Captain's Blog December 2015

First day of November and I was preaching at St Michael’s, Penkridge.  This was part of their ongoing support for the work of Church Army. I must have done okay - they have invited me back! 





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I first met Revd Rose Hudson-Wilkin way back in 1979 when she came and stayed at Brookfield House a Church Army Conference & Holiday Centre in London where I was the Warden. Rose was preparing to enter into training for Church Army at Blackheath. God has mightily used Rose who is Chaplain to the Queen and Chaplain to the Speaker at the House of Commons. It was therefore a delight to be able to introduce Rose as she came to address the Autumn Council of the Mothers’ Union. She spoke with such warmth and passion about ‘role model woman’ in the Bible. Later, during a Q&A session she gave encouragement by telling us about the Prayer and Acts of Worship that under-girds the work of Parliament.

The next day I had the opportunity to share something of my own story at informal Worship at Forsbrook. On this occasion, Jane as my ‘singing partner’ ably supported me. I enjoy doing this as it gives me an opportunity to help others consider their own ‘faith story’, which is one of the most important aspects of sharing faith.

Another speaking engagement was to the Eccleshall Deanery Synod. I spoke about the challenges we face and the opportunities we have. I ended by talking about the vast array of resources available, many of which were unknown to them.

St John’s Littleworth held a Prayer Weekend with a focus on the Persecuted and Persecutors.  I helped with some of the Prayer Stations, each focusing on a particular country. This happened on the same weekend that Paris was so brutally attacked!

I have engaged with lots of rural stuff over the month…

I was part of a Consultation Morning for Rural Clergy, with Bishop Geoff, Archdeacon Matthew and our Rural Officer Peter Dakin. We had a valuable time and despite the challenges, for the most part the clergy were in good heart and spirit.

I also spent a very cold weekend at the English Winter fair held at the Stafford Show Ground. I was there as a representative for The Farming Community Network. www.fcn.org.uk.  I was invited to be part of the NFU stall right in the thick of the action in the main hall with the judging and then the sale of livestock. I also teamed up with R.A.B.I. and I am quickly becoming good friends with key people. We also had a very good meeting later at the NFU Offices. We continue to make further moves to develop a Staffordshire FCN Group. It will be great if we can get this to happen, as there is an obvious need.

 

Captain's Calendar for December 2015

Tuesday 1^st

‘Chew & Chat’ monthly meeting over lunch with friends.

Wednesday 2^nd

Review meeting with George Fisher (line manager) In the evening meeting of the Chebsey Vacancy Mission Committee.

Thursday 3^rd

Meeting for the ‘Frontline Diocesan Group.’  Moving forward on promoting LICC and ‘whole life discipleship.’  Riding for the Disabled Association in the evening. (Regularly on Thursday’s) 

Friday 4^th

‘Light up the Village’ Seighford. Offering some opening prayers and blessing.

Sunday 6^th

Meeting with some key people to seek God’s will for Brown Edge. Pray for the Anglican Priest, Alan Betts.

Monday 7^th

Midlands Missioners Meeting in Birmingham

Tuesday 8^th

Playing host to the Lichfield Church Army Cluster

Wednesday 9^th

Stafford Chapter Christmass Lunch. Pray that this may help create strong collegiality and friendships.

Sunday 13^th

Carol Service Norton Bridge 9.30am

Monday 14^th

Meeting of the Local Mission Teams.

Tuesday 15^th

Meeting with my own Spiritual Companion. Lunch meeting with Revd Stuart Lord. In the evening, our own Growth Group have a social evening.  This group have become very important to both Jane and me in giving lots of support along with fun and laughter. (Plus of course the study of Scripture!)

Saturday 19^th

St John’s, Littleworth, mince pie distribution outside the shops.

Sunday 20^th

Preaching at Civic Carol Service St Peter’s, Alton, 6pm. 

Family News…

This will be our first Christmass in our ‘new’ setting and with involvement at St John’s, Littleworth. As we come to the end of our first year here, we will be reflecting back on all that has happened. Certainly, the year seems to have flown by so quickly and I can hardly believe the way my ministry has developed.  Jane is engaging more and more with St John’s, our wonderful home church. Pray that Jane may be able to offer her considerable gifts and skills, especially music and singing over this coming period. Daniel, Tracy, Kerryn and Lowenna should all find themselves in a new home for Christmass. This will help them with space as they continue to grow and develop as a lovely young family.  Joe and Jen had an amazing time in Krakow, Poland. They spent some days with us here before flying back to Cornwall. Over the weekend, we also had Tabitha’s boyfriend Peter with us. It was a fantastic, frantic, crazy fun filled weekend. Just great to hear all the laughter and banter and have a house heaving with people even if the shower kept leaking and blowing the fuses!  Thankfully, no lasting damage and all sorted in the end. Tabitha is also now home with us during her winter down time.

May you all have a most blessed Christmass.

Church Army Preachment St Michael and All Angels Penkridge All Saints 2015 (transcript)

                                                  St Michael and All Angels Penkridge

Isaiah 25.6-9 John 11.32-44

Last night Halloween was celebrated, if ‘celebrate’ is the right word.  Although it has become commonplace to see ‘Happy Halloween’ – largely an import from across the pond as is ‘Trick or Treat.’  Not one of their best exports in my opinion, especially when coupled with the rampant commercialization putting yet another strain on over stretched family finances.

Thankfully many churches now offer an ‘alternative’ – Light Parties or some such event. Around 1990 the Mothers’ Union in the Leicester Diocese began to offer an Alternative Halloween Pack. I noticed this as a Mothers’ Union member and began offering an ‘alternative’ party.

Halloween however is largely a Christian construct as the word refers to All Hallows Eve introduced around the 9^th century as an ‘alternative’ to the pagan festival of Samhain.  

Samhain was a ‘liminal time’ – a time when the distance between the living and the dead was thin.

Therefore, the Western Church as an alternative, introduced a time when we would remember the souls of the faithfully departed, called either All Saints or All Hallows.

(Hallow = holy e.g. Hallowed be thy name)

The night before, All Hallows Eve, conflated over time to give us today’s Halloween. 

Among the ghost and ghouls, I am sure that last night there would have been a few folk dressed up as Zombies.

Zombies are fictional undead creatures created through the reanimation of human corpses.I was fascinated to see a film trailer last week for ‘Pride and Prejudice and the Zombies’ that is being released shortly.

Zombies sometimes referred to as the ‘living dead’ in one-way are all around us.

In the Letter to the Ephesians, we read…

As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.  All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath.  But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. Ephesians 2:1-5  

In our Gospel story, Lazarus is dead in every sense of the word. This story is one of the most poignant of all stories we have in the Bible. It is so full of human drama, of pain and loss, of hope set against despair.  Moreover, there in verse 35 – those two words ‘Jesus wept’ – do we need to say anymore, does this not sum up the Gospel message?

Jesus wept – and Jesus still weeps.

Jesus weeps for all those who lost and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

For those caught in addictions, for the violent and the violated. For the elderly woman who is ending her days alone, unloved and forgotten.

I tried to get some sense of this when I wrote this short poem – ‘The Tears of God.’  (see below)

When was the last time you shed tears for someone? 

Another story we will be hearing soon enough has a disturbing episode of a brutal tyrannical ruler ordering the slaughter of innocent children.

"A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more."

Rachel still cries out…

Church Army Officers have been weeping and standing alongside tombs and calling people out into a new life for over 130 years.

Like the young people at our Residential Centre in Wales, who self harm and abuse themselves.

People like Jordan in Greenwich, London, living on a tough LA housing estate and meeting with Captain Nick Russell. Nick befriended and helped Jordan, offering support as Jordan tried to get hold of a life of drugs and crime spiraling out of control and with time spent in prison. Jordan heard the call of God to come out from among the dead and to walk among those truly alive – those who are in Christ Jesus.

There are many, many more stories like this you can read about on our web site – and check out the ‘One Series’ of videos shorts of people telling their stories of lives transformed and hope renewed.

Today is All Saints Day – I love the saints, although I am skeptical of some of things written about them and uncomfortable with some of the veneration afforded to them.

However, the celebrated Saints stand out as markers of faithful witness throughout the ages.

For alongside each name and celebrated saint there were thousands of others whose names only God knows. 

You and I are only here this morning because of the saints, past and present, celebrated and unknown.

The question is will we be faithful witnesses in our own day and age, to our own generation.

For, while not everyone has a calling to be an evangelist, all those baptized have a calling to evangelize and to bear witness to the life transforming power of Christ.

We have the task and the joy to invite our friends and family and our work colleagues, plus any others God places along our path, to come out of the darkness and embrace life in all it fullness.

Jesus said ‘I have come that they may have life and life in all its fullness’ 

John 10. 10.

As I draw to a close let me leave you with four things for you to consider.

The Church Army is charity and depends upon the generosity of God’s people to enable it to continue its work and ministry. Would you consider drawing alongside us in offering your support both in prayer and in giving?

Number two, where are you this morning? I heard the voice of Jesus call me out of darkness and responded on 1st January 1975 – making a New Year’s Resolution to become a Christian.

Long my imprisoned spirit lay,Fast bound in sin and nature’s night;

Thine eye diffused a quickening ray—
I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;
My chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.
My chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.

Glorious day, and yet I find that little by little I begin to walk back towards the tomb. I start putting back on some of the grave clothes.

Is that your story as well this morning?

That little lie, those extra expenses, that quick peak at on-line pornography, the unkind word, the gossiping, telling and sharing of smutty jokes. The relaxing of fervor for prayer and Bible study.  Little by little, we begin to walk back towards the tomb and wrap the clothes of the world around us.

After all, they are the latest fashion – and we all like to step out in what is fashionable today.

It is not easy to say to our children that we are not going around dressed up at Halloween but we will be going to an alternative party – and yes, they can dress up, perhaps as a Saint of old.

If that is where you are this morning, can I invite you to participate in an enacted prayer.

Pray with hands held up considering what it is we may have embraced, what grave clothes are we holding?

Turn hands over and let those things go.

Turn hands back up and receive God’s good gifts – draw them to your heart.

Then thirdly, I cannot possibly allow this moment to pass by without asking if there might be someone here this morning that has yet to respond to God’s call.

Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.  Revelation 3.20

If there is someone who wants to heed that call, remember it is an invitation? Lazarus could have turned over like a slugger-bed; pulled the covers over and said leave me to my sleeping.  

Please do not let this moment pass – do not spend another day among the living dead – heed the call.

Can I invite you to raise a hand signifying that you are willing to respond to God’s call?

Please repeat this prayer after me…

Lord I have walked among the living dead for too long. I know that Jesus offers life and life in all it fullness. I recognize all the wrong things in my life and accept that Jesus died and rose again so that I can have new life in Christ. I accept that gift of new life and am willing to step out of the tomb, to take of the grave cloths and follow Jesus. Amen

Prebandary Wilson Carlile who was a larger than life figure, founded the Church 

Army in 1882.

His life and the founding of Church Army is another marvelous story but for another time.

I want to end with what we know as the Chief’s Consecration Prayer.

Can I invite you to stand if you are able and repeat this prayer after me as we dedicated our lives once more to being today living saints, picking up the torch of faith from our forebears and passing it on to the next generation.

Now and here I give myself to you,

And now and here you give yourself to me;

And now and here I find your love within.

Break through me Lord that others I may win;

Your wounded body and your lifeblood poured

Impel me forth to live and preach you Lord.

 

TEARS OF GOD

In Nottingham

A young girl is shot

Where her body lies

God appoints an angel

To wash away the blood

With tears

Myriads of angels

Do Not sing

'Glory to God'

But stand and weep

For this broken world

By the gas ovens

Of Auschwitz

The starving child

In Africa

Where each person dies

God appoints and angel

To watch and weep

Thus the blood of the innocent

Are mingled with the tears of God

'....and he shall wipe away their tears'

(c) Gordon Banks

  

Captains Blog November 2015

It was not at all easy to get back into work following my trip to Sussex for the Parish Weekend, The Wedding and then our holiday.

At the Diocesan Synod we had a presentation and discussion around this very helpful and informative report. A charge has been given to a Task Group (of which I am part) to study the document and

make recommendations in twelve months.

The Diocese of Lichfield has a Going for Growth strategy focused around Five Icons.

At Synod we also had an update from those involved across the diocese in ‘Reaching New Generations.’  One of those involved a rural parish who had built into their Messy Church a number of other ‘gatherings’ where people could explore more about the Christians faith.  At our home, St John’s Littleworth, we have started a similar initiative called ‘Hot Potato.’  Held at the same time as Messy Church we begin together with a short act of worship before dividing, with the children going off for their own activity time and the adults gathering to discuss a ‘hot potato’ – On this occasion, ‘Why is there so much suffering in the world?’  We came back together again for a short concluding act of worship before tucking into some lovely hot potatoes.

 I had a fabulous Quiet Day at The Hermitage reading this novel from the author of The Shack. If you

liked The Shack then you will probably enjoy this book as well. It takes you on a roller coaster ride and for me sits in the same genre as Pilgrim’s Progress or Narnia.

The Farming Community Network – we are continuing to try to establish a Staffordshire Group. I had the pleasure this month of travelling to Lubenham for the FCN Harvest Festival Celebration and AGM.  I also attended the AGM of the Young Farmers Club in Staffordshire as a representative for FCN.  www.fcn.org.uk

Just the one preachment this month, at Seighford for a ‘Bible Sunday Songs of Praise.’ I still think this format works well with people choosing a hymn and then giving a short testimony on why it is

important to them. You get to hear some great stories. This Benefice has been in Vacancy since May, so it was good to hear they have a new incumbent who will join them early next year. I have been supporting this Benefice and meeting regularly with a Vacancy Mission Team.

I also continue to ‘volunteer’ with a local RDA Group and will be at Ingestre Stables most Thursday nights.

In addition, I keep up on the running – plodding along at 15 – 20 miles per week, enjoying running along the canal towpath.

     

      

November 2015 ~ some appointments...

Sunday 1^st November

Church Army Preachment at St Michael and All Angels, Penkridge.

Monday 2^nd

Meeting with Bishop Geoff and Archdeacon Matthew (postponed from October).  Planning meeting for a ‘Day of Pray for the Persecuted’ at St John’s, Littleworth.

Tuesday 3^rd

Stafford Chapter.  (I am in attendance). Lunch meeting with Revd Andrew Ridley and then meeting up later with Mick Ellor for handover of documents apropos the Staffordshire County Show.

Wednesday 4^th

‘Chew & Chat,’ at Rising Brook Baptist. A time to meet with a friends  to chat and enjoy a simple lunch.

Saturday 7^th

Mothers’ Union Autumn Council meeting with Guest Speaker, Revd Rose Hudson-Wilkin. Rose and I first met in London in 1979 when she arrived in the country from Jamaica to begin Church Army training.

Sunday 8^th

Speaking at an evening gathering in Forsbrook called ‘B48’ (Before 8pm!)  I will be telling my life story and accompanied by Jane singing.

Tuesday 10^th

Speaking to the Eccleshall Deanery Synod

Saturday 14^th

St John the Baptist, Littleworth. Day of Prayer for the Persecuted. (Involved in organising ‘Prayer Stations.’)

Sunday 15^th

‘Hot Potato’ at St John the Baptist, Littleworth

Tuesday 17^th

Rural Clergy Consultation Morning with Bishop Geoff, Archdeacon Matthew and our Rural Officer, Revd Peter Dakin (& myself)

Wednesday 18^th

Church Army Community Day and AGM in London

Thursday 19^th

Evangelism and Outreach Team meeting

Saturday & Sunday 21^st/22^nd November

‘English Winter Fair,’ at the Staffordshire County Showground and assisting with the R.A.B.I. and FCN display.

Wednesday 25^th

Rural Task Group (as from Synod)

Thursday 26^th

Meeting of key people seeking to establish a Staffordshire FCN Group.

Friday & Saturday 27^th/28^th

Involved with CPAS training for ‘Multi- Parish Benefices.’

Family News – Tabitha finishes her flying season and leaves her ‘second family’ the Schnaars in Crawley. They have been fantastic in giving Tabitha a home near Gatwick so she could continue to work. Daniel & Tracy and the girls all should be in a new house for Christmass. This will mean more space and less damp – fantastic for them all.  Joe & Jen – are off on honeymoon and going to Krakow, Poland and then joining us in Stafford for a few days.  Jane continues to keep busy with music making and other things. Sadly, however her favourite Gym has just closed. 

'The 'Family' at the recent wedding of Joe and Jen...

On ‘The Incident’, our complaint is with the Bank and we await a response. Meanwhile there is news of a retired clergyman and his wife who have been conned in the same way out £21, 5000.  Be warned and be careful!