The Vicar writes:
An Easter message from the magazine April 2025
God holds the past, present and future together
After a long dark Winter, Spring brings us signs of new life and hope. Looking out at our gardens, we see snowdrops, daffodils and crocuses - rays of colour in what have been months of drab uncertainty. The tectonic plates of global and local life have shifted and we try again to make sense of the landscape we find ourselves in. If, like me, you feel cut adrift from your usual routine, be comforted because Spring also brings with it the certainty that Christ is risen from the dead and still reaches out to us, His creation.
The church landscape has also changed, as the Archbishop of Canterbury stood down and what many saw as opportunities to put things right were not taken. Many are now questioning the role the church has in the modern world and if it can ever become a force for good again. I, for one, will always believe that whilst Christ sits on the throne, His bride the church will be a force for good in a world of ever-changing opinions and understandings.
It is into this world view that I try to speak from a place of weakness.
As a vicar who has been unable to get involved with the care of others during a long period of illness, I find myself frustrated and have sought out my own anchor points from my long Christian journey. In times when I don’t feel the presence of God so clearly, I need to remember the fact that it was He who called me to serve Him, and I have been certain of his calling, and his love for me ever since. I concentrate on what I know to be true and the evidence for that throughout my life in Him. Easter reminds us that God’s not dead, even when we feel cast adrift and abandoned.
We need to make a concerted effort to remind ourselves that ‘the earth is the Lord’s and everything in it’; it is the work of His hands and He holds the past, present and future together.
During my cancer treatment, there have been times when I have questioned whether the treatment is working. I have allowed medicines to be put into my body, not knowing if anything was changing. The medical team assured me that things were progressing but for me, all I felt was fatigue. So it has been with my walk with God. I pray and bring glory to His name but, on occasions, I’m left with the feeling He has gone on holiday. It is at these times I need to return to my anchor points and remember that Christ will never leave nor forsake us. A timely reminder when the world is changing all around us. We, the church, need to regain our confidence in the things we once took for granted but now have to work harder to believe. The message of Easter is a great place to start. Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again.
Can you put your faith in the Creator of the universe, or will you be swayed by the winds of change blowing through our world at this time?
We need to remember what has held us together for over 2000 years and go into the future trusting in the God who loves us so much that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him shall have eternal life.
Harvie
From the magazine - December 2024 / January 2025
Emmanuel – God with us.
You’d better believe it!
We write this as we approach the Christmas season, a time to reflect on God’s love as He left Heaven to walk among us. For many, the word Emmanuel is just something seen on Christmas cards each year, but we can testify that He does walk with us today, helping us to face the challenges of everyday life, both big and small.
As most of you will know, in September our life was turned upside down with a diagnosis that we had not seen coming, and yet we have never felt His presence more clearly. This has been experienced through the strangers who have come into our story as well as our friends, bringing the right words or actions at exactly the moment we needed them, not only for us but for our children as well. In Jersey He placed two women in my (Sally) path which resulted in managing to get a walking stick when Harvie was unable to walk; In the early days, when Harvie was wakeful and confused, He heard God’s still, small voice when listening to the Lectio 365 App (highly recommended), listening to the promises of God in Scripture, that He will never leave us nor forsake us; Harvie received a wonderful drawing that somebody had drawn for him, depicting something so personal that could not possibly be known by the artist, but perfectly expressed something that has been on Harvie’s heart for a long time and spoke to him very directly. This is now framed and hung on the wall to encourage us every time we enter our home. This is God in action – not theoretically, but actually, here and now in Bury!
And now, as Walmersley Road prepares to enter the New Year, we would encourage you to remember that God is with you wherever you travel and whatever you do. Sometimes we have to make sure we keep our eyes open, ready to see God at work. We need to lift our eyes from ourselves and look for what He is doing, holding on to his coat tails and allowing him to gently lead us. And, we need to keep faith when the waves threaten to overpower us. We need to learn to rest with Jesus at the back of the boat, instead of struggling with the oars, knowing that He is mightier than any storm and will not forsake us.
So, may the peace of the Christ Child be with you and those you love, now and as we move forward into 2025,
Harvie and Sally
From the magazine - April 2024
Hello from Harvie
I have been asked to pen an introduction to you, the wonderful people at Walmersley as I begin my ministry with you this month.
The first thing I have to say is thank you, to the parish reps for putting their trust in me to lead us onward. A huge thanks goes also to those who have helped out in any way during the period of interregnum. To the guest clergy, but most of all to the faithful people of both church communities. My last thanks go to Rev Dave Thompson for his ministry with you all.
As we go forward, I make no apologies for buying into the Mission Community vision the diocese has for ministry in the future. It sometimes saddens me that the figures in the Church of England nationally have halved since the 1980s but, on the plus side, it makes the future one where we must once again evangelise a nation that has turned its back on organised faith. Even here in Bury, we have seen many people disengage with church for one reason or another. This gives us a chance to reset and to move forward again, gaining strength in the reason we follow Jesus and learning once more how to articulate it.
As I will spend the first few months getting to know the church communities and the area, don’t expect that I won’t be working on a strategy to lead us forward as we seek to release God’s people into the ministry he has for us. I will no doubt be asking some to step outside their comfort zone as we seek to identify the best way to be church in 2024 and beyond.
I look forward to the induction service on 17th April and my first service as your new incumbent on Sunday 21st at Christ Church.
Can I please ask that you pray for myself and my wife Sally as we make the transition from where we are to joining with you. Sally will not be as visible for a few months as she will be having knee replacement surgery as we arrive, but she too is very happy to be joining you all.
So, until we meet in person, I send my prayers for you and give God the glory for all he has in store for our future together.
Love and blessings.
Harvie