline for this magazine, all that I have been thinking about is - what am I going to write about?
It seemed like an impossible task especially when I could see the deadline date looming up in front of me and my diary full of other ‘stuff’ which I couldn’t ignore.
But you know, even though we use hundreds of words every day sometimes the words we need don't come easy to each one of us, do they? Especially when we try to say something meaningful in difficult circumstances and situations. What do we say to someone who is grieving the loss of a loved one to help bring them comfort, something that I have had to do on three different occasions recently? Or what would we say to the refugees we see on our television screens who are scared, hungry, tired and fast losing hope in the human race? What do we say to the innocent victims of war? Or those people on our doorstep who come into this church on a Thursday or Friday who haven’t got the money to buy food for their next meal? What do we say to those people who are suffering with long term or terminal illness and the future looks bleak as they can't see a light at the end of a very dark tunnel. How do we explain what is going on in the world at the moment to the very old or the very young who have no understanding of what is happening? How do we explain why the leaders of the nations sometimes show such a lack of compassion, consideration or care?
As followers of Jesus we are required to follow his example and speak up for the voiceless and the vulnerable. We are called to demonstrate the love and compassion of God in word and action and sitting in silence can feel uncomfortable. But often simple words or comments just feel wrong in certain situations. It is here that we need to be reminded that our presence can speak in volumes about the care and love we wish to give, and that within the silence, we can offer comfort to those in need and walk alongside those in fear. When I was working as a presbyter in Cumbria, as part of the Churches Together clergy team we were each on a rota where we would go into the town Health Centre one morning a week, and be available for people to come and speak to us about how they were feeling, we didn’t advise, we justlistened to what they wanted to say about what was worrying them. We were called the ‘Listening Ear.’ You know, sometimes, a listening ear is often more valuable than words of advice, and solutions to problems.
So maybe, there are times when we need to spend time on self - examination and think about the words that we use, those spoken and unspoken and go and find a quiet place to pray; to sit in the presence of God, with few words - for God already knows what we need, and God knows the concerns of our hearts both for ourselves and for those in our care. So, 2 let us stop talking for a while and listen for God speaking to us in the stillness.
Every Blessing
Sue