How is you household held in order? Sorry that a rather personal question for a web-site. Well I ask it for two reasons.
Firstly we Methodist have somewhere in our DNA a heritage of order. Mr Wesley - John, that is - as he travelled through the land preaching and bringing people to faith, left behind him organised groups of people in local Societies, where people gathered to learn more of their new found faith and to give expression to that faith in worship. Charles Wesley writing many songs of faith for them. In all this a real desire to remain within the Church of England, where people were encouraged to go to Holy Communion. Societies were broken down into two different units, 'Bands', which were to go out and tell of their new found faith, and 'Classes', where under lay leadership people met to talk of their faith, to study their Bibles, and to pray in order that the might encourage each other in the Christian life. Add to this picture preachers organised to move from Society to Society on a 'Plan', and they needed a Superintendent to 'oversee', or you maybe like me you prefer 'under gird', it all. So the Circuit was born. All of this was very organised and with a clear mission intention, some times summed up as 'to spread scriptural holiness in our land'. It would be interesting to ask what that might mean for us Methodist today?
It seems to be a significant question as we are asked by our Conference to map new ways forward as we organise ourselves for mission in the twenty-first century.
* Are we ready to speak of the faith that helps us day by day to follow Jesus?
* How could we better organise ourselves, and use the resources of people, buildings and monies, for the work of telling the Jesus story for today?
* What do the 'Societies', 'Bands' and 'Classes' of today look like in your community?
Setting these sorts of questions alongside the 'Our Calling' and 'the Priorities of the Methodist Church' may help us to map the journey and begin to travel.
As I have been writing this I have at a number of points wanted to put in the word 'continue', since I recognise as I travel through the District that these are the sorts of questions that have been being asked, which have already began to re-shape our lives. I could tell of worship in Weobley, of the 'Spirit of Life' at Earlsdon, of plans for developing ecumenical partnership at Headless Cross, of Children's Church at Carrs Lane, of new Circuits and re-affirmed existing Circuits. All of which are to be encouraged and indicate that there is no one answer to our quest, but sharing stories is to be valued.
So here's a story that came from Ann Hurlstone, who sat behind me in Chester Cathedral for John Walker farewell service. Ann had been searching our District web site for my contact details to give me news of a mutual friend. In the Pauline found one of my past articles on 'intentional conversations' and sharing food.
We call it the "Sad Mad Glad Breakfast". Those who come along share something(yes, you guessed it!!) which has made them sad, mad or glad since we last met, either in the media or in their lives. Over fruit/yoghurt/toast & marmalade (and numerous cups of coffee!!) we explore these issues in relation to our Christian lives.
It is a fellowship group to which people feel they could bring friends, who may not necessarily be involved in Church life. We always start and close with either a prayer or piece of music or prose, and it has developed into a treasured time together where trust and special bonds have developed. Sharing food together is very special is it not? And this time set aside for sharing (or 'intentional conversation?) allows us to get closer to people and to try to understand their hopes and fears. It is always at my home, and the added blessing is that I am always amazed at the incredible sense of peace, which is left behind when they leave!!
So everyone benefits don't they!
Secondly, I recently lost my passport. Your remember the question, 'How is you household held in order?'
Yours in love,
Bill Anderson.
I am attaching my contribution to the ordered debate at Conference on the report 'Created in the image of God'.
In contributing to the managed debate, our conferring, on the report to Conference 'Created in the image of God', it was a privilege to be asked to speak first. I wrestled as to how to approach my participation, responding to a report that is seeking to raise serious conversation about the very complex issues surrounding our constant scientific searching, which lead to ever greater possibilities in the control not only of the world but of human life itself. This is what I sought to say.
I asked to join in this point of conferring, well it could have been because the report(26,28e) makes reference to screening during pregnancy, or it might have been in the section on Theology, Ethics and Pastoral Principles, which painting word pictures about 'the dance', and reference to 'the impaired dancer', but actually I asked to speak because I am the father of Helen. Helen came into my life thirty-two years ago and in doing so opened the door to a world where people's lives are measured differently from the world in which I had grown up of 'success' in examinations and on the sports field. Helen has Down's Syndrome.
Let me share some glimpses into that world.
After Conference last year I went home to a weekend of celebrating a significant birthday, on the Sunday afternoon the door bell rang and on answering it I found Frances Young standing there. Surprised, because she had not come expecting a party, but just passing thought I might like a copy of her latest book and the loan of a novel 'The Memory Keepers daughter'. I commend it to you. I am glad that she and her son Arthur came in for a while and joined the party. Many will know that Arthur carries in his life profound and multiple disability, but he was clearly enjoying the party time, quietly content to watch, particularly the children at play.
Created in the image of God!
I rejoice at our scientific journey, I joy in the life faith dialogue, which we call theology and ethics, but reflect if you will on the encounter of David Pallin with a small child whose life only lasted thirteen sort months, but caused David to revisit his basic understanding of our faith, a visitation which he records in a book called 'A Gentle Touch'.
Come with me to the St Joseph's Centre at Hendon, where the commission was to develop a programme through which the baptised could come to understand something of their faith, when the were not able to manage that through the traditional approach of the catechism. The work is done by using all the senses and expressive arts and has become a gift for all the baptised.
Or come with me on taxi duty one Friday evening. Helen from the age of sixteen has enjoyed belonging to a Causeway Prospects group in Loughborough. Helen would say it is the place that has most helped her to shape her following of Jesus. I arrive early and am offered a seat next to Peter, who is sat at the keyboard. There is general chatter around the room over the light refreshments that end their meeting. Peter is quietly play, the tune is 'Jesus love is very wonderful', but listening carefully I realise that the words are, 'Peter brings a loaf of bread to lay on the harvest table'. Our community-based harvest festival was made in a moment. Peter carries disability in the autism spectrum.
I could go on but let me finish with this serious question for this complex journey that the report encourages, when through our advances in science we are able to eliminate such people from our world what will we have done to our imaging, even imagining, of God?
District Chairs out for Dinner
Desmund Tutu at Stoke
Gathered for Charles' farewell
Some words for Charles
Summervisitors to 36. The Dellming Family from Japan and Beulah &
Joseph Muthuraj from Church of South India
|
