Well, it is Jubilee month. A diamond one at that, 60 years. I am not even that old yet.
I do, of course, remember the golden but I also remember the silver one. The reason I,
and I guess most of us remember is because it is a celebration, a shindig, a knees up, a right royal bash. The bigger the party the bigger the memories.

Our lives are peppered with memories of those events that shape our experiences and
attitudes. They make us feel something and that changes us. The village day for
Chipperfield should be a momentous occasion that hopefully will bring a sense of
community that has been lost to some degree or another.

That awareness of community shapes the way we react to each other and when I think
about that it always reminds me of the biblical story of Cain and Abel. After murdering
his brother God asks Cain, “where is your brother?” Cain’s reply? Well, it was this,
“Am I my brother’s keeper?” Today I get the feeling that this is the reply of many when
faced with the trouble and worries of their lives. “Why should I bother, I have enough
problems as it is?” Those words are true enough but what is better to tackle life alone
or face the outrageous slings and arrows with an army of people holding you up,
encouraging and standing at your side?

I don’t know how you will feel on the jubilee weekend but hopefully it will be with a
new growing sense that you are not alone. That you are in a community. And that the
memories of this celebration will be one of renewed community spirit. God did not
plan us to be alone and He above anyone knows what it is like to be “…Our brother’s
keeper”
Love Jason, The Man in the Manse

CHURCH NEWS

On Good Friday, we were joined by folk from St Paul’s for a family all-age service. The worship was led by the Youth Band who greatly encouraged us. We had an early breakfast (early for some)! on Easter Day morning which was a real celebration as we shared a meal together, and this was followed by our worship service.

The 5Alive service which should have been held on the Common, in the end was in the Parish Room because of wet and cold, but none the less enjoyable sharing worship together.

On 6 May there was a youth-led evening service held in our church which was well supported and very encouraging to both us and the young people taking part. This was the 2nd of these services this year and we hope to have more.