Roger Scoones' Monthly Dialogue
Rev Roger Scoones
Rev Roger Scoones is Rector of St Mary's Parish Church, Stockport and is a well known figure in the local community.
MARCH 2009
March is a very special month in the rectory garden, where I live, as
the rector of the town centre parish in Stockport, not far from the
centre of Manchester, our great city of the North. Some years ago I
planted bulbs, and each year in March the garden begins to bloom, first
with snowdrops, little white flowers with shining green leaves; I'm then
with crocuses, whose cheerful shades bring an optimistic, and colourful
aspect to the grass, which still looks rather forlorn and unkempt after
the winter snow falls and rains. Before the show of the crocuses is
over, the happy array of daffodils, with their many shades of yellow and
white fill the garden, front and back, and make my town centre garden a
joy to behold in March - the beginning of spring! That's how it is, so
it seems to me, this March in the Church’s life here at St Mary's. On
the first Sunday of the month, I'm baptising two children of twin
fathers, it is a real sign of springtime to see young families coming to
church and not only bringing new children for baptism, but also for
Sunday worship each week.
Early on in March I am taking a school assembly for year 8
(13-year-olds) in one of the local secondary schools, which I'm happy
for me to speak about God and Christianity in a contemporary and
engaging way. I enjoy the challenge! As Padre of the local branch of the
Coldstream Guards Association I'm giving an invitation, not only to to
conduct a service for them near to St Georges Day, but also to attend
their annual dinner. But I want to earn my keep by saying grace, which
again is a special challenge to make it appropriate and helpful to the
assembled company. March is a busy month for dinners, not only for this
occasions, but also for Rotarians, like myself, because each club has an
annual dinner, to which presidents are invited. As President of
Stockport Rotary Club I will be attending each dinner in March.
Throughout March the Church worldwide observes Lent. At St Mary's we
have a lunchtime service (12.15pm) on a Tuesday, and during Lent I have
invited local clergy from other denominations to come and speak to us.
Each Wednesday evening we move to a different church for a short
service, too.
March this year is also the month in which I see one friend going
forward to be interviewed by the Bishop’s representatives with a view to
becoming ordained, and another friend leave full-time work in banking to
become a parish priest having been ordained two years ago. The Church of
England is still attracting many men and women to unpaid and full-time
Christian ministry, which I personally find very encouraging. March
draws to a close with the annual Lord Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast in
Manchester Town Hall, which is always a very meaningful and encouraging
occasion, attended by many of Greater Manchester's Town Mayors, and
leading figures in the community. I make a point of attending if I can.
More school assemblies, and a baptism - the firstborn child of a local
publican - and a children's tour of St Mary's all ensure that that our
Parish Church and my own personal ministry, are kept well in touch with
the wider community, and hopefully a springtime of spiritual revival
too! March is an exacting month.