A message from Fr John

Dear Friends

One of our parishioners sent me this delightful poem yesterday evening. I think it is an invitation to pause and pray during this time of sadness and stress, and give thanks for the many blessings we do share.

Written by Pablo Neruda from Chile who died in 1973. He didn’t write it in relation to Covid-19, but it's very fitting and his words are so eloquent...

IN THE TIME OF QUIET

No one’s told the daffodils about the pause to Spring
And no one’s told the birds to roost and asked them not to sing
No one’s asked the lazy bee to cease his bumbling round
And no one’s stopped the bright green shoots emerging through the ground
No one’s told the sap to rest, deep within the wood
And stop the sleepy trees from waking, wreathed about in bud
No one’s told the sky to douse its brightest shades of blue
And stop the scudding clouds from puffing headlong into view
No one’s asked the lambs to still the springs beneath their feet,
To stop their rapid rush and quell each joyful bleat
No one’s told the stream to halt its gurgle or its flow
And warned the playful breezes, not to gust and blow
No one’s asked the raindrops not to fall upon the earth
And fail to quench the soil in the season of rebirth
No one’s locked the sun down, or dimmed the shimmer of the moon
And even in the darkest night, the stars are still immune
Remember what you value, remember who is dear
Close the doors to danger and keep your family near
In the quiet all around us take the time to sit and stare
And wonder at the glory unfurling everywhere
Look towards the future, after the ordeal
And keep faith in Mother Nature’s power and will to heal

We keep in prayer all those who in their different ways are tirelessly serving our communities during these days - and those who spontaneously reach out to others with generosity of spirit. Please continue to send in the names of those on the front line whom you like to put on our prayer list.

Let us continue to pray for those who are sick: Evelyn, Winnie C., Mary, Patrick, Michael & Adela

And for those who have died: Roy, Alf, Malcolm, Elsie, Matthew, Stella, Chris, Kenneth, Carol Ann, Inge, Winnie Y., Patricia M., Eileen, Maureen, Joan, Frank, Robert, Linda, Cecilia, John & Marie. We pray too for all those who mourn them.

Dear St Joseph, pray for us

Every blessing

Fr John

PS Snowdrops won convincingly yesterday
However - Snow drops or Lily of the Valley?