Rector's Letter - Rev’d Jeremy Trew - January 2025

Dear All

There are many ways we can worship God; many spiritualities; many approaches; many styles; and, of course, your way, which is obviously the right one and far superior to the others.  Please note, that last comment was made tongue-in-cheek, but I am aware there are a number of readers who will be nodding along sagely. 

There is also consumerism:  That notion that we are firstly consumers of service who are right to look for the particular product that suits us, as our consumerism lends us identity and validity.  Thus, I wear a particular brand because I want to be identified by that brand’s perceived values (I’m under no threat of falling under that particular spell, just ask my daughters).  But I could be a consumer of Church too; choosing or rejecting practices and spiritualities to find that which suits my particular set of prejudices.  Most ministers will have met many who “Church-hop”, chasing the next new spiritual buzz, disguising their inability to settle with the fragile excuse that “God led them to do so.”  Strange God, that one.

I’d like to suggest that a healthy faith sits somewhere in the middle; rooted in a particular set of values and practices that nurture our spiritual growth; and, yet open to what God may want to whisper to us from different perspectives.

During my first term at theological college, we spent Sundays in small groups visiting and worshipping with churches of all styles and descriptions, and then reflecting together on what we had experienced; what sense of God it communicated; and, how it has helped us feel part of the wider community of faith.  So, we went to very high and very low Anglicanism, stark Independent Evangelicalism, exclusive Roman Catholicism, and, my personal favourite, the most welcoming and perplexing Greek Orthodox, besides others.  In each we saw things that we would wish to incorporate into our own notions of Church.  In each there were those things we were glad to experience but also glad to leave behind.  Our faith was richer for it.

Across the twelve churches of our Team, we offer a healthy diet of Anglican worship both eucharistic and morning praise.  This, I believe, is a healthy bedrock.  But did you know that we also offer a rich selection of “alternative” services?  There’s an early morning eucharist each week based upon the Book of Common Prayer.  There’s also an occasional Mattins – a service that was very common when I was growing up, but which has almost disappeared now – we still offer it.  There’s contemporary worship, in the form of Living Stones, which meets around our town and villages.  There’s Taizé, and Celtic worship, both inspired by a reconnection with ancient traditions of worship.  And there’s more besides.

I’d encourage you to try these out.  You may find that God speaks to you in ways you have not heard before.  And, if I don’t see you at your regular service, well that’s fine.  Just so long as you are seeking God elsewhere.  For God is yearning to be sought.  God stands at the door and knocks, but the handle is on your side.

Best wishes

Jeremy


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