Hello everyone, its good to be with you again for another ‘Thought for the Week’. As the weather has improved and Tim has asked me to consider growth this week, I thought I’d come outside into the churchyard to record this thought. The grass has certainly grown during Lockdown! The trees are once again covered with vibrant green leaves, insects buzz through the air. Natural growth continues seemingly unaffected by our temporary withdrawal from the world. And as we’ve seen in many places, our withdrawal has actually helped to improve local environments and given the wildlife a chance to have a bit of a breather! I particularly enjoyed the badger at the railway station taking advantage of the empty trains as he was off to see his mates! Our second and third Church Values are linked to growth. ‘Knowing our calling to become more like Jesus’ and ‘Knowing his calling to build His Church’. Personal and corporate growth. We are individual members of a larger body, the Church. In previous weeks we’ve considered how we might be growing as individual disciples of Jesus during these challenging times; but this week we are going to think about how we are building His Church and growing together as an interconnected body and family of Christian disciples.You might want to reflect on the question, ‘how are we growing as a Church at this time?’ I know that this is something Tim is quite keen to explore together as we peer into an uncertain future. We don’t know for example when public worship will resume; but we need to keep growing and building His Church here in Stannington nonetheless. If you have any practical suggestions about how we can grow together as a family, please do let us know in the comments below or get in touch with Tim. Your feedback as ever, is always appreciated. As an example, many of you know I’m moving to St Mary’s, Handsworth for my final year of curacy from the first of July. In preparation for this I’ve been added to the church WhatsApp group. All members of the congregation who are able to, have been added to this group and they chat to each other throughout the day. But there are also requests for prayer and practical support too. Very similar to our network groups but at a congregational level. Would something similar here be helpful? Do let us know? It is very easy in these times to feel so incredibly disconnected from our church family. I know I’m not alone in missing public worship on Sundays and throughout the week. But it is important that we endeavour to remain connected with one another and to grow as a family. How has the Church been growing in these times in your opinion? Do you have a story or testimony to share? Please do, I know from speaking to some of you, that you appreciate the shared comments. Perhaps more so than the original content! That’s fine! The purpose of these weekly reflections is to stimulate conversation. Keep doing it! As ever, if you are struggling and need support, or just someone to talk to, do let us know. You are not alone in this.For now, I conclude with those lovely words from the book of Romans 12:5:So we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.See you next week!
Hello everyone and welcome to this week’s ‘thought for the week’. I hope you are well and are managing to cope during the strange times we continue to find ourselves in. As ever, if you are struggling in any way and need support with shopping, prescriptions, prayers or just someone to talk to; do let one of us know and we will endeavour to support you in whatever way we can.So, this week, I’d just like to share with you some encouraging conversations I’ve had with a few people as they’ve given me a real lift and I hope that they will do the same for you too.This pandemic has forced most of us to re-evaluate our lives, the things that are truly important to us. I have spoken to a few people recently who have said that the pandemic has acted like a filter which has enabled them to see life differently and given them fresh insights and perspectives. Personally, I do not believe that God is the source of this pandemic, it seems highly likely that this was yet again, humanity’s disregard for God’s creation. But I do believe, like all terrible crises, God is using this crisis as a way to reconnect with some of His people.Allow me to share a few examples:On Monday, a chap at foodbank told me he was really missing the services at Stanwood Methodist Church. He had been on a couple of occasions prior to the lockdown; but being forcibly removed from his new church family had shown him just how much he valued the human contact and the love he had experienced through corporate worship. He cannot wait to return!Later that afternoon whilst delivering a food parcel in the Hall Park/Fairbarn area I was able to have a brief chat with a young mum who wants her son to be baptised. Her friend, who was nearby told me how he wants to bring his children to church so that they can learn about Jesus and grow in their faith. He was inspired by some of his Muslim friends and the way they take their faith incredibly seriously with it being at the heart of their identities and family life. And this man wanted that for his family too. He reminded me of a famous boxer who is a Christian and has achieved remarkable things in his life. “I want my kids to know about Jesus” he told me “anything is possible then”. This man had pretty much quoted Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”. Both the young mum and the man have joined our Facebook Page and have promised to get in touch with us and come to church once the building is opened. And if you are watching both of you… we will hold you to that promise! Do not make us go all Liam Neeson! We will find you!Yesterday I spoke to a lady who has said that her social isolation coupled with the national crisis have led to a complete review of her life and after many years absence from the church, she wishes to return once the building is open. She has realised how much she misses the church family and the sacrament of Holy Communion.Isn’t it wonderful to hear that God is continuing to move and connect with people at a time like this?I wonder, what might God be saying to you at this time? And how are you going to respond to His message or His call? If you want to share your thoughts, do use the comments below, if you want to ponder this privately at home, feel free and if you’d value a one to one conversation with any of the clergy, do get in touch.See you next week!
My thought for the week is a follow on from last week’s where I mentioned that during this time of disconnectedness the Church is alive and functioning; and that certainly remains the case this week too. Funerals continue to take place; the foodbank is busier than ever, and we press ahead with our weekly online content. I am sure I’m not the only one who finds it difficult to stay refreshed and hydrated (in a spiritual sense) throughout these long weeks of social isolation. And I wondered if we could share together, through the comments below, what we have been doing as Christians and disciples of Christ to remain connected to the springs of living water. You might have adopted a new practice you have found particularly helpful or continued with an existing practice – what is it? What do you do? How have you been worshipping at home? What have you found particularly helpful during this challenging time? Please share your thoughts with the wider church family. Your own spiritual habits and practices might offer fresh insights for someone who is particularly struggling at the moment. In my own case (and I do recognise as an ordained priest I hold a privileged position) I have been celebrating Holy Communion at home every night at the kitchen table which has become my altar. As a family we watch cheesy 90’s worship videos on YouTube usually in the morning and after tea. The boys do love to get the egg shakers and bells and tambourines out. Having fun together through sung worship is particularly important to us as a family. All of this has helped to sustain me and the Cooper family in general at what could have otherwise been a fairly barren time. What sustains you? Do share with us.I am acutely aware that this video will not reach all members of our church family, so please do make use of our network groups, and contact our less digitally connected members so that they can be part of this conversation.As ever, do contact us if you are struggling in any way, but particularly if you are struggling spiritually as it is so easy to overlook this important part of our identity during these truly unprecedented times. See you soon!
On Easter Sunday as the sun rose, (quite spectacularly for those who were up and about at 6:12!), we were able to proclaim “Alleluia, Christ is Risen”.And yet… and yet… even at this holiest of moments, the very climax of the liturgical year for us Christians, many of us would have been saddened that we were unable to enjoy this experience in the immediacy of our church family. It just felt wrong not to be in church on Easter Sunday, to not hear those thunderous notes booming from the organ as we sing ‘Christ the Lord is Risen Today’ or ‘Thine be the Glory’. We missed the joyful embrace of the Peace, the delight on our children’s faces, the bacon sandwiches…! We missed human contact. Zoom, WhatsApp, Facebook, Youtube, Twitter… the list goes on! Yes, they are all well and good, if you have access to them, if you can use them, if you can afford a device and the Wifi; but they can never, nor will they ever, replace face to face human contact. And many of us felt this particularly keenly on Easter Sunday.But! And here is the wonderful news. Jesus Christ is Risen! Alleluia, Alleluia! The powers of darkness, of hell, of Satan, they threw everything they had at our Lord Jesus Christ, but it was not enough to defeat Him! Praise be to God. Jesus Christ prevailed against the powers of darkness, He rose from the dead, death was defeated and all who put their trust and faith in Him will too rise in glory. This Easter joy remains true regardless of what is happening in the wider world. In this time of separation and ‘disconnectedness’ it may feel like we too are in a tomb waiting to be resurrected and restored to the fullness of life. But the body of Christ, the Church, us… we are still alive and kicking, the body is alive and it still functions, albeit in radically different ways. Our worship still continues – electronically, our practical service and support for our wider community continues – via a very busy foodbank, we still offer pastoral support – funerals, telephone conversations, cards, our care and concern for the church family continues – through the network groups. The building may be closed, but the life of the Church, the body of Christ that continues nonetheless. Our church, your church is alive and well, we will meet again (I sound like the Queen now). For now, as we continue to wait during lockdown I’d like to conclude with a wonderful poem from the book ‘Sounding the Seasons’ by Malcolm Guite:On Easter Sunday as the sun rose, (quite spectacularly for those who were up and about at 6:12!), we were able to proclaim “Alleluia, Christ is Risen”.And yet… and yet… even at this holiest of moments, the very climax of the liturgical year for us Christians, many of us would have been saddened that we were unable to enjoy this experience in the immediacy of our church family. It just felt wrong not to be in church on Easter Sunday, to not hear those thunderous notes booming from the organ as we sing ‘Christ the Lord is Risen Today’ or ‘Thine be the Glory’. We missed the joyful embrace of the Peace, the delight on our children’s faces, the bacon sandwiches…! We missed human contact. Zoom, WhatsApp, Facebook, Youtube, Twitter… the list goes on! Yes, they are all well and good, if you have access to them, if you can use them, if you can afford a device and the Wifi; but they can never, nor will they ever, replace face to face human contact. And many of us felt this particularly keenly on Easter Sunday.But! And here is the wonderful news. Jesus Christ is Risen! Alleluia, Alleluia! The powers of darkness, of hell, of Satan, they threw everything they had at our Lord Jesus Christ, but it was not enough to defeat Him! Praise be to God. Jesus Christ prevailed against the powers of darkness, He rose from the dead, death was defeated and all who put their trust and faith in Him will too rise in glory. This Easter joy remains true regardless of what is happening in the wider world. In this time of separation and ‘disconnectedness’ it may feel like we too are in a tomb waiting to be resurrected and restored to the fullness of life. But the body of Christ, the Church, us… we are still alive and kicking, the body is alive and it still functions, albeit in radically different ways. Our worship still continues – electronically, our practical service and support for our wider community continues – via a very busy foodbank, we still offer pastoral support – funerals, telephone conversations, cards, our care and concern for the church family continues – through the network groups. The building may be closed, but the life of the Church, the body of Christ that continues nonetheless. Our church, your church is alive and well, we will meet again (I sound like the Queen now). For now, as we continue to wait during lockdown I’d like to conclude with a wonderful poem from the book ‘Sounding the Seasons’ by Malcolm Guite:Easter DawnHe blesses every love that weeps and grievesAnd now he blesses hers who stood and weptAnd would not be consoled, or leave her love’sLast touching place, but watched as low light crept Up from the east. A sound behind her stirsA scatter of bright birdsong through the air.She turns, but cannot focus through her tears,Or recognize the Gardener standing there.She hardly hears his gentle question, ‘Why,Why are you weeping?’, or sees the play of lightThat brightens as she chokes out her reply,‘They took my love away, my day is night.’And then she hears her name, she hears Love sayThe Word that turns her night, and ours, to Day.
