Rivertown United Reformed Church

Minister’s Letter – March 2010

“A never-ending journey!”

The longest step on a journey is always the first one. Paul McCartney’s decision to break away from the other Beatles. Tony Blair’s decision to join the US mission to set everything right in Iraq and remove what were thought to be weapons of mass destruction; the lover’s proposal of marriage; the alcoholic’s decision to seek help for his or her addiction.

Every step that we take brings us nearer to – or further away from the purposes, power and peace of God. Which way do you feel your life is going just now? Can you be sure?

Journeys – especially long or slow – are never popular –especially now. Unless for world records of one kind or another. Waiting of any kind in this madly rushing world is seen as unnecessary, a waste of time, a fault in the transport or state system. Are we afraid to “stand and stare”? In case we’re seen as strange, as folk who need to “get a life”?

Minister’s Letter – Sept 2009 “Jesus - the Travelodge”

I have come to be very grateful for the Travelodge. For these “oases” offer rest on the journey – total acceptance, sometimes at a very good price, to travellers of every kind. They are a welcome acknowledgement of the vast distances that we travel these days – for work, study, leisure, even family history research, maintaining personal links with old friends. An acknowledgement of our need, in this express-paced world of ours, for rest, recuperation, so that tiredness does not overcome us and make us a potential danger to other road and motorway users. The time to remember again who we are – and in a faith context, that we are all much more than the journey we are making, the job we do, the family we belong to, the friends and possessions we have accumulated, the skills we have inherited, been born with or achieved through training.

Minister’s Letter – November 2009

“God’s Economy”

I was talking to someone the other day who had spent her whole life in the same house. She had reached the stage of realising that she now had an awful lot that she really didn’t need. I am a hoarder by nature - but our regular moves as a manse family have made regular clearouts not only possible, but welcome. In a sense God does not have this problem. God never moves house! But God does not waste anything. Whilst walking the dog in Wepre Wood one beautiful sunny day I was struck by the canopy of trees, the multicoloured carpet of autumn leaves in red, orange, gold, yellow, green, with a smattering black dots. Nothing is wasted here. Everything plays a part – and by recycling helps growth the next year. One leaf by itself, through beautiful, cannot hold a candle to the sight of all the leaves thrown together. But we need to stop, and look.

“Sorry seems to be the hardest word”

Let me be one of the first to congratulate – if that is the right word – the new Roman Catholic Archbishop, Most Rev Vincent Nicholls, on his new office. He has promised to raise the profile of the church, so that it plays a larger role in democracy. That is something that we should all support.

But - did you know you could be a priest without ever turning your collar round? Or even going to college? In fact all praying Christians (is there any other kind?) are priests. For the role of the priest is to be a go-between between God and God’s children. Not just the churchy ones – all of them. To pray for them when tragedies occur – but also when they themselves make a mistake. In Exodus ch 19 verse 6 God tells Moses that the fledgling Israelite nation is to be “ a priestly kingdom (RSV “a kingdom of priests”) and a holy nation”.

Deeside Pastorate Newsletter – May 2009

Are we afraid of being raised up? OR “Walk Tall!”

As you will know, I have been my current “lamp post” shape since the age of 13/14. What I must inform you now, with great shame in this part of the world, is that, apart from school, and maybe due to my sports experiences there, I have never been a rugby player, let alone a fan. Of course, there was a certain football team based close by, who succeeded, to my great delight, in winning the Cup and League “Double” during my Tottenham residence. But in rugby I faced one insurmountable problem – my shape, and my light weight. No stamina for running; half a tackle - and I was floored. (My brief attempts at boxing produced the same result!).

My first proper paid job (age 18-20) was as a Clerical Officer for what was then the London West Collection of HM Customs and Excise, based at Ebury House, 150 Victoria Street SW1.

Pilgrimage at a pace!

Greetings once again, and may the peace of God be with you. As you will know, Ruth and I took up the offer (from Ruth’s sister Heather, an Anglican parish priest in Leeds) to join a 10 day pilgrimage to the Holy Land, 1st – 10th February. I am grateful to the pastorate for allowing us to make the one-off trip; in due course a presentation will be forthcoming.

Since our return, many people have asked “How did the holiday go?” Well – yes, there were short ‘spaces’, such as the wonderfully peaceful sail across what was a millpond Sea of Galilee, in gentle sunshine. And the food throughout was wonderful and plentiful! And the company too (we were the only non-conformists in a group of 23)! But we were very busy! And we were following a tight schedule - we had to, to cover all the ground. We rose daily at 6.30 / 7am! We actually visited 19 churches, passing by with reference another 8!

Who cares?

Such are the pressures, the disappointments, the disillusionments abroad in virtually every field of working life today, that I believe people have neither the encouragement nor the energy nor the enthusiasm to care about their as much as they might. Part of the reason for this is surely the “Credit Crunch” as it is called, causing companies to fear for their future unless employees are put on short time or simply made redundant. There is the feeling that those at the top, however caring they may appear to be, however hard they might appear to be working to safeguard the company, they are basically trying to save their own skins first and foremost. People in every walk of life are feeling cynical, unappreciated – as if even their very best is no good because ultimately it will not save the day.

Deeside Pastorate Minister’s Letter December 2008 / January 2009

Do you have “sacred spaces”? Moments you look forward to every year, times you almost feel you cannot do without? For me it has to be Christmas Dinner. (I have to be careful what I say next - this feeling could be deemed “sexist”!). No – what I mean is, that hour or two of supreme relaxation (and yes, we do try to make sure it’s that for ALL of us!) when, as a couple, a family, we can sit down together and say “this time is ours”. Quality time which, hopefully, will leave us all feeling more loved, more appreciated, more an essential part of the family.

People have an increasingly multicultural attitude to food these days We have for some years taken to Christmas Day salmon, easy and quick to cook. But what will the food air miles be for our Christmas celebrations? Much of the traditional fare hails from far afield across the ocean.

“Because I love them”

Greetings! It is so good to have settled among you. We are already starting to feel “at home”! And once again, many many thanks for all the wonderful expressions of goodwill – and all the hard and generous work that has gone into making the Manse such a lovely home. Thank you very much indeed!

It happened on a beach in Tenby, not long before we moved. We were 4 – Joanna our daughter, Ruth and I, and of course, 12 year old dog Toby. As we played with him on the beach, a couple came up to us and asked “Does your dog moult a lot?” “All the time!” I replied, “he must grow it again very quickly – and thickly – otherwise he would have been bald years ago!”

We are now truly in Autumn, as the green turns to beautiful shades of red, yellow, orange and gold.

We currently do not have a Minister. Guest letters may appear sometime, otherwise this section of our web site will remain unused.