Today, with my Circuit Administrator hat firmly on my head, I have been writing to the local churches to give the stewards the arrangements for the Sunday in July when only three churches in the Circuit will be open for worship and the other churches will remain closed.
The idea is that there will be three different types of service, one traditional, one reflective and one all age praise service. Hopefully something for everyone. Transport will be arranged to ensure that no-one is unable to attend one of the churches.
This will be a challenge to many of the congregation. Many members think that it is their "right" to worship at their local church, that every church is entitled to have a preacher in the pulpit every Sunday (regardless of the fact that there may only be four or five regularly in the congregation)
We must stop thinking that we have always done things a certain way, so no other way will do. We must be prepared to embrace change and consider the future and the way ahead.
Some people have already indicated that they will not be travelling to another church to worship on this particular day. One or two churches have asked if they can ignore the three planned services and open as usual - and have been told that they may not.
I think we should all remember that each church is part of a wider church family that embraces Circuit, District and Connexion and welcome the opportunity to meet new people and experience different styles of worship. It is all about relationship and grace.
Friday, 12 June 2009
Last week a group of Christians from New Life Church in Grantham decided to help the community by clearing up litter and providing events and entertainment for residents on one of the town's council estates. They intended to show the love of God to the people of the town and wanted to make a difference to the community.
However, the group has come in for much criticism, being accused of helping people "for the wrong reasons". It has been suggested that these volunteers were helping people, not because they care about the community, but because they "fear eternal punishment if they don't do this sort of work and expect to be rewarded in heaven". Some of the town residents have even suggested that it would have been better for them not to bother, because they are only trying to "ram their beliefs down people's throats".
We obviously have a bigger struggle on our hands than I had anticipated, when acts of kindness are viewed with resentment and suspicion!
However, the group has come in for much criticism, being accused of helping people "for the wrong reasons". It has been suggested that these volunteers were helping people, not because they care about the community, but because they "fear eternal punishment if they don't do this sort of work and expect to be rewarded in heaven". Some of the town residents have even suggested that it would have been better for them not to bother, because they are only trying to "ram their beliefs down people's throats".
We obviously have a bigger struggle on our hands than I had anticipated, when acts of kindness are viewed with resentment and suspicion!
Tuesday, 9 June 2009
In the last few days I have learnt about "Live Birth Abortion".
This is an absolutely despicable crime against humanity and I am utterly sickened to read about the practice.
Jill Stanek was a nurse at Christ Hospital in Oak Lawn, Illinois. As a Christian, she was distressed to learn that the hospital was not only pro-abortion, but But what was most distressing was to learn of the method Christ Hospital uses to abort, called induced labor abortion, now also known as "live birth abortion." In this particular abortion procedure doctors do not attempt to kill the baby in the uterus. The goal is simply to prematurely deliver a baby who dies during the birth process or soon afterward.
To commit induced labor abortion, a doctor or resident inserts a medication into the mother’s birth canal close to the cervix. The cervix is the opening at the bottom of the uterus that normally stays closed until a mother is about 40 weeks pregnant and ready to deliver. This medication irritates the cervix and stimulates it to open early. When this occurs, the small second or third trimester pre-term, fully formed baby falls out of the uterus, sometimes alive. By law, in Illinois, if an aborted baby is born alive, both birth and death certificates must be issued. Ironically, at Christ Hospital the cause of death often listed for live aborted babies is "extreme prematurity," an acknowledgement by doctors that they have caused this death.
Jill felt she had to do something about this practice and she says "I read a Scripture that spoke directly to me and my situation. Proverbs 24:11-12 says, "Rescue those who are unjustly sentenced to death; don’t stand back and let them die. Don’t try to disclaim responsibility by saying you didn’t know about it. For God, who knows all hearts, knows yours, and he will reward everyone according to his deeds"
Jill has nowtestified four times before National and Illinois Congressional Subcommittees. Bills are being introduced to stop this form of abortion that results in infanticide. The subject of Christ Hospital and live birth abortion has garnered much public attention. Descriptions of "live birth abortions" have now been told on national television, on radio, in print, and by local and national legislators.
How many more people had previously stayed silent about this practice? How many parents and nurses and doctors had stood back and let babies die?
Silence is a sin, in situations like this. We must speak up against this kind of injustice or we increase the sin manifold. Life is sacred and calling a premature baby an "aborted foetus" does not alter that.
God bless all those children.
This is an absolutely despicable crime against humanity and I am utterly sickened to read about the practice.
Jill Stanek was a nurse at Christ Hospital in Oak Lawn, Illinois. As a Christian, she was distressed to learn that the hospital was not only pro-abortion, but But what was most distressing was to learn of the method Christ Hospital uses to abort, called induced labor abortion, now also known as "live birth abortion." In this particular abortion procedure doctors do not attempt to kill the baby in the uterus. The goal is simply to prematurely deliver a baby who dies during the birth process or soon afterward.
To commit induced labor abortion, a doctor or resident inserts a medication into the mother’s birth canal close to the cervix. The cervix is the opening at the bottom of the uterus that normally stays closed until a mother is about 40 weeks pregnant and ready to deliver. This medication irritates the cervix and stimulates it to open early. When this occurs, the small second or third trimester pre-term, fully formed baby falls out of the uterus, sometimes alive. By law, in Illinois, if an aborted baby is born alive, both birth and death certificates must be issued. Ironically, at Christ Hospital the cause of death often listed for live aborted babies is "extreme prematurity," an acknowledgement by doctors that they have caused this death.
Jill felt she had to do something about this practice and she says "I read a Scripture that spoke directly to me and my situation. Proverbs 24:11-12 says, "Rescue those who are unjustly sentenced to death; don’t stand back and let them die. Don’t try to disclaim responsibility by saying you didn’t know about it. For God, who knows all hearts, knows yours, and he will reward everyone according to his deeds"
Jill has nowtestified four times before National and Illinois Congressional Subcommittees. Bills are being introduced to stop this form of abortion that results in infanticide. The subject of Christ Hospital and live birth abortion has garnered much public attention. Descriptions of "live birth abortions" have now been told on national television, on radio, in print, and by local and national legislators.
How many more people had previously stayed silent about this practice? How many parents and nurses and doctors had stood back and let babies die?
Silence is a sin, in situations like this. We must speak up against this kind of injustice or we increase the sin manifold. Life is sacred and calling a premature baby an "aborted foetus" does not alter that.
God bless all those children.
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