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I can hardly believe that I have now been ordained for over three months and this is my first entry of what I am hoping will be a regular blog. Immediately after my ordination I was laid up with Covid. This was very humbling as until then I had escaped and was beginning to believe I was invincible.... no such luck! Once recovered from the dreaded virus I then had to hunker down and write five assignments in order to complete my certificate in theology, mission and ministry. By then I was more than ready for a holiday not having had one for three years. And so, I find myself in October and already three months into my curacy, It's been full on but great fun and so much to learn. It is such a joy to be able to spend time with my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. …

Here are a few images taken on the day. Photographs courtesy of David Cummings.

On a beautiful autumnal day, in warm sunshine, a large group of parishioners and friends gathered in the churchyard to strim, mow, weed hoe and generally tidy up. A huge thank you to everyone who came and worked. I counted about 25 which I thought was huge. Our resident technical department kept the temperamental strimmers going when they broke down.

We broke at around 1pm for sustenance in the form of a bbq in the parish hall car park, wonderfully cooked by Christine, followed by chocolate brownies and cake with a glass of something cold!

We intend to do the same format at the next working party on 5 November starting at 10.30am. Please keep that date free if you can.

If you were able to attend any of the Harvest Festival services last Sunday, you will have heard  Janette’s story and  of the desperate need for extra supplies for the Foodbank. The demand is now outweighing what is required to meet the needs in these times of financial hardship, which are affecting so many in our locality.

Demand since March 2022 has increased by 35%, the number of emergency food parcels distributed was over 6,000 which fed over 13,000 people of which 4,680 are children.  It was wonderful to deliver the very generous donations from the Harvest Festival which totalled 162Kgs, a very hefty increase on the amount that is normally donated. On top of that, there was an extremely generous donation made by Mark Evans from the profits of the Italian dinner which he held on 24th September plus further cash donations of £60.

When we are doing our …

May I commend to you a visit to Chester Cathedral this week to see the creation window that Carl has overseen the production of. It may be found in the Refectory which is open between 10 am and 4pm. 

I have just seen it for myself, called The Berwyn Window. I found it stunning, hopeful, and a bearer of truth. Not least, what we create together from our diversity speaks louder, points beyond itself, than what we create on our own.So much else, to reflect on, and look forward to that. Enjoy.

Over coffee today I was enlightened into how I might add an article to this new Community Blog on the St James' website. Excited to write something, but then who is going to read this? (If you can't see the whole of this text, then click/tap on the 'Coffee...' title above.)

Anyway, I think the main message I wish to convey is that coffee is certainly instrumental to good conversation, and on Tuesday 18th October starting at 10.30am we are having a special Coffee Morning. So what's so special? It has added ingredients! Apart from good coffee (or tea), and cakes/biscuits, and good conversations, we are seeking donations of Christmas baking ingredients. (Flour, dried fruit, mixed peel, dark brown sugar, butter, apples, suet, brandy(!) etc.) We've done this before but that was before the pandemic in 2019.

The Coffee Morning is open to all (subject to the size …

Is this our first pet service in our history - no idea. But it is the first one for at least 4 years. A short service to celebrate and give thanks for all our pets, to which all are welcome. I am expecting it to be noisy and chaotic, but lots of fun, and hopefully with an exciting mystery guest speaker (failing this it will be me!). Buckets and cleaning mops are ready - hope to see you on the 2 October at 4pm.  

We were thrilled to hear this morning at prayers that since we have begun rewilding the churchyard, golden (I think) chaffinch's have started to appear in a neighbour's garden.  Rather than provide a picture of one from the internet, I am awaiting a live record from said garden! 

I am reminded, with thanksgiving, of the work and words of Mike, Bettie, Jonathan and Archdeacon Ian on the issue of rewilding churchyards. If you are interested, check out the churchyard working party page on our website.

It gives me great pleasure to declare this community space open. Open for us to share news, thoughts, and comments with each other and the wider communities we are part of. I hope we enjoy it. 

This is an experimental space for us. Hopefully it will emerge into something useful. Please do visit this space regularly, since it will likely become a primary method of communication for us. In time, additional functionality will be added and the design smartened up (maybe) - it was the best I could build in a couple of days of my holiday, and a wise woman once said to me 'it's just got to be good enough'.

I love the mornings, the sun rising. The possibilities of new life emerging. For me, it brings to mind words of the prophet Isaiah:

I am about to do a new thing;
    now it springs forth, …