Dear Friends
Welcome to the month of May in Wokingham Without, Wokingham, Bracknell and beyond.
May represents renewal, personal growth, and transformation. A time to reflect, set intentions, and embrace new beginnings. The month also marks the peak of Spring, with longer days, vibrant blooms, and lush greenery reflecting the cycle of life and seasons of nature. According to Robert Orben, “Spring is God’s way of saying, ‘One more time!’”
“One more time” are words of assurance we need to hear regularly to stay on this journey of faith. The timing of May during the peak of Spring season and approaching the Summer were I believe intentional by our Good Father as unspoken resources of renewal, personal growth and transformation, complimented by the written Word of God, for meeting daily needs. The 92nd verse of Psalm 119 (The Message) cites: “If your revelation hadn’t delighted me so, I would have given up when the hard times came. But I’ll never forget the advice you gave me; you saved my life with those wise words. Save me! I’m all yours. I look high and low for your words of wisdom”.
A favourite Recording Music Producer of mine, Michael Omartian, famous for past rock and pop hits including Billy Joel, Steely Dan and Christopher Cross, is also a Christian. He is one of half of the Gospel Music duo, Michael and Stormie Omartian, who penned the lyrics of past Gospel Album, also titled, “Seasons of the Soul. The song was written for fellow Christians frequently experiencing the ups and downs of life. Permit me to share:
Whenever Summer dreams start to fade and lose their light,
And when the Spring in your heart seems so cold, it can’t be right,
And you feel like you’ve lost control,
And the valleys seem so low,
Well it’s not forever, just a season of the soul.
Well it’s not forever, just a season of the soul.
That it’s not forever, just a season of the soul.
It’s the season.
Where did I go wrong? Far too long.
Nothing lasts that long.
I won’t let you go wrong.
Well it’s not forever –
It’s the seasons of the soul.
I have owned the album for over 35 years and these lyrics still speak powerfully into my personal ministry of an enduring message of hope, emphasising challenging moments, whether emotional, spiritual or personal, which are temporary as well as comparing life to changing seasons. The music production by the way is also great!
So, what do we make of these times of anxiety and worry? We will find a way through difficult times. Those in our communities of a broken heart will find healing from words of comfort shared. For us who are still experiencing anxiety and concern, our mourning will be exchanged for joyous blessing. Our hope and trust will be restored with a new perspective to see things differently. An invitation to re-consider our values, what’s really important and re-appraise priorities for our well-being, our families, community and perhaps faith.
The 14th chapter of John’s Gospel (NLT) cites the words of Jesus after His Resurrection: “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid. Remember what I told you: I am going away, but I will come back to you again. If you really loved me, you would be happy that I am going to the Father, who is greater than I am. I have told you these things before they happen so that when they do happen, you will believe.”
One more time, we are reminded through the seasons and, particularly May, of the assurance of God. One more time, we have resources to stay on our Christian Road travelled by many pilgrims of the past. One more time, we are refreshed with God’s revelation through the gift of God’s Peace in these challenging times. Challenging times for renewal, personal growth and transformation in alignment with the peak of Spring, the emerging of new flowers, fruits, plants and leaves on trees. God is Good and I will be forever grateful one more time.
We hope that you can join us at St Sebastian’s during May in the 8am and 10am Sunday Worship services in the main congregation and The Base, particularly, on Pentecostal Sunday (24th May), to find out more about our Christian faith. To also be curious about the seasons of the soul, reasons for belief, finding hope and a return of happiness and sweetness.
Amen
Stay blessed with love.
Reverend Rickey Simpson-Gray
Parish of Wokingham St Sebastian’s
www.stsebschurch.org.uk
A prayer for May:
Sovereign God of glory, by the raising of your Son last month on Easter Sunday,
you have broken the chains of death and hell on the cross of Calvary, Hallelujah:
fill your Church here in Wokingham, Bracknell and elsewhere with faith and hope;
for a new day has dawned amongst us and the way to life stands open
in our Saviour Jesus Christ.
Amen.