Message from the Vicar

THE RETURN OF THE WINDOWS

It is good to have the East Window back and as a result of some restoration a lot of the details are a great deal clearer. I know that this window is an important part of St Peter’s church and that it is special to many of us. It may have only been there for 150 years – less than one eighth of the church’s life - but it feels as though it has been there for ever and without it the chancel looked bare. The window of course tells the story of five of the main events in the life of Jesus, his birth, his baptism, his death, his resurrection and his ascension. Originally the purpose of pictures and stained glass windows was to tell the Bible stories to those who were unable to read. These days happily the majority of people are literate, but many will not have read the story of the life of Jesus. It is my hope that as people come into St Peter’s church they will not only see a very effective window, but that they will also be able to see pictures of the story of Jesus and want to find out more about him.

Like all of you I was deeply saddened to discover that more lead had been taken from the church roof. The decision now has to be taken as to whether we replace all the lead with stainless steal and also what extra security we can put into place. Either way there will be a great deal more expense and we will need to explore ways of raising the extra money.

May God bless you and be with you all.

Alan.

Update on the damage to the Church

The east windows of the church which were vandalised last year have now been repaired and restored. They have bee put back and are looking better than ever. The Bishop of Sheffield, Bishop Steven Croft, is coming to St peter's for a service of rededication on Sunday November 22nd at 10.30a.m. We are very grateful to everyone who raised money for us last year so that this work could be done and we hope that as many as possible will be able to join us at this special service.

Alan

The Bishop's Letter for November

This month’s letter is written by Bishop Cyril

Many think the term “fast food” is a modern invention. It isn’t. Growing up in a large family in the decade following World War Two, not only sharpened your appetite, it also quickened your response time to the food being placed on the table. Putting it simply, you moved fast or went without. My mother tried in vain to get us to slow down in order to give time to digest our meal. However, chewing each mouthful thirty two times always seemed an unnecessary delaying tactic and a precarious one. My mother was right of course; all the manuals on healthy eating say you must give time to digest your food.

One of the most memorable Prayer Book collects for me is the one that used to be set for the second Sunday in Advent, known in olden days as Bible Sunday. Listen to the words of this prayer:

Blessed Lord,

You have caused all Holy Scriptures to be written

For our learning:

Grant that we may so hear them,

Read, mark, learn and inwardly digest them,

That, by patience and comfort of your Holy Word,

We may embrace and ever hold fast

The blessed hope of everlasting life,

Which you have given us in our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

Did you notice? There’s that word again. Digest. Not only are we to read the Scriptures, but also, we are to allow time to digest them. One of the desert fathers was approached by a keen young student who said, “Father, give me a word from God”. The wise man asked the student if he would agree not to come back until he had fully lived the word. The student agreed. Then this is the word of God. “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, strength and mind”. It was many years before the student returned. The older man knew that it took time to digest God’s Word. The journey from the head to the heart is the longest and most perilous of all. We live with the Word until it changes us. Some verses of Scripture I have lived with for thirty or more years in the hope that I might yet be changed.

This Advent why not ask God for a Word. Live with it, digest it until you see Christ formed in you.

+Cyril

St. Peter's Church, Conisbrough