Rev Rosie writes July 2024

Rev Rosie Bunn
Rector of All Saints Church, Belton
and
St Peter & St Paul Church, Burgh Castle

I don’t know about you but I am rather fed up with all the election coverage, in particular what each political party is saying about the other; trying to put them down and put negative spin into the thoughts of the electorate for their own benefit. I find that really unhelpful as what I actually want to know is exactly what they are thinking on particular subjects and what they are going to do in responding to the needs of our nation. At the time of writing most of the political parties have just begun to publish their manifestos; perhaps it will be a little bit easier to work out what they stand for, once they are all published
 
I suppose the Euro’s football coverage will afford us some light relief during the run-up to the election, always assuming England and Scotland play well and achieve good results; or if you are a Bridgerton fan, the release of the second-half of the third season, might be what you will watch to distract you
 
But, for all that I have said, I believe it is so important for each one of us to take seriously the democratic rights we are given in our voting for the Member of Parliament to represent our constituency and the subsequent election of the Prime Minister for our nation. These rights were fought for and should not be ignored or abused
 
My prayers for the candidates and the General Election are that we shall see candidates with integrity, honesty, and humility, who are able to exercise the power they hold over people’s lives with compassion and care, and that we shall see a stability in our nation from their governance. That we shall see good leadership in action, not just words
 
There are so many areas of our national life that needs attention: the NHS and social care, education, housing, the environment, business and trade, migration and what we give in overseas aid to struggling nations, our defence, and I could go on. My prayer is that whatever party wins the election and forms a government, and whoever our next MP is, that we shall see improvements in the quality of lives for ordinary people and that they will take seriously the mandate they have been given to work for those who elected them
 
I am reminded of the passage in 1 Samuel where Samuel is speaking to the people who were requesting their own king. He tells them that if you have a king they will put all kinds of demands upon the people and, basically, they will regret it; that when life got tough, they would complain but nothing would change. My prayer is that the government of our country will listen to their people and do the right thing
 
You might say I am living in cloud cuckoo land . . . I hope and pray that I am not 

Rev Rosie Bunn

images courtesy of Village Voice