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

Can't make it to church?

So here we are at one of the most misunderstood (even - or should that be especially? - by some clergy) celebration of the church's year. A misunderstanding that causes pain and confusion and brings about some of the very worst preaching of the year.

So let's try to sort out some of the confusion:

It is not about Mums, nor is it about being a Mum and definitely not about having never been a Mum, and yet this is what many will hear and will take comfort, sadness or distress from it!

Today is something which dates back to the fifteen hundreds (16th Century) when Christians returned to the place they were baptised and celebrated their membership of the Church in their 'Mother' church.

A day when, the service done, people often visited the family home and, picking flowers on the way (a tough task in later industrial Britain), gave Mum a small gift (cheap - not expensive).

A day when those in service were given a day off to go 'a mothering' (days off not being that forthcoming) and so it was also a celebration - one which centred upon being part of the family: Physical and Spiritual.

The problem we have is that there will be people in our congregations this morning who having never been a mother will be feeling that this is something that speaks of their barrenness. Others who have had mothers who were less than perfect and never had the love, care and support that so many assume that women all possess will find the lauding of mothers painful and will hear words that speak of the paucity of love they have experienced. Some, whose mothers have departed this earth will be sad as they remember the woman they no longer see.

And then there are the mothers who are still with us and who are celebrated today as Mothering Sunday and Mother's Day (a truly secular shopping opportunity) collide.

Today is a day that proclaims LOUDLY this truth:

Today may we all, male or female, find the comfort and joy of this truth residing in our hearts.

For those who get presents, flowers and the like - enjoy it, for the role of being a mother is a tough and demanding one - one for which the help, inspiration and enabling of God is an added boon - and you should take the applause that is truly deserved.

For those who don't - look to the cross and the greatest gift we can have, the assurance of acceptance, love  and belonging and rejoice in that added gift of eternal life.

And for those whose mothers are no longer with us - we commend them, once again, to God's grace, love, care and mercy and give thanks for their lives and the nurture and love we received from them.

I have to include this because it made me smile - and I hope it has the same effect on you too:

Collect for Mothering Sunday

God of compassion, whose Son Jesus Christ, the child of Mary,

shared the life of a home in Nazareth, and on the cross drew the whole human family to himself:

strengthen us in our daily living that in joy and in sorrow

we may know the power of your presence to bind together and to heal;

through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you,

in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Exodus 2.1-10

Now a man from the house of Levi went and married a Levite woman. The woman conceived and bore a son; and when she saw that he was a fine baby, she hid him for three months. When she could hide him no longer sh got a papyrus basket for him, and plastered it with bitumen and pitch; she put the child in it and placed it among the reeds on the bank of the river. His sister stood at a distance, to see what would happen to him.

The daughter of Pharaoh came down to bathe at the river, while her attendants walked beside the river. She saw the basket among the reeds and sent her maid to bring it. When she opened it, she saw the child. He w crying, and she took pity on him. ‘This must be one of the Hebrews’ children,’ she said. Then his sister said to Pharaoh’s daughter, ‘Shall I go an get you a nurse from the Hebrew women to nurse the child for you?’ Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, ‘Yes.’ So the girl went and called the child’s mother. Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, ‘Take this child and nurse it for me and I will give you your wages.’ So the woman took the child and nursed it. When the child grew up, she brought him to Pharaoh’s daughter, and she took him as her son. She named him Moses, ‘because’, she said, ‘I drew him out of the water.’

Colossians 3.12-17

As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Gospel John 19.25-27

Meanwhile, standing near the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said

to his mother, ‘Woman, here is your son.’ Then he said to the disciple, ‘Here is your mother.’ And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home.

Post Communion

Loving God,

as a mother feeds her children at the breast you feed us in this sacrament with the food and drink of eternal life: help us who have tasted your goodness to grow in grace within the household of faith;

through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Oddly, you might think, being mothering sunday here;s a piece of music I think fits the bill:

Christmas Bliss

How exciting it is to be:

Christian - speaks for itself

A dogcollar - speaks for God (sometimes accurately?) submits to authority (usually)

Able to serve others - often and enthusiastically

Able to bless others - Intermittently

Being called and collared at Christmas all adds up (for me at least) to:

BLISS!

Thank you to:

All who have been doing the stuff this year

Those who have given me the opportunity to visit their schools and engage with them

Those who have taken the time to offer correction, support, love with such patience

The Wardens and members of the four churches that are the Parish of Tamworth

My soldiers, cadets and fellow chaplains

Tamworth Street Angels

My colleagues in diocese, deanery and ecumenically

and of course those who read and engage with me in this blog

AND 

(most especially) My long-suffering and extremely patient wife and children 

PAX

Mission Shaped Ministry Course - Tamworth

Last Call for anyone who wants to be involved with the course which starts this Saturday (16th November) at 09:30;

A course for every church member

Not just those for those who are leaders,
Wanna be leaders
'Evangelists'

It's not too late - we can fit you in (honest)!

We'd love to fit you in

Come and put six Saturdays and five Thursdays where your mouth is (OK and a bit of money too)

And Get Passionate about Building Church and Doing Mission!

And if cost is the issue - talk to us, we have ways of making it available to you.

Community art - Jubilee!

St Francis' Church, thanks to it's Pioneer Minister, has been at the centre of a community art project which saw many members of the community paint panels that form a seven panel mural on a wall outside the church building.

A member of the Tamworth Football Club community development team came and officially unveiled the whole work and, despite grotty weather (I actually put the heating back on for a a time this weekend!!!), people turned out to watch the whole affair.

I would like to say a really big 'Thank You' to Wendy (for co-ordinating and making this happen), Hazel (who was at every meeting and just got on and did!), Jo (especially for turning up and helping on Saturday) and all those who were involved, painted and supported the whole shebang!

It was so good to, once again, see the Church at the centre of a community event and look forward to the next one with interest and expectation.

Well done guys!

Click for larger image

It Ain’t what you Do . .

It the way that you do it and the person you’re doing it for!

All too often I come across people who regard the Church as a bunch of ‘do gooders’. The current government’s ‘Big Society’ looks towards the Church as a source of pastoral care and concern and social action. The Church itself speaks of ‘being missional’ (that is taking its members out of the church buildings and engaging with those who aren’t Church) So how do we consider this and more importantly, how do we respond to it?

In Matthew Chapter twenty-eight, Jesus tell those who bear the name ‘Christian’ that they should go into ALL the world, which means to everyone, everywhere! Not just those whom we choose where we’d like to choose them, but everywhere and for everyone.

Whilst we are out there, we are to tell people about God’s love and the ability to live in peace with God and with one another that is won for us through the Cross of Christ.

Then having told the people and having made them aware we are to lead them to the waters of baptism (baptising once and once only and that in the name of the father, Son and Holy Spirit) and into a life of faith.

From this life of faith we help each other to grow and become the people we’d like to be and whom our society needs us to be. People who keeps God’s (and man’s) laws and live according to them. The fruits of this are a society that cares for others because this is what God calls us to do, look after our neighbours; forgive those who act against us and bind up the broken.

This is the way that we live as ‘Big Society’ but we can’t do it without the God bit! To act in the right way, doing the right things and living for others without God in the mix is to become the ‘do gooders’ the worlds sneers at the Church for being! Church as ‘Big Society’ is something I long to see, but I don’t believe you can have it without mentioning, and living, the love of Jesus, the Christ (and recently I have come across more than a few church projects who are doing just this - which makes it a great social project but my question is 'Is it really Christian'?)

If we want to make a difference to your street, town or County (or nation or world) we need to come to God and ask Him to fill us with His Holy Spirit; put aside the things that separate us ofr God and neighbour and get stuck into:

Caring for the weak, the poor and the hungry.

Standing against wrong, no matter who it is that is doing it!

Acting to see right that the things are done to stop oppression, prejudice and cruelty.

Praying to see God’s hand at work and to make sure that we do what God is calling us to (prayer means listening too).

Reading our Bibles to understand what is required of us and to see the many ways in which God has acted and bless this world and its inhabitants.

Meeting together to be family and to share what we have in terms of gifts, abilities and possessions.

So there it is – it’s not what we do, it’s our motives and the person we are doing it for (and with).

Can people see Jesus in the way you live and the ways in which you touch the lives of those you meet? If the answer is ‘No’ then talk to one of your fellow believers, lay minister, clergy and get them to help you get on the right path.

Pax

Salisbury, statements and unity

Yesterday, one of the church members asked if they could bring some of the words from the Bishop of Salisbury, Nicholas Holtam, to the congregation's attention. As is ever the case I answered in the affirmative and this is what was read out:

". . . increasingly, there is an evangelical imperative for the Church to recognise that covenantal same sex relationships can be Godly and good for individuals and society; that they are at least like marriage for heterosexuals, and this is a development that many Christians in good faith warmly welcome. For LGBT people it raises question about whether marriage is what they want, but for us as a Church there are things to affirm in this development. It is a disaster that we have allowed the Church to be seen as the opposition to equal civil marriage."

What followed was a balanced and reasonable rejoinder of the words above and afterwards, another of the congregation pointed out that they held the same view as the bishop, and so the service continued with no grief, tension or conflict. I was so proud of being part of that body because we dialogued after the service and found ourselves still one! Pity the wider Church can't do it as well :-) (of course 'equal civil marriage' is actually a reference to 'gay marriage'. That aside I know no one who opposes civil marriage - the register office is there for those who choose it and I for one have no problems with that (and the same is true for civil partnerships which some have always billed as 'gay marriage' from the start so what's the problem?)

For me the first interesting thing is that like sex and gender, there appears to be a bit of confusion regarding civil partnerships and marriage and as with the former, there is a fair amount of interchangeability being used to blur and confuse. Secondly, one of the points made was that opening the doors to 'gay marriage' would do many things but the idea that it would suddenly see the church buildings full was not one of them.

Holtam speaks of us, "Having to accept the new distinction between civil and religious marriages, as we have had to accept Civil Partnerships." This brought some disagreement from those who might otherwise support his words and from those who surely didn't. Extend this to blessing civil (Same-sex) partnerships (which of course many do in defiance of the rules just as they defy them in the way they choose to live) and the confusion is complete. Civil partnerships happen and do so outside a church setting and I'm happy with that - redefining and 'choosing to ignore' (as per the ordained man on the radio last week who chose to ignore the church's ruling on his sexual relationship with another man) are all (I am told) part of rebellion, not revision and this is where the two worlds collide.

Resonance of the collision can be found in the reality that I have been (informally) told that a few of the church groups with which I am in fellowship would have to review their relationships should we ever fling wide the doors and act, as they see it, contrary to Scripture.

Still - we did well yesterday and I trust and pray we will continue to do so (but well done again) after all, if we fail to love the image of the invisible God made visible in our neighbours, what hope is there for us? :-)

Pax

Church is a negative!

Following on from the 'I love God but hate Church' post I have to write a little more about 'Church', that all-embracing, much-vilified bunch of money-grabbing hypocrites.

I was recently privileged to meet someone who was in a very privileged position in that they work at Westminster. As we spoke about the needs in the community we seek to serve a third voice pointed out the involvement of our happy crew in each of them.

Christmas came up and so to did the fact that the Christians in our town supported and fed forty-eight people on Christmas Day in the shape of a 'Don't be Home Alone this Christmas' lunch! Homelessness came up and many areas of support, care and provision came to the fore. Mental health - yes, the Church was there too! Supporting children and families, Foodbank, Child protection conferences, interventions, restorative justice and a host of other issues came into view and each and every time, whose hands were firmly and effectively, on the ball?

Of course it was the Church!

When people say the Church is self-serving, focussed only on money, hypocritical all I can say in it's defence is that whilst you will find some flawed and even awful people in the church, the party is still fantastic and rather than let the minority ruin it - look at the majority and enjoy being in it and be proud of all that it is and does!

If you are following Christ then you're of course a Christian.
If you are a Christian then you are also Church. Simple isn't it?

So if you aren't happy with what you see in the public face, in the words or actions of the hierarchy of Church - then make a stand and make your point as an individual, with others, with your church, your Deanery, presbytery, circuit and then go wider until people listen and changes are made. Don't let a few get in the way of the reality that Church is, was, and always has been the only hope for many in our nation and others around the world! So don't deny it!

Thank you God for Church!

Resources and Mission - Where are you?

When it comes to 'being church' there are, in the final analysis, but two parameters to be taken into account:

!. Resources - Spiritual health, People, networks, building, equipment, money, etc.

2. Mission - Going into all the world, making disciples, being Christ to the world - taking Christ to the world.

Now if there are but two elements to be considered we have but four states of existence and it is these that aid us (not label or condemn) to understand the present and the task before us if we are to have a future (and Christ is to be made known where we are).

The chart below sums it up nicely:

The above graphic came from our 'Vision 2012' meeting last night and it is from this that I would like to dialogue with and consider issues that must visit all who are engaged in 'being Church', regardless of denomination, churchmanship and leadership structures.

I hope you will take this journey with me and perhaps come up with clarity where at the moment I see, but see as if there were 'trees walking'. May God fully open my, and our eyes, and my those who read this and have knowledge and understand that passes this ordinary cleric by, enlighten us.

Pax

What is 'Being Church' all about?

It's 23:30 here and the house is (at last) beginning to settle after all the usual havoc and chaos that Friday with its Kid's Club, piano lessons, ministry and everything that having a house full of children entails. Time for a bit of a reflection as I unwind and get ready for some zzz's.

The problem is that I have questions buzzing around in my head regarding what 'being Church' is all about because for me it means working together with all the other Christian believers in the place in which I find myself to build the Church. Immediately a conversation where I am berated because, "We don't build Church, that's God's job!" leaps into my mind. Apparently we only have to tell others, it is God's job to win them! Well, whilst I understand what the speaker meant, I have to say that this isn't what I'm thinking!

As I see it 'being Church' is about building the whole body of Christ, not just the expression of it that has our name above the door as Vicar / Minister / Pastor. As I see it "being Church' is about making disciples of those who do not know Christ and so have a separation from God (Father, Son and Holy Spirit - are you listening UCC?). In fact this is the commandment that we corporately possess as Church (universal not local!) as given in Matthew 28:18-20:

"“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you."

We go - and we tell - and they come - and they repent - and we baptise - and we teach - and they learn - and they become disciples - then they go - and they tell - et seq.

The problem is that when we find it hard to 'be' Church and 'be' with each other and pray and enjoy each other's company, some bright spark comes up with the idea that we should 'do a mission' because when we work together the task brings us together. And then the task is complete and we can drift apart until we can think of another artificial way of making us 'one' again!

Surely Church is about seeing the image of the unseen God made visible by God incarnate, Jesus, in one another and celebrating that. How can we fail to see the image of God made flesh in those who are flesh made God (as part of His body) unless we fail to look?

I'm so very tired of having to 'do' to 'be' Church. I want to 'be' and from that 'being' let the things that come out of it, come out of it. I'm fed up with Protestant work ethics that drive us to perform (like Martha) when Christ is calling us into relationship (like Mary?).

I'm fed up with numbers being the yardstick by which success is measured. Number of BOPs (Bums on Pews), the numbers with pound signs attached associated with the offering, the numbers relating to Parish Share payments and all those other indicators of quantity that convey nothing of the true meaning of Church (yes, I know we have to pay our way!).

When are we going to see the worth of those in a missionary context where lives changed and professions of faith in a man whose name was once merely an expletive and the measure of the ministry?

Where the ability to greet those from other fellowships as family and mean it is the reality rather than what is demanded?

This is what 'being Church' is all about, but:

"If serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve . . . . . But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.” Josh 24

Pax

What is Church for?

This is the question someone asked me last week. How would you set about answering it?

Here's my attempt:

It soon became clear that my companion thought that Church was the building. So I had to explain that this was wrong. Romans 16:5 says: “Greet also the church in their house . . “

Church is people, who recognise that Jesus died for them and the come together to worship God, serve others, and be the ‘body of Christ’, that is His hands and feet, the people of speak of Him to others, who come to the aid of others:

“God has placed all things under his (Jesus’) feet and appointed Him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of Him who fills everything in every way.” Ephesians 1: 22 - 23

We discussed how there are other ways and places for people to do good things outside of being Church. Of how you don’t need to go to Church to do good and that being Church didn’t make you good either.

Having first agreed, I decided to explain that being a Christian isn’t about being ‘good’ but how it is about realising that ‘good’ is something we can’t manage on our own. Of how, God realising this sent His Son Jesus, the Christ, to come and break the one thing that stops us from being the way that God intended.

Of how Jesus came and died on a cross for him, and me, and each and every person that has been, is, and will be so, and rose again from the dead. And by doing this, Jesus broke death!

Now death came into the world because people broke the rules (we call this sin) and the power that sin has over us is death. But if Jesus has broken death then where is sin’s power over us?

The answer is that it is gone, broken, powerless. This is why Church comes and is and does – because Jesus is alive and sin in us is broken (Hallelujah?).

“If this is true, why are so many of the Church mean, nasty, spiteful and judgmental?” he asks.

My reply:

“Because we’re human and fallible and because we forget to look to God when the tough bits come along. Jesus came and broke to hold of sin over us, but there are times when, like all children, we go off and do it our way – and that when we’re mean, nasty and judgemental. But think what we’d have been like without Jesus!”

“So if I was a Christian would I have to change?”

What a question!

I explained that a Christian was someone who believed that Christ had died for them and having realised this had said ‘sorry’ to God for all that they had done wrong and for living outside his love and relationship. And had decided to line in a new way, for Him! Doing this and meeting with fellow strugglers against the old life made him Church too!

Have you done this?

Pax

Loving as Christ loves us

After the Good Friday witness I met people who spoke of a man, mentally ill, needing to be 'managed' or acted against 'properly' or as one put it, "Just locked up!" Another has spoken of acting 'decisively', but what do these words mean?

As they uttered those words I had the feeling that a man, somewhere in time was holding a scroll of the prophet Isaiah, and reading thus:

"The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me,
because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor;

He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,

To proclaim liberty to the captives,

And the opening of the prison to those who are bound;

To proclaim the year of the LORD’s favour, and the day of vengeance of our God;

To comfort all who mourn; giving them beautiful headdress instead of ashes,

The oil of gladness instead of mourning,

The garment of praise instead of a faint spirit;

that they may be called oaks of righteousness,

The planting of the LORD, that he may be glorified."

If we cannot stand with those who know the Lord and have broken minds;

If we cannot stand with those who know the Lord and have broken lives;

If we cannot weep with those who weep, grieve with those who grieve, love those who are unloveable and yet know the Lord, what hope is there for the lost?

What hope is there for the Church?

Who can be saved?

What reason is there for His rising up today?

Pax

People get ready

It struck me early this morning that we don't teach our people enough about engagement with the world, we appear to teach about keeping away from it (especially if some Christians I meet are typical).

We don't teach people about being servants, but major on them being 'safe', that is kept away from hell and the separation from God that this is (for eternity).

But being a Christian isn't about buying (or even receiving free) a ticket for salvation, it's about looking like Jesus, acting like Jesus and submitting to God's Holy Spirit so that where we go, Jesus is!

We don't do stuff to bring people into our church buildings (bit of a shock for many, that statement).

We don't do stuff to get people to come in and pay the Parish Share (bit of a shock for Treasurers, Archdeacon's and Diocesan Board's of Finance perhaps?).

We do stuff, OUT THERE, because that's what we are commanded to do. Not asked. Not suggested or recommended, but TOLD!

Let's take a moment to examine the words of Matthew 28:

And Jesus came and said to them,
“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
Now this bit is relatively simple - Jesus is Lord of all, therefore, this is THE Boss speaking. And what is it He is telling them (and therefore us)?

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.
Again, this appears to be rather a simple sort of set of instruction in that we are told to:

1. GO. Now isn't this really easy to grasp, it means get out from your pathetic little 'holy huddles'; leave your "Oooh, we want to keep ourselves pure and not mix with the sinners, the liberals (or perhaps those who don't have a clue what IHOP is) or don't do BCP, or those who think differently from us," and meet the real people!

2. MAKE DISCIPLES. Again, not difficult. This means that we have to share the 'good news' (i.e. the Gospel) and tell people about Jesus and get them to want to look like Him (which means becoming disciplined and keeping to the rules like what Jesus wants). It means that we put our desires and and lifestyles second to being like Jesus and honouring God.

3. OF ALL NATIONS. Wow! That means we seek to make the Jews, the Islamics, the Hindus, the Buddhists and all other faiths aware of Jesus (for the right reason- sit down Phelps, Jones and Sap!). This means we take the message of God's love to people who have different coloured skin, speak in different languages and occupy different places geographically, politically and socially.

4. BAPTISING THEM IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, SON AND HOLY SPIRIT. Yep, that's what it says. Nothing about age or volition mentioned there (perhaps Jesus wasn't into anabaptism - me neither!). That's what makes it valid, not that you did it again in your cosy little holy huddle in your comfortable little church building. It is what you do and it is the way that you do it (sorry).

5. OBSERVE ALL THAT I HAVE COMMANDED YOU. This sort of stuffs much of the liberal thinking and (Hallelujah) people like Phelps, Jones and Sap too! We have to keep the rules - Jesus doesn't just want us all to be happy after all. He wants us to be obedient and holy! Shocker!! We can't just rewrite the stuff and neither can we manipulate it to suit our own desires and make it give us the God we want to have (there goes the Daily Fascist readership). We van't reinvent God to make our sins acceptable (and the liberals) and we can't dictate that 'our' way is the right way (there goes the rest) - we have to do it HIS WAY!

And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Jesus tells us that He is going, but he will leave us with His Holy Spirit, the paraklete (he who comes alongside), the comforter, the dot-for-dot image of Christ (homoousious) and He will never leave us. HALLELUJAH (or what?)!!!

So, if He is with us, and for us and guiding us, and teaching us - why worry about when He comes - we need all the time we can get because we haven't scratched the surface when it comes to reaching the lost. Better hope Harold is wrong people!

Pax