|
|
|
The CHRISTIAN Comment
|
|
29nd August 2010
"The Church in the Community"
|
|
The United Reformed Church, along with many other denominations has spoken out on justice issues for generations. Many local churches are also engaged in their own communities, some providing a home for organisations such as Guides, Scouts etc, some providing drop in and lunch club facilities, and some are engaged in the local issues which affect people’s everyday lives.
But why should we do this?
We see many examples in the Bible which introduce the concept of justice:
· God-given laws in Exodus, Deuteronomy etc (Deuteronomy 27:19)
· Job crying out for justice (Job 19:7)
· The Psalmists sing to a God of justice (Psalm 33:5)
· Isaiah says that God will not judge with his eyes or ears but give justice to the poor (Isaiah 11:4)
· The Pharisees are condemned for not focusing on the true matters of the law: justice, mercy and faith (Matthew 23:23)
· The widow and the unjust Judge (Luke 18:3)
· The workers in the vineyard who are paid the same wage (Matthew 20:8)
Themes of justice run throughout the bible. The gospel is more than salvation for the soul and it is more than good works of caring and healing. It is about dealing with root injustices in ways that challenge and transform the whole of human society.
Much of the work of the United Reformed Church as a denomination engages in social justice issues through the Joint Public Issues Team. This is a groundbreaking ecumenical partnership between the Baptist, Methodist and United Reformed Churches. The Joint Public Issues Team exists to enable the three churches to work together in living out the gospel of Christ in the church and in society.
Together the Joint Public Issues Team covers a wide range of topics - far greater than could be achieved working independently.
It promotes equality and justice by influencing those in power and by energising and affirming local congregations.
Recent projects have included:
Climate Change and Environmental issues, Iraq, Trident, Israel/Palestine, Cluster Munitions Campaign, Children in Detention, Political Party Conferences, Political Extremism, Global Economic Crisis, UK Poverty, Asylum and Immigration, Living Wage Campaign, Gambling, Community Cohesion etc.
The website for more information is: www.jointpublicissues.org.uk. You may also sign up to the Joint Public Issues monthly newsletter through the website.
Simon Loveitt is the United Reformed Church’s representative on the Joint Public Issues Strategy and Policy Group.
|
|
|
Scroll
down
to explore
previous
Comments
|
|
|
22nd August 2010
"Think Globally - Work Locally"
|
|
I was given a good piece of advice recently - at least I think it is a good piece of advice -
“Think globally - Work locally”.
And if you think about it, it makes good sense. All the media has picked up on the terrible tragedy unfolding in Pakistan caused by the flooding. Thousands of people have been killed, but millions have been left homeless, without a possession in the world, and many are starving and suffering because of lack of clean water. The international aid effort has not produced a fraction of what will be needed, and many seem slow to give, worrying if the money will reach the victims or go into the pockets of others.
We lead very complicated lives, and we sometimes think that all the world is against us. But in the cold light of day, we need to look carefully at our woes and compare them with many across the world. I think we would then see the richness of our lives compared to others, and some of our problems would pale into insignificance compared with the difficulties many others have to endure. Many today focus on their own lives, and what they are entitled to, and never look beyond themselves to the needs of others. Some never think beyond the boundaries of their own cities let alone international boundaries.
I don’t think it would be accurate to say that Jesus thought globally - but he did think outside the box, and he did direct those who followed him to love their neighbours and even their enemies. The Gospels tell us that Jesus worked very locally - picking up on the needs and aspirations of ordinary people, and setting them on a different road. He taught - he healed - and he stood up for the oppressed and powerless in his society. He taught us all about justice and truth and peace that started locally, but has permeated the whole globe.
The Good News of Jesus Christ makes a lot of sense, and if followed closely works both locally and globally. But we start from where we are!
Simon Swailes
|
|
|
|
8th August 2010
"I lift up my eyes"
|
|
|
I could sometimes wish that the garden were a little smaller! - but it’s a lovely place to live, here in Otley. There are those who say - and I wouldn’t demur from this opinion for one moment - that from our front doorstep we have the finest view from any manse in Yorkshire . It is certainly magnificent, looking out over the Chevin, with nothing between except the fields and the river. Day by day, indeed hour by hour, the view changes in subtle and sometimes not so subtle ways, and we are brought face to face, again and again, with the sheer breathtaking loveliness of God’s creation. I am reminded of words that I have sometimes used at baptisms: “What greater gift can we give to a child than sharing with her the beauty and mystery of creation?” And then there are those other words from the Book of Psalms. Psalm 121 begins:
“I lift up my eyes to the hills - from where will my help come?”
Now I know full well that the Chevin is only a minor ‘bump on the landscape’ compared to the highlands of Judea, which may well have been in the poet’s mind when he wrote those words, but they still speak to me as I stand at my front-room window and look out over the Wharfe valley. I also know that the Psalmist probably meant something quite different from what we tend to assume. For him, the hills were not a source of inspiration but a source of danger, the abode of wild-beasts, where bandits lurked. But for us, I think, and not improperly, they have taken on a different meaning. For us, the hills, indeed the loveliness we find all around us, speak of God’s creative power…the God who is, as the poet reminds us, “the Maker of heaven and earth”. And they speak, too, of space and solitude and peace…precious things in our cramped and bustling world.
It is only one small step from standing transfixed by the beauty of nature to prayer itself - prayer of gratitude, prayer of trust, prayer which is simply contemplation, the ‘drinking in’ of what is there in front of us. Let us not stumble through life with our eyes turned down but lift them ‘up to the hills’ that we may see all that is around us, and be led more deeply into faith, into worship, into prayer.
Rev. Anthony Gardiner,
|
|
|
|
25th July 2010
"Summer Journeying"
|
|
|
|
Three summers ago I embarked on a sabbatical to visit early Christian sites on the islands of Strathclyde and the Inner Hebrides, aiming to produce a pilgrims guide for travelers. First stop was the St Blane’s, Bute, ‘doon the water’ from Glasgow.
I travelled by train, Calmac ferry and trusty mountain bike before the final leg to St Blane’s walking up a steep grassy slope to the site of a monastic settlement. The steep hill encouraged pauses to appreciate the unveiling view, and the aired was bathed in the liquid silver of the lark.
The uplifting path has served for centuries for those who come to visit, read a psalm or offer a prayer. A sense of peace pervades St Blane’s, sheltered on one side by hills and open the other side to the sea. It is a place to survey both land and sea.
The earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it, the world, and all who live in it;
for he has founded it on the seas, and established it on the rivers. (Psalm 24. 1-2)
The shipping company Caledonian MacBrayne, enjoys an effective monopoly on transportation to the islands, for the shipping route is not profitable and relies on significant subsidy to provide the island with "lifeline" services.
An old poem that pithily merges Psalm 24 with the veritable dominance of Caledonian MacBraynes around the Hebrides:
"The Earth belongs unto the Lord
and all that it contains.
Except the Kyles and the Western Isles
and they are all MacBrayne's."
As many island communities rely on CalMac, so the psalm is a reminder that people ultimately reliant on God, whose hand is behind the land and seas. Whether you stay at home or travel away this summer, may you have a sense of God’s presence on whom you may rely.
Prayer
As I walk up hill
my heart ascends to the Lord
may God come to me
David Pickering
Minister St Andrew’s Roundhay
www.standrews.cc
|
|
|
|
11th July 2010
"Summer of Sport"
|
Strip down, start running- and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in.
Hebrews 12:1-2 The Message
 So its all over now- that glorious summer of sport; the World Cup, Wimbledon, Formula 1 Grand Prix and so the list goes on. Makes you exhausted just listening to it doesn’t it? It seems as if the whole world is involved in being a spectator or commentator about some sport or other. In a way its what life seems to be like anyway- everyone has an opinion about…. Politics, the cost of the pope’s visit, monarchy, life in general. Even Paul the octopus has an opinion to pass.
And yet when it all boils down these are comments from spectators who seem to have taken on more importance than the event itself. I wonder if that’s what it was like two thousand years ago when the greatest event on earth happened. When the commentating and spin took over and realities were left at the side of the road. No losers on earth then, the price of salvation was bought by God himself whose Son died for us all.
Just think of all the hopes of all the nations pinned onto their country ‘winning’ a game in which eleven or so men kick about a bag of wind. The lengths that some people will go to say they identify with a team.
In these days of increased secularism, so we are told, why are more people searching for the authentic voice in Christian faith? Do they watch to see who makes a progressive pass and lets women in, whose shot lands out of the court past the base line of numbers of churches, whose vehicle of prayer nudges over the line first? Or do people just want their needs answered? Perhaps we’re just all a little guilty of being in the crowd spectating and urging on rather than training and being in the team?
Sport or spirituality? Is the long hot summer really over?
Sue Macbeth
|
|
|
|
13th June 2010
"FEVER PITCH"
|
|
|
|
Well, the World Cup has finally kicked off - or it will have done by the time you read this. A recent advertising campaign for a certain well known digital TV provider had the slogan ’50 million believers’ as its catchphrase, immediately branding our secular society as a society of faith, even if the belief being implied is nothing like that usually recognised as religious in nature. Central to the advert is the thought of England winning the tournament, the subliminal message suggesting that if a nation unites in hope, believing that England can win, then it is more likely that the hope can turn into reality. And, of course, it will be far better for us if we see all this in the latest high definition TV! Personally I have no doubt that England are capable of winning, but so are several other teams. Those far more knowledgeable about the game than me talk about all sorts of factors needing to come together, including key players avoiding injury, the team performing at or near its best in every game, refereeing decisions going in their favour, and that all important, utterly vital element, namely good luck! Put like this we can see clearly that the belief being urged in the advert seems a lot more like wishful thinking, and that’s a world (cup?) away from genuine faith. The bible defines faith as “being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see” (Hebrews 11:1), striking a note of assurance which is in sharp contrast to the uncertainty and considerable potential for disappointment which many know only too well. Critics of Christianity will argue the biblical definition of faith is just as much wishful thinking as the advertising campaign, but is it? The testimony of the church through the ages is about a God whose faithfulness, love, grace and mercy are completely reliable, and countless numbers of Christians have actually experienced the truth of this for themselves, whatever their situation or circumstances. There is still a need for belief and faith today - perhaps more than ever - but a ‘faith’ which constantly fails to deliver eventually descends into naïve optimism or, worse, is abandoned altogether. The fact that the gospel is still with us challenges us all to take it more seriously, as well as offering it to those still looking for something worth believing. Revd Dr Jim Coleman Synod Development Officer
|
|
|
|
6th June 2010
"BEYOND WORDS"
|
 |
|
5 times croquet world champion Robert Fulford
|
When I tell people I play croquet they invariably nod knowingly. "Ah yes, that's a vicious game!" How close they come to having something thrown at them (but that would be vicious)! Croquet is vicious in the same way that chess is vicious, or cricket, or golf, or table tennis, or tiddlywinks. The only viciousness I see in all of these is that one person or team is trying to defeat the opposition by the application of skill and strategy. Croquet's the same. In the 25 or so years I've been playing it I've enjoyed trying to perfect its particular skills, I've met the nicest people, and seen no signs of any viciousness. Come with me to the club and find out. When I tell people I'm a minister in the United Reformed Church they invariably nod knowingly. "Oh, that's nice!" How close they come to having something thrown at them (but that wouldn't be nice)! Now while I know what I mean by croquet or minister, I suspect that most people don't really have a clue about either, and that "vicious" or "nice" amounts to just about the totality of their knowledge of the subject. And there's no reason why they should know any more or why I should expect them to. The same goes for words like God or Jesus or church. These are very rich and significant words for me but I have no right to assume that anyone I share them with has the same understanding as I, or any understanding at all beyond a basic gut-reaction. The only way we're really going to communicate is if we walk alongside each other for a bit. It's the model Jesus used with his disciples: "Come and see" (John 1:39). John Filsak
|
|
|
|
9th May 2010
"ENJOYING THE "BIGGER VIEW""
|
|
I thoroughly enjoyed a 3 day trip to Edinburgh in Bonnie Scotland last Summer; not only because I caught up with a very special friend who had to move from Wakefield “back home” last year to help look after her Mum who is beginning to struggle with dementia but also it gave me an opportunity to get out and about with her and enjoy the beautiful surrounding scenery. I was particularly glad to do this as the beautiful city of Edinburgh was in CHAOS at that time with all the main City streets overwhelmed with roadworks as they TRIED to develop tram lines; supposedly for 2010 ! So it was good to get out and about - to the coast of the Firth of Forth and into the hills around Dollar where my friend is now living. The view from her new home is stunning. I sat in her back garden and enjoyed a glass of wine as she prepared our evening meal - and it was SO quiet and peaceful without the noise of street traffic. The air was clearer and I could just feel myself relaxing more and more. I don’t know about you but when my vision shrinks to the immediate area around me, I see what needs to be done today and tomorrow but not too far beyond that. But when I’m up on a hill I see things differently. What was so big on the ground is just part of the patchwork of life. Bumpy roads become smooth and this Stop sign where I had sat for ages in the car with my friend impatiently waiting for the traffic to clear wasn’t even visible from that hill. When my Heavenly Father “invites” me to have the “bigger view”, a fresh perspective begins - I feel free to dream dreams and have visions again - to think how life can be improved. I am no longer feeling like a gerbil on a spinning wheel forever “chasing my tail” ! So, I hope and pray you will ALL try and take a break this Summer even if it is only for a day and go climb a hill or visit the ocean (or even the Firth of Forth !). Go some place where the horizons are bigger than your normal surroundings and then - you can get off that spinning wheel and enjoy the pleasures once more of God’s beautiful world and His peace all around you. ENJOY YOUR SUMMER. Gill Brown - The Airevale Group
|
|
|
|
25th April 2010
"JUST TELL THE TRUTH!"
|
|
The General Election campaign is now upon us, and many people feel that we are at a crossroad. Although the economy is a huge issue, I believe that as a nation we face a deeper, spiritual question, brought on by politicians’ expenses, the culture of spin, and the growing gap between the rulers and the ruled. The deeper, spiritual crisis in our national life is the question of Integrity. We have lost trust in our politicians. We no longer respect them, and their title, ‘The Honorable Member’, seems laughable now. The country is crying out for integrity in our leaders. We want honesty. We want people to tell the truth; to say what they mean, and to mean what they say. As an Army Padre I teach soldiers the Six Core Values of the British Army. They include obvious virtues like Courage, Discipline, Loyalty. But among them is the not quite so obvious Integrity. You see, without Integrity, you can’t have trust, and without trust you cannot have that teamwork which makes the army work. In battle you have to rely on your mates absolutely. We have CCTV cameras everywhere now (even in our dustbins). We all work towards ‘targets’. Why? It is because we don’t trust each other now to do the job right. They are all symptoms of the loss of integrity in public life. No society can work without trust, and the evidence is that our society is not working. For generations it has been assumed that we can look on Christianity as an optional extra like fishing or playing golf, if you happen to like those things. Is it really coincidence that the relentless loss of integrity in Britain has occurred at the same time as the steady drift away from the Church? By turning their backs on Jesus Christ, people have turned away from truth, because Jesus is himself The Truth. If our society is crying out for integrity, it is our job as Christians to point them to Jesus Christ, who is The Way, The Truth, and The Life. Brian Hunt
|
|
|
|
28th March 2010
"HOLY WEEK"
|
|
|
Holy Week ~ so that means school holidays, transport strikes, traffic chaos and the beginning of the tourist season. With wind and rain, sunshine and snow forecast, holidaymakers pack to be ready for anything. The clocks have sprung forward, and we have one last week before we can officially eat our Easter eggs. If this is the most sacred week of the year for Christians, what would make it a holy week for you? Of course there are Maundy Thursday communion services, and on Good Friday, walks of witness and 3-hour vigils at the foot of the cross. Could it be that the accounts of Jesus' life and death, which have had such enormous impact on the globe, are actually worth looking at? Conflict, tears, fear and betrayal, political manoeuvering and a violent death, somehow speak to us of self-sacrifice, reconciliation, hope and the supreme love of God for us. Jesus died in the busyness of a holy holiday weekend. He died to set us free. Enjoy some free time and refreshment this week. It is God's gift of new life for you. How do we then bring that renewal into our national life? Helen Drummond
|
|
|
|
21st March 2010
"NEW WAYS, TRUTH & LIFE"
|
|
Co-habitation rather than marriage; singleness through choice or circumstance; divorce; single parenthood; multiple partners; sex as a commodity; violence against women and men; bullying; no guarantees in life; debt. This is a litany of normal life in today’s Britain and is the context within which the Church lives and moves and has her being. The values of our society have changed in a generation. These values have not been enshrined by any law, but have become socially apparent by stealth. This is normative Britain and it is the social context of many Christians also. The Church finds herself having to re-evaluate her role. She is reticent to take a lead in moral issues because she herself has embraced the libertarian values of a post-modern world, where there are few assurances and where moral relativism prevails. We try welcoming people, but sometimes unwittingly straitjacket them into our image, or an image we inherited from previous generations. That “image” is going to be alien and will certainly not be culturally friendly. Our introspection might be the precursor to the death of “Church-as-we-know-it”. But if death of an old order is inevitable, then “rising” ought to be the promise we seek. Rising in the midst of the Church’s new and emerging order is a belief in God beyond our containment; God in the midst of the world, always renewing and ever reforming; God, beyond porch and pew. ‘…the Church’s major concern should not, in the first instance, be about filling pews. The first thing is to observe how God is already communicating with these many millions of people. They need to feel that even in a highly secular culture, there is still permission to develop the natural spirituality that is within them.’ 1 This is the challenge to which we must raise our sights, and, alongside those who have been pained by trying to live this life with integrity, we need to discover new ways, new truth and new life. Cecil White Chaplain to the Universities of Leeds 1 Hay, D. and Hunt, K. (2000), ‘Is Britain’s Soul Waking Up?’, in The Tablet, 24th June.
|
|
|
|
7th March 2010
"CURIOUSER AND CURIOUSER"
|
|
The fantastical Alice in Wonderland returns to the cinema screen this month and will no doubt dazzle young and old with its pantomime characters, its riddles and animals engaging in human activities. What began as a story to entertain young Alice Liddell, as she rowed along the Thames over a century ago, has now acquired an almost cult-like status. Described as nonsensical it manages to call into question grand statements that oppress and deny all but the powerful. Though we may not care to admit it, perhaps there’s an element of each character present in all of us - though hopefully not quite so exaggerated! During Lent as we re-examine our lives do we identify our controlling Queen of Heart tendencies, wanting to ‘paint all the flowers red’ or perhaps the White Rabbit always being late rings true. To be the Wise Caterpillar would be a good aim… a tiring notion for the narcoleptic Dormouse. Or the Cheshire Cat, frightening and yet delightfully courteous and helpful, and despite his ‘comings and goings’, the grin remains. Then there is the main character Alice…persistent, strong-minded, curious, tenacious, a natural risk-taker, independent…counter-cultural in the Victorian world where children are seen and not heard. No wonder the Queen of hearts wants to chop off Alice’s head! Making a stand always carries an element of risk - and yet it is the path of the Christian disciple - so perhaps as we search our souls this Lent and accept our idiosyncrasies we may also find our ‘Alice’. And that ‘Alice’ may be just what is needed to challenge today’s oppressive features of our culture, just as Jesus did in his time. Not so nonsensical after all! Shirley Knibbs
|
|
|
|
21st February 2010
"SNOWDROP DISCIPLESHIP"
|
|
This is the time of year when you expect to see snowdrops making an appearance - even around Halifax in (hopefully) the closing days of a winter that seems reluctant to depart. In the most bone chilling of winds these little flowers stand as the first sign of spring coming. Jesus left us no recorded thoughts about snowdrops, let alone a parable. He did speak of himself as the true vine with his disciples able to bear much fruit if they remained in him. If they did not remain in him, they would be like a branch that is thrown away, withered, unfruitful and fit for burning, Such words might seem off- putting to some, puzzling to others. How do you assess how much a disciple has produced? The snowdrop might give us a clue. Year after year it flowers vulnerable to the battering of wind and frost. It is only a small sign of changes to come and some people may give it little thought, but it has a life that will not be denied expression. Its apparent weakness is deceptive. In the same way Jesus’ followers today are to be signs of a better, more joyful world to come. They are as frail and fallible as any other humans, but can still show kindness in a world with much indifference; care for those from different backgrounds in the midst of conflict; and hope when there are many reasons for despair or discouragement. None of these may seem substantial or powerful compared to the reality and magnitude of the problems of the world. Such attitudes need disciples who are well grounded in their faith, if they are to cope with all the tests and questions that the world may throw at them. Jesus offers us the vision of a world more different from what we know than spring or summer is from winter. If we trust in him day by day, then perhaps we can live like snowdrops, pointers to a different world that cannot be suppressed. Patrick Taylor
|
|
|
|
31st January 2010
"INTO 2010"
|
|
Last night the snow fell again and this morning Scarborough once more resembles a winter wonderland. Silently, peacefully and, it is beginning to feel almost relentlessly, the snow fell and changed the landscape with its beautiful white embrace. For many people the snow has been a thrilling experience, a wonder of creation and a source of great fun but for others it has been disruptive and we have all had to change our plans and our routines in response to its presence. That it fell over the Christmas period was also a great joy for the anticipation of a White Christmas is now very much part of our seasonal celebrations. Soon the snow will pass and its beauty and its inconvenience will become a memory and our task is now to ensure that the message of Christmas doesn’t disappear as quickly! Like the snow Christ comes silently and peacefully and dwells among us. This truth is thrilling, a wonder of God and a source of great joy but it is also disruptive and the message of Christmas challenges us to change our plans and our routines in response to Christ’s presence. This has been the subject of our worship at St Andrew’s throughout January as we look to the year that lies ahead. In February I will have been part of this faith community for a year and it has been a good year. St Andrew’s is a relatively small congregation who inhabit a building that is a Scarborough landmark. What is truly wonderful about this community is their willingness to embrace the challenge of the Gospel, their enthusiasm for the work of the kingdom and their trust that God is with them. As we have moved away from the manger we have explored what it is about Christ’s presence that enables us to face the new challenges and opportunities that our journey together will reveal. So whilst the snow lasts we will try and enjoy it just as we have enjoyed Christmas and the celebrations that it brought but when the snow has gone we know that we will have much to do as we keep the essence of the Gospel at the heart of our community life. 2010 fills me with great excitement I think it will be a thrilling experience and a source of great fun as we are challenged with the Gospel. Jason McCullagh
|
|
|
|
24th January 2010
"MISSION"
|
|
|
|
Mission comes in many different forms and I would like to tell you about two forms of ministry that are taking place at Bilton and Knaresborough United Reformed Churches. Samaritan's Purse runs a project called Operation Christmas Child (OCC) which Bilton URC is committed to. The aim is to send a message of love to children around the world with the power of a simple gift. Bilton URC became involved for the first time in 2007. As a church we collected over 120 boxes. In 2008/2009 we printed flyers which we distributed to our friends and church neighbours. We also registered as an OCC collection point and this year over 180 boxes were collected from us to go to a distribution point. In 2008 approx 125,000 boxes went from our region to countries like Belarus, Serbia and Bosnia. OCC has really caught the imagination of our members. Some start collecting as early as the January sales! Each box contains gifts which are educational and fun and there is a choice of male or female and two age groups. The boxes, which our members fill, usually contain as standard: a hat and gloves, notebook, pencils. eraser, pencil sharpener, coloured pencils/crayons, toothbrush + paste, flannel, a toy and sweets. Items are given as a Harvest Festival gift and last year we had a Jumble Sale and raised £180 toward the £2.50 shipping cost for each box. Members come together and work as a team to fill the boxes. It's great fun and has a 'feel good' effect. We also hope to involve more of our neighbourhood by posting the flyers. This year approximately 40 boxes came from non-church people. We want our community to see that we are an involved church locally and internationally. Bilton URC is planning to start a ‘Messy Church’ programme this year. After a lot of pray, planning and preparation Knaresborough United Reformed Church (KURC) held its first summer Holiday Club in 2009 called ‘Rockies Plaice.’ Rockies Plaice is a fish and chip Restaurant set below the Upper Room in Jerusalem. Through the week the children were introduced to the early disciples through the marvellous acting of the Holiday Club Staff. The Synod was very supportive of this mission venture for which we say “thank you.” No-one at KURC had previous involvement in a Holiday Club. After all the preparation and as time drew near to the door opening on that first Monday morning we wondered if anyone would turn up. “Oh ye of little faith!” On the first morning we had 79 young primary school age children in the morning and 34 older primary school age children in the afternoon. The attendance for children of both ages rose on Tuesday and we levelled out in the mid 70’s by Friday for the morning children and dropped slightly for the older children in the afternoon. The staff of thirty eight people, from teenagers to pensioners from KURC, ‘worked their socks off’ all week. It was a “grand time” and what was amazing is that the majority of children were from non-church families. Each parent/Carer at the end of the week was handed a form by which to critique the Holiday Club. Here are some of the comments: ‘Excellent - truly exciting and memorable,’ ‘Confident my children are safe, well looked after and having loads of fun’ ‘My child finds it hard to separate in new situations but not at Rocky’s Plaice - a real breakthrough,’ ‘brilliant that it was free, you could certainly give a donation - all the effort, time and creativity that went into it - it wouldn’t come cheap’ ‘Fantastically welcoming atmosphere we have been greeted with every morning.’ KURC are now planning the 2010 Holiday Club with the hope that Bilton will host one in 2011. Since Holiday Club last year, a monthly Kids Club has started keeping the continuity summer Holiday Club. We average around forty children each Saturday. Both Churches are committed to mission and they praise God for what he is doing through them. God bless Revd Bob Jones.
|
|
|
|
20th December 2009
"O LITTLE TOWN OF BETHLEHEM"
|
|
|
O little town Bethlehem David’s city. Crowds gathered To be counted, Drinking and making merry. The inns are full, Not a bed to be had. A good profit for the Landlords, no doubt. All those people Ambivalent to what was Happening in a stable Behind an inn. An everlasting light Shines in the dark streets, Unseen, unrecognised, A light proclaiming a Royal birth, Goodwill and peace on earth. No pomp and ceremony Instead silently, how silently The wondrous gift is given. Given for all in this world of sin. We hear the glad tidings, Enter our lives Holy child of Bethlehem Be born in us today, Cast out our sins, Abide with us Our Lord Emmanuel. Nick Percival
|
|
|
|
13th December 2009
"SEEKING OUT THE GOSPEL AT CHRISTMAS"
|
|
|
|
At this time of the year we are bombarded and smothered by the Christmas Event as given to us in the media, in the shops and on the high streets. Our churches are busy too doing all those things that we feel that we have to do in these four weeks leading up to Christmas Day. Members of our congregations have haggard looks, and some even look weary. The endless round of carol services, christingle services, nativity services and the like. And even the well-known carols seem to lose their edge, especially when they are sung as a matter of duty. So it is refreshing when you glimpse a sight of the Gospel in a place you might not usually look. Two highlights for me in this Advent season have been a visit to the cinema, and an evening’s concert. The Film was “Nativity”, with a very good cast including Martin Freeman, Ashley Jensen from “Ugly Betty” and the comedian Alan Carr. If you are a primary school teacher you will love it - or perhaps squirm with embarrassment. A good film to take your kids to and the real message of Christmas is in there too! The concert was by the folk singer Kate Rusby. Along with her current band, and some very talented brass players, she sang some beautiful carols from the South Yorkshire tradition. They were fresh and powerful, and you felt a sense of worship even though you were in Penistone Paramount Theatre! For many people Christmas is about eating and drinking to excess, and getting the latest this and that. We say it every year, but the real meaning of Christmas is lost on most people. We celebrate God’s gift to the world of Jesus - but he should not remain a helpless baby in our eyes. His life and ministry were to do with building good and loving relationships one with another, and thus getting closer to the Kingdom of God. If we remember that this Christmas, Jesus becomes a real gift to us, our neighbour and the world. Simon Swailes
|
|
|
|
6th December 2009
"STRESS-FREE?"
|
|
|
|
Christmas is a busy time for us all. There are cards to write, food and presents to buy, friends and family to visit, the decorations to put up … not to mention special services to come to and carols to sing. The shops are full of Christmas goodies, the doormat is littered with gift catalogues, there are regular TV adverts for party dresses and festive fare and magazines telling you how to cook a stress-free Christmas Dinner - and then how to lose the weight you put on eating it! It all seems a long way from a young Jewish woman giving birth in Bethlehem … So here is my recipe for a stress-free Christmas dinner this year: Starter: John 1: 1 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God”. Christmas is God’s gift to us, so if you don’t think God would be worried about you forgetting the sprouts, then you don’t have to worry about it either! Turkey: As Americans eat turkey at Thanksgiving, why not take it as a reminder to give thanks for God’s gift to us of his Son, born as one of us to give his life for us? Christmas pudding: flaming with brandy and covered in brandy butter - the flames of the Spirit! Nuts and dates: fruits of the earth - our call is to live fruitfully for Christ. Mince pies: originally made in an oval shape to represent the manger Jesus slept in as a baby, the top representing his swaddling clothes. Family and friends: Christ had visitors (shepherds and wise people), so enjoy yours. Green and red: the colours of the season [poinsettia and holly] signify growth and blood. They remind us that Christ’s death on the cross is as much part of the Christmas story as the wise men and angels, and that Christmas is part of our continuing journey of faith and growth as God’s people. Love, joy and peace: Jesus is the reason for the season - may God’s gift of love, the Prince of Peace, fill your hearts with joy this Christmas. God bless and happy Christmas, Stella Hayton
|
|
|
|
29th November 2009
"COME, IMMANUEL"
|
|
|
|
The other day I went into a newsagent's shop looking for Christmas cards. There were banks of them, of course, covered with robins and holly and Christmas puddings, Santa Clauses by the score, and even inebriated monks! But not a single card preserved the memory that Christmas has something to do with the birth of a child. The wonderful, haunting stories told by Matthew and Luke might never have been penned. There were no stables, no kings, no shepherds, no stars, no Bethlehems. It's true there were occasional angels, but they had been turned into caricatures, cartoon fairies with tinsel haloes. The great, solemn, joyful theme of the Nativity was lost completely. Surely we cannot be content with such a travesty, such a deprivation. Take Christ out of Christmas and the whole thing degenerates into a sordid 'celebration' of vulgarity and greed! Yet...the world is hungry, not for the festive board laden with 'goodies' but for the story of a child and all that story means of the coming of God into his world. According to St. Matthew, the birth of that child fulfills an ancient and mysterious promise - the promise of One who would be called 'Immanuel', 'God with us'. This truth, of course, is what must undergird our celebration of 'Christ's Mass', the Feast of the Nativity. But this is a God who comes to us not in power and glory but in all the weakness and vulnerability of a baby...and there are many who find that a stumbling-block. It means, you see, that we have to re-think all that we ever thought we knew about God, and that can be a most uncomfortable, disturbing thought. We thought that God was supposed to be in control, but, in the Child of Bethlehem, he took the ultimnate risk of putting himself into our hands, into our power. But then, that is love's nature, to risk everything for the beloved. And it was a risk. In the beginning Herod tried to kill him and failed, but, at last, although it took another thirty years, we 'nailed' him - literally - to a cross. Christmas, above all else, is a celebration of love. However, it is not complete in itself. From Bethlehem we must, in the end, move on to Jerusalem. From the manger we must move to the cross...for they are of a piece, they belong together. There isn't a 'Christmas Gospel' and an 'Easter Gospel' - somehow separate - but one Gospel of the love of God made known in Christ. Rev. Anthony Gardiner (The Bridge Church, Otley)
|
|
|
|
8th November 2009
"BELONGINGS"
|
|
My old man said "Follow the van, And don't dilly dally on the way". Off went the van wiv me 'ome packed in it, I followed on wiv me old cock linnet So there I was surrounded by all my belongings in boxes and watched them being loaded onto the removal van. No flitting by night for me. No worries about the rent being paid as had the original writer , hence the quick flit. Indeed most things fit in the van so I wasn’t even obliged to walk with the linnet. No, this was a planned move and oh dear did I need several tens of boxes. I am reliably informed by Wikipedia that this song appears in the Sega Master System version of Lemmings, making its first appearance in the 17th level rated "Fun". Never got that far myself. I know that moving house appears in the top five stress level list and I certainly didn’t call it fun. Just why the lemmings keep on moving is not quite clear. In the process of packing I had to get rid of accumulated ‘stuff’ of all shapes and sizes. Memories came flooding back not least because when mum died a couple of years ago I had accumulated some of her stuff. Mother-in-law died earlier this year and another accumulation of stuff. There’s that old question of what would you save from a burning house?- I’m not sure I could make an instant decision even now that at this precise moment I know where most of my belongings are. Then I think of those who live in much simpler ways than I do, without many possessions and think especially of those who are overcome by natural disasters and have all their belongings swept away. Jesus told us not to worry about possessions, to sell them and then to be like the birds of the air worrying only about food for the day. Aah if only… then there would be no need for all these boxes of books, clothes, pictures, gadgets etc etc. Perhaps if I did just that then moving next time might be so much easier. Not that I am planning on that for a good while yet. Sue Macbeth
|
|
|
|
1st November 2009
"WORST VERSE?"
|
|
|
|
What’s the worst bit of the Bible? A survey published recently listed what some people thought were the “worst” bits. Among the ten listed were things like whole nations being wiped out, wives being subject to their husbands, the horrendous - ‘babies being smashed against rocks,’ and this one, which was voted the worst of all: "I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she must be silent." These words were written by St Paul in one of his letters to Timothy (1 Timothy 2:12). Difficult to know exactly why they came out as worst, though they have been, and still are in some places, used to repress and hold back women from leadership. But probably the original reasoning behind the words was not to treat women as second class, but that the world into which the early church was expanding would have found the idea of a Christian congregation being taught and led by a woman almost unthinkable. But what intrigued me was that each of the ten “worst” bits of the Bible looked very different when you looked below the surface. They only seemed “worst” because people were being very literalist about them or not attempting to understand their context. Take those terrible words that come at the end of Psalm 137- “Happy is the man who ... takes your babies and smashes them against a rock.” How could words like that possibly get into and be allowed to stay in the Bible? But when you look at the story behind the words you quickly realize these are deeply traumatized people who have seen their own children brutally murdered and who are now powerless except to scream at God and cry out for justice. We might have felt the same. But there’s lots more good news than bad, and we need to keep the difficult bits in perspective. We need to bring in the ‘Jesus factor’ and discover the difference he makes not only to understanding the Bible but to our lives today. There are answers here for those who will stay and look for them. Malcolm Hanson
|
|
|
|
25th October 2009
"Bookshops are Dangerous Places"
|
|
|
I always approach Tavistock House with trepidation because no sooner are you through the door than on your left is a bookshop and my feet automatically lead me to shelves full of the most fascinating titles. I scan one or two books and realise that they are exactly what I have always needed and that they will be fantastically useful in the future. Will I never learn? The bookshelves at home are full and the books I bought last time are still on the soon-to-read pile. I have actually heard of people putting books on their shelves two deep: how do they know what they have got behind the front row? And this is where I must confess that I have the same problem with my Bible. Its not that I don’t open it although there are people, I’ve heard, who own a Bible and have never opened it. My problem is I’m too busy. I look at my Bible to find out what the lessons are for next week or to find a passage which can be used to open a meeting. I open my Bible to prepare Bible studies each week but I never really read it for pleasure. There are so many corners, so many books, so many messages that I have missed. It’s as if they are on the soon-to-be-read pile which I’ll get round to when I have time. I remember the publication of the New English Bible New Testament in 1961 so well. I ordered it from a bookshop in town and when I went to collect it I sat in my car and read passages which I understood for the first time. Tears ran down my cheeks as the gospel became clearer and I just wanted to sit there and read it from one end to the other. I can still sense the feeling I had that day and I want to open my Bible and feel the same today. Join with me in praying that we can make the time to reread our Bibles with fresh eyes and that we allow it to excite us again to the possibilities it presents. Roderick Garthwaite
|
|
|
|
18th October 2009
"BLUEBIRDS OF HAPPINESS"
|
|
"There'll be bluebirds over the white cliffs of Dover tomorrow, just you wait and see…” Well do I remember as a child listening to the wireless - yes, this was in the days before we had ‘radios’ let alone television - and hearing Vera Lynn, the "Forces Sweetheart" singing this most popular song of the time. Now once again the voice of Vera Lynn can be heard floating over our airways singing that same World War II song that made her so famous. In June 1940 British and French soldiers were evacuated from Dunkirk and the French surrendered to Nazi Germany. During the summer and autumn of 1940, fierce battles were fought over the cliffs of Dover by British and German aircraft in the Battle of Britain - the largest and most sustained aerial bombing campaign by the Luftwaffe so far. By 1941 Nazi Germany had overrun much of Europe, and Britain continued to be bombed. The British peoples’ spirits were at rock bottom. The “White Cliffs of Dover” was written in 1941 before America had joined the war by two Americans, Walter Kent and Nat Burton, to uplift the spirits of the Allies. Using a "Bluebird of Happiness" as a symbol of cheer, the lyrics of the song looked toward a time when the war would be over and peace would rule over those iconic white cliffs of Dover. A Burma Star veteran was being interviewed on the radio last week about what this song meant to him, and many like him, when they heard it all those years ago. “It gave us hope”, he said. “If you’ve got hope in your life, you’ve got life”. That could well be a strapline for our Christian faith - “when you’ve got hope in your life, you’ve got life” - for our hope lies in Jesus Christ, and the promise of new life through his death and resurrection. We too have our “symbol of cheer” - the cross - the symbol of our hope and our promise of new life in Jesus. So when you are feeling low and cast down by personal difficulties, national calamities or global uncetainties, remember our “symbol of cheer” and the hope we have in Jesus, for as Paul wrote “… hope does not disapoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us” (Romans 4 : 5). If you want to know more about that hope in Jesus Christ, call in at a church near you. Rod Morrison
|
|
|
|
11th October 2009
WHAT IS YOUR "MISSION"??
|
|
I write this hard on the heels of a busy September with its round of meetings that always seem to be programmed in at this time of year. In them this question has often cropped up: “What is our mission?” People have used various words such as evangelism, outreach, community building and mission as they have sought to define what their church or churches together should be doing to respond to the Good News of Jesus Christ. In one ecumenical meeting when there was such a variety of responses a request went out for an official definition of “mission”. My summer reading has included a book by Susan Hope: “mission-shaped spirituality - the transforming power of mission” (published by Church House Publishing, 2006). This is a very useful book in which Susan reflects on the inner resources and attitudes of mind required to engage in mission today. Susan offers her personal experiences and many examples from others to illustrate how different churches are doing “mission” in fresh and relevant ways. She starts from a broad definition of “mission”: “God’s missionary purposes are cosmic in scope, concerned with the restoration of all things, the establishment of shalom, the renewal of creation and the coming of the kingdom as well as the redemption of fallen humanity and the building of the Church” ( taken from “Mission-shaped Church”, by Church of England Mission and Public Affairs Council, Church House Publishing, 2004, page 85) We are given glimpses of the types of spirituality (“life lived towards God”) and openness to the prompting of the Holy Spirit which are motivating Christians into mission and evangelism (and where evangelism is “that set of intentional activities which is governed by the goal of initiating people into the kingdom of God”). Susan contends the church must move from a “come” to a “go” way of mission. We cannot expect people to come to us. We must go to them - empowered by God’s Spirit - to share and live a life of love in Christ Jesus. It is important to have a daily spiritual rhythm and a balance between the worship offered up to God - the preparation to carry God’s presence (done in community with other Christians) - and then the going out into the busy world. The homecoming, reporting back, accountability and celebration on returning from mission, and the time for reflection and resting, are essential to sustain the mission and enable us to “keep-on-keeping-on” announcing the Good News. Is this your mission too? Then reading this book by Susan Hope could play a part in your achieving it. Geoff Ellis
|
|
|
|
4th October 2009
WHERE IS GOD SPEAKING TO YOU?
|
|
“Was Jesus alive before he was born?”. This was the question which my 6 year old granddaughter asked as we were driving up a slip road from the M1. As I concentrate on negotiating the roundabout, I knew that there also needed to be a response - 6 year olds don’t ask profound questions for the sake of it, they really want to know. There followed a conversation, the result of which was that we both agreed that it was difficult to understand! About a week later I was in conversation with two men at Corus Engineering Steels. One of these two often enjoys the challenge of a discussion with the chaplain about the Christian view of matters prominent in the news. Neither of the two men would profess to be Christians, certainly not practicing ones, and both have sons in the forces, serving in Afghanistan. They were concerned, not so much about their sons but about the awful stories which they said they often couldn’t read fully about the families and particularly children, living in Afghanistan. Our discussion ranged over familiar ground of the rights and wrongs of war and the way humans treat each other and God’s part in all that. I never come away from those conversations without having my faith challenged and my understanding deepened. A few days later again and I was in discussion with a small group of Christians from a variety of denominations. One lady was stridently positing the view that ‘we’ needed to teach ‘them’ about right and wrong and about God. The ‘them’ she was referring to included children, young people and those outside the church. When I gently suggested that maybe ‘they’ could teach us a thing or two I don’t think she was too impressed but arrogance is not part of the Christian calling and God speaks to us from all sorts of places and through all sorts of people. The first disciples were illiterate fisherman and lowly tax collectors - not those the priests, scribes and Pharisees would have expected to be able to share God’s wisdom. From the stories Jesus told, we know that he use the ordinary daily events of people’s lives to help his followers understand his message, he also reminded those around him of the need to become like little children even if we sometimes find the questions children ask take us well beyond our comfort zone! We all need to be prepared to hear God speak to us from the most unlikely and surprising places - let’s listen for what he has to say. Val Morrison
|
|
|
|
27th September 2009
DIVORCE?
|
|
On several occasions, we’re told, the Pharisees tried to outwit Jesus with tricky questions about the law. In Mark chapter 10 the subject is ‘divorce’ - under what circumstances can it be allowed? Moses allowed it on easy terms, it seems, but Jesus assumes life-long monogamy as the rule, “till death do us part” as we say. Incompatibility or unreasonable behaviour is not enough ground for divorce. Even cruelty and adultery do not suffice. Any who divorce their partners and marry others are committing adultery. Man must not separate what God has joined. Matthew, however, in his account of this conversation (ch.19), manages to elicit one justification for divorce: adultery, but then, according to the Sermon on the Mount (Matt. Ch. 5v28) those who even look on another, with lust, are committing adultery in their hearts, and hearts are where it counts with God! Do you know of anyone who is not condemned by this ruling? If all are guilty of adultery, in their hearts, then all divorces are justified. Obedience to the ‘law’ saves no one (Paul said it), but what is impossible for human obedience is possible for God’s grace (Jesus said it). Those trying to catch-out Jesus will need to be born again if they are to understand him. God can forgive unreasonable behaviour and cruelty and adultery. These sins will not divorce God from us because he loves us enough to suffer rejection and murder at our hands without saying, “I don’t love you any more”. But is that kind of loving possible for us? Or do we still need a Moses (or a parliament) to draft laws for the hardness of our hearts? David Megson
|
|
|
|
20th September 2009
LIFT UP MY EYES
|
|
‘I lift up my eyes to the hills; from where is my help to come? My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth.’ Psalm 121. Hills hold special places in Jewish and Christian history in the Bible. Jesus taught, preached, prayed, was arrested and crucified on hills. Cities, including Jerusalem and its temple, were built on hills. And Jewish pilgrims travelled there to celebrate great religious festivals. Unlike our services, these festivals, or seasons of worship, lasted several days. Singing as they ascended to the ‘City of God’ reflected their excitement. (It was in imitation of the Old Testament people that Reformed Churches, until recently, did not hold a Communion Sunday, but a Communion Season, including visits by elders to peoples’ homes). Israelites were celebrating not just by singing hymns of praise, but to sacrifice in an act that taught them that sacrifice is at the very heart of God (revealed later in Jesus). Pilgrims were met at the gate of the Temple by elders who welcomed them in the name of the Lord, as they handed over their sacrifices to the priest for safe keeping. The familiar words of Psalm 121 were recited, as one of the group was invited to say; ‘I lift up my eyes to the hills, is this where my help comes from?’ (Pagan gods were worshipped and offered sacrifices on hills too). An elder then prompted the group to reply: ‘No! My help comes from the Lord’, who actually made these hills, and looks after us as a shepherd looks after his sheep. The Lord is our keeper, who will keep us from all evil and will keep our life, even into eternity.’ When we ‘lift our eyes to the hills’ from where does our help come? From the many gods worshipped today? Or, as the Psalmist confidently responds, from the One who created us and this amazing world and everything in it - in love, for love; trusting us to love and preserve it too? Denise Megson
|
|
|
|
13th September 2009
MOGULS AND MOTHERS
|
|
Anyone looking for a relaxing autumn holiday might consider a week on Rupert Murdoch’s 56-metre luxury yacht ‘Rosehearty’. It can accommodate 10 guests and can be hired for either the Mediterranean or the Caribbean (full crew provided) for just £181,000. If this seems just a little too much for your pocket, what about Richard Branson’s private island, Necker, in the British Virgin Islands (where else?). It can cater for 28 people at only £30,000 a night but with a minimum stay of 5 nights. I came across these details in a newspaper a week or two ago, so turning the page quickly with a wry smile, my eyes met a headline “Too poor to pay - so young mothers and babies are locked up in hospital”. As a poor mother from the slums of Nairobi, Kenya, Monica knew that gaining admission to a maternity hospital would be difficult. Leaving was to prove much harder. She was referred as an emergency case 3 weeks overdue to the largest maternity facility in East Africa, Nairobi’s Pumwani hospital, where she gave birth to a healthy boy weighing 8lbs 5oz. However as she was unable to pay the delivery fee of £27, the hospital refused to discharge her. She was sent to a special detention ward housing 42 other new mothers and their babies where she was told she would be kept until she or someone else paid the daily-increasing fee. (Source - The Guardian 14.08.09) Such accounts of filthy richness (a politician’s phrase) and desperate poverty sitting side by side raised in my mind whether this was a political matter or a religious one (remember that we are often told that the two should never be mixed). I must leave it to the politicians to argue their case but for me this is very much a religious issue, calling for a wave of righteous anger at the injustice and inhumanity featured here, especially as many other examples of gross inequality and unfairness abound in our world. Jesus Christ had strong words to say against those who were happy with their material wealth and kind words of comfort for those at the other extreme. Perhaps our own thoughts and words should follow suit. Barry Parker
|
|
|
|
6th September 2009
BE STILL?
|
|
In my morning devotions today I came across a piece about Kevin (the 5th century hermit not the moderator…… although…..). The story is told that as he knelt in prayer a blackbird built a nest in his open hands and, so they say, he remained perfectly still till the eggs hatched and chicks fledged. A nonsense? A pretty picture? or a deep truth? Maybe, like me, you know the painfully, breathholding, excitement of watching creation’s splendour right under your nose? I was an ordinand on retreat at Launde Abbey in the early summer when we were sent out to BE STILL in the extensive grounds of the abbey. I walked off through the trees up onto a more open slope and stopped by an old tree stump. I have no idea how long I stood before I was aware, out of the corner of my eye, of a small pair of ears twitching just above ground level. And as I stood, rooted, 3 baby rabbits, who knew no better, came out to play and feed and sun themselves within inches of my feet. My memory says I stayed till they took themselves back underground and never knew I’d watched, but maybe an adult rabbit warned them or I moved and spoilt it, I don’t know but by the time I got back an afternoon had disappeared in an instant - and I’d missed the abbey’s legendary afternoon tea and cake! But actually what struck me about Kevin’s story was a thought about ministry in the church, any ministry in the church, about holding and praying and waiting, about being still and being a place and a person where God can perform for others His miracle of life and growth, being almost invisible yet absolutely indispensable. A nonsense? A pretty picture? or a deep truth? Play with it for a while….. pray with it for a while…. BE STILL. Alison Termie
|
|
|
|
|
|
