Grasping at Hints

In these unusual days, I have been reflecting quite a bit on the challenge and meaning of ministry.  Looking at one of the books I read many years ago in preparation for this calling, Living Priesthood by Michael Hollings, I came across this passage that I marked then - and which still says a lot to me (allowing the fact that it is from a male and Roman Catholic perspective, so I have tweaked the language):

".... it is in a sense only possible to come to the core meaning of ministry by being nebulous and diffuse, grasping at hints, going off at tangents, rather than coming to centre points. There is only one centre point - Christ. For Christ whom we are following, the one high priest, emptied himself to assume the condition of a slave (Phil. 2.7). So that the object lesson for the minister is that if s/he tries to seek fulfilment, s/he will very probably end up feeling pretty desolate and frustrated, shallow and unused. But if s/he is prepared to be emptied, to become everybody's slave, fullfilment and joy will creep up upon her/him unawares, and s/he will live the reality of ministry, without really knowing what it is, except in knowing the ministry of Christ Jesus."

Keeping The Lamp Lit

The doctor was puzzled. ‘You should be recovering by this time,’ she said, ‘have you been following my instructions?’ ‘Well, doctor,’ said the patient, ‘I have done most of them, but I can’t take that two mile walk every morning, that you recommended. I get too dizzy.’ ‘What do you mean – dizzy?’ the doctor asked. ‘Well,’ said the patient, ‘I must have forgotten to tell you that I am a lighthouse keeper.’

Our task as Christians is to keep the lamp lit for a dark world. There is only one thing on everybody’s lips at the moment, but the world continually faces challenges and, every day there are struggles and problems in our news across a wide range of issues. Indeed, perhaps one of the big challenges in these days where so much of the news is about coronavirus is to remember the many other desperate situations that are not going to go away just because this is happening. Is it not telling that one of the ‘hits’, one of the by-products of panic buying is the reduction in donations to foodbanks and the inevitable knock-on effect on some of the most vulnerable sections of the community?

But back for a moment to keeping the lamp lit and the image of the lighthouse. Christians, to stick with the image, do more than  round in circles in their lighthouses. They also climb down and row the lifeboats.  

I Wonder ...

I am interested in how 'wondering' has emerged as a means of asking questions and reflecting in a variety of contexts. I think it's a great approach. It's a good way of getting us thinking around questions of 'what if'. It helps us consider what might be the impact if things were a little different - or, indeed, extremely different. I also like the fact that is the word 'wonder', which can carry that idea of excitement, even amazement, if the right context is provided. I know it's a method used in 'Godly Play', but not whether that is what has brought it to the fore.

But, in all sorts of situations, I think it worth considering:
I wonder how things would be if I approached this differently.
I wonder how it would be if I did this little something.
I wonder how I would feel if I really looked for God in this situation.

The 'wondering' questions can go on for a long time, and that's good - but don't forget, at the right times, to do something about what you wonder.

Jesus the Shepherd

When I was in the Holy Land just over eight years ago, like many visitors, I looked for an olive wood carving to bring back to the UK to remind me of the experience. The one I chose - pictured - is of a shepherd carrying a sheep, a reminder of that great story told by Jesus that we usually identify as the parable of the lost sheep. As with all the parables, that story says a great deal to me, particularly around God's coming looking for us, God's deep care for us, and the support that God offers us.

I find those to be encouraging thoughts in these challenging days.

What Is Ministry?

Extract from a note I sent to ministers in the URC's Eastern Synod today:

In his book Calling and Character William Willimon writes: “Ministry is therefore something that God does through the church before it is anything we do. Our significance, as leaders, is responsive. We are here, in leadership of God's people, because we have responded to a summons, because we were sought, called, sent, commissioned by one greater than ourselves that our lives might be expended in work more significant than ourselves. It all begins in vocation.”  He also reminds us “No pastor rises much higher than the role of a butler waiting on table. Yet, in the curious topsy-turvy ethics of the Kingdom, this is as high as anyone rises, a servant of those seated at the Lord's Table.”

I find those thoughts helpful.  Ministry is what God does “before it is anything we do.”  We can only do what we can, and I don’t think we should be worrying about what we can’t do.

I read Willimon’s book relatively recently.  But as I was reflecting on what I might say in this note, which I am writing ten days on from the 41^st anniversary of my ordination, I also picked off my shelves two books, which I read in preparation for that and still have, Living Priesthood by Michael Hollings and The Christian Priest Today by Michael Ramsey.  For the moment, I have just glanced at them – maybe I will re-read them – but what struck me in both was that the authors identify being a person of prayer as the first and foundational element in Christian ministry.  I know that I am telling you what you know, but I sometimes need to be reminded of basic, but important, elements in what I am called to do.  Whatever our opportunities and options, we all can – and must – let prayer be the core and, although our reformed theology rightly stresses the priesthood of all believers or, as we now often put it, our sharing in the life of the baptised, this is a role that, while very clearly not exclusive to us, is one that is part of our being set apart for ministry.

So, what is ministry (in a time of Coronavirus)?  Maybe some of you will be able to say more about that to me – but I would simply sum it up as pray; do what you can; and don’t worry about what you can’t do.

Online Church

There has been a lot of talk about online church over the past few years. Suddenly, we find ourselves with not a lot else. That is challenging, but it is also exciting. If coronavirus had happened at the beginning of my ministry, we would all have been a lot more isolated as the range of media by which we communicate these days was simply not there. I am not sure that I will ever reach the point when I don't feel that I would rather 'be' with people, but, when there's no choice, there's a lot to be said for all the online and social media possibilities, and it is great to see the creative ways in which so many are addressing the current challenging situation.

Quite a while ago now, I read someone's suggestion that you ought to be able to put your sermon in a tweet. I may even have blogged about it previously - I haven't checked. However, that is something I usually do if I am preaching. Now I need to find something else to tweet about .....

The Heart Of It All

Part of my Lenten reading has been The Heart Of It All by Samuel Wells. It's a great book, and I have really enjoyed it. It is sub-titled 'The Bible's Big Picture'. In the first part Wells provides a reduced or summarised Bible. As always, in that kind of project, it is interesting not only to see what is included, but also to see what is omitted. I like the way he creates a flowing story as he joins up thinking in a helpful way. It does help one to reflect on what is really important in the Bible.

Then, in the second part, he offers a commentary on what has been. Again, there are some very interesting pointers here. One important point that emerges strongly is the value of human relationship with God. He explores this through the experience of wilderness and the idea of covenant. "The wilderness was about one question: was Israel prepared to depend utterly on God? That’s the question that runs through the whole of the Old Testament. Covenant is perhaps the single most important word in the whole of the Old Testament, and so it becomes the theme of the second section of the narrative. Covenant is about the permanent intersection of the holiness of God with the fitful faithfulness and wanton waywardness of Israel."

He goes on to see how the same ideas and themes are worked out in the incarnation. "Incarnation plays the same role in the New Testament that covenant plays in the Old: it’s the embodiment of God’s faithfulness and the guarantee that there is no destiny for God separable from the commitment to be with Israel and the creation."

Wells points to the death and resurrection of Jesus as the key to much of that with which we engage, noting the important place this story has in the retelling undertaken by the Gospel writers with particular reference to Mark. "Mark’s gospel has been called a passion narrative with a long introduction, and there’s no question that the gospels see the last week in Jerusalem as the focus of Jesus’ whole ministry. It’s the time par excellence when we see the wonder of who God is and the truth of who we are. The three strands of Jesus’ story – the close relationship with the twelve, the wider engagement with the crowds, and the constant disputes with the authorities – coalesce in the events of these days."

"Resurrection isn’t the end of the story, however: the body of Christ on earth is to be the church, which is founded and empowered by the dramatic events of Pentecost. The Holy Spirit makes Christ present and clothes the church with grace to live the redeemed life and power to share the gospel with the nations."

Wells' perspective in this book is a great contribution to seeing the relevance of the Bible, and looking to something of how we can work that out in our lives.

I wonder which of the Bible stories you think are the most important ones.

Being With God

I have a couple of quite old little books that I have retained for so long that I can't remember hoew they came into my possession. The author is identified as Father Andrew and one, The Pattern Prayer, is a series of meditations on the Lord's Prayer, originally published in 1942.

I happened to pick it up to today and my eye was caught by a little section in the first meditation that offers a description of prayer. "There are all sorts of ways of praying - thinking of God, singing softly to God, pondering, imagining, conceiving of Jesus in his beauty. Any way in which we spend time with God is prayer."

I like that - any way in which we spend time with God is prayer. But it is important to find that time.

Facets of Leadership

I am back with Becca Stevens' Letters from the farm.

In one of the letters she suggests seven facets of leadership and just want to agree that these may well define good leadership -

1. Leadership that trusts the Spirit moving.
2. Leadership that practises generosity in ideas and in giving credit.
3. Leadership that doesn't live in the box.
4. Leadership that takes things once pitted against each other and turns them into partners.
5. Leadership that speaks truth even through a shaking voice.
6. Leadership that keeps growing and developing.
7. Leadership that comes at a cost.

WE are the Church

As we make our way through these unprecedented times, when almost everything is influenced by the impact of Coronavirus, it is important to remember what we know but don't always take entirely seriously, that church is not a building where we have the chance to meet for an hour or so on a Sunday morning somewhere around 11 am. - but we are the Church, and so, locationally, the Church is wherever we are. I know that is stating the obvious, but sometimes the obvious is worth stating!

Dave Walker has kindly made freely available a cartoon that makes the point - for more information on that go to http://cartoonchurch.com/ - but here it is:

Yes, it is important to remember, and take seriously, that we are the Church. Church is where we are. It is not that building that actually is not going to be open on a Sunday morning for a while - and we just don't know how long that 'while' is going to be.

There is lots out there about how we can connect. Many local congregations are already doing extremely good things. That is going to get both easier and more difficult. It is will get easier as we get more used to it; but it will get more difficult as time goes on, which it will, for a bit at least. The novelty will probably wear off, and we will just want this phase to be over.

I am reminded of the Israelites in exile. They just wanted to get home, back to normal - and who could blame them. How can we sing the Lord's song in a strange land? In a very different way, we are in a strange land. May we know God's blessings as we seek new and context appropriate ways of singing God's song.

And, as Jesus would say, look out for one another! I think he actually said: love one another.

Saying 'SORRIE'

Part of my Lent reading this year is Mark Oakley’s My Sour-Sweet Days. He takes from George Herbert’s poems, one a day, and then offers commentary on them. Herbert (1593-1633) is a poet who reflected on what Oakley calls “humanity’s inner being, the benefits of honesty, the mystery and love of God and what can be made of religion in a world of projections.”

In the poem that I read earlier today – ‘Sinnes Round’ (Oakley retains Herbert’s spelling) – we have, as Oakley says, “a penitential prayer, each stanza focusing in turn on sins of thought, word and deed.”

Sin is not a popular concept these days. We tend rather to explain our wrongdoings away. That is all very well, but it doesn’t eliminate the damage they do. I think one of the most startling things of these days in which we face the challenge and the uncertainty of the impact of Coranavirus is the way in which the supermarket shelves have been unnecessarily stripped. How can we behave like that? We should be ashamed of ourselves! I watched a health worker in tears on the TV news last night. ‘There is nothing left for us because it has all been taken while we are busy caring for you.’

As Mark Oakley says, commenting on this poem, “Herbert’s poem is a timely reminder that the things which matter most in life – trust, love, compassion, kindness, courage – all increase as we share them. Unlike money and power, where if I win you lose …… To sin means to live a life curved in on itself, feeding on its own poisons and leaking acids over those who unhappily find themselves close by. It is a circle that needs to be broken. Recognition is the first step of salvation. To say ‘sorrie’ is the second.”

Quite!!

Feeding 5,000: A Reflection

There are many ways in which the Bible, and particularly the Gospels, model what it is to be God’s people. One of my favourites comes in the incident that we normally call the feeding of the five thousand, the only miracle of Jesus reported in all four gospels and with a very similar story, the feeding of the four thousand, which occurs in two. It would seem that this story of Jesus feeding the hungry multitude was so important within the early church that it got told time and time again. Did something like this happen a number of times? Perhaps. Perhaps not. What really happened? I don’t think it matters. I am not really into explaining miracles. What I am into is trying to see what God might want to say to me – and to you. 

Jesus, presumably with the disciples, though Matthew doesn’t say so, had gone off in search of what we might call some retreat time. They went by boat, which is why I think it wasn’t just Jesus. But then he did go off by himself, though the crowds soon caught up. And this incident, this sharing, this feast, ensues. Inevitably, there are lots of things that we could say about the story – I want to, just briefly, mention three.

The first is that Jesus moves very quickly from crowd avoidance to crowd compassion. Verse 14 – he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them and cured their sick. One of the great tasks of the church is to care. That needs to happen at all sorts of levels and in all sorts of ways. But it is critical to our demonstrating what it means to be the light and the salt of Christ.

The second thing that I want to take from this passage is something about blind disciples. As so often, the disciples are going off in the wrong direction when Jesus stops them in their tracks and gently sets them in the right direction. Don’t send the people away. Sit them down. And let’s share that bit of food that we’ve got – which proves to be more than enough, with one basket of leftovers per disciple. One of the fantastic things about being the Body of Christ is that God trusts us to do it.

The third thing that I want to mention as significant is the provision of bread in the wilderness. This is nothing new. It has happened before, most notably when the moanings and groanings of the Israelites were answered by God’s wonderful provision of manna. In a sense this is just bread for hungry folk. The provision of bread in this way is sometimes given eucharistic overtones. And I guess why not? But this is actually Jesus meeting human need in all its ordinariness. The disciples have struggled with the idea of feeding the crowd. They just want to get rid of them.

Are there things, bits of God’s call, of which we would prefer to be rid – but God is telling us to get on with the task? Be ready to be challenged by God and, as we think of what it means to be the church at all the levels at which that is the case for us, let’s remember that God chooses us as partners, but let’s remember, too, that God doesn’t just leave us to get on with it.  God is there alongside us, and won’t call us to something that we just can’t do.

Following Jesus

One of my favourite authors has long been Henri Nouwen - and it was a joy and an encouragement recently to read one that I hadn't - Following Jesus. It is sub-titled - 'Finding your way home in an age of anxiety' and drawn from a series of lectures he gave on that theme at a point in his life when he was really struggling. He uses the idea of 'home' as an important image in reflecting on our connection with God.

"Jesus is a host who wants us around him. Jesus is the Good Shepherd of the Old Testament who invites his people to his table where the cup of life overflows. This image of God inviting us to his home is used throughout scripture. The Lord is my house. The Lord is my hiding place. The Lord is my awning. The Lord is my refuge. The Lord is my tent. The Lord is my temple. The Lord is my dwelling place. The Lord is my home. The Lord is the place where I want to dwell all the days of my life. God wants to be our room, our house. He wants to be anything that makes us feel at home. She is like a bird hugging us under her wings. She is like a woman holding us in her womb. She is Infinite Mother, Loving Host, Caring Father, the Good Provider who invites us to join him."

He reminds us that God's ways are not our ways and that things need to be seen very differently when we allow kingdom values to be our preference. "The Kingdom is where everything is turned upside down. Those who are marginal, those considered not respectable, are suddenly proclaimed as the people who are called to the Kingdom. The part of us that is weak, broken, or poor suddenly becomes the place where something new can begin. Jesus says, “Be in touch with your brokenness. Be in touch with your sinfulness. Turn to God because the Kingdom is close at hand. If you are ready to listen from your brokenness then something new can come forth in you.”"

That is actually really difficult. Worldly influence invariably means that it is not our preferred style. "When we are concerned that there isn’t enough, our first response is to start hoarding. We start hoarding the bread, the fish. Hoarding honour. Hoarding affection, hoarding knowledge. Hoarding ideas. If we start hoarding we find ourselves with enemies."

We need to think that through. We need to let fear overcome love. "Fear is precisely what makes us hold on to our position and possessions. It makes us hold on to what we have, because we are so afraid we will lose what we need. Love is overcoming fear. Love is letting go and trusting that in the letting go life will multiply. Life will become more."

Nouwen simply, but powerfully, reminds us of how Jesus would have us deal with enemies. "Speaking words of forgiveness is where the love of enemies becomes visible."

There is a lot in the book as it explores questions of discipleship for, in the end, all that is - is following Jesus. He includes much about God's love towards us, but also a powerful reminder that we ARE called to play our part. "To follow Jesus means that we do the walking. We are the ones doing the talking, living life, getting involved. We are the ones struggling, the ones who need to work hard. Jesus, in a way, does not take away the difficulties of our journey. I even dare to say that, following Jesus means everything changes while everything remains the same. You know very well that followers of Jesus—disciples—are people who live real human lives."

He recognises that it is not always easy, but it is always possible.