Journal: Give me just a little more time

Looking like a very interesting month as the number of funeral services keep on growing! Monday saw a ninety-five year old lead me to the Crem' on a motorcycle hearse - a life of military service celebrated - a good day's work indeed.

Looking up I realise that there are still eleven funeral services involving church, Crem' and graveyard before the month's end - how cool is that?

It's a month with new challenges as I look towards Saturday and speaking at a men's breakfast, the following week I'm doing a talk at a dinner and have a couple of other interesting things like it suddenly pencilled in too! Perhaps I need to stop losing weight so I can become a big fat movie star!!

The month has been tinged with sadness as friends from church have left us. Our beloved Ivy has gone, Larry is no longer with us, Michael has finally succumbed after a long and valiant fight and Brian is with us no longer - having had a tough end to it all. May they rest in peace and rise in glory.

It's a sad thing but having worked in, and with, teams most of my working life I have to say that the one place I have never really found a true collegiality is in the Church. I pray for the churches in our town and consider many to be, if not friends, acquaintances - but the standing together and working for one another such as is found in the engineering world has not been a defining or enduring reality.

I've realised that in recognition of this I am slowly slipping away from the opportunities to engage in shared nothingness - I really can't be bothered with the dissipation and the game-playing, life's too short and the task is so big. It's not that I want people to do things my way; I merely want them to do!

I saw someone I know this week and whilst I'd usually stop and engage with them, this week I realised that they'd been part of Church and had now, passing fad passed, moved in to their next passion of the moment. It was at that moment that I thought, "I don't have the time for this!" and so, praying for them as I went, left them in the distance without them noticing I'd ever been there and carried on to do the task in hand. My presence only seems to cause them embarrassment so it was a win-win outcome I guess: But it is tinged with a sadness that leaves a dent on the paintwork.

It is always sad when people you think are with you prove to be no different that the Christian heroes of the Bible. They deny you at the point when things are troubled in the same way Peter did in a courtyard and like the old Lone Ranger joke where surrounded by a screaming horde he turn to his native Indian companion and says, "Just you and me against all these," hears the words, "what do you mean 'you and me' white man?"

Lots wife told him to 'curse God and die' because she wouldn't go with him - a bitter integrity we sometimes lack in the world of Church.

The gates of hell will not prevail against the Church of Christ - we will leave that to the Christians :-)

Lord, thank You for the privilege and challenge of Church,
Help us to stand as one and to have an integrity that takes the world's breath away.
To be different through the love we share,
To be courageous and honest,
To be loving and kind,
To follow You and never to count the cost.
Make me, make us, more like You.

Journal: Saturday night and Sunday morning

Today was almost a full on day off - there were a few pastoral encounters at the start but the majority of it was family - and I have to say that I needed it!

That said, daily Office and time with the Boss set the day up well and the journey was uneventful as we returned No.1 child to university (again) and headed to the visit the family 'up North' to meet the newest addition - an amazing beautiful babe. Funny but looking at the parents I could not but feel proud that they're part of my 'married into' family - even with some dodgy football supporting choices :-)

So what started a bit strangely with an early ringing of the doorbell has ended well, early, and relaxed - looking forward to tomorrow and more chilled time.

Father thank you that for the community around us we are considered to not only be of use but safe to approach. For the family who, bereaved and broken, came to our door I pray that you will bind up their wounds and strengthen them with your presence.

I pray for our church families and the services and the people who come - for the needs, the needy and the potential that is Sunday to be found in them by the power of your Spirit and the work of the people.

Lord, be with us in the strange and bless us in the familiar.

Eight days of prayer for Christian unity

Day One

And the Christians of Tamworth will ne gathering at Tamworth's Elim Church (Bamford Street) to pray together.

The full programme looks like this:

If you live in, or near, Tamworth (Staffs) I hope to see you tonight (and for the duration).

If you live elsewhere - where are the meetings near you?

Take the time to find out and attend  - it's a real blessing

Can't make it to church? - 12 April15

In today's readings fellowship and unity, followed swiftly by the king of the doubters himself, Thomas, feature large. So let's take them in that order and begin with the Acts passage; a passage that many have come to make the Philosopher's Stone of being Church.

Here we have a bunch of early Christians in Jerusalem. They meet in the Temple (in Solomon's Portico (a covered walkway on the Eastern side of the place) and shared the Apostles teaching and broke bread and...

And displayed such unity and love a that people were attracted to their philosophy and lifestyle. Many will tell you that they lived in communes but the more I've studied this the more convinced I am that they lived in their own homes and came together and, when they need arose! shared what they had in terms of money and property. You need a law mower? Use mine! The Church needs money - hang on a minute whilst I sell some land or go get some money from under the bed. Interestingly the words 'from time to time' are missing from the NRSV version but should go in front of 'for as many as owned lands'; this is about meeting the needs of those around them.

The Acts 2 and 4 passages are so often taken up as what happens when we come together and act as 'Church' and is the dream of many as the hallmark of successful and authentic church; and it is - all you need is sharing in the vision, the pastoral, the commitment to give and meet the needs of the Church and the putting of the 'the fellowship' and the gospel before self.

It is, as the psalmist tells, us 'good and pleasant' to live in unity. But the idyll comes at a cost because unity means submission and putting self lower than others. It means more than sticking a fiver on the plate as it passes and thinking that's 'job done'. It is about putting self on the cross and giving our all physically, mentally, financially and spiritually.

And that's where all this Acts 2 and 4 stuff gets sticky. The Acts believers were caught up in a frenzy of faith, successful faith, where people were healed and stuff happened. This is reflected in the 1 John passage where fellowship features large. 'Fellowship' (koinonia in the Greek) means family and like the 'ohana' word in 'LILO and Stitch':

“Koinonia means family. Family means nobody gets left behind or forgotten”

What would you do for those you love? 

Think about that question and then ask whether you'd do the same for those in the church around you.

If your church needed money to survive - would you give or give up?

The answer to that question might just explain why the Church struggles in some places and perhaps gives us a clue to what is going wrong with the Church today. 

Every day I ask myself where my commitment, passion and heart are when it comes to Church and those within it - what would your answer be if you asked the same question of yourself?

Sadly, the second focus of the day - Thomas - has the potential to get lost in the desire for unity and yet he is part of the picture we need to be painting today as we seek to be 'authentic Church' because he is something we need more of in our churches (yes, you read that correctly).

'What?, I hear many say, 'We need doubters who question God and bring unbelief into church?' And the answer 'Yes' is found in who this man, Thomas, is in terms of what we know about him and what he brings to the party.

For too many years I have lived with people who deride and abuse Thomas as the purveyor of doubt; the bringer of the most destructive cancer Church can suffer from. But they are wrong.

Wrong because when Jesus says he is about to set off for Bethany, a place where death is a real potential, His followers all try to persuade Him otherwise, but Thomas gets his coat, bowler and umbrella and ready to follow Hhis master says to the rest of the disciples, 'Let us also go, that we may die with him.' (John 11).

Here is a man of courage and commitment - he is someone modelling one of the traits I wish we could see more of in the Church: courage and commitment regardless of the cost to self. This is the fuel that makes unity a reality and draws others into fellowship with us. People love to see authentic commitment.

But still people will be shaking their heads and will be pointing to the 'doubt' label as if it is wrong. But doubt is good and essential for us if we are to not have doubt eat us away. Doubt is the crucible where faith is refined and made real (I loved it when I first said it from a pulpit and love it still as I type those words - and the memory of a colleague shaking their head and taking me to task over it later only makes it more important).

Thomas missed Jesus popping in after the resurrection and I'm not sure whether he thought it was a wind-up or what, but what is says is 'Show me! Let me make this mine in the only way I can: Seeing is believing, so show me!'

The problem with doubt is the fact that it demands an answer; it demands proof and this is where the problems start and our dislike of doubt begins to bite. For doubt requires an answer and so many I engage with are unable to give one, so they merely dismiss the doubt, and the doubter! as something wrong and continue by applauding those who have 'faith'. Could this be because the faithful don't ask questions we can't answer perhaps?

To have a true and authentic faith, one which builds Church and sees people selling stuff and coming together and seeing lives changed and 'signs and wonders' and miracles and stuff there needs to be a complete 'soldoutedness' and this comes by having tested what Christians claim and challenging it to the point that it stands or falls within us. We cannot live in a world of 'because I say so' but in a world of 'because I believe so': And this comes by not leaving your brain at the church door but by using it fully and becoming a reasoned and engaged and thinking and challenging believer.

Thomas is our model for this. If you have a doubt, then ask and if the person you ask cannot give you an answer then ask someone else about the hope that they have in Jesus, the Christ, and tell the person with no answer to 'man up' and get an answer too!

Fellowship - Unity - Doubt - Belief

All a fingertip away if you really want them and an eternity away unless you can live authentically and honestly as Christians. It's your choice ;-)

Collect
Risen Christ, for whom no door is locked, no entrance barred: open the doors of our hearts, that we may seek the good of others and walk the joyful road of sacrifice and peace, to the praise of God the Father. Amen.

Acts 4.32-35
Now the whole group of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one claimed private ownership of any possessions, but everything they owned was held in common. With great power the apostles gave their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. There was not a needy person among them, for as many as owned lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold. They laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.

Psalm 133
Behold how good and pleasant it is to dwell together in unity. It is like the precious oil upon the head,  running down upon the beard, even on Aaron’s beard, running down upon the collar of his clothing. It is like the dew of Hermon running down upon the hills of Zion. For there the Lord has promised his blessing: even life for evermore.

1 John 1.1 - 2.2
We declare to you what was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the word of life - this life was revealed, and we have seen it and testify to it, and declare to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed to us - we declare to you what we have seen and heard so that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. We are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.

This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light and in him there is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him while we are walking in darkness, we lie and do not do what is true; but if we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and he is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.

John 20.19-31
When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you.’ After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.’ When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.’

But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, ‘We have seen the Lord.’ But he said to them, ‘Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.’




A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you.’ Then he said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.’ Thomas answered him, ‘My Lord and my God!’ Jesus said to him, ‘Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.’

Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name. 

Post Communion
Lord God our Father, through our Saviour Jesus Christ you have assured your children of eternal life and in baptism have made us one with him: deliver us from the death of sin and raise us to new life in your love, in the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

40 Acts - Apologise

"Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamour and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you." Ephesians 4:31-32 (RSV)

‘I DEMAND an apology!’ Those words invoke all kinds of different emotions, all of them unpleasant. Of course as Christians, if we have done something wrong, we have to say we are sorry and admit we were wrong because Jesus sets the highest possible value on relationship.

But suppose we weren’t in the wrong; so we feel they should be the one to apologise. We wait, sometimes for years, but they avoid us – and the relationship is lost. In that case, an apology may be as simple as saying ‘I’m so sorry if you were upset.’ That isn’t taking the blame, or being untruthful, it simply shows understanding and compassion for someone else’s feelings and it’s often enough to restore the relationship.

Is there is a broken relationship in your life? It might be mended by an email or card today. Be warned though, it doesn’t always work, but at least after you’ve tried, forgiveness is then their problem, not yours!

Or perhaps you were close to someone once but you drifted away – the busyness of life or a house move separated you. They might have found the loss of friendship more difficult to cope with than you have. How about contacting them today, saying, ‘I’m sorry I haven’t been in touch for so long; how are things going?’?

Another challenge might be to apologise on behalf of someone else. I was in a supermarket once when an older woman shouted very rudely at a teenager who, by mistake, had jumped the queue. I smiled at the girl and whispered, ‘So sorry that we oldies get so grumpy sometimes.’ I’ll never forget the way she smiled back!

JENNIFER REES LARCOMBE

to see today's web page - Click HERE 

Morning Prayer - What's that about then?

I've been privileged to be on the end of some amazingly diverse responses to the morning prayer (mp) that appears in this place each morning* over the past couple of weeks. At the extremes they look like this

"What's the point of having a blog where you just copy the daily office and post it as yours?"

to

"Thank you for the morning prayer - I use it on the train on the way in or during my morning tea break and it has changed the way I pray and I'm learning the Bible too."

For those who think like the first commentator regarding the presence of the morning prayer here, let me try to enlighten you as to the what, how and why of it all:

First and foremost it is there because the daily office (morning and evening prayer) are something that those of us who are ordained promise to engage in as part of the positive response we gave to the question, "Will you be diligent in prayer, in reading Holy Scripture, and in all studies that will deepen your faith and fit you to bear witness to the truth of the gospel?" 
That said I was once told by a bishop that listening to BBC Radio Four's 'Thought for the Day' was an acceptable substitute in our busy lives!

As someone who works with people to help them discern the calling God has upon their life (we all have a calling, the key is to find what it is and to respond to it in a positive and enabling manner) one of the big issues that crops up lies in the discipline of prayer and reading of the Bible - disciplines that do not come easily to many of us - and one of the best ways to do this is to get them to make space for my abridged Psalms, collect and readings.

So it's not just, as one dear chap suggested, "An opportunity to post something," because believe me, I have much that I'd love to post at times but not all of it is good, edifying or perhaps helpful. But the morning prayer post is because it keeps me focussed because I know that on the mornings when I don't feel like it I know that God and others are waiting to read the words on the blog and that keeps me honest too.

The morning prayer generally appears just after I have done it myself (yes, I do do it at five in the morning some days!) and this is something else that I like because I feel myself as part of community in that others will be doing that same readings and collect and this, like the good old days with the Book of Common Prayer, means that there is a unity of prayer and praise rising up across the 24hrs of each day.

This thought is echoed wonderfully by the words of that great hymn 'The day Thou gavest Lord, is ended'

As o’er each continent and island the dawn leads on another day, 

The voice of prayer is never silent, nor dies the strain of praise away. 

The sun that bids us rest is waking uur brethren ’neath the western sky, 

And hour by hour fresh lips are making Thy wondrous doings heard on high.

So there it is - not a 'page fill' but much, much, much more as it calls us to pray and praise from the heart, from the Book and in unity with many who with us are The Church.

postscript. I've just been asked (that was quick!) why not just point people to the whole morning prayer service rather than post my own abridged set of readings. The answer is simple in that I am attempting to get people reading and praying as a discipline and so start with the essentials in the hope that later some will graduate to the full thing. It's about developing a habit rather than trying to get people to do a service - and there is the fact that some who find the service tough have written to say how they can cope with the bare bones version here.

Pax

*Yes I know I've missed some before you say it (and you know who I'm talking to) because sometimes location makes getting a connection difficult - but it's almost 100%

Parochial - what we don't want it to mean!

Just had a rather splendid conversation with a colleague about the word 'parochial' which has two meanings and my colleague managed to use both when discussing those they minister too in the same sentence - boy was I impressed!

And then they explained how both definitions fitted and my goodness me, was I depressed!

The sentence was this,

"Gosh, the parochial church council was really worked up by some of the goings on around them this week but when we started to scratch the surface they were so parochial I understood why some had rung their bell and got them going!"

The first use of the word 'parochial' in which it relates to the Parish (a geographical area served by a church) and the word 'parochial' which in this sense means being in possession of a rather limited or narrow outlook or understanding.

The big problem when we are parochial (in the limited sense) is that we can become rather myopic and limited in our understanding and engagement as Church (which means universal or much bigger than the limited geographic parish entity). This manifests itself in a number of ways:

Sometimes, where a parish consists of more than one church there is an attitude that is one church is preeminent or predominant and that all, and any, others within the geographic patch are much less than them. This is sometimes found where there is one historic church from which the others in the area have come about (in this case the preeminent church is called the patron or 'Mother' church) and this  church, being the eldest or the biggest or being in possession of some attribute considered to make it of worth to those within in, decides that it is therefore also the most important. This is sometimes found where, being a team, there is one church that is home to the 'Team rector' and the attitude that says. "We must be important because we have the senior cleric in our church," applies.

Sometimes it occurs when one church in the parish is well off, pretty or in possession of some other trait which those who attend it consider to be enough to make them the star.

The bottom line is that regardless of the reason for the attitude the attitude is ALWAYS wrong! From the youngest to the oldest church building, the richest to the poorest, the nicest to the most awful patch served  these truths apply:

There is ONE Church and this is the Church of Jesus Christ!

In a parochial system there are many parishes but regardless of how many buildings, or how rich (or poor, they are - each is equal and and equally important!

'Daughter church' is not, and must never become, a negative! Neither is it a statement of rank and never is it a putdown - it just means that it was planted from another (which we call 'Mother') church. Regardless we must never regard the 'Mother' church as the preeminent or most important church in the patch either to the detriment of any of the others in the locality - they are just different and that's all there is too it.

The same applies to those churches that abut our parishes or reside within our Deaneries (a collection of parishes within a geographic area such as a town) or dioceses (a collection of parishes across an even wider geographic area) - regardless of where they are: posh, poor, urban, rural, suburban, estate church or cathedral - each has it value and its merits and is to be considered of equal merit but different!

Sadly the person I have been speaking to has had their fill of the one true church and its battle with the poorer, and of much less merit than them, other churches and has decided that they are going to throw in the towel and seek pastures new (apparently they've seen it and applied already). This is a shame because they've been doing (if what they tell me is true) some really good stuff where they have been. It is a shame because those they are leaving will probably never change their views regarding their ancient pile with its diminishing numbers and increasing financials demands and will never support the younger upstarts who are doing the stuff and being effective where they are monumentally ineffective.

Sadder still is the fact that they aren't moving sticks to somewhere near me (would have loved to have them nearer) and that they are wounded and broken by their experience thus far.

So here is a plea:

PLEASE pray for those clergy who struggle in divided parishes.

PLEASE pray for unity in parishes and between all churches in our towns and cities praying, as Jesus' prayed in John 17, that this might be seen and made real in each and every church and between each and every church:

"I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. 

My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. 

As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. 

For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.  My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 

I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one - I in them and you in me - so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me."

As someone who is out there trying hard to get people to do stuff together I struggle with churches (meaning the building) and those who inhabit them who seek to pull down others and exalt their pile of bricks to the detriment of the Gospel.

Can I just say:

STOP IT!

Why (and for whom) are we doing 'church' ?

It seems to me that regardless of who you are the time comes when we need to stop and ask ourselves those vital question: 'Why am I doing it?' and 'Who am I doing it for?'

Recently I have encountered situations where these questions needed to be asked and they needed to be asked of those who 'minister' (with and without dogcollars), regular and irregular attender and even, perhaps especially, those who don't come too!

It seems to me that the answer to the first question, at least in the case of those who profess to be Christian, goes something like this:

1. Because it's Biblical
2. Because it upholds Biblical standards (if it's not to be found explicitly)
3. Because it's the right thing to do (includes 1 and 2)
4. Because it blesses, edifies and builds (and fits with 1to 3)
5. Because it makes us live, look and think like Jesus (fits 1 to 4)
6. Because I want to help others understand and grow and have 1-5
6. Because I want to do it because of points 1 to 6

Where I have struggled is that place where I find myself with people who claim to be Christians who manage to miss some, or even all, of the points above. Of course this simplifies the answer to the 'Who am I doing it for?' question because the answer is obvious - they're doing it for themselves!
Mind you, the reality is that often they don't have the honesty, integrity or courage to give that answer. Stop for a moment and ask yourself who you, if you are Christian*, do things for. The answer might be multipart for often the first answer is different to the reality. The options I've recently encountered (which might mean stated or concealed) have been:

1. I'm doing it for God but Family/work/hobby make me do something else!

(AKA the 'Someone else excuse')

2. I'm doing it for God but don't have the time to give what I would like to
3. I'm doing it for God - is there anything else I can do to help?
4. I'm doing it for God and noticed this needed doing!
5. I'm doing it for God and noticed that there's more you could be doing (combine with 2)
6. I'm doing it for God and know exactly how church should be done

(just don't expect me to be there or do it - I'll merely point stuff out and criticise!)

7. I'm doing it for me - it's all about me, me, myself! (can be accompanied by maniacal laugh)

In case you think I'm wrong (and of course I could be +) here are a few examples from real life (across a variety of church groupings and denominations) so you can make up your own mind:

A. The people who have wanted to preach or lead but were annoyed that God got the applause not them - after all it's all about them being 'leaders' and up front

B. The people who have changed the way services were done because they didn't like the theology or the format or the music or the .... (add your own bit) - because it's about me being happy not about the people who have come for years and the place they're in (innit?).

C. The people who were always ready to complain about the things they didn't like, demanding change, but were never willing to actually offer to do anything themselves - because 'church' has to meet their needs (often they didn't know what they were, but they wanted it to satisfy them).

D. The people who come infrequently and complain that they don't feel at home (no surprise there) and they don't like the changes the new people have brought (because we have to keep it ready to please them whenever they decide to visit) and wish the children would be 'kept under control' and long for the days when 'church was done properly'.

E. The people who come when there's nothing on the box and Dobbie's (a garden centre) aren't doing a cheap tea and scone and discount day on a Sunday - because after all, it's about picking the best entertainment available to them.

F. The person who comes and prays and stays to help and comes back again to help with the Kid's Club and comes again and does it stuff the next day and the next and the next and the next - Yeah that's a '3 & 4' from the second list!!!

G. The people who comes almost every Sunday and ensures that even when holidays arrive the minimum of Sundays are missed because they want to be there - church is an important part of their life and they live in ways that make that obvious.

So there we are - take a look at the person in the mirror and see how the two questions are answered by them and then play the game with others and see where they sit on the scale. I was amazed when I tried this with a bunch of people who thought themselves to be the movers and shakers - the power base of their local church - and yet by the time I finished realised that they were not and this perhaps explained the difficulties the church in question was having.

All of them were out for whatever it was that made church what they wanted - and yet oddly, although some were great at loading guns and pointing them - few had the courage (or application) to get out and do what was needed to make the church fly!

A challenge indeed :-)

(or as one colleague said when discussing this - 'Too provocative - better to just get on and do it yourself - less stress and hassle!')

Pax

* 'Christian' is a variable rather than constant for many I meet who claim this label appear to be anything but for a myriad number of reasons!

+ But I have to add that I'm not (wrong that is!!!) ;-)

Church is family - a place of fun not rigid ritual!

Many years ago, when the earth was young, I was a member of a church that gathered on a Sunday evening for an informal service. It was absolutely great but:

 It wasn't because of the clergy (although we always have a sneaky feeling it is, don't we?)

It wasn't because of the liturgy (which being back in ASB time had its challenges)

It wasn't because of the choir or the settings (there wasn't one and there weren't any!)

But it was all about the people who went and the joy, love and relationships that existed in the group and between one another. When things went wrong, we laughed. When things went right, we laughed. When needs were present we prayed for each other and still found time to love, laugh and be family.

One Sunday evening we'd been going through a fairly standard evening service when we came to a song about the wedding banquet. A song we'd sung many, many times (along with 'Tell out my soul as a permanent Magnificat variant) but on this fateful evening the person leading got their 'mords  wuddled' such that the correct version:

I cannot come. I cannot come to the banquet, don’t trouble me now. 
I have married a wife,  I have bought me a cow. 
I have fields and commitments that cost a pretty sum, 
Pray, hold me excused, I cannot come.

Was transposed into:
I cannot come. I cannot come to the banquet, don’t trouble me now. 
I have bought me a wife,  I have married a cow!
I have fields and commitments that cost a pretty sum, 
Pray, hold me excused, I cannot come. 

The place erupted and the laughter brought the service to a glorious close as people fought for breath and tears streamed down faces. This is what Church is about - not being bound up in the strictures of a starched shirt and Brycreemed faith that put me off when I was a child - being willing to laugh at ourselves and taking Jesus seriously.

Oddly, today, with this thought in my mind the 09:30 communion pulled away from the station and onto a journey where wrong readings, misplaced bit and general chaos were all viewed through the carriage windows. And we laughed and we enjoyed it all and God was honoured and the joyous full-colour faith that is Christianity (as opposed to the joyless black and white existence of some) was met.

We had a family party and each, and all, brought what they could to it and took from the table the elements of unity, Grace and joy in the communion.

Now That's What I call Church :-)

Can't make it to church today?

This morning - were you to have found yourself in church (of the CofE variety) you might well have found yourself with the readings below and this brief homily:

In the light of the Bishops of the Church of England  and their, if I might say so, most unusually clear line on same sex marriage on the grounds of consistency of the Church's (that's universal) teaching, the call to obedience and submission to that which God calls us in this passage is perhaps more than just coincidental (but I might say that as I am, other than feeling for those who might feel wounded by the edict, am otherwise outside of its impact).

But as Christians we are called to look to one another in love and stand together in unity, yes even when we disagree, to work as building ourselves into a spiritual entity that corporately ministers to God; making Jesus known and reconciling ALL people to Him and his salvation.

Church has place for difference (for we are totally inclusive) but no place for division.

The Gospel also challenges us to act rightly with those around us - for the 'judge not' and the 'do unto other as you would have them do to you' are both great epitets to live by, but we are called to peace and this peace is broken when we engage in ad hominems, offend and anger. We are called to peace and this peace, when broken, breaks the unity of the Church and turns the bread and wine into wormwood and gall. So if you have a problem - stop playing at Church, get out there and fix it and come, together, to share in the bread and wine (with the Trinity).

It is easy to entertain lust and this is not always restricted to the area of sexual things - I often find myself lusting after equipment, computers, electronics and stuff and was once someone who would have done anything to let these things possess me. How about you (and how are we both doing now)?

I could go on (and usually do) about how a bill of divorce is issued to permit remarriage and how practical the Church is - but time (like me) is short and so we will leave this for another day and move on to the crunch, which for me comes from the ending of our Gospel passage in which we find ourselves being told to let our 'Yes' be 'Yes' and our 'No' seen to be 'No'. None of the saying one thing and meaning another - we are called to be as clear in our responses as we are in our lives. And we are called also to ensure that when confronted with those things that are wrong - we make the right choice and stick by it.

Consistency means people know where they are with us - now wouldn't that be nice if those around us were?

Wouldn't it be nice if we were?

Some quick thoughts in case you miss church today - hope they help :-)



Deuteronomy 30.15-20
'See, I have set before you today life and prosperity, death and adversity. 
If you obey the commandments of the Lord your God that I am commanding you today, by loving the Lord your God, walking in his ways, and observing his commandments, decrees, and ordinances, then you shall live and become numerous, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land that you are entering to possess. 
But if your heart turns away and you do not hear, but are led astray to bow down to other gods and serve them, I declare to you today that you shall perish; you shall not live long in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess. 

I call heaven and earth to witness against you today that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Choose life so that you and your descendants may live, loving the Lord your God, obeying him, and holding fast to him; for that means life to you and length of days, so that you may live in the land that the Lord swore to give to your ancestors, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.'

1 Corinthians 3.1-9
'And so, brothers and sisters, I could not speak to you as spiritual people, but rather as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for solid food. Even now you are still not ready, for you are still of the flesh. For as long as there is jealousy and quarrelling among you, are you not of the flesh, and behaving according to human inclinations?  For when one says, ‘I belong to Paul’, and another, ‘I belong to Apollos’, are you not merely human?

What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you came to believe, as the Lord assigned to each.  I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. The one who plants and the one who waters have a common purpose, and each will receive wages according to the labour of each. For we are God’s servants, working together; you are God’s field, God’s building.'

Matthew 5.21-37
'You have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, “You shall not murder”; and “whoever murders shall be liable to judgement.” But I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister, you will be liable to judgement; and if you insult a brother or sister, you will be liable to the council; and if you say, “You fool”, you will be liable to the hell of fire.

So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift. Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are on the way to court with him, or your accuser may hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison. Truly I tell you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.

‘You have heard that it was said, “You shall not commit adultery.” 
But I say to you that everyone who looks at a another person with lust has already committed adultery with them in his heart.
If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away; it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away; it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to go into hell.

‘It was also said, “Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.” But I say to you that anyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of unchastity, causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

‘Again, you have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, “You shall not swear falsely, but carry out the vows you have made to the Lord.” But I say to you, Do not swear at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. 

Let your word be “Yes, Yes” or “No, No”; anything more than this comes from the evil one.'

Church - Working to be ONE!

Today I will find myself being Church with a variety of people I don't usually get to fellowship with and this is a source of great joy for me.

The day begins with me crossing town to take a early Communion service, sharing God's word and breaking bread with them. This is followed by our congregation (St Francis') going up the hill to have a joint service with the Methodists (St Andrew's) - something we began last year having made the journey both ways and having run a joint Alpha and continue with a shared House group too.

This evening will see many of the Christians from the Tamworth area crowd into the town centre church, St Editha's, where we will celebrate the many things done to serve the town's residents (and there are a fair number of them) and add to their number Tamworth Street Angels. We have the diocesan bishop and senior clergy from the Baptists, Methodists and RC Church. How cool is that?

Having done some of my training in a couple of Methodist colleges and working with them in the East end of London during the seventies, I have long appreciated them (enjoying the fact that they are of course 'splitters') and this joy has deepened with the coming of the current minister, Tim, to our town a while back. The addition of two new RC clergy, Michael and Noel, has brought opportunities to share I new ways - the previous incumbents were a blessing too - (and loving the fact that we become the 'splitters'!). The arrival of the Baptist minister, Graham, has deepened the joy and the cherry on the cake has to be the Living Rock Church and John and Caleb.

Ecumenism is often regarded as something that doesn't that sounds great when reading the label on the tin that contains it but is, when opened, is something rather bland that lacks the ability to sustain. This is not the case though, for where there is a willingness to dialogue and a desire to serve the people in the place where you live, ecumenicism is a deep and enabling joy.

This week we will see us meet in different church building at 7pm every day to pray together as one Church as we engage in the 'Week of Prayer for Christian Unity' - can it get any better?

To all the members and leaders of the churches that is Tamworth Covenanting Churches:

Thank You!

Back in the groove

Normal service has been resumed and the holidays are fast on their way to becoming a memory as dawn breaks and the first service of the day beckons as I ponder the challenges, opportunities and blessings before me. After the early communion elsewhere we have a joint service with the local Methodist church a joyful event indeed in which we say goodbye to one of ours as they head for a gap year in India.

My diary has been steadily filling over the past few days and my dance card is almost full, and that's excellent on one hand and frustrating on the other, if only there were more hands to man the pump and free me up to do more. All-member ministry is an essential 'must have' if the Church is to function as it should and the role of the clergy in training, equipping and releasing the members is obvious as a practical measure and even more so as a spiritual one. My biggest desire is to see people come to faith and fulfil the calling on their lives. The joy of seeing people take up the challenges before them is something that never diminishes.

Today there will be so many people doing so many things in the services that will be taking place and I thank God for them and the common life and purpose we share. Today people will lead, read, pray, preach, hand out hymn books, make refreshments, teach Sunday School and do communion. They will carry crosses and candles swing thirubles, sing in choirs, play organs and more besides and I thank God for them and their selfless commitment and service as we, the Church, come to worship.

As the day unfolds may the power of the risen Christ touch you and His Holy Spirit enable, heal and bless you.

May we stand together as one and live in the reality of Church as family and friends.

May God bless you richly :-)

Diversity, rethinking and re-imagining elephants!

I'm doing to do some thinking out of the box here and running an idea up the flagpole to see who salutes as we discuss the elephant in the room. Yes indeed I'm looking to see us 'rest in the Lord' as we consider the linearities of the performance and training indicators and stop rushing around so much being concerned with the lost and, instead, redefine our mission and priorities to redefine a 'Twenty-first century church'.

Actually - what I'm really trying to do is live within the reality that diversity does not necessarily mean division, for the Missioner cannot say to the Ministerial Development Offices, 'I have no need of you, it's all about being out there in the admission field doing the stuff!'

Neither can the director of Ministry say to the worker in the vineyard, 'We need to concentrate on what Church 'should' look like and train the ministers accordingly (remembering at all times that the day of clerical dominance is fast fading and the empowering of the laity (with or without a label) is now the new 'opportunity'!'

The reality is that, jargon, buzzwords (and elephants) are all a distraction for difference and diversity are the foundations upon which strong diocesan structures are built. To have those who are being trained, trained such that they can 'do the stuff' and to have those engaged in mission informing the training and helping to shape it is a no brainer. To have those who sit in the hallowed corridors of power seeking to train without realising that the winning and cure of souls is still part of the mandate upon which they operate, and for all those in the diocese to have as their raisin d'être to BT the missio dei, is essential.

What are the implication for us, as Church, if we cannot work together?

The answer is simple - it is division - and truly a house divided against itself cannot stand!

Pax

Mission and Ministry go together in perfect harmony ...

Side by side on the church's keyboard ...

Mission and ministry - two words that naturallly occupy the same space and yet, like all siblings, fight and struggle for dominance.

You can't build Church without mission - but you can't sustain church without ministry.

We can't grow church without pioneers - but you can't establish church without settlers!

The problems crowd in when we start to divide up the Church into job titles and work areas, skillsets and roles, but the reality is that many are gifted and called to excel in certain areas and these are often the same areas that our passions lead us to. I guess it's the same conundrum that musical ability presents:

You play on the piano as a child and people affirm and applaud because you are 'musical'. This leads you to play more and learn because you enjoy the attention, approbation and it's becoming part of who you are and what you do. Eventually the question comes:

Are you good at music because you love it Or do love love music because you're good at it?

(After all, you might not feel the same about geography, history, music or administration)

One of the challenges in the world of calling and ministry is that although we have giftings, calling and passions - there is a church to be put, and kept, on the road and though this is a job for all-member ministry, there is a need for those who would be collared to appreciate and, when the need (which often) arises, perform and otherwise enable, support and release others I to the many areas of need in the busyness of church.

The need for Ministerial Development Reviews that inform and help in the discernment of future paths before us is obvious and the task of equipping those who come from the cathedral, newly ordained, with much, or little, in their hands is obvious.

The need for those who will stand and preach the Gospel in the streets and marketplaces; those who will gather together the ones and twos such that church us found, and having done so lead them into the twin realities of bath and bread - the twins who are ever in concord and upon who - looking to the Cross and the return of Jesus, the Christ.

This week is a week of revelation for me thus far as I avoid hearing the words from the front perhaps, putting them aside to hear the heartbeat of God, and hear the words (from the heart) of many around me. Hearing the passion of those who are on the ground reflected in the path that has been trod and the ministry of managing from those in the diocesan offices.

One going the other growing so that more may go - partners, co-workers, each fulfilling their part (and living 1Corinthians 12*)

And the good news to those whose ministry is different (and perhaps strange) from ours:

We love you and value you - Thank You for being faithful where you are

Pax


*Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ.

Together: Getting Personal

Opening my emails this morning I found emails from three groups looking to attract the same people from the same town on three different nights and I don't know why but it caused me to sigh rather than cheer.

I know I'm 'always going on about getting out there and doing stuff' (so a member of the congregation told me recently) but what I want is for us to get out there and do it together. One of the biggest curses of Church that I encounter is the 'personal and local' aspects and the wrong messages and wasted energy that results from it. So for what it is worth, here are a few of my thoughts on the issue:

i. Personal Salvation - I believe that Jesus, the Christ, died for 'each of us'; that is personally, knowing each of by name, rather than for 'everyone' which would have been a blanket (one act covers all) transaction.

ii. Personal Relationship with God - It was by the one atoning act of Christ on the cross that God was reconciled to the whole of creation and the way to restoration of relationship with God was made possible for us. This means that we can have a personal 1:1 relationship because (by a new and living way - Heb 10) we have access to God.

iii. Personal Faith - As a Christian my faith is neither personal or private but is corporate. We minister before the throne as a holy nation and a royal priesthood (1 Peter) - not on our own and this is how the Church is called to live out its faith - together. I find so many people who live in their exclusive little worlds - and these exist as a singularity, in closed groups, congregations and beyond - and this is wrong!

We are called to do together what we can do together as the norm and to do that which we cannot do on our own as the exception ('O dear, we will have to do this as St Sprockets rather than as a Parish/Deanery/Churches Together Group/Whatever you fancy adding' Delete as necessary).

Kingdom thinking calls us to work together and pool our resources for the good of the Kingdom - that said, a few year's back one of the local clergy complained that ALPHA Courses took place within a group of churches and yet, 'They never got any of the new people from it!' The answer was simple, 'You never bring people to it, how do you expect to get any!' And this was countered with the response that they didn't think it was their job to be 'out there looking for new people when that's what ALPHA supposed to do!'

Working together means what it says on the tin - it means we share the load (unless of course we are supporting a weaker church or fellowship in which case we share the blessing) and we try to do one thing between all the churches and Christian groups in the knowledge that the witness we present speaks of unity and commitment not just to Christ, but to the Church that bears His name too!

Why have three groups in a town when one could be larger, more dynamic and shared?

Pax

Credo - Christianity's Baseline

One of the biggest problems we mere mortals have to deal with is that of people trying so hard to cover all the bases when a conflict occurs to the extent that the solution becomes so unwieldy as to be almost useless. As we (and most of the Church) celebrated Athanasius yesterday it was only a matter of time before someone asked me whether we'd do the 'Athanasian Creed'; It was was I expected and I was not to be disappointed! Fo me, the Athanasian Creed ticks all the boxes and make so many things clear that it is a splendidly difficult piece of work.

The whole point of the Creed is that it, in its simplest form, provided for us a baseline or minima for possession of the label 'Christian'. The 'I believes', for that is, of course what the word 'credo' means, provide us with a tick list that, once all the ticks are in place, give others a confidence regarding our orthodoxy (right thinking).

From where I recline we have three Creeds before us:

The Apostle's - Used as a basic statement of Christian beliefs for those being baptised. Date somewhere around the early 200 AD mark (210 -225 if memory serves me right). A simple, first person profession of faith (I believe - so baptise me!).

The Nicene - came out of what was to be the very first ecumenical council held in Nicea in 325 AD which was convened to address various heresies and errors and bring about unity (hence the third person - 'We believe' and so there is unity) in thought, practice and theology; providing a baseline for what defined a Christian. It is simple and this is where its beauty lies.

The Athanasian - Although after Athanasius, he had nothing to do with this creed! The association more than likely comes about because he was active involved in addressing all things heretical and, unlike the other two creeds, this one is not widely accepted (finding no favour with the Eastern Orthodox geezers). Not a basic statement of belief but a remedy for those with struggles regarding the Trinity, the Incarnation and the 'two natures' (man and divine) debate,

Discounting completely the Athanasian from the discussion, we can create from the creeds a basic checklist (old pilot habit - sorry) to ensure that, in terms of Christian faith, all is well. (something I'm going off to do a bit later) but for now, have a go at comparing them for yourself:

This week - a retrospective (and a plea)

What an amazing week this has been- we've seen people who don't care a hoot about Christ, the Gospel or Church all bundling in to have their say about how the church should operate, most especially in the area of bishops and even more specifically, women bishops.

I have been so very frustrated by the people who have engaged me and berated me for stuff that they don't even have a clue about (and don't care about either if we are honest - they just ride on the bandwagon regardless). There was the idiot MP who said that it was bizarre that, since the CofE had a woman at the very top, there should be any problem with having women bishops! Now I don't know how he copes with national politics but hopefully he fares a little better with that and should therefore keep to the job he was elected to do. Of course, as the honourable gentleman made his points he also felt it necessary to clarify the position, when asked, by saying that of course ('of course', why 'of course') wasn't a Christian and had little real interest in the whole affair!

I had to endure the witterings of some (undoubtedly lovely yet woeful) bloke who asked how he was going to tell his newly minted daughter that she couldn't be 'a fully accepted and functioning woman in the Church'! If I was him I'd have been cuddling her and singing songs because, to be quite frank, the poor mite wouldn't have had a clue what he was going on about anyway. And of course . . .  Once she reached 18 she could legally attend a BAP (the selection thing for clergy) and if accepted could go to college and then be ordained, priested and serve in the church for a few years and then, perhaps, find herself selected for 'advancement' (what being called to be a bishop is) and this would mean that she'd be in her early forties - so the bloke has a bit of time yet.

Another person told me that there were many women whose ministries would have been enhanced and made 'effective' by being made bishop and now this had been lost to them. Now, odd as it seems perhaps, I would like people whose ministries were already effective to be given the wonderfully enhancing job of bishop and if it was moving up that made them effective I doubt I'd be interested anyway (hope that makes sense).

I have had (far too many) people explain how stupid, uncaring and disobedient the laity were to have voted as they did and they have explained how we should listen only to the bishops in future and withdraw the vote from the laity (now that sounds egalitarian, doesn't it?). Other have said that the diocesan lay reps should have voted with their respective diocesan synods rather than take it on themselves to exercise conscience, stupidity or disobedience. This leads me to think that what we need is to get rid of the General Synod and merely take the votes from the diocesan bodies and then, adding the votes from each of the houses into three final sums, take the decision from there.

This is surely a much more cost-effective solution to church management in the future and makes life in the future much more simple and effective (and perhaps we'd get diocesan synod rep's who were really engaged and effective in return?

Others have told me that the decision should be overturned and that we should do 'whatever it takes to bring it back' and overturn the decision. Actually I have to disagree with that thought for we engaged in a democratic process and we got a decision. Now it wasn't what I expected and wasn't what many wanted either but the reality is that we have it. To engage in scheming and cunning plans to get what we want to happen when it hasn't (by democratic and established means) is to look shallow and somewhat tawdry I fear!

So here's my summation of what has happened (and it will be my last word on it for some time I hope):

There are three groups of people - those who want women bishops, those who don't want women bishops and those who don't care (and there are a great many of them) as long as they can be left in peace to preach the Gospel, reach the lost, pastor the broken and love the unloveable. What I would like to see is a solution that  respects the position of those who have difficulty with the consecration of women without weakening the position of the women and one that doesn't get in the way of the real ministry of the Church - which has nothing to do with making bishops (women or men) but winning souls.

If, as it should be (and probably would be if it weren't such a 'must have' issue for some), this issue does not return until a new General Synod is convened (which means five years before we get to the same place again) the I for one will not be that troubled. Now this isn't anything 'anti-women' (for I have never been 'anti-women'') but is merely a plea for some rational and balanced response. It were any other issue, or better still something unpopular, and the cry to speed things up or make things happen to make this cause happen then people would be up in arms. Let us transfer into it something that we don't agree with and see whether we'd applaud cutting corners, clever measures or whatever. (I'm guessing not!).

Wanting to have the good opinion of the world and to endlessly go on about equality and living up to the standards of the world in which we find ourself is a totally confused state of mind (and reality). The reason for these words is the fact that just the world that we are called to serve has few standards and to work (tirelessly in some places) to make ourselves look, feel and act like it is to dismiss the calling we have to be Church and to render the Church weak, ineffective and impotent!

If we want to be popular then that's great. If we think that 'being popular' means that we cease to be different and put off the Gospel message for something that merely endorses the world and its values, standards and behaviour then what we really want is a different sort of Church altogether - it's call APOSTATE Church!

I wonder if God has not been gracious in the decision this week (as painful as it is for some) as it provides time for us to work out ways in which we might all coexist as one body and also give us the time to set aside all the distraction from the Gospel calling we have (and it is a distraction) to actually preach the Gospel and serve those whom we are called to serve.

And whilst I sympathise with those who were broken by Tuesday's decision (was it really only that short a while since it happened?) I also feel for those who are opposed to the consecration (and ordination too perhaps) of women who now find themselves hiding lest they be asked which side they support. As one told me, "I'm just keeping out of the way because anything else is an invitation to being abused!" Are we really that shallow?

So - we have dissipated so much time on this subject. Time which General Synod, Bishops, Priests, Deacons, Theological Student, Laity and others (are there any others) could have perhaps used to build the kingdom rather than berate, abuse and present Church as a divided, divisive and spiteful place.

I leave this subject with something Jesus would like us all to know (John 17: 21):

"I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one- as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me."

No one can take joy from this week's goings on in General Synod - especially not the God we serve, three in one; Father, Son and Holy Spirit

Pax

And the Greatest of these is . . .

LOVE!

Our 'all-age' service this morning will seek to communicate two great truths: Unity and Love.

Deuteronomy 6.1-9
“Now this is the commandment – the laws and the rules - that the Lord your God commanded me to teach you, that you may do them in the land to which you are going over, to possess it, that you may fear the Lord your God, you and your son and your son’s son, by keeping all his statutes and his commandments, which I command you, all the days of your life, and that your days may be long.
Hear therefore, O Israel, and be careful to do them, that it may go well with you, and that you may multiply greatly, as the Lord, the God of your fathers, has promised you, in a land flowing with milk and honey.
“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart.
You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.
You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and wear them to your foreheads as reminders.
You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

Mark 12: 28-34
One of the teachers of religious law was standing there listening to the debate. He realised that Jesus had answered well, so he asked,
“Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”
Jesus replied, “The most important commandment is this:
‘Listen, O Israel! The Lord our God is the one and only Lord.
And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’
The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.”
The teacher of religious law replied, “Well said, Teacher. You have spoken the truth by saying that there is only one God and no other. And I know it is important to love him with all my heart and all my understanding and all my strength, and to love my neighbour as myself. This is more important than to offer all of the burnt offerings and sacrifices required in the law.”
Realising how much the man understood, Jesus said to him,
“You are not far from the Kingdom of God.” And after that, no one dared to ask him any more questions.
I can't think of two more exciting passages and two amazingly important issues as love and the unity of the Holy trinity and the implications for us as part of the body of Christ and in loving our neighbours. Praise God for His Word, living and ascended and written - May they touch us by the power of His Holy Spirit that we might live in His love. Hallelujah - Christ is Risen!

The Acts Church and us

The Acts church presents us with a model of unity, corporate identity and growth and so when people write telling me that they can pay their parish share and have no need to evangelise because numbers are constant, they miss out on one of the realities of an aCts church model. There has to be growth!

Let's dissect the Acts model and see whether it can teach us something worthwhile:

Teaching - they believers met and shared the apostle's teaching. A great starter for ten in that this model demonstrates that we need to be meeting together to learn. Assuming something of the rabbinic teaching methods we could have 'hagadah'; the learning and unfolding of the Scriptures and 'halakah', which is the living and making the daily reality of the Scriptures.

So here we have it, that we engage with the Word of God so that we might understand what we are required to do (the how, why and what) and living out the realities of the Scriptures in our daily life. Orthodoxy and orthopraxy - 'knowing' and 'living' the Scriptures'.

Unity - for the believers were gathered in one place. A pretty easy thing when the believers form a minority in, what was then, a major city. Works well for us today as we find ourselves called to minister and witness to God's love as shown to us through His engagement with His created world and the salvific acts of jesus, the Christ. But the unity is also the unity of belief, for in our pre-Nicene existence error was limited and when present, dealt with swiftly and (as I see it) pretty aggressively! Unity of belief is a real challenge, even to the nature of Jesus and the atonement and all the other basics these days - but there needs to be a core set of beliefs. This is of course a contentious area where some condem others to hell and damnations whilst others simple mock and ridicule the dinosaurs with their 'antiquated' thinking. But there needs to be unity and where this can't be found then it is better to divide and come together where agreement can be found that live in conflict.

Fellowship and Love - Out of the unity came a love for one another that saw the believers living in their own homes and yet, whilst maintaining their own homes and paying their way, supporting others as they had need. The words, "See how these Christians LOVE one another," springs to mind here! LOVE not LOATHE! A love which regarded the other believers as family (an active rendering of the word koinonia) and acted within that context.

Witness - those around them saw how the believers believed and how out of that belief, lived. people responded because they could see the reality of the Christian's faith and the way the word became made real in a lifestyle that was consisten with it.

Someone I met today told me how they'd like to go to church but found, if they did, that what was contained in the building of the same name was a bunch of people who appeared to resent them intruding into their only personal fiefdom of mowing, making the tea and whatever else was on view. It was church for the select and newcomers were definitely no welcome!m If this is who and what Church has become then the final element, Growing, can be forgotten completely. After all, can't see the church the person I met today finding favour with those outside if my sample of one is accurate in their telling of the story!

Growing - It is from the 'finding favour' that the numbers were added. People tend to go to the places where what they see is what they like. Of course the problem with the Acts church is that it was no like the community or the society in which it was found and this 'counter cultural' element is part of the difference that attracts. So, if we keep striving to make the Church look exactly like the world why should be be surprised when the world stops choosing to enge with Church and increase the numbers of believers - they already have what's on offer! It's called the world! Time to proclaim Jesus and stand for the Bible truths (and if you don't believe it's true then you're a goal down in terms of believing - after all if you can't believe the documents and you can't believe the Christ )and in the Christ) then you have a major hill to climb.

Prayer - Something that we don't do enough of (well I don't I'm sure) and when I do come across it happening it's all about 'telling God what you need!' rather than asking God what you need or how you need to live. Mind you, many I meet wouldn't listen to God if they heard Him because it would infringe their personal liberties, choices and rights to live the way He might wish :-( But people appreciate and respect commitment in others and one of the visible signs of this is in the visibly praying to the invisible God.

Breaking Bread - is another element. We do this because Jesus did it at the end of the last supper and the last cup of blessing and the breaking of bread speaks of unity, love, fellowship and this oneness with each other depicts a oneness with Him! We remember the Passover and the Passover meal in the upper room and the wedding banquet of the Lamb in the now - all points in time coalescing in that one act! Breaking bread is an act of unity - never a weapon of war!

So here you are - a quick splurge from the top of my head. Quick and dirty but not without merit (i hope) and something for those who tell me that they live in an 'Acts Church' to ponder on.

I certainly will be.

Pax

Mysoginists - "No room for them!"

With these words an angry lady flounced (and it was a most excellent flounce too!) away from the person she'd been engaged in conversation with and vanished from sight. It was a gradual vanish not one of those 'Poof! She's disappeared' vanishes like we get each year when we visit the pantomime. Although, that said it was a sort of pantomime that led up to the conversation she had I giess - we call it General Synod and the Beanstalk.

So there they were, our two combatants. One was an irate lady cleric and the other a frustrated Anglo-Catholic sort. One had been in the vicaring business for a fairly short time whilst the other was telling how they'd been doing the stuff for over twenty years. The former wanted women bishops (although I have to say she wanted it for someone else because on today's showing she'd be better off seeking a job as a lollipop lady (and I would definitely stop because she was frightening!). The latter wanted to have the right to believe as he'd been taught and believed when he was ordained and wish to continued to believe now.

"There's no room for people with your views," said she. "But there should and should be, "said he. There it was a stalemate. One believing they could continue to believe as they had been taught in the pews, in theological college and throughout his ministry and the other remained adamant that there was only one path.

I was saddened to see it and, not knowing either or them or ever likely to see them again, I was left more than just a little saddened. I know the arguments but where there is a theological understanding and where the teaching has drawn upon and supported this for such a long time; and where the issue is such a painful one for the other side, I can but wish to remove myself from the debate. I neither engaged in the conversation nor offered any support for either side but felt myself resolving that anything that brought such cruelty and vitriol just had to be more than a little wrong.

So. If you want to know whose side I find myself occupying I gave to say 'neither'. I Have come to a place where today's public demonstration of the passage, "See how these Christians loathe one another'," leaves me cold and withdrawn about the whole issue. We speak of us as a via media and seek to accept all - unless they are opposed to women as priests, bishops or whatever on theological grounds (and surely this, along with tradition' is the only condition that we should be caring and catering for?

It is all very sad.