Who's missing this Sunday?

WHO GOES THERE?
The familiar image of merekats alert to what is happening around them serves well for the thought I wish to share with you today.While we might want to dispute the wisdom, for many of us, regular church services are still a major route by which people come to faith.
So this Sunday I want to encourage you to take a look around and count the number of new people that are there. I suspect for many of our churches we are more likely to be conscious of who is missing!  Are we missing opportunities to help people discover a personal relationship with God by coming into contact with a community of faith?

But this also begs the question as to whether our regular services are occasions when people might say that God is there, and where the good news is both proclaimed and lived out in a loving and welcoming gathering of enthusiastic Christians.  John's Gospel records Andrew, having heard Jesus described as the Lamb of God, going to bring his brother to Jesus (John 1:40).  Later in the same chapter we have Philip bringing his brother to Jesus. These are not high powered evangelists.  Nor are they people who have done discipleship courses or been trained to run outreach programmes.  They are ordinary people like you and me but who have met Jesus and - like you and me - believe him to be very special. This is a model of evangelism that almost everyone could imitate.  But what might this mean when we relate it to our regular Sunday services? If we don't feel comfortable inviting non-Christian friends to come to church we need to ask why this is?  Is it unfriendly?  Is there a danger that they might find themselves being preached at rather than feeling God's love?  Are the service contents full of jargon or irrelevant?  Is it boring?  Is it plain embarrassing?  If the answer to any of these questions is"yes" then what can you do to change that? Church services should be exciting places where men, women and young people are encountering God.  Our love for God and one another should be obvious to others coming in.  The apostle Paul writes in one of his letters about unbelievers coming into a meeting and saying "God is in the midst".  If we get it right then there will be no need for a pointed sermon or any kind of pressure to get people to believe; they are much more likely to be drawn. But even if the services are appropriate places where people can learn about Jesus and come to know him, the other aspect is whether we care enough for others that we want to bring them to Jesus.  Why not invite someone to come with you and then afterwards come to your home for a meal (or go out for one)?  You might be pleasantly surprised?  But we won't know if we don't try. New Ministry Developments Trustees of Sunrise Ministries (the charity that embodies Rural Mission Solutions, have been prayerfully exploring ways in which this ministry might develop over coming days to ensure that its activities continue to be effective in meeting our aims.  One new development is the introduction of webinars  (interactive free on-line seminars).  A series of helpful and relevant 30 minute sessions are being planned for next year.  In addition we have offered both to co-present webinars with colleagues from other rural mission organisations, or to host their presentations. Please let us know what topics you think would be helpful From The Diary Remembrance Services and school assembly provided encouragement with good numbers attending and appreciative responses. These were part of "Hope in our Villages". It was good to meet with several colleagues in other rural mission organisations as we seek to work collaboratively where possible and encourage one another. Prison ministry has also been inspiring.  Please pray for a few rather immature men who are a little more difficult to work with in a constrained time frame. For the week ahead, please pray for our daily activities.  The office is busy each day and there will be some field activities including Prison ministry on Tuesday, I will be chairing the Churches Rural Group (a coordinating group in CTE) on Thursday, and attending a funeral and thanksgiving service in East Sussex on Friday for a dear friend and faithful supporter of this ministry.   Sunday 30th I will be taking the morning service at HMP Gartree and afterwards travelling to Crick, Northants where we have a United Service for Hope in Our Villages, with Roy Crowne (CEO of Hope Together)  as guest speaker. Thank you for your partnership through prayer and practical support. Barry

Working as Colleagues

“So they signalled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them” Luke 5:7 An alternative story Peter scratched his head as he looked at the catch.  Two boats full would bring in a tidy amount of money.  Of course they would have to get the fish sold quickly while they were still fresh.  If he dropped the price just a little he would be able to corner the market.  He needed to get runners out to surrounding villages to let them know about the Great Fish Sale. He smiled as he thought, “With the money from this lot I will be able to buy that new boat I've had my eye on”. “Hey, don’t I get a say in this?  We’re supposed to be partners!”  It was his brother Andrew who spoke.  Peter was embarrassed as he suddenly realised he had spoken his thoughts out loud. Andrew continued, “I've had my eye on a new house in a better location and a catch large enough to fill two boats will go a long way towards its purchase.” Suddenly, James interjected. “Far be it from me to spoil your dreams boys, but I’d just like to point out that you would have been in a mess if we hadn't come along to rescue you.  Your nets were already breaking.  If it wasn't for us you’d have lost the lot.  I say that we should go 60/40 in our favour. “ “But,” Peter spluttered, “It was me who let the Rabbi use the boat as a pulpit.  It was me that threw the nets overboard.  If there’s any sharing to do then I think I should at least have 80%”. “Hold on”, said John, “Aren't we forgetting that 10% of the money from this fish actually should go to God; you know the teaching on tithing.” They stood silent for a moment, the faces of his brother and their friends suddenly glum.  “Stop and think a moment.” John continued, “What is the real reason we go fishing?” “To make money!” shouted Peter.  “Actually,” said another, “I do it because I just love boats.  It’s the best job in the world!” “No!  You have it all wrong”, John insisted, “We go fishing so that people have something to eat.” A silence fell on the group as they took in his words.  He was right.  Making a living out of fishing or enjoying the pleasure it brought were by-products.   After a long while Peter spoke again. “You’re right, John.  And come to think about it, we wouldn't have a single fish if it hadn't been for Jesus.  When you think of what he was saying this morning about loving our neighbours and not being selfish…. I think I just got carried away with the excitement.” Suddenly James spoke up again. “I can think of at least ten really poor families in my part of the village.  Then there’s that colony of lepers in Gadara.  This fish has been a gift to us from God.  Let’s share what we have with those who really need it.  If there’s anything left over when everyone’s needs have been met, perhaps we can have a little fish for our supper for a couple of days.  What do you say?” Jesus looked at the smiling faces in the group, and smiled too.

It's all too easy to lose sight of what we are really about. The survival of our particular way of being church or the prominence of our own organisation can become dominant.  But it's not about us.    If God has blessed or is blessing our church or organisation it is for his purposes and not ours.  We don't know what happened to those two boatloads of fish.  We do know that the men had worked as colleagues to get the harvest of fish to the shore.  Here they received a new role in life - one that also demanded collegial attitudes if the harvest was to be gathered in. FROM THE DIARY Thanks for your prayers through the past week, especially for the trip to Sussex.  Despite appalling driving conditions I arrived at the hospital in Haywards Heath in time to make a pastoral visit to a friend who had suffered a stroke.  The following day I had a lot of phone calls and unscheduled meetings to work through.  Amazingly, I met with all but two of those I needed to contact before calling back to the hospital on my way home.  Hardly had I arrived when one of the people I had hoped to see also turned up.  A few moments later the second one appeared.  Don't you just love it when God is in control! Sunday 9th I will be sharing in the Act of Remembrance in Yelvertoft and speaking at a United Service in the Parish Church  immediately afterwards. Monday 10th - School Assembly at Lubenham, Leicestershire. Tuesday 11th - HMP Gartree Wednesday 12th - Meeting and discussions with colleagues at the Arthur Rank Centre. Thursday 13th - a collegiate meeting with representatives from four other organisations involved in rural mission. We have a Rural Mission Support Meeting this month.  Even as I write this I await final indications of when this will be held.  It is important to engage the maximum number of participants.

This week, after much prayerful consideration we purchased a facility that will enable us to run online seminars periodically on various topics of relevance to rural churches.  This specifically fits with our object to assist historic rural churches to become effective in mission in their locality.  We have offered to share this resource with others undertaking rural mission and hope that this will be another way in which we can work as colleagues.  Please pray as we begin to roil out this new aspect of ministry.  Look out for more information.

Christian Symbols worn with pride

At first I was confused at first to find this Arabic symbol for the letter ‘N’ appearing on Facebook pages and tweets from Christian friends, churches and organisations.  You may already know the reason for this, but for the benefit of anyone still confused here’s an explanation.

 As the IS forces swept through Mosul they marked the property of Christians that intended to take over with the Arabic letter ‘N’ as the initial letter to the word ‘Nazari’ - to indicate a follower of Jesus.  This was intended to be a symbol of shame but the Iraqi Christians chose instead to use it as a badge of honour.  They then invited other Christians throughout the world who wished to stand with them in this time of persecution to use the symbol as a sign of solidarity.

As one aspect of my regular ministry takes me into a muti-faith chaplaincy I was keen to ask one of my Muslim colleagues whether this is offensive.  He quickly assured me that it was not.  Like many Muslims throughout the world he is ashamed of what is being done in their name by the IS.

So the symbol takes its place alongside other powerful Christian symbols, of which the cross is the most ubiquitous.  This too is a symbol of shame displayed as a badge of honour. What was intended to be an act of humiliation and defeat became a place of victory.

By contrast, the Ichthus symbol was is generally thought to have been a secret sign for early Christians under Roman persecution. The Greek word for fish spelled out forms the initial letters for the phrase “Jesus Christ, Son of God and Saviour”.  This early symbol became popular in the 1970’s and since. 

While symbols have their place the New Testament encourages us to seek to ensure that our lives speak volumes concerning our faith.  For example, in Colossians 3: 12-14 speaks of qualities of character that we should wear like clothes with love being the final outer garment—that which the world will see.

So while it might be good to define ourselves by a symbolic badge, it is vital that our lives symbolise our faith and the One at the centre of that faith.  One of my favourite hymns which challenges me every time I sing it is “Come down O love divine”, which I commend to you this week.  If you have a good hymn book available please look it up and make space to read and then prayerfully reflect as I have done once more today.

From The Diary

Last Sunday’s ministry at the Family Service at Goodwood Evangelical Church, Leicester was on the theme of “Friends of God”.  There is a PowerPoint presentation and some notes, and even a recording if anyone would be interested.  Give God praise for the many positive comments following this ministry.

The East Midlands Area of the Congregational Federation has started a review of its support for the mission of its 32 churches.  We have two Area Workers (one position currently vacant) and are keen that we have a clear sense of purpose underlying all they do, and indeed all that our churches do.  Please pray as I work with others on this Area Mission statement, and the actions that will follow.

My good friend and colleague, Capt Cordon Banks (CA) will appreciate your prayers as he winds up his work with the Diocese of Chichester and moves to the Diocese of Lichfield.  This is a costly move in many ways for Gordon and his family.  Please pray that God will go before them, providing a new home, a new job for Gordon’s wife, and lots of new friends and a fruitful ministry.  Gordon and I have run Rural Mission Consultations. And I hope to be able to continue to do so through 2015.

This Sunday I will be conducting the meeting at Yelvertoft and afterwards I anticipate travelling to Sussex for a 24 hour visit.  I am a co-trustee under a will of a property in East Sussex which has the elderly daughter of the legatee still in residence.  This weekend I have heard she has suffered a stroke and is in hospital at Haywards Heath.

I expect to be back for the weekly visit to HMP Gartree where the men are preparing for the annual Christmas Service and have chosen to sing Graham Kendrick’s great song “Thorns among the Straw”.  This has a powerful message and I am delighted at the men’s enthusiasm to sing this.

On Wednesday we have a further mission development meeting for the East Midlands Area.  On Thursday I shall be leading the Bible Discussion meeting in Yelvertoft in the morning and a Church Meeting in the evening where we have several significant things to discuss.

During the week I will be busy on administration including preparation for a Sunrise Ministries’ Trustees meeting and a local rural mission support meeting for south Leicestershire, north Northamptonshire and Rutland.

Next Sunday is Remembrance Sunday when I will be sharing in the Act of Remembrance in our village of Yelvertoft and afterwards preaching at a joint service in the Parish Church.

My Health
I am thankful for prayer and grateful for the many messages of concern.  It is now 8 weeks since my sciatica started to get worse, 7 weeks since it suddenly went completely incapacitating with immobilising extreme pain, six weeks since I asked for your prayers and five weeks six days since the pain dramatically stopped (following prayer).  I am off all pain-killers and free from sciatica pain.  God is good!

Focus for your prayers.  This week why not set aside time to pray for your neighbours in two houses on either side of your home.  Is there anything causing them concern at this time?  Do they share your joyful relationship with God?

Thank you for your partnership through prayer and practical support.

Barry

It takes a little more thought

A minister friend of mine recently reflected on a line in the famous hymn version of Psalm 23. It was something that both of us had noticed even though we had sung that hymn many times. The first line of the third verse is “Yea, though I walk in death’s dark vale”.  But the Bible (KJV) says, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death…” While it is possible that the author of the hymn was thinking about a period of illness or weakness leading to death, my friend had an interesting point.  The valley of the shadow of death is something we pass through to something better beyond.

Some people think that David was referring to the practice of moving sheep from one pasture to another which might lead through a ravine.  Even if the shepherd might be out of sight, by striking the rocks on either side with his rod and staff he would assure the sheep of his presence.

But the moment of death is something we go through to that which is beyond.  For the Christian we certainly do not need to fear ill.

The Lord’s Prayer is another set of familiar words  that require thought.  As far as I am aware Judaism had no Prayer Book when Jesus was on earth.  So what he taught his disciples was probably more of a template than a set prayer.  However, it is a good prayer and bears repetition—as long as we think what we are saying.

Who were the intended ‘we’ and ‘our’?  Have you ever noticed that there is no ‘me’ or ‘I’? Whose daily concerns should we be concerned for?  Dare we pray that and not take action on behalf of others? Whose sins are we supposed to acknowledge in repentance?  Both Moses and Nehemiah assumed responsibility for the sins of the nation (see Nehemiah 1:6 for example).  Should we be acknowledging the sin within church and society and acknowledging a degree of culpability?  What about “..as we forgive those….”?  Are you asking God to act towards you with the same degree of mercy you extend to others?  Or do you see this as conditional?  Do you actually pause to think about its implications?

What about “lead us not into temptation”?  I actually find that I can find my own way quire easily.  Another Minister friend changes this with his congregation to “Help us not to fall in temptation”.  Again note it is not fall into temptation but not to fall when we are tempted (usually by our own sinful desires).

Maybe it would be good if we stopped to think before familiar words fall from our lips!

Notes from the diary

Germinate Conference on 11th October was a great time.  I believe there may have been almost 300 who attended this important rural ministry and mission conference. Quite a lot of interest was shown in the work I was representing (Rural Mission Solutions and Rural Evangelism Network). Plans are afoot to build on this event, so watch out for more news.

• Monday to Wednesday 13-15.  Flew to Glasgow then shared in teaching on a Salvation Army Safeguarding Couse for officers and youth workers through the Tuesday.  Flew back Wednesday morning (combination of train, bus, flight, taxi, train north to connect with train south), arrived Market Harborough 1.47pm ready for “Something to Sing About”.  This is a story of how God drew me to himself and won my heart, told in four gospel songs and words.  Encouraging responses on Tuesday and Wednesday.  Give thanks for perfect travel connections and his fruitful blessing.
• Saturday 18 “Get Messy” at Yelvertoft followed by Sunday morning meeting.  Give thanks for a good team.
• Moe this week.  Excellent time at HMP Gartree; men very responsive.  Thursday—Bible Discussion Group.  Sunday morning I will be taking the Family Service for Goodwood Evangelical Church.  Please give thanks and pray.  It has also been a productive admin week.
• Health—Sciatica pain became almost unbearable from 27th to 3rd, at times it was day and night and I was unable to work.  Requested prayer Friday night. Woke on Saturday little pain. Reduced pain killers.  Sunday t5th to present (22nd) completely free of pain.  Off all pain killers for last ten days.  Thank you for your prayers.

Please keep praying that I will know the Holy Spirits help to live the life that pleases God and exercise a fruitful ministry.

Barry

Faith and Sensibility

Thought for the Week—Faith and Sensibility

Most Christians, if asked to explain what faith is, will quote from Hebrews 11:1 “Faith is the substance of things hoped for……”.  But I am not sure how far that takes the average non-Christian who might be trying to understand.  The word faith within a general context these days is used to describe any particular religion such as Christian, Jewish, Muslim, etc.  If we add the definite article and speak about the faith then that refers to a body of doctrine.  If we are wanting to explain faith to an unbeliever then we will need more.

In one of my previous posting I advocated using the word “trust” in place of “believe”.  This was because putting our faith in God and his promises is more than an intellectual academic exercise.  There is an emotional element of trusting.  On this occasion I want to suggest that we could use our five  senses as a useful illustration.  We use these senses to discern the reality of the world and immediate surroundings.  Taste, touch, sight, hearing and smell are the means by which things make sense.

The other day I watched a lady walking her dog which was suddenly aware of an interesting smell.  Try as she might she could not get the dog to leave that spot until he had finished interpreting all that was being conveyed by the odour.  Had she  sniffed the spot it is unlikely that she would have understood a fraction of what the dog was finding..  A bloodhound has 60 times more scent receptors in its nose than a human does.  Its brain devotes 40 times more space to analysing smells.  Dogs have between 1,000 and 10,000 more ability to identify all the nuances of a smell.

The gift of faith (Ephesians 2:8) is like a sixth scent.  It opens up a new world of reality that those without it struggle to understand.  But what might happen if they prayed “Help me to trust you and come to know you.

Physical healing!

This time last week I had endured seven days of excruciating and disabling pain from sciatica.  Many wrote to say they were praying as I faced a demanding weekend.  The very next day I had only mild discomfort.  The day after that (a busy Sunday) I was pain free, and have been every day since then apart from one day when the problem was only slight.  I cannot yet say that it has completely gone but this is wonderful

Germinate

Tomorrow (Saturday 11th) I am attending the Germinate Conference in Coventry.  This is a major conference for those engaged in rural ministry and mission.  Well over 200 people have booked in.  I get 90 minutes to say something about the work I am involved in and I also have some exhibition space.  Please pray for all involved in this special occasion.  The Churches Rural Group (which I currently chair) has been responsible for similar events in the past facilitated by the Arthur Rank Centre and this has been arranged similarly.  We are grateful for the great work done by Jerry Marshall and others at ARC making this possible.

Off to Scotland

On Monday 13th I will be flying to Glasgow where I will be joining up with Dean Juster who is responsible for safeguarding issues in the Salvation Army.  I will be teaching on Tuesday morning and afternoon on how abuse can happen within churches and Christian organisations.  A good grasp of the risk areas is essential if we want safe churches.  Too many good Christian leaders and good churches have hit problems because they did not understand the risks.  Please pray for Dean, me and others leading three days for SA officers and others in Scotland.

Something to Sing About

I fly back to the East Midlands on Wednesday morning arriving in Market Harborough at 1.45pm.  At 2.00pm I am due at the Wednesday Fellowship at Harborough Methodist Church.  Attempts to swop dates with other speakers failed, but it won’t hurt if I’m a little late.  Please pray that flight, taxi and train connections work perfectly.  This is an opportunity to share some of the wonderful ways God has worked in Doreen’s and my life and service for the Lord.  It will be interspersed with ministry in song.  Please pray for a sense of God’s presence, and that eyes will be turned to the Lord, and faith begun or strengthened through all that I share..

News from Yelvertoft

I would like to share briefly that we had a wonderful Area Assembly last Sunday.  Thank you for your prayers.  The church was full.  Some 30 people had taken advantage of the offer of lunch before the meeting.  My congregation provided this and an excellent tea for many more afterwards.  The title for the event was “To Boldly Go” and we explored in what way there are similarities in our calling to go forward in faith in the mission to which God calls us, and the fictional activities of the Starship Enterprise.  You can read all about it on the church website by clicking this link or by going to  www.yelvertoftchurch.org.uk

“What God Orders…”

As a relatively small but busy mission organisation, and working with small churches in the main, we do not naturally attract much support by donations or legacies.  However, over 26 years since Sunrise Ministries was started (the charity that covers the work that Monica Cook and head up) God has met our needs.  We sometimes wish we had more so that we could do more.  But we have found the saying true: “What God orders he pays for”. Please join us in giving thanks for his faithfulness.

Barry

Enduring the cross

For much of my life I have enjoyed good health.  However, I have had two painful health problems.  The first was gall stones.   The second health issue (with which I am struggling now) is sciatica.  Female friends assure me that either problem is more painful than childbirth (though obviously I cannot say). I can say that at present the various pain killers prescribed do not give much relief and at times I am groaning in agony and sweating as I try to cope with the pain.

Crucifixion was common at the time the New Testament was written so readers at that time would understand how horrendously painful it was. But it is easy for us to fail to grasp the degree of pain involved. Jesus shunned the pain-killing drink offered on a sponge. Each arm carries three quarters of his body weight.  Breathing becomes increasingly difficult.  To speak the words of comfort he gave would mean pulling on the mails through his hands while pushing against the nail through his feet. To be crucified in this way pushed pain to the limit.  And it lasted for hours.

Then there was the mockery and the spitting (crosses were arranged at a convenient spitting height). Added to this was bearing the shame of our sin. I don’t think that the cry “My God why have you forsaken me” implies that the father turned his face away; it is just the cry of a man in pain pushed to the limit.  I know how I feel when the pain has hit level 10 and for my Saviour it was worse.

It is all too easy for words such as “..even death on a cross..” (Philippians 2:8) and “...endured the cross.. “ (Hebrews 12:2) to become so familiar that we fail to understand the utter awfulness.  He endured that, not only so that our sin could be forgiven, but because he loves us.

Was it the nails O Saviour that bound Thee to the tree?
Nay ‘twas thine everlasting love; Thy love for me, for me!

Oh make me understand it. Help me to take it in
What it meant to Thee, the Holy One, to bear away my sin

Inclusive Churches

One of my roles is as a member of the Mission and Society Committee for the Congregational Federation, and we met last Saturday in Nottingham.   It was a useful and constructive meeting but I was especially encouraged to find ‘Inclusive Church’ on the agenda.  Various physical impairment often exclude people for full participation in meetings.  If we are able to cope with steps, read the hymn book or screen and hear the speaker we might not realise what it is like for others who have difficulty. 

Whether or not you currently have anyone in your church who is disabled I commend ‘Churches for All which embraces several enabling organisations.  Do click the link to visit the website where you will find all the organisations listed with links.  CfA is chaired by my good friend Dr Gordon Temple who is also part of the ministry team at Yelvertoft.  Gordon has written an excellent book, Enabling Church: A Bible-based Resource: Towards the Full Inclusion of Disabled People  which is available at good bookshops and Amazon.

Making Church a Safe Place

On 14th October I will be working with the Salvation Army in Scotland, teaching on their safeguarding course.  As part of the preparation for this I have just reordered a stock of Time for Action. This book is still probably the most comprehensive and useful tool for understanding how abuse can happen in churches and Christian organisations.  It is also particularly useful for knowing how to respond pastorally to anyone who has been abused in the past.  Recent high profile cases in the media has also increased the number of people in our churches reporting historic cases of abuse.  This book was produced by a team drawn from across the Churches and I can supply it to you post free for £7.95.  Often small rural churches think that this is a subject that does not affect them—but that is not true.  Be informed.

Germinate Conference - Encouraging numbers

I am looking forward to Germinate.  The idea for this event came from Jerry Marshall the Director of the Arthur Rank Centre.  He brought it to the Churches Rural Group which has held shared rural conferences in the past.  The CRG were happy to endorse the plan.  Also early on Jerry shared the idea with the Rural Evangelism Network which also gave it support.  Since then a wide range of church organisations have given this event their support.  Numbers booked in are most encouraging.  If you are going to be there please look out for me; it would be good to meet up.

A Busy Tuesday

I had an excellent school assembly on Tuesday morning on a harvest theme of sowing. Children and staff were very responsive as we considered how words and deeds can be seeds too. We finished with the story Jesus told about seed falling in different conditions.  There was just time for a pastoral visit before setting off to HMP Gartree for the afternoon.  The numbers attending choir keep growing and we worked hard through the afternoon.  Increased numbers brings a challenge as there isn’t sufficient time for me to do one on one training and it is a social (and often gospel) exercise as well as a musical.  HMP Gartree is the largest prison in the UK for men on life sentences.

News from Yelvertoft

We picked up a good idea from another church and have been writing Mark’s Gospel out by hand with illustrations.  At the same time I have been preaching through this Gospel.  Last Sunday we looked at Mark 11:27 through to 12:37 where the enemies of Jesus are closing in on him like a pack of wolves as he is teaching in the Temple. First of all it is the chief priests, teachers of the law and the elders. Then later some Pharisees and Herodians are  sent to challenge him. So he had both political and religious opponents. It seems that they had hardly gone when some Sadducees close in.  We started our service by reading Psalm 118—do look at verse 12.   I had used the story of Jonah for a children’s talk and the two accounts are similar but in contrast.  Both Jonah and Jesus go into the heart of the enemy camp but one went reluctantly while the other went willingly.

This Sunday, 5th October we are hosting the Autumn Assembly of the Congregational Federation East Midlands Area which I will be sharing in the ministry with our Chairman and others.  The event is entitled “To boldly go…” as we explore where God may be calling us to go as churches in a rapidly changing and, in many ways, alien culture.

Praying through your hand!

Many years ago when preparing churches for an outreach I used to encourage people to think about the five digits on their hand and use this as a focus for their prayers.  Their thumb and four fingers represented five categories from which they were encouraged to select one person for whom they would pray for them to come to know Jesus.  You might like to try this.  The five categories are family (or close relative), neighbours, people at work or school, people we trade with (could include your postman or paper deliverer), and people we meet with socially (such as a club we attend).  Pray for the salvation of one person in each category each day.

As always thank you for your prayers on our behalf,
Barry

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