As I am writing this there is an act of worship going on in Trafalgar Square, London, as part of the "One & Other" project. www.oneandother.co.uk
A brave man is standing on the fourth plinth and leading an hour's worship, including Holy Communion. What an oasis in the middle of the city. The service is being streamed via webcam and so the total number of participantrs in the service may be many more than the small crowd gathered by the plinth.
I have been reminded by the actions of some of the people in Trafalgar Square that the Word of God is not always received in the same way by everyone who hears it. There are those in the crowd who are standing respectfully, heads bowed in prayer, many who have come particularly to show support for the speaker. Some passers-by have stopped and are genuinely interested and listening to the proceedings. Yet others are hurrying past, intent on going about their own daily business and completely oblivious to what is going on. I pray that everyone who has passed by that plinth today or watched the service online may feel the soft touch of God in their lives. There in the midst of the city, the presence of God is being affirmed today. For God is everywhere with us, in quiet sanctuary or noisy street.
Tuesday 14 July 2009
I have been watching the Symposium on Christianity in the Digital Age which is being streamed from St John's College, Durham.
As someone who is going to candidate as a Deacon in the Methodist Church and who is passionate about being mission-focused, committed to enabling outreach, evangelism and service in the real world, I am equally as passionate about how we engage with the billions of people using the internet. How can we reflect Christ in cyberspace?
Some of the points made at the symposium make good discussion starters.
Maybe, for instance, the MDO should have a division of "Digital Deacons" who go into cyberspace, engage with people where they are already meeting eg Facebook, My Space, Warcraft?
We need to make God the centre of our virtual world as well as our real world. How can we be Incarnational on the internet and introduce the cyber population to Christ?
As someone who is going to candidate as a Deacon in the Methodist Church and who is passionate about being mission-focused, committed to enabling outreach, evangelism and service in the real world, I am equally as passionate about how we engage with the billions of people using the internet. How can we reflect Christ in cyberspace?
Some of the points made at the symposium make good discussion starters.
Maybe, for instance, the MDO should have a division of "Digital Deacons" who go into cyberspace, engage with people where they are already meeting eg Facebook, My Space, Warcraft?
We need to make God the centre of our virtual world as well as our real world. How can we be Incarnational on the internet and introduce the cyber population to Christ?
Sunday 12 July 2009
As I am intending to candidate for the Diaconate in 2010 I have been downloading the new information for candidates from the Methodist website.
There seems to be pages and pages to familiarise myself with and a strict timetable of events to follow.
The most important thing to do before the end of the year would seem to be the compilation of a Portfolio of Experience that details a developing call and associated experiences.
My first reaction, upon seeing the Guidelines and trying to assimilate so much information was to cry "I'll never do it. It's too difficult and I'm not good enough." I am no longer a bright young thing, I am at the age when I had expected to be winding down to a nice retirement by the sea somewhere. I am partially-sighted and reading can be tiring and a struggle sometimes. I experienced the "Why me, God and why NOW!" feelings and felt a rising sense of panic!
Part of me was hoping that the answer to that plea would be "Well never mind, don't bother. It is too much to expect of you, just keep on as you are and I'll ask someone else." Naturally that didn't happen. Instead I was aware of an even more urgent sense that I have to do this, God demands it, and , alongside this, a sense of comfort that it will work out, the Portfolio will eventually be ready, the forms filled in and the acts of worship assessed. A realisation that I am not, after all, on my own, that God demands this but will be with me to help see it through.
In the last couple of days I have been offered a place on a course of Old and New Testament studies ( One of my worries was my lack of knowledge of Scripture) and an excellent mentor has been found to guide me through the coming months.
The clock is ticking, the process has begun! No going back.. .
There seems to be pages and pages to familiarise myself with and a strict timetable of events to follow.
The most important thing to do before the end of the year would seem to be the compilation of a Portfolio of Experience that details a developing call and associated experiences.
My first reaction, upon seeing the Guidelines and trying to assimilate so much information was to cry "I'll never do it. It's too difficult and I'm not good enough." I am no longer a bright young thing, I am at the age when I had expected to be winding down to a nice retirement by the sea somewhere. I am partially-sighted and reading can be tiring and a struggle sometimes. I experienced the "Why me, God and why NOW!" feelings and felt a rising sense of panic!
Part of me was hoping that the answer to that plea would be "Well never mind, don't bother. It is too much to expect of you, just keep on as you are and I'll ask someone else." Naturally that didn't happen. Instead I was aware of an even more urgent sense that I have to do this, God demands it, and , alongside this, a sense of comfort that it will work out, the Portfolio will eventually be ready, the forms filled in and the acts of worship assessed. A realisation that I am not, after all, on my own, that God demands this but will be with me to help see it through.
In the last couple of days I have been offered a place on a course of Old and New Testament studies ( One of my worries was my lack of knowledge of Scripture) and an excellent mentor has been found to guide me through the coming months.
The clock is ticking, the process has begun! No going back.. .
Thursday 9 July 2009
The Conference of the Methodist Church UK today passed a historic motion. It became the first British Church to ban its members from belonging to political parties that promote/endorse racism.
A resolution passed by the annual Methodist Conference, meeting in Wolverhampton, declared that “No member of the Church can also be a member of a political party whose constitution, aims or objectives promote racism. This specifically includes, but is not solely limited to, the British National Party”.
The news follows a similar ban on Church of England clergy, but weMethodists have gone much further, saying that no-one can even be a member of the Church while also belonging to the BNP.
The motion condemns racism and the BNP specifically, but also states “those who support racist parties are also God’s children, and in need of love, hope and redemption”. Supporters of the measure are keen to emphasise that no-one will be banned from attending a church – only from membership of it.
The Conference heard speakers in support of the motion who themselves had experienced racial abuse and suffered because of that. It is important to remember that we must "hate the sin, but love the sinner"
The BNP has tried to say that it wants to protect the UK's Christian Heritage but decisions such as the one made today by British Methodists will hopefully lead to more churches openly and clearly disassociating themselves from the BNP's "Christian Heritage" rhetoric (see http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/9843)
A resolution passed by the annual Methodist Conference, meeting in Wolverhampton, declared that “No member of the Church can also be a member of a political party whose constitution, aims or objectives promote racism. This specifically includes, but is not solely limited to, the British National Party”.
The news follows a similar ban on Church of England clergy, but weMethodists have gone much further, saying that no-one can even be a member of the Church while also belonging to the BNP.
The motion condemns racism and the BNP specifically, but also states “those who support racist parties are also God’s children, and in need of love, hope and redemption”. Supporters of the measure are keen to emphasise that no-one will be banned from attending a church – only from membership of it.
The Conference heard speakers in support of the motion who themselves had experienced racial abuse and suffered because of that. It is important to remember that we must "hate the sin, but love the sinner"
The BNP has tried to say that it wants to protect the UK's Christian Heritage but decisions such as the one made today by British Methodists will hopefully lead to more churches openly and clearly disassociating themselves from the BNP's "Christian Heritage" rhetoric (see http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/9843)
Monday 6 July 2009
Listening online to the live audio from the Methodist Conference in Wolverhampton I am astonished at the amount of business that has to be brought to Conference.
Being involved in a local church, it is easy to think that the local church is the centre of the Methodist Universe and that the rest of the Methodist Church is of secondary importance. It is good to remember the bigger picture and to remember that we are part of the wider Connexion.
Being involved in a local church, it is easy to think that the local church is the centre of the Methodist Universe and that the rest of the Methodist Church is of secondary importance. It is good to remember the bigger picture and to remember that we are part of the wider Connexion.
Wednesday 1 July 2009
As today is my birthday, I have been reflecting on age generally.
Inside my head I am the same "young" person I was when I was a teenager, only the outer casing has deteriorated somewhat! My "spirit" is still young, doesn't age, which is a reminder of and witness to the eternal nature of our spiritual lives and the thought that our spirits live forever without showing signs of decrepitude. A foretaste of the life eternal to come!
I was lucky enough to share my birthday celebrations with those of an 80 year old lady, organist at the church and member of the Friendship Club that meets there for lunch on Wednesdays. She has served the church loyally for many years and has a "young" outlook, welcoming new forms of worship and music in the services and encouraging new musicians. A wonderful example that age should not be a barrier to embracing new things and embracing change.
Inside my head I am the same "young" person I was when I was a teenager, only the outer casing has deteriorated somewhat! My "spirit" is still young, doesn't age, which is a reminder of and witness to the eternal nature of our spiritual lives and the thought that our spirits live forever without showing signs of decrepitude. A foretaste of the life eternal to come!
I was lucky enough to share my birthday celebrations with those of an 80 year old lady, organist at the church and member of the Friendship Club that meets there for lunch on Wednesdays. She has served the church loyally for many years and has a "young" outlook, welcoming new forms of worship and music in the services and encouraging new musicians. A wonderful example that age should not be a barrier to embracing new things and embracing change.
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