Team Letter, August 2022

by | Aug 11, 2022 | Team Letter

Dear Friends

Earlier this year, the core team of leaders from our four churches chose the following verse to be our team bible verse for this year: ‘Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus’ (Philippians 3: 13b-14). When we chose that verse, we were thinking about how we might focus our attention on what God has in store for each of our churches and for us a team this year as we build back following the Covid pandemic. How are we getting on with doing that, I wonder? Have we been able to give time to pray to discern what God has in store for us?

I have been reminded of that verse in recent weeks as I have been part of the Faith and Wellbeing team operating at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. For when St. Paul wrote that verse, he was probably thinking of the athletes taking part in the Olympic or Isthmian Games, the latter of which were held every other year in Corinth. It was a great privilege to be involved in providing pastoral and spiritual support to those in the athletes’ villages, and as I reflect upon that time now, I am grateful for the ways in which we were able to encourage some to press on in their faith and to encourage others to think about faith as well.

Looking back over the past couple of months, it was great to have Rebecca Lloyd ordained as a self-supporting curate at St. James’ within the Team. Thankyou for your prayers for her son Theo, who is now much better. Please do continue to pray for Rebecca, and her family, as she and they settle into this new phase of her life. And many thanks too to those from our team who helped out with the Penketh Carnival on July 9th. It was a beautiful day and fantastic to be able to remind the local community that, with others, ‘We are the Church’ – still here for people. Do pray too for those from our team helping out with the local churches tent at the Creamfields Festival over the August Bank Holiday weekend. If you can help, and haven’t yet signed up, the organisers are looking for people who can help with the 8am-4 pm shifts, especially on the Sunday 28 August, email wearethechurchatcreamfields@hotmail.com.

Finally, on a personal note, my Mum died on 22 July. She had not been well for a number of years and really struggling in more recent times. I am grateful for the faith that sustained her throughout her life (and which she encouraged me in). Her funeral is on August 15. May she rest in peace and rise in glory.

With my prayers and best wishes.

Jeremy Tear, Pioneer Team Rector

Parish Magazine Letter, August / September 2022

by | Aug 4, 2022 | Magazine Letter

Dear Friends

Summer is here! As I write we are about to experience two of the hottest days in the UK’s history. If anyone ever doubted that climate change is a reality, then surely this is evidence for it. Indeed, in the last 20 years (prior to the current heatwave), we have experienced 7 of the 10 hottest days on record.

So, how might we respond as Christians then? Firstly, by prayer. By praying for those affected by extreme heat not only in this country but also in other parts of the world, where temperatures are even hotter. Temperatures that are causing wildfires, droughts, and leading people to migrate to cooler countries like our own. We can pray that our own government, and all governments, take the necessary urgent action now to avoid potential climate catastrophe.

Secondly, by learning more about the climate crisis we currently face. You may well have heard the quote by Professor Sir David King, the former Chief Scientific Adviser to multiple UK governments, who in 2021 said that “We have to move rapidly. What we do over the next three to four years, I believe, is going to determine the future of humanity. We are in a very, very desperate situation.” But did you know that Chatham House, the prestigious international affairs think tank, said in their 2021 report that if emissions continue on the current trajectory, we have just a 5 per cent chance of staying well under 2 degrees Celsius, a very significant tipping point, when human life and the environment become much more difficult to maintain, and in some cases could disappear. They also said that globally, each year in the 2030s:

    • More than 400 million people a year are likely to be exposed to temperatures exceeding the workability threshold (i.e., unable to work outdoors)
    • More than 10 million people a year are likely to be exposed to heat stress exceeding the survivability threshold (i.e., likely to die outside)

These are disturbing figures for us all as human beings, Christian or otherwise, so thirdly, we need to act. There are many ways we can take action. Some Christians believe that non-violent direct action is the right response to put pressure on our government to change its ways, to take more urgent action to save ourselves and the planet. See Christian Climate Action – Direct action, public witness for the climate. Taking such action may not be what we feel called to do but writing to our MP, Andy Carter; signing climate petitions; joining our church eco team to help us a church try to reach net zero carbon by 2030 (in line with the Church of England’s own commitment) are other things that we might feel more comfortable with. For further information, see Green Christian – Ordinary Christians, extraordinary times and Eco Church – An A Rocha UK Project.

I do not believe we need to panic about the climate crisis, but we do need to take urgent action and fast if we are not going to pass on an unbearable legacy to our children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.

I hope you have a good summer, whether you are able to get away or are staying at home.

With my prayers and best wishes.

Jeremy Tear

Pioneer Team Rector