Choirs? What are they good for?

And the answer is: absolutely everything!

The organ (AKA 'the king of instruments') and the English choral tradition have been the backbone of  the worshipping communities in this land of ours since the instrument was invented. Add to this the Book of Common Prayer (still the principal prayer book of the Church of England) services of Communion, Matins and Evensong with anthems, pointed psalms and hymns and bingo - life is sublime.

Last week I was privileged to be part of an exceedingly good reflective evening as our parish choir led us with 'Darkness to Light' . Like many church choirs, those who took part had many years on the clock but that only added to my respect as they moved around the church building and led us in music, voice and Scripture; as they processed on their journey, we too began our journey.

So this is but a passing nod to those stalwart members of our churches across this land of ours who give up evenings to practice and Sundays to lead their congregations - and a thumbs up to those who keep the choral tradition supported by their playing of the organ and other instruments. Worship is made up of hearts, minds, words (and silence) and music - let us never ever think that there's only one way to do church - nor look only to modern music and instruments as the way to attract people to church.

Here are some images of those of whom I am so very proud to know and worship alongside and of whose presence I and so very grateful:

Can you see him here!

Can you see him here?!

Where's Wally?

(and to the choir members: help yourselves to these images - I've posted them for you to have access to them and point friend here too so they can celebrate with us)

ps. Organisations to join (or at least support):

Royal School of Church Music

Prayer Book Society

Gregorian Association

Praxis

40 Acts - Give it TIME

"And other seeds fell into good soil and produced grain, growing up and increasing and yielding thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold." Mark 4:8 (ESV)

‘Time is money’ – Let's be honest, whoever made up this phrase was dead wrong. I understand the intention, and it probably made sense in the original context, but logically, in our world today, this phrase is nonsense.

In my home country, if the U.S. government runs out of money, we simply print more. We can somehow find ways to make more money. Time? Not so much. We cannot earn or make more time.

The point is that time and money, while both valuable, are inherently different resources, and so must be measured on completely different scales. This is especially true when it comes to giving in these currencies.

Generally, we as Christians understand the concept of giving our money but the giving of our time, on the other hand, is often misunderstood, or at the very least, underutilised. Most of us, including myself, do not realise that the giving of our time is central to what it means to be a disciple.

Follow me here. During this season of Lent, many folks traditionally give something up in order to pursue the Lord in a more intimate way. For every activity we don’t do, we essentially free more of our time, effectively creating more time for God in our lives. On a larger scale, this is what it means to be a Christian. We give up our lives (our greatest sum of time) in order to begin a relationship with him and to serve those around us.

The Bible tells us that ‘where your treasure is, there your heart will be also’. I used to think this verse was solely about money. Now I realise that perhaps we have a greater treasure, a more hefty currency than money. If we want our hearts to truly belong to God during this season of Lent, then we must start by giving Him our most precious commodity, our time.

Time is the ultimate equaliser. No one has more of it, and no one has less. The only way to be truly rich with a currency like time is to invest it in God and in others. When we do this, we receive back more than a simple interest rate; we receive 30, 60, even 100 times what was sown.

Jon Jorgenson

To see today's webpage - Click HERE

Discipleship - the answer to the Church's prayers?

An interesting discussion relating to how the salvation of the Church is to be found in 'discipleship' has challenged me because whilst I don't disagree with what the words might mean - I do struggle with the attitude that looks at people doing because they have to rather than them doing because they have the desire - and that this desire comes about through an emerging spiritual identity and  consistent, prayerful and holistic spirituality.

A recent conversation with a number of clergy colleagues brought into the clear a consensus view that the numbers of those who came and were happy merely to attend church on a fairly regular basis but were put off by being asked to become involved. As one person put it, 'No matter what we do, we can't get them to do anything - they are content to just come and be served!'

And so I walk a tightrope that sees me working to help people find their identity with, and in, God through Christ and to come to that place of initial stillness that leads them into a place of increasingly secure, and enabling, Christian spirituality which cements the forgiveness and acceptance of the cross and, in combination with teaching, and unfolding of the words within, leads them to a place whereby their baptismal (and other) calling can be made real: and from here the life, and Church, enabling that is being a true disciple can be manifest.

Discipleship is a lifestyle choice and act, not something that can be imposed or demanded and it is our role to sow the seeds and nurture them in those we are called to pastor - this is our mission and our joy, for surely it is the Missio Dei - to engender in self, and others, the heartbeat of Christ and the becoming like Him in heart, mind and (of course) action.

Pax

Church Report (2): sets low standard - fails to achieve?

Continuing with this topic with regard to church planting and pioneer ministry:

One of the worst situations I happen across is those people who are doing pioneer ministry or church planting because, almost always, what I find is a bunch of people who complain that 'the Church' should be paying for everything and that it is unfair to expect them to raise money from the new body of believers that they are raising up.

And of course they are wrong - regardless of what or how - wrong, wrong (and once more for emphasis), wrong!

My big black book tells me that where my treasure is also where my heart will be!
Experience with church (and many other groups which people join) tells me that where people put their heart, passion and belong is the place where they put their treasure to support it.

A church plant has to have a some well-defined goals which lead them into being:

a sacramental body where bread and bath are an important part of its being,

a Bible believing, orthodox faith regardless of the setting it is in,

a Christ-centred, Trinitarian body which, in company with the Son worships the Father through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit,

a place where sound, grounded and inculturated preaching, teaching and discipleship can be found,

a welcoming, inclusive* and pastorally sensitive (and able) place where all are 'family',

a body that joins with others congregations in partnership and shared mission (so many appear to want to be 'special' and remain apart from the body that planted it - it is a plant not a split!), and

a body that pays its way and supports itself (with the desire to be able to support others at some stage).

So many people tell me that they don't have enough people to pay and that asking them to cover the costs of what goes on is a deterrent when it comes to growth. Now I support this view and think that we need to accept that planting a church is indeed a costly affair. Those who send also have to fund (and some will argue that providing a paid for minister is enough evidence of that)  and this means that there has to be some casting of the sending church's bread upon the water

BUT

the goal  and (more importantly) desire has to be that the body becomes self-sustaining and mature. That the new church (that's the people) sees converts come through to maturity and become leaders and in time bring more converts - not to satisfy a desire for numbers but because they want to share the Good News and see people released into the true freedom that being a person of faith (and that faith looking to Christ and the Cross) brings.

We all have to balance our books - we all have to pay for our gas, electric, water, parish share, toilet rolls and other stuff - especially tea )which reminds me that it must be time for a final cuppa before I head out for a wonderfully full day of ministry and madness.

Happy New Year and for all those teachers out there - enjoy the new term and be of good cheer for Easter's coming!