Meetings..meetings..meetings

“Without wavering, let us hold tightly to the hope we say we have, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. Think of ways to encourage one another to outbursts of love and good deeds. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage and warn each other, especially now that the day of his coming back again is drawing near.” Hebrews 10:23 - 25


I have been thinking alot about meetings and of course the variety of them. Part of this thought process was stimulated by a work experience student who was considerably surprised by the number of meetings we attend... so this led me to think. Firstly, our meetings should be worship by that worthy of God. We gather at a meeting in order to hold tightly to the hope God has promised us. Meetings should be used to encourage one another to outbursts of love and good deeds. The idea is not to stop meetings but rather to use meetings as a source of encouragement, an opportunity for teaching and especially a call to Godly action. Somehow perhaps I have missing the point.

Before any meeting I have started to contemplate the following:

Is God invited? This is about priorities. More than a perfunctory prayer or devotion, this question is a spiritual challenge: Are we vigorously seeking to follow Gods will?

Do you know where you’re going? This is about organization. What will you accomplish? Is there a clear agenda to follow? Are you prepared to answer reasonable questions?

Are the committee members with you? This is about communication. Does the committee have enough information? Is everyone participating in a healthy and creative discussion?

Will the meeting end with smiles or frowns? This is about encouragement. Does the meeting end with the anticipation we are following God’s will for our church?

And of course is there cake and coffee for no other reason that hospitality is a gift in which we share with one another.. What do you think?

Oh Thomas - the doubter

I so identify with the disciple Thomas. Is it because we are both twins? Is it the doubting? The questioning? I don't know what it is but I am right there with him. "My Lord and My God........."


Everyone but me,
where was I?
that I should miss this grace?
My grief,
I could not be consoled by the others
it drove me to the streets
to the edge of the city
to the temple
to find my twin for understanding
hoping for a sign.

What did Jesus say?
What did Jesus promise?
Healing so many and yet this has to be so.
I feel a little betrayed - YOU promised.
Maybe Judas understood more than me, more than the others.
Are we wrong?

I couldn't stand there at the cross,
to watch as my hope was destroyed.
I shrank into a corner of deep despair and heard your words
"My God.. My God,, why have you forsaken me..."
"It is finished"

How can I trust, how can I believe?
The others say they have seen you.
"Peace," they say. "He is alive."
I merge from the shadow and seek the proof I desire
They scorn me for that - but did they always believe? Or did they need to see?
Why is more asked of me?
I need to see--no, I need to touch
I need to hear your voice again
speaking to me---to ME.

They call me the doubter, ME
but didn't they all doubt at some point?
Peter on water? Philip with the loaves
counting away wondering how all can be fed.

God I've made mistakes, too many mistakes
and if it is true all I can count on is your forgiveness
"My Lord and My God"

Contemplation of Easter

On Thursday metal thrown onto the table. Try and imagine the noise of 30 pieces of silver and 3 nails as they clattered on table and over the floor.

Metal - one a payment to Judas the other a payment for us.

On Friday - three denials, three crosses, three nails and the threefold love of God -Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Reflecting on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday

Maundy Thursday and Good Friday in the Central Partnership has been challenging and emotional. There are so many dramatic events throughout Holy Week for us to consider. It began on Sunday with the Triumphal Entry, the cleansing of the temple, teaching on a variety of subjects, and leads to eating with friends and then crucifixion. The Last Supper is key to setting up the events to follow. Among other things, the Last Supper was Jesus’ last opportunity to directly minister to his disciples before his death and resurrection. So what did Jesus teach at this final gathering?

The Gospel of John goes into the most detail about the Last Supper, spending five chapters recounting Jesus’ words and actions that evening (more than he does describing the rest of the Easter story!).

What stands out the most in that story? For many readers, Jesus’ washing of the disciples’ feet is the most striking event in the entire account. So on Thursday gathered in the upper hall at Bold Street we remembered. We sang, chatted, ate and drank together, hands were washed and we remembered. Leaving the building in darkness we met at Latchford the following morning.

It was Oswald Chambers who once observed that drudgery is the truest test of genuine character. Foot washing was a lowly job, an oft-recurring job due to sandals and dusty streets—a job for a servant. But here, the menial task was instead performed by the master, their teacher—the Son of God.

And the influential truth of Christ’s identity is that He still does what is analogous to washing soiled feet: our deepest sorrows He feels, our sorriest actions He accepts, our smallest prayers He hears—our every transgression He forgives, our dusty, tired hearts He washes.

And so on Friday we meet at the foot of the cross. We heard the story, sang the familiar hymns, reflected and cared for each other. What did we remember? Jesus is on his way toward the Cross. His disciples have fled and he is alone. Alone to face the wrath of the Roman Empire and the fury of the crowd. Alone and feeling abandoned by God. Yet not alone for all of humanity walks with him. We stumble and fall as he did. We are abused and spat upon. We feel despised and rejected - by ourselves, by others, by our world. Free us from our prisons and bring us new life

God who created us suffers because of us
God who died upon the cross suffers for us
God who dwells with us suffers with us
And in God’s suffering we find hope

God, you suffering brings us salvation
Without you the horrors of human suffering would be unbearable
Your story of life, death and resurrection gives life meaning
Your suffering frees us from our prisons

May we live this day in the knowledge of your pain
May we live this day in the assurance of your love
May we live this day in the hope of the resurrection.

Grace and Blessing

May I walk this day
in the company of grace,
walking with You
my feet firmly on your path,
my heart loving all,
my words and deeds alive with justice.

May I walk as blessing,
meeting blessing upon blessing at every turn
in every challenge, may there be blessing,
in all opposition, may there be blessing,
in harm’s way, may there be blessing.

May I walk each step in this moment of grace,
alert to hear You
and awake enough to say
a simple Yes.

Giving Up for Lent

Sorry to post so late. Sometimes weeks and days don't go as planned. Now a month on I thought I would catch up. So why the delay? Namely a broken wrist has made quite a few things difficult. Along with other things the doctor at the hospital said I was upside down....I knew what she meant but won't go into detail. However, I have been thinking alot about things being upside down.

How does life get turned upside down? Why do we feel under pressure to do? Do we sometimnes feel as though all our intentions,tasks and relationships have caved in on top of us?

Jesus said, "Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock.”

That is, following Jesus leads us to become a certain kind of person with a certain kind of life; namely, one that doesn’t get buried under the pile of sand.... This begs the question, “How did I get so upside down again?” Answer: "Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell--and great was its fall."

The thought of trying to keep my own head above water is a worrying thought. Worrying because I know my foot slips and my head goes under. Yet when my feet are on solid ground then it is easy for the head to be above water. When I am not worried about what I am standing on, when I know how firm the foundation then I can be focussed on the one who offers a foundation.

I love following Jesus, there is no other place I would rather be. I admire and respect him because of his courage and consistency. Jesus knows what to say and do, and how to say and do it. He leads us. He does not pretend to be something that he’s not. He is what He says, and he says what he is. He faces hardship with strength and prayer. He fears no-one, yet he gives himself up even his enemies.

His path is straight and good and walking in it gives a sense of identity and direction, a security that is not about comfort, but confidence and hope.

When with him, all is well and the pile of sand falling around does not seem so bad, after all it is the follish one that would start digging and building with it. For me solid ground that is it......

Contemplating continues...

Tim Hughes song "When tears fall" have the wonderful lines

"When hope is lost. I'll call you Saviour,
When pain surrounds, I'll call you healer"

The book of Lamentations and Psalms offers us all the words of hope and faith building techniques to help us in our journey. Many of the psalmists practised the discipline of recalling God' faithfulness as a stepping stone towards worship and hope. Psalm 13 offers us these words
"How long, O LORD ? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?
How long must I wrestle with my thoughts
and every day have sorrow in my heart?
How long will my enemy triumph over me?"

beginning with a desperate cry the psalmist continues to statements of trust in God
"But I trust in your unfailing love;
my heart rejoices in your salvation.
I will sing to the LORD,
for he has been good to me"

We have from the psalmist a wonderful truth that remembering releases rejoicing. When we cannot perceive God amidst the wilderness and pain, as clouds of uncertainty close in the way forward is to remind ourselves of what we know to be true and dependable - that is the grace of God.

Found myself wondering......

Over the past few weeks, which have been pretty awful with ill-health, - I have been reflecting alot. In doing so I have been drawn to the words of Matt and Beth Redman's song Blessed be your name. Profound words which echo the cry of many a heart. Where is God in it all or through it all? There are so many dichotomy's in life and for me this song personifies it.

Blessed be God in the sunset and the snow
Blessed be God in the nose bleeds and headaches
Blessed be God in the chicken dinners and chinese meals provided by others
Blessed be God in the words of tenderness and compassion
Blessed be God in the words of retaliation and anger
Blessed be God in the aunt and the uncle - one departed and the other nearing a new chapter
Blessed be God in the cards and flowers
Blessed be God in the tears and smiles
Blessed be God in the family and friends
Blessed be God in the known and unknown
Blessed be God forever and ever

Blessed be God in the wilderness for we humans only inhabit that place for a short time.

Said I would do it Tom?

Well done Tom an A in Maths GCSE and a year early - wahey good going mate. Love ya. AJ xx

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity - Who do you say HE is?

Jesus had no servants, yet they called Him Master.

Jesus no degree, yet they called Him Teacher.

Jesus no medicines, yet they called Him Healer.

Jesus no army, yet kings feared Him.

Jesus won no military battles, yet He conquered the world.

Jesus committed no crime, yet they crucified Him.

Jesus was buried in a tomb, yet He lives today.

I feel honoured to serve such a leader that loves me.

Pleasing everyone?

Is there such a thing as pleasing everyone? Can it be done? Life is complicated and therefore full of complications - what floats one persons boat - drowns another and makes others disembark.

It has been widely accepted that you can’t go out there and please everyone. Or that is what people tell me - you can't please everyone Jackie - but you can please me? Also, what concerns me is that I feel this has created a situation where people have stopped trying to please anyone at all. A kind of "I'm alright Jack scenario". Of course what I am not saying is that we don't consider ourselves - nope not saying that at all - but I wonder if just sometimes we kind of mix up th balance a bit.

The bottom line is that we’re all unique – for better or for worse – and therefore the one-size-fits-all mentality rarely applies to real life situations. To further complicate things, just as there are some folks that are easy going and easy to please, there are others that are a little grumpy and find fault with everything. Most of us fall somewhere in the middle where we have reasonable expectations and as long as an effort has been made to meet those expectations, we’re satisfied.

So what is one to do? Give up? Live in a cave? Of course not. You simply need to set the expectation that not everyone will go along with what you plan/say/attempt/etc…. If everyone does go along with it and they’re happy, then great. If they don’t, you’re not surprised, or worse, disappointed.

But it isn't easy - we all want to be liked - but at what compromise and what cost? That's why I am trying to figure.

2008-2009 Review and Reflection

I have spent time some time over the past week reflecting on the last year. What a mixture of emotions it evokes. Some delightful, heart warming and transforming occasions and others which have cut to the heart and have made me feel crushed. Some are easier to share than others.

The highlight of the year has to be people - loving and devoted to God. Those who have shown love and friendship have been a delight and a joy. Getting to know some people better - and they know who they are - has been wonderful. There are some I could not have survived without - their kindness and support has been inspirational and steadfast. Thank you.

Another involves the people I have met - some through some very sad circumstances - to share journeys of birth and passing has been a privilege.

So what else:

Spiritual growth and discipleship in Latchford and Bold Street
New members at Latchford with a servcie at Bold Street to follow
Discipleship evening started
2 Support workers appointed to start on 5 Jan
Refurbished coffee shop at Bold Street and Hall at Latchford
New people coming along to church
New people getting involved with leadership in church
Radio Merseyside with Heptagon
Maize Maze

Yet with the joy has been the sorrow and the hard times:

The death of Nan continues to cut to the core - I miss her more than words than can say.

The issue of formation remains hard as a minister. Time pressure as well as other words spoken have been hurtful - I journey through this exploring who I am and my calling as I journey towards 2009.




So this year -

new support workers
a new church bookshop
new song cafe
fresh expression church at Chicago Rock
Mission shaped Intro course
College continues
New office
At least 2 more CDs
More Radio Merseyside Programmes

a milestone of 40(God willing)
ordination (God willing)

I hope as you reflect on 2008 and anticipate 2009 you will know the hope and light oif God in who you are. He delights in you.

The Warrington Carol

Traditionally each year the staff team perform a song at the annual CarolCade in aid of Action for children - this year was no exception. So we put pen to paper and using the tune to Mary's Boy child wrote the following. It went down a stormer....

Long time ago in the North West
In the town with a golden gate
There is a circuit Warrington
a varied town it longs to relate

Hark now hear the district say
Does one go into five?
As we responded yes we pray
Pre-empting mapping the way

In the centre two churches meet,
To celebrate their call
Bold street, Latchford oh so sweet
In joyous praise to one and all

Chorus

These angels all delight and sing
No people they forsake
The central sing in harmony
Jackie’s love of chocolate cake

Chorus

By and by there stood a bearded man
Stephen Kingsnorth was his name
A big red bus named after him
The Borough council never the same

Chorus

Up in the north of Ice & snow
St. Philip proclaims the word
From the Health Centre to the Odeon
We are being increasingly heard

Chorus

Some Methodists from Antrobus one night
they saw a wondrous beaming light
was it a bright and shining star
it was Stockton Heath in full flight

Chorus

So off they journeyed to Stockton Heath
to see what’s going free
Invited to join in partnership
whilst Mark drank a cup of tea
Chorus

By and by, oh they have met
so many times they do agree
enablers working night and day
whilst mark still drinks lots of tea

Chorus

The Padgate star shone from the tower
Bringing wise men from afar
From Woolston, Lymm & Rixton they came
All squashed up in Malcolm’s car

Chorus

We like to feast those of us in the East
Lymm’s market lunches are a charm
With Rixton’s bakes and St Martins cakes
& Padgate’s bacon barm!

Chorus

There were some gifts came from the East
So the Holy Bible says
But God good gifts to us in the west
Are new things being started instead.

Chorus

Tiddlywinks, 3SA, and Monday Mums,
Little Angels, Chat and Chill,
For Penketh and Hood Manor too
All think they are really brill


Hark now hear the district say
Does one go into five?
As we responded yes we pray
Pre-empting mapping the way

Hark now hear the angels sing
Swelling our circuit praise
Stick the sat nav in the car
As we follow the Warrington ways

Just done this on Facebook

I have just undertaken this on facebook under the title "what kind of woman are you" the outcome is below .. interesting...

You are lovely and caring. You help others and spread out a lot of sympathy. Your life aim maybe is to serve the people. But your weakness is that you forget about yourself, your own needs. All your time is hold back for your friends and family. You are always there for people in trouble. Ready for any emergency. You make a lot of sacrifices just to be a good human. But every woman has her needs, her longings and a destiny. Don't loose yourself in work or curing other people's souls. You will have your own problems in your life. Another problem is that you don't say your opinion when it's right and important to say it. People trample onto your soul if you are always so kind and lovely and helpful. They will play on you. Though you should try to relax more and enjoy your life, you should not loose the gift that was given to you to help others . Not everyone is created this way... You are unique and rare!

hmmmm......

Christmas Day – Emmanuel - God with Us

Reading

Then Isaiah said: "Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary mortals, that you weary my God also? Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel. He shall eat curds and honey by the time he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good. For before the child knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land before whose two kings you are in dread will be deserted.

Reflection

Emmanuel God is with us. In other words “he is here” not somewhere else but right here. In the midst, the centre of the world and OUR world.

Emmanuel. God with us. He who was in heaven, co-equal and co-eternal with the Father and Spirit, descended into our world. Breathing our air, he felt our pain, knew our sorrows, and died for our sins. He didn't come to frighten us, but to show us the way to warmth and safety. Another way of putting it – Emmanuel God is with us – we are not alone. A God born as a helpless baby – the word becoming flesh unable to speak a word. The word vulnerable, relying on others and the community. God with us learning to walk, talk – this is not the remote God but the one.

May the peace and love of the Christ Child fill your hearts this day

Prayer
Welcome Holy Child. Your presence here transforms us.
All praise to you O Lord. You have come and become one of us. We thank you for this Word made flesh, revealed to us in the manger. Grant that we may find in his birth the new birth that he brings in us, to live out your gospel of love in the world; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen