This Month's Blog has been written by Andrew Snowdon

It has been my privilege to lead evensong at Holy Cross for several years now. It is a
very special moment for many of us to join together at the end of the weekend in our
beautiful church and worship God through the words and liturgy that have stood the
test of time for many centuries. The regular and ordered flow of the service, together
with wonderful music from the choir, allows us a moment to reflect and add our own
prayers and requests to the familiar setting created by Cranmer in the first Prayer
Book of 1549.

The fact that this all takes place in the setting of our beautiful and ancient church
makes it even more special. People from Bearsted and the surrounding area have
regularly met here for over a thousand years and our prayers and worship mingle
with those who have gone before us. Holy Cross Church certainly holds a special
place in the hearts of many people, as it has through the centuries.

Many of us will shortly be away on holiday, enjoying a week or two of rest and
relaxation. It is a chance to escape the routine of everyday life and it gives us the
opportunity to recharge our batteries. Whether we holiday in this country or abroad,
many of us will take the opportunity to visit a lovely church or lofty cathedral while we
are away. A small country church may well be empty of people as we enter but a
cathedral will undoubtedly have a crowd of holiday makers. I always find it wonderful
that even in a crowded cathedral, thronging with people, there is a reverential hush
in the visitors. Clearly, and perhaps without realising it, they are experiencing the
presence of God in that place.

There has been a lot of talk recently about thin places; places where God and
heaven seem particularly close. This is often said of small islands, but it can just as
easily be wondering through a wood, a buttercup filled meadow or high up amongst
the mountain tops. I love the idea of thin places and for me the island of Iona, which I
have visited many times, falls into that category. This is where St Columba first
landed when he brought Christianity to Scotland and he established a beautiful
monastery there in the tranquility of that lovely wild place. However, a thin place for
me can also be much nearer to home as I walk with my two spaniels through the
beautiful countryside of Kent. In fact I often formulate my forthcoming sermons in my
head as I do so! I wonder where your thin places are?

I hope this summer gives you to opportunity to be closer to God, if only for a moment
or two, as you take some time out of your regular routine. You may even find a new
and special thin place.