Thought for the Month

	Not many people know that…. There are twelve months in the year, so the last month should be the twelfth, but it isn’t. Anything with “dec” in it is likely to be “tenth”. Likewise September means “seventh” when it actually is the ninth month. Know-alls like me explain that, when a famous Roman Emperor decided to change the calendar, he named two new months, one after his wife ( naturally!) and the other after himself, to make him even more famous. But he did not want “his” months to be at the beginning or end of the year, when the weather even in Italy is cold and dank. So he popped his months in the middle of summer, and just moved the others over. So our hottest months are named after Julia and Augustus, and we celebrate them in the wonderful warmth of the sun and wear our coolest clothes. What’s this got to do with religion? Not a lot, except that we shall continue to meet for our service in St George’s Church at noon every Sunday throughout July and August, and I shall wear loose clothes like a Roman Emperor. If that is just too hot for you, then why not try Lux Mundi, Torre del Mar at 9.30 a.m. or the cool of Competa Parish Church at 5.30 p.m every Sunday? Peter Wolfenden Chaplain P.S. There are people who dispute my explanation for the names of these months. I am seeing them at playtime behind the bike sheds...