Happy Christmas

Let me start by wishing you a very happy Christmas.  I hope that you enjoy good company and an really blessed time.  I hope too that there will be space to reflect on the real meaning and purpose of Christmas.

A chest infection has effectively cancelled many aspects of Christmas for me.  I gave it to Doreen too which wasn't kind!  But we have looked after each other.  But it was a shame to have to apologise for being failing to be Father Christmas at a local school, and again for not taking the Seniors' Carol Service in the village, then not being present for our special Christmas warmer, and - worst of all - having to cancel our first possible Christmas day service at Yelvertoft chapel!!!!   Aaaargh!!

Church is about more than sermons

I did make it through last Sunday when we had a super special occasion at Yelvertoft Congregational Church.  Ann Lund is a regular part of the church there.  Her husband John is a good friend to us.  They wanted to celebrate their Golden Wedding Anniversary with family and friends at church, and asked me to arrange a service in which they could renew their wedding vows.  I wonder what members of their family, some of whom had come considerable distances, were expecting!

The Happy Couple

John and Ann entered the church arm in arm to rapturous applause.  We sang hymns they had sung at their wedding, reflected on the gift of love from God, and had elements much the same as you would find in a wedding service.  This was followed by speeches from their children and a fantastic meal.  The centre of the church was cleared, tables laid and soon groaning with good things.  We managed to seat everyone - just.  Members of the congregation had contributed to purchase a £50 (to match the anniversary) basket of goodies that was unwrapped to the surprise of John and Ann.  Everything was gold (see picture).

The warmth of the fellowship was palpable.  One of the visitors said that if church was always like that he would come every week!  Well, he lived quite a way from us, but all the love and fellowship that created this wonderful occasion was our normal experience.  There are some things you can do in a village church that are somehow of a quality that town churches find hard to match.

Before being finally overcome with the chest infection (sleeping has been especially difficult) I did manage to get into Lubenham School and take an assembly.  I included in this the carol "It's Christmas Day" that was written by a 13 year old.  It went down very well.  So, in closing this posting I would like to add some links.  You will need to have sound turned on.  Click here if you want to see and hear this lovely carol.  For those (like me) who are particular about biblical facts you have to imagine a full stop after the bit about the shepherds and let the words "Guided by..." be the first part of what follows!  I think it's a super song.

Then, for those who appreciate something more 'cool' and 'groovy', take a look at this presentation of the passage from Luke 2.  It gets 12 out of 10 from me.  Both of those links are worth passing on to others.  I intend to see if we can get the latter one performed next year at the schools I work in.

Finally it has been gratifying and humbling to have a lot of interest in the 'Angels' Tearoom' sketch I have written.  If you have a church that likes to use such things you are welcome to download it from the Rural Mission Solutions website.

We planned to take almost all of next week off but I have colleagues abroad wanting me to provide material to help advance the gospel in their rural areas so some time I will be writing.  Otherwise, as I have been learning, it is good to 'come apart' before you come apart.

Peace and joy to you this Christmas,

Barry

The plans of mice and men...

You will recall that in the last Praise & Prayer News I mentioned that I had developed a cold and had to cancel a trip to Winchester on Monday.  Over the next few days things got worse.  I cancelled my weekly visit to Gartree Prison, then cancelled a Christmas Dinner, then apologised that I could not take the annual Christmas Carol Service for the older folk in the village, then yet another special Christmas event was cancelled.  At this point Doreen started to develop the same symptoms and I changed from being patient to nurse.  It is a particularly unpleasant virus with an unproductive irritating cough that robs one of sleep and leaves one feeling pretty exhausted.  Even the task of sending Christmas cards suffered as I kept dropping asleep until the next coughing fit awoke me.

So nothing of real interest to share with you!  On the plus side it was good to see how folk rallied round and things went on perfectly well without me.  I ought also to state that quite a lot of people have downloaded the simple Christmas drama, The Angel's Tearoom, and we had lots of appreciative comments.  It is still available at www.ruralmissionsolutions.org.uk/resources

As things are now I anticipate that I will be fit enough to take the meeting in the morning which will include renewal of marriage vows for a couple celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary this Christmas time.  I have planned a special service that will echo their original wedding.  After the services we are having a 'reception'.  Their relatives will be attending so I value your prayers that God's presence will be felt and that his word will produce a harvest.

Other diary engagements this week include...

Monday 19th School Assembly, Lubenham, Leicestershire

Tuesday 20th Final visit this year to Gartree Prison.  Christmas can be a very difficult time for men serving long sentences in prison.  Pray for wisdom and grace.

Wednesday 21st I should be back at Lubenham Primary School in full Father Christmas costume for the first two classes.  Despite the padding out with cushions and a disguised voice some of the children often recognise me, but it makes no difference as they just enjoy the fun.  Of course Father Christmas ensures that they remember whose birthday we are celebrating.

Friday 23rd I am expected at the annual round of carol singing in Theddingworth village.  It's a small village and we usually manage to do about 90% in an evening raising money for a children's hospice..

Christmas Day we have a simple but special service at Yelvertoft, Northants.

Doreen and I are then taking the rest of the week off and mostly resting at home, with one family gathering.  Most people reading this will have the usual hectic time with family activities over the holiday period.  However, if you are on your own, or if the mood takes you, we would really love to hear from you at some stage.  There are several ways in which we could enjoy a few moments of fellowship.

• You could phone on either 01858 414930 or 07720 322213
• If you use Skype, you can call me.  I am revbarry.
• If you use Facebook, you can use chat.

We really are happy to have calls from friends.

Some of those receiving this will know that there is a super Christmas song written by a lad who was only 13 at the time.  Click this link as long as you have sound turned on on your computer/laptop/Ipad etc.  If you listen carefully you might spot something factually incorrect - though it depends where you put a semi-colon.

It only remains for me to thank you most sincerely for your friendship and fellowship through the year.  I pray that God will make this occasion very special for you, and will grant us a fruitful 2012in his service.

Barry

Important events

I am writing this in a brief moment before setting off for our Sunday morning meeting at Yelvertoft.  Despite the fact that there were not many engagements this week it has seemed very busy.  One of the tasks that I have been engaged upon has been writing letters to friends and relatives and sending them out with Christmas cards.  Last year we produced our own card combined with a letter; this year we have been supporting a charity that relies on card sales.  It isn't always easy to know what is the right way to mark this special time of the year without getting caught up with the commercialisation.  The man who runs my local sub post office told me that he has run out of the 10,000 special stamps he purchased!

The process has reminded me of just how rich Doreen and I are when it comes to family, friends and other relatives.  It has also provided the opportunity to look back over the year and record God's blessings.  We are truly thankful.

At this stage I had to break off and I am continuing writing on Monday morning.  Today I should have been going to Winchester for a supervision meeting at the University but I developed a cold over the weekend that has gone to my chest so I have requested a telephone conference instead to avoid risking incapacitating me for the next two weeks!

Yesterday morning instead of giving a talk as usual in the meeting at Yelvertoft I used the script of a four part drama entitled 'The Angel's Tearoom'.  This involves discussions between angels of the four occasions in which they were involved in the Christmas story.  It needs a little polishing but if anyone is interested in having a copy you can download it from this link.   We interspersed this with hymns and carols chosen by the congregation.

In the afternoon we had the Christmas Carol Service at Gartree Prison.  We were packed out.  The SA band and songsters from Kettering led everything musical and my choir sang 'Come now with awe' to Finlandia.  It went very well, as did the whole event.

I might have to give this week's Tuesday visit to prison a miss to save straining my lungs.  I have learned from previous years that working and singing through heavy chesty colds is far from wise.  It would just set me back for the other events coming up...

On Wednesday  I am leading the carol service for the village Seniors Circle in the afternoon.  Then on Thursday we have the Christmas Warmer at Yelvertoft.  This is the main Christmas event for our church and contrasts and complements what goes on from the Parish Church.  It is based around generous hospitality and is not a church service.  We sing favourite carols as chosen by those attending.  The message of Christmas is subtly interwoven with the carols.

Next Sunday 18th we have a special service in the morning at Yelvertoft that will incorporate the renewal of marriage vows by a couple celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary.  I have designed a service that will echo much of their wedding, including their original hymns.  The couple will process in, and they have some new rings to exchange as well as promises.  Afterwards we are having a wedding meal in the church for congregation and members of their family.  I think making their vows in front of their adult children and grandchildren will be very special.  If the format is useful to anyone else please email or phone me.

During the next two weeks a number of key dates will be fixed in the diary creating a framework around which the research will be developed.  Please pray for wisdom as the 'jigsaw' comes together.

Thank you again for your friendship and support in prayer.

Barry

Just a normal week?

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

Catching Up?

I used to find it amusing to watch a young cat trying to catch its tale while running round in circles.  Sometimes it would manage to get hold but then it would slip out between the paws and the cat would have to start all over again.  I was thinking that I have had a productive week and managed to catch up with quite a lot of tasks, but I'm still not quite there and spinning around!

It felt good to get those forms completed and sent off to University.  They had to include my research proposal properly set out with supporting bibliography.  These now have to pass two sets of scrutineers before I can advance.  I'd ask you to pray about this but it sounds rather like the student who left an examination room praying that God would make Tokyo the capital of China!

The new office layout is proving a great help and I am noticeably more efficient.  I spent some time this morning adding material to one of the websites.  This included 'Get in the Picture', which is a great idea for Christmas outreach.  If you haven't heard about this please visit www.ruralevangelism.net and click on knowledge exchange, then go to 'miscellaneous ideas'.  While you are on the website please take a further look around the sections within the Knowledge Exchange.


I have taken delivery of 15 copies of Time for Action (the book I helped to write about pastoral care for those who have been sexually abused) but we still need to get a re-print done.  It looks like I have found a good contact if I can get hold of the digital file of the book.  I am talking with CTBI about this.  I also received a fresh supply of Rural Evangelism in the 21st Century as these have been selling well recently.

Letters are going out to possible new trustees for Sunrise Ministries.  We need at least three new trustees so please pray that those receiving the letters will be guided aright.

Following the email sent out earlier this week about reading the blog I received more responses than I expected stating they do look up the blog regularly.  A couple of others responded to come off the list (reluctantly).  Most will now be receiving this as an email attachment, but remember that you can look back over the Praise and Prayer News by going to the blog at ruralmission.blogspot.com

During the week I had one initial consultation for a rural URC church.  It has beautifully reordered premises with good facilities, but lacks car parking.  With only a part-time (half a day a week) minister who does not live in the village and an elderly congregation they have a challenge.  But I was able to make several useful suggestions and will try to follow up on these.

The school assembly on Monday went well.  The senior teacher commented on how the 80 or so children were gripped as I retold the story of the Good Samaritan.  "I could picture every scene" she added.

The Week Ahead
Sunday - Yelvertoft Congregational Church
Monday - ReJesus committee meeting, London (see www.rejesus.org )
Tuesday - School Assembly Planning meeting, Yelvertoft; followed by Gartree Prison
Thursday -  Morning Bible Discussion Group looking at Philippians 2.
Sunday 4th - Yelvertoft Congregational Church

There is a lot of reading and writing to do this week, also updating another website with material from the recent Oxford Diocesan event.  Please pray for my colleague, Monica, as she works in Kenya this week.

Thank you for your fellowship,

Barry

Sharing encouragements

Hello once again.

This has been an incredibly busy week and I am grateful that my good friend Dr Gordon Temple is taking the service at Yelvertoft tomorrow morning.  It will be good to sit under his ministry and great to have something of a break.

Remembrance services in Yelvertoft were very special last Sunday.  Both the gathering at the war memorial and the joint service held at our church were well attended.  On Sunday evening we met with friends at Market Harborough Congregational Church making our projection equipment available for them.

The rest of the week began and ended with tasks for the Diocese of Oxford.   On Monday I wrote and submitted an article for their magazine, and on Saturday I had the privilege of speaking at an event held in Marsh Gibbon where the theme was mission and discipleship in a rural context.  I was grateful for the many encouraging things said both during and at the end of the day.  A good number showed interest in using our "No Ordinary Man" project.  Our supply of these books is getting low.  The target group for these is those who are faithful at church support but who might never have articulated a personal faith in Christ.  To be part of the scheme costs nothing and I am happy to supply any rural church with as many copies as they can use.  See the website at www.ruralmissionsolutions.org.uk for more information.

On Tuesday I led a school assembly in Yelvertoft and was back in the village on Thursday morning for one of the two Bible Discussion Groups.

On Wednesday I was in London at the Salvation Army College teaching on their Safe and Sound III course.  It was well attended and the response to the day was very positive. Teaching on sexual abuse issues isn't easy but the best way to make our churches and Christian organisations safer is to ensure that people are well informed.  I am hopeful that before long we will get Time for Action reprinted and distributed to new Christian leaders across the denominations.

On Friday Doreen and I travelled to and from Hastings for a service of thanksgiving for Alan Blythe.  Alan must have known me almost my entire life.  He was a good and faithful friend.  He taught me to drive, attempted to teach me to play the piano accordion, but most importantly he taught me by example what it means to be a disciple of Jesus.  Alan was on the leadership team of the church in which i shared in pastoral leadership for 21 years.  It was good to meet old friends and share happy memories of Alan with his wife Peggy and their family.

When not out on activity almost every waking hour has been spent at my desk.  So a big thank you to those who prayed that we would be kept safe in travelling, and stay physically and spiritually fit.  I am always encouraged by words of appreciation I receive but the praise belongs to God, and thanks go to you - my fellow labourers in the gospel for your prayers.

This week:
Please pray that essential work for the university will get accepted by my supervisors this week.  This is a major hurdle and I have invested a lot of time into this section.  The deadline is 30th November.

I will also have other writing to do this week.  Pray for the Lord's help as I write.

Other key activities:

Sunday 20th - 6.00pm  Newton URC, near Rugby, Warwickshire

Monday 21st - School Assembly at Lubenham, Leics.

Tuesday 22nd - Doreen will be working for Torch Trust (morning); I will be in Gartree Prison (afternoon)

Wednesday 23rd - Yelvertoft Bible Discussion Group (evening)

Sunday 27th - Yelvertoft Congregational Church (morning) and Theddingworth Congregational Church (evening)

After two very intensive weeks it will be good to have some time during the week to slow down.

As we move towards the year end I value your prayers that the Lord will supply our needs.  Both my work in and from the Midlands and my colleagues work in the south-east were showing a small deficit.  In the light of the global financial position that is not surprising, but we do not want to reduce our work for God in the rural communities of Britain.

Thank you for your prayers.

Barry

Life after change

Hello,

I am writing this week's Praise and Prayer Blog from my new office environment.  It actually isn't new - just changed.  Last Friday evening I shifted most of the piles of paper and files from my office into our bedroom (what a patient wife I have!) ready for Saturday morning when my next door neighbour arrived to build my new desk.  Together we managed to get my two pedestal desk down stairs and into the front garden where someone collected it after I advertised it on Freecycle. A cupboard and a filing cabinet moved into the space previously occupied by the desk.  A large printer moved into the space previously occupied by the cupboard.  And the new work top was built where the printer and the filing cabinet had stood and a mobile pedestal slipped neatly under the new work top.

Outcome:  I can now open both doors of the cupboard and all the drawers of the filing cabinet (both previously restricted by the desk), and I have more usable space and better use of natural and artificial light.  You might ask why I didn't do this five years ago!  The reason was that my desk, which was in a good state, had served me well for many years before that.  I valued its role as it had been a good servant.  I was loathe to accept that it had become inappropriate!

How much of what goes on in the life of our churches revolve around inherited aspects that have proved useful in the past, but which might now not be so appropriate?  We are often loathe to let them go?  How much better might some things work if we only found the courage to let some things go?

One of the problems that Nehemiah encountered as he and others were rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem was that rubbish from the old wall was getting in the way (Neh 4:10).  I guess they were using some of the old wall in the new wall; but not everything was appropriate.

Last Week:
On Sunday we had a really good meeting at Yelvertoft.  In the light of the anti-capitalism demonstrations we explored what the Bible had to say about the use of money.  If you are interested I have a small booklet on this topic.  In the evening I drove to the Dartford Crossing and spent the night in the Travelodge sleeping next to a room with a noisy motor running all night!

Monday, on to Battle for Sunrise Ministries' trustees meeting.  Letters are about to go out inviting a number of others to join the board.  Please continue to pray.  There was a clear sense of unity in the meeting.  After this I called in at Herstmonceux to collect some hymn books, did a little admin with Monica in her office and then visited Peggy in Hastings.  Peggy and Alan are valued old friends and Alan has just gone to be with the Lord.  We spent an hour or so during which we expressed something of what Alan had meant to us.  Finally, driving home to Market Harborough and arriving at 11.30 pm.

Tuesday and Wednesday I was able to use some of this time for work related to the research degree.  I finally sent off my latest attempt at setting out my proposal on 'Form C' and spoke with my senior supervisor.  I am right up against a deadline and hope what I have done will be sufficient.  I also received a phone call from a university in Germany seeking my collaboration is preparing material in German on the subject of rural evangelism.  They plan to translate some of my published writing.

Wednesday evening I met with one of the Bible discussion groups in Yelvertoft where we opened up the second half of Philippians 1.  Worth reading about Paul's confidence about life after life and his attitude to suffering.

Thursday I had an early start to get to the church leaders breakfast in Rugby, which was followed by pastoral visits until 6.00pm.  At 6.45am I had received a phone call from Kenya from the pastor of the church through which my colleague does such a lot of work.  This led to a series of telephone conversations through the day and evening and drafting a special letter to be emailed the following day.

Friday was spent preparing for next Saturdays talk on 'Mission and Discipleship in Rural Areas' for the Diocese of Oxford.  I have also been invited to write 400 words on the topic for the Diocesan magazine.

Saturday morning I went to support a Torch fellowship Group (blind and partially sighted Christians).

This Coming Week:
Sunday 13th - Joint Remembrance Services at Yelvertoft in the morning.
Monday - priority writing article for Oxford Diocese and finishing talk preparation.
Tuesday - School Assembly in Yelvertoft; Gartree Prison.  Then travelling to London for overnight stay at the Salvation Army College, Denmark Hill.
Wednesday - all day teaching at the Salvation Army College (Safe and Sound Course)
Thursday morning - Bible Discussion Group at Yelvertoft
Friday - Doreen and I will travel to Hastings, East Sussex for a Service of Thanksgiving for Alan Blythe.
Saturday - Key Note Speaker at Oxford Diocesan event, Marsh Gibbon.
Sunday 20th - the service at Yelvertoft will be taken by Dr Gordon Temple; in the evening I am taking the service for Newton URC, near Rugby.

Please pray that I will use time wisely in this week, and be fresh physically and filled with the Holy Spirit for each engagement.  God is able!

I pray that God will grant to you a really blessed week.  As always we welcome your news.

Barry