Leaves are everywhere! There is definitely a change in the season. By the river during a clear day this week, I saw two very small children diving into enormous piles of leaves. They were visiting from Wellington, which apparently doesn’t provide leaves in such quantity. Shrieking and laughing, they were having a great time, to the quiet enjoyment of their watching parents. Then there was the lovely photo of fallen leaves in The Press this week. As we deal with the tidy-up in our gardens, maybe with rather less enthusiasm, we can look back at the summer that we have enjoyed, and look forward to whatever is to come in the next months.
Change of season often gives opportunity for reflection—
School holidays have now come to an end, and children and teachers are looking forward with anticipation to the opportunities and the challenges of the winter term (parents also!).
The great days of the celebration of Easter are giving way to a new season—with the disciples we look back on the last days of Jesus’ life on earth, and wonder what the new weeks will bring. As the disciples moved into the tasks that were set before them, I am sure they were strengthened with the memory of the good times, the friendships and the love that had been shared.
Our parish opportunity to look backward and forward will be at our Annual General Meeting, which will be held after Mass next Sunday morning. Reports will be available prior to the meeting, and I hope that all parish groups will make certain that they are represented, both so that we can celebrate the diversity of what we do as a community, and also to make sure that newcomers have the opportunity to be aware of what is on offer. The meeting will not go on for too long. It is also time to thank Vestry members for their service, and to elect the 2009 Vestry. Please give some thought to this—nomination forms are at the back of the church today.
As Fr Peter prepares for his study leave, we prepare for Fr Tim Hurd who will be spending time with us at S. Michael’s. We are hoping to find some accommodation for him, so if you know of anyone who will be away for any of that period and would like their house responsibly minded, the Vicar or Churchwardens would be pleased to hear from you.
ANZAC Day is also a time to look back and forward. We honour all who have served in the armed forces, and remember also the families and those who stayed home, whose lives were affected for ever by war. We regret the use of violence and the lasting damage that it creates. We see that damage in the aftermath of war. We look again at the way we resolve our own issues, and pray that we may learn other ways of decision-making which remember that all are children of God.
As we enjoy these bright clear days of autumn, maybe we too can spend some time enjoying the leaves and being mindful of the blessings that we have received.
Claire Anstice
