Everyone is welcome

Monthly Letter

COME WITH ME

August 2025

Jesus, seeing how frenetic life was becoming for his disciples, says this to them. “Come with me, by yourselves, to a quiet place and get some rest.

Amongst the seasons of the church and the seasons as experienced in Derbyshire, the middle chunk of ordinary time, falling in August, is the moment that I hear these words spoken to us (sometimes also an echo in January). “Come with me, by yourselves, to a quiet place and get some rest.

This year, we are extra ready for rest because its felt like it was August all through July. The leaves beginning to rustle, some falling – the fields brown or gold, long warm days and a very golden moon. There are blackberries already as I write and walking down the garden I catch spiders webs, strung between what and what – I don’t know. It has felt like it is August and we are called to rest – but actually it has been July and there still has been so much to do. We are all hoping for rain soon, it is badly needed.

But August will come, the start of Harvest. The time when the year’s promises begin to flourish, results are in, longed for holidays arrive, the vegetable patch burgeons, or perhaps your neighbour’s does. Because no one really sleeps very well in the heat, the day time feels snoozy – (unless you’re a farmer!).

And in snooziness there is an aptitude for pondering. Turning over the past 12 months, sifting the good from the bad. Noticing where plums fall.

If this resting time is given to you – if it is there for you, make the most of it. Not selfishly but because if you rest and ponder with Jesus, if you let the beauty of dappled light sink in and your bones be warmed, then you will be better able to offer service later. Better able to listen with interest, better able to suck up little hurts, better able to keep the world your focus, rather than your wounds.

Some people are not given this resting place, in fact the disciples weren’t. The people saw where they were going and rushed to meet them. Pray for the people who do not have rest and know you will be better able to support the exhausted if you take the gift yourselves.

Towards the end of the month, with the infinitesimal change in light, our internal clocks, herald a new season, regardless of the weather. September can be a new start more powerful than ever January is I think. Come then, refreshed and ready – there will be lots to do.

Rev Kate Plant