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

Dear friends, 
What a busy but blessed last week I had, reviewing, and reflecting on my journey with God and His people, which I started on 16th September 2001. 

Lots of ups and downs and of course many, many more things. But what I felt on Saturday and Sunday [at my ordination as priest and first presiding at communion] was an amazing and blessed feeling around my family of Christ.