Dear friends in Christ,
In the July/August edition of The Bell, I reflected on “Finding God in the Ordinary Days.” We considered how Ordinary Time is not empty or uneventful time, but a season in which God meets us in the familiar rhythms of life: in prayer, worship, friendship, rest, service, and quiet faithfulness. As we now move into September and October, that same invitation continues, but with a slightly different emphasis. The summer months begin to give way to a new season of activity, and we are invited to begin again with grateful hearts.
September often feels like a month of return. Schools reopen, workplaces regain their rhythm, parish activities begin to gather pace, and families adjust to changing patterns. Even for those no longer shaped by school or employment calendars, there is often a sense that the year is turning. In the life of the Church, this can be a good time to renew our commitment to worship, prayer, service, and fellowship. Christian life is not about beginning perfectly, but about beginning faithfully, trusting that God walks with us.
In this spirit of renewed parish life, I am also looking forward to beginning pastoral visitation, especially among those who are home-bound or no longer able to join us regularly in church. I am deeply grateful to the team who have already kept this precious connection alive through communion visits and faithful care. Their ministry is a beautiful reminder that the Church is not confined to the church building; it is the living Body of Christ, present wherever love, prayer, and sacramental fellowship are shared. I am excited to join in and support this ministry as we continue to assure every member of Christ Church that they remain cherished, remembered, and included in our common life.
This season also ushers us into the season of Harvest Thanksgiving. Harvest reminds us that life is gift. The food we eat, the homes we inhabit, the friendships we cherish, the skills we possess, and the faith that sustains us are not things to be taken for granted. They are signs of God’s generosity. As St James reminds us, “Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above” (James 1:17).
Gratitude, however, is more than a feeling. It shapes how we live. A grateful church becomes a generous church. When we recognise what God has given us, we become more willing to share our time, our gifts, our resources, and our care with others Harvest is therefore not only about what we bring to church; it is also about how we live as people who have received grace and are called to become channels of grace.
As Christ Church enters this new season, we look forward to some upcoming events including ‘The Peace Vigil’ and the Church Picnic among others. May we celebrate them together with hope, thankfulness, and renewed commitment to sharing our love in and outside the Church. May our worship deepen, our fellowship grow, and our service become a blessing to our community. And may God teach us, in every new beginning, to count our blessings and share them generously.
With every blessing,
Rev'd Cletus