Dear Friends 

I’ve just returned from my first eye test since 2018 - it has been one of mixed emotions. After the ‘high’ of discovering that this most recent test is free (forgetting the benefits that come to me at the grand age of 60!), the accompanying ‘ low' was that my eyesight isn’t as good as it once was. In all honesty, I can’t claim that it is a result of an increase in personal piety as hinted at in a chorus of my childhood (see below), but rather due to my enhanced age.

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.

However, what surprised me was how the deterioration had happened so gradually that I hardly noticed it. It was only when connected to the machine offering different lens options, was I fully aware of the ‘before' and 'after!’ 

I wonder what the spiritual equivalent of an eye test might be; an opportunity to re-evaluate how clearly we are able to see and respond to God? I leave you with the lyrics from the musical Godspell, loosely based on the prayer of Richard of Chichester. They state:

Day by day
‘Oh, dear Lord, three things I pray: 
to see thee more clearly, 
love thee more dearly, 
follow thee more
nearly—day by day.’

May that indeed be the goal and indeed the test for each one of us.
 
Keep safe
Keep in touch
Keep the faith

Simon

Dear Friends, 
  
I hope you’re having a great, busy/relaxed, and blessed week. I love reading and writing poetry. Therefore, today I just want to share with you all two poems about my best friend. I was very blessed after reading. So, please spare some time to read these poems and be blessed. After reading these poems and knowing you are loved by Christ gives you value and security in God. Trusting in God’s love lets us love and support others in their difficult times too.

​Lots of love and blessings. 
  
Rev Kathreen Shabaz 
Curate

Hello God
by Jennifer

Hello God, I called tonight
To talk a little while..
I need a friend who'll listen,
To my anxieties and trials..

You see, I can't quite make it
Through a day jut on my own...
I need your love to guide me,
So I'll never feel alone.

I want to ask you please to keep
My family safe and sound.
Come and fill their lives with confidence,
For whatever fate they're bound.

Give me faith, dear God, to face
Each hour throughout the day,
And not to worry over things,
I can't change in any way.

I thank you God, for being home,
And listening to my call,
For giving me such good advice,
When I stumble and fall.

Your number, God, is the only one
That answers every time.
I never get a busy signal,
Never had to pay a dime.

So thank you, God, for listening,
To my troubles and my sorrow.
Good night, God, I love You, too,
And I'll call again tomorrow!
​

OH HOW GOD LOVES YOU

If God had a refrigerator, your picture would be on it.
If He had a wallet, your photo would be in it.
He sends you flowers every spring.
He sends you a sunrise every morning.
Whenever you want to talk, He listens.
He can live anywhere in the universe,
but He chose your heart.
Face it friend, He is crazy about you!
God didn't promise days without pain,
laughter without sorrow, sun without rain,
but He did promise strength for the day,
comfort for the tears, and light for the way.
​
Author Unknown

Dear Friends 

Once again in the garden, I have been witness to an amazing pair of wood pigeons who have have taken up residence here. Whilst slightly annoyed by their early morning cooing which makes any lie-in difficult,  I can’t help but be impressed by their dedication in nest building. Earlier this summer a previous nest they had built came tumbling down in strong winds, which sadly (despite our best efforts) resulted in the death of the tiny chick that had recently hatched. However, regardless, they are at it again, scouring the garden for an array of twigs and constructing another would be home.

In a similar way that Robert the Bruce was inspired by a spider's persistence in spinning a web which led to his charge to his troops "If at first you don't succeed try, try and try again."  before walloping the English at Bannockburn in 1314, I am encouraged by our feathered friends. Luke’s gospel contains a story of Jesus concerning the persistent widow and an unjust judge, where her dogged determination ensues the granting of her wishes, despite many refusals along the way. Comparing the unjust judge with God whom we can call upon, Jesus concludes;
 
"And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night?” Luke 18.7

Whilst there’s a lot going on in the earth that might cause us to be despondent, may we nevertheless  be encouraged to be persistent in both our prayer, and in our seeking and working for justice in God’s world.

Keep safe
Keep in touch
Keep the faith.
Simon

Friends

I hope you all are well and cool enough to carry on your tasks. What an amazing God we have who always keep His promises. He said in Genesis 8:22  “As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease.’ 

I am writing this as I face toward the fan in my room, and thanking God for the wisdom God gave to mankind to make this fan I am using, also for electricity, clean, cold water and cars so we don’t have to walk in this hot weather. I am thankful for God for giving us beautiful parks and caring people around us. Thank God for all His promises and blessings. 

Now friends, I was also thinking for our brothers and sisters all around the world where they face very HOT weather without all these facilities that we have. They have no gas, electricity, fan, clean or cold water. There is no easy access of water or other food or drinks to calm them and give them energy and cooling. 

Sorry friends if I‘ve upset you by talking about our brothers and sisters who are less fortune than we are. But it is very true, and they just carry on thanking God for all the very limited facilities they have. What do we do with every unlimited facilities we have? All we do is complain when its cold weather and we complain when it is hot weather. We forget the promise God made in Genesis 8:22 “As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease."
 
Therefore, let’s count God’s blessings with thankful heart and give God thanks in all circumstances​ (in all weather conditions even in this hot weather) for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

Have a blessed day with lots of love and blessings.     
                                                  
Rev Kathreen Shahbaz

Dear Friends 

With limited success (trying to keep my laptop screen out of the sun), I am sitting out in my garden once again whilst typing. Inspired by the beautiful setting of the walled garden at Scargill House that a number of us were fortunate to experience over the weekend, I have tried to work in a different context rather than in the chaos of my study this week. Whenever I have held meetings of various kinds, I have always sought to be mindful that we gather in the presence of God, however this is certainly easier when (as was my experience on Monday) a conversation I was engaged in was wonderfully added to by the arrival of a butterfly who landed close by. Yes, of course the setting of Brunswick is far removed from that of Scargill House and the surrounding Yorkshire Dales, but it is the same sun that is shining on us both, with more than just glimpses of the God of creation that can be found wherever we are.

A number of those away at Scargill had cause to comment on the generosity and attention to detail that was displayed by the resident community there. How good it was to experience a multicultural community of many different ages working together for the common good. But those same sentiments were also conveyed to me in return by the community; what a blessing it was, to have part of the Brunswick community staying with them, the resident community. Again our love of and commitment and generosity to one another and to God was an encouragement to those who worked and served there. Different –- but the same and I have to admit, that as your vicar, I was very proud!

As was the theme of the weekend, may we continue to know and experience the blessings of God - both individually and as community, and may we in turn continue to be a blessing to others who God draws to us, and us them.

Keep safe
Keep in touchKeep the faith.

Simon