Presence & Perspective

Parish life comes in seasons. It has its own rhythm, and having been with you for two years now, I have a good sense of the shape of the year in Wolvercote.
I’m writing this in August, a relatively quiet month, but I’m anticipating our harvest celebrations in September, then the season of remembrance with All Saints’, All Souls’ and Remembrance Day, and of course Advent and Christmas. Alongside particular seasons and events, we’re planning our weekly worship and regular activities such as our Monday board games café and Messy Church, working in partnership with Wolvercote Baptist Church.
As in any organisation it’s always necessary to be thinking ahead. Some things will inevitably be more last-minute than others, but generally things go better if they are planned.
This applies to our activity over the coming months, but also further into the future. The Diocese of Oxford encourages all parishes to think about their vision, and our PCC spent some time last year developing this after consultation with our church congregation and wider parish community. We developed values that we aspire to – to be rooted, inclusive, creative and community-facing. We also considered what activities we’d prioritise, including investing in our own worship and spirituality, developing our inclusive and compassionate community, working with children and families, and becoming known as a centre for community life.
We are conscious that we exist in a changing context, and we need to be ahead of the game in resourcing our church to serve the parish in 5, 10 and 20 years’ time. And more than that — Christians believe that God constantly calls us forwards. We see this in the life of Jesus, who calls his followers to step out – literally from a boat onto the water, and constantly challenges us to walk in a new understanding of relationship with God.
So looking ahead is important. But there is, I think, a temptation that if we always look backwards or forwards, we miss what is in front of us. The here and now. So many journeys we take are about getting from A to B as quickly as possible. But any spiritual journey takes a different form, drawing us deeper rather than sending us further away. Slowing us down so that we learn to be here rather than striving to be somewhere else.
Last night I went for a walk on the Common. The sun was setting and it was beautiful. I had a list of things I needed to do, and yet it felt like the most important thing I had done all day.
Pilgrimage is an ancient tradition in all the major religions for a very good reason: a walk can help us to regain a sense of perspective, to reconnect with ourselves and whatever our sense of the divine, to see and notice the beauty of creation. To walk mindfully, purposefully, prayerfully, is not to reach a destination but to make a journey. I’m therefore delighted that we are starting a series of walks, in partnership with St Michael’s Summertown, that will be a mixture of walk and pilgrimage. The first is on Thurs 14 Sept, 10am, meeting at the bathing place car park, and walking to the nunnery, Binsey Church and St Frideswide’s Well. The second walk is planned for the week after Christmas, in Wytham and Wytham Woods. Further details from Bill Clarke: 01865 510109.
As we look back to what has been good in the past in our own communities, and forwards to how we might like things to be different, may we all find space to enjoy and give thanks for the here and now. This may be by going for a walk, but it may be by creating space in some other way. St Peter’s Wolvercote and All Saints’ Wytham are both open during the day and everyone is welcome to take time out, to reflect, to pray, or simply to be.
May we take time to notice what is beautiful around us. May we gain fresh purpose on where to focus our energies. May we reconnect with what matters the most.