Looking forward to Christ

I guess it is inevitable that we all look forward to different things at this time of year. Even though the nights are dark and wet, December seems to bring an air of expectation. The adverts, our diaries and planners all focused around the idea that something good is happening. Of course expectations and reality can be very different things. High expectation can lead to great disappointment, and so a new year often begins with a sense of drudgery or disappointment. Even Christmas itself, now so commercialized, leaves many hungry for something; even though most bellies are amply filled. Please don’t misunderstand me; I have no desire (just yet) to don my LED illuminated, Bah Humbug hat! (available on a wet November evening in Yate!) I love Christmas, I love the celebration, the food, the festival, the family and all the trappings that goes with it. I just wonder if perhaps we sometimes miss the simple beauty of Christmas when we let expectations get out of hand.
One of the great things about Christmas is that it does give a rhythm to the year as a whole. I don’t know whose idea it was to put Christmas at the darkest, wettest time of year, but I love them! [For any biblical scholars out there, we really do have no evidence that Jesus was born on Dec 25th just that it has become his ‘official’ birthday.] To have a celebration at the bleakest time of year is pure genius, and it fits so well… into the darkness comes the light. Every year needs a rhythm a routine that helps us to understand and make sense of things. Without that, there is simply chaos and disorder, each day another day, come from nowhere and leading nowhere. However add in the rhythms of Sabbath weekends and festivals and each day or month may begin to find its place.
For me I look forward to meeting Christ at Christmas. That annual reminder that something utterly beyond us touched the world in such a down to earth way is simply stunning. A mucky stable and a tired mother in a dubious marital situation struggling through a busy neighbourhood simply explode any false ideas we may have of a separation between sacred and secular. It is so ordinary and messy, and so profound: the light has touched the darkness. Every tacky Christmas light or decoration can be redeemed because they point to something so fundamental. Meeting Christ means that nothing is ordinary anymore. Every tiny act of kindness becomes an epiphany, God is in there somewhere. Although I don’t always meet Christ where I expect to at Christmas, I am rarely disappointed. The season itself seems to generate the possibility of kindness, and it comes in so many forms.
I hope you also look forward to meeting someone special this Christmas. One of the richest ideas in Christianity is that whenever we greet or welcome a stranger, or indeed a friend we may somehow be greeting or meeting Christ. Christmas suggests that God touches this world in the most ordinary of people, perhaps he may touch the world through you this Christmas
Finally I know that all your churches in Frampton and Coalpit Heath would make you very welcome if you wished to join us to celebrate Christmas, whether you want the calm of a midnight communion or the explosion of joy and laughter on Christmas day, you would be very welcome.
Stephen

Scotland votes for dependence!

A Scottish nationalist may not like my headline. But surely whatever they had voted they would remain dependant on others. Independence is a myth perpetrated by advertisers and commentators. From the cradle to the grave we are all dependant. Unless one literally becomes a hermit fisherman living on an island, relationships and dependency are guaranteed. [Indeed even the hermit is dependent on others for air quality, and fish stocks surviving!] Others feed us, pay us, serve us and heal us. We also serve and engage with others all the time. Scotland and the whole of the UK rely on others for food and trade and income. This inter-dependence is fundamental to life, it is part of the way things are, and yet we spend so much time and energy perpetrating the myth of personal identity as if we are self-sufficient.
You may ask what this has got to do with a reflection. Simple, before you imagine that you can sort yourself out, be aware that you must also give attention to your relationships. Relationships are critical to quality of life, either for good or ill. From the depth of a marriage partnership to a corner shop acquaintance all can be important. We are relational beings, not independent machines. Our health and well-being depend on others. If we are surrounded by violence and rage we will struggle to be well. If kindness and generosity knock on our door every so often we will, by and large, flourish. Thus far, I've said nothing controversial I hope, but now I ask the question where if anywhere God fits in. In the past people tended to decide whether or not they believed in God rather than considered whether they had a relationship with God. Faith was understood as mostly cerebral. To badly paraphrase Descartes's 'I think therefore I am,' we created: I believe therefore I'm in! God was a matter of creedal belief, rational ascent and joining a religion of like-minded individuals. Of course I am not decrying the mind, but whatever philosophers might imagine, it is limited. For instance relationships cannot be summed up by what we believe, or know, or even don't know about others, it is much more. In the same way my argument is, that if God exists, then we all have a relationship with him. The air we breathe the sights that thrill us, the relationships which define us, are all somehow connected. This sense of being connected is what I call spirituality. Everyone has it, and most acknowledge it. It's mysterious and it gives meaning, It's not the same as religion, but it maybe the spark which religion came from. Sadly the Christian religion got privatized or individualized somewhere back a while, but it was a myth¦ we can't be Christians on our own, we need others and we need community.
I vote to be dependent on you!

Reflections on essay reading

Roxburgh  affirms that christian formation happens through practices… he charts some early church practices hospitality; marriage; caring for widows and sick; needy… in effect this is in large part the love of others… rather than simply the love of family, this perhaps illustrates why Jesus’ who are my mother etc was so important..  he then goes on to dismantle what he calls the prominent formational practice of 20^th C church life.. the small group… he is dismissive....

‘such groups, by and large, have nothing to do with forming people in practices of Christian life. …small groups usually exist to for people to connect on a personal level to find forms of intimacy in a lonely world. The Bible serves as little more than a springboard for conversation about each other’s lives.’   Self actualization groups and individualism…. Wow some attack fellowship group leaders out there take note! 

Alan Roxburgh then goes on to say....
'Too much of our current of our current church life is focused around meeting the needs of expressive individuals. Those who argue that meeting needs is a strategy to get people into the church miss the point. If we communicate a Gospel that says at the front door that Jesus is all about meeting my needs (remember, most of the time we are talking about middle class expressive individualists who are already the most pampered generation of earth), then at some point we are going to have to tell  them that in fact the opposite is the case. Jesus actually came to call them into a life that requires them to let go of their needs. We created congregations full of little Hobbits who crave nothing more than their comfort and having their needs met. Some of those Hobbits have discovered that the world beyond their narrow range of vision is in terrible distress, and they have to go on a journey that will take them far away from every want and need they ever had. The rest of the Hobbits are still in the dark.'

Well don't hold back Alan, say it as you feel! Pretty challenging stuff... no wonder my head hurts!

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” The second is this: “Love your neighbour as yourself.” There is no commandment greater than these.’

Summary 1:        Wow thank you for a great year!

            I think the scripture above is my “scripture of the year.”  I realise our main activity this year has been the building of the beacon and the refurbishment of our premises, but if we don’t love God and our neighbour then really there is little point in our activity. 

            I would like to thank all those involved in our recent Open Doors celebrations, it was a tremendous weekend, culminating in six young people committing their lives to love God, and starting with a Saturday of activities that made it extremely easy to love our neighbours, there were just so many of them here! For those who planned, who cooked, who baked, who poured, who cleaned up, who invited and those who laughed: thank you and well done. It certainly goes down for me as one of the best weekends in my ministry. If you weren’t involved pop across to www.zuchurch.co.uk and watch an excellent video collage that one of our young people prepared. It was a fitting celebration to mark both the hard work that had gone into the Beacon Project, and also the sense of God leading us through this process.

            When something goes very well, there is always the question of how to build upon this success. You may well be extremely glad that I am not planning any further building work! However the challenge was set during the renovations that we are to “become beacons in order to build the Beacon.”  This phrase challenges me; it resonates with Jesus’ most foundational teaching where he instructs us to be salt and light. If we think of the scripture I begun with, we can understand that we are loved by God in order that we love those around us. God’s love is like the salt and light that bring colour and flavour into the world. As Jesus came to love the world, so we are sent to love our neighbours. Matthew puts it well, he tells us to announce that ‘The kingdom of heaven is near,’ for we have ‘freely received’ so we should ‘freely give.’ (Matt 10:7-8) Being generous and gracious followers of Jesus is in my view the only way to respond to the events of the last year. We have built a beacon, now we must help one another to shine, or as I often say, we are blessed in order to be a blessing.  

            Of course every church, indeed every community has people who already shine; this is because all are made in the image of God. The real question for me is how should we help one another shine? In essence that is a large part of my ‘job’, to encourage people to live in a more Christ like way… in essence to have the ‘cure of souls’. Frankly the problem is that I don’t do it very well. I may preach the occasional good sermon (even if a bit long!), when we worship it is as if sometimes the veil of heaven is being removed, but my ability to support you, nurture you in your families and indeed at work or in society is limited. I do pray for you, but prayer is an area where I am growing, it is not yet a strength! We need something more than just a Pastor, we need a family who will support us and challenge us in our conviction to grow more like Christ. That is why fellowship groups have been so important for us at Zion. This year however we are highlighting an even smaller and more intentional unit of support, the Inspire fellowship band. This is a group of no more than four people who usually meet monthly to encourage, support and challenge each other, specifically about whether we are living a way of life that is growing in God’s love and expressing this in love for those around us. It sounds very simple, but in my experience it is profound.  A good number of people have already expressed an interest in these groups. I realise many of us live busy lives, and we may need to stop something before we take on something new. However I am convinced that together we really can shine brighter.  Please contact us if you are interested in these bands, or the way of life that lies behind them.

Summary 2: An amazing foundation has been laid, how will we each build on the foundation of love that we have been given?

Stephen

“ I.. make known the end from the beginning” Isa 46:10

NEW ELDERS, new WORKERS and a NEW APPROACH

It is with real sadness that I tell you (who may not already know) that my friend and colleague Peter Wilson has decided that it is time for him to retire (again!) I am a massive believer in teamwork, and frankly Peter and I have been a team that has worked really well, for us personally at very least. He has supported me, encouraged me, challenged me and simply been there for me whenever I have needed. `I often wonder how other colleagues in ministry cope, as it can be a lonely task, but I can honestly say I have had the privilege of working alongside one of God’s saints.  He will be a very hard act to follow, but I know he will keep supporting us and offer his successor every help asked for. 

[It may be of interest to readers to know that both the Methodist Circuit, who ostensibly employed Peter as a Circuit Pastoral Worker, and the eldership here at Zion are all of the opinion that we should seek a new appointment, and we are in the process of facilitating this.. so watch this space, and please pray, both for Peter and for the right person to take the new post. Peter will retire in May. We wish him and Florence all the blessing that they have so freely shared with others over the years.]

It is my firm belief that working with others is what the whole church is called to do.  If you are part of Zion United Church, I hope you feel that you have a team who support you as you live out a life that: pleases God and is good for those around you. This teamwork occurs at different levels, we need co-workers, people who work alongside us, as well as leaders in the team. I hope you can identify some co-workers perhaps people in your fellowship group, or just simply friends!  The leadership we immediately recognise at Zion are elders. 

A new approach we are investigating at present is called INSPIRE. This is a way to embed some co-worker teamwork. Small groups of three or four people agree together to help each other. INSPIRE bands do not “do anything” accept try to help the members of the band develop character as Christian men and women: to grow as disciples. Inspire is not a course or an activity, in effect it is simply a commitment with others to grow into a way of life.  Personally I have been in one of these bands for about four years now and I have found this to be the most helpful innovation I have ever experienced, real honesty and support.  If you are curious please come along on 1^st April 7.30pm to an open discussion about how we may proceed and support each other with this initiative.

LEADERSHIP: is vital. It is that time of year when new elders are discerned at Zion. Perhaps you wonder what eldership is. I think if you put the words, Christian alongside leadership and teamwork, you are approaching the truth. Technically the elders are local trustees, but we do not want to see our role with that materially driven language. The elders have a role to help us grow in Christian maturity this is a core leadership role: to grow up and then of course to grow out, after listening, watching and discerning what God is whispering around us.  They are involved in many diverse activities, but I hope these are all infused with the development of Christian character and are carried out through teamwork which advances God’s kingdom.  I do want to challenge one typical misunderstanding. We do not elect elders. Our structure is not about democracy. Rather we want to “discern” who God is calling into this office.  Each one of us can have a part in this discernment, particularly in the early stages. Who encourages and supports your Christian faith? If they are a member of Zion then they have just passed the first test for leadership, you respect them!  Perhaps God is whispering to you that you should nominate them. Alongside Peter, the elders have been a great support to me over the years. We would not have been able to build the beacon without a supportive leadership. I believe the next task that faces us, is for us to become beacons… to live lives that SHINE! So the leadership we need for the next phase of God’s call will be those whose love SHINES. Please pray about this, and if you see someone shining, please do not hide their light under your bushel, approach them and nominate them. 

God bless you this April… a month to discern new leadership, a month to say thank you to those whose leadership has enriched us and of course a month to celebrate Easter. The true mark of leadership: the Cross.

Stephen

Storms and Beacons

           The storm may roar without me, my heart may low be laid,

but God is round about me, and can I be dismayed?

                Our country has faced some of the fiercest storms on record; even as I write I am watching the fir tree outside my window at Zion swaying violently; let us hope its roots are strong!  We have already lost eight roof tiles, but for many their lives have been simply decimated. Weeks of flooding, the devastation of watching nightmares realised. How can we respond to this crisis, what can we learn from these floods? These are not easy questions, we have seen much finger pointing, and certainly if you build on a flood plain and save money by not dredging rivers there will be consequences. One question remains and that is, are these storms freaks of nature… or a sign that nature has lost her balance due to human activity: ie global warming? You will be relieved that I am not about to pronounce these floods as some kind of godly vendetta against our nation, even though I acknowledge that they may be in part at least the consequence of human greed and poor stewardship.  What these floods and storms do remind us is how fragile we are, and yet how resilient the human spirit. In the midst of adversity some of the most godly and frankly fully human acts of kindness are being performed. This is worth celebrating, even as we weep with those who weep. For many of us our lives are only moderately affected, but we can and must expend the energy of love and prayer for those who face years to untie the consequences.

                Should disciples of Jesus react any differently to others through this situation? I am reminded of the story of Jesus in a storm; he simply slept while everyone around him panicked. There is something intrinsically attractive about those who can stay calm in a crisis. Very often they are the ones who can think and act most creatively.  Peace comes from knowing that ultimately all storms will pass, floodwaters will recede. As the hymn writer put it: ‘God is round about me,

and can I be dismayed?’ Jesus’ intimate knowledge and relationship with the Father meant that he seemed to be aware that nothing would befall him that wasn’t somehow timely. This did not of course spare him, ultimately from death. But it did mean in the face of the storm he was unafraid and able to command a stillness and calm.  In a few weeks time we will be celebrating as a church the building of a ‘beacon’ a lighthouse. I can only imagine the bravery of those who go to sea, in weather such as we have seen recently. Navigation and a battle with the wind and waves require real skill, but at last resort the beacon is both warning and guidance to where safe haven lies.  I am not sure as Christians we are called to be different, but we are certainly called to shine, to flood the darkness with light and offer a hope that whatever the storm, there is a love and a power who is more powerful. It would be sad to celebrate the opening of our beacon building, whilst those of us who are called to shine make little effort to rekindle our light or our faith by becoming better acquainted with the love of the Father. To this end I urge you all to look seriously into your own heart, are a desire to love the lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength and a commitment to love your neighbour as yourself the chief aims of your life, do they give you purpose and energy? Probably the answer to that question is both yes and no, we want to love but find it hard. If that is the case I urge you to consider further our discussions about Inspire, and ask yourself the question who do I know who may be able to help me to burn a little brighter, and love a little better. This is the aim of the Inspire movement, to help us all to become the beacons we are called to be. Not asleep in the boat, oblivious, while all the waves crash upon others, but awake and alert with the confidence that comes from faith, ready to speak peace and love into every situation that confronts us.

Wake up o sleeper, rise from the dead , and Christ will shine (from) on you.

Stephen

Inspiring Imagination

Imagination

                Imagine… simply imagine, anything you want, how would your life be different? 

                This is a very important time in the life of mychurch, not because we are about to celebrate a half million pound building project (note the “Open Doors” weekend 22-23^rd March), but because we are about to set out on what I believe is the most important experiment that I have ever been part of. This blog is about a way of life called Inspire, a movement committed to develop our love, of God and neighbour. It is I think the most important movement that I have been part of in 23 years of ministry: an experiment to see if we can make discipleship work.

                Are you happy with your life? Is it doing what you wanted to do? I don’t mean simply are we comfortable, do we have enough wealth or friends, but are we living like we dream we could live: helping others; being fulfilled; truly developing as people? When we look at life there are many things that give us joy, there are also areas where we ponder, if only. However, even if we got a chance to live life again, could we act differently? I have chosen (or been called?) to live as a leader in the church, but am I a fraud? The hardest aspect of life, the development of character and a lifestyle that truly pleases God and brings light to others, eludes me. Neither could I say with certainty how I should help others in that development. I have been privileged to help some become Christians, to discover the joy of a life committed to God, and of course they have developed, but I am convinced there is something more. This is where the inspire movement has stepped in. It seems other leaders, particularly Phil Meadows who lectures at Cliff College, had a similar frustration.

The great commission from Jesus Christ was not to build churches, but to make disciples, transformed people. I think at times Christianity settled for believers rather than tackling the question of how to make our beliefs make sense. You are aware that most people treat Christianity as irrelevant, not primarily through lack of belief but because they do not feel a need. I do not think today’s answer is to “set the fear of God among them:” ie to threaten them with hell. Rather we need to place a beacon of heaven among them, the radiance of lives that do make sense, that offer peace. It is these lives that I long to see developing among us, but how?  I realise that there are “traditional” answers: bible study, a quiet time, practicing at serving etc etc and these have a place. I have tried them, but I spent 20 years looking for more, for both a way of life that was fulfilling and a means of keeping to it and growing. I honestly think that I have discovered this in the Inspire Movement. Inspire is, a simple way of life; guidelines to check which path we are travelling on, and also a small group who have committed to walk a similar path and who are committed to seeing me become more of what God imagines and knows I can become.  It is not a magic bullet, I still need to reflect on my own life and respond to insights either from God or from the group, but there is an intention to conform our lives to a different, ultimately more fulfilling pattern.

Over the next months and years at Zion we are offering everyone a chance to investigate whether Inspire could help them. This is not about “doing” more things; it is a means of becoming more fully you.  I urge others to approach this opportunity with an open mind, God knows and imagines all that you could become, he knows the people who can mentor and inspire you, and also who you can release to love their neighbour better. Building a Beacon was easy (relatively!!!) becoming beacons this must become our focus now we need one another and of course Gods help. I am willing to work with you, and this time I plan no “run away” sabbatical, we are in this together to become a people of imagination and love.

Stephen

For information                www.inspiremovement.org

Dates:

1^st March we are supporting an away day in Portishead entitled: “Inside-Out Discipleship” a chance to experience some of the principles and practices of Inspire.

1^st April (we must be fools!) 7.30pm Upper Cottage or Beacon: An evening to explore how we may choose to go forward with Inspire.

Zion also has appointed two “Inspire Champions” Mel Reed for the ladies and P-j Charters for the men. Please ask them any questions. (Also the elders and Peter and Stephen would be happy to answer any of your questions.)