Magic Eye

The Curate writes…

Back in the 1990’s a craze swept the nation that left us cross eyed with excitement. “Magic Eye” pictures, stereogram images to those in the know, appeared in the national press, on huge posters and in numerous books, captivating the imagination of people at the time. I, as do many, remember squinting at a patterned picture of apparently nothing trying to blur my eyes enough to discover the 3D image concealed within. Moving the page back from up close was a good trick. It looked a bit daft, but the satisfaction of discovering the hidden image was huge, especially when others around you failed to work it out.

I mention these pictures because I think we can all find life a bit like this. With the busyness, the challenges and frustrations we face, the never-ending streams of information and noise that seem to flow all around us these days - it can sometimes be hard to see where God is in the midst of what is going on. But like the Magic Eye pictures, if we seek to carve out the time to be still & seek God, He is always there. We may even feel a bit foolish as we search. We may need help from those around us, which is why we come together in Church, and why House Groups can be such an important and useful way to deepen our walk with the Lord.

So if you feel you can’t quite see Him right now, be assured Jesus is always with us. He was there right at the beginning and will be there at the end but, most importantly, He is here right now in the middle of all that is going on – surrounding us in His unchanging, unending love…

 

 

 

"In A Glass Clearly!"

 I wonder what the windows were like in the synagogue where Jesus stood up to read from the prophet Isaiah in his home town of Nazareth. I wondered in 2011 just where this window restoration project in the church would lead us. Isaiah speaks of rejoicing in the Lord clothed with the garments of salvation. Now using Paul's words from Corinthians he tells us "we see in a mirror, dimly," our vision limited by our earthbound existence.

As the window restoration comes to an end in St. Andrew's, two contrasting photographs of the windows boarded up in the winter snows of 2011 contrasted with smiling faces, the Rector and Iona ArtGlass below the Lady Chapel window, reflecting as in a mirror clearly in 2015. Through all the winds and rain, snow and ice, scaffolding here, scaffolding there, that has been endured by so many and for so long is that vision of a bright new dawn in the church's life. The rays of sunshine reflected clearly, illuminating the interior, wrapped up in the warmth of worship.

New hand blown panes of glass are mixed in a random fashion with the old that could be preserved, and is now difficult to tell which is which. Yet the type of glass is unique to this church. Glass formed in a mould till it becomes thin and rippled, of uneven thickness, with or without bubbles and other accidental flaws and irregularities. This lends to a subtle variation in the intensity of light as it streams across the church interior. Not least the unique experience of being close up to the stained glass windows, awestruck by their quality and beauty. The photographs I took now displayed in church for all to see.

Perhaps this says something of our human life with all its flaws and irregularities, yet somehow when put together, pane upon pane, window upon window, it allows the spiritual radiance of Christ to enrich human life, not least for regular worshippers and visitors alike.

Much has been achieved, the windows completed, yet much has still to be done. It is the intention in the next couple of months to clean the tapestry, renew the curtains, renew the nave carpet, sand and polish flooring, professionally high clean the church, re-install the William Morris carpet and much more.

We have much to be grateful for, not least to God through the work of human hands. As God clothes us with the garments of salvation our hope is that includes dusters at the ends of hands as well, as we seek to remove the dust and spring clean at ground level.

Jesus astounded those who heard him in the synagogue that day, so may we be astounded by what has been achieved as the journey of faith goes on dusting off that which clings to us, refreshing us, as we now see in a glass more clearly.

May the love of God continue to shine in all our lives. Please pray for God's work and witness here in this place, our ongoing restoration in faith in a church fit for worship in years to come.

                                                                                                                        John Pattinson

 

Photographs of the stained glass windows displayed in church can be purchased at a cost of £25 each. Proceeds to church funds.

Hand in Hand for Syria

Do you crochet or knit? If so, this is the article for you!

Cheryl Dawson, Chair of the Friends of Seaburn Dene Primary School group, is knitting blankets and clothing to donate to Hand in Hand for Syria, a UK Registered charity providing humanitarian support for the people of that country. In September she intends taking all she has created to their depot in Nottingham for it to be shipped directly to the estimated 12 million people in urgent need around the country, regardless of their political or religious affiliation.

If you knit or crochet, please consider making some warm clothing (especially for infants), blankets or even squares that can be stitched together to form a bigger item. Also, if you happen to have any spare wool, please could you pass that along to be used?

For more information or to get involved, please contact Rev. Paul Child via email (revpaulchild@gmail.com)

To find out more about Hand in Hand for Syria visit their website: www.handinhandforsyria.org.uk.

Please do also continue to pray for Syria – for an end to the conflict, the violence and the senseless killing, for peace to reign in that place. The prayer below may be helpful. Thank you.

A Prayer for the Victims of the Syrian conflict

We pray for those damaged by the fighting in Syria.

To the wounded and injured:

Come Lord Jesus.

To the terrified who are living in shock:

Come Lord Jesus

To the hungry and homeless, refugee and exile:

Come Lord Jesus

To those bringing humanitarian aid:

Give protection Lord Jesus

To those administering medical assistance:

Give protection Lord Jesus.

To those offering counsel and care:

Give protection Lord Jesus.

For all making the sacrifice of love:

Give the strength of your Spirit
and the joy of your comfort.

In the hope of Christ we pray. Amen.