'Outlook' Newsletter for August 2007

Are the recent floods in our country a judgment from God? It is reported that one Church of England bishop has claimed that they are. I have learned to be somewhat sceptical of media reports on the church, and particularly those involving bishops. Things are not always what they first appear to be. But the questions remains, ‘Is God’s hand in the floods?’ The story of Noah and the flood in Genesis gives that question particular resonance for those of us who are familiar with the Old Testament, not least through our days in Sunday School.

Part of the problem when it comes to discussing these matters in public is that the media do not appreciate subtly. They like bold brush strokes and black and white pronouncements. There is also confusion over what is God’s judgment and what is the consequence of human activity. If a Bishop says something to the effect that the recent flooding is a consequence of our consumerist life-style that is construed as claiming it is the manifestation of God’s judgment on our greed and avarice.

Perhaps the real question we should be asking is, ‘Are we in any way responsible for the flooding?’ A recent report has suggested that the kind of weather we have been experiencing this summer is consistent with a broader trend toward more rainfall in our region of the world. This increase in rainfall is seen as a direct result of human activity. In other words, it can be put down to global warming caused, not least, by carbon emissions. One summer of floods does not make a trend, but it seems our Western lifestyle may be partly to blame.

What makes the flooding the cause of so much human misery and hardship is not just that levels have risen and rivers have burst their banks. It is what is on the areas which have been affected that makes the difference. Half a metre of water on a flood meadow is no big deal. Half a metre of water in our front room is. Some of the areas affected by the floods, like Tewksbury, are built on the confluence of two rivers. Others, like Hull, are built mostly on what were flood plains. If global warming brings the rain, decisions about where human beings settle sometimes brings us in to the path of the deluge resulting from that rain.

Human beings have, however, always ‘engineered’ their environment. There is dry land on the Cambridge Fens and in large parts of Holland because dykes have been built to keep the water out. Even towns and cities which do not sit on flood plains depend on adequate drainage to deal with the run off after heavy rainfall. I understand that one of the problems in Hull was that the city’s pumping stations simply could not cope with the volume of water running in to the drains. We owe more than we probably realise to our civil engineers.

It has been suggested that the solution to the problem of flooding is to cease building houses on flood plains. That may not be necessary, provided sufficient provision is made to redirect the water that would have poured on to the plain otherwise and drainage systems are adequate. These things do, however, add to the cost of housing.

But is providing adequate flood protection the sum total of human responsibility in this area? If human activity is responsible for global warming, as seems to be the consensus amongst most meteorological scientists, do we not face far greater challenges and responsibilities than that?

The problem we are confronted with when we face such huge global issues is that we do not think any action of ours as individuals is going to make any difference. Cutting down my car mileage by half is not in itself going to save the planet, though if everyone did that it might. Governments must act if global warming is to be tackled. But that does not relieve us of all responsibility. We can make a difference in the little things we do. Recycling does help. (Perhaps one of the factors we should be considering in relation to the re-ordering of the nave is how we might reduce the carbon footprint of the church building.) Democratic governments will pay more attention to environmental issues if they think it will make a real difference to their election prospects.

Is there a distinctively Christian perspective on all of this, apart from wanting to pronounce on the floods being God’s judgment on whatever may be agitating us at present? I believe there is.

For a start we are reminded that each of us is responsible for our own actions. Our actions have consequences, for better or for worse, for us and for others. God does not promise to protect us from those consequences. Part of our individual responsibility may be to work together with others to bring about solutions to bigger problems. We were made to live and serve in community.

Furthermore, we are responsible before God as stewards of the earth. We do not own it; we have use of its resources for the brief time we are here. We should stand in awe of this planet’s beauty and of the intricate and delicate balance which sustains its life. We should seek to do nothing which disturbs that balance. We should stand in awe of our creator who has placed us here and entrusted this great treasure to us.

I do not believe the recent floods are a judgment from God, though I do believe they may be the consequence of our actions and that therefore we bear some responsibility. The question then becomes: ‘What are we going to do about it?’

‘When I consider your heavens,

the work of your fingers,

the moon and the stars,

which you have set in place,

what are mere mortals that you are mindful of them,

human beings that you care for them?’

‘You made them rulers over the works of your hands;

you put everything under their feet.’

Yours in Christ

Sunday 29th July Summer family service pattern starts 10.15 a.m. Family Service

Sunday 5th August 10.15 a.m. Family Service

Sunday 12th August 10.15 a.m. Family Service

Sunday 19th August 10.15 a.m. Family Service

Sunday 26th August 10.15 a.m. Family Service

Sunday 2nd September

      Normal service pattern restarts 10.15 a.m.

      Morning Prayer Cypecs groups meet

Monday 3rd September PCC meets, 7.15 p.m. in the Reid Room

Sunday 9th September Family Parade Service Parish Lunch Cyfa group meets

Wednesday 12th September Life groups and home groups begin

Sunday 16th September

      Guest Service Preacher: Martin Ruddick

      Barneys Band at Albert Park Bandstand, 1.30 p.m.—3 p.m.

Thursday 20th September Alpha Supper, 7.30 p.m. in the Reid Room.

Friday 28th September Lydia group meets, 2p.m. in the Supper Room

Offerings in May £13,893

Restricted (for specific purposes) £1142

Offerings in June £11,171

Restricted (for specific purposes) £271

24th June Mateo Vega-Marr

15th July Beth Anna Atkinson

Eve Jane Atkinson

Daisy Mae Close

Lilly-Mae Fielden

14th July Mark Wilson and Tracy Wilkinson

5th July Leslie Rees-Jones aged 86

9th July Dora Dew aged 89

9th July Mary Howard aged 89

U3A, the University of the third age is a movement that offers exciting educational and social opportunities to people no longer in full-time employment. It offers the opportunity to pursue learning for sheer enjoyment and for its own sake, shared learning experiences, opportunities for social and recreational activities and the potential for making new friendships. Monthly meetings are at Dorman’s Club, Oxford Road on the first Wednesday of each month at 2.15 p.m. Visitors are welcome, cost £1. For more information ring the secretary on 01642 817097.

In a long thoughtful meeting the PCC discussed the large and important issues facing the church at present. Some time was spent in prayer. The PCC decided to advertise for a director of music.

The PCC received a report from the nave reordering group. It was decided to go ahead with reordering in some form, the precise scheme will be considered further at the September meeting.

Our next Alpha course will be on Thursday 20th September at 7.30 p.m. in the Reid Room. The speaker will be Martin Ruddick. Free tickets are available from the church office. If you have recently started coming to church and have not yet done an Alpha Course, why not come along and see what it is all about.

Martin will also be speaking at the 10.15 a.m. guest service on Sunday 16th September, a special opportunity to invite friends to church who do not usually come.

There will be a parish lunch on Sunday 9th September, to mark the launch of the life groups. Everyone is welcome. A list will be going up in the porch towards the end of August, so sign up and come along.

Barney’s Band will be playing at the Albert Park bandstand on Sunday 16th September from 1.30 p.m. to 3 p.m. Last year lots of people brought picnics—hopefully the weather will be as good this year. Come and support the band and enjoy the performance.

Dora had been a committed member of St Barnabas Church since 1953 when she and her husband and family moved in to their home in Henley Road. Failing health had prevented Dora from attending church in recent years but she remained very much part of the church family and received invaluable support from other church members. Those of us who knew Dora will remember her friendliness, her Christian faith and the importance she placed on her family. We give thanks to God for her. Please pray for her daughter Barbara in her loss.