Dear Family of St John’s
The title of this week’s newsletter will surprise everyone who knows me well. Because, you will be aware that I know NOTHING about sport. Niks, nada, zilch, zero. My husband has tried valiantly over the years to explain the rules of rugby, cricket or whatever other sport to me. My brain is incapable of absorbing any sporting information, I think it might be a medical condition.
I caused a great degree of embarrassment to my sons when they were at school. I clearly remember them in the early years of school playing Peppermints & Smarties rugby matches. I cheered VERY loudly every time either of them was even near the rugby ball. My husband eventually told me to follow his cue as to when to cheer.
My enthusiasm might have had something to do with my eldest choosing Cross Country as his sport of choice. It was very difficult for me to be anywhere but the start or finish line, and that suited him perfectly!
But, I do remember hearing the phrase ‘touch, pause, engage’ with regards to rugby. It is rugby, right? Something to do with the scrum? You see how much I know?
Well, this phrase came to mind for me last week. You may recall that I’ve had issues with my ‘ducks’ refusing to form up into neat rows (Newsletter Article, A Scattering of Ducks, 17 April 2025). I had hoped that they would behave a little better after Easter. Unfortunately, not.
St John’s was hosting the Elective Assembly, an event we’ve all been praying and preparing for, and so we had all sorts of plans in place. And then, the process was paused. With that pause, my brain went into overdrive. I started preparing myself for all the additional work that this would entail, in dealing with the postponement and the repercussions of it.
A friend messaged me and expressed the hope that with the change of plans, I would have a quieter week and be able to rest a little. I thought this was highly unlikely, I may even have scoffed at the idea.
But, God knew better. He knew that I needed to ‘pause’ before engaging in anything else. And somehow last week allowed me that mental space. A week that was going to be crammed, was suddenly wide open in my diary. And, I didn’t feel the need to fill those gaps. That’s how I know this was a God-prompted-pause for me, I don’t easily allow for those gaps.
I needed the pause last week, and God knew it. I’m not sure why I keep forgetting it. I think many of us are a little like me in this way. We forget so quickly.
And so, this week’s letter is a reminder, to myself firstly, but also to each of you who may need to hear it. Practice pausing. Allow yourself time to breathe, to think, to be. Maybe even appoint a friend to point out when you need to do so – when we’re in the middle of life’s busy-ness we forget easily and might need someone to look out for us and remind us.
In the same way that a scrum can’t proceed without that intentional sequence – touch, pause, engage – our spiritual lives need that same rhythm. Too often we leap from one thing to the next, mistaking momentum for purpose. But when we pause, really pause, we allow space for God to whisper, to realign our priorities, and to remind us that we are not meant to live stretched to the edges.
Even Jesus, in the middle of healing crowds and preaching sermons, “often withdrew to lonely places and prayed” (Luke 5:16). He paused, not because He was weak or disorganised, but because rest is holy. Pausing isn’t giving up; it’s gathering strength. It’s trusting that the world will keep spinning even when we step back and breathe.
So, this week, may we all take a moment to pause before we engage. May we be intentional about slowing down, not out of laziness, but out of reverence for the God who meets us in stillness. And in that pause, may we find rest for our souls and renewed purpose for our days.
Would you pray this prayer with me?
Gracious and loving God,
Thank You for the gentle reminders that You care more about who we are becoming than what we are producing. Help us to welcome the pauses in our lives, not with frustration, but with gratitude. Teach us to rest, as Jesus did, and to make space for You in the quiet moments. When we are tempted to fill every gap, help us to remember that stillness can be sacred.
Touch our hearts with Your presence, give us courage to pause, ears to hear Your voice, and hearts ready to engage with You anew. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
With love
Your friend and rector,
Claire