Although not so much an aficionado of detective novels and stories as my wife and daughter I do like certain ones. ‘Foyle’s War’ is one for example that I really do enjoy. There is nothing really daring do about Foyle, he is no maverick figure as so many of them are. He is a man of absolute integrity on which he will not compromise. He also is not afraid of asking awkward question of anybody because nobody is ever above the law.

One of the keys to his detective work and all good detective work is that of observation. In one of the recent Sherlock Holmes films Holmes on one occasion says to Watson ‘you see but you do not observe.’

That is a skill all Christians need to develop and something I am learning and trying to put into practise on a daily basis.

How alert are we to the world and the people around us with whom we have a daily encounter? Do we randomly sit next to someone on the bus or train, or might this be a divine encounter? I am not advocating we muscle in on every occasion to begin a conversation with someone sitting next to us about the deep meaning of life. However I am suggesting we become aware, observant and prepared. (1 Peter 3.15) It might be a smile, a simple word, help with luggage, anything at all. This may not seem like anything earth shattering and yet if we practised this sense of God’s awareness, this observation, being God’s detectives, we would find our own lives richer and the Kingdom of God more fully realized.

Could we learn in each and every situation to look around and say quite literally, ‘what am I doing here for God’s sake?’ 

Having just celebrated the joy of Easter we now anticipate Christ’s ascension and then the coming of the Spirit at Pentecost. The work of Jesus is now entrusted to us through the power of the same Spirit.

 

‘Without God we can not, without us God will not.’

This is beautifully encapsulated in this prayer by Teresa of Avila (1515–1582)

Christ Has No Body

Christ has no body but yours,
No hands, no feet on earth but yours,
Yours are the eyes with which he looks
Compassion on this world,
Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good,
Yours are the hands, with which he blesses all the world.
Yours are the hands, yours are the feet,
Yours are the eyes, you are his body.
Christ has no body now but yours,
No hands, no feet on earth but yours,
Yours are the eyes with which he looks
compassion on this world.
Christ has no body now on earth but yours.

That means through you and me Jesus now boards’ busses and airplanes, he rides trains and he goes to work at the head of multi-national companies and he cleans toilets!

I have in my head a children’s song that I think comes from a Captain Alan Price collection, ‘Life’s an adventure following Jesus.’

That’s what I am trying to do, to be aware of, to be attentive to and to be ready to act upon the prompting of the Spirit in each and every situation I find myself in.  

Passion of Christ

For information about the Passion of Christ 2013 and how to support this year’s production please visit www.soulbythesea.info

Next weekend marks the beginning of a very special and important time for us as believers, as we journey with our Lord through His passion and death and then rejoice on Easter Sunday when we witness to Jesus’ victory over sin and death!

Here at Soul by the Sea we are in the final stages of our preparations to relive the story of Jesus through the Passion of Christ, due to be held at 2:00pm daily from 29th – 31st March on the lawns of St Peter’s Church, Brighton.

Finances:

We would like to sincerely thank you if you have already made a financial contribution towards this year’s event, which we are hosting over three days, free to the public. However, we still need to raise a further £20,000 to cover production costs and this is causing some cash flow challenges, with the event now only a week away! If you are able to help us achieve our target, with a gift of any amount, it would be a fantastic encouragement to know that you have joined in this very practical way. Details of how to give are on our website and also on the attached ‘How to Donate’.

Our most vital prayer needs are:

For fine weather (also good for local businesses who benefit from crowds gathering to the Passion Play);

For all matters apropos health and safety and allied to that, all matters technical;

And most importantly, that the message of Jesus would be heard and received by many who have not yet given their lives to Christ.

Prayer must undergird this all! You can find current prayer requests on our website.

On-site prayer gatherings:

Beginning with Good Friday morning, prayer held from 9-10am on St Peters south lawns.

Following this, should you wish to join, there will also be a Good Friday Walk of Witness which will involve various Churches coming together at the Old Steine.

Again on the 29th, there will be prayer held at 12:30pm and this will repeat daily during the course of the weekend at our on-site prayer tent.

Volunteers: are still needed in variety of ways leading up to and throughout Easter weekend. A Recruitment Form is attached giving more details.

Final challenge: could you encourage all your Christian friends to invite a ‘not-yet Christian’ friend or family member to the Passion of Christ and then arrange to take them out afterwards for a coffee or even a meal? This would enable discussion on what it is they have just witnessed. Material will be available on the Soul by the Sea site to help guide those enquiring about the Christian faith.

February in the Mirror

Own up, who stole February?

Probably like you with being a short month it has seemed to have hardly started before it was coming to an end with things on the ‘to do list’ left undone.

One of the developments in my ministry (isn’t it great how God shapes, moulds and shifts our ministry according to our age, ability and location) is that of Spiritual Direction. One spin off for me in this, and in particular going through a year long Course with a monthly Training Day, is that I am being deeply challenged about my own life of prayer and spirituality and for the contemplative. I am currently reading an excellent book (loaned to me from my Spiritual Director) by Eugene H Peterson ‘The Contemplative Pastor’ – William B Eerdmans Publishing  Michigan  1989   ( ISBN 978-0-8028-0114-2). Speaking out of USA Pastor context, what he offers translate across the pond very easily, although the challenges he present are far from easy!

Another excellent Course that I have been facilitating is ...

‘Everybody Welcome.’ www.chpublishing.co.uk/feature.asp?id=2394839

This is a 5 session course that explores all aspects of our welcome, our Services, social events and our buildings. Asking questions about the gateways into the life of the community of faith and then what makes people stick.  I can’t recommend this Course highly enough. The great model the Church I engaged with ran the Course after breakfast on a Saturday morning, 8am – 11am.  

Brighton Half Marathon

A real highlight this year with a fantastic new course, along the Brighton & Hove seafront as before, but ‘tidier.’ The weather was bright and sunny, perfect for running. I was therefore doubly delighted to get in at sub-two, 1.58.43 (last year 2.07) and to have raised £162.00 for Off The Fence. This year it was very poignant as only days before a 40 year old man sleeping in the Arches (see picture) was brutally murdered.

The other BIG focus for me at the moment is the Passion Play for Brighton going under the title of ‘Passion of Christ.’  In a recent Grove Booklet, ‘The Gospel Message for Today’ Laurence Singlehurst (author of ‘Sowing, Reaping, Keeping’) argues for the power of telling the Jesus story.

Ev 100 The Gospel Message Today: Language that Connects in Communicating the Gospel 

This is exactly what we are planning to do over three days, Good Friday, Easter Eve and Easter Sunday at a central location in the heart of the city.  Brighton has a high number of Community Festivals and so something like this fits well into the culture and hopefully will engage with those coming to the seaside for the ‘Easter Weekend.’  However because of a strong festival culture what is put on must be of an excellent quality and that means considerable expense making sure the staging and the production is the best we can manage. Check out the web site www.soulbythesea.info

Mission Matters Mailing

  

Hope 14 ~ are you alerted to Hope 14 - you can check out the Diocesan blog here:

Building Hope ~ Sharing Faith Preparing for 2014 http://chichesterhope14.blogspot.co.uk/

 

Launched at the National Day of Prayer this is a great way of praying for your neighbourhood possibly leading to praxis -   prayer, care, share  

 www.neighbourhoodprayer.net/

 

Passion Plays – these are popping up all over the place and have recently held a National Conference.  I am involved in the Brighton one www.soulbythesea.info

'Everybody Welcome' I am currently facilitating this Course with St Peter and St John the Baptist Wivelsfield, ‘tis really good and raising lots of interesting challenges.      http://www.everybodywelcome.org.uk/

 Then this for your interest...

Dear All, Welcome to the new look Resourcing Mission Bulletin for 2013! In this issue Sandra Cobbin, freelance trainer and mediator, examines how conflict and reconciliation in churches can be dealt with in a healthy way. Lay Missioners Carolyn and Mark Gilmore explore the factors which have transformed decline into growth in Radford parish in Southwell and Nottingham diocese. We look at how Hodge Hill church in Birmingham diocese found a new model of community engagement after structural problems forced a move from its church building. Peter Morgan, New Communities Development Officer in Oxford Diocese, shares his overview of Local Plans and how to respond to them, in the context of meeting mission challenges in new communities. And we link to New Philanthropy Capital's recent report 'Making an Impact'. Read more about the Bulletin here.
	January 2013 Please use the buttons below to view the full Bulletin or download individual papers. Download individual papers: ·                  Conflict and Reconciliation in Churches ·                  Lay Missioners - Radford Parish ·                  Transforming Community Engagement ·                  Meeting Mission Challenges Further Reading: ·                  New Philanthropy Capital: Making an Impact
Previous Issue: October 2012 - Parish Development: This issue focuses on parish development. It looks at how Toronto diocese is supporting parish development; discusses a structured approach to parish development, drawing together the experience of a number of (English) dioceses; and offers a visioning day toolkit for growth action planning. Additional Information: It continues to be our hope that the Bulletin will be an effective vehicle for helping to disseminate the lessons learned from existing ministry and mission, spread ideas about the opportunities for growth and, more generally, stimulate thinking on a range of resourcing issues. Please do forward this e-mail to anyone who you think would find the Bulletin of interest. Please also feel free to include the Bulletin on diocesan and other websites and on blogs. Readers are warmly encouraged to help make the Bulletin their own by contributing to it. If you have suggestions for material for future issues, please e-mail us.
View in web browser | Follow us on twitter @churchgrowthrd Contact us online | Email: churchgrowth@churchofengland.org | Unsubscribe Copyright © The Church of England Archbishops' Council | The Commissioners are a statutory body, governed by the Church Commissioners Measure 1947 and is a registered charity no. 1140097. The Archbishops' Council is a registered charity no. 1074857 | Church Commissioners, Church House, Great Smith Street, London SW1P 3AZ

Captain Gordon's New Years Message to the Church

The New Year may simply be one date passing as all others into the next, yet there is a significance of a year closing and a new one opening that gives us pause to reflect. Having lost two dear people, a favourite Uncle and a fantastic brother-in-law in 2012 I am acutely aware that we never know what may lie ahead for us, which is why I often use the phrase DV – Deo volente, God willing.  This is a recurring motif throughout the Scriptures – see for example James 4.13-17.

 New Year Resolutions also feature prominently at this time of year, some serious and others more frivolous.  I was asked to offer a New Year Resolution for 2013 in the latest issue of the Chichester Diocesan Magazine which had a short feature on NYR.  Chichester Magazine

My offering went back to a New Years Resolution I made on the 1^st January 1975. This turned out to be the most important decision I had ever made in my life and was to transform my life beyond anything I could have even begun to imagine.  In 1975 I made a NYR to become a Christian.

Reflecting back as one tends to do at this time of the year I think this is a major issue we need to address, the notion of conversion, of people making a definite choice to become Christians rather than through the process of socializing into the life of the Church, soaking up the life of the Church through an osmosis type process.

This I think is borne out by the analysis of the 2001 and 2011 census that showed a marked decrease in those claiming allegiance to the Christian faith.  Several commentators have said this denotes the ongoing death of Christendom and the passing away of a generation socialized into the Church and the life of Faith. What the 2011 figure begins to show is a confessing faith, rather than some vague idea or ideal or another way of saying I am British and therefore I am a Christian.

Whilst not making any value judgments on the validity of those who are ‘cradle Christians', nurtured on the milk of  Mother Church, I do believe  we need to understand the idea of conversion, of  people of various ages making a definite and conscious  decision to become a Christian.  Such thinking needs to be infused into our congregations and leaders so that in everything we do we will ask the question of how this might help people come to a living faith in Jesus, or help them on the pathway of discipleship.

I had a delightful conversation with one elderly lady following a Carol Service.  She said it was really good to see so many people in the Church who do not ordinarily engage with the Church and then she said, ‘but we must take the opportunity of telling them about how they can know Jesus for themselves, personally,’ Music to my ears indeed!

This raises a number of questions which are explored in the Rural Evangelism Course available from the Arthur Rank Centre.

The Arthur Rank Centre - www.arthurrankcentre.org.uk

 Direct link for Rural Evangelism Course

www.arthurrankcentre.org.uk/publications-and-resources/rural-evangelism

1. What is our own story of coming to faith, do we know it and can we tell it in an interesting and succinct way which includes the difference this made in our lives and what it means to us now to be a Christian.   
2. What is the story of our Christian Faith Community (Church) and is there an expectancy that people will come to a living faith through its life of work, witness and worship.
3. Is this factored into various events and acts of worship with definitive opportunities for people to confess faith?
4. Would at least a strong core of Christian faith community be able to answer if someone asked them how they could become a Christian?
5. Do you offer a full range of ‘diets’ for those who are exploring the faith and those who are life long disciples and also covering those in between?

Visiting various Churches over the Christmass period I have been impressed and disappointed in equal measure, not so much by the style of the worship or the quality of what is offered but by the way opportunities for people to embrace the faith have either been given or non-existent, certainly in any tangible form.  I have seen a very gentle invitation to say a prayer of confession at the end a Carol Service with a further opportunity to talk afterwards, to take some helpful material and then an invitation to join a Christian Enquirers Course. I have also seen Churches that told you what was happening by way of notices but made no or little attempt to articulate further on what any of them might actually mean.  I did have a couple of interesting conversations outside one Church with people who didn’t know what ‘Nativity’ meant.

I am in no way advocating we all become Evangelical but I am saying we all need to become evangelistic – proclaiming the Gospel in word and in action, with an understanding that people will be engaging with the Christian faith from no or very little background knowledge or socialization into the things of the Faith. Therefore there needs to be an opportunities for people to confess faith and grow as a disciple of Jesus within the company of others embarked on that same journey.

May you all know God’s richest blessing and a great harvest in 2013.

Some of my November doings and prayer diary

Stormy waters most you will be aware of the horrendous journey back home from Tenerife at the end of October, not so much the journey as the 12 hours spent due to a delay in what has to be one of the most uncomfortable airports in the world! Not helped because I had been awake most of the night before with sickness and diarrhoea. I was nearly reduced to tears on more than one occasion.

Whilst away on holiday we heard the sad news of the death of my brother-in-law Colin within four weeks of being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He was 62.

Arriving back on Saturday I was due to attend the Church Army AGM and a C.A. Cluster Coordinator’s meeting in Sheffield, travelling up there on the Monday and staying over until Wednesday. At that stage we had no news from my sister-in-law, Alison about any funeral arrangements and therefore I cancelled this trip so that I could be around and also fully recover!

Training in Faith Sharing –

I have had a great time with a small group from St Peter’s East Blatchington and St Andrew’s Bishopstone on evangelism. This was held over three consecutive Sunday afternoons. I based these sessions on the Rural Evangelism Course available on the Arthur Rank Centre web site…

www.arthurrankcentre.org.uk Both places are no longer what may be deemed rural having been morphed into nearby Seaford. However I was pleased that the Course whilst being rural proofed is not so tightly rural specific that it cannot be adjusted and adapted to a different setting.

Due to Colin’s funeral I had to cancel another trip to Sheffield for the Area Evangelist Conference. The funeral itself went as well as these things can go when someone you know and love is taken so quickly and unexpectedly.

I did take a trip north, near to Tamworth for a Farm Crisis Network Conference. We stayed at Whitemoor Lakes Centre, an amazing place opposite the National Memorial Arboretum.

http://www.actioncentres.co.uk/whitemoor-lakes/ I was asked to be the Chaplain for the FCN Sussex Group not that long back so this was a good time to get to grips with what that actually means. It was also an opportunity to meet up with ‘old faces,’ people who have been knocking around the rural church circuit for some years.

Our Christian Vision for Men Regional Day was AWESOME! Being our fourth one and with low numbers in the last few weeks leading up to the event we did wonder if we had overcooked this enterprise. We were delighted when the number crept up in the last week and we just topped 200 on the Day. Our theme was ‘Rooted & Booted’ – rooted in Jesus then out into the world with our boots on ready for action. And if you are looking for a great venue in Crawley then try the Charis Centre, they were fantastic.

Yet another cancelation, this time due to weather, was a Rural Evangelism Network Consultation in Cornwall. My colleague Barry Osborne did make it, just, and as stood in my stead as through the wonder of email I could send down my PowerPoint and hand-outs.

Prayer Diary December 2012

Saturday 1^st St John the Baptist Hove ‘Quiet Day’ (participant)

Monday 3^rd  Sussex/Surrey FEAST and making plans for the forthcoming ‘Mission Shaped Ministry’ course

Tuesday 4^th Soul by the Sea, meeting to plan a Nativity in Brighton. This is a gutsy telling of the story and linked in with the group who produced the Passion Play. In the evening a Mission Action Planning meeting with St John the Baptist Hove.

Wednesday 5^th Mission & Renewal full team meeting and in particular laying out some plans for 2013.

Thursday 6th As a Spiritual Director I am meeting with two others for mutual support and supervision.

Sunday 11th Mince Pie 10 mile run and seeking to raise funds for Pancreatic Cancer UK.
www.justgiving.com/Gordon-Banks6    

Tuesday 11^th Spiritual Directors Course (as delegate)

Wednesday 12^th Kidz Klub Party – give thanks to God for the great work that Chris and his team have done for many years reaching thousands of children with the love of God in Brighton and the surrounding area.

Thursday 13^th  Personal Quite Day

Monday 17^th Meeting with my friend as she walks towards Ordination

Tuesday 18^th Evangelist and good friend Tim Hill has been calling a group of like minded people together to share a curry lunch for a few years now. It is always a great time to chat and chew with people who ‘get evangelism and mission.’

Friday 21^st Church House Carol Service 1pm I am drawing this together with Jane’s help.

Tuesday 18 – Friday 21 December 2012
Brighton Christmass Nativity  ~  not the ‘tea towel nativity' but a gutsy retelling of the Christmass story 

Doors open at 7:00pm

Venue: St Mary’s Church, 61 St James Street,
Brighton, BN2 1PR
Check it out and get your tickets on line

http://www.soulbythesea.info/our-events/christmas-nativity/

The Family: Joe is close to being offered a full time job with Cotswold in Truro. However he does need to get a motorbike to get him from Fowey to Truro as the railway has proved unreliable in getting him to work on time. Daniel is still the Man with the Van, or perhaps that should have been a boat given the recent weather. He is getting increasingly involved with the youth side of things at Holy Trinity St Austell, which is great. He was one of the founder members of the Truro Youth Council set up by the diocese. Tabitha has secured an eight/four contract with Monarch. She had hoped to get a temporary post perhaps in Starbucks, however jobs are like hen’s teeth so she is now waiting until later in December when she will be back flying. Tabitha is also looking at trips and tours to China and Russia for later next year – that’s a bit scary! Jane continues to be a bit all at sea, she is not really settled into any one Church, has not managed to secure any kind of posts and it all feels like life is just slipping through her fingers.

Monthly News

THE WEDDING – Daniel and Tracey were duly married with great ceremony at Holy Trinity St Austell on the 4^th August 2012. As ever on these occasions it was good to meet up with family and friends. The next day (Sunday) saw a few of us gathering again at Holy Trinity for Holy Communion. It was a delight  to meet up with Peter and Sue Willows who have recently returned to Cornwall and ‘happened’ to be in Holy Trinity that morning. Several years ago Peter and I along with Steve Wild ran a number of combined evangelistic initiatives in Cornwall, in particular ‘Exalt Jesus.’ 

The other ‘big’ thing for me during August was an operation for a benign prostate. As this meant being off work for at least a fortnight I was busy trying to clear the desk and make preparations.

The operation itself went well and in particular as I was asked if I was available to bring it forward a day and to go into Nuffield Hospital in Haywards Heath, the expense being met by the NHS. I know the hard pressed NHS do their very best yet the difference in the Nuffield is remarkable. In many ways this answered Jane’s real concern as I was due to be admitted as a Day Case. The operation was to be at around 11am and then sent home with a catheter at around 3pm. The Nuffield didn’t do that and you stay there until all is clear and well and the catheter is removed or at least you fully understand the management.

I was in hospital for around 30 hours before being sent home.

Then began the recuperation and I was not allowed to lift or carry anything or to drive for at least fourteen days. As I felt fit in myself this was frustrating. However Jane confiscated my mobile phone and made sure I couldn’t access emails!     

Fortunately the weather was kind for the most part which gave me an opportunity to sit in our back garden and read. My reading was eclectic (my reading always is!) I finished off ‘Spiritual Direction,’ W.A. Barry & W.J. Connolly and ‘Heaven’ by Paula Gooder. I read ‘Gothic Charm School’ which was a Father’s Day gift from Joe. Plus I am continuing to read a big novel ‘King Cotton’ about the Lancashire Cotton Industry in the late 1850’s early 1860’s and the crucial role they played in the American Civil War. The second week I was able to go for long walks along the beach (we live 100 yards from the sea) which I really enjoyed, ambling along, stopping to read or just looking and being,