Category Archives: mission

deliberately cracked

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crackvase_litex3The retreat was an excellent time away.
Bishop James was fantastic in his teaching, which was based around 2 Corinthian chapters 2 – 6., and challenge. A really powerful time for me personally was on the last morning when in the context of a Eucharist, Bishop James prayed for each of us and then anointed us as we re-affirmed our ordination vows. This experience took me back to the roots of why I do what I do which was in itself a real personal challenge to me.

The most encouraging moment for me came when Bishop James reminded us that we hold our treasure, our ministry, within jars of clay (2 Cor 4:7-12). These jars are jars that would be picked up at a local market, poor quality, thin, designed for everyday use … maybe even cracked. These are not the good quality thick earthenware jugs that would be adorned with patterns and motifs. The bishop pointed out that Paul states figuratively that it is in these everyday poor quality clay jars that we carry the message of the gospel in. Paul was saying, and the bishop was reminding us, that Paul likens our lives to those poor quality jars. Jars made so thinly that you could see a candle shining through them.

That encourages me because a lot of the time I feel broken but don’t feel the need to be fixed, even though people sometimes want to fix me.
It encourages me because I know I am full of cracks and imperfections, but don’t feel a need to fill or glue them with something else, even though some may feel thats the right thing to do.
It encourages because I know I ain’t one of those pretty jars …. but God created me in the image of God all the same.

I’m encouraged because I have believed for some time that that my being broken and cracked and transparent is right. I believe this because I think that it may be through the cracks, the thin-ness and the transparency that the light of Christ shines through.

If I was perfect and my life was solid and sealed nothing would escape or leak of seep out from the imperfections. So …. I remain deliberately cracked because I believe I was deliberately created that way.

 

leaking

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200216486-001Great thoughts from Richard Rohr’s daily thought today …

‘Jesus loves to tell stories like that of the publican and the Pharisee (Luke 18:9-14) and the famous one about the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32), in which one character does his life totally right and is, in fact, wrong; and the other who does it totally wrong ends up God’s beloved! Now deal with that!’    (read more here)

In a world and church mindset where ‘success’ and ‘power driven ….. (fill in the gap) publications’ are pushed at the correct and only way, this biblical reminder from Richard Rohr is refreshing.

In todays set readings I read ‘He raises the poor from the dust, and lifts the needy from the ashes’.

It should be no surprise that we find God working with the real down to earth people where the Kingdom is just leaking through like sunshine through a rugged and badly fitted door. What is more surprising (like in my incident outside the pub) is that I don’t find more of God’s agents in those places … or maybe I do and my mind has not been transformed enough yet to notice.

Thank you Fr Richard for getting my mind working this morning.

 

Powerful stories

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20130930-160808.jpgThis last Saturday saw the launch of this years MSM in the Kent area.

There are 32 new students on the course this year. As I listened to some of their stories throughout the day I was struck by both their variety and their desire to connect in a real way with those outside the church structures.
I think this course is an excellent course – well as one of the teaching team you would expect me to say that … but I am seriously looking forward to learning from these people as they share their experience as well as seeing them ‘grow’ as they Ty out new ideas and listen to each other.

Saturday was a really great start and I went home thinking what a great privilege it will be over the next 10 months or so as we travel together. I think it is a pretty exciting time for the church in Kent.

a journey of discipleship

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DSC_0092Its been a busy few days and I’ve not really had the headspace to reflect on things I have been involved in.

I am feeling pretty caged up at the moment as I’m conscious I am holding so much ‘stuff’ in my head … and that’s not a good place for a reflective practitioner to find themselves in. I need to pause and reflect which is pretty much what I use this blog for, and of course I love the comments from others who have great insights that both challenge and bless.

So; to start emptying the head …. Last week I was at Breakout. This was a highlight as it was space with other pioneers, some I know and trust who have become good friends, and others that I got to know over the three days and hope will become good friends. The conference was good for many reasons.

Having others from the gathering there was a first for me, and its hard to put into the words the mix of joy and excitement I felt being there with others from our community. It sounds soppy, but it made the time way even more valuable than I could have envisaged. Seeing members of the gathering naturally linking with others was such a cool experience. It feels as though something has changed for the better, but more on that will come from another post.

Some of the stuff delivered in the sessions at Breakout was really good as well. The topic was ‘discipleship’ which I believe is very key to pioneers  … although I do find myself personally questioning whether the set sessions were AS valuable as the natural conversations that were had outside set session times. (Is it just me that thinks we should have a conference of like minded people with a ‘topic’ who then just chat and join various conversations happening in different rooms, or preferably bars!?)

I was particularly challenged by an observation from Stuart Murray Williams. I can’t remember his exact words but he said something like; ‘Jesus said go and make disciples and I will build my church …. but I wonder whether we have reversed that, so that we try to build church and kind of hope disciples grow through some form of osmosis.’ I was challenged by that and the statement has been buzzing around my mind for a good few days now.

As an OPM I am tasked with creating new ways of being church with others. That task can sometimes become clouded with a focus shifting away from disciples to models and styles of church. I think it is going to be an ongoing query and question that I chat with others in the gathering about. If we make disciples, whatever that means, does church, whatever that may be,  just simply follow?

I was also challenged to think about the ‘how’ of discipleship. I have always sat uncomfortably with published materials in this area, but I guess I am not sure why. I think it is the language of power that has put me off. It’s the language that kind of says a variety of things like: ‘I know what I’m doing so you listen to me.’, ‘We are the experts and so we will impart knowledge of how to be a good disciple to you.’ ‘You just do as we say and you will be fine.’ That has never seemed quite right to me. I wonder from what Stuart was saying if this needs to be more of a joint journey type thing, where the language is more of learning and travelling together, where there is a vulnerability as we also share the stuff we struggle with. I am thinking aloud, but this seem to make more sense to me.

Another great thing about Breakout for me is that it reminds me I am not alone in my situation. When you work in a diocese where most people you work with are on a stipend you can easily start to think you are alone in the reality of your calling. AtBreakout there were plenty of pioneers who have opted out of paid ministry to developing their fresh expressions or communities. I found that to be both exciting and eveningencouraging, and also useful as we shared the make up of out various income streams!

But … most of all the overwhelming best thing of Breakout was catchin

g up with friends …. thanks all of you …. till we meet again (which for those in the gathering will be pretty soon!)

excited … daunted …

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It’s been an incredibly busy and interesting weekend. We celebrated the 25 years of marriage of my brother in law Andrew and fave sis in law Sarah. That was a great party and a wonderful time of reflection over the past few decades. It was exciting to look back and see how we’ve changed … but then it was daunting as well as we realised how quickly 25 years has passed!

That rolled into Sunday which was a day of endings and beginnings.

Exif_JPEG_PICTUREWe held our stall at the last boot fair of the season. To be honest I was a little disappointed as it was very quiet. A combination of fewer people and a pitch which was a bit out on a limb meant that we chatted amongst ourselves for a lot of time. We did have some conversations, and we did pray with some people after Psalm or Jesus Deck readings. It was a good time of team story sharing and I was able to watch and see how members of the team had grown massively in confidence. The pilot has definitely shown that this is a worthy ministry and we will be looking at recruiting a bigger team for next year …. so watch this space … or why not just get in touch if these stories have grabbed you! I’m excited by what can develop next year while I acknowledge bigger and better needs more planning, resources and people.

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image from here

On Sunday afternoon the gathering got together for a BBQ and Eucharist as our first get together since our aspirations day at West Malling. There was a great atmosphere as we caught up, we missed those that could not be there, and we shared bread and wine together as we contemplated the task of writing our rhythm of life that now lies ahead of us. Others have found out about us and 5 new people wanted to come yesterday but could not make the date, but hope to be with us in October.

I’m excited by where we are as the gathering. I am also scared and daunted because, I guess, it is actually starting to work. People are taking the reigns and that means I have to let go of stuff that I have held dearly for so long. Leadership in the gathering is collaborative and inclusive and i think now, possibly for the first time, we as a community are collaboratively leading this thing. None of us know where it is going and none of us can influence that direction. It really feels like we are at the mercy of this great wave or wind called God …. which is both exciting …. and daunting all at the same time.

So … two words that pretty much sum up the weekend …. feelings of excitement and being daunted!

Gospel Cocktails

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imgresI love it when I come cross news of other peoples creativity helping people connect with God in some way. I used to work in a church down the road from Tina (aka Portishead Pilgrim) and so I have been keenly watching with interest to see what God does here.

Tina writes here about using cocktails to introduce people to the life of faith. Read both articles here and here …. well worth it … go read and be inspired.

taking a risk to bring hope

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msm-logoOne of my roles on the MACE team for Rochester Diocese is to teach on the MSM course. We have recently completed the last course and publicity is now available for the next course that starts in late September. I’ve linked below to the official video from the MSM site …. take 7 minutes to listen before reading on ….

 

 

I know you will think I am slightly biased, but this course really is what is says it is …. ‘a one year part time learning journey in a supportive community’ that will ‘equip you for a lifetime of good practice and learning in planting and sustaining fresh expressions of church’ …. there may be other courses out there …. but this is a great course and is well worth considering.

Whether you are exploring how to start off, or are an experienced pioneer; whether you are wanting to learn qualities of ministry, or a person who really wants your church to be more effective in mission ….. then why not consider enrolling on MSM. There are 6 or more different teachers on the course, all coming with loads of different experience of mission in varying local contexts.

Individuals are welcome … but i think it is definitely of more benefit if 2 or 3 people from a church or fresh expression come together and discuss the issues together both on the course and in their local context.

Intrigued ….. then look at the course flyer here ….. and if you would like an informal/non committal chat please get in touch … oh and did I say this is a great course?

I hope to hear from some of you ….

just a field and a few shattered people

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shatteredI have been wondering what I love so much about the boot fair and the ministry that we are developing there week by week. Is it the way we engage with people? Is it the excitement and anticipation of who we will talk with and what God will do? Is it something about the way I can see the team developing and growing in confidence as they allow God to work through them? Is it because we actually have to depend on God and ask God to intervene as it is difficult to plan for who will come and what they will come with?

Well I think it is possibly part of all of those and maybe more. But a friend summed it up in a short inspired sentence: ‘I like the fact that God is there with absolutely no religion to ‘help him out’..if you get me – just a field, and a few shattered people.‘

That says it all. The team are shattered after 6 hours of being ‘on duty’, but i think some of us arrive shattered after waking up at 5am! But …. the real exciting thing here is that God is simply there and waiting to meet with people. Ok we are using ‘tools’ to help us, but there is no dressing up or a drawing message. The one thing that unites all of the people we have engaged with is that God has been drawing them, speaking to them, connecting with them is some way that they have not really recognised or been aware of until they have stumbled upon us in an open field.

Yesterday we were busy …. we engaged with 4 people before 645am which felt manic as I think the week before it took nearly 2 hours before we spoke to anyone. I lost count yesterday of how many people we prayed with or listened to or answered questions from.

One particular story from yesterday was a man in his mid 20’s who chose a Psalm Reading (explained in last weeks report). He said he was looking for guidance and randomly chose Psalm 27:1:
‘The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life, of whom shall I be afraid?
With a smile on his face mixed with a little confusion he remarked ‘this is for me; this is what I have been looking for!’
One of the team then prayed with that young man. 

Stories like that amaze me.
How can God use a scrappy bit of a card in the middle of a hot field with some shattered but willing people?
I don’t know … and I know that I feel inadequate at the start of each Sunday morning, but God seems to take that inadequacy in all of the team and transform it into something that he can use.

So …. just a field and a few shattered people …. why not come see what we do at the boot fair in two weeks … we are net there on Sunday 28th July from 6am until 12 noon.

Shiny boots

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We have now trialled the Dekhomai stall at three boot fairs. There have been some interesting reflections as we have sought to become part of this community.

First, it seems that many people like to see us there. This seems to still be the case even if they are not particularly interested in what we offering. We have had one or two people that have loudly said things like ‘I don’t do Jesus’ …. but in the main people seem pleased to see us there.

We have had a number of interesting conversations. It seems that people want to share their stories with us. Some people want to share their struggles while other seem to ‘test the water’ by seeing what comments we will make to stuff they have shared.

This week we had around half a dozen people come back to take a Psalm reading. They said something like, ‘can I take another one of these, because last week it really helped me.’ (for clarification we have around 12 verses from psalms printed on coloured card and weighed down by a stone, printed side down. We ask people to take the card they either like the colour of or the stone. The person then turns the card over to reveal the Psalm reading, which we read with the person, talk and offer to pray). Knowing that people are coming to take words of the Bible away to be sued for the week is pretty amazing! (I can hear some vicars wishing their congregations would do that!)

An amazing reflection is that through this simple, seemingly random, act God is powerfully talking to people. We have had tears and joy as people have read words which have cut to the centre of their current experience. Yesterday one person did a Psalm reading with one member of the team and then a Jesus Deck reading with another …. and the message was the same! This was a message of hope and new beginnings. Coincidence, or God?

At the Sweeps festival and MBS fairs hand massage and prayer beads have been a real hit. So far this is not the case at the boot fair. Here it seems that Jesus Deck and Psalm Readings is where it is at. We need to think on that as we consider what to offer as time goes on. If people are more interested in the experiential stuff, maybe we should be looking at what else we can offer thats meets this need.

Another reflection is that this is not for everybody. Actually, it is not for the majority …. but for some, maybe only a few percent, this is already starting to have an impact. We already have people coming to search us out … after only 3 weeks!

So … what are we thinking for the future. We are thinking we will continue this for the rest of the boot fair season, which ends on 8th September. We are short of team members, but ok, on some of those Sundays …. so if you think you might like to join this team why not get in touch about receiving some training and getting involved.

Another idea from the team that grabs me is to hold a short communion service. I am wondering on the context of this and how we can stay ‘legal Anglican’ as well as be contextual for a boot fair. It should be easy but I am not sure that it is. But … it’s an exciting thing to be thinking on. It’s something i believe we need to try in some format.

So … that’s our reflections on boots so far…. shiny boots! (did you see what I did there?)

that was the fair …

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dek bootfairWell that was pretty amazing, and the best and most exciting Sunday that I think I have had for such a long time.

Most of the team awoke at around 5/520 am  to arrive at a large field by 6am. It was grey, quiet, a little chilly ….. but many people were active. As stall holders set their stalls up people were already trying to buy stuff. People asked if they could buy the icon and our deck chairs, and I think we could have sold the holy oils!

All through the day I think it’s true to say that people did not quite ‘get’ that we were the only stall there not trying to sell anything. People wondered about the catch and were not entirely comfortable with receiving something for nothing. We were not even pushing what we had to give away. If people looked interested we invited them to look more closely and take part. This sensitive low key approach ensured people were comfortable.

The day was amazing. I’m guessing thousands of people passed us, and we probably only engaged with say 50 people, but the levels of those engagements were quite amazing. People asked us to pray for or with them or for family members. People were interested in Psalm Readings and Jesus Deck readings. One person told me how they had met Jesus as they were trying to commit suicide and how the experience stopped that from happening. I think this was raised as the person was trying to make sense of what they had experienced.

That one conversation made the whole day worthwhile for me. The other personal highlight was, though, seeing the rest of team grow in confidence as they put their training into practice and saw that God used them … even in their nervousness! I love seeing people realise that they can be involved in mission and that it is all about listening to stories of other people.

As a trial we think this went well. As we ran the stall we were able to think of other things to offer (maybe a short communion service at 11am?) and how to set the stall up differently.

If you visited us today, then thank you it was great to see you. Sue and myself aso wish to thank the team – you really were amazing! l. It seems that everyone had at least one significant conversation with a guest to Dekhomai. So … next week we will be there … if you go to boot fairs come and say hi … if you think you might like to work with us on the stall, there is space and time for training so get in touch.

So … that was the fair …. bring on the the fair!