Making New Starts

It’s the time of year when social media feeds are full of photos of children heading back to school. Some are starting for the first time and are there smiling nervously while their older seasoned siblings seem to be taking it all in their stride.

People are making preparations, too, for heading away to university and some are leaving home for the first time. I’ve been speaking to parents who have been off buying cooking utensils and crockery as people head off to student accommodation, or move into a flat, or house share for the first time.

Its really exciting on one level but, in truth, it’s pretty daunting, not just for students, but also for parents and guardians, to get used to this new development. Some times, despite the most careful of planning, things don’t always go according to plan.

I remember heading off to university in 1988. I had secured accommodation in Dublin with a friend and a friend of his and, when we arrived at the flat, we discovered that circumstances had changed. The people could no longer accommodate us in this flat and, while they agreed to keep us in digs for that first week and provide meals and beds, we had to look elsewhere.

Eventually, after some stress, we secured alternative accommodation, and it proved to be a happy place where I lived with various combinations of people for the next 3 years. One of the things I remembered from that time was starting to attend a new church in a denomination different from my own. It was recognised as being a place that was particularly welcoming to students, and they used to have families who would host student lunches for those new to the city. I was always impressed that the church saw this as an important part of their ministry.

One of my vivid memories from that time in my life came after I graduated from university. I had secured a job as a teacher of English in an international language school in Setubal, Portugal, a city about 40 miles from Lisbon, the capital.

There were some plane strikes at the time and I couldn’t get a direct flight, so my parents left me to Dublin where I got a boat and bus to London before flying on to Lisbon the next morning, after an overnight coach journey.

What I think about more these days is how hard it must have been for my parents to see me heading off. My dad was not in good health. None of us knew much about Portugal or had never been there and, as I headed off full of excitement, I remember my mum being in tears as I sat in on the bus.

It’s not so easy for parents as their children head off for the first time, or go off on their travels.

Let’s remember to pray for those we might know who are, either preparing for, or making those transitions right now.

There will be others, too, who might have recently retired from their working life and that, too, poses quite a challenge as people readjust their routines and, maybe, take on new roles, perhaps caring for grandchildren or, indeed, supporting relatives who may need additional support as they grow older. Some people find retirement quite a challenge. If people were fully immersed in their working life, they may not have had much time for hobbies or outside interests and find themselves with more time on their hands.

Can I suggest a couple of great volunteering opportunities for those who might have more time on their hands than at other points in their lives. Quite often, most of us like some routine and structure in our lives, and these kinds of activities offer that kind of rhythm to our lives again.

Some years ago, the parish started a ladies’ afternoon friendship group which meets twice a month on Wednesday afternoons. There’s an interesting range of speakers and activities each year on offer, and a great team of volunteers who facilitate this. Some of those who attend the group have difficulties with transportation, and the committee try to facilitate lifts for those who need them. They could use some volunteer drivers who might be free and happy to transport people to the group. If this is something you might enjoy and be interested in, please speak to me or to Ryan.

After the pandemic, we developed a really positive link with Lisnasharragh Primary School, and we have a team of volunteers who go in 3 times a week on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. We have a particular need for volunteers on the Tuesday and Thursday classes from 9.15-10.30 to help children struggling with their numeracy and literacy. It’s a really rewarding programme and ably coordinated by Stephen Geoghegan. If you would be interested in finding out more and getting involved, please get in touch with us.

It’s a real joy to see people engaging in these wonderful things and we would love to facilitate those who need lifts on Wednesdays or with the schools project in Lisnasharragh.

It’s full steam ahead for all our preparations for the community fun day on September 12th, and we hope to have a short volunteers evening on Wednesday 9th September from 7-8pm in the top hall to assign people to various tasks, and give all the information about what’s involved, so we hope you can come along and help with what should be a very special day.

This week we will be leaving invitations for distribution in the Sexton’s room, and we would love people, who can, to take some and distribute them. We will be doing a session from 5-6pm on Thursday 3rd September and, if you can’t make it, please come along some time and lift a pile of invitations and tick off what street on the list you are delivering to so we don’t double deliver!!

Finally, a reminder that this week the Bishop’s Bible Week takes place in Holy Trinity, Banbridge at 7.45pm each evening from Tuesday to Friday.

The speaker is Professor Tim Robinson, who is Assistant Professor of Pastoral Theology in Dallas Seminary, and he will be sharing some Bible studies from the Book of Acts, under the theme of ‘Surrendered.’ These evenings of teaching, worship and fellowship are always very encouraging and all are welcome.

Look forward to speaking again soon.

Much love to everyone,

Jono.

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