Minister's Letter

“Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” – Mark 6:31 (NIV)

Dear friends

As we step into the heart of summer, I find myself reflecting on the gift of rest. In Mark’s Gospel, Jesus invites his disciples to a quiet place “Come with me... and get some rest” after a busy season of ministry. They had been serving faithfully, teaching, healing, proclaiming the Kingdom and now, it was time to pause. It’s a simple, beautiful call—one that many of us need to hear afresh. Rest is not a reward for finishing everything on our to-do lists. It is a sacred rhythm, woven into creation itself. In Genesis, we are told that … God rested on the seventh day. In the same way, we are called not only to do, but to be, to sit with God in stillness, to breathe deeply, and to find our souls refreshed. In the busyness of life—whether it’s family responsibilities, work commitments, or the routines of church and community, it can be easy to forget the sacred value of rest. And yet, rest is not idleness. It’s not about doing nothing. It’s about creating space to be renewed, to listen, to pray, and to simply be in God’s presence.

Here in Digswell, we’re blessed with the beauty of nature all around us, the winding footpaths, the sound of birdsong, the play of light through the trees. These are gentle reminders of the Creator’s rhythm: a rhythm that includes work and rest, doing and being. As a church family, summer often brings a slower pace. Meetings pause, rotas ease, and we may find more time to connect with God and with one another in quieter, more informal ways. It’s also a good time to reach out to someone we haven’t seen for a while. Small acts of care can speak volumes.

This summer, I pray that you may find moments of quiet and renewal. Whether you are travelling, tending your garden, enjoying time with loved ones, or simply sitting in the stillness of a summer morning, may you sense God's gentle presence. May you return refreshed. And if you are in a season where rest feels heavy and distant due to illness, grief, or busyness know that you are held in prayer and that Christ meets you there too, offering comfort, healing, peace and strength. Let us also remember those for whom this season brings loneliness or hardship. May we be a community that lives out Jesus' invitation to rest—not just for ourselves, but for others too. A phone call or a moment of prayer might be just what someone else needs to feel God’s peace.

As a church, may we embrace the quieter pace of summer not as a lull, but as a time of deepening: deepening our faith, our friendships, and our awareness of God's grace. Whatever these summer weeks bring, may we each find space to listen, to breathe, and to rest in the love of God that surrounds us always.

With every blessing for a peaceful and joyful July,

Rev Rosemary Mutopo