A number of people have asked that a blog be a permanent feature of St Michael's. With this in mind, this blog will be left up at least until our new church website is launched (hopefully around easter); the new site will include a blog feature, ensuring that your views can still be heard.
“God sends from heaven and saves me,
rebuking those who hotly pursue me; God sends his love and his faithfulness.” (Psalm 57:3) The heart of Christian prayer is “your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” In other words: send from heaven; let up there come down here. Today, why not pray not only for church in Galleywood but also for the work of London City Mission, praying that God will send all they need from heaven. On Sunday evening February 7, the Leadership Team met to decide on the big questions that face us. We have committed ourselves not to reveal our decisions to anyone until we can reveal a full plan to everyone, so I'm afraid a little patience is going to be required. I will say that the meeting took over two hours, and was charaterised by a prayerful attitude and good listening to one another. All the decisions were taken unanimously, and I'm very proud of the leadership team for their good sense and courage.
“I cry out to God most high, to God, who fulfils his purpose for me.” (Psalm 57:2)
David, the caveman, is in great danger, he’s crying out in distress – but he still states confidently that God fulfils his purpose for him. Say it out loud today: “God fulfils his purpose for me.” Even if the leadership team don’t take the decisions you’d like them to: “God fulfils his purpose for me”. Even if I’ve been offended by someone during the 40 days: “God fulfils his purpose for me.” Why not pray for God’s purpose for our sister church in Poland, too? They’ve been praying for us over the 40 days of discernment as well. You are welcome to a prayer meeting at 9.15am at the church Weeks 5-6: A Psalm to pray with
Well, the decisions have been taken; it only remains for the leadership team to decide how they are going to implement and communicate them. The remaining ten days give us a chance to pray for ourselves and our mission partners, and prepare for Lent, with Psalm.57. I believe God directed my thoughts to this Psalm because I’m nervous about how things are going to turn out; I hope it helps you too. Mon 8 Feb: David takes refuge (57: title and verse 1) Of David, when he had fled from Saul into a cave. “Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me, for in you my soul takes refuge. I will take refuge under the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed.” (Psalm 57:1) David’s on the run – he finds a cave. But he doesn’t pray “Lord, I take refuge in this cave”, he prays “In you I take refuge... under the shadow of your wings.” Today, imagine what it would feel like to hide in the cave; imagine what it would feel like to be nestled like a chick under the mighty wings of God. Today would also be a good day to pray for the work of SASRA. SASRA is one of our mission partners, working with soldiers and airmen, many of whom will be in Afghanistan today. Pray that through the ministry of SASRA, service personnel may come to know that their souls can take refuge in God. Our friends at Galleywood Methodist Church wanted me to assure you of their prayers and supprt as we make the big decisions that came on us now.
They themselves are faced with a big question: is the church to remain open (Iin which case, given a congregation of six, there needs to be a new strategy for recruitment) or is it to close in the near future (in which case the preference would be to "go out with a bang" with a big service of thanksgiving). They will be taking this decision before too long, and I assured them of our prayers and support as they do so. They are going to explore the possibility of meeting with us from time to time for combined evening services. I promised I would ask the leadership team about this; in turn, the lay leaders at Galleywood Methodist Church will consult with their leaders and colleagues within their denomination. One particular hope is that there may be some at Galleywood Methodist Church who would like to join with our homegroups; I promised I would consult homegroup leaders about this. Andy We speak of being one church, whether we are members at the Church on the Common or the Church at the School. But we are also members of one Church - in the diocese of Chelmsford, we are members of the Church of England. It was for that purpose that the Book of Common Prayer was compiled, to provide order in public services of worship. This meant that whether you attended service in Durham or in Cornwall, one felt comfortable among fellow-members. The liturgy should be a unifying factor and not a distraction, which is the case when changes are made weekly in the wording of say the creed or confession, This detracts for visitors or those unable to see the new wording on cards or on service sheets.
It has been good to come together in joyous assembly. Let us also remember there is a place for reverence in our service of the Lord. For those who are about to make decisions shortly, I respectfully suggest they reacquaint themselves with the first paragraph of the preface to the Book Of Common Prayer: "It has been the wisdom of the Church of England since the first compiling of the public liturgy to keep the mean between the two extremes of too much stiffness or too much easiness in admitting any variation from it. For as on the one hand, where a change hath been made of things advisedly established, sundry inconveniences have therby ensued; so on the other side, the particular forms of divine worship being things in their own nature indifferent and alterable, it is but reasonable that such alterations may be made therein as to those who are placed in authority should from time to time be expedient - yet so that the main body and essentials of it continue the same and stand firm and unshaken, notwithstanding all the vain attempts and intemperous assaults made against it by men who are given to change. " The call for change seems to focus on two aspects of life at St Michael’s - the implied division between our two congregations and the need to reinvigorate our mission to the wider Parish of Galleywood.
I don’t think the fact that we offer two different forms of service suggests to the wider public that we are a divided church. Our newsletter is delivered, four times a year, to every home in the village and I’m sure this is seen to represent the one church of St Michael’s. I think the current feeling for ‘change’ is brought about by the concern that the congregation at COTC is stuck immovably in the past and will be dead within a decade anyway. Whenever I attend morning service at The School I am impressed with the warmth of the welcome. I know very many of the congregation by name and the sheer enthusiasm of the worship always makes an impression; with the presence of the children underlining the family atmosphere. The carefully prepared overhead projection certainly smooths the progression of the service and I am conscious of being with people who are committed in their faith. Despite this I still choose to go to COTC. When I was carried into church in my mother’s arms eighty years ago I was introduced into a traditional form of worship and at seventeen I made my personal commitment to God. My initial reaction to the call for change is to confront the fact that I am not the Christian that I ought to be. I may spend many hours applying my skill as a designer on behalf of St Michael’s, but would not feel comfortable knocking on my neighbour’s door to invite him to come to church – a difficult confession to make. Having confessed my shortcomings in the way of evangelism, I feel there are many ways that our Mission can be advanced. A recent look at our website revealed the depressing blue colour theme and the fact that it appears to have been a year since it was updated. I imagine there are other ways in which we could use technology to reach our audience. I’m sure the internet could be a useful tool. I’ve not seen Facebook as the password I use for online banking and shopping is rejected by them as not secure, but I understand that anyone who is anyone should have one. Twitter, Blogging etc sound like they will connect with today’s tech-savvy audience. I’m afraid that this all sounds a bit negative and is probably not the response expected to the Forty Days document. I’m conscious of the fact that I don’t measure up to what is required of a good and faithful servant, but I hope the front-line fighters in God’s army need some non-combatants back in the office. I don't know if we should meet at 10.30 on a Sunday, at the school or at the common, but I do believe that we should seek to gather as one body, once a week for a corporate time of worship; both as an expression of unity and a time when we gain support and strength from God and from one another. There is spiritual strength and unity in our meeting together as one body - from this central hub all other services, meetings, mission activities can emanate and grow, making use of different times, settings and groupings. I believe that there is a spiritual benefit to this that we may not fully grasp on a human level. Think of the Israelites instructed to march around the walls of Jericho shouting and worshipping; they may not have fully recognised the reasons and benefits but God did, the Israelites were obedient, and the walls came tumbling down! St Michael's is named for a warrior angel, but I sense that as a church we have lost our warrior mantle. Aspects of being a warrior people: to destroy the works of the evil one; to use the armour of God (the power of the word and prayer); holiness; to be a place of healing and freedom that people are drawn to; to fight for the protection of our church and our community; to impact the local community around us - think peace-keeping force, caring, rebuilding, preparing the groundwork for a new government. I sense that St. Michael's needs to regain its outward-looking, mission focus. This in itself grows out of body unity and identity. As I read this blog there seems to be a tussle between those who are very concerned with getting Sunday services right - the consensus seems to have at least some time each Sunday morning where we worship together - and those who are insistent that this ISN'T the main issue, and that the church's "shop window" is actually how we treat our friends and neighbours on a Monday. I'd like to suggest that the solution is to give equal weight to both - to "glorifying God in ordinary lives" Monday to Saturday and to making our Sunday morning services the way in which we are filled up at the petrol pump with God's love and Spirit, and others discover that God can make a difference in their ordinary lives too. I think it would be a shame if we ended the 40 days without both those aspects clear.
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