Saint Michael’s Church
Serving God and Bishop’s Stortford since 673
Clergy Letter For June 2008
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CLERGY LETTER FOR JUNE 2008 |
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The Rev'd Derek Hinge writes....
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As I write his letter, May is passing with an abundance of warm, sunny days and all the colour and sound that the spring season is about; the bird song, the trees blossoming, new life and fresh energy. In practical terms, the season often leads us to have a ‘spring clean’; to get rid of all those books, magazines and other bits and pieces that we have not touched for months or even years. This desire to ‘spring clean’ has been sharpened for us this year because I am reaching a stage in life when much of the accumulation of being a busy priest for the past twenty years can be sorted, sifted and safely rejected to make way for new areas of ministry and activity as a retired priest. As we all know, such a sorting process is not just a matter of physically moving things from A to B. It is accompanied by a quite intense questioning and decision making. What is really important to me? What is most likely to be of real value to me or others in the foreseeable future? Where does my security lie – surely not in material things but in something much deeper and more lasting! And that begs a deeper question: ‘where is God in all this?’ Is he at all interested in my spring-cleaning?! Someone once described Christianity as the most materialistic faith in the world. A theological point was being made. Christianity is the only faith to claim that God in Christ entered into this world as a human being, and lived and died here. Thus he sanctified the material world and gave us the responsibility to care for it, and ensure that the exquisite balance of nature is not upset by mankind’s fallen nature, that is to care only about himself. The letter to the Colossians expresses it. “He (Christ) is the image of the invisible God, the first born of all creation; for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible….” (1:15) Thus our primary reason for caring for the planet on which we live is that, not to do so is dishonouring to God, the creator, and dishonouring to the Father’s initiative in Christ to restore mankind to a right relationship with his creator. The second reason for looking after this earth is that not to do so is dishonouring to our neighbours, especially those neighbours who have precious little power to address the issues. These two reasons are another way of doing something we all know we should; love God and love our neighbour! The practical outworking of our responsibility can take many forms. Over the past few decades, all of us have become increasingly aware of the ways in which our daily lives, habits, lifestyles are affecting that delicate balance of nature. Taken to its logical conclusion, unless something is done the life of this earth is threatened. Yes, we may pat ourselves on the back for some of the practical things we do like using the car less, recycling our rubbish, insulating our homes. A good spring clean certainly puts some resources back into the system. But a deeper spring clean is needed - the spring cleaning of our attitudes, our motivations, our devotion to God and our neighbour. And such a spring clean must begin with me. I think I shall spend some time during my retirement reflecting on that exquisite balance of nature and the part I play in influencing it. And may be such reflection, done by a sufficient number of Christians, and the practical actions that follow, will ensure that future generations will live not in a threatened world but a thriving one. Spring cleaning always points to what is really important. Over to you!!!
With my love and prayers Derek
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Office Address:
Saint Michael’s Church
Windhill
Bishops Stortford
Hertfordshire
CM23 2ND