by Rev David Proud
Faith
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The Vicar Writes... by Rev David Proud |
Faith |
I am writing this piece as June draws to a close. Where has half the year gone? It seems only a few weeks ago we were looking forward to the celebration of 150 years of Christ Church in the community and now we are looking to draw into the home straight of events and activities. Time does appear to run away faster than you imagine it will. The more experienced of you will comment sagely that “It is all to do with your age, David”. Now, it is true that the older you get, the quicker the hours and days seem to fly by. That may be our experience but I am not sure that God intended for us to lose our sense of time. Surely God who was and is before time and over time and beyond time, has ordained enough time and the right time for everything he desires to be accomplished. (Now don’t switch off at this point, or decide you haven’t got time to read the Vicar’s letter).The experience of most of us is that the one thing we don’t have much of is time. Most of us have more wealth, material possessions and opportunities than our parents or grandparents could have ever imagined. There are so many choices we are able to make about our desires but the major limiting factor appears to be time. We are afflicted by time poverty, in that there are not enough hours in the day to respond to all the calls on our time. How do we decide how to spend our time? What guides us into making the right decisions for ourselves and our families? How much time do we give to our relationship with our heavenly Father? How do we respond to the demands of church on our time? Where are worship, fellowship, witness, and service to the community in our list of priorities? How does everything fit together in our long working days and manic weekends?
In Ecclesiastes the writer begins the third chapter with the statement that ‘There is a time for everything’. I want to respond wholeheartedly to that concept but a voice in me cries ‘But how?’ As I reflect on my own lifestyle choices it is clear to me that my life quickly descends into a mad rush when I get my priorities wrong. When God has to fight for space in my life, the rest of my life gets messed up. It is like any important relationship, if you don’t spend time with the people who matter to you, then the rest of your life can seem hectic and directionless. The only way time
makes sense is when placed under the authority of our heavenly Father who created time. I think we forget this at our peril. Jesus provided us with a good example of how to use time. At the core was his relationship with his Father, followed closely by investment of time in other important relationships and he still found time to accomplish all he was set. He accomplished so much into three years yet never ever seemed rushed or unable to respond to those around him. I don’t buy the counter argument that we live in a much more complicated world than Jesus. The truth is that Jesus knew how to use time rather than allowing time to control him.
As individuals made in God’s image we need to put our personal relationship with God as the key priority before anything, and I mean anything else. Spend time with God in the way God has uniquely made you for. Explore the spiritual pathway God has created in you. As a church we need to focus on God and his direction for us in matters of worship and witness. In all things put God first and everything, even time, will follow.
God bless
David (still wearing an L plate when it comes to time!)
| A Year at Christ Church |
 Bridge |
“A Year at Christ Church” is a feature-length record of the whole Church family: from feast-days to football and Christmas to car-washing, from the sparkle of the New Year’s eve ball to the solemnity of a 9:15 service and including all of the visiting preachers in our anniversary year, this DVD will make an ideal Christmas present. Pre-order to be one of the first to receive a copy!
Price £12.99* (tbc, excl P&P). Enquiries to Sam Woodward.
(*Part of the proceeds from all DVD sales will go towards the ministry fund. Also, a Blu-Ray High Definition version may be available on request. tbc)
| Children’s Church |
Bridge |
Well nearly a year has passed since we decided to change our format of Children’s Church to resemble holiday club, interspersed with activity weeks and brunch and prayer weeks. Last Sunday a member of the congregation who isn’t usually part of our team was helping us at a club week and she commented on how you could have heard a pin drop during the bible reading. She was right and it made me stop and think about have far we have come and how the attitudes of the children have changed over the past 12 months.I was trying to think what to write about in this update and I realised that what I really want to do is to thank the amazing team of people who run children’s church. Last year at Salt Mine, one of the leaders shared that in a country with falling numbers of church goers, he thought one of the most important jobs we have is to win our own children for Christ. I feel privileged to be part of a team who share this goal and I love working with our fantastic children.
The new structure of Children’s Church has allowed us all to use our gifts to the full, with the musicians among us leading worship; the creative ones organising drama and leading craft activities; the sporty people playing football and rounders and Neil Greaves pretending to be a doctor who amputates legs with an axe! Our team has been gradually expanding and we have a great mix of people involved. We particularly value our youth members who give their time so generously and are such lovely role models for the children. It’s great to be in a position where we are no longer desperate for helpers and I can say to you, come and get involved because you will have fun and find the experience rewarding.
Thank you so much to all those people (far too many for me to list here) who have been part of such a successful year at Children’s Church. Thank you for your commitment, good humour, sense of fun, reliability, love for our children and for your servant heartedness.
A seminar that I attended at a New Wine training day recently began with the following message, which I wanted to share with you.
It is humbling to be entrusted with the task of teaching children and young people the Bible at a time of life when they are making important decisions, when they are increasingly developing into individuals, and when they take important spiritual steps forward. It’s really the best job in the world.
Anybody wishing to join the Children’s Church team should speak to me, Madeleine or Brad or any member of the team to find out more.
Dot
| Christ Church School |
Bridge |
You may recall that I mentioned last time, that we were looking at providing a breakfast and after school club. Following consultation with the parents I am pleased to say that there is sufficient demand for ‘Guardian Angels’ to set up this club and we expect it to start in September. We will need to watch developments closely but hope that it is a facility that will be enjoyed by the children and be useful to parents.
This is also the time of year that we see changes occurring. Unfortunately Mr Caprario, who has been covering Lewis Class during Mrs Walker’s absence, is unwell and unable to continue teaching the children. This has meant some changes in the staffing arrangements to carry us through to the end of term. Two new teachers will be joining our school in September. Miss Byrne (who has been teaching locally for several years) and Mr Mann (a newly qualified teacher) will be joining the Key Stage 2 team. Please hold all the staff in your prayers and ask that the new members may settle in quickly and become valued members of the team
Looking back over the past few weeks I have to wonder how the staff have managed to pack in so many activities. Year 3 and 4 children visited the Gunpowder Mills at Waltham Abbey to take part in team building and problem solving activities. Key stage 1 children visited Hertford Castle travelling by train and investigating the dungeons in particular! The following week the hall was transformed into a Medieval Banqueting Hall. One of the children tells us more, “We made our own costumes for it. We had old-fashioned food including lots of meat! Two people from each class had to be Kings and Queens and sit at the high table. It was really fun!”
Year 5 and 6 children who did not go on the ‘Kingswood ‘ residential week went to Sutton Hoo in Suffolk as part of their history topic. One of the children reports, “The most interesting thing that we did was looking at all the artefacts in the museum. We learnt how the Anglo Saxons dressed and we found out about how swords and other weapons were made. We got to try on the famous remade helmet – some people looked really funny in it!”
For the week before half term 37 children and 4 members of staff had a ‘fantastic time’ at West Runton Kingswood Centre in Norfolk. Kerry Scripps the headteacher who went with the children reports that they were kept busy from morning to night and was amazed by the children’s bravery as they conquered their fears to try new activities. One of the children however reported on a slightly different aspect “I loved it, but Miss Gifkins was really mean – she should never be let loose with a water bottle again”. I think I will be on the look out for Miss Gifkins and her water bottle when I am next in School.
Enjoy the summer break.
Bob
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Bob’s Browsings by Bobbie Proud “But Martha was distracted...” |
Faith |
I have to make a confession. I’m very easily distracted. But as I write this afternoon, I’m determined to stay focused.Ooh, the sun’s nearly out from behind the trees. Trees. Mmm. Waving rather wildly in a strengthening breeze. Hope the weather doesn’t go off. But for now, they’re a mass of colours in the wind – green, lime-yellow, and wine red. Red? What was going on in God’s mind there? After he makes leaves green, did he suddenly think “Oh, I know, let’s have a few red ones as well. And hey, some that are silver grey. And why not a few that look kind of bluey-greeny.” Why? So we could have nice gardens and landscapes, or just for His own pleasure?
I like seeing the wind shaking the trees. Reminds me of the Holy Spirit blowing through lives... Mm. The lawnmower noise has stopped. Good. Oh, but now I can hear more cars speeding up the road and planes overhead. That’s not good. But which is worse, constant loud mower or occasional boy racers? There’s a bee going into the foxglove trumpets right by where I’m sitting. He looks happy in his work. I wonder if he ever forgets and goes into the same flower trumpet more than once? I would, if it were me. It would be weird if he went into one trumpet and came down another. Spooky. Appear, disappear, appear, disappear. Hide and seek. We used to play that on wet Saturday afternoons, when the children were small. It was quite fun though we all got a bit narked because David got over-competitive. I hope they aren’t going to be scarred for life...
I might go and put the kettle on. Why is it I can now immediately hear Richard’s voice in my head, saying “It won’t suit you.”? Wonder who’s playing at Wimbledon. That film with Kirsten Dunst is on, on Saturday. What imaginative scheduling. Mm. Saturday. Doctor Who. Well, there’s a bee in my garden. Did I post the letters? That bird that sounds like a telephone is singing – or should it be ringing? – again. The clouds look like mountain ranges on ordnance survey maps. Or two Chinese dragons fighting. I should go and see if the washing’s finished or I may not get it dry. Shall I do new potatoes or jacket wedges tonight?
I must answer some e-mails before I don’t feel like it any longer. Now why has my old school song just floated through my head, when I was actually having a little think about Gok Wan, spurred on by that article Caitlin Moran wrote in the Times today? “Qui Paraclitus dicerit, donum Dei altissimi...” What was the point of that, when no-one knew what it meant? I can still remember it though. Like the surnames of all the other girls in my form, in alphabetical order. That impressed David and Jonny the other day, when I reeled them all off. “Blackshaw, Blakytny, Clarke, Collier, Collins...” So why can I remember all that stuff but not that I should have phoned the optician today? Ooh, more bees. Perhaps the Daleks won’t come and exterminate us after all, then.
Mr Lawnmower Man (maybe he’s related to Mr Tambourine Man) has started again. I’m not sure I could use a lawnmower if I tried, unless it’s the same as doing the hoovering. Perhaps I should find out. Or perhaps I should just go and do the hoovering. If I don’t, all the needles from the cedar tree will get trodden into the carpet...
I’m sorry. I should have written this piece. But I got very very distracted.
Bobbie Proud is away (with the fairies).
“...whoever catches a glimpse of the revealed counsel of God—the free life!—even out of the corner of his eye, and sticks with it, is no distracted scatterbrain but a man or woman of action. That person will find delight and affirmation in the action.” James 1:25 (The Message)
| Oasis - what’s that then? |
Bridge |
Oasis is a friendship group for those who parent alone. We meet between 4pm and 7pm, on the last Saturday of every month except December, in the Church Centre.
Oasis provides a meal, tea, coffee and home made cake. Plus craft activities for children and parents, one to one games with children and the opportunity for parents to chat with other parents with similar situations and experiences.
How can you help?
Oasis is looking for some more help with the practical side of things. We need a new cook, someone willing to cook for between 15 and 25 people, every month. This involves buying and preparing the food (reimbursed of course). This would suit someone happy to help behind the scenes.
We also need a couple more people to help set up at the start, clear up at the end and chat to people during the session. Particularly someone to play one on one with our visiting children, to give Mums a break. Would you be interested in joining our team?
Any questions should be directed at Catriona or Rosie.
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Some words of encouragement especially if you may be going through a tough time |
Faith |
With Jesus in your corner you can win the fight. No matter how many times you may get knocked down Jesus is always there to pick you up. You can put your trust in Him; don’t try to fight in your own strength.He is also such a gracious God that even if you leave Him as a last resort and try to cope with your problems because you don’t want to bother Him, He will still be there just waiting for you.
I give thanks for how God uses His people to do His work. You may think that your gift may be insignificant, but God has given it to you - so use it!
I have seen God at work in Christ Church and heard Him speaking through some of you, especially in recent weeks. I thank Richard Clayden for his honesty the other week about his difficulty with prayer. Many of us struggle but may be reluctant to admit it. However, as Paul reminds us in one of his letters (I’m not sure which one!) we should continue to pray. As the wristband P.U.S.H. stands for - Pray Until Something Happens!
Ian Henry’s talk on June 22nd was also challenging and thought-provoking, but also reassuring. The story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego is really good - it tells us that despite what may happen God is faithful. These men were prepared to stand up for their faith in the face of the threat of death. I pray that God will give us all a faith like theirs. Ian also used the example of the poem “Footprints”; this reminds us that God carries us through our times of trouble. You will come through with renewed strength if you go to God, but don’t leave it as a last resort. Go to Him first; He is ready and waiting!”
Ron
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LoveWare:LiveWare what happened in May |
Bridge |
LoveWare:LiveWare had two sessions of football plus community action during the month of May. The first on the 3rd May happened down on the field at Lower Bourne Gardens. Six children came in the morning and fifteen in the afternoon. The litter picking teams were well used and the community were thrilled to see some rubbish which had been standing around for some time being ‘spirited’ away. Quite a few cars got a touch of elbow grease and were left sparkling and clean for their owners.On 8th May a group organised a game of rounders but we learned from the children on King George Field that while they really preferred football, they were still happy to be hanging around and chat to the LoveWare team.
Our second big day was held on 24th May at King George Field. The day was divided into two sessions and sixteen children turned up in the morning and fifteen in the afternoon. Although we were not planning for children in the afternoon no-one was turned away and they had great fun kicking a ball around. A group of older teenagers were on the field when we returned after lunch so an impromptu five-aside was then played. Again car washing and litter picking was carried out during the day to the delight of the local residents.
Our thanks are given to the students from All Nations students who joined in with us and those from the other churches in Ware. It’s been a great time getting to know more people in Ware. LoveWare:LiveWare is planning to hold a festival again in August (22nd to 24th inclusive) on both the Lower Bourne Garden field and King George Field plus events in one of the local schools.
The one thing we have become aware of during this time is that the children enjoy being organised with some kind of games and are happy to talk to the LoveWare team when they have a break for crisps and drink.
A full programme of events will be available soon as will forms for you to register if you would like to help at one of the events during that time. Please consider what you can do for LoveWare. More information can be got from Alison or Helen. I’ve really enjoyed it!
Helen
‘When I’m found in the desert place, though I walk through the wilderness, blessed be Your name.’
The Thanksgiving for Marriage and Renewal of Vows Service on 21st June was very special and has led me to reflect on my marriage. This was followed by sunday’s service with the theme ‘A faith that is stretched but not broken’. Since then I have felt prompted to share how God was there in a very difficult period of our marriage.
In the calm before the storm when life was just ticking along, I went to a women’s day and came away with the words ‘stand firm’. At the time I was puzzled, but over the following months these words gave me the strength to stand firm in my faith, to hold on to the hope that God is in control of our lives and to trust in Him for whatever the future may have held. A huge change in our family circumstances caused a crisis in our marriage, as I was able to accept what God had planned and Martin could not. It took more than a year before he was able to.
The truths we sing in the worship songs each sunday helped by reminding me of God’s faithfulness. However painful the songs were to sing at times, those truths about God became engrained in my heart. The prayers, support and wisdom of our friends were invaluable.
I feel that God not only restored our marriage and healed the hurt, but has blessed us so much as a family and as a couple.
Jane
| A year in the Life |
 Body |
As well as getting taller it has been good to see the young people across the whole Church growing and using their gifts:- leading worship and prayers, helping in Children’s Church, teaching from the Bible and serving and encouraging one another.
Christ Church has been a wonderful stepping-stone out into the community and it is brilliant to see more and more members of the congregation getting involved with community action mornings and LoveWare+LiveWare events. The young people from the Church have been particularly (and notably) active in serving in this way, litter picking, washing cars for members of the public and also serving people within the Church at the whole Church breakfasts.
For many the mock slum lifestyle experienced at “Slum Survivor” was a real eye opener to conditions that people have to deal with everyday, everyday. It was good to be reminded of our responsibility to people in difficult situations across the world.
It has been good to learn more about God’s character, his freely given love and forgiveness and also develop friendships within the security of our small groups.
Rob
| Oblong Box answer some questions from their cell pastor on cell life |
Faith |
Q) What have you learnt about God this year?
A) He is really kind and he likes to give us praise. He always helps, but never doesn’t stop helping everyone.
Q) What have you done for God this year?
A) We have endured many hardships such as insults, namely Michael Jackson. Slum folk need love and packaging to insulate their families.
Q) Have you had any new experiences through cell?
A) Hmmm...Well...OH! Jesus actually turns yo’ completely positive.
Q) What have you learnt about your friends?
A) Homestars look-a-likes, although possibly volumnliously hip, are Josh Dillon and Michael Jackson.
Q) What have you most enjoyed?
A) Squadron Delta Foxtrot like to stick it to the man.
Q) How have you grown?
A) We have grown vertically, geographically, economically and historically. Plus spiritually of course.
Michael
| A Quick Theology of Marriage |
Faith |
When the Book of Common Prayer was put together in the 16th Century, and then revised in the 17th, a clear theology of marriage was expressed in the Wedding Service. The opening “exhortation” of the service reads:
Dearly beloved, we are gathered together here in the sight of God, and in the face of this congregation, to join together this Man and this Woman in holy Matrimony; which is an honourable estate, instituted of God in the time of man’s innocency, signifying unto us the mystical union that is betwixt Christ and his Church;
This is a reference to Ephesians 5, where Paul writes:
Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, because we are members of his body. “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church.
The BCP marriage service echoes this understanding for it first calls on the husband in this manner:
Wilt thou love her, comfort her, honour, and keep her in sickness and in health;
Here the primary call to the husband is to love, but when the wife is addressed the charge is different:
Wilt thou obey him, and serve him, love, honour, and keep him in sickness and in health;
The distinction in the charges points to the Ephesians 5 teaching that the wife submitting to her husband, on the basis that he loves her by laying down all things for her, is a mirror of the church’s relationship to Christ.
This understanding leads Paul to the realisation that the consummation of the marriage creates a mysterious holy union between husband and wife that mirrors the union of Christ and the Church. The bonding of the two as “one flesh” is not just a physical act but a spiritual one and it has a deep signification in its activity with the uniqueness of the partners being key. The sexual difference of the wife and her husband are the driving force behind the symbolism. It is their biological difference and the union of those differences that is the indicator of the greater union of Christ and the Church.
To summarise, the BCP Marriage Service explicitly draws from Ephesians 5 and in doing so distinguishes between husband and wife in their unique roles in signifying the union of Christ and the Church. The sexual imagery is deliberate and points to a higher truth beyond the married couple. This imagery is still continued 400 years later in the Common Worship service where the introduction says:
Marriage is a gift of God in creation through which husband and wife may know the grace of God. It is given that as man and woman grow together in love and trust, they shall be united with one another in heart, body and mind, as Christ is united with his bride, the Church.
It’s the same theology, drawing on the same passage and teaching the same things - the Anglican theology of marriage.
It’s also the reason why Christians are called to save sex for marriage, because as we have seen, sex within marriage is designed to symbolise hugely important things about what Jesus has done for us. When it happens outside of marriage it has to do so in a context which denies one of the important symbols in Ephesians 5, the symbols that are at the heart of the Anglican Wedding service.
Peter
| Summer Reading |
Body |
Here are a few suggestions:
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John Eldredge - “Walking with God” (Nelson Books) Have you ever wanted to hear God’s voice in your everyday life, relate to Him on a day-to-day basis, following His lead and letting Him touch your life? John Eldredge opens up his prayer journal over the course of a year in order to demonstrate how it could work. A fascinating insight and a spur to expectant listening, the book is full of stories and very easy to read. John Eldredge is an “outdoor type” and lots of his stories may appeal especially (though not exclusively) to men.
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Donald Miller - “Blue like Jazz” (Thomas Nelson Publishers) Subtitled “Nonreligious thoughts on Christian Spirituality”, my favourite quote from this book is “I always thought the Bible was more of a salad thing, you know, but it isn’t. It is a chocolate thing.” Donald Miller probes his experiences of faith and church, asks some challenging, and some disarmingly simple, questions, and makes us consider what we are doing in the name of Christianity, and why. It’s a book which is full of originality, honest, warm, funny and engaging, full of stories, and wildly encouraging.
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William P. Young – “The Shack” An unusual book – it’s a novel – in which a tragedy takes place and Mac, the central character is forced to examine his faith in the light of it. Without giving too much away, Mac has a transforming encounter with God which relieves him of the burdens he is carrying. A story which will certainly make you think and will certainly provoke other reactions!
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Rick McKinley - “This Beautiful Mess: Practising the Presence of the Kingdom of God” (Multnomah Publishers) Written by a pastor, this book helps us to think about what it means to be part of the kingdom of God and how we as Christians express it in the world. It suggests that we don’t need to wait for a special moment, or attain a level of spiritual maturity, but that in the midst of our everyday struggles, there are countless opportunities to serve and celebrate God.
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Frederick Buechner - “Godric” (HarperOne) Probably the most literary of these suggestions, this is the story of a twelfth-century man whose life is transformed by God and who becomes a hermit who continues to battles for holiness until the end of his life.
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David Maine - “The Flood” (Canongate books) A novel, retelling the Noah story, which is by turns thought-provoking, funny, and serious, and gives an insight into the practicalities of keeping all those animals on a large boat! Watch out – it contains some strong language.
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All titles are available from Amazon.
See Bobbie for more details or if you have any questions.
