A message from Rita Goddard, Lay Minister

Posted by Admin on 25 April 2010, 5:01 pm

Driving around the Island during the middle of April was an exceedingly pleasant experience, particularly, if like me you are fond of daffodils. This year’s displays along the hedgerows have been magnificent. The colours of the daffodils have appeared more vibrant than most years. Maybe I’ve just taken more time to appreciate them. Maybe it had something to do with the winter snow and frost delaying their flowering. Whatever the reason they lifted my spirits on many a day, even more so, if there were primroses intermingled with them. What a wonderful display of new life!

How appropriate that this year the new life witnessed in the spring flowers coincided with Easter. Easter is that time in the church’s calendar when Christians celebrate the new life given to Jesus Christ as God raised him from the dead after his crucifixion.  That new life, the resurrection life, as many Christians call it, is not exclusively owned by Jesus Christ. Rather, it is also given to all those who believe and trust in him.

Unfortunately the beautiful daffodils, primroses and other spring flowers soon fade and become bedraggled. The hedgerows become a bit scruffy until the plants die down completely. This is in complete contrast to the new life to be found in Jesus Christ. As we continue trusting God that new life he has imparted to us remains and grows within us. Think of the contrast between the vibrantly bright new daffodil and the limp, bedraggled one. Maybe we sometimes feel like that bedraggled one, past its ‘sell by date’! Let me encourage you that the new life God has given is alive and well!

Whilst we are on the subject of daffodils – let me share another thought with you.  Recently, when on retreat, I was asked to choose a colour I might associate with someone calling my name. I’m not that imaginative but I entered into the spirit of the exercise and came up with the colour yellow. I was then asked to identify a colour which symbolised God calling my name. Harder still! Interestingly, after some thought I chose orange. These two colours formed the base of a piece of artwork through which God could speak.

It was an interesting exercise and one with which you may or may not agree. Perhaps you would like to try it sometime. When someone uses our name, we often feel special and full of self-worth. How much more powerful when God calls us by name. There is a lovely verse in the bible, in Isaiah chapter 43. God says “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.” A new redeemed life coupled with God calling our name.

One final thought. After that exercise yellow and orange have become quite significant colours for me. Maybe that’s why I’ve appreciated the daffodils even more this year.

With every blessing

Rita

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Do you know of someone who would appreciate a visit by the church? Or would you, yourself, like to meet and talk with someone from the church? Please let Lyn know or contact one of the Churchwardens whose details are given in Northwood News and in the Parish Church Officers section of this website:

Parish Church Officers

We’re happy to meet with you, to bring communion to you if you cannot come to church – or to explore with you if you just want to know more about the Christian faith. We are always here for you – because that’s what we’re about!

Lyn McRostie

Rector of Northwood.

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