Money! Did I scare you? Hope not 🙂 Unfortunately lots of Haroldites seem to be scared and having money problems at the moment. And I don’t mean in the sense of being too drunk to count and throwing a handful of change across the bar of The Squirrel Lickers’ Arms and yelling “decide what I’m worth and express it in booze, Eddie!” but I’m sure Andy had his reasons and that Harold is benefiting in some way from its curate’s over-exuberance.
Financially these are tough times for a lot of Haroldites which has led to the setting up of a food bank, something that I never thought would be needed here. It is heartening to see so many people volunteer to run it and a steady stream of donations trickling in. I’m sure that any day now we’ll find some takers for the quinoa, alfalfa and rhubarb tartlets that Veggie! Veggie! Veggie! so kindly donated. And in such huge numbers too! Thanks Pippa and Dom! Perhaps you could also donate some storage space in that beautiful Old Rectory of yours that the Dunstable Diocese in its wisdom sold off before I took up my post here. Not that I’m jealous, I’m sure living in such a spectacular home would be quite a distraction from parish business, especially that incredible garden. No, I’m perfectly happy in my flat with my window box and view of the Tesco Express bins, perfectly happy indeed.
1 Timothy 6:10 tells us “…the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.” And while this is true perhaps the greater evil is persecuting those who do not have money, forcing them to live in fear and struggling in a society whose leaders seem to believe that people without money are people without worth.
In Harold we have villagers who possess great wealth and villagers who dread a knock at the door in case there are bailiffs standing on the doorstep plus hundreds inbetween those financial extremes. All of whom have worth, all of whom have value in the eyes of God and the church. You are welcome at St Mary’s whether you could answer a prayer and pay for the repair of the roof without blinking – you know who you are, what’s stopping you? (I’m joking!) (No, actually I’m not) – or whether all you can put in the collection plate is a fruit pastille – blackcurrant are my favs 🙂
So join us this and every Sunday. Millionaire or pauper, we’d love to see you! 🙂
God Bless,
Tansy
P.S The answer to last week’s catchphrase puzzle was of course ‘flange’ and we had a record number of correct entries. Well done everybody!
