I heard of a young and very earnest Christian man who became concerned about his high opinions of himself. In prayer meeting after prayer meeting he was heard to cry out passionately, "Lord, make me nothing!" Eventually an older Christian brother could stand it no more and after hearing this prayer for yet another time responded with, "Brother, you ARE nothing. Accept it by faith!"
Realising what it means to be adopted into God's family should at one and the same time, enable us to feel secure and valued, yet humbled and delivered from the need to strive for approbation. When i was on mission in Devon many years ago I met a Christian couple who had adopted a young girl and were concerned that one of their natural sons was giving her a hard time. They need not have worried as the wiry youngster reminded the boy concerned that his parents had to have him but that they chose to have her!
Jesus had useful things to say about those who wanted to be seen as important by trying to take the most important seats at a banquet. He also took his disciples to task regarding this so common human failing as recorded in Mark 9: 33 - 35.
During this past week Pope Francis has been in the news regarding his leadership style and moves to make his role more collegiate rather than autocratic. For all Christians in leadership situations it is vital not to 'act like servants' but to remember that this is what we are. But for some of us it seems that it doesn't come too easily. How tempting it is to want to feel important and have others respect us. How hard it is genuinely not to care how we are regarded as long as we serve well.
My own Christian ministry background was certainly one that enhanced the status of elders and ministers, carrying with it the expectation that others would submissively follow our lead. Coming into the Congregational understanding of authority within churches was at first a rude shock. But then it became personally liberating and exciting. As I have written in earlier posts those in church leadership who feel that they have some greater authority given them by their call to ministry need to be careful that the authority they exercise has not been stolen from their congregations!
One of the words associated with Christianity is 'fellowship'. It is a word that expresses something treasured among us. It carries that sense of belonging, of good company, of caring for one another, and more. You probably know that the Greek word in the New Testament we have translated into English as fellowship, is Koinonia. It carries the sense of partnership and sharing. It is my opinion that to have proper fellowship no one can be superior or subordinate. As we think about the fact of the humble circumstances in which Jesus was born and the status of those with whom the news was first shared, perhaps "being nothing" in terms of importance is something we could all remember. Perhaps too, we could try to seek out someone who feels less important than others and try to communicate how precious they really are.
The News:
On a personal level, Doreen was able to join us for church at Yelvertoft last Sunday morning and has made slow and quiet progress through the week. I picked up one of the viruses (the one with the nasty cough) but will be OK for our special Christmas outreach service at Yelvertoft tomorrow
morning.
Last Tuesday in the prison the choir received an invitation to sing some Christmas carols and songs in the Prison Visitor Centre this coming Tuesday afternoon. I guess it will be background music but it's an interesting opportunity. All the men were happy to accept the invitation.
On Wednesday I was invited to lead a Christmas event at the village Senior Circle. Not all are Christians so it was another opportunity to share something of the gospel.
I value your prayers as we have mailed out over 1200 Christmas newsletters to those on the Mission for Christ mailing list. In the summer of 2012 when I became a trustee of that organisation the only database we could find had more names than that but many of them were people I had known in the 1970s. The charity cannot afford to lose active prayer partners but neither has it the money to lose mailing to people who might either be in the glory or have moved long ago. This is the last general mailing form which we hope to have a smaller but effective list.
We are grateful that a friend enabled us the use of a franking machine which saved us £200 on stamps as franking is discounted.
Seeing to the Mission for Christ newsletter production and mailing took up a lot of time and set back time needed to get our own messages out. If you don't get one before Christmas I hope you will understand. The Bible says something about preferring others!
I hope that, like the shepherds in the biblical account, we recognise the birth of Jesus as something to tell others about. We pray that many will learn just why God came into the world in this way. The event this Sunday morning is all about celebration and welcome. It starts with good hospitality and continues in the same way as we open the doors of the chapel to the village. If you read this in time please pray for a good turnout.
I am in prison on Tuesday. We have a Christmas communion service on Wednesday. Next Sunday (29th) I will be leading the service at the prison before travelling to Yelvertoft. Christmas and New Year is often a bad time for those in prison. This presents both a challenge and an opportunity not only for those who serve through the chaplaincy but also for the Christians within the prison community. Please pray for them.
If anyone has a spare moment and would like to chat during the holiday season you are welcome to call me on Skype or phone. (if you don't have the details some are on the website at www.ruralmissionsolutions.org.uk) If you are on your own then please do call, though we welcome hearing from anyone. May I take this opportunity to thank those who have already sent cards and those who have sent their news and annual donations. Thank you all.
Yours in happy fellowship,
Barry
Realising what it means to be adopted into God's family should at one and the same time, enable us to feel secure and valued, yet humbled and delivered from the need to strive for approbation. When i was on mission in Devon many years ago I met a Christian couple who had adopted a young girl and were concerned that one of their natural sons was giving her a hard time. They need not have worried as the wiry youngster reminded the boy concerned that his parents had to have him but that they chose to have her!
Jesus had useful things to say about those who wanted to be seen as important by trying to take the most important seats at a banquet. He also took his disciples to task regarding this so common human failing as recorded in Mark 9: 33 - 35.
During this past week Pope Francis has been in the news regarding his leadership style and moves to make his role more collegiate rather than autocratic. For all Christians in leadership situations it is vital not to 'act like servants' but to remember that this is what we are. But for some of us it seems that it doesn't come too easily. How tempting it is to want to feel important and have others respect us. How hard it is genuinely not to care how we are regarded as long as we serve well.
My own Christian ministry background was certainly one that enhanced the status of elders and ministers, carrying with it the expectation that others would submissively follow our lead. Coming into the Congregational understanding of authority within churches was at first a rude shock. But then it became personally liberating and exciting. As I have written in earlier posts those in church leadership who feel that they have some greater authority given them by their call to ministry need to be careful that the authority they exercise has not been stolen from their congregations!
One of the words associated with Christianity is 'fellowship'. It is a word that expresses something treasured among us. It carries that sense of belonging, of good company, of caring for one another, and more. You probably know that the Greek word in the New Testament we have translated into English as fellowship, is Koinonia. It carries the sense of partnership and sharing. It is my opinion that to have proper fellowship no one can be superior or subordinate. As we think about the fact of the humble circumstances in which Jesus was born and the status of those with whom the news was first shared, perhaps "being nothing" in terms of importance is something we could all remember. Perhaps too, we could try to seek out someone who feels less important than others and try to communicate how precious they really are.
The News:
On a personal level, Doreen was able to join us for church at Yelvertoft last Sunday morning and has made slow and quiet progress through the week. I picked up one of the viruses (the one with the nasty cough) but will be OK for our special Christmas outreach service at Yelvertoft tomorrow
morning.
Last Tuesday in the prison the choir received an invitation to sing some Christmas carols and songs in the Prison Visitor Centre this coming Tuesday afternoon. I guess it will be background music but it's an interesting opportunity. All the men were happy to accept the invitation.
On Wednesday I was invited to lead a Christmas event at the village Senior Circle. Not all are Christians so it was another opportunity to share something of the gospel.
I value your prayers as we have mailed out over 1200 Christmas newsletters to those on the Mission for Christ mailing list. In the summer of 2012 when I became a trustee of that organisation the only database we could find had more names than that but many of them were people I had known in the 1970s. The charity cannot afford to lose active prayer partners but neither has it the money to lose mailing to people who might either be in the glory or have moved long ago. This is the last general mailing form which we hope to have a smaller but effective list.
We are grateful that a friend enabled us the use of a franking machine which saved us £200 on stamps as franking is discounted.
Seeing to the Mission for Christ newsletter production and mailing took up a lot of time and set back time needed to get our own messages out. If you don't get one before Christmas I hope you will understand. The Bible says something about preferring others!
I hope that, like the shepherds in the biblical account, we recognise the birth of Jesus as something to tell others about. We pray that many will learn just why God came into the world in this way. The event this Sunday morning is all about celebration and welcome. It starts with good hospitality and continues in the same way as we open the doors of the chapel to the village. If you read this in time please pray for a good turnout.
I am in prison on Tuesday. We have a Christmas communion service on Wednesday. Next Sunday (29th) I will be leading the service at the prison before travelling to Yelvertoft. Christmas and New Year is often a bad time for those in prison. This presents both a challenge and an opportunity not only for those who serve through the chaplaincy but also for the Christians within the prison community. Please pray for them.
If anyone has a spare moment and would like to chat during the holiday season you are welcome to call me on Skype or phone. (if you don't have the details some are on the website at www.ruralmissionsolutions.org.uk) If you are on your own then please do call, though we welcome hearing from anyone. May I take this opportunity to thank those who have already sent cards and those who have sent their news and annual donations. Thank you all.
Yours in happy fellowship,
Barry
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