Welcome to Churches in the Stanleys

Our Mission Statement

We who worship in this parish try to follow the teachings of our saviour Jesus Christ, to love God and with the help of the Holy Spirt, to love and support our neighbours.

RECTORY RAMBLINGS FOR JULY 2010

RAMBLINGS….

Dear Everyone,
As many of you know, I am passionate about sport – I think it’s good for us to participate, I think it can be entertaining for those of us who watch, but I’m sorry all you folks who love your football, it’s only just started and already I am wishing the World Cup was over. Not that I don’t like football – with a brother who was a professional and a nephew who is semi-pro that would be untenable. I can enjoy watching England play, and indeed would even put aside my natural inclination to believe that Scotland is the best team in the world if they got through to the final. However, I have real reservations about the amount of money there is floating about in the sport – and indeed in sport in general nowadays. It seems to me that a lot of the real enjoyment has gone out of playing and coaching as the high stakes have taken over. It’s tempting to say “when I was young…” and it is all relative anyway, but amateur games played on the local recreation ground with volunteer officials, supporters close to the touchline telling you what they really think and players who are not looking for a bonus, but looking to enjoy a good game are often much more interesting and exciting than some of the high profile games we can watch on the TV. The influence of high wage packets and advertising contracts has not necessarily enhanced the sports that bring the crowds. The sense of value and perspective seems to have been lost in the advent of stardom and high profile lifestyles. With a new government and the budget just days away we may all be faced with having to take stock of our own values – and I am not just talking about money, although that will clearly play  a part in our re-evaluation of what is important to us, and what we may need to set aside as the bills now have to be paid. I can’t help feeling that the younger folk will find this much harder to bear than those in the older bracket. We have not taught the youngsters about saving up for things – credit cards have allowed them to have what they want, when they want it, and advertising has drawn many into the world of ideals and designer labels. Sad too that some debt for young people comes from the fact that even governments have encouraged them to accept debt in return for Higher Education. The enjoyment of saving up for something – even as mundane as an ironing board – and then going out to buy it used to give a sense of achievement and satisfaction – today we put it on the card, no ‘hard cash’ changes hands and so the true value is lost. Perhaps the day ahead will give us a chance to arrive at a balance-where waiting, saving, sharing and caring for one another will be the norm .   
Sue Phillipson-Masters