RECTOR’S LETTER – MARCH 2010
The word “Lent” comes from the old English word “lengthen” meaning Spring, the time when the days begin to lengthen. In the 4th. century the Christian church decided that the forty days (excluding Sundays) before Easter should be spent remembering the days Jesus was in the wilderness and in preparation for Holy Week.
During March and early April we have services and events in the benefice which focus our attention on our Lord’s suffering, death and resurrection. Right in the middle we have Mothering Sunday and this year the Archdeacon of Colchester will be the speaker at Great Yeldham’s special All Age Service (March 14th. ). On Palm Sunday this year we shall be at Tilbury, joined by our friends from Sible Hedingham Baptist and Stambourne Chapel, and led to church by two donkeys. (Pebbles has a friend!)
I shall be retiring on 10th. May and we will be moving (God willing) to the outskirts of Braintree. The house will, of course, be smaller than the rectory and that means downsizing. It’s quite a salutary lesson sorting out not only what will fit in but also what you really need. It reminds me of the remark the philosopher Socrates made when walking with a friend round the Athens market: “What a lot of things here that I don’t need”.
Our politicians and the media are already gearing up for the election in May. Sometimes I wonder if party leaders are all Marxists now, followers of Groucho not Karl.
“Those are my principles” he once quipped, “and if you don’t like them…well, I have others”. Still, whether intended or unintended, the consequences of our democratic political system are that issues are openly discussed and politicians are held accountable. So, we should all try to vote one way or the other, remembering that many do not have that opportunity if freedom and responsibility.
Principles and integrity were fundamental to our Lord’s mission and message. He died rather than change his commitment to God’s will and the salvation of the human race. God honoured that commitment by raising him from the dead. Easter points to one person that you can trust in life and in death. Why not read through a gospel (Mark or Luke, for example) this Lent. It could lead to the springtime you have been longing for.
