Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ
Have you had a good summer? I hope so, Ann and I have enjoyed seeing our daughters Katie and JO, and we walked along the South Coast path near St Ives Cornwall.
This summer we really have had a mixture of good old "sunshine and showersil, It must be
frustrating for the farmers wanting to harvest their crops, It reminds me of the Bible text Matthew 5: "But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven, He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?"
The church is one of the few organisations which exist for non-members. We are constantly in mission: reaching out with the love of Jesus to our nelghbours near and far. The theologian Emil Brunner gave a clear definition about mission: the church exists by mission as a fire exists by burning.
How are we reaching out into the communities around our churches? Are we ready and willing to invite others to church?
It may be that we need to think imaginatively about times and places. Could “church” be at 3.30 pm in Mrs Smith’s front room?
Eunice Attwood, the new Methodist Vice-president, encourages us to 'take risks' for Jesus. In a recent Methodist Recorder she said, 'Aware of our strong foundation (God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit), we can move and adjust to enable people to hear the good news of the story of God. More than ever we need to be able to adapt ourselves to the culture and context we find ourselves in, discovering new ways of engaging that enable people to hear the story of God.' (15.7.10)
Last year at Synod in Upwell, Norfolk, Jane Leach spoke about 'Embodying Holiness and Risk'. She wondered if some churches, that's you and me, are bound up like Lazarus? There is always the temptation to stick to tradition irrespective of changing times. What is God calling us to do? Are we doing it? We need to listen to God and to be open to the movements and prompting of his Holy Spirit. Dare to be bold for Christ. It might be making better use of out premises for the community. It might be starting a 3.30 Teatime Church or a children's Messy Church. If we are open to the Spirit, nothing is impossible (Luke 1v 37)
As Methodists, Wesley challenges us to spread 'scriptural holiness throughout the land'. The church is the people not the building. How are we involved in God's work not just in the one hour on Sunday but the other 167 hours of the week? I am here to lead and support you and your work for Christ. Please share your ideas with me and your friends. It need only be something small and simple, like putting up Christian posters in the Church hall and advertising the rates for hire. Great oaks ....
Yours in Christ
John
[mailto: boardman77@yahoo.co.uk] 24 Waldingfield Road, Sudbury CO10 2PU
