Rector - Revd. Teresa Townsend

Dear Friends,

Decluttering feels like an apt theme for this Ramblings from the Rectory. At this time of year, as we settle into our homes and try to shut out the darkness, the cold, and the rain, we often find ourselves surrounded by things that really ought to be sorted or let go. When I glance at the gardening magazines on the coffee table, the crochet wool yet to be used, or the toys our dog Bladon plays with for thirty seconds and then abandons, it can feel as if we’re in hibernation mode—gathering things around us for comfort. But reassuring as that can be, there comes a point when the clutter may become overwhelming.

Recently I attended an Advent Quiet Morning run by the Diocese, where the focus was “Making room for Jesus by getting out of the way.” We were invited to reflect on what we might need to clear out spiritually in order to be ready for the coming Christ at Christmas. It was a reminder that Advent is, at heart, a season of preparation—not just in our calendars and kitchens, but in the deeper rooms of our hearts.

We were also encouraged to consider ordinary, physical decluttering of our lives, to open up space simply to be—to rediscover who we are, and who God is calling us to become. Whether we approach this spiritually or simply as part of managing busy lives, the steps are often small: returning those gardening magazines to the rack or passing them on to others, tucking the wool back into the craft cupboard, putting Bladon’s toys away. These tasks take moments, yet the sense of space they create often brings calm. My study, which often looks as though ten chaotic people work in it, is transformed when I sort and tidy it up. Clearing physical space helps clear mental space too, enabling me to work, to reflect, or to rest.

Even the Rectory Garden benefits from a thoughtful declutter—removing plants that have gone over, preparing the soil for winter, letting the earth rest so that unseen spring growth can begin when it is time. Nic has been digging and clearing out the old – doing his own declutter of the outside space, pausing every so often to see what has been achieved and what might come next. There is something quietly Advent-like in that slow, hidden preparation.

Decluttering our minds is equally important for our wellbeing. Many of us live at a pace faster than we would choose, and even in retirement life can feel unexpectedly busy. Worries, joys, expectations, and concerns for others and for ourselves can gather into mental piles that weigh us down. I find my small rituals help me: writing lists, crossing tasks off with a highlighter, even emailing myself reminders. These little actions give my mind permission to release what it has been holding.

And yet Advent invites a deeper question for all of us, wherever we find ourselves in matters of faith or belief:
What clutters the rooms of our hearts?
What worries, habits, resentments, fears, or crowded diaries leave little space for calm, kindness, or hope?

For those who embrace the Christian story, Advent is a time of preparing room for Christ to be born in us again. For others, it may simply be a moment to pause, breathe, and make space for whatever brings light, peace, or renewed possibility. However we understand it, the invitation is similar: how might we gently, courageously declutter our inner spaces—so that we can find room, joy, and hope for the future?

If life feels overwhelming—whether because of what’s piling up around you or within—you are not alone. Reaching out for a hand, a conversation, or a listening ear is often the first step toward finding breathing space again. Advent reminds us that help is nearer than we think, and that making space—spiritually, emotionally, or practically—can open us to peace in ways we may not expect.

With every blessing

Teresa