I find it difficult to explain what a 'normal week' is. For the past 47 years my life has not had much obvious routine, though my pastoral responsibilities tend to create certain moments in each week that follow a clear pattern. There is also a tendency when one is dependent to a certain extent on the interest, prayer and support of Christian friends to want to impress people with the fact that life is often busy. So the more 'normal' week just passed gives an opportunity to focus on some of the things that bring me joy.
Take last Sunday, for example. In the morning I felt that we should explore the subject of healing in our morning meeting at Yelvertoft. However, a rather unbalanced attitude before our ministry began apparently led to hurt and division. Dealing with such a weighty subject in the limited context of a Sunday service is also a challenge. And yet, from my perspective, it proved a precious time in which we felt something of God's heart of compassion for those in need, an awareness of God's unchanging power to heal, balanced with an awareness of healing as a gift from God and our own inescapable mortality.
Our style of ministry is usually interactive, both at Yelvertoft and elsewhere. The theme for the service at Theddingworth in the evening was 'divine guidance' and again it felt to me that it had been not only informative but a spiritual feast as we explored when, why and how God guides. [You might like to read some reflection on guidance at barryosborne.blogspot.com]. Sometimes it is possible to open God's word and feed the mind, but at other times, like Sunday, the heart also feels warmed and the soul enriched. In both services the hymns and songs were a blessing. Just a normal Sunday but precious moments of fellowship with friends and with God.
On Monday I went to London for a meeting with others to look at the work of Rejesus. This is one of the first evangelistic websites and is 'owned' by the Churches. It sits alongside other evangelistic websites that have sprung up since Rejesus was started. While it is far from being the cleanest and simplest of websites it has some amazing material on it. Please take a look at www.rejesus.co.uk and explore the various areas. You might like to look at two other evangelistic websites: www.christianity.org.uk run by the Christian Enquiry Agency, and www.lookingforgod.com which is run by United Christian Broadcasters. Do you have links to these websites in your church magazines and website? I hope so.
On Tuesday, after driving Doreen to her regular morning working for Torch Trust for the Blind I had a few moments for prayerful reflection on next year's school assemblies in Yelvertoft. The thought of a series based on the adventures of the early Christians came to mind and five minutes with an open Bible produced sufficient topics from Acts for January to Easter. My colleagues from two other churches warmed to these and in no time we had what looks like a neat and exciting series of assembly themes. It just felt that the Holy Spirit was helping us in this task.
The choir practice at Gartree Prison that afternoon focused on the carol the choir will sing at this year's Carol Service. It is 98 in Mission Praise: 'Come now with awe'. Towards the end of the practice I was able to sit with the men and talk through with them the truths behind Timothy Dudley Smith's profound poetry in this carol. It was a little 'wow' moment. Incidentally 'C' a prisoner who had been a problem in the past has been a real asset over recent weeks. A real answer to prayer.
Thursday morning came and Doreen and I set off for the morning Bible Discussion Group at Yelvertoft. We were ten people (two apologies) meeting to explore the first half of Philippians 2. We are a diverse group and the discussion buzzed as we explored not only the fabulous verses from 5 to 11 but also the reason it is there as spelled out in the verses on either side. This was the last time the group will meet this year but they are keen to start again in the first week of January.
So as near as possible this is a normal week and will not be that different from that of some reading this. Of course, what makes it special is God's tangible presence and blessing. I think it would have not had those special moments had it not been for your prayers.
The week ahead
Sunday - Yelvertoft Congregational Church
Tuesday - Choir practice at Gartree Prison (we expect a TV crew to film part of this)
Wednesday - evening Bible Discussion Group at Yelvertoft.
Saturday - preparing for some special events
Sunday - Yelvertoft in the morning and the Prison Carol Service in the afternoon.
Please pray that hearts will be touched and that I will walk closely with God. Please remember my colleague working this week in Kenya.
Thank you again for your prayers on our behalf. Do give thanks to God with us for his blessings.
Barry
Take last Sunday, for example. In the morning I felt that we should explore the subject of healing in our morning meeting at Yelvertoft. However, a rather unbalanced attitude before our ministry began apparently led to hurt and division. Dealing with such a weighty subject in the limited context of a Sunday service is also a challenge. And yet, from my perspective, it proved a precious time in which we felt something of God's heart of compassion for those in need, an awareness of God's unchanging power to heal, balanced with an awareness of healing as a gift from God and our own inescapable mortality.
Our style of ministry is usually interactive, both at Yelvertoft and elsewhere. The theme for the service at Theddingworth in the evening was 'divine guidance' and again it felt to me that it had been not only informative but a spiritual feast as we explored when, why and how God guides. [You might like to read some reflection on guidance at barryosborne.blogspot.com]. Sometimes it is possible to open God's word and feed the mind, but at other times, like Sunday, the heart also feels warmed and the soul enriched. In both services the hymns and songs were a blessing. Just a normal Sunday but precious moments of fellowship with friends and with God.
On Monday I went to London for a meeting with others to look at the work of Rejesus. This is one of the first evangelistic websites and is 'owned' by the Churches. It sits alongside other evangelistic websites that have sprung up since Rejesus was started. While it is far from being the cleanest and simplest of websites it has some amazing material on it. Please take a look at www.rejesus.co.uk and explore the various areas. You might like to look at two other evangelistic websites: www.christianity.org.uk run by the Christian Enquiry Agency, and www.lookingforgod.com which is run by United Christian Broadcasters. Do you have links to these websites in your church magazines and website? I hope so.
On Tuesday, after driving Doreen to her regular morning working for Torch Trust for the Blind I had a few moments for prayerful reflection on next year's school assemblies in Yelvertoft. The thought of a series based on the adventures of the early Christians came to mind and five minutes with an open Bible produced sufficient topics from Acts for January to Easter. My colleagues from two other churches warmed to these and in no time we had what looks like a neat and exciting series of assembly themes. It just felt that the Holy Spirit was helping us in this task.
The choir practice at Gartree Prison that afternoon focused on the carol the choir will sing at this year's Carol Service. It is 98 in Mission Praise: 'Come now with awe'. Towards the end of the practice I was able to sit with the men and talk through with them the truths behind Timothy Dudley Smith's profound poetry in this carol. It was a little 'wow' moment. Incidentally 'C' a prisoner who had been a problem in the past has been a real asset over recent weeks. A real answer to prayer.
Thursday morning came and Doreen and I set off for the morning Bible Discussion Group at Yelvertoft. We were ten people (two apologies) meeting to explore the first half of Philippians 2. We are a diverse group and the discussion buzzed as we explored not only the fabulous verses from 5 to 11 but also the reason it is there as spelled out in the verses on either side. This was the last time the group will meet this year but they are keen to start again in the first week of January.
So as near as possible this is a normal week and will not be that different from that of some reading this. Of course, what makes it special is God's tangible presence and blessing. I think it would have not had those special moments had it not been for your prayers.
The week ahead
Sunday - Yelvertoft Congregational Church
Tuesday - Choir practice at Gartree Prison (we expect a TV crew to film part of this)
Wednesday - evening Bible Discussion Group at Yelvertoft.
Saturday - preparing for some special events
Sunday - Yelvertoft in the morning and the Prison Carol Service in the afternoon.
Please pray that hearts will be touched and that I will walk closely with God. Please remember my colleague working this week in Kenya.
Thank you again for your prayers on our behalf. Do give thanks to God with us for his blessings.
Barry
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