As the days lengthen and a sense of renewal fills the air, many of us turn our attention to the annual ritual of ‘Spring Cleaning’. And this can take many forms. It often involves us taking a look in our wardrobes and having a good sort out – putting away the things we will no longer wear and bringing out, freshening up what we will need for the summer. De-cluttering our clothes isn’t just about tidiness; it’s about making space for new possibilities, both literally and figuratively.
It is estimated that the combined total of unworn items lingering in UK wardrobes is 1.6 billon. That’s approximately 23 items for every man, woman and child in the country! For some of us that will be too low – you know who you are! This figure highlights the potential for both personal benefit and environmental impact by having a good clear out now and again. It’s where new online apps like Vinted have transformed clothing consumption – offering a seamless way to give pre-loved items a new home and discover unique pieces for ourselves.
Vinted’s growth in the UK has been remarkable. In 2023, Vinted reached over 100 million registered users globally, with 18 million of those based in the UK. The app saw 8.9 million downloads in the UK in 2023, more than double the rate of downloads in other countries. This surge in popularity is driven by both the desire for affordable fashion and a growing eco-consciousness. Vinted’s UK sales have grown over 200 times year-to-date compared to early 2020, and it now holds approximately 95% market share among its direct competitors in what is called the UK ‘re-commerce’ market.
But what’s all this to do with Colossians, the letter that we will look at during Breakfast Church this coming Sunday? In this beautiful letter that Paul writes from prison to a church he’s never visited and didn’t found, he describes using poetry that there’s no part of human existence that remains untouched by the loving and liberating rule of Jesus. He contrasts ‘old humanity’, a way characterised by destruction and distortion, with a ‘new humanity’, inviting us to live in the present as the kind of people we will become.
One practical way he expresses this is by contrasting what it means for a 1st century Roman household. And in the Message version of the Bible, he talks about God having provided a new wardrobe of clothes for us to wear. It includes with this lovely phrase, ‘And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It’s your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it.’
We’ll be thinking about luggage, things we need to ditch and new things we need to embrace at our Breakfast Church service at St Mary’s. There’ll be a simple craft activity for children, and adults will have a chance to reflect on how Paul invites the Colossians (and those living in the Roman Empire, and us today) to get rid of their reliance on mystical polytheism (many gods) as a full expression of the new creation that Jesus makes possible.
At St Swithun’s, John Sweeting and Lis Chase will be leading our service and focussing on a reassuring passage we find in John 14 through our Order Two traditional service of Holy Communion.
You’ll receive a warm and generous welcome at either of our services. I hope you will join us at one of them and share in all the good things we are seeking to be through our shared journey of faith and life.
Revd Paul