Thought for the Week - 20th March 2022

 

Dear Friends,

Spring has sprung! On a one-day retreat this week and a walk in the countryside, there were signs all around that the season of springtime is here, from the buds on the trees, the beginnings of the colours of flowers and the richness of God’s beautiful creation once again reawakening after the winter slumber. March 20th marks the first day of spring in the northern half of the world, and if you live down under then it is the beginning of autumn. Next week the clocks with go forward and the days will be longer, and hopefully brighter and warmer. We’re reminded of the changing of the seasons as we read from Song of Songs, ‘See! The winter is past; the rains are over and gone. Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come, the cooing of doves is heard in our land’ (Song of Songs 2:11-12). I’ve discovered a springtime carol this week, written in the 13th Century and translated from Latin to English in The Oxford Book of Carols, 1928, called ‘The Flower Carol’ which can be sung to the tune of Good King Wenceslas. You might like to use it this week as you pray giving thanks to God for creation and the wonders of the changing seasons.

Grace and peace,

Neil


Spring has now unwrapped the flowers,
Day is fast reviving,
Life in all her growing powers
Towards the light is striving:
Gone the iron touch of cold,
Wintertime and frost time,
Seedlings, working through the mould,
Now make up for lost time.

Herb and plant that, winter long,
Slumbered at their leisure,
Now bestirring, green and strong,
Find in growth their pleasure;
All the world with beauty fills,
Gold the green enhancing,
Flowers make glee among the hills,
Set the meadows dancing.

Through each wonder of fair days
God Himself expresses;
Beauty follows all His ways,
As the world He blesses:
So, as He renews the earth,
Artist without rival,
In His grace of glad new birth
We must seek revival.



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