Saturday 27 September 2014

Hard Work

Over four days recently I had the pleasure of being in the company of the Rev. Jonathan Edwards, a former General Secretary of the Baptist Union. The first day was at a meeting for the Free Churches Group which was held in London. In the opening prayers Jonathan quoted from Ephesians 4:3 “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. “ The second occasion was at a Thanksgiving Day for Torch Trust for the Blind where he was guest speaker and drew from Philippians 3 on the theme of “taking hold”. On both occasions he used the same phrase: “It’s hard work!”

At Torch he also drew on a personal experience as par of a rowing crew at University.  Apparently the coach used to tell them when they were training that if they did not feel as if they were about to die then they hadn’t been working hard enough! The point was that both maintaining unity and taking hold of God’s purposes in our lives is costly and requires effort. The trouble with western Christianity is that we are far too casual and often treat our faith as if it were a hobby.

As I write this I am acutely conscious that I am tired following the past few weeks packed activities.  But I am also left with a feeling that it has been time well spent. I ma tired in the work but certainly not tired of the work. What encourages me enormously is the knowledge that I have so many friends who also labour hard in God’s vineyard and others who labour hard in prayer. However, we all need occasional periods of rest and refreshments or being tired in God’s service can deteriorate to a worse condition.

It’s important to remember that God is not a slave driver and that we can come to him and find rest and refreshment at those times when we are heavy burdened.

Experimenting with format
As you can see this news is coming to you in a different format. Previously the news has been sent as an attachment. I would welcome your feedback please on this. Click the links to obtain additional information.

Monica Cook—health report
We are grateful to all who responded to the urgent prayer request for Monica while she was working at Obambo in Kenya recently. Monica later told me that it seemed her visit on this occasion was one long episode of illness. She quickly recovered from Malaria and gastroenteritis only to become ill with pneumonia. Those that know Monica well will not be surprised that she tried to stick to her schedule. She is now back at home and much better. By the time you are reading this she will also have had a full medical check up.

Monica continues to be encouraged with her work in this rural village in Kenya. The main part of the work there is separately funded and managed because many of its activities are outside the scope of the charity. Sunrise Ministries does however continue to pay her stipend.

Visit to Ireland—11-14 September
This visit was made in my capacity as Convenor of the Congregational Federation’s Inter-Church Board. While in Ireland we met with representatives of a small Christian denomination currently engaged in conversation with the CF. This was my second visit to Ireland, having been previously at the invitation of the Presbyterian Church of Ireland to support their rural churches. I hope to continue links with both bodies and other denominations who have shown interest in rural mission. While church attendances are much higher in Ireland than in England, overall secularisation is causing decline.

Schools Ministry
During the last few weeks I have taken assemblies in the villages of Lubenham (Leics.) and Yelvertoft (Northants.) It is encouraging to be told that the children look forward to my assemblies and often take positive reports home to parents. Sometimes we have to work within the guidelines set out by a diocese. At other times I can influence the theme. Mostly I use story-telling techniques to make the Bible satories relevant and engaging.

Prison Ministry
Regular visits to HMP Gartree continue on Tuesday afternoons around a choir practise. Numbers in the Male Voice Choir, part of the work of the Chaplaincy, have grown recently and this brings a number of challenges. The choir is an excellent environment for learning discipline and teamwork. Often the songs we practise have a clear Christian message and provide opportunity for sharing biblical truths. Please pray as we have requested an opportunity to put on another event this autumn.

Yelvertoft
Our local church ministry continues to be blessed. Both our Messy Church, Youth Drop-In, and Bible Discussion meetings have all restarted after the holidays. Your prayers are asked for pastoral ministry following recent bereavements, for new leaders for our Youth Work, and for further growth in Messy Church. We are hosting the East Midlands Area of the Congregational Federation Autumn Assembly on 5th under the title “To Boldly Go…” exploring the future of our churches’ mission.

Holiday at Home
This is an outreach to older people based on Market Harborough. Although not direct evangelism it is good news and has led to some of those reached attending churches afterwards. My good friends and colleagues at the Methodist Church, Brian and Clare Kennard are expecting to move in the summer of 2015. Brian has led the team. Please pray for growth in the planning team and someone to take on the role of coordinating.

Hope in Our Villages
Eight churches in the villages of Crick, Lilbourne and Yelvertoft are working together under the ‘Hope’ banner. We have already conducted some shared events and are currently planning a special visit from Roy Crowne who heads up Hope Together, Remembrance Sunday events, Carol singing activities and a Prayer Mission which will take place in January. Please pray for the members of the churches that we will grow closer together and closer to God. Click the link for more.

Ecumenical work for the Congregational Federation
I continue to serve as Convenor of the Inter-Church Board. My particular area of responsibility now mainly focuses on Churches Together in England and the Free Churches Group. I took on those aspects at the end of last year and have found it exciting to see all that God is doing  across churches in England. I attended a FCG meeting on 17th September and an Enabling Group meeting of CTE from 18th to 19th September. Click the links if you wish to find out more about these bodies.

Rural Networking
We are greatly encouraged by attendance figures for the Germinate Conference on 12th October. This event for encouraging and enabling rural churches in ministry and mission has a number of partners including the Rural Evangelism Network, but was adopted by the Churches Rural Group as its major activity for 2014 and organised through the Arthur Rank Centre. I also shared in a Rural Round Table Meeting for Fresh Expressions. More information about a conference in 2015 will be on its way to you soon.

Upcoming Engagements
Saturday 27th—CF Mission and Society Committee, Nottingham
Sunday 28th—Ministry at Yelvertoft
Tuesday 30th—Morning School Assembly, Yelvertoft; Afternoon HMP Gartree
Sunday 5th—CF East Midlands Autumn Assembly, Yelvertoft

Thank you.
Barry
Barry Osborne