Looking at my pictures on my PC today I came across the pictures of the Art exhibition I worked on with Steve... it's difficult to put into words how impressed I was with the Art! some truly inspiring pieces and so good to see the building in its "Pewless" state being used to its full potential. The pictures were hung all around the building.. and the fishing wire, which had taken so long to tie and position it really did a good job of holding the pictures straight..that and the frustrating Job of getting them there!
There is talk of another arts initiative soon, and I really hope it is as good and enjoyable as the last one!
Tuesday, 16 June 2009
Beating the Retreat
How can sitting and being still, thinking and praying about our world or our friends be a challenge?
When you can't find the time, the resources of the place to even begin! Luckily one project I have been working on alongside Steve is to develop our Church as a retreat "Place".
This is a long project and one that will need to be continued after we leave, but the committee that has met on various evenings has made good progress into finding the right ethos and vision for retreats at Lickey.
With one Church having used the facilities and the resources that have taken so long to produce it all seems to be coming together and the PCC will have the opportunity to experience a sample retreat day for themselves very soon.
It's good to think that the Church building is possibly going to be used to resource so many others in our City, I hope that it is as much a blessing to them as it is to us!
When you can't find the time, the resources of the place to even begin! Luckily one project I have been working on alongside Steve is to develop our Church as a retreat "Place".
This is a long project and one that will need to be continued after we leave, but the committee that has met on various evenings has made good progress into finding the right ethos and vision for retreats at Lickey.
With one Church having used the facilities and the resources that have taken so long to produce it all seems to be coming together and the PCC will have the opportunity to experience a sample retreat day for themselves very soon.
It's good to think that the Church building is possibly going to be used to resource so many others in our City, I hope that it is as much a blessing to them as it is to us!
Kingdom Minded Mission
I have been reflecting today on Kingdom minded Mission, it strikes me that occasionally we seem to become trapped in "our" context and rarely step out of our comfort zones.
We will hear of projects in far off lands and will give generously to them and this is a wonderful thing, but what about Local? Is our missional mind being limited by our own fears to something that we keep at arms left in the comfort zone of our wallets where we can afford to invest? Is investing in yourself as a person on God's mission a little too risky?
On prayer Patrol in Rubery recently I was struck by the amazing way in which the young people responded to us, asking for prayer, talking to us about our faith. In one evening we pushed cars, gave out free water and food and talked to over 50 young people who rarely get a chance to hear the Gospel! Some of them even talked about this cool place on the Lickey where you can write prayers and pray in this Hut... (Who Knew!!)... And all this took was for 9 people to give up 4 hours of their time on one Friday, and God's people are seen to be clearly at work in their community!
What else can we do? where are the opportunities in our context? certainly it takes a lot of time and energy to find and maintain these links, both with people and organisations, however it's a solid investment the Kingdom... I'm sure someone important said it was too!!
We will hear of projects in far off lands and will give generously to them and this is a wonderful thing, but what about Local? Is our missional mind being limited by our own fears to something that we keep at arms left in the comfort zone of our wallets where we can afford to invest? Is investing in yourself as a person on God's mission a little too risky?
On prayer Patrol in Rubery recently I was struck by the amazing way in which the young people responded to us, asking for prayer, talking to us about our faith. In one evening we pushed cars, gave out free water and food and talked to over 50 young people who rarely get a chance to hear the Gospel! Some of them even talked about this cool place on the Lickey where you can write prayers and pray in this Hut... (Who Knew!!)... And all this took was for 9 people to give up 4 hours of their time on one Friday, and God's people are seen to be clearly at work in their community!
What else can we do? where are the opportunities in our context? certainly it takes a lot of time and energy to find and maintain these links, both with people and organisations, however it's a solid investment the Kingdom... I'm sure someone important said it was too!!
Youth Contribution
How long does it take to organise a youth outing for a Sunday Club group??
answer.... 5 hours, it's crazy just how much it takes in terms of phone calls and time spent trawling the Internet to organise a simple trip to see the new transformers film! Happily we're all booked up and off on Friday...
It's been busy on the youth front what with helping to find a new Youth Worker for the Church and then assisting in their integration period, but great to know that when we leave for Cuddesdon the Church will have some solid people in place.
Hopefully the video that took a weeks worth of evenings to produce will also help generate some interest from our congregation, Investment in our people of tomorrow is so important, that's why I find keeping links with the local primary school as well as doing the occasional talk/event for Kays Days the after school club in the trinity centre so worth while. One of the kids recognised me the other day in the street for a chat, maybe one day they'll remember the fact that Lickey is a friendly Church and pop in themselves!
answer.... 5 hours, it's crazy just how much it takes in terms of phone calls and time spent trawling the Internet to organise a simple trip to see the new transformers film! Happily we're all booked up and off on Friday...
It's been busy on the youth front what with helping to find a new Youth Worker for the Church and then assisting in their integration period, but great to know that when we leave for Cuddesdon the Church will have some solid people in place.
Hopefully the video that took a weeks worth of evenings to produce will also help generate some interest from our congregation, Investment in our people of tomorrow is so important, that's why I find keeping links with the local primary school as well as doing the occasional talk/event for Kays Days the after school club in the trinity centre so worth while. One of the kids recognised me the other day in the street for a chat, maybe one day they'll remember the fact that Lickey is a friendly Church and pop in themselves!
Friday, 5 June 2009
Back from a BAP and waiting...
On wednesday I got back from Ely in Cambridgeshire where I with 17 others went to be closely watched, interviewed and assessed by a Bishops Advisory Panel.
Did I enjoy it? a little bit I guess, It is like any interview feeling really but with a bit more significance, I mean it could only transform the rest of my life. Nothing too massive!
I'd spent weeks trying to think of what to wear and in the end decided that being myself 100% was the only option. Many people try to give you advice on the way, be smart, be casual etc etc but the only thing I think is to be who you are, and that doesn't just apply to the clothes you wear.
I was interviewed by three people, each with a different area of responsibility all of whom were looking to see if I understood and could fulfill the criteria for ministry, so after receiving our pastoral exercise, a 500 word hypothetical complex pastoral response in our case to a girl called Becky (can't say any more...it's classified lol), we had to present on one of the components of ministry in the church (5mins) then chair a discussion (10 mins) which was exhausting.
Then over the next 2 days, interviews with the pastoral, educational, and vocation advisors.... 45 mins where you try to be totally honest and give your best, though in a couple of instances I did flap a bit to start but I imagine that's normal!
In between lots of prayer, cups of tea, walks and reading and a daily eucharist it was all rather intense.
What I really felt was God right in the middle of all of it, it was such a prayerful time you could sense that all those people praying for you was just there..holding you.
So now I wait, until next friday at the earliest for a decision, and this I think is going to be the toughest bit.. replaying all the things you said and didn't say over and over in your head...If I get through elation if not severe disappointment and a sense of a loss of direction. God has a plan for my life, and after both I and Lucy giving up so much to bring us to this point it could all be pretty crushing to be turned back from where we both feel called.
That Said it is to discern where God is calling us, nobody wants to trip us up and the panel I imagine are just looking to see if the person they see before them is the same as the one the diocese has sent in the hope of them being recommended for training. If not then an honest re-assessment will be needed. Right now though that prospect is a little too much to contemplate
Chris
Tuesday, 2 December 2008
The Road Is Long.....
I wonder if any of you are like me? I have always struggled with impatience, often trying to get things done quickly and growing frustrated when things drag on. Just ask my wife about the way I impatiently hover by the front door whilst waiting for her to get ready to go out to Church.
For me the last few years have been a huge learning curve, when I realised that God might be calling me to some form of full time ministry I was excited, you know the night before a big holiday excited where you can't sleep and all you want is for tomorrow to come so that you can get going.
The problem for us is that God seems to work from a different agenda, and often his time which when you think about it is infinite, seems to pass at a different pace. The hands that stretched out and created the heavens and the earth could no doubt make years seem to pass in seconds or days stretch out for centuries...so what is it that means God doesn't just boot us out of the door and into the wide world of doing his work.
For me the answer is simple, in many ways we all have a ministry that we live out every day, teachers, nurses, accountants and street sweepers, how are we witnessing in the world for Jesus in our everyday lives. How do you find happiness and contentment in knowing that your work in a department store can be as powerful a Christian ministry as the evangelist making huge altar calls to packed auditoriums? people spend lifetimes cultivating their character and gifts to make them the best at what they do and harnessing that for God.
But then for some, the itch comes...the feeling that maybe God wants us to be more visible, more focused on trying to change things as part of the Bride the church and continuing to build and serve the gifts of those who meet together to declare that God is indeed king of all creation and saviour of our lives....
Was I ready for that 3 years ago? by all accounts I was eager, but i was also rough around the edges with sharp corners to my character that if I'm honest would probably have switche people off not on to Christ. The last few years ahve been tough, the Devil has weadled his way into my insecurities, and my past vices have at every occasion been given opportunity to rear their ugly heads again and throw a spanner in the works.
But what has stopped this is the knowledge that God is bigger than all of these things, and that his saints, here on earth have kept me steady, in prayer, challenge and by giving an ear. And every challenge I have faced, every tear shed, every wrinkle I have gained has been worth the wait, because there is no greater service than that of serving our God.
I stand today facing more uncertainty, more waiting, more shaping and more refining, more frustrations and tears no doubt lay ahead. Will I ever be ordained...God knows, will I end up miles away in a foreign corner..God knows... But that is the answer..God does know and in the waiting there is the reassurance that God's time is one that has woven into it, a plan for my life and yours... and it's slowly unfolding in his time not mine...the road is long but in prayer, worship and hope I have found the best service stations! let's hope there's another one ahead I need to refuel!
For me the last few years have been a huge learning curve, when I realised that God might be calling me to some form of full time ministry I was excited, you know the night before a big holiday excited where you can't sleep and all you want is for tomorrow to come so that you can get going.
The problem for us is that God seems to work from a different agenda, and often his time which when you think about it is infinite, seems to pass at a different pace. The hands that stretched out and created the heavens and the earth could no doubt make years seem to pass in seconds or days stretch out for centuries...so what is it that means God doesn't just boot us out of the door and into the wide world of doing his work.
For me the answer is simple, in many ways we all have a ministry that we live out every day, teachers, nurses, accountants and street sweepers, how are we witnessing in the world for Jesus in our everyday lives. How do you find happiness and contentment in knowing that your work in a department store can be as powerful a Christian ministry as the evangelist making huge altar calls to packed auditoriums? people spend lifetimes cultivating their character and gifts to make them the best at what they do and harnessing that for God.
But then for some, the itch comes...the feeling that maybe God wants us to be more visible, more focused on trying to change things as part of the Bride the church and continuing to build and serve the gifts of those who meet together to declare that God is indeed king of all creation and saviour of our lives....
Was I ready for that 3 years ago? by all accounts I was eager, but i was also rough around the edges with sharp corners to my character that if I'm honest would probably have switche people off not on to Christ. The last few years ahve been tough, the Devil has weadled his way into my insecurities, and my past vices have at every occasion been given opportunity to rear their ugly heads again and throw a spanner in the works.
But what has stopped this is the knowledge that God is bigger than all of these things, and that his saints, here on earth have kept me steady, in prayer, challenge and by giving an ear. And every challenge I have faced, every tear shed, every wrinkle I have gained has been worth the wait, because there is no greater service than that of serving our God.
I stand today facing more uncertainty, more waiting, more shaping and more refining, more frustrations and tears no doubt lay ahead. Will I ever be ordained...God knows, will I end up miles away in a foreign corner..God knows... But that is the answer..God does know and in the waiting there is the reassurance that God's time is one that has woven into it, a plan for my life and yours... and it's slowly unfolding in his time not mine...the road is long but in prayer, worship and hope I have found the best service stations! let's hope there's another one ahead I need to refuel!
Wednesday, 26 November 2008
Who do you say I am?
27Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them, "Who do people say I am?"
28They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets."
29"But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?"Peter answered, "You are the Christ."
30Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him.
28They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets."
29"But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?"Peter answered, "You are the Christ."
30Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him.
(Matthew)
Do you think Jesus had a huge need for affirmation? did he hunger for status? was he power mad? driven by a need to be the centre of everything, keen for the world to big him up?
The way in which we deal with each other often means that we are keen for everyone to recognise something about us, keen to push our agenda, our talents or our way of doing things.
Why do we do this? are we insecure? are we intent on driving ourselves forward, pushing ourselves to the front of the que to be first in line.
We justify our existence based upon our history, looking back to yesterday like wistful old men sitting on a porch chewing through the evening glow. "I was....., then I was....." and these past glories, these remnances of who we were can dangerously creep into our everyday who I am now.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that we should forget our past, but we need to realise that we are a new creation in Christ. Our character flaws, our old selves have been taken off and we have put on Christ, so why hold on to the filthy clothes of yesteryear when we have the perfection of Christ TODAY!!!
I am not perfect, Christ is.
I am not the best Christ is.
We do not need to impress with our way of doing things, but need to listen to, and join in with what God is doing here and now and put oursleves to one side and become fools for the gospel!
If there is a need for something, get on and try and do it, if there is a need to change something get on and try and change it... but make sure that you're prepared to change yourself in the process!!
Lets get on with joining God in transforming our friends, our towns, our villages, lets lose the agenda for our lives and push God's!
Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thess 5 V6-8)
Lets not listen to who others say we are and listen to God and all the things he says about us.... He loves us... so much.... lets get on and love each other and get on with being disciples!
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