FROM THE VICAR
One of the many things which I love about being Vicar of our three villages is the strong sense of community. That sense of community finds expression in so many ways. When I first arrived, it was evident in the huge number of clubs, societies, organisations, groups, and activities which seem to proliferate in our little corner of the world, so numerous that plenty of big towns would be put to shame. The regular contents of this magazine bears witness to that. Whether in Soberton, Newtown or Hambledon, it seems there is little excuse for being bored!
The past year has of course been very different. So much of what we normally do hasn’t happened in the usual ways. What has been deeply inspiring and impressive is the tenacity and creativity which so many of you have shown in sustaining many of our shared activities in new ways, including meeting online. In addition, our villages have ‘pulled together’ in remarkable ways to try our best to ensure that nobody was left lonely or unsupported. Lots of people volunteered. Lots of people benefitted. I imagine that there are plenty of people who experienced both. We have shown the strength of our communities.
However, there really is nothing like being physically together – with family and friends, at church, in the pub, at the village hall. Wherever it is and why ever we may be meeting, I know that many of us have missed these expressions of community. I imagine that we are all hoping that the plans to ‘open up’ are as irreversible as the Prime Minister promised, and that we can very soon be back to doing all the things we love, and seeing all the people we have missed.
The psalmist reminds us that it is a ‘good and joyful’ thing when people ‘dwell together in unity’ (Psalm 133). We have seen so much good in recent months, and I am sure that we will see a lot of joy in the months to come as so many aspects of our shared life restart. God delights in it all. But it’s worth remembering that these things don’t happen by magic. From Brownies to the Royal British Legion, Scouts to the WI – and yes, church as well – none of it will happen without us all getting involved in some way.
Sometimes that means getting involved in the ‘management’ side of things, such as being on a committee or doing a job. Sometimes that involves financial support; and I know that we live in communities which can be very generous indeed towards worthy causes. But mostly, I think, we just need to turn up. Obviously, we can’t all go to everything all the time. But if we want the Arts Society or the Folk Club to thrive, we need to turn up and enjoy the entertainment. If we like having a pub in the village, we need to go along and eat and drink there. If you think it’s important that there is a church in your village, then please come along on a Sunday and join in, because churches won’t be there for Christmas, or weddings, or funerals, if we can’t keep them going the rest of the time.
I am sure I am not the only one who is intending to live a ‘new normal’ life that is a bit different to how things were pre-Covid. If that’s you as well, why not take this opportunity to find something in village life which you can get involved with and enjoy. It really is good and joyful to dwell together in unity, and that happens best when we do things together. Our villages are already strong communities. We can keep that going, so that our villages are great places to live for our children and their children. We can even make them better – so long as we do it together.
Fr David