What a summer we are having.  Seems day after day of blue skies and hot houses. Our house is a new build only a few years old and by jings it is well insulated.  In weather like this we are always trying to think of ways to create a draught without letting the cat out the house.  That’s a whole other story as why he is confined to barracks!! 

And the garden, and the grass….I think I could easily apply for a job as a greenkeeper I am out watering grass that often. 

But, as hot and bothered I can get with the weather, I know this is just a season, and like others it was pass into autumn and the cooler days will come. 

We live in very close reach of the countryside here and at this time of year, when the roads are quiet, we can hear the drone of the combine harvesters out in the fields bringing in the harvest.  We can see the lights as they work the fields, often late at night, making sure they make use of every available dry hour of the day.  They knuckle down, because I suppose they never know when the rain will come.  There is a window of opportunity, and they take it.   

So, this is a season for making the most of things.  Whether it is the weather, the gardens or the harvest. We want to make the most of the season, because one day it will be gone.   

Last newsletter I spoke about accepting the challenge, being up for a challenge.  I believe that in the church we are in a season of opportunity.   

Opportunity for growth, opportunity to reach out, opportunity to be involved in the community to build on our legacy, or history and our future. 

We are changing, things are happening people are coming to use our church, from the Bingo Tea, The Cadets, the Tuesday openings we have new people who have been in and had fellowship, and some have been on a Sunday too. Opportunities!! 

We have different events lined between now and the end of the year, some will help raise some funds for the church, but more importantly, we can invite people along to be part of things here.  Who are you inviting? Opportunities!! 

A few weeks ago in a sermon, I talked about a quote from a film. “The church is not the past.  It is what we do next” 

We are in a good season, lets us embrace opportunities and make our church live the question of what we do next!  

Your friend and minister 

Alan