Letter from the vine

1st October 2011

Dear friends,

I am writing this on a Saturday morning with severe snowfall forecast for the evening. The air is so cold that it hurts and the birds in the garden have been very grateful for food put out for them. This morning our poor, leafless vine was full of long tailed tits. The crocus, daffodil and tulip bulbs I planted last autumn are showing leaves and buds. Even in the deepest of winters there are signs of hope for the spring and the warmth to come.

Here at Great Ashby we have sadly said our goodbyes to Christine as she moved on to the new challenges of a needy parish at Boreham Wood in January. We are also watching, waiting and praying with those of you who are going through difficult times. Several folk here have loved ones who are very seriously ill and many of you also may be finding life hard at the moment for all sorts of reasons. Sometimes our lives can feel like the bleakest of winters but with God there is always hope. God will be with us in the good times and the bad times too. He will love us, help us and carry us through. He has promised that he will never leave us or forsake us. So let us look for the signs of spring in the winter times of our lives. There are signs of God's love all around us if we look for them. There are big signs and little signs: maybe acts of kindness and generosity or time spent with good friends. There is the support we feel as people pray for us. There is beautiful music, country walks, birds and plants to watch in the garden and so much more. All of these are rumours of the love, kindness and beauty of God and let us give thanks to God who lives in us and who calls us to live in him, the vine.

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 15: 13)

Yours in Christian friendship,

Sue

 

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