October 2025 Clergy Letter

As I contemplate leaving at the end of this month, I can only thank you for your understanding and encouragement to us on the next stage of life’s journey. Many have understood the pull of family, “Family comes first!” but the churches (people) of this Benefice have also become our family.

It seemed appropriate that my final message should be on the topic of family; the people among whom we hope to be most truly ourselves, loved and accepted (warts and all), secure and supported. I appreciate this is not always the case.

Of all the choices God made when he sent his Son to earth, he did not choose wealth or status, but he chose devoted human parents in Joseph and Mary. He chose family. Jesus had brothers and sisters amongst whom he grew up in the small town of Nazareth. When his teaching and healings began to draw the crowds and fan opposition, they come to collect him, for they supposed him to be “out of his mind.” They send a messenger into the house where he is preaching to announce their arrival. Imagine their shock and hurt when Jesus responds, “Who are my mother and my brothers?”  Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.” (Mark 3:33-35)

Thus, he was creating a much wider and more inclusive family into whom he could welcome the lonely and the social ‘misfits’. You see family is great until you are on the outside looking-in.

Some years ago, I took the funeral of a local Farmer’s wife. Her family recalled that there was always a place at her table for whoever was working on or visiting the farm that day. Families should be ‘close,’ but ‘open at the edges’, or as the prayer in the marriage ceremony states, ‘May the hospitality of our home bring refreshment and joy to ALL around us, may our love overflow to neighbours in need and embrace those in distress.’

I pray that for all your homes, for it is the basis of building caring communities, but especially for the eight churches across this Benefice who seek to offer a welcome to anyone in good times and bad; to demonstrate the sensitivity and generosity of God. In the words of our Benefice Prayer, ‘Give us such generous hearts that our church becomes a taste of heaven where everyone you send us finds their loving home in the community of your Son our Saviour Jesus Christ.’

‘May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you. May the Lord look kindly on you and give you peace.’ Amen

Rev Becky Richards