Every time I walk through the churchyard at this time of year, I am immediately struck by the colourful and joyous sight of the beautiful magnolia trees in full bloom. To me, they are a wonderful sign that early summer is on the way. Who knows—having written this in mid-April—by the time you are reading it, we may already have enjoyed a few warm days, when we can sit in the garden and bask in the sunshine.  Yet the sight of these trees also reminds me of John 15:5 and Jesus’ command to go and bear fruit, whenever and wherever we find ourselves.

Often, a walk past the magnolias means I am heading into town: to visit or meet someone, to work on my laptop in a café, to worship at another church, or to buy food for Claire, Will, and me. More often than not, it involves several of these in a single day.

Consequently, the trees serve as a gentle reminder that any and every encounter throughout the day is an opportunity to share the Gospel. Jesus expresses this far better than I ever could in verses 16–17:

“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. This is my command: Love each other.”

We may not realise it at the time, but even a trip to the supermarket is a sign that God has called each of us by name to fulfil His command and continue His mission to love the world. Planning, shopping for,

preparing, and cooking a meal for someone is a simple yet profound expression of God’s love. It is, in its own way, holding out the hand of God and saying—whether consciously or unconsciously – “I care enough for you to have done this.”

In this way, these “Magnolia moments” also call us to notice how others bear fruit in our own lives and in the life of the Church—those who give their time because they care, and because they know they are loved and cared for by God.

This inspires me to thank each of you who so generously give your time, enabling us as a church to create more and more “Magnolia moments” for people in and around our church and town.

So let us look out for those often hidden “Magnolia moments,” and give thanks to God for all the love and summer blooms He offers us through the ordinary rhythms of daily life.

Every Blessing

Nick