Dear Friends
We have just finished three weeks of Summerfest, and it has been such a joy to welcome guests back, to hear the sound of young people and wonderfully see how God has been blessing many on their return back to Scargill. Thank you for your continued prayers, love and support – it means a great deal to us.
We continue to offer online quiet days and our next one is on Saturday 4th September which I will be leading around the theme of, ‘Jesus: the Bread of life’. Do book – we’d love to see you through the wonder of Zoom. There are plenty of space on our other online and hybrid events (online tickets). See here for further details of online events in September and October:
Sat 4th September:
Quiet Day on Zoom led by Phil Stone
Tue 14th to Thu 16th September:
Encounters with God led by Phil Stone and Dave Hopwood
Mon 20th to Thu 23rd September:
Ten by Eight led by John Bell
Sat 9th October:
Quiet Day on Zoom led by Scargill Community
Tue 19th to Fri 22nd October:
Enneagram 1: God-shaped people led by Margi Walker
We are continuing with our Wednesday Livestream Evening Prayer services from Wednesday 8th September (there is not one on Wednesday 1st September)- which you can pick up on our YouTube channel.
Please do look at our Autumn in-house programme, which is booking well.
I would like to highlight for Church Leaders: Fuzzy Church led by Elli Wort and Nigel Rooms – Mon 1st to Thu 4th November – which is based on their new book looking at the Gospel and Culture in the North of England.
For those of you who want to develop their understanding about Justice, I recommend the course Fri 12th to Sun 14th November, funnily enough it is called Time for Justice.
Below is Di’s latest reflection about fitting in and green noses!
Diane writes:
‘If only I had a green nose’ the title of a Max Lucado story and what a brilliant way to start a reflection? The blurb for ‘If only I had a green nose’ tells us a green nose is the latest trend and everyone wants one, everyone wants to fit in, but the colour kept changing and soon ‘Punchinello and his buddies had so many layers of paint on their noses they couldn’t remember what they really looked like.They had been trying to fit in but now returned to Eli because they just wanted to be themselves.’
Trying to fit in! Now isn’t that what I have been secretly trying to do most of my life? I have wanted to be slimmer, taller, sportier, wear the right clothes, say the right things etc. etc. And although it wasn’t necessarily true, I often felt ‘left out’ and I still think people don’t really understand me, but of course that’s because I am such a unique person or maybe it’s because I don’t let them!
Now, I knew there was a poem out there somewhere about being ourselves and Shaun kindly sent me it, “Warning” by Jenny Joseph also known as “When I Grow Old, I Shall Wear Purple” which was penned in 1961 at the age of twenty-nine! On the surface a light-hearted poem until you start reflecting, especially at my age, and mulling over what is really being said!
Warning [by Jenny Joseph]
When I am an old woman I shall wear purple
With a red hat which doesn’t go, and doesn’t suit me.
And I shall spend my pension on brandy and summer gloves
And satin sandals, and say we’ve no money for butter.
I shall sit down on the pavement when I’m tired
And gobble up samples in shops and press alarm bells
And run my stick along the public railings
And make up for the sobriety of my youth.
I shall go out in my slippers in the rain
And pick flowers in other people’s gardens
And learn to spit.
You can wear terrible shirts and grow more fat
And eat three pounds of sausages at a go
Or only bread and pickle for a week
And hoard pens and pencils and beermats and things in boxes.
But now we must have clothes that keep us dry
And pay our rent and not swear in the street
And set a good example for the children.
We must have friends to dinner and read the papers.
But maybe I ought to practise a little now?
So people who know me are not too shocked and surprised
When suddenly I am old, and start to wear purple.
About this poem J R Milson wrote “I hear her speaking to each of us, male or female, in an ode to nonconformity, one of my personal favourite rants and topics. In a humorous, tongue-in-cheek and fun way, Jenny Joseph conveys a serious message for all, to never take ourselves too seriously or lose the twinkle in our eyes.” I will certainly continue to wear my bright red pinafore dress with pride!
Thankfully fitting in is perhaps the opposite to where following Christ will lead us. Did Jesus ever fit in with the world? No, and neither will His followers. We were never meant to fit in with the crowd. 1 Peter 2:9 tells us ‘But you are God’s chosen and special people. You are a group of royal priests and a holy nation. God has brought you out of darkness into his marvellous light. Now you must tell all the wonderful things that he has done”.
We have been called to stand out, to be different in this world where God is often put aside. To be the one to show an alternative way of living, one that shares the love of God, and draws others in – perhaps with a twinkle in our eyes, whatever the colour of our noses.
With love and prayers from