Some time ago, a church member sent in the following message. The leadership team felt at the time that it well expressed what God was saying to us then.
“Whilst praying, I suddenly prayed the words "bloom where planted"… The following morning during my daily reading I read
"I will rejoice in doing them good and will assuredly plant them in this land with all my heart and soul " Jeremiah 32:41
I felt then and I do now that this is a promise from God to encourage us and lead us to further seek his will for St Michaels.”
“The fruit of the Spirit is love joy peace...”(Galatians 5:22)
We believe that God is calling us to grow the fruit of the Spirit in our individual characters and in our village. And we believe that this comes about though acts of love that show the love of Jesus. Allow God to show what acts of love by you will form your character into love, joy and peace; and what acts of love by the church will make Galleywood a loving, joyful, peaceful place.
You are welcome to a prayer meeting at 9.15am at the Vicarage
I know it's only a big anniversary for me, but it is big: it's six years today since I started work in Galleywood. I arrived fresh faced and full-haired, I plan to stay here till I'm wrinkled and bald. Mind you, that could be next week. I remember my first ever sermo. ; It was the feast of the conversion of St Paul (yes, the liturgical year was known at Galleywood in those days), and I preached on Jesus' words: "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me." "ME?" I asked with an attempt at dramatic delivery, what does he mean ME? Saul isn't peresecuting Jesus, he's probably never met Jesus - he's persecuting the church. Ah yes, but when you mistreat the church you mistreat Jesus; he takes it personally - that's how closely Jesus identifies with the church.
Six years today. Eighteen months of that time were spent as Minister in charge of Fanily Hour (that's what the thing we now call Church at the School was called in those days), four years effectively as Minister at Church on the Common (I made sure I was at CATS twice a month but didn't often end up at the front of the hall), and six months as Vicar of the whole thing. I've loved it - especially the last six months, to be honest. Thank you all for your patience, flexibility and love - especially those who've made it their special ministry to look out for me and check I'm OK. I'm so grateful for all of you.
Wed 20 Jan: Let my people grow! (5:22)
“The fruit of the Spirit is love joy peace...”(Galatians 5:22)
We believe that God is calling us to grow the fruit of the Spirit in our individual characters and in our village. Imagine yourself becoming more loving, more joyful and more peaceful. What would this mean in practical terms? Allow God to share with you his dreams.
Today would also be a good day to think about the place of homegroups. One of the questions St Michael’s needs to answer (if not in the 40 days, then soon) is about the place of homegroups: are Sunday services our time to reach out and be a “shop window” for the village, in which case home groups are for discipleship of those who are already committed? Or are the homegroups the motor for mission and evangelism, with Sundays as a time to give Christians “solid meat”?
“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery... My brothers and sisters, you were called to be free.” (Galatians 5:1,13)
Imagine what it would feel like to be freed from prison. Is this how being a Christian feels? If not, allow God to show you if you are still “enslaved” in any way. Are we free as members of St Michael’s? Do any of our structures or power dynamics prevent the members being truly free?
You are welcome to a prayer meeting at 9.15am at the church
All homegroups meet this week. with special materials
Week 2 and 3: Love, Word, Growth. This fortnight, with the help of some verses from Galatians 5 and 6 and some of the things we’ve sensed God saying in the past, we revisit our vision statement: God calls us to show the love of Jesus, share his word with everyone, and grow together as his family.
Mon 18 Jan: Overview.
Read Galatians 5-6 through quickly and get a general sense of what Paul’s concerned about. Ask God – what are the questions he wants us to be asking? Do they centre on:
- When and where should our different congregations meet?
- How often should we join together for worship, and how often worship apart?
Or are they different questions entirely?
“And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone. Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else.” (1 Thessalonians 5:14-15)
Back in 2007, a church member saw a picture of St Michael’s as “the caring centre of Galleywood”, with “God’s love streaming like water from the church.” How can we make sure St Michael’s is a place of caring and healing?
8am: You are welcome to a service of Holy Communion at the Church
10.30am: A joint service at the school with the themes of repentance and growth.
5.30pm: All are welcome to a short evening service, focussing on mission
6.10pm: The leadership team meet to examine reasons for change and decide what questionnaires, if any, need to be devised
Think back over the week, and the seven pictures of the church we have examined. Which one best describes St Michael’s now? Which one is God most strongly calling us to be?
“And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone. Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else.” (1 Thessalonians 5:14-15)
Back in 2007, a church member saw a picture of St Michael’s as “the caring centre of Galleywood”, with “God’s love streaming like water from the church.” How can we make sure St Michael’s is a place of caring and healing?
8am: You are welcome to a service of Holy Communion at the Church
10.30am: A joint service at the school with the themes of repentance and growth.
5.30pm: All are welcome to a short evening service, focussing on mission
6.10pm: The leadership team meet to examine reasons for change and decide what questionnaires, if any, need to be devised
Think back over the week, and the seven pictures of the church we have examined. Which one best describes St Michael’s now? Which one is God most strongly calling us to be?
“So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert, as though on watch, and self-controlled. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet.” (1 Thessalonians 5:6-8)
Imagine St Michael’s as an army-base- allow God to add details to the mental picture, remembering of course that we are not fighting people but the forces of evil. What are the defensive weapons we are supposed to be wearing?
Tomorrow, we will be both celebrating growth at St Michael’s and confessing where we have not grown. Today, you might want to spend time asking God to show you what to confess.
A former member of the church has e-mailed to correct my statement on the home page that St Michael's has not taken a serious look at its structures for 35 years. They tell me that there was such a look in 1995, at which the creation of three Sunday morning services was considered; the church took the view that they should not change in this way. I apologise for my sloppy statement; I should have said "St Michael's has not changed its basic structures for 35 years...."
“Finally, brothers and sisters, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more. For you know what instructions we have given you by the authority of the Lord Jesus… Therefore, whoever rejects this instruction does not reject human beings but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit” (1 Thessalonians 4:1,2,8)
Imagine St Michael’s as a school - allow God to add details to the mental picture. What does he want us to learn, and how does he want us to learn it?
“But we were gentle among you, like a mother caring for her little children. We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us.” (1 Thessalonians 2:7-8)
What a daring thing for a male first century religious leader to say – Paul feels all maternal about his fellow-Christians. How do you feel about your fellow-members of the church at Galleywood – including those you do not usually worship with?
Imagine St Michael’s as a family - allow God to add details to the mental picture. It’s tragic to have a divided family, and you may find yourself lamenting divisions within the village – between different areas of Galleywood, between the schools, between different village clubs and organisations. Ask God to help St Michael’s be one united church for one united village, whatever decisions are made about times and places of Sunday worship.
You are welcome to a prayer meeting at 9.15am at the Vicarage
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