December 2012/January 2013 - Watlington Parish Council

Churchwarden’s bit
2013! Where do we fit in?
Where are we headed?
Its a funny old world isn’t it, one bunch of folk tell me we are being too new and
revolutionary......and another will accuse us of being part of the Traditional Church set up!
Well what to answer? Where is St. Leonards going.
Our fervent prayer is that wherever we are headed, we are going there together. I
remember a couple of years ago rather grumpily removing myself from a Matins Service,
childishly complaining that it wasn’t at all my type of Service!
A Humbling moment came later during prayer when I strongly felt told that God had
wanted to send me a special word during the Service. The very one from which I had
so arrogantly removed myself! Not only that, but that I had hurt folk God loved, who had
practised hard to give our Lord a special Service of worship. Who was I to judge it?
Did I ever finally receive that special message? I don’t know. But I do know that I then
realised that our Lord wants us to enjoy any expression of love and worship for Him. He
does: so why shouldn’t we. I felt Him tell me that he wanted me to enjoy Heaven and the
many rooms in His house. That in our future, with Him its much more fulfilling to be able
to wander around at home, in his home, rather than constrained to just one part of His
wonderful creation.
Since then I have shared this with other Christians who have admitted to having a similar
experience when grumpily removing themselves from a ‘Happy Clappy’ Service. I think
sometimes our Father feels he can best approach us when we have humbled ourselves to
a form of worship that spiritually stretches us. When we are stretched....we actually find
we grow!
How does this reflect in St. Leonards? Well this year we have started up a Mustard Seeds
Group, combining practical and spiritual enrichment for Mums and their little ones ( and
the bouncy castle goes down well). And we also have a monthly 4ALL Service which is a
fresh expression of our Sunday afternoons Messy Church.
We are having more bring and share lunches than ever and our coffee and delicious
cakes (thanks Heather!) after every Service are drawing all together in a true Church
fellowship. We have found these Services are influencing us all. We are learning as
26