Mark Carey writes

Our downstairs cloakroom sink has been really annoying me. It has been so slow in allowing the water to flow away which means that it has often left the sink looking dirty. Finally, I picked up my biggest pair of pliers and unscrewed the plug from its fixing and the water now flows unimpeded. I don’t know why it took me so long to do such a simple thing – but it reminded me that this is so often the case in our lives – things take time, there can be a long wait and a lot of mess before something happens, is repaired, or restored. I have been reminded to be patient in the process and in the waiting – to trust God. Since the beginning of the year, I have often found myself returning to the wonderful wisdom of Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

There is a time for everything,

and a season for every activity under the heavens:

a time to be born and a time to die,

a time to plant and a time to uproot,

a time to kill and a time to heal,

a time to tear down and a time to build,

a time to weep and a time to laugh,

a time to mourn and a time to dance,

a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,

a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,

a time to search and a time to give up,

a time to keep and a time to throw away,

a time to tear and a time to mend,

a time to be silent and a time to speak,

a time to love and a time to hate,

a time for war and a time for peace.

It is time to say farewell to Oli Preston and his family as they ‘uproot’ for a new adventure in Haworth, West Yorkshire. Do come and say goodbye at the farewell picnic on Sunday 2nd July from 12.30.

Oli has been with us for a much shorter time than we first thought – but it is the right time to move and he goes with blessing.

Karen Witty would like to thank people for their kind support in cards, phone calls and in attendance at the funeral last Friday. Karen is very grateful for people’s prayers and asks that we might continue to hold her in prayer.