February 2012

Dear Friends,

It is February and I am reminded of a poem that takes us through the year:
  January brings the snow, Makes our feet and fingers glow.
  February brings the rain, Thaws the frozen lake again.
  March brings breezes sharp and shrill, Shakes the dancing daffodil.
  April brings the primrose sweet, Scatters daisies at our feet.
  May brings flocks of pretty lambs, Skipping by their fleecy dams.
  June brings tulips, lilies, roses, Fills the children's hands with posies.
  Hot July brings cooling showers, Apricots and gillyflowers.
  August brings the sheaves of corn, Then the harvest home is borne.
  Warm September brings the fruit, Sportsmen then begin to shoot.
  Brown October brings the pheasant, Then to gather nuts is pleasant.
  Dull November brings the blast, Then the leaves go whirling past.
  Chill December brings the sleet, Blazing fire and Christmas treat.

The poem helps us to consider the life and rhythm of each year, except sometimes it does not always work out that way. As I write, the weathermen are forecasting that the first weekend in February may (or may not) bring snow and sub-zero temperatures so we may feel that we are in January that "makes our feet and fingers glow" rather than in February "that brings the rain (and) thaws the frozen lake again"! However, February promises to be full of many things - all good, I hope!

The month begins with the feast of Candlemas celebrated in some Christian traditions on 2nd February. It is an ancient festival that marks the midpoint of winter, halfway between the shortest day and the spring equinox but, more importantly, it commemorates the ritual purification of Mary forty days after the birth of Jesus. We remember the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple (Luke 2 v22-40), events that included Simeon's prophecy to Mary hinting of suffering to come but also proclaiming the role of Jesus Christ as "a Light to all nations". So begins our transition away from Christmas themes to those of Lent, which will include Shrove Tuesday, Ash Wednesday and, for some, adopting some kind of Lent discipline towards the end of the month. These are part of our Christian pattern and rhythm as we follow Jesus throughout the year and, being "the people called Methodist", we have a reputation sometimes of being people who follow a particular way or "method" of doing things. Sometimes, one of those things we do is to take time to discuss the things of church together, which is something YOU and I are all invited to do also during this month.

As I explained in my letter last month, during February, we will be welcoming Revds Stephanie Jenner and Nick Blundell to our church to lead us through a process of looking at where we are as "church" and where we may want to be in the future. Steph and Nick offer words of introduction and explanation in another part of this newsletter but I would encourage you to come and play your part on Sunday 26th February in something that we hope will be both fun and fruitful as we consider what we are called to BE and DO as the people called Methodists in Batley. The poem reminds us that there is an expected annual rhythm but, as we journey through February, the feast of Candlemas reminds us that Jesus Christ continues to be our "Christmas treat" who offers Himself as our guide - a constant unchanging Light!

With every blessing,
Deborah