September thoughts..............

Honk! Honk!
 
I read this week about the annual migration of geese, isn’t their teamwork astonishing! As they fly in their "V" formation, the flapping of each birds wings creates an uplift for the bird immediately following. By flying like this the whole flock has apparently at least a 70 percent greater flying range than if each bird flew on its own. This is most noticeable when a goose falls out of formation, it immediately feels the drag and resistance of trying to go it alone so quickly gets back into place to take advantage of the lifting power granted to it by the bird in front.  When the head goose gets tired, it rotates back into the wing and another goose flies forward to take up the lead. The noisy honking you hear is of the geese behind encouraging those up front to keep going and maintain the speed!
 
What really touched me though was reading that when a goose gets sick or injured and falls out of the formation, two other geese fall out with it and follow it down to the ground, to lend help and protection. They stay with the fallen goose until it is able to fly again or until it dies; and only then do they launch out on their own or with another formation to catch up with their own group.
 
What a beautiful thing this is, a real encouragement from nature to live well in community together; lending our strength, sharing the load, taking our rest and championing the more vulnerable.
 
In the words of Aleksandr the Meerkat ‘Simples!’.
 
 ‘So let’s do it .. Let’s see how inventive we can be in encouraging love, helping out, and in spurring each other on..’.  Hebrews 10: 24 The Message.
 
God be with you,
 
Nikki 
 
 
Rector in The Rectory!
 
I was delighted to be inducted and instituted as Rector of the Raddesley Group of Churches in St Peter’s Stetchworth by Bishop Dagmar, supported by the Rural Dean, Church Patrons and our Churchwardens, in a small socially distanced service to mark the change in my role- in name only! It signified a celebration of the ministry and community of us all, for which I give my thanks. 

Please feel free to contact me to discuss spiritual matters; baptisms, funerals, weddings, and the sacrament of reconciliation (confession). 

That’s why God has placed me with you 😊  Blessings, Revd Nikki

Email: Nikkimann40@hotmail.co.uk Call: 01638 507980 Text: 07738 266057

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