A note from the Vicarage...

March 2026

Liz Yonge as a Gladiator

Is seeing really believing………..?

Since last month’s picture appeared in the magazine, I’ve had lots of people ask me

when I met Rick Astley, and what was he like. I’ve had to sheepishly confess that I

(very sadly!) have never met Rick Astley, and it was just a ChatGPT image I

requested. Most were astonished and felt somewhat unnerved by being completely

fooled by artificial intelligence (really sorry about that!).

We’ve always thought seeing is believing, and one of the great barriers to faith has

been the lack of evidence that Jesus is the Son of God. Without video footage of his

miracles and resurrection, why would anyone believe?

Yet, now we know we can see what definitely isn’t true, could we possibly imagine

that something we can’t see, just may be true? And in today’s crazy world, how do

we decide what is, or isn’t, true?

Well, I could argue that no credible historian would deny a person called Jesus of

Nazareth existed, or that the early Christians called him Christ (Messiah). His life

and crucifixion under Pontius Pilate were documented by Jewish and Roman

historians, Josephus and Tacitus in the 1st and 2nd Centuries.

I could also tell you that Jesus is honoured as a human prophet in Islam and as a

holy man within Hinduism, a good human for some Hindus, and a divine messenger

for others.

And I could say that for Christians he is the Son of God, whose life sets our example,

and whose death and resurrection shows there is nothing we can do that will ever

make God not love us. Even when we tried to eradicate God on the cross, they

forgave us and came back on Easter Sunday to show that even death cannot quash

love.

But what anyone else thinks is irrelevant, faith is about what you think. This is your

life. Does the life of Jesus set a good example, and will following him make your life

better? What challenges or downsides may there be?

This is what we think about in our worship together each Wednesday and Sunday,

considering fundamental questions that often get swept aside by the day to day, and

anyone is welcome to join us at any time.

And if you don’t want to come to us, do considering making time to think for yourself.

God said ‘I will put my teaching within them and will write it on their hearts, and I will

be their God, and they shall be my people’. (Jeremiah 31:33)

The truth is already inside you, why not take a look?

Every blessing,

Rev Liz

PS.. I’ve also never been on Gladiators! 

February 2026


Never Gonna Give You Up...?

February has a bad reputation- days are short, the weather uninspiring, and bank balances and

waistlines alike struggle to recover from the excesses of Christmas. In an already dreary season, the

idea of giving up our creature comforts of coffee, chocolate, biscuits and booze for Lent may seem

ridiculous- aren’t things bad enough? But, having survived for 1000s’s of years, perhaps this ancient

practice may have more to offer us more than we first think.

Intentionally denying yourself food, fasting, was undertaken by biblical giants such as Noah and

Moses when they wanted to show God they were sorry, or as an act of gratitude. In more recent

times, Christians have seen their Lenten fast as a way of joining Jesus in the wilderness, experiencing

temptations, and developing the understanding and resilience to withstand them.

Hunger pangs were supposed to prompt the faster to consider what they really hungered for- was it

physical nourishment, or was their hunger perhaps boredom, anxiety, loneliness, disillusionment, or

grief? The time saved gathering, preparing and eating food (historically several hours daily) was

reallocated to pondering what would really satisfy- comfort, love, healing, connection, purpose? If

genuinely hungry, they were encouraged to get warm and take rest until their next meal. For

emotional hunger, quiet time reflecting with God was advised, considering why they felt unhappy

and what the remedy may be.

Lent became a time for big questions- why am I here, how should I live, what are my relationships

like, what brings me joy? Questions I think we would still like to ask today- if only we had the time….

In an age of air fryers and Deliveroo, we no longer spend so long on food preparation and many have

replaced kitchen-time with screen time, with 44% of our waking hours now spent on screens. 1 If we

too want to think intentionally about our happiness and purpose this Lent, perhaps a digital fast is

what we should choose?

Could reducing screen time for just 20 minutes each day free us to reflect more richly on our lives

and relationships, and help us become happier? Perhaps we could, and should, give it a try….?

As Christians we ask the big questions together in our worship each Sunday and you’re always

welcome to come and journey alongside us, as we seek to build happy, useful lives with love at their

centre. If you’d like to know more then do come along or get in touch or come to a community

session at the hub- we’d love to be of help and make your February just that little bit brighter.

Every blessing,

Rev Liz x


October 2025

Thank God for Pets!

I’m writing this on a wet, grey day. We haven’t quite moved in yet and I am alone in a

vicarage that still bears the deep chill of being unoccupied for almost a year. It could be a bit

grim, and yet I am very happy. This is largely because I am thrilled to finally be in the village,

but it’s the contented snoozing and occasional tail wag of my dogs, Muffin and Maisie, that

transform this unfamiliar space into a cheerful, peaceful home- such is the power of our pets.

Keeping pets makes absolutely no sense. They cost a small fortune in food and vet bills,

need to be exercised, groomed and entertained, and you don’t even get a proper

conversation out of them! And yet, despite the mess and chaos they bring, we love them so

deeply there is nothing we can’t forgive. Rolling in the smelliest of unmentionables, bringing

disgusting ‘presents’, wrecking our possessions- yet nothing could ever separate them from

our love. And so, it is often through our pets, that we get some, small sense of how God

must feel about us.

Christians believe in a God who provides everything we eat, a beautiful world for exercise

and family and friends to enrich us. A God who forgives every mistake and who, no matter

how many times we run away, is always delighted to see us return. And just like us with our

pets, the only thing God wants from us in return, is time together.

Having dedicated time with God is one reason many people come to church each week,

seeking a break from life’s distractions to try to find a little peace and joy in God’s presence.

If that sounds appealing to you, do come and see us- we’d love to welcome you on any

Sunday.

Love your pet? Why not bring them to our special pet service St. Peter’s, Lynchmere on

Sunday 5 th October at10am! A relaxed, informal thanks-giving service where humans and

animals alike can howl along to the hymns, receive a blessing and enjoy a tasty treat-

everyone welcome- see you there!

Every blessing,

Liz x