Evening Prayer - Thursday, 19 March 2020

We are learning our craft - tonight we successfully streamed the evening prayer and then managed to delete it!!

But here it is in a format you can watch.

We will be streaming morning prayer at  09:30 and evening prayer around 18:10 every day.
If you'd like to be prayed for (or have prayers you'd like held up) please message me here or on the facebook page for st Francis', Leyfields (which is where you can share the service with us).

Thank you for watching and helping us to keep the doors of our church building open and our Christian life maintained.

Pax

Holy Week 2016 @ St Francis', Leyfields

Do you know where to stick your church?

No, not something rude - I'd like to offer a little challenge this morning:

Take a look at these two images and think about what your can see, and perhaps what you know and perhaps what you assume about the two buildings, the people in them and the people around them - what are the differences (and similarities) between them? 

A recent conversation I overheard (and keep back from) was heading towards, 'Burn the cathedrals and put those in sector ministry in the diocese to the sword'. A foolish misunderstanding of many of the realities of church and yet a realistic observation when some are considered as well!

So Take a look and have think about them:

Here are some of the possible responses:

One has a black border around it - but it isn't dying (intact it's pretty stable and showing gentle signs of growth - of all sorts).

One has blue skies around its domed splendour - but I'd hazard to suggest that it's not all sunshine and roses being there!

One has only one room whereas the other has many rooms - one can accommodate about sixty people whilst the crypt in the other holds about two hundred more than that!

One is pretty and the other is merely something utilitarian and considered by some to be anything but pretty (which is why weddings and baptisms go elsewhere perhaps?).

One is in the centre of an Estate Church: An Urban priority area. The other is situated within one of the most prosperous centres of commerce and law in the world.

One has around fifteen percent of those who come in full-time work - I was told by someone in the other that that's probably the other way round there!

Some might think about the difference between the two locations in terms of IMD numbers (Index of Multiple Deprivation - the higher the number the better the area) one is around 8,500 and the other around 28,000.

One of them charges people to come in (£18 for an adult and £8 for a child) and the other doesn't charge admission (perhaps there's nothing to see?).

One of them has to pay parish share whist the other appears to be exempt (and in fact receives money from the Church Commissioners) from that charge. I'm told that's because they struggle to pay the bills - but then again that's a common area for both I would think.

Some might think that the worship styles differ, after all one has a robed choir and p

Perhaps you've thought of a different difference? If so, plonk it in the comments area and we can see what others have come up with and perhaps grasp some insights which would have otherwise been passed by and ignored.

Here are a few of my own observations to add so grit to the machinery (or hopefully, grist to the mill!):

The differences?

Physical:  Size - Age of the buildings - Location - one is an icon, the other an eyesore (a quote!)

Spiritual: None at all - both seek to witness to the saving power of the cross and the servanthood of Jesus, the Christ. It's all about scale and audience and opportunity. One has a massive footfall and a great tourist trade whilst the other has none of the above!

But when it comes to knowing where to stick a church building, the smaller of the two does something very important for it ministers God's love in a place where hardship, adversity and struggle are quite often to be found (yes, I know that happens in the City of London too, but it's a matter of scale). 

Reputation: The majority of people are in awe of those who work in the larger of the two buildings. How often to you hear an estate church or urban priority minister doing 'Thought for the Day' or being quoted in one of the national papers? The answer is that generally you don't unless there's been something juicy in terms of news. The truth is that the smaller, dare I say more community engaged (now there's an invite to a punch up if I ever heard one), little churches are largely only of import to the people and the communities that they serve.

Extend this to include rural churches and you'll find yourself struggling just as much for although they are a lifeline to many and the remain community cohesion for many in a place, they just aren't counted as equal to the big and splendid places of worship (where sadly admission is charged and egos can be as polished as their floors). I must just tip my hat to the congregation of St Ethelbert - East Wretham, Norfolk to the community that it is and for the wonderful service they had recently to celebrate 150 years since the building's was rebuilt; and a thumbs up to the bishop of Norwich for a great bit of history, Bible and pastoral gathered into his sermon on that day. 

Rural churches are a treasure and focus for many a community

Sustaining the witness: And it is here that perhaps the real difference is to be found for should any conversation of closing an iconic building such as the larger featured here there would be uproar. How could we countenance closing a 'national treasure' and a place of such importance to the tourist industry? I can envisage the letter to the Times now. But when it comes to the smaller, those where 'can't pay - can't have' means the end is nigh, what of the people we serve and where and how do we do are evangelism (of course as a missioner I'll point to pubs and homes and mention 'fresh expressions' but the public understanding is that, as we close building we are no longer voice or influence for good (and God).

BUT

Close the smaller of the two pictured here and it wouldn't attract a column inch in the national - I know that because the others who have closed their doors and been merged and reorganised haven't!

Church buildings need to be where the need is and this means that some, where communities have moved away or been incorporated into larger gatherings of people, do need to be closed to make them relevant and among the people they seek to serve. The problem is that we are not just about the 'cure of souls' but we also have the role of being 'curators of a place's memories' too and this means we have more listed building than we need and spend more on upkeep than perhaps we do on evangelising our communities - a situation that cannot continue. So there is the question of ownership and the issue of making Christ known - two areas of friction which leave nasty chafes in embarrassing places (i.e.. in the public domain).

Our challenge: Where I am there are many who treasure the large, imposing and quite ancient building in the centre of town; but few actually come into it as part of the normal congregation. This changes a little when there is a baptism or wedding and more so when there is a funeral, for then it is the old or the pretty church that attracts them all. The smaller churches, unless they are picturesque places, only tend to do baptisms for those with whom they have a relationship and weddings (done one here in the past ten years) are even more difficult (because people want nice photos in a pretty setting) are always done elsewhere.

Answers? These are the hardest bit in all this. As we close treasured, yet almost empty church buildings, and remove clergy: Or better still create multi-beneficed monstrosities: the winner of the ghastliest being eleven church buildings and almost as many communities in a diocese I will not name.

A friend of mine (well they were before I started writing this) who works in a cathedral was telling me how tight the purse strings were in their magnificent pile of stone. The problem was that as they told me about their challenges all I could see was how well off and extremely comfortable they, and their place, were when held up against some in parish ministry I know.

Now I am aware that we can always find those better, and worse, off that ourselves and that balance is they key. ALL of the expressions of Church: Cathedral, Parish, District and freshly expressed are valid and worthwhile; the minute we start thinking otherwise is the day when the Church, standing against itself, begins the final phase of decline and heads towards extinction.

The problem is that whilst I admire the wonderful buildings (as long as I can decide whether and what to give as I enter or leave) and marvel at the history and architecture and the music on offer, this in itself will not get the baby saved, bathed and given the bread of life. 

The same is true of the wonderful examples of parish church which are self-contained, self-satisfied and self-serving: If they don't serve the community around them and don't proclaim the Gospel to those inside and outside their wall, then what are they good for?

And again, look at some of the 'missional' churches out there. Those places who claim to be effective for the Lord and excelling in promoting the Gospel: If they are then we need to sustain them if they cannot because of an inability to pay on the part of the people they serve. We are heading to a time when those who can afford to have a church building will have them and those who cannot, will not. Basic economics: if you can't pay for it then you can't have it (even with non-stipendiary and ordained local minister [AKA licensed lay ministers).

This is an important debate - one that needs to be open-handed and big-hearted and yet, like many things Anglican, there is a danger that the divide between haves' and 'have nots' will see but one side win rather than some from both sides. 

So read, look and think and develop some reasoned thinking before you need it, because as it stands, need it you will. Do you know where to stick your church building*?

Pax

* Polite answers only please - and remember, there are many sharp bits to a church building so be charitable too!

Taizé @ St Francis' Returns

This Sunday (12th July 2105) sees a welcome return to the 6:00pm evening services at St Francis', Leyfields.

The service will be a gentle and contemplative communion services using Taizé songs and reflection upon the Word.

All are welcome

St Francis' Church, Masefield Drive, Tamworth  B79 8JB

St Francis' - Autumn Fair

One of the great things about being Church is the fun we get to have putting on fairs, socials and other things that bring us together. One of those happens tomorrow as St Francis' has it's Autumn Fair.

This is 'the' place to get Minions and many other amazingly created things - and the cake is always fantastic too (made me twice the man I should be!

Tenebrae - A service that touches deeper . . .

Than so much else that I encounter during the course of the year.

Tamworth Street Angels - Another step further

Three years or so on and Tamworth Street Angels has a bunch of trustees in place and the various elements relating to training and linking in to the town's services are also coming together and so it is with some great pleasure that I can announce a public meeting to inform, recruit and generally enthuse those who would like to become part of Tamworth's Street Angels group.

click to enlarge

Please tell your friends (if you have friends),  acquaintances, fellow church members (if you go to church), colleagues, fellow unbelievers (if you're non-theist) and strangers you meet in the street, on the trains, buses and down the nick!

Anywhere and everywhere - spread the good news that Tamworth is moving up a gear when it comes to being a caring society.

And be warned - there's more good news to come very soon (so have a nap!).

You have the time, the date and the location - so see you very soon I hope (refreshments provided)

Ordination: Return to my sending diocese

Yesterday was one of those amazingly wonderful days where the celebration and joy in seeing one of our church family ordained was tinged with the sadness of having left such a wonderful building as St Alban's and then thenI was blessed again as I met old friends and realised just how small the wonderful world of Church is.

St Alban's Abbey basking in the sunlight welcomes me home

The sun was shining and the Abbey worked hard to resemble the Sutherland print hanging in my study as we arrived. The splendour and awe-inspiring sight causing that alway involuntary intake of breath. This was going to be a day to savour.

Walking in to the building and up to the Library (more later) I happened to see a couple of the St Francis' faithful with David (AKA the ordinand):

There was an air of uruffled preparedness that only seems to exist in such settings as these; that calm that tells you that somewhere below us (in the basement) the webbed feet that propel such services would have been flapping madly. 

Meanwhile upstairs there was an ordered and professional calm as the clergy robed, the scene much like that before any big game:

Those who seek silence and a moments contemplation before the kick-off,

Those who have to dress in the right order so that all is mentally and spiritually in the right place,

Those who, having got into their kit, feel the need to chat or kick their studs against the wall, and of course,

Those who Maradona-like put on their kit and stretch, kick the walls and make a hubbub with their studs before crossing themselves as they run our (sorry, process) onto the pitch (err, I mean Abbey).

Then we were off - into the service which, as ever, featured the splendid choir doing wonderful things with old musical notes that had lingered in that place to bring forth a splendid Sanctus and Benedictus - The Litany (always a joy) and then a sublime sermon from Angela Tilby set the scene for Lichfield escapee, Bishop Alan Smith, to do the deed and like a magician pulling rabbits from a hat, present us with twelve brand new and shiny deacons!

Hallelujah for those who offer themselves to the Church in its service and praise to the Lord for each one of us who fulfils whatever calling it is that we have as believers. This was a time to celebrate new ministries begun and to give thanks for the ministry of the whole church (for we are one - we are family - we work to the one, same, calling).

And then it was over and as I processed out the congregation cheered and clapped (they tend to do that a lot) and I realised the exit of the gladiators was occurring somewhere behind me (phew - getting paranoid there for a moment).

Then it was time for photographs and laughter and relief that it was all over with no deacons harmed in the making of the film. St Francis' had given the Church it's first offering in terms of ordained ministry and we could smile and get off to the party.

And so we were done and after a time of mixing with friends and families (and meeting some I knew from days long gone) we set off for david's new church, a setting somewhat different from the UPA he left:

I'm sure the sun won't always shine there and the skies may not always be blue - but I trust and pray that David, Catherine and the children will find their new home to be a place of blessing and growth, happiness and joy.

And a message to the faithful of Chorleywood - take care of them for they are extremely special people :-)

ps. One of the deepest moments of joy I found in this service was to be in the company of a man whose life and ministry, cutting comments and insightful observation I treasured and valued greatly in my time in the diocese. Thank you Revd Michael Sansom for the many you have guided as DDO and for the many that you still mentor and care for.

Mission Shaped Intro

This time next week we will have finished the first session of the 'Mission Shaped Intro' course here at St Francis', something that excites me immensely. That said I'm not sure how many we will get coming and the potential for disappointment (for some) is great - but I'm happy if we get half a dozen and anything over that will be a blessing indeed.

So a request.

Please pray:

+ for those who might decide to come that they will be informed, enabled and released.

+ for the team who will be leading sessions during the course (Reader, Pioneer Minister, Dogcollar).

+ that from those who come we find people discovering vocations that lead to ministries being shaped.

Pax

Doing the Stuff - Community!

Today we had a bit of a community bash.

The Guides were out in force with their tents which housed crafts and other attractions. The Tamworth Amateur Radio Society was there, working the world and demonstrating their hobby (meets in the church building every Thursday).

There were musicians, a juggler/stilt-walker, face-painting and Bibbledy Bob, the clown and children's entertainer.

Alongside them we had bouncy castles, the Fire brigade (steady ladies), St John's, the Ambulance service and first responders.

We had a parade and costumes were judged by Tamworth's exceptional Mayor, Lee Bates, whilst in the church building there was tea, coffee and cake, followed by a Tea Dance (which sadly is nothing like a mud fight!). and even more besides.

As for me, I stayed near the food. In fact one of the wardens and I cooked and served burgers, hot dogs and sausages for just over two hours (ably assisted by Betty and Brian, Davros and Marijan).

The queues never got any shorter and the surprise when they realised that there was no charge was a pleasure to see. The only irony in the whole proceedings was the fact that having cooked so many burgers, sausages and stuffed them into buns, neither I or my fellow chef got near actually eating one!

So the couple got married, but even better than that (and the event was a liturgical triumph!) the community that is Leyfields became a little more of a community.

Hallelujah and thank you to everyone who organised the event and did so much to make it such a success - now, when's the next one?

Pax