The Kingdom is not only beyond our efforts; it is even beyond our vision.

We accomplish in our lifetime only a fraction of the magnificent enterprise that is God’s work.

Nothing we do is complete, which is another way of saying that the kingdom always lies beyond us.

No statement says all that could be said.  No prayer fully expresses our faith.  No confession brings perfection.  No pastoral visit brings wholeness.  No program accomplishes the church’s mission.  No set of goals and objectives includes everything.

This is what we are about.

We plant the seeds that one day will grow.  We water the seeds already planted, knowing that they hold future promise.  We lay foundations that will need further development.  We provide yeast that produces effects far beyond our capabilities.

We cannot do everything and there is a sense of liberation in realizing that.  This enables us to do something and to do it well.  It may be incomplete, but it is a beginning, a step along the way, an opportunity for the Lord’s grace to enter and do the rest.  We may never see the end results, but that is the difference between the master builder and the worker.

We are workers, not master builders; ministers, not messiahs.

We are prophets of a future not our own.

This prayer was composed by the late Bishop Ken Untener of Saginaw. Often attributed to Oscar Romero.
(and shared by the Southern Dioceses Environment Network)

Dear Friends,

Who would have thought that in the last four weeks that we would have had (yet another) change of Prime Minister, and a change around in the Cabinet – some good choices, some not so. The best news that I have had heard is that the ban on fracking has been put back, and there will be more about that later.

With COP27 in Egypt rapidly approaching, our main focus has to be the Climate, and I have lots of articles to share, and am going to have to whittle it down to a mix of news, actions and events as usual. I have to say that it was very daunting to find 194 emails in the E-Bulletin inbox when I turned the computer on during Friday evening. Apologies that I haven’t replied to everyone who has sent in items. Rest assured that as long as I haven’t missed the date on any events, I will include as much as possible.

As you can see from the above advert, we have our next Networking Day on Saturday 12th November in London. Unfortunately, as you will see from articles below, it clashes with other events going on in regards to the climate. We very much look forward to seeing those of you who are able to get there.  

Due to this, it does mean that the next e-bulletin will be out around the 20th November. Please send any articles that you want shared by the Friday of that weekend.God Bless,

Sharon