Connect service 210221 to grow in our understanding of & grace with issues around sexualityWelcomeConnect service purpose is to grow in Christian community through activity, talk & discussionToday going to be looking at issues relating to sexuality and seeking to grow in our Christian understanding of this & how to grow in grace in this.The Lord be with youHymn: In Christ Alone – in these times of uncertainty it’s good to remind ourselves where our security is found; where our identity is found. Confession Compassion and forgiveness belong to the Lord our God,though we have rebelled against him.Let us then renounce our wilfulness and ask his mercyby confessing our sins in penitence and faith.We confess to you our selfishness and lack of love:fill us with your Spirit.Lord, have mercy.Lord, have mercy.We confess to you our fear and failure in sharing our faith:fill us with your Spirit.Christ, have mercy.Christ, have mercy.We confess to you our stubbornness and lack of trust:fill us with your Spirit.Lord, have mercy.Lord, have mercy.AbsolutionMay the Father forgive usby the death of his Sonand strengthen usto live in the power of the Spiritall our days.Amen.Collect Heavenly Father,your Son battled with the powers of darkness,and grew closer to you in the desert:help us to use these days to grow in wisdom and prayerthat we may witness to your saving lovein Jesus Christ our Lord.AmenResponsive creed: Do you believe and trust in God the Father,source of all being and life,the one for whom we exist?All We believe and trust in him.Do you believe and trust in God the Son,who took our human nature,died for us and rose again?All We believe and trust in him.Do you believe and trust in God the Holy Spirit,who gives life to the people of Godand makes Christ known in the world?All We believe and trust in him.This is the faith of the Church.All This is our faith.We believe and trust in one God,Father, Son and Holy Spirit.Amen.Bible readings Galatians 3:26-29 This reading speaks of an inclusive gospel and the Church of England is currently considering how inclusive it is on issues of sexually. The official position of the Church of England is that the only proper place for intimate sexual activity is marriage between a man and woman. However this is being increasingly challenged by many who feel it excludes the LBTGI community. This is why the Church of England has commissioned a working group which has produced a report called Living in Love and Faith which aims to encourage more discussion and thought on this subject. I’ve been reading this report and thought worthwhile bringing some of it to you. There are many real life stories in the report and I thought I would read you a couple as a prompt for our discussions. But first here are some statistics:2019 there were 212,000 same sex couple families2018 2.2% of >16s identified as lesbian, gay or bisexual2018 the government estimate: 200-500,000 trans people (where someone’s sense of gender identity does not match the gender they were assigned at birth)Clinical research estimates that 1 in 300-5000 birth prevalence of atypical genitalia (intersex)So here are a couple of stories from the report.….Meet DAMON, CHERRY, JORDAN AND DAN This group gathers regularly to support each other in their emerging leadership roles in various estate churches around the city. On this occasion, they used their time together to talk about identity, sexuality, relationships and marriage. They began by sharing stories of encounters at church where they have extended welcome to people who expected rejection or had experienced it elsewhere. Jordan helped a young girl rejected by her family for being bisexual: ‘We just prayed about it. And I think she went out a bit calmer and relaxed.’ She goes on: ‘I’m not called to judge her. I’m just called to give her some compassion and some love and friendship.’ Cherry describes a gay young man working as a carer who brought congregation members to church as part of his job. ‘One week he said “I don’t think I’d be welcome in your church.” I said, “Oh, you would. You’d be made really welcome here.”’ Damon says: ‘However kind or nice we all are individually, or not, somehow we’re in an institution which isn’t perceived in that way … and has rules which exclude people at different levels.’ Talk moves to the importance of not judging and of ‘meeting people, not their issues’, citing stories when this approach led to individuals coming to faith and being embedded in church life – a single mum wanting her son baptized but afraid of rejection because each of her three children had a different father; a divorced couple who came to Jesus after being invited to be part of church life rather than just use the church building for getting married. A few people – single and divorced – comment on the assumption within church that marriage is the norm, and the pressure associated with that. Dan observes that Jesus was single and ‘no one told him to join Dateline!’ The group discusses how it’s important for the church to be pastorally equipped to support all kinds of people and be ready to actively participate in society. Jordan puts it like this: ‘It’s a conversation you’ve got to have; you cannot hide what’s going on in the world. It’s out there.’ ‘It’s a conversation you’ve got to have; you cannot hide what’s going on in the world.’ 'We’re all sinners in need of the love of Jesus and the transforming work of the Holy Spirit.’ They observe what a privilege and opportunity it would be if young people, those struggling and in difficulty, felt they could come into church, be accepted and talk.Downloadable version for local non-commercial use. Book available now from www.chpublishing.co.uk This material is copyright The Archbishops' Council 2020Q1 Share your responses to these stories.Plenary discussion noted that Christ died for all not just heterosexuals; that God is inclusive but the church is not always perceived that way (one group said how horrifying it was to note this); that the Church gets hung up on such issues whereas God is love & has made us in His image & transcends gender & sexuality.John 17:20-26 This speaks of Jesus’ desire for unity in the church but on the subject of sexuality Christians interpret scripture differently. Some will view key texts in both OT and NT as irrelevant to our same sex committed relationships we see in society today, whilst others view the same key texts as integral to the Christian message and say that same sex sexual activity is sinful.Q2. Can you think of an examples (not just to do with sexuality) where Christians have struggled to agree on how to interpret Scripture.Plenary discussion noted examples such as our understanding of priesthood, women in priesthood, slavery & remarriage; and the need to interpret Scripture well.There isn’t time today to go into the relevant scriptures in detail- I just wanted to introduce the subject today. But in the next Connect service we will look more closely at some of these passages and the issues surrounding interpreting them for today.As we seek to discuss this further in coming weeks, it’s important we do that in a loving way when especially if people have differing views. So in preparation for that here is the final question for you to consider.Q3.How can we know God’s help in this difficult subject and seek to build unity and grow in God’s grace? Plenary discussion noted the importance of considering what Jesus would do in these situations, seeking to mirror our attitude to His; the importance of considering our own imperfections before we start looking for imperfections in others; the importance of being aware of prejudice when you only mix in certain circles & to get to know people as people (remembering how Peter’s understanding changed after his vision in Acts 10).Prayers:<ul type="disc"><li>Pray for God’s grace in the issues raised today</li><li>Pray for God’s wisdom in decisions national leaders face</li><li>Pray for those who are sick or in particular need</li></ul>Lord’s Prayer Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven.Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and for ever. Amen.Grace : May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all, evermore. AmenCommon Worship: Services and Prayers for the Church of England (2000) (including the Psalter as published with the common worship) material from which is included in this service, is/are copyright © The Archbishops’ Council 2000.
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I can’t believe the bookshop is closing...I’m gutted, that’s so sad, you’re joking, but that’s terrible...Any and all of those phrases could describe your thoughts and emotions at the news of the closure of the CLC Christian Bookshop in Sheffield. Closure came sooner than planned; the clearance sale lasted just two days before the shop had to close its doors due to the new lockdown restrictions.Read on to find out why we closed, what you can pray for, how to keep in touch with CLC Bookshops and source the items that you need, what happens to the staff, what can be done if there is to be a local supply source going forward...and more.**Where do I go now? The shop's closure does not mean that you have no source of supply. Browse and buy on clcbookshops.com or give us a call on 0330 8181000 and choose option 2 (local rate) to make enquiries, ask for advice, place orders and make payments. Both the website and phone line will be there to meet needs, but we know it's never the same experience as being in a shop.**Can Sheffield support an independent Christian bookshop?If there is someone, an organisation, a church or a group of churches out there interested in exploring possibilities so as to keep a Christian bookshop in Sheffield and serving the region, please email jan,burnham@clcbookshops.com with your questions in the first instance. What is the Lord saying to Sheffield’s churches, Christian entrepreneurs and visionaries? What are the possibilities and options? Could a bookshop ministry be supported by those it serves...?**Back to the closure of CLC Sheffield... The CLC Trustees’ prayerful and painful decision to close the shop is due to the downward slide in sales over the years without a parallel slide in costs. Our reality is that almost all CLC branches are gone from our streets, with most of them closing in the past three years due not just to the rise in online retail but to multiple factors.CLC overseas has also been struggling, with whole ministries recently closed or due to close in Liberia, Japan, Bolivia and Spain as economies shrink, purse strings are tightened, and as church and individual culture and buying habits change.**But wasn’t moving next to the Cathedral far better than being on West Street? Not long after opening on Devonshire St in 1956 next to the Devonshire Chippy, CLC Sheffield moved and spent 47 years on West St. Some of you will recall praying for us and with us for “somewhere better” than West St. It took quite a few years to find. Relocating to 2 Church Street in the spring of 2018 meant a 16% increase in rent, plus the costs associated with vacating West St, fitting out the new location (new electrics, LED lights, shop flooring, shop fittings, suspended ceiling, alarm system...) and actually moving.The shop team knew that it was a make-or-break move, but at least it had the potential to stave off or even prevent closing down. Of one thing you can be quite sure: had the bookshop remained on West Street, it would have closed some time ago - and before this pandemic hit. So, yes, most definitely, moving to Church Street was beneficial and positive. Given that ours is a niche market, we certainly give thanks to the Lord that the ministry has lasted as long as it has.The decision by the charity's Trustees to exercise the break clause on the shop's lease and vacate the property in March 2021 was not easy to make even if the numbers said otherwise. Closing affects people and it leaves an important city and a large area without a Christian bookshop as a source of supply and a place of witness, prayer, encouragement, fellowship and community.**What about the shop staff? Manager Jan and husband Phil have served with CLC since 1981 in Spain, Africa and the UK. For some years their plan had been toretire at the end of January 2021. Instead, they will be based at home, putting their experience and knowledge to good use in the customer services context, among other tasks. At the moment it is too soon to know what our employed and volunteer team colleagues will be doing from March onwards.**Our thanks So we thank the Lord and honour those who have worked in the shop over the years as volunteers, full-time missionaries and employees, all of whom have influenced the local Christian scene for good as a result.Likewise, it is right and proper to acknowledge, thank and honour you, our customer, whose prayers and purchases have kept us going until now. Thank you also for your interest in the wider ministry of CLC, proclaiming the message of salvation in Jesus through the testimony of our colleagues and the written word of the materials we make available.And we thank the event and conference organisers who allowed us to run so many bookstalls in so many places and contexts, providing resources for people we would otherwise have had no opportunity to serve.**So, what next? Here are a few pointers...--Pray that the Lord speaks loud and clear if there is to be or not to be a resource centre (or a number of smaller ones) to replace the CLC bookshop.--Invest in the mentoring and discipling of others by using and making known the contact details: clcbookshops.com and 0330 8181000.--Pray for the numerical and spiritual growth of believers in and around Sheffield, with their leaders growing appropriately too.--Pray for tangible expressions of unity as we, the Body of Christ, work together to fulfil the Great Commission and bring hope to our generation and society.CLC’s purpose is to glorify God by making Christian resources available so that people may come to faith and maturity in the Lord Jesus Christ. Whether or not Sheffield one day has somewhere local making Christian resources available, let’s each do our part to bring people to faith and maturity in the Lord Jesus Christ.When you have the time, think what the CLC bookshop has meant for you; pray for the staff, give thanks for the ministry and the lives it has touched in Sheffield and beyond; and if you wish to add something to our “Book ofTestimony & Blessing” – e.g. a word of encouragement, a testimony or some words as to what the bookshop has meant for you – send us the text and we’ll stick it in.With thanks to God for each and every one of you, and for what he has done and will continue to do in our wonderful city. Grace & peace,Jan Burnham (ex-Manager)jan.burnham@clcbookshops.comPp. your local bookshop team.
You can find a link to the Archbishops' letter here. You can find a link to the live prayer here.
