LETTER FROM LOUISE

LETTER FROM LOUISE

“What is this life if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare”

The opening lines of the poem Leisure by William Henry Davies. I am always reminded of this poem at this time of year. It was read at the cenotaph in Oakworth Park every Remembrance day while I lost the circulation in my feet as we stood and froze in Scout uniform.
No sooner have the days started to draw in and harvest festivals, and Remembrance Day services are past than it starts...
What are you doing for Christmas? Have you started your Christmas shopping yet? Only 50 days to Christmas, are you ready?
In this build up do we become so obsessed with getting everything done, making everything perfect, that we rush through, getting frequently agitated by small things, losing our patience, until the day arrives.... then we can relax, only to find that we are too tired to enjoy the moment.
This has extended into our everyday lives so that every large or even small event builds up more and more pressure that we end up stressed out before we start. Sometimes it feels like that in our churches, when no sooner are the poppies put away, than the preparations for the Christmas fair are in full swing. This year when money is even more restricted, why don’t we focus on the things that do not cost us financially?
Time to stop.
At the beginning of November we celebrated All Saints remembering those people who spent their lives in faithful service, an example to us all. Many of our saints chose to step away from the everyday bustle of life, in order to concentrate on what was important, focusing on God and living lives modelling Jesus’ example, often giving up wealth, prestige and status in the process.
November is a month of remembrance, not just Armistice Day but a whole time to remember all those saints, the everyday people who have gone before. We held a Memorial Service at The Drive where we lit candles and remembered. If we are remembering them why have we not learned from them? 
27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? Matthew 6:27
As we approach December and come into the season of advent the church has a whole month to prepare for Christmas. Let’s not rush headlong in a flurry of preparation that we don’t spend time appreciating all we have. Enjoy being with people, spend time together, appreciate the small things. Meet together over lunch in Wesley’s café, Tuesday or Thursday, or enjoy soup and conversation at Freckleton on Wednesday or for coffee at The Drive on Friday. Join in an advent course online or in person. In every church we have the opportunity to gather together, appreciate spending time in company. 
31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. Matthew 31-32
Let’s practise being Saints in the making, enjoy the moment, have a blessed Christmas and peaceful New Year
Louise