One of my worst habits is keeping the radio on at night.
It’s so much of a problem that I have a little underpillow speaker, so that even when my snores disrupt Janet’s sleep, BBC7 doesn’t.
Except, of course, that I don’t always remember to plug the speaker in…
So it’s quite odd that I fond background noise distracting, given that in the middle of the night it can lull me back to sleep… But, as time goes on, I do find it harder to ignore some sounds, particularly when I’m trying to concentrate on reading, thinking – or praying.
I suppose something similar afflicts a lot of people – they love music as a background to work, but if it’s someone else’s music, it suddenly loses its charm.
It also happens in church. During a service, we do several different things: some of the time, we aim to be very much “with” each other, worshipping our God together. At other points in the service, each of us needs to be, in some sense, alone with God. This is particularly true for me at three points – the last few minutes before the service starts, during prayers, and during communion.
And, while one of the great glories of St Martin’s is that we are a sociable and friendly church, I find that vocal sociability at these times distracts my already-flittering mind further from thoughts of God. We’re often exhorted to make a “joyful sound” – perhaps, at times, a “joyful silence” would be much to the point…
Tuesday home group met socially this week to enjoy pancakes on the eve of Ash Wednesday and to give some consideration to what our actions and responses will be during the next 40 days (Sunday’s do not count in Lent apparently), as we remember the time Christ spent in the wilderness and was tempted by Satan on at least three occasions.
Lent, a period of fasting and penitence is generally considered a time to give something up (chocolates and sweets being popular favourites) but this year we have been challenged to do something different:-
Firstly to read “The Return of the Prodigal Son” and then, by our own observations and reflections to discuss, in a home group forum (those who do not usually attend home groups are invited to come along - you might find you would like to stay) the deeper mysteries of reconciliation, forgiveness and inner healing in the three main characters of the book, the younger son, the older son and the father.
This book will confront our own life journey of struggles, fears, loneliness, dejection jealousy, anger or inner conflict but through the revelation of God’s delight in loving us individually despite our faults, it will challenge us to love as the father and to be loved as the son! Some powerful stuff and most probably interesting discussions.
Secondly The Bishop of Lichfield with Christian Aid is challenging us all to have “A Heart for Creation.” Each week in Lent we are asked to change something about our lifestyle to help in the fight to cut carbon emissions. There are six challenges: waste, consumer choices, energy savings, transport issues, water consumption and biodiversity. If each of us makes small changes then together it can make a huge difference.
Thirdly the challenge is from “Hope08” To do more. Do it together. Do it in word and action. Mike Pilavachi writes Hope in 2008 provides an amazing opportunity for all Christians to work together and make a huge difference on the nation. For more details look on webpage Hope 08.com.
Are you willing to take a challenge during this Lent and beyond?
Jesus wanted to make an impression on people that would change their attitudes and behaviour that would also impact on the whole world.
So what did he do? He called some fishermen to be his disciples. It was on the surface, an unlikely choice; they were ordinary men from an ordinary place and they were effective in gossiping about Jesus. They spoke breathlessly to the people they met about what an impression Jesus had made on them, and the word spread like wildfire.
There are six characteristics which are needed in those who would catch fish, which are also needed in a disciple who wants to attract people to Jesus:
1 They must have patience, not expecting immediate results. 2 They must have perseverance, prepared to keep trying to influence others until the results come. 3 They must have courage. The fishermen may meet a storm; the Christian disciple may meet a storm of opposition. a. Courageous people risk their lives to do what is right. They also risk their reputations to do what is right. b. Courageous people are bold in representing Christ. Boldness requires courage to press though our fears and do what we know is right. To gain that boldness you can pray for the power of the Holy Spirit to give you courage, look for opportunities in your family and neighbourhood to talk about Christ, realise that rejection, social discomfort and embarrassment are not persecution, and start where you are by being bolder in small ways. c. Courage grows as we trust God. God is our refuge, our only true security. How often do we entrust our lives to other things – perhaps money, career, a noble cause or a lifelong dream? Our only true refuge is the eternal God, who always holds out his arms to catch us when the shaky supports that we trust collapse and we fall. No storm can destroy us when we take refuge in him. Those without God however must forever be cautious – One mistake may wipe them out. Living for God in this world may be a risky business but how much more shaky for those without God in their lives. Because God is our refuge, we can dare to be bold. d. Courage grows from the presence of Christ. 4 They must recognise the right moment. The fisherman knows when to cast his net; the Christian must know when to speak and when to keep silent. 5 Next is the skill to choose the right bait for each type of fish. There are as many ways of coming to Christ as there are human beings, - we can’t expect a ‘one size fits all’ approach to attract the person we’re talking to. 6 Sixth, and last, fishermen must keep themselves out of sight. So must Christians. We’re not trying to draw attention to ourselves, but Jesus.
Jesus original disciples did their work in attracting us to him, and that’s why we’re here today. Now it’s our turn to be courageous. We’ve been chosen, as they were, but not for our own benefit; not so that we can sit back and enjoy being a Christian. We’re chosen for service, not privilege – we have a job to do. We must gossip about the gospel, and spread the good news about Jesus and his love. We need to be tactful and time things just right, as the fishermen learnt. Every word that we say about what our faith means to us is judged by others. If God means anything to you, you won’t want to keep it to yourself – you’ll want to share your own experience with others at the right moment.
God is calling to all of us to become fishers of men. Are you willing?
When Jesus was baptized by John, heaven opened to him, he saw the Spirit descending like a dove and God said: ‘This is my Beloved Son with whom I am well pleased’. It’s one of the most astonishing bits of the Good News that, before Jesus got stuck into his life’s work, before he did anything much for God, his heavenly Father did something for him and told him how much he loved him. In the same way, long before we start to serve and do things for God, our heavenly Father shows us that he loves us. Jesus himself is the definitive sign of how much we are loved, of course, and wherever Jesus is, in our churches for instance, there are signs for anyone who cares to look, that God loves us first.
Sometimes this happens in quite concrete ways and last year we had a rather exciting turn-around in our diocese. In 2002 we found that we were heading for bankruptcy. Particularly our larger churches had seen decline and children’s work was in free-fall. We had to take drastic action to cut clergy posts and reduce the budget by £800,000. Alongside that we focussed on a Strategy for Growth: praying that God would halt the decline and restore our church. Well, five years later, we can thank God for a wonderful confirmation of his love.
Last autumn we licensed the largest number of Lay Ministers that we can remember. Back to Church Sunday produced several thousand returnees in church. Parishes have appointed almost as many children’s workers as the number of clergy posts we have cut.
All those churches which have attended the Larger Churches course have stopped declining and started growing again.
Growth is happening in a large proportion of our parishes, including some of the poorest in the land.
We have been able to balance the budget, and strengthen our reserves. We’ve decided to: increase the number of stipendiary curates from 9 to 11 and not to cut the last remaining three clergy posts of the 50 cuts agreed five years ago. We aim to stabilize the number of clergy and then pray for a gradual increase again. We will reduce the annual increase in the Share Formula for the first time for many years. We’ve even been able to offer stipendiary clergy health check-ups and we’ve begun a big programme so that every vicarage can have cavity wall insulation.
It is not all good news of course. Some parishes are struggling. But for every apparently insoluble problem we face there are encouragements and exciting opportunities. So I hope you will join with me at the beginning of a new year in giving thanks. Thank you to God for all the signs of his amazing grace, and thank you to all the faithful parishes where people have upped their giving and their commitment.
After Jesus was baptized and God confirmed his love for him he was ready to face the challenge of the next few years. And when we’ve been particularly loved by God, as we have, it helps strengthen us for what lies ahead.
Now there is a particular challenge coming for which I would value your prayers and your action. We are going to need more clergy and especially more ordinands. We are just coming to the point over the next five years when the baby-boomer cohort of clergy is planning for retirement. Numbers of ordinands are up, but not yet enough to compensate for the expected number of retirements. Please pray that some of our clergy will retire a little later than at 65. And that we will be able to support more new ordinands each year, paid and voluntary.
It’s also important to pray for the increase in the number of Lay Readers and other voluntary lay ministers to be maintained.
And of course I’m praying for the money to train and pay for clergy and lay workers. Jesus didn’t exactly know all the details of his coming ministry. But he knew he was loved and entrusted with the Good News. We don’t exactly know how things will be for our Diocese. But as we receive strength from God we will continue proclaiming the Kingdom, making new disciples, encouraging the ministry of the whole people of God, calling out ministries and using gifts, and increasing the number of ministers, lay and ordained.
I believe our aim should be to produce enough paid and voluntary clergy to staff as many parishes as possible. We should aim for high quality clergy, capable of forging ahead and giving leadership for different kinds of parish. Of course, we have to raise the money to pay for them. But a good stipendiary priest will soon pay for him/herself in all but the poorest parishes. Given the chance of a new vicar, most parishes will rise to the challenge of paying for him or her.
So the challenge this year, if we are continue the turn-around and provide for our churches, is not merely to do with the numbers of people coming through the doors of our churches but what happens to us as we walk out of the doors. All beloved sons and daughters have a ministry. My hope is that every parish will be encouraging every member to consider their calling and their ministry, because everyone is a beloved son or daughter. And out of all those callings my hope is that there will be some more from each place who will be given the gifts for ordained and lay ministry so that together we can be a sign of God’s love and grace.
For the last few years I have invited parishes to set aside Ash Wednesday or another suitable day as a day for concerted prayer and fasting for the Diocese. This year I invite you to do the same: first and most important to celebrate and thank the Lord for wonderfully giving us the security of his love; secondly to pray that the turn-around will become a steady growth, particularly in children and young people; and thirdly in prayer to the Lord of the harvest to provide the increase in ordinands, clergy and lay leaders we need for these next years.
And a joyful Epiphany to you all! Jonathan Gledhill
Do you make New Year Resolutions, and after only a few weeks or even days, fall short of your goal? I am afraid that is what happens to me, and I think to many others. I read that, a New Year’s resolution is a commitment that an individual makes to a project or a habit, often a lifestyle change that is generally interpreted as advantageous. Perhaps you resolve to eat less, exercise more, do more to help the environment, be kinder to others or whatever. Do You find you make a resolution, having set your sights too high to actually be able to achieve the desired result? I do. One of my worst failings is that I tend to put off till tomorrow what I should be doing today. This year I am going to try to correct this and get down to doing all I should do when it is needed. I will make more time to read and study my Bible. I am going to try really hard, as it always seems that time is short and I say I’ll do it later, tomorrow, and then tomorrow also never seems to leave time enough. I suppose that if you fall short of your goals you should ask yourself what kept you from achieving them and try to make connections.
Perhaps, I should not try to read a whole large chapter of my Bible, but a few verses, that I can think about deeply and apply their teaching to my everyday life. I shall try to find a regular time to do this and with God’s help stick to this regular routine until I find it becomes second nature. Judaism’s Yom Kippur, is a time to reflect upon one’s wrong doings over the year and both seek and offer forgiveness. The concept, regardless of creed is to reflect upon self improvement annually. Can we do that? Not on our own, but with God’s help and strength, prayer and study of our Bibles I think maybe we can. I do hope and pray so.
I was interested by an article in the current edition of the Diocesan newspaper, “Spotlight”, that a team of “mystery worshippers” would today be visiting churches in the Midlands to report on “the comfort of pews, warmth of welcome, length of sermon and much more”. Far be it from me to suggest which of these factors we might fail on, but if you don’t recognise that person sitting next to you this morning, be nice to them, they may be reporting back!
Hopefully we are always welcoming to strangers, and not only as a church, but also in our individual Christian life. Christ exhorts us to treat everyone, stranger or otherwise, as if we were dealing with Him – “He will say to them (the unrighteous) …I was a stranger yet you did not invite me in……….They will answer “Lord when did we see you… a stranger… and did not help you? And He will reply “I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me. Then they will go away to eternal punishment” (Matthew 25 vv 41-46)
It isn’t always easy to be nice to strangers, especially that pesky person who dithers in front of you in the queue at the shops. But then, nobody ever said it was easy being a Christian.
For many people the last two weeks have been an exciting round of delicious family meals, often accompanied with too much alcohol; the excited exchange of presents and happy celebrations with friends and family, some of whom have travelled many miles for the traditional get together over Christmas and the New Year. Expanding waistlines and credit card bills bring a jolt back to reality at the beginning of January.
For Christians however, the beginning of January is a very special time of celebration: January 6th is the Feast of Epiphany. The word Epiphany literally means “showing forth”. This was the time when the three wise men ended their arduous journey by finding the Christ Child. The three wise men, with their gifts of myrrh, frankincense and gold, were the first Gentiles to acknowledge and worship Jesus as their Lord and King, fulfilling Simeon’s blessing that this child Jesus would be “a light for revelation to the Gentiles” (Luke 2 v. 32).
As this new year begins, let’s make a conscious commitment to show others that Jesus is the Saviour of all people. Let us resolve to shine light into darkness by our prayers and actions. Set aside time to pray for God’s will to be fulfilled here at St. Martin’s. Make a decision to actively support a charity such as Christian Aid, Tearfund, The Children’s Society or any of the other wonderful voluntary organisations who work so hard to show Christ’s love in a broken world. The long wait is over, the light of the world is with us.
It is time to look forward to 2008 and all that it may bring. We may be looking forward to the birth of a child, celebrating a ‘milestone’ birthday, a significant anniversary, a wedding or a christening. At this cold and dismal time of the year we are perhaps looking forward to a holiday either in this country or abroad or the opportunities that retirement brings.
At St. Martin’s there are many things to look forward to, both the growth of ‘green shoots’ and new initiatives. After the successful Christmas party at The Net we look forward to these families returning and bringing their friends with them. The Coffee Shop provides a warm and welcoming environment where local people can meet and share fellowship and friendship and we pray that this will reach out to more people. We look forward to the development of the home groups which provide a supportive, caring environment in which people’s faith can be nurtured.
The Marriage Course, which is designed to help married couples strengthen their relationship, starts at the end of January and we look forward to this initiative for couples both within and outside the church. We look forward to the impact that the first Daytime Alpha course will have on people’s lives. At the beginning of the year the D.C.C. looks forward to telling Bishop Clive about the different initiatives that we have undertaken in our desire to grow the church.
As we look forward to 2008 let us all remember that ‘the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go’ (Joshua 1.9).
The Christmas card from the Archbishop of Canterbury this year is a photo of a little boy and a little girl, dressed as Mary and Joseph for a nativity play and holding hands. That normally makes for a cheerful card, but these two are Palestinian children from a primary school in Bethlehem and their solemn expression is difficult to read. Is it foreboding or sullenness, shyness or fear?
The Israeli travel industry is doing its best to attract tourists/pilgrims back to the ‘Holy Land’ but there is not much mention of Bethlehem these days. When I visited the biblical sites, the trip to Bethlehem was cancelled at short notice because of the violence. Today the great dividing fence and the numerous checkpoints would not be conducive to a good holiday, though the locals have to put up with it permanently. Even a nativity play can’t have its usual cheering effect. My abiding memory of the country is of almost palpable hate between the communities – and no wonder: each has suffered so much violence and each mourns for so many innocent victims. But that is just the point. When we ask, “Where is God in all this suffering?” the answer lies in the nativity play. When God decided to intervene in our/his world, he didn’t go first to the United Nations/Caesar or even to the local faction leaders. He came to Bethlehem, where oppressed people like Joseph were forced to do what foreign soldiers decreed and where pregnant women were hassled. No doubt the hate and bitterness were fully expressed over drinks in the inn all those years ago. But round the back, in the stables, unnoticed by all the principle players, God was doing a miracle that would do more to defeat hate through love than anything else in the whole of human history.
Looking at the unsettling faces of those two Palestinian children on the Christmas card I couldn’t help wondering what it is that turns a child into a terrorist. It must surely be a sense of outrage at terrible injustices done repeatedly to one’s family and friends, together with a blindness to the terrible wrongs done by one’s own community. Only love can lance that poisonous kind of hate. To change enemies into friends when generations have been feuding seems impossible to us; and yet the collapse of the Berlin Wall, the end of Apartheid and the growing peace in Northern Ireland encourage us to believe that love can still defeat hate.
The key to world peace lies again in Bethlehem and the Middle East. The problems there are just as intractable as they were in South Africa or Northern Ireland. And we have our own individual and family quarrels. Christmas often points up our private tragedies, the intense loneliness of consumer society, and the petty hatreds we find difficult to get rid of. The barriers and checkpoints are there in our own lives too when we come to think about it. Whatever our situation, we can still pray for the Prince of Peace to be born again in our hearts and in our world; and we can pray that one day the children of Bethlehem may smile again at the prospect of taking part in a nativity play. The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.
Jonathan Gledhill Bishop of Lichfield December 2007
At Christmas we celebrate the greatest gift to mankind from our Heavenly Father, the gift of Jesus, God in human form in all its frailness and vulnerability. We can only imagine the smell and dirt as our Saviour was brought into this world in total humility. For me, Jesus is the best gift but I believe that God wants to give so much more.
Recently, the Alpha course had their away day to look at the Holy Spirit and I was asked to go along. I have been to others away days in the past, but this was the first that St. Martin’s arranged without another church. I have to admit that I had my doubts as to whether we would see the Holy Spirit move in the way that I have seen before.
Simon talked, we watched the Alpha video, we had the discussions and lunch had been eaten. Now the time for us to pray we those who wanted it, would anybody want to receive the Holy Spirit and would my influence help or hinder them? I am glad to say that there were many prayers said and in one instance, a particularly intense presence of the Spirit. I do not know what this experience meant for the person we were praying for, but I am believe that when the Holy Spirit gives such an experience there is a reason for it and for me it is exciting to see how a person develops and grows their faith.
Jesus left us the Holy Spirit as a gift and to be filled continually is something I believe the church should seek. More and more people in our church have been given an experience of the Holy Spirit and been left with a gift that has been used to build up the church. You may be aware of the words, dreams, etc people are getting relating to our church and I believe we are being prepared.
I hope and pray that we, as a church, can get to know the Holy Spirit and that we are open to His moving and the gifts He wants to bring to St. Martin’s. Jesus is the greatest gift, but why settle for this when there is so much more God wants for us?
May God’s love and peace be with you all, and with the ones you love.
This year I have found it difficult to buy Advent Calendars that meet my specifications(yes, I know my two might be considered too old for such things but traditions need to be maintained!). I need calendars with no chocolate, one with large clear numbers, one small enough to post and both with a nativity theme. For the first time I could only find suitable ones in Christian bookshops.Even those with Christmassy things like stars, bells, and parcels behind the doors were in short supply.
The German Lutherans in the early nineteenth century used to count down the days to Christmas in ways such as drawing a chalk line each day on the door or lighting a candle.In 1908 Gerhard Lang, a printer in Munich,made a calendar consisting of 24 pictures telling the story Jesus’ birth on cardboard.Doors were added in later versions, often with Bible verses printed on them.During the second World War production ceased in order to save paper but the idea was resurrected after,
The first Christmas cards ( mid nineteenth century) also usually depicted either a nativity scene or robins ( postmen were referred to as robins because of their red uniforms) or a snow scene ( it was colder then!)
Calendars and cards are such a good way to help children learn what Christmas is all about. The birth of Jesus Christ should not be buried in chocolate and Father Christmas.
So it’s the start of advent, what does that mean in the 21st Century? The hectic countdown to Christmas? Stressful days shopping?, buying presents?, focussing on loved ones? preparing for Family events?, writing Christmas cards? writing letters to Santa? lighting the advent candle? opening the advent calendar?
Yes all of that, but I suggest more importantly its time to find time for God in advent. To prepare our hearts for the coming of God.
It is the start of the life of Jesus, and as we all continue along our journeys of life, like Christ, I urge you all to find time for God, as we prepare to celebrate literally; the birth of our salvation, in advent time.
In case you haven’t already realised there are only four shopping weeks left before Christmas. If like me you haven’t yet completed your Christmas shopping, why not consider buying gifts which you family and friends will not only enjoy but will also make a difference to others around the world.
It is becoming much easy to purchase Fair Trade, ethical or alternative gifts which benefit people in the developing world – particularly if you have access to the internet. For example Christian Aid (www.presentaid.og) and Oxfam (www.oxfamunwrapped.com) provide a range of alternative gift ideas. For example you can buy a loved one a goat, or a new toilet, and the money from that gift goes to people in the developing world, and helps them build a better life. In turn the person for whom the gift is intended receives a card telling them how the money is being used.
Alternatively you may like to buy a fairly traded gift. Tearcraft (www.tearcraft.org) provide a range of beautifully handcrafted home, gift and jewellery items from around the world. These items are made by skilled craftspeople from some of the world’s poorest communities. Not only do you receive beautiful gifts, but you have the knowledge that your purchase provides employment, fair wages and the hope of a brighter future for some of the world’s poorest. When we think of fair trade we tend to think about food items, but it is now possible to buy a whole range of fairly traded items, including clothes, toys, kitchenware, items for the home, etc. If you have access to the internet, you may like to visit http://www.getethical.com/ which finds the best ethical, Fair Trade and environmentally friendly products and services and brings them together in one easy-to-access online shop. Do not worry if you don’t have access to the internet, increasingly high street stores are starting to realise the great market for fair trade and ethical goods, and if you search careful it is possible to find these some of these items on the high street (and if you high street store doesn’t supply fairly traded ethical goods, demand to know why not!). We also have a number of catalogues from a variety of Christian organisations with a range of gift ideas in church.
When we purchase fairly traded and ethical gifts it is good to know that not only does it bring pleasure to those for whom the gift is intended, but it also brings benefits to others by building a more just and fair world.
An elderly Chinese woman had two large pots, each hung on the ends of a pole which she carried across her neck. One of the pots had a crack in it while the other was perfect and always carried a full portion of water. At the end of the long walk from the stream to the house, the cracked pot was only half full. For two years this went on daily, with the woman bringing home only one and a half pots of water. Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, but the poor racked pot was ashamed of its imperfections. It was miserable that it could only do half what it had been made for. After two years of what is perceived to be bitter failure, it spoke to the woman one day by the stream. "I am ashamed of myself, because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your house."
The old woman smiled, "Did you notice that there were flowers on your side of the path, but not on the other pot's side?" "I have always known about your flaw, so I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back, you water them. For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate the table. Without you being the way you are, there would not be this beauty to grace the house."
Each of us has our own unique flaw. But it's the cracks and flaws we each have that make our lives together so very interesting and rewarding. You've just got to take each person for what they are and look for the good in them.
So, to all my cracked pot friends, have a great day and remember to smell the flowers on your side of the path.
Welcome to the blog of St Martin's Church in Walsall. On this site we publish our weekly reflections, which we hope will inspire, challenge and stimulate you. Please take time to visit our main website at www.walsallstmartins.2day.ws (see link below)
