Dear Friends,
January can feel a difficult, uncomfortable and dark time of year for people. It can exacerbate what we’re already feeling or have lurking inside us.
As I have gotten older, I have started to love this time of year, with Epiphany holding more meaning and encouragement than I had previously experienced in my younger years…perhaps my younger self was just too cream crackered post Christmas, to notice the gifts this season brings.
At REinspired, we hold our second volunteer training session of the year. Gathering with passionate, like-minded people to pray together, share and learn is always a joy filled time (plus a time of fellowship and lunch!) and if the feedback is anything to go by, this is valued by all the participants as well. The vibe is such a tonic. It feels like a re commissioning in many ways, where we reaffirm what we are doing, who we are serving and why it is important.
Its not just the words that we say, but the way we are saying it and how we are treating pupils, staff and each other. That by being light bearers ourselves we also benefit, as is so often the case. The spirit is taking us by the hand and encouraging us to join in, telling us that when we remain in him, he will remain in us, come what may.
So dear reader, my eyes notice that every day is getting a little brighter and what our eyes and body start to notice, our heart soon catches onto and is lifted. Spring and warmer days are on their way.
It is my choice to regard this season in this way, I concede that it is not always easy, but for me it is what I feel compelled and drawn (or led?) to choose.
I find little echoes of these things in our readings this week. I wonder what else we will learn on Sunday. I wonder how the liturgy is speaking to you right now.
Love, Julia
Julia Jones, Churchwarden