Hi everyone, I’m your new priest, Claire. As soon as I started work here this coronavirus started so I am sorry I haven’t met any of you yet. These are strange days for us all as we get used to living life very differently. For a start, no school! I have three girls aged 15, 13 and 8 so we are busy with a routine each day of school work which is set for them and also lots of time to be creative and enjoy the outdoors (safely). I expect you all are doing the same. We are all very lucky to live in such a beautiful place and we can easily get out into the fields around us to see the lambs and the first signs of spring – there is new life all around us. No doubt quite a few of you live on farms so maybe you are helping out with lambing. I love being outside as I feel close to God there, in the middle of all of that beauty and wonder. It’s great to get outside, even just in the garden, and feel the air on your face and see trees bursting into life. I love to listen to the birds singing – can you identify some of the birds by their song? I like the curlew – such a strange and wonderful sound. Every day, in everything we do, God is with us, through good and bad times.
You might like to use this prayer:
Holy God, you are always with me.
You are with me when I get up and when I go to bed.
You are with me when I am laughing and when I am sad.
You are with me when I am working inside and playing outside.
There is nowhere I can go which is far from your love.
Today I am feeling …….. (say how you are feeling) because ……. (say why you are feeling like this)
Help me to know you love me and you never leave me.
Amen.
If you would like to ask me to pray about anything too, perhaps about something or someone which is on your mind, then you can ring me on 537063 or email on clairemcclelland@icloud.com
Hope to meet you all before too long. Best wishes, Claire”
