Behold I make all things new!
As 2012 moves us forward through the raw days of the New Year offering us glimpses of new life, tiny shoots, and snatches of bird song – Easter eggs appearing in the shops before the Christmas decorations are down! – it is important to spend a few moments considering the way in which new life continually breaks through into our old established patterns.
Jesus offers us a new start every day... a clean sheet, old mistakes written off, if we choose to accept. The possibility of beginning again and with his support, allowing real changes in relationships and attitudes to take hold.
In our communities too there is often a tension between the old and the new. Sometimes we look back, wanting to preserve all that has gone before, at other times we long to “make things new” to change and to have a fresh start.
Life is made up of both these realities. Into the depth of a cold and bare winter new shoots appear and imperceptibly the world moves from grey barren landscape to the bright new green of spring and full flowering of summer.
Into our established families new babies are born, a new generation is woven into the fabric of established life and their energy and enthusiasm sweeps us along... until they too become the old wise ones surprised by younger and newer approaches to life.
In our churches too new steps are being shaped or considered: All Hallows, Hargrave now a building site as a new toilet, servery and ringing chamber are built and the chancel step repaired; St Peter, Raunds working to raise money for underpinning, repairs and reordering the interior of the building hoping this new start will fit the church for its journey into the next 800 years! St Laurence, Stanwick preparing to develop plans for a toilet and pew removal, wanting to make the building a place where learning and teaching can more easily take place and where those coming long distances to worship can be comfortable. Nativity of Blessed Virgin Mary, Ringstead also looking to install a toilet and to take away some pews to make space for the children and young people who fill the church building and community with their energy and delight all who share their experience.
As this year moves us on through the serious and thoughtful time of Lent to the Joyful renewal of hope at Easter may we all find joy in the old and the new? I pray we get the balance right. Let us praise God for the gifts from the past and the hope offered by the future.
Rev. Shena Bell
January 2012