Dear All,

Over the last twelve months and more, a quite remarkable transformation has been taking place at our church school: Green Lane CE School. Years of lobbying, discussion, planning and budgeting have resulted in the school moving out of its old two storey block and moving in to the refurbished (and partially rebuilt) one Storey block of buildings on the Green Lane site. The move has been a logistical challenge for the contractors and the school staff: builders, heavy building equipment and children have to be kept apart; areas of school have been out of bounds as work has continued and classes have shifted from one place to another to enable work to progress. The play ground has moved from one side of the building to another to avoid the builders, car parking has been restricted and a myriad of other inconveniences have challenged staff, parents and children but all these challenges have been met with good grace and a determination to find a way to overcome difficulties and to move the project along. Some of us were able to view the 'new' school at the hugely successful summer fair the other week: congratulations are due all round to those who have overseen this project, particularly to our Head Teacher Mrs Ford and her Senior Staff.

Still some work proceeds: the old block is being dismantled even as the children settle into their new environment and the school management begin to find the snags that affect any project and begin to equip the classes with new furniture. In many ways this 'stepping from the old into the new' can be a parable for us all, whether as a church or as individuals. None of us ever really start each day with a blank sheet of paper, a totally new beginning: the echo of the past lives on in our lives (our background, our education, our experiences all have shaped who we are). It is important though not to be ruled by the past as we move into the future. Yes, it may shape the way we approach an issue, it may offer positive guidance for how we address a particular issue or possibly restrict our room for manoeuvre and blinker our attitudes but the scriptures are clear that we can rise above our inheritance as 'free agents' and that we are charged with shaping our lives, making choices for good or ill.

Well done Green Lane: your choices will benefit our community for years to come. May our own choices, as people of faith with a centuries old tradition similarly prove beneficial to those we serve in this place.

Alec