Vicar’s letter June 09	Archive
As I write we have just enjoyed a wonderful Royal May Day here in Knutsford and I am now preparing for a break away before our next Bank holiday which of course always used to coincide with Pentecost or Whitsun and now sits apart from it as a Spring holiday. It is a shame to have that separation, the word holiday being derived from holy day after all, but nevertheless I still rejoice in the Bank Holiday as an institution! I do see the negative side of course – many people have to work, in the emergency services for example or in retail, and for the self employed there are no paid holidays, added to that there is the other problem of congestion on our roads, but nevertheless the BH still has much to commend it. So what are some of the positives? An extra day off, apart from annual leave can give opportunity for doing something different while still perhaps being at home, in one’s own community. To me this was one of the joys of the May Day celebrations here – that sense of community as the whole of Knutsford made their way from all four corners to the town or the Heath and also welcomed visitors from all around. The Bank Holiday is a reminder to us all of the need for rest and re-creation – a bank holiday or a day off in lieu can do much to restore our sense of well being and re-energize us for our daily living. It should of course be additional to our other days off which should be part of our weekly pattern of work and rest. Some of you may have seen the TV series ‘The Monastery’ which has given rise to a book written by the Abbot of Worth Abbey on how to apply the wisdom of St Benedict to life outside the monastery. (Finding Sanctuary published by Phoenix). He begins his book by addressing the issues of busyness and the guilt that often accompanies taking time out. He challenges us to look at our lives and to consider how far it is we ourselves who choose to be busy. We are encouraged to find a rhythm of work, prayer and play or recreation. I have long been influenced by this three part division of the day or of the week and whilst I still haven’t ‘cracked it’ I know that it holds the key to a healthy life balance. Today I shall be welcoming a group of school children to church; their term project is ‘through the window’ and so as well as showing them the beautiful windows we have at St Cross I shall also be showing them one of our icons – an icon has been described as a window through which we may find Truth. The icon I have in mind is that of the Trinity, and this brings me full circle to where this letter began, with community and that sense of belonging experienced in joint activities on holidays. As you read this letter we shall be celebrating Trinity Sunday with its opportunity to reflect upon how we experience God in the community of the three in one. The icon shows the Trinity in such a way as to invite us in also to participate in that communion with God that is shared between each Person of Father, Son and Holy Spirit. As I go off on holiday I am conscious that for many, holidays will be different this year in the current economic climate, but as you plan perhaps for a summer holiday at home or away, I hope you will find the rest and re-creation that you need. And finally.......after summer holidays we have a wonderful concert to look forward to as we welcome to St Cross the Audley Male Voice Choir who will be performing a concert to round off our 150th Anniversary celebrations. This will be on Saturday 12th September; the programme will soon be available but we know it will appeal to all the family and tickets will go quickly so to reserve yours please do call Monica Hughes on 01565 632937 and keep your diary clear!!

Vicar’s letter June 09

Archive

As I write we have just enjoyed a wonderful Royal May Day here in Knutsford and I am now preparing for a break away before our next Bank holiday which of course always used to coincide with Pentecost or Whitsun and now sits apart from it as a Spring holiday. It is a shame to have that separation, the word holiday being derived from holy day after all, but nevertheless I still rejoice in the Bank Holiday as an institution! I do see the negative side of course – many people have to work, in the emergency services for example or in retail, and for the self employed there are no paid holidays, added to that there is the other problem of congestion on our roads, but nevertheless the BH still has much to commend it. So what are some of the positives?

An extra day off, apart from annual leave can give opportunity for doing something different while still perhaps being at home, in one’s own community. To me this was one of the joys of the May Day celebrations here – that sense of community as the whole of Knutsford made their way from all four corners to the town or the Heath and also welcomed visitors from all around. The Bank Holiday is a reminder to us all of the need for rest and re-creation – a bank holiday or a day off in lieu can do much to restore our sense of well being and re-energize us for our daily living. It should of course be additional to our other days off which should be part of our weekly pattern of work and rest.

Some of you may have seen the TV series ‘The Monastery’ which has given rise to a book written by the Abbot of Worth Abbey on how to apply the wisdom of St Benedict to life outside the monastery. (Finding Sanctuary published by Phoenix). He begins his book by addressing the issues of busyness and the guilt that often accompanies taking time out. He challenges us to look at our lives and to consider how far it is we ourselves who choose to be busy. We are encouraged to find a rhythm of work, prayer and play or recreation. I have long been influenced by this three part division of the day or of the week and whilst I still haven’t ‘cracked it’ I know that it holds the key to a healthy life balance.

Today I shall be welcoming a group of school children to church; their term project is ‘through the window’ and so as well as showing them the beautiful windows we have at St Cross I shall also be showing them one of our icons – an icon has been described as a window through which we may find Truth. The icon I have in mind is that of the Trinity, and this brings me full circle to where this letter began, with community and that sense of belonging experienced in joint activities on holidays. As you read this letter we shall be celebrating Trinity Sunday with its opportunity to reflect upon how we experience God in the community of the three in one. The icon shows the Trinity in such a way as to invite us in also to participate in that communion with God that is shared between each Person of Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Icon of the Trinity

As I go off on holiday I am conscious that for many, holidays will be different this year in the current economic climate, but as you plan perhaps for a summer holiday at home or away, I hope you will find the rest and re-creation that you need.

And finally.......after summer holidays we have a wonderful concert to look forward to as we welcome to St Cross the Audley Male Voice Choir who will be performing a concert to round off our 150th Anniversary celebrations. This will be on Saturday 12th September; the programme will soon be available but we know it will appeal to all the family and tickets will go quickly so to reserve yours please do call Monica Hughes on 01565 632937 and keep your diary clear!!