As April draws to a close there are three events in my diary that all continue our April theme of new life. And in all three there will be an interesting sense of both continuity with the past, and something new and exciting taking place – which I believe we find in all the post-resurrection accounts in the Gospels. The disciples were the same mixed bunch of people, with their mixed joys and fears, and abilities and limitations. And Jesus was the same – and yet different! I wonder in what ways the three events I am talking about will show these two themes – continuity and change.
First – and you will find the details elsewhere – we will have appointed churchwardens and elected new PCC members. From the paperwork I have seen in advance there will be several “old” faces, and some new ones, in the completed team – which is perhaps how things must be in an organisation such as the church – continuity through the on-going service of “old” friends, and change through inviting “new” members onto the team. Let’s pray that we get the best out of both!
Second – and we will announce the outcome as soon as we can – we will have appointed the new headteacher for St James’ School, to start in September. And clearly here again there will be continuity, with the eight classroom teachers going on with their tasks. But there will inevitably be change as well, as the new headteacher brings new skills and new insights to help the school develop. In theory this should be a winning combination!
The third may not, in calendar terms, actually happen after the other two, as the date is clearly in God’s hands – the arrival of our first grandchild (due April 23rd). And here too there will be continuity – in genetics and therefore possibly in character – and change (a good thing too I hear some cry!). No doubt you will hear more about this change as the weeks go on!
Continuity and change; old and new; I love the words of Jesus in Matthew 13:52, where he tells us that the treasures of the Kingdom are both old and new. May that be our joyful experience as we continue to celebrate the resurrection together.