In anticipation of moving house soon, I have been trying to clear out cupboards and boxes. Given that I also have a storage facility full of things I have not seen for three years, and a garage with boxes that I have not used in one year, I am appalled at how much “stuff” I have gathered. By now you may be asking the same question I am, how much do I need this if I have not touched it in three years, and the answer is I don’t. I don’t need it, some of it I like, much of it I cannot remember why I bought it in the first place, and so my “barn” is filled with stuff, unnecessary stuff.

A mother has spent years worrying about her grown-up son who is terribly ill. The family call upon others to join them in praying for his recovery. Almost immediately his symptoms ease, and his quality of life improves. A coincidence, or an answer to prayer?

Have you ever said the words “I did my best” to be met with the response “Well your best is just not good enough” or worse still, has this ever been your response to someone. Such discouragement lingers with us and often when we attempt something new it is the negative voices which we hear rather than the positive. I once took part in an appraisal at work where, rather than looking at strengths and weaknesses, it looked only at the strengths and built on them, a much more positive experience which left us feeling valued and encouraged.

This edition of Outlook records many of life’s important events.

For some it is the start of a new phase of life - marriage, bereavement, or a new job. For others it is the marking of a significant milestone – 25 years of The Friends or 100 years of Guiding. Even these milestones are just the end of one chapter, and the start of a new one. There’s no thought of stopping.

Ten years ago the new Millenium began amidst fears and speculations that aircraft would lose their bearings; the banks’ computers would crash; and everyone’s PCs would become ineffective. Midnight on Millenium-eve saw spectacular firework displays all around the world – 'though for some of us it was marked by common-or-garden flu!

The start of the New Year can be a real mixture of emotions, excitement at the possibilities ahead perhaps tinged with a bit of fear as to what this coming year might hold. I wonder if this is how the Israelites felt as they stood on the brink of the Promised Land?

A clergy colleague of mine in the north of England was desperately scrabbling about in a pile of cardboard packing cases. Screwed-up wrapping paper, various pieces of bubble-wrap, and assorted lengths of old newspapers were flying in all directions. He was obviously searching for something, but no-one around him seemed to understand why he was so frantic about this activity.

Eventually, someone asked what he was up to. “The Nativity Set is incomplete,” he said. “There’s no babe for the manger”. With that he dashed off in the direction of his study to find his copies of the church suppliers’ catalogues so that he could urgently order a new piece which, with any luck, would be at church before Christmas. Sadly, styles had changed since he had purchased the set for church, and there was nothing suitable.

So preparations for Christmas are now in earnest.

Preparing the food, planning menus, freezing ahead, making the cakes and pudding, bracing ourselves for that last shop in all its madness. Preparing the presents, shopping online and in stores searching for the right gift and then the right wrapping. Preparing the house for family, perhaps for guests, decorating trees, sorting out guest rooms. Preparing ourselves, on the outside anyway, something new to wear, or a trip to the hairdresser. It seems to gather its own momentum, some of it fun, much of it stressful.

Walking in the fields this week with my dog, I was enjoying watching her run happily back and forth and thinking back to the first night she came to us as a puppy.

Like most other puppies she yelped and howled her way through the night, scared of her new surroundings, unsure of us and what her life would be like. Yet I knew what she didn’t, that she would be better loved than she could possibly realise and that we would give her the best and happiest life that she could possibly imagine.

On 29th November 1959 Peter Street was ordained at Birmingham Cathedral – so, on 29th November 2009 he will celebrate 50 years as a Church of England minister.  What a brilliant achievement, and a wonderful landmark to achieve. Much of this has been made possible by the unstinting support of his wife, Barbara.

As Summer is well behind us, and work and school routines have settled down, I am conscious of how fast the months seem to pass as we drift through the seasons. Quickly I fall back into patterns and routines week after week. There is much comfort to be had in these seasons and routines, and the more comfortable I become, the more I wonder at Abram who heard a call from God and, in spite of a prosperous comfortable life and old age, was prepared to leave his routines behind. He did not know at that time why or where he was to go, but without hesitation he followed.

He gave us eyes to see them
and lips that we might tell
how great is God almighty
who has made all things well.

I’m sure you recognise these words. They are the last verse of the very popular hymn “All things bright and beautiful”.

The month of May ended with National Family Week, and now in June we celebrate Father’s Day. Issues of families, parenting and care for family members across the generations are often in the news – but not always for the best reasons. We would do well to redress the situation.

The Care for the Family organisation promotes positive action to support hard-stretched families. As with everything, they say, large changes involve a succession of small steps. One such example concerns the treasuring of memories.

The Political Parties, the local football club, St Clare’s Hospice, the  Scouts, the churches, the distribution of Outlook each month, plus the many and various Community Groups and lots of other parts of our local and national life - they would grind to a halt if it were not for the work of volunteers. This army of committed people who just keep things going are to be applauded.