As you read this article, I wonder whether we will be basking in long awaited summer heat or groaning under the grey skies that have been dogged us this year.  Who knows?

However, flaming June will arrive, one way or another!

Hoping for the warmth of summer made me think about heat and particularly fire. 

Science tells us that the Big Bang from which our universe originated was a tiny incredibly dense fireball of energy that exploded 13.8 billion years ago.  From this, all matter in the universe was the result – including us.

The oldest fire recorded on Earth has been identified from charcoal in rocks formed during the late Silurian Period, while the first stage of human interaction with fire, was perhaps as early as 1.5 million years ago in Africa.  This is thought to have been opportunistic activity in possibly keeping a wildfire alight with something like dung as its use for light and warmth became apparent.  However it was first used, fire has incredible value and meaning on so many levels even to us today.

The ancients saw the wonder of fire and folklore from Native American Tribes in the Pacific Northwest and First Nations tells stories of fire being stolen by Dog, Coyote and Beaver, and gifted to humans, while in Greek mythology Prometheus, a Titan stole fire from the Olympian gods and gifted it to humanity. This act of defiance allowed humans to gain knowledge, creativity, and technological advancement, but it also brought the wrath of Zeus upon Prometheus.

In the Bible, there are about five hundred references to fire, with the first in the book of Genesis where we are told that God placed angels with a flaming sword to guard the way to the tree of life following Adam and Eve’s transgressions in the Garden of Eden.

God’s presence is symbolised by fire in the Burning Bush that Moses encounters in Exodus and God’s glory as a pillar of fire leading the Israelites through the wilderness during the night.  It is seen as a symbol of judgement, of purification, but in the New Testament in the Book of Acts, it is seen as the transforming power of the Holy Spirit.

Pentecost is a Christian festival 50 days after Easter that celebrates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the first disciples and the beginning of the global mission of the church.

It is seen as the birthday of the church with an explosion of believers in Jesus Christ.   The story is found in the Acts of the Apostles, chapter 2.

On that day, the apostles were gathered together, and suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind. Tongues of fire appeared and rested on each of them, and they were filled with the Holy Spirit. As a result, they began to speak in other languages, inspired by the Spirit.  

Much like the Big Bang, the church has exploded from Jerusalem throughout the entire world. 

So whatever June brings this year – sun or rain,  may you know the transforming fire of God which warms our lives and lights the path ahead.

Revd Susan 

Finally, spring has arrived! After the wet, cold, windy months of winter, the days are lengthening, and we find ourselves surrounded by the unfurling of leaves, colourful flowers and joyous bird song. All around us, we can witness the new life of spring and the promise of warmer times ahead.

During April, we are continuing to celebrate Easter, which is the greatest festival in the church calendar. Following the remembrance of Jesus Christ’s journey to the cross during Holy Week, with the sombre observations of Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, we awake on Easter Sunday morning to the joy of the news that death has been conquered in the resurrection and Jesus lives!

Years ago, spring cleaning was an annual ritual.  Curtains removed and washed, rugs beaten outside, walls and floors scrubbed; cupboards emptied and cleaned, before being re-packed with sorted items.

I don’t know of anyone who continues this discipline, but one ancient ritual that in a sense conjures up that idea of cleaning, sorting and re-purposing is in full swing in church communities all over the country.

This month the Church continues its 40-day journey of reflection before Easter, known as Lent, (although the good news is, Sundays are not included!).  The word comes from Old English, meaning to lengthen, as was seen in the days drawing out as spring approached.  It is a time to follow the example of Jesus who went out into the Judean wilderness in order to be able to prepare himself for the enormous task he would be taking on as his ministry began. 

The strange thing about writing an article for a magazine is that it has to be written weeks before the magazine is published.  This means that by the time it appears, any forecast made could be completely wrong.  So although more settled weather is predicted, by the time you read this it could be very different. 

As I write, the sun is streaming into the window and the faintest stirring of spring is in the air after what seems like months of rain, with birdsong and bulbs tentatively pushing up shoots from the earth.  For me, this speaks of the  hope of spring.  Curiously, at this time of year, one of the smallest and most fragile looking flowers determinedly pushes itself up out of turf or woodland floors.  While storms rage and ice and snow threaten, the snowdrop makes its humble appearance.

At this time of year darkness seems to encroach on us all as the days shorten and dark clouds fill the skies.  From my office which affords me the most wonderful view of Woolacombe beach, the lead grey of the sea means the horizon is indistinguishable from the sky.  Somehow even the news seems darker with the suffering of not only the Ukrainian people, but awful accounts daily reported from Israel and Palestine.