January 2022
Dear Friends,
Do not remember the former things or consider the things of old. I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. Isaiah 43.18-19.
Whether this past year has been a great one, an ordinary one or a terrible year for you, the fact remains that it’s over. Never to be repeated. Well, that’s the theory.
Many people like to dwell in the past. Either in “the good old days” when things were so much better, or by ruminating over their failures, their hurts, their losses.
How about you? Are you ready to let go of this past year or are you planning on reliving it in your head and your heart, well into 2022?
There’s nothing wrong with treasuring fond memories or, indeed, allowing our mistakes and losses to teach us, soften us, guide us if you will. But there’s a line there somewhere, a line that all too many of us cross all too readily, by just wanting to live in the past and never letting go.
And yet as this new year heads our way, my sense is that God has something new planned. Perhaps radically new, perhaps not, but something new, nevertheless, for you.
Now, the idea of God doing something new can be simultaneously exciting and frightening. Perhaps we should hang on to what we know. Perhaps it’s safer to dwell in the past than let go of it for an uncertain future.
Or perhaps God has some crazy-amazing plan for you, a plan that God wants you to lay hold of deep in your heart. The only condition is that you have to be open to the possibility of something new. Opening ones heart to Jesus; my oft repeated mantra, ‘O come to my heart Lord Jesus, there is room in my heart for you’, might be a good way to start.
Do not remember the former things or consider the things of old. I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. Isaiah 43.18-19.
That’s God’s Word. Fresh … for you … today.
I am hopeful for the New Year at St Cyprian’s, there are some amazing challenges ahead of us, for example, from February we will have the possibility of Sunday evening worship in addition to our Parish Mass in the morning.
To date all we have planned is Choral Evensong on the third Sunday in the month, though that is not definite yet. On whichever Sunday it is we will be holding a Mass in the morning that will enable us to build up our Junior Church.
The other Sundays?? Informal Worship, discussions, supper evenings? What do you think might enable us reach out to our community? Something based on the Great Commission to take the Gospel into the world. Please let me know what you think or speak with the Wardens or a member of the PCC.
Following the Quinquennial Report earlier in 2021, we face the challenge of the major works programme. The report is basically a rerun of the previous report of 2016, which recommended urgent works to the fabric, including the replacement of the south aisle roof and the replacement of the plaster on the walls and repairs to the wood block floor, none of which has been undertaken, sadly nothing has been dealt with so far.
The good news is that we are in the process of commencing the installation of a lavatory for disabled persons; this a much-needed facility and I hope we can move ahead quickly
These works have been on hold for too long now and the longer we hold off the more problems we will experience and the more necessary and costly the work will become.
In January we start the New Year on 1st with Evening Prayer on Zoom at 6:00pm. On Sunday 2nd we celebrate the 2nd Sunday of Christmas at our Parish Mass at 10:30am. The 6th January is the great Feast of the Epiphany and there will be Mass at 6:30pm.
Then on the 9th I am pleased to say that our Bishop, The Right Reverend Dame Sarah Mullally will be our Celebrant and Preacher on the Feast of Baptism of Christ.
The next PCC meeting will be on 13th of January. I am pleased to say that Simon Boulter, our new administrator, is settling in as we work out how to operate in a different way, together with our neighbours at St Paul’s. He will be joined on a very part time basis from January 1st by Martin Carr, the business manager at St Paul’s. Martin will be responsible for our accounts and some fundraising.
May I take this opportunity of thanking you for your support over the passed year, especially financially. It has been a difficult time for everyone, but we have weathered reasonably well – THANK YOU. A Very Happy New Year
Your Priest & Friend
Fr Michael
Into our busy lives, O God, bring your peace and tranquillity, your love and compassion, so that we, in turn, may bring the joy of the Good News to all and show the caring face of God to others through our actions.
Amen.
Dear Friends,
Do not remember the former things or consider the things of old. I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. Isaiah 43.18-19.
Whether this past year has been a great one, an ordinary one or a terrible year for you, the fact remains that it’s over. Never to be repeated. Well, that’s the theory.
Many people like to dwell in the past. Either in “the good old days” when things were so much better, or by ruminating over their failures, their hurts, their losses.
How about you? Are you ready to let go of this past year or are you planning on reliving it in your head and your heart, well into 2022?
There’s nothing wrong with treasuring fond memories or, indeed, allowing our mistakes and losses to teach us, soften us, guide us if you will. But there’s a line there somewhere, a line that all too many of us cross all too readily, by just wanting to live in the past and never letting go.
And yet as this new year heads our way, my sense is that God has something new planned. Perhaps radically new, perhaps not, but something new, nevertheless, for you.
Now, the idea of God doing something new can be simultaneously exciting and frightening. Perhaps we should hang on to what we know. Perhaps it’s safer to dwell in the past than let go of it for an uncertain future.
Or perhaps God has some crazy-amazing plan for you, a plan that God wants you to lay hold of deep in your heart. The only condition is that you have to be open to the possibility of something new. Opening ones heart to Jesus; my oft repeated mantra, ‘O come to my heart Lord Jesus, there is room in my heart for you’, might be a good way to start.
Do not remember the former things or consider the things of old. I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. Isaiah 43.18-19.
That’s God’s Word. Fresh … for you … today.
I am hopeful for the New Year at St Cyprian’s, there are some amazing challenges ahead of us, for example, from February we will have the possibility of Sunday evening worship in addition to our Parish Mass in the morning.
To date all we have planned is Choral Evensong on the third Sunday in the month, though that is not definite yet. On whichever Sunday it is we will be holding a Mass in the morning that will enable us to build up our Junior Church.
The other Sundays?? Informal Worship, discussions, supper evenings? What do you think might enable us reach out to our community? Something based on the Great Commission to take the Gospel into the world. Please let me know what you think or speak with the Wardens or a member of the PCC.
Following the Quinquennial Report earlier in 2021, we face the challenge of the major works programme. The report is basically a rerun of the previous report of 2016, which recommended urgent works to the fabric, including the replacement of the south aisle roof and the replacement of the plaster on the walls and repairs to the wood block floor, none of which has been undertaken, sadly nothing has been dealt with so far.
The good news is that we are in the process of commencing the installation of a lavatory for disabled persons; this a much-needed facility and I hope we can move ahead quickly
These works have been on hold for too long now and the longer we hold off the more problems we will experience and the more necessary and costly the work will become.
In January we start the New Year on 1st with Evening Prayer on Zoom at 6:00pm. On Sunday 2nd we celebrate the 2nd Sunday of Christmas at our Parish Mass at 10:30am. The 6th January is the great Feast of the Epiphany and there will be Mass at 6:30pm.
Then on the 9th I am pleased to say that our Bishop, The Right Reverend Dame Sarah Mullally will be our Celebrant and Preacher on the Feast of Baptism of Christ.
The next PCC meeting will be on 13th of January. I am pleased to say that Simon Boulter, our new administrator, is settling in as we work out how to operate in a different way, together with our neighbours at St Paul’s. He will be joined on a very part time basis from January 1st by Martin Carr, the business manager at St Paul’s. Martin will be responsible for our accounts and some fundraising.
May I take this opportunity of thanking you for your support over the passed year, especially financially. It has been a difficult time for everyone, but we have weathered reasonably well – THANK YOU. A Very Happy New Year
Your Priest & Friend
Fr Michael
Into our busy lives, O God, bring your peace and tranquillity, your love and compassion, so that we, in turn, may bring the joy of the Good News to all and show the caring face of God to others through our actions.
Amen.
