Dear Friends,

We began the season of Lent this year with our Ash Wednesday services on 5th March. At the evening service, Sarah Peppiatt (my team colleague at St.Paul’s and St.Philip’s) challenged us to think about what we might be giving up this season based on the reading from Isaiah chapter 58 verses 1-12. She suggested that there would be little point giving up (or fasting) from chocolate or alcohol for Lent if our hearts remained unchanged in the process. However, if we were to give up gossiping about others or putting other people down, that would involve a change of our hearts and would be in tune with the type of fasting Isaiah talked about in the passage. For the fasting he describes as being chosen by God is, “to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke…to share our food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter.” In other words, it is to do with how we treat other people (especially the poor and needy), to treat them well. That is more important to God than our outward shows of piety.

Following on from that, I would like to share with us all the PCC’s decision (taken in January) to hold a stewardship initiative this Lent. Stewardship is about considering the use we make of the three T’s – our time, talents and treasure – that we have been given by God. Do they reflect a proper sense of thanksgiving to God, giving to God his worth, or do we only pay cursory attention to them? On Sunday 23 February, we launched our stewardship initiative and each person on the electoral roll was given a pack of information to think and pray about (if you don’t yet have a pack, let me or one of the Stewardship Team know and we will ensure that you get one). Please do use this season to review what you give of your treasure (your money) as well as your time and talents (or skills) to God. Is it generous? Is it sacrificial (i.e. I notice the difference it makes to my life)? Is it given with a spirit of thankfulness to God for all that He has done for you and me? When you have reviewed your giving, please do complete the financial response form and the time and talents form and return both to our treasurer, Paul Ng, in the envelope provided in strict confidence. He will then pass on the time and talents forms to the stewardship team to follow up on offers of help which are made. Amongst other things, we are praying for a new assistant treasurer, and interments and bookings co-ordinators, so if you feel God is calling you to serve in one of these ways (or know someone who might be), do let us know!

Finally, for those who may not yet have heard, I have a new post as the Pastoral Co-ordinator for Mossley Hill Parish Church in Liverpool. This is going to be quite a change for me as I won’t be the Vicar there and I will be focusing just on pastoral care and not the many different things which Vicars tend to do. It will also be a part time post. I would value your prayers as my wife and two children prepare for this change, and I will certainly be praying for you all and working hard to support the parish here as it prepares for the vacancy ahead. I have had some great times working at St.Mary’s and across our team of churches, and I will be sad to leave. Thank you for all your support. But I’m also looking forward to the new challenge ahead as I respond to God’s call upon my life. What might God be calling you to do at this season?

With my best wishes and prayers

Jeremy Tear, Pioneer Team Rector