In just a few weeks from now Ronnie and I are taking four weeks leave to rest and recharge the batteries. At first my main intention was to take my lovely wife away after 18 months of hard slog at Aberdoon House; but increasingly I am realising how important the break might be for me.
Over the past six months there has been a significant change going on among us. Several key people who were a part of the very start of this journey have moved on and at the same time a number of newer people have put their hand up to be involved. This new cohort of people is younger and less experienced in the way of church structures or policy which makes for some interesting dynamics.
Sometime ago I used the picture of a new building site to make sense of the changes going on among us. In our beginnings we had a bit of a concrete slab of faith upon which to consider building; but we needed some scaffolding to give us something upon which to begin the journey. We have been blessed with people who were eager to be part of that scaffold and give some shape to the journey. However, there comes a time when you can begin to remove the framework and begin to see what the building might really look like. I believe that this is where we are at right now.
The problem for me right now – and this is why a holiday is going to be good – is that I am having difficulty adjusting to the new look. I quite liked the scaffold!!
As with just about everybody I have never done this kind of thing before and it is scary being seen as the ‘expert’ who doesn’t really know all that much himself! I don’t know much, but I do know that we have the nucleus of something very exciting indeed, and I want to make sure that I am in the right shape physically, mentally and spiritually to see it through.
Some of our best stuff that happens occurs away from Sunday morning. For so many congregations the Sunday worship defines who they are. I am not sure that this is so for us. Sunday is simply a component part of a whole bunch of things that define us. Some of these things are very regular such as our ministry at Aberdoon House our children’s work and home groups, others semi regular in Pub Chat, Thank God You’re Here, Family lunches, Movies and Martini’s, Dinner and Daquiri’s etc. Then we have our Big Day Out, Trivia Night, Shopping Trip, Marriage Course, Church Camp, Melbourne Cup, ANZAC Day and Christmas Eve.
I am occasionally asked by others who hear of our ministry, “John, where or what is the bridge that connects them into the church? You know, you are doing this great stuff; but when do they join the church?” My response is that we don’t have any bridges, as our belief is that they are already a part of us and that the church is much bigger than the church!
Lot’s of people don’t get that or if they do, they don’t agree with it or like it.
So the scaffolding is gone. What do you see emerging out of the mist? What do you think we will look like into the future? What are your hopes and dreams? What do you expect of my leadership for the next stage of the journey? What are some of the things that you would like me to be addressing when we do gather together on Sunday? These are not rhetorical questions; I would love to get some responses so that I can return from a break well equipped for what lies ahead.
All feedback will be gratefully received and prayerfully reflected on so that the next twelve months will be our best yet and see a great new church emerging from our corporate hopes and dreams.
Cheers - John
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
'A funny thing happened ..
Life is full of lovely moments that keep you humble. Those of you in worship last Sunday experienced an example of that when the best laid plans came to something of a shambles.
Opening worship was good and even the kid’s address went okay followed by a nice quiet and – I think – even helpful time of prayer. Then the preacher was all set to give what he thought was an important and perhaps even timely reflection on ‘A few things I have learned about the church.’ After setting the scene quite nicely everything came to a grinding halt when our other church friends in room 4 found that they needed chairs which were all stored in room 1. Praise God in all things and in all things give thanks!
Having settled down after a few minutes delay my fellow room 4 Pastor had obviously realised that he had left something in his car and in pushing his remote lock, turned on the car alarm. Following this the benediction might have been a good plan but Pastor J pressed on only to be usurped by the antics of Layla and Holly. I reckon that when the Apostle Paul spoke about rejoicing ‘in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope,’ it was after a service just like last Sunday.
It is times such as the above that make us realise that we are not in control and that should be a useful lesson for us all. Having been involved in leadership of some sort or another for over 30 years now I have had more than enough examples of this to be convinced that all we can do at such times is to roll with the punches, retain a sense of humour and adapt!
We have done an awful lot of this over five or so years of establishing ourselves in this district. It is almost a daily exercise as we bob and weave along the road. Part of what I hope I said on Sunday was that I am greatly encouraged by that Matthew reading where Jesus says – I will build my church –not ‘I might’ or ‘I will think about it’; but ‘I WILL’. It doesn’t matter how often Pastor John stuffs up, I will still build it. It is not my church or your church, it is God’s to build as he sees fit. Increasingly a key part of my ministry is learning more and more to get out of the way!
Another thing that I have learned since I knew it all is that the more I know, the less I realise that I know. I was annoyed some months ago now as I watched a show on the ABC about the Uniting Church and found that the two key speakers were a gentleman from the conservative far right of the church’s theology and another gent’ from the liberal far left. I wrote into the ABC protesting that neither of these guys spoke for the vast majority of the church who have to live out their lives somewhere in the messy middle! Oh that it was so easy.
This week’s musings are in some way a thank you note to those of you who are bold, courageous and perhaps even foolish enough to continue the journey with us. I am aware that it is not an easy road and that there may well be easier options; but I believe that we are shaping something very exciting here and thank you for your loyalty.
I heard a quote this week from the great German Physicist Max Planck – interestingly enough a very committed Christian – who once said ‘If you want to find something new go and find someone new.’ In our creating something new in this district we are often finding new things as we continue to connect with new people. It can be dangerous ground at times but it sure beats boredom!
Cheers - John
Opening worship was good and even the kid’s address went okay followed by a nice quiet and – I think – even helpful time of prayer. Then the preacher was all set to give what he thought was an important and perhaps even timely reflection on ‘A few things I have learned about the church.’ After setting the scene quite nicely everything came to a grinding halt when our other church friends in room 4 found that they needed chairs which were all stored in room 1. Praise God in all things and in all things give thanks!
Having settled down after a few minutes delay my fellow room 4 Pastor had obviously realised that he had left something in his car and in pushing his remote lock, turned on the car alarm. Following this the benediction might have been a good plan but Pastor J pressed on only to be usurped by the antics of Layla and Holly. I reckon that when the Apostle Paul spoke about rejoicing ‘in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope,’ it was after a service just like last Sunday.
It is times such as the above that make us realise that we are not in control and that should be a useful lesson for us all. Having been involved in leadership of some sort or another for over 30 years now I have had more than enough examples of this to be convinced that all we can do at such times is to roll with the punches, retain a sense of humour and adapt!
We have done an awful lot of this over five or so years of establishing ourselves in this district. It is almost a daily exercise as we bob and weave along the road. Part of what I hope I said on Sunday was that I am greatly encouraged by that Matthew reading where Jesus says – I will build my church –not ‘I might’ or ‘I will think about it’; but ‘I WILL’. It doesn’t matter how often Pastor John stuffs up, I will still build it. It is not my church or your church, it is God’s to build as he sees fit. Increasingly a key part of my ministry is learning more and more to get out of the way!
Another thing that I have learned since I knew it all is that the more I know, the less I realise that I know. I was annoyed some months ago now as I watched a show on the ABC about the Uniting Church and found that the two key speakers were a gentleman from the conservative far right of the church’s theology and another gent’ from the liberal far left. I wrote into the ABC protesting that neither of these guys spoke for the vast majority of the church who have to live out their lives somewhere in the messy middle! Oh that it was so easy.
This week’s musings are in some way a thank you note to those of you who are bold, courageous and perhaps even foolish enough to continue the journey with us. I am aware that it is not an easy road and that there may well be easier options; but I believe that we are shaping something very exciting here and thank you for your loyalty.
I heard a quote this week from the great German Physicist Max Planck – interestingly enough a very committed Christian – who once said ‘If you want to find something new go and find someone new.’ In our creating something new in this district we are often finding new things as we continue to connect with new people. It can be dangerous ground at times but it sure beats boredom!
Cheers - John
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
At my ordination interview back in April I was asked to define what my ministry was about. Faced with four people whose formal theological training was way ahead of mine, I was a little unsure of how to respond; or more accurately perhaps, what kind of answer they were after. Figuring that the truth is always a good way forward I began to talk about making space for people to discover God and making sacred the spaces and places that we inhabit.
When I first began this journey evangelism was much more easily defined. I can recall being the guest speaker at a Youth for Christ rally in Victoria and after my message I gave an invitation to the more than 600 kids present to come to the front of the auditorium if they wanted to give their lives to Christ. It was most gratifying that night to see so many young people accept that invitation. During those early days it was relatively easy to monitor the progress of your ministry in terms of numbers ‘saved’.
Times change and so do we and in my case it has been exciting to see my ministry of evangelism develop in ways that I would never have considered way back when. I am still a great believer in the power to be found in preaching a Christian message; but now see just as much value in a variety of other facets of the Christian journey. For me the most important evolution of my ministry has been in the discovery of the importance of making sacred space and place. It is the main focus of my ministry here in North West Sydney.
In these days of incessant pace and pressure I have found great value in providing people with space to simply be. As a local congregation we do this in any number of different ways.
Melbourne Cup Day is all about space. So are our Church Camp, the Women’s Conference, Pub Chat and Movie’s and Martini’s. No, we don’t go into these ventures with New Testaments at the ready, all set to bring people to their knees so that we can pray the magic prayer over them. We do provide a space where just maybe we provide room for God to be discovered among us.
Years ago a town would be built around public places. In Australia the most common two places were Pubs and churches. In the recent past new development was created by the ‘politically correct’ without the necessity of religious buildings (We always find room for a Pub or Club!) as a part of new community. Interestingly these days Town Planners and community gurus have now discovered again the importance of a sacred space or place; but most of these are quite sterile because we can’t mention God!!
I have this strange theory that whenever followers of Jesus Christ inhabit a place they are part of the process of making a place sacred. It doesn’t need a building – just people. Remember that bit in Matthew 28 where Jesus says: ‘And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.’ Well, I think he meant it!
Where we go He goes and where He goes makes a difference!
Cheers - John
When I first began this journey evangelism was much more easily defined. I can recall being the guest speaker at a Youth for Christ rally in Victoria and after my message I gave an invitation to the more than 600 kids present to come to the front of the auditorium if they wanted to give their lives to Christ. It was most gratifying that night to see so many young people accept that invitation. During those early days it was relatively easy to monitor the progress of your ministry in terms of numbers ‘saved’.
Times change and so do we and in my case it has been exciting to see my ministry of evangelism develop in ways that I would never have considered way back when. I am still a great believer in the power to be found in preaching a Christian message; but now see just as much value in a variety of other facets of the Christian journey. For me the most important evolution of my ministry has been in the discovery of the importance of making sacred space and place. It is the main focus of my ministry here in North West Sydney.
In these days of incessant pace and pressure I have found great value in providing people with space to simply be. As a local congregation we do this in any number of different ways.
Melbourne Cup Day is all about space. So are our Church Camp, the Women’s Conference, Pub Chat and Movie’s and Martini’s. No, we don’t go into these ventures with New Testaments at the ready, all set to bring people to their knees so that we can pray the magic prayer over them. We do provide a space where just maybe we provide room for God to be discovered among us.
Years ago a town would be built around public places. In Australia the most common two places were Pubs and churches. In the recent past new development was created by the ‘politically correct’ without the necessity of religious buildings (We always find room for a Pub or Club!) as a part of new community. Interestingly these days Town Planners and community gurus have now discovered again the importance of a sacred space or place; but most of these are quite sterile because we can’t mention God!!
I have this strange theory that whenever followers of Jesus Christ inhabit a place they are part of the process of making a place sacred. It doesn’t need a building – just people. Remember that bit in Matthew 28 where Jesus says: ‘And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.’ Well, I think he meant it!
Where we go He goes and where He goes makes a difference!
Cheers - John
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