Weekly Update – 30th April

As most of you will be aware, since Rev. Chris’ departure, the weekly update has been written by a member of the ‘Hub Team’ on a rota basis. Being that this is a 5^th Sunday in the month, they have asked me, as a guest, to write this week’s update.

As was written in last week’s update, we are still in the season of Easter and we are still looking at events that followed Easter Sunday. In last week’s service, who’s theme was ‘Hidden in plain sight’ we focussed on the story of the two disciples on their way to Emmaus, who were joined on their journey by a stranger. They told him of all that had happened the previous couple of days. It wasn’t until later that evening, when the stranger broke bread and blessed it, that they realised it was Jesus. The story highlighted the fact that sometimes we don’t recognise things, even if they are right in front of you.

Although I was involved with preparing last week’s service, I have been thinking about this passage, and what came to mind was the poem ‘footprints’ which I’m sure many of you have read. In a dream, a man is walking and talking to Jesus and they are looking back on the man’s life. Most of the time there are two sets of footprints in the sand, but at the end, the man realises that when he was at his lowest point, there was only one set of footprints. This bothered him and he said to Jesus,” Why when I needed you most would you leave me?” Jesus replied “My precious, precious child. I love you and would never leave you. During your times of trial and suffering, when you see only one set of footprints it was then that I was carrying you!” Words for us all to remember!

As mentioned at the beginning, this is a 5^th Sunday and following on from having Bishop Rose with us on Easter Sunday, we are very lucky to welcome the Venerable Andrew Sewell, Archdeacon of Maidstone Archdeaconry. Andrew has been working with the PCC and the hub on guiding them on the direction we should take as a church and how to prepare our Parish Profile. One thing that has been emphasised is the Mission of the church – reaching out to the wider community – which is perfectly encapsulated by the Tuesday Café run by Canon Liz and her many helpers. Thinking of this is quite poignant as one of the readings for this Sunday is from Acts 2: 42 – 47

‘They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer…They broke bread in their homes and are together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God…’ a lifestyle that we can all try and follow. I hope you have a lovely long weekend and a wonderful week ahead.

Mike