Dear Friends,

As I write May to date daytime temperatures have been below normal maybe John Steinbeck’s quote from his novel ‘The winter of our discontent’ could see June in a contrasting light.

‘In early June the world of leaf and blade and flowers explodes, and every sunset is

different.

That said June is not without some noteworthy UK wide events, the annual Trooping of the Colour, this year the women’s T20 World Cricket Cup, Royal Ascot and the beginning of Wimbledon, and not forgetting within our Team Ministry the St Cuthbert

Summer Fair with Rose Queen on June 20th - an outreach opportunity.

But June has three significant Church of England Holy days, that of St Barnabus, the Birth of John the Baptist, and that of the Apostles Peter and Paul. In essence these four Saints span and represent the before and after of Jesus’ earthly ministry with John the Baptist as the announcer and forerunner and after Jesus’ return to His Father three of the Apostles who emblazoned the Gospel across the then known ancient world.

St John telling his followers that he was not even worthy to perform the lowliest duty to untie the dusty sandals of the one coming, who unlike John’s baptism with water, would baptise with the Holy Spirit and fire. As for St Barnabus, St Luke describes him in Acts ‘As a good man’- ‘Full of the Holy Spirit and of faith’, he clearly was generous as he gave up his property for the common good.

St Peter was one of the first Disciples, despite his impulsiveness he became their nominal leader and spokesman. Peter was at Jesus’ transformation. Following Jesus’ great commission (Mt 28-18) Peter assumed the leadership of the new Christian

community in Jerusalem. One of Peter’s principal tasks was to manage the incorporation of Gentiles into the new Church. Additionally, he had to deal with the Jewish hierarchy. Despite what must have been a 24/7 week Peter wrote two Epistles.

Sixteen years after Jesus’ Ascension Peter’s management now of an expanding Church led to the Council of Jerusalem and a chance to debate issues such as the requirement for circumcision.

To bring the Gospel to a world of idol worshippers God decided to use Saul the Jewish arch persecutor of the new Christian sect, whose Damascus road conversion to Paul led him to become the world’s greatest evangelist. Tellingly the Roman Empire had provided roads and sea routes to enable the Gospel to travel; without which, such journeys would have been nigh on impossible. Paul’s three missionary journeys led to the establishment of Christian communities over a seventeen-year period which he

supplemented by thirteen letters (authorship of three in doubt)

Paul had an indestructible faith despite dangers and near-death experiences, assisted by God’s miraculous interventions which brought the Gospel to heathen populaces from Asia and Europe.

All of these Saints and more were the instruments of our loving God’s overall plan for His creation.

Maybe a quiet moment to reflect on God’s plan for each of us, whilst we consider how the lives of these four Saints may help us.

Have a great Summer. as we walk with Christ.