Page 18 - ECSJ May 2020 Magazine

Lessons from the birds ChurCh DireCtory

ACTIVITIES & CONTACTS
On my daily walk, I’ve taken the time to notice as many different birds as I can
and try and identify them by sight or sound. PCC Secretary CLB/CGB
Some of the most colourful I’ve seen have been Goldfinches. What follows is a Trevor Dunkerley 843682 Trevor Dunkerley 843682
poem by one of my favourite poets, Mary Oliver.
Treasurer Baptism Co-ordinator
Goldfinches Alan Makinson 660379 Audrey Walker 840225

In the fields we let them have - Infant/Junior Church Co-ordinator Building Issues etc.
in the fields we don’t want yet - Barbara Adams 844670 Churchwardens
where thistles rise out of the marshlands Childcare Village
of spring, Electoral Roll Officer 843556
and spring open each bud a settlement David Westhead 291319
of riches Flowers
a coin of reddish fire - Parish Room Bookings Rachel Holt (St Saviour’s) 299457
the finches wait for midsummer, See Churchwardens 07754 890731
for the long days, Registrar of Giving Karen Procter (St James) 849884
for the brass heat, Colin Noden 841388 Magazine
for the seeds to begin to form in the Audrey Walker (Distribution) 840225
hardening thistles, Ladies Fellowship Trevor Dunkerley (Production) 843682
dazzling as the teeth of mice, Kath Moss 842265
but black, Beryl Lynch 591919 Children’s Society
filling the face of every flower. and lay their pale-blue eggs, Meets third Sunday of the month (usually) Debbie Warrington 845314
Then they drop from the sky. every year,
A buttery gold, they swing on the and every year the hatchlings wake in
thistles, they gather the swaying branches,
the silvery down, they carry it in their in the silver baskets,
finchy beaks and love the world. PCC Members 2019-2020/21
to the edges of the fields, Is it necessary to say any more?
to the trees, as though their minds were Have you heard them singing in the Vicar 847454 Kath Moss 842265
on fire wind, above the final fields?
with the flower of one perfect idea Have you ever been so happy in your Jacqui Adams 299440 Howard Moston 847940
and there they build their nests life? Trevor Dunkerley 843682 Emma O’Donnell 07813 889016
Debbie Emmott 413420 Sophie Poulton 07976 029567
Perhaps the first lesson that birds can teach us is about faith, that is to trust God Anne Hinchliffe 881149 Kirsten Stott 0161 287 7645
in all things. Recall Jesus’ words: Look at the birds in the sky; they do not sow Peter Lomas 846605 Anna Taylor 07707 309688
and reap and store in barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not David Lynch 591919 Deborah Warrington 845314
worth more than the birds?....How little faith you have.’ Matthew 6.
As I watched the Goldfinches, they were working hard to find food. Another les- Alan Makinson David Westhead 291319
son is that faith and actions go together. David Marsland 845907 DS = Deanery Synod Representative
With less noise, enjoy the sight and sounds of birds.
David
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