Postcard from the Rectory
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ
Remember back to January when so many meet to share their dreams and visions? It would appear now that we are in danger of being able to tick most of what was shared there already! Although many of those we can tick are only in their infancy we are well on our way to seeing some become reality already.
They were (take a depth breath first!)- Youth services, good PA system/better lighting, outreach to families/young people, use of family services to involve more children/families, outreach to community, late night evangelism, Welcoming Church to all, church available to be used by outside groups, church layout to allow for outside groups to use it, stop draughts/upgrade heating system, create large space at front (maybe carpeted) to enhance more activity (dance, drama, processions, preaching, etc.), lectern in central point, look at plans for Cecil Norman Centre building, bell ringing team, church open 24/7, press/publicity officer, children's choir, organ repaired, interactive sermons …… and anything else not yet thought of!
Our new Breakout service at 4.30pm on every Sunday (except the 1st) is a testimony to the number of gifted people who are prepared to try something new. The serious way the PCC took the decision to re-order parts of the church is indicative not only of how much people love this church but are passionate about creating space - for the future, for others, for the community. The way in which so many in our congregations care for each other and are always there to give support and prayer is a testimony to the maturity of our church.
To help us understand why we want to do all this and much more let's remember what the word 'parish' actually means. It comes from the ancient Greek and means 'those who live outside'. William Temple put it best when he said 'a parish church exists for those who do not belong to it' or who do not go to it.
Does this mean that those of us who do are unimportant? NO, far from it! God loves us all equally and therefore we are all equally important (please re-read Corinthians 12 if you are in any doubt about this). What it means is that our task in life is very, very simple - 'to love the Lord our God with all our heart and to love our neighbour as ourselves.' So every new thing we set up, every tradition we sustain, every time we change the environment we do it so that all of us have some space to be who we are (God loves us just the way we are) and space for us to grow into whoever God wants us to be (God loves us too much to leave us the way we are).
Let's keep praying for vision, strength, courage - but above all humility.
Yours in Christ,
Jesus said, 'love one another'.