By the
time most of you read this article I will have commenced my sabbatical. Truth
is I’m feeling a bit guilty about that. At the same time, we as a church will
have moved out of the building wherein we have worshipped for 44 years since
our inception as Zion United Church.
Not
much of a leader really… jumping ship whilst the crew have to steer through
some fairly changeable and choppy waters. On the other hand, if I am the pilot,
I should only ever consider myself the co-pilot, and in truth this is a time
when of course we do want the chief shepherd the real pilot to guide us. I am feeling a bit guilty, but at the same
time I am feeling excited and confident for us as a church. A time of change is
a real time of opportunity and I pray that my absence will make us all rely on
God all the more. If we do that then I
believe this time of change and upheaval will also become a chance for us to
develop as a community of God’s light… a beacon.
I am
also a bit nervous, not so much about the work and the decisions that we will
need to make, nor even about the upheaval… my prediction is that the car park
is going to cause us the most problems… once the contractor starts shutting big
bits of for safety reasons. No I am most nervous about people getting hurt… We
all deal with change and upheaval differently and church is no different. I
simply make this final plea to you all… Love one another. I think most of you
love me….(even though you know me!) If you can love me, as I know you love
Christ, please love one another… be patient with one another, forgive one
another, just as God in Christ has forgiven us.
I doubt that I am famed for my patience, but I say to you all, please be
patient with one another and put on large layers of grace. If we do that our
prayers that we remain united during this process will be heard and answered.
When I
return, I hope and pray that I will be different. Perhaps I will understand a
little better the society in which we live. I hope I will also have simply
spent time with Christ. I’m pretty confident that I will be a little lighter
and fitter. (If you want to sponsor me for my cycle pilgrimage to Lindisfarne,
please fill in the sponsor forms in church or go online via my blog www.zuchurch.co.uk to sponsor me directly there.) But what about
the church, will you be different? I hope so. Perhaps there will be new people
among us; perhaps the prospect of worshipping in a community hall with a
slightly different style of worship will attract some new people. Perhaps we
will have learnt and got to know each other better as change often fosters new
relationships. I hope you too will have been able to spend time with Christ.
“If you love me you will obey
what I command, And I will ask the Father and he will give you another
Counsellor (Parakletos) to be with
you for ever.” John 14:15-16
This really is a good time for us
all to rely on God. We need the chief shepherd our captain to guide us through
these changes. Not simply building works, but if we are going to impact and
offer the love of Christ to our families and workplaces and communities I
believe we need to learn new ways to be the authentic church of Jesus Christ,
to become a beacon of his love. This is
in effect what Jesus promised his disciples before he left them. He promised
them another counsellor (Parakletos)
the person of the Holy Spirit who would remain with them forever. The Greek
word Parakletos, was actually the
name that Greek sailors gave to boats which would come alongside vessels and
steer them safely into harbour. Surely that is what we need, not a new or
improved minister, or even one who will remain with you while you go through
big changes… we all need a Parakletos
a “New Counsellor.” To this end while I am away many important things will be
happening. Perhaps though none is more important than the Ignite day, of which
details are in the magazine. The strapline
reads.. An introductory ‘taster’ event, exploring the person and work of the
Holy Spirit. I do encourage you all to
try and attend that event, certainly for me that particular teaching has been
the most important I have ever experienced.
I commend you all into God’s sure
and safe keeping. I thank you for your on-going love and prayers for me. And I
look forward to God guiding us together into every place that he will call us.
To Him be all the glory:
Hallelujah
Stephen
