Thought for the Month
Join me each month as I ponder life with all the highs and lows we encounter along the way.
I hope you enjoy my blog whose aim is to raise a smile as well as give food for thought.
As always, I would love to hear from you, so please contact me 01278 781147 c.judson@btinternet.com
God bless you.
Rev Chris
Rev Chris’ Blog,
June 2026 ‘Strawberry Moon’
June is here at last – the official start of our summer!
For many it is ‘exam time’, which affects far more than just the students themselves(!), and is followed by a time of freedom and space. For others it is the month for the early-summer harvest of strawberries (watch out for the Strawberry Teas!), potatoes, beans, courgettes and salad leaves. Crops of carrots, garlic, peas, spinach, turnips and various herbs like parsley, join the ripening fruits such as cherries, gooseberries and raspberries, providing an amazing feast to enjoy. Longer days, blooming roses and warm sunshine can all bring ready smiles and a sense of wellbeing to the fore, and the full moon at the end of June (29th) is known as the ‘Strawberry Moon’ – less because of it’s reddish-pink colour, and more due to it coinciding with the ripening of wild strawberries.
Juno was the ancient Roman goddess of marriage and childbirth (the month of June is often a popular month for weddings), and the Latin word ‘juvenis’ (which means ‘young people’) also connects with this. June moves us into the delights of summer fun, with our youngsters at it’s heart. Now is the time to make plans, and to enjoy time together – young and old; time to take action, to enjoy the world we live in, and to enjoy each other. Jesus’ response to the presence of children was always one of enthusiasm – even when he was exhausted and could have been forgiven for sending them away, still he said: ‘Let the little children come to me. Don’t stop them, because the kingdom of heaven belongs to people who are like these children.” (Matthew 19:14, New Century Version)
My dear friend in Australia keeps me connected to the full story – as we reach summer, so she enters their winter, as we bask in daylight, so they retreat into darkness. Our ever-turning world is one of constant change, and somehow we can only become truly whole when we engage with the full picture. It seems to me that this is where community is so important – community that begins local, and yet extends across the entire world. One of my greatest summer delights is the sharing of harvests that occurs – baskets of fruit or vegetables that appear along the roadside or at church or café that say ‘please help yourself’. Sharing what we have, and who we are, with each other grows our community. The same happens when those who are too busy, find support from those who feel they aren’t needed, and when those without family are valued by those whose family demands are overwhelming. May this summer be a time of true community for us all, a time of sharing what we have and who we are – near and far. And may it move us in the direction of recognising that we are all valuable beyond measure and deeply loved by the one who made us and delights in us!
God bless you.
Rev Chris
May 2026 ‘Life-giving Prayer’
I wonder when you first prayed? And what you prayed? For many of us, The Lord’s Prayer was an initial step, and has remained the basis of our prayers. When his disciples were puzzled about prayer, Jesus made it as simple as breathing and gave them this prayer as a model to use. I come across many people who say they want to stick to the original version of this prayer…..so here goes:
Jesus first spoke this prayer in Aramaic (far left), and it’s transliteration is given beside it. Usually ‘original version’ means ‘the version I first learned’, and most commonly this is ‘Our Father, Who art in Heaven….’, though the more modern version ‘Our Father in Heaven….’ dates from the 1970s and 80s, so is already half-a century old! It seems to me that the particular version is far less important than its meaning, and I love it when we pray the Lord’s Prayer in many different versions and languages simultaneously! The Bishop of Bath & Wells has asked us to focus on prayer through 2026, and especially on The Lord’s Prayer. In both of our churches there are Prayer Stations to help us do this – available throughout the week, so please do make good use of them.
The month of May brings together two essential calls to pray, and reminds us that prayer is not simply about asking God to change the world, but is as much about asking God to change us!
From 10th to 16th May we mark Christian Aid Week – a time to focus on the needs of people across the world and, at least in part, to seek to be the answer to our prayers. Food insecurity, over-crowding and climate change are all major challenges in Nairobi, but effective urban farming, despite limited water supply and the tiny spaces available, is making a huge impact. Whether making a donation or taking part in fundraising, every little bit counts – and we are encouraged to play our part and do all that we can to help.
Overlapping this, from 15th to 23rd May, between Ascension Day and Pentecost, are the nine days known as ‘Thy Kingdom Come’. This is when more than a million Christians, in nearly 90% of countries world wide, across 85 different denominations and traditions, unite in praying The Lord’s Prayer, and asking that God’s Spirit be with us and transform us into people who will make the changes we want to see in the world. Will you join in? Dare you pray the Lord’s Prayer, and be open to the changes it may bring?
Prayer does not need to be complicated – from the starting point of ‘O God!’, it is about being open and honest, and trusting the one who knows us and loves us more than we can ever imagine! Do check out the Christian Aid and TKC websites Novena PDF and make room for the life-giving practice of praying The Lord’s Prayer.
God bless you. Rev Chris