St Andrew's Church Eastern Green

While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.” ... Matthew 26:26

 

St Andrew's is the Anglican parish church of Eastern Green, Coventry founded in 1875

    

Dear Parishioners,

The Smith family  moved into St Andrew’s Vicarage in September 2004, having moved from Binley, where I served as Curate at St Bartholomew’s Church for five years.  We left behind many friends (although one or two have already managed to track us down) but are looking forward to making many new ones.  I brought with me my wife Fran who works in education and three teenage boys: Peter, Daniel and Jacob.  Peter is at university , while the other two remain at school.  I have four grown up step-children and even two grandchildren (you will be astonished at how young I look in spite of all this!).

My passions include running, drama and sport.  When I’m out running, I’m easy to spot: tall, dark, bearded man looking like he is about to collapse. I always wave back at anyone who waves at me, even if I have not the least idea who they are!  My enthusiasm for drama has led to the production of three successful pantomimes in Binley, the last involving a cast of over forty, with almost as many working behind the scenes. There is almost nothing better designed to get people of all ages and all talents (and none) working together and having a great time.  To my way of thinking, this is a pretty good picture of what the church should be like.  My fondness for sport is now generally indulged from the comfort of an armchair.  If you receive an unexpectedly brusque response when you telephone, check the Radio Times, sports pages.

My greatest passion, however, is for as many people as possible to discover the power and significance of the love of God as shown by the example of Jesus’ life and death.  Even those who wouldn’t dream of running for a bus or standing on stage and cannot see the point of sporting competition, can share in this.

I look forward to meeting you soon.

Greg Smith

Vicar

e-mail -gregsmith@standrews-eg.org.uk

 

October 2008

Dear Friends

October is the month for leaving home.  For many this means University or college, although for others it may be a new job or simply the desire for independence that drives this separation of parents and children.  For many parents this is an agonising and challenging time, worrying what will happen to Sarah or Simon in the big jungle.  However, this parting is one of the most natural things there is.  Every autumn, I am privileged to watch the same process in nature.  Sitting in my study, I see the resident moorhens on our pond driving away the now fully grown chicks that they have lovingly and painstakingly nurtured over the course of the Spring and Summer.  Admittedly, most human parents (having emptied the nest after 18 years) don’t think about starting all over again and raising a new family as the moorhens do every year.  There are a lot of holidays in the caravan to catch up on after all!

This process is also testified to in the earliest chapters of the Bible.  It is suggested there that the natural order of things is for children to leave home and marry.  And for good or for ill, through history and through almost every culture known to humankind, this is the way it has been.  And yet, in 21st Century Britain , a new pattern has emerged.  Children leave home not in order to form a partnership with someone else, continuing to live communally, but to live alone.  This flies in the face of Biblical wisdom: “It is not good that the man should be alone”.  However, it is not just the Bible that questions the wisdom of solitary living.  Loneliness has been identified by sociologists and psychologists alike as the greatest problem afflicting modern European life.

Many through bereavement or relationship breakdown are condemned to live alone through no choice of their own.  It seems strange then that there are those who actively seek this isolation.  Perhaps it demonstrates another example of popular wisdom: the grass is always greener on the other side.  Living alone means watching the television programme of your choice, being able to leave as much mess in the kitchen as you see fit; to leave all the lights on, put your feet on the furniture and get up at what time you like.  These seem attractive until you try them and find after a while they do not surpass the fulfillment of the company of another human being.

These pages testify to the enduring human need for human companionship.  Stories from the WI, Golden Years, the Eastern Green History Group and not least the church tell of groups who exist for a range of purposes, but all offer fellowship and friendship.  What is more, the church offers it to anyone whatever their background and whatever their reasons for needing it: a reflection of the Kingdom of God itself.

Every blessing

Greg Smith

St Andrew's is the Anglican parish church of Eastern Green, Coventry. The church was built in the reign of Queen Victoria 131 years ago to serve 40 farming families. Today the profile of the parish is vastly different.

The population of the parish is now 8,250 people but our mission continues to be "To make Christ known through word and action and to help people develop a mature Christian faith."

As you scroll through this information we hope you will gain an insight into our ministry and mission. The church, which has a membership of 100, hopes that you may be enabled, at some time, to join us in our beautiful church building for worship.

We invite you to read more about church life and participate in our Christian fellowship and education programme

                     See Services page for details.

May Christ's Peace be with you - wherever you are.