Archive for the ‘Minister’s Letters’ Category
My Dear Friends,
I ventured into the garden on Friday morning. It was a lovely day and I gave the lawns their first cut of the year. It did feel good and they did look good, better than I expected because I hadn’t cut them last back-end when I should have done! A bit of pruning and a few more light jobs and I did feel pleased with myself. I went to the composter and took some of the very fertile stuff from the bottom. It had become full to the brim and I hadn’t been able to put any more fruit and vegetable peelings in for a while but by the time I’d finished the rotting material had dropped till it was now only half filling the compost bin. And while I might have neglected the garden at times over the past few months, others had been hard at work. Worms that had been active were wriggling around near the base and in the matter I’d taken out.
As I write this we are only two weeks away from Easter, when there will be more stories about a garden and somebody who had been at work there. We shall hear the story of Mary and others going to the garden to the grave where Jesus’ body had been laid. We shall hear of the empty tomb and of the way Mary, utterly distraught, hangs around in the garden. She meets somebody that she assumes is the gardener and then we shall hear him speak and experience afresh Mary’s joy when she realises it is Jesus. ‘Show me that scene in the garden’ an old children’s hymn says.
I would like to think that when we leave Tadcaster people
will be able to see we’ve made a difference in the garden.
More importantly though, I hope folk will be able to tell we’ve spent time with the gardener of the Easter story and not neglected to spend time with him. I often find that time spent in the garden at work can be quite creative as far as thinking about the work Christ calls us to, but it’s spending time with gardener that makes the real difference.
Wishing you Easter blessings,
With much love,
Your Minister and friend,
Ray
Dear friends,
The theme for this year’s Week of Prayer for Christian Unity has been “You are Witnesses”. We’re all familiar with what a witness is – somebody who can give information about what they have seen, heard or experienced. If we had to do that in a court of law, we would, but probably many of us would not be comfortable about it. It sometimes seems as if the same is true when it comes to sharing our Christian faith with others – we do not always find it easy. So I was intrigued to look at the themes for each of the eight days – it’s really an octave rather than a week! They offer opportunities that we may not have thought of, may perhaps with some of them make us think, “I can do that.” Here they are…..
Witness through celebrating life….
Witness through sharing stories – I said at Christmas that we need to find ways of continuing to tell and share the story of the birth of Jesus because people no longer know it in many cases. We also have our own stories to share….
Witness through awareness – this includes awareness of global tragedies and reflecting on how as individuals and as a church we can respond to these. Preparing for a service I looked at the blog of a relief worker from Harrogate that was on the internet and found it very illuminating….
Witness through heritage and tradition – Harvest Festival time has long been an occasion when others are open to our stories, but in recent years things like the Christmas Tree Festival have offered opportunities for us to connect with people…..
Witness through suffering – not an easy one but our faith sustains at such times and may shine through powerfully to others. The way a friend coped with his loss of sight spoke very powerfully to men who knew him as their Prison Chaplain, more powerfully than many of his words….
Witness through faithfulness to the scriptures – what are the passages/stories that mean a lot to you….?
Witness through hope and trust….
Witness through hospitality – something Methodists have always been strong on…..
Among the things that encourage and inspire me are the stories of people who are often unsung heroes. You won’t find them in the limelight, but I often hear of the things they do behind the scenes and many know nothing about their love and caring actions. I could easily write a book about them and with some you might not find them in church services too often, but their witness is powerful and I rather feel God will say something like, “When you did it for such and such a person, it was as if you were doing it for me!” Thinking about it, perhaps their names are already in somebody else’s book, and that’s what counts.
With much love,
Your Minister and friend,
Ray
Dear Friends,
By the time you read this letter and this edition of ‘Calendar’, Christmas will not be far away.
For many, the old familiar Christmas carols will be a reminder of the story of the birth of Jesus. We shall hear about Bethlehem, ‘no room at the inn’, Mary and Joseph, shepherds and wise men. It will be the story of something that happened long ago.
For my part, it is not just a reminder of God’s love for the world in time past – God in Jesus is continually coming and speaking to us in fresh ways. A heart-warming story I read recently along with a Nativity Scene that I saw yesterday are but two reminders of this….
The Nativity Scene was a modern one produced by a Palestinian craftsman using wood from olive trees from just outside Bethlehem. On one side of the scene there is the stable with Mary and Joseph and baby Jesus lying in a manger. On the other half of the scene there are shepherds approaching the stable. They cannot reach the stable though because a huge wall has been erected and it is a barrier between ordinary folk and their God. If you went to Bethlehem itself you would find that scene is a reality. Israel has erected a huge wall which means Palestinian farmers cannot get to their fields in many cases and Palestinians would need a permit to get from Bethlehem to Jerusalem – the Wise Men would not have been able to make their journey either. For all those like me who saw this Nativity Scene yesterday, God in Jesus was reaching out to us and challenging us about this injustice!
The heart-warming story talked of a conversation between a Methodist Minister and young girl in a far-off country. She showed him something that she had received last Christmas which she keeps under her bed. She brought it out to show him and for her it is still a treasure many months later, though none of the items in the box would have cost any more than £1. It was one of those shoe boxes filled with small items and wrapped in Christmas paper. It might well have been one of the shoe boxes done by somebody here in Tadcaster or from nearby. Through people like that young girl, Jesus still reaches out, appealing to people like you and me. Through the response that many have made through the shoe box appeal, Jesus comes to children far away with a fresh example of his love.
Wishing you and others fresh Christmas blessings and a happy 2010,
With much love,
Your Minister and friend,
Ray
My Dear friends,
I was reading a story about some friends of Jesus who were arguing – yes, Christians do at times disagree with one another! The argument was about which of them was the greatest and Jesus gently taught his friends a very valuable lesson by putting a little child in front of them. They needed to stop thinking about their own importance and remember that they were all following him because they shared a common purpose and belief. That was a call to humble service of others rather than to empire building!
When local rivals were relegated at the end of last season, some fans were delighted, but the sad reality is that in their gloating they lost sight of the bigger picture. Economists reckoned that the region would be something like £100 million poorer because of the loss of status of some of the local clubs.
It can be very easy in all sorts of situations for people to find themselves losing sight of what is in the best interests of all. Sometimes in families and other settings it can seem as if some are interested only in point scoring at the expense of others. Sometimes within churches and between different churches the vast number of things they have in common and agree upon can be masked by the few areas of disagreement. Sometimes within communities different groups may be active yet not pull together.
At such times a phrase I became familiar with some years ago comes to mind “The Common Good”. And whether we are talking about the community in which we live or whatever sort of group we may belong to, the importance of partnership over self interest can never be emphasised enough. We are encouraged to work and pray for the good of the community in which we live, to act in the interests of all in trying to make the world we belong to a better place.
With much love,
Your Minister and friend,
Ray
My Dear friends,
By the time you read this we shall have been at St Crux in York, the old church at the bottom of The Shambles that is no longer used for worship but which can be hired by churches, charities and other community groups. How many loaves we shall have used, how many coffees or teas will have been served and how many people we shall have met, I really couldn’t say. I suspect it will be far fewer than the 5000 Jesus shared loaves and fishes with and just as when Jesus fed that crowd, I think we shall have met other needs than just physical hunger. Two things make me say that.
The first is what from time to time I feel deep down in myself. Sometimes it may be tiredness, sometimes restlessness and sometimes a deep dissatisfaction with my own efforts to live the Christian life and make progress on my spiritual journey. That can sometimes manifest itself as a hunger, a feeling that ‘I don’t read enough’. I know the words that Jesus quoted in the wilderness:
“Man is not to live on bread alone,
but on every word from God.”
While accepting the truth of that, I sometimes feel as if I am starving myself – I am not feeding using all the opportunities God offers me. The other day I felt quite exhausted by mid-afternoon. That feeling of restlessness and hunger had come over me the day before and I had begun to read a book called ‘Resourcing Renewal’. So I took myself off with the book to a tea shop where I could relax and read. I felt better when I came away some time later. Back home I listened to Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto while tea was being prepared and felt better still. By the time tea was finished I was able to wrestle with the sermon for Sunday and more or less finish my service preparation. It hadn’t been the salad, the physical food, which had restored me, but the reading and the music. God speaks and reaches out to us in so many ways, but we do not always let him feed us.
The other thing was an article entitled ‘UK Prayer Profile’, which I found on the Methodist Church’s website on my computer. A survey had shown that nearly half of all UK adults (some 20 million people) pray. The statistic was taken from a report prepared by Tearfund. It said to me that there are many who recognise deep down inside them a spiritual need and seek for that yearning to be satisfied. I also found myself thinking, “That figure is far greater than the number of people who go to Church!” Sadly I reflected that this was a clear indication that while many feel a need, a lot also feel the Church that they know cannot meet their need, and that’s something we need to take seriously.
Truly “Man is not to live on bread alone” – don’t starve yourselves.
Wishing you every blessing,
Your Minister and friend,
Ray
My Dear friends,
I’ve just returned from a holiday at Rothesay on the Isle of Bute. For those of you unsure of where that is it is in the Firth of Clyde in the West of Scotland. We had a lovely holiday. It rained every day but we still had a lovely holiday and would go there again.
We had never been there before and during our stay had a tour of the island, a visit to Mount Stewart House (a remarkable stately home), a trip onto the Mull of Kintyre and a free day to amuse ourselves in. Our coach driver was a mine of information and among other things we learnt that the Midget Submarines and underwater chariots, the X-Craft, that played a part in the Second World War, were remembered at Port Bannatyne, just two miles away from Rothesay itself. Submariners who volunteered for missions on these helped disable the German Battleship ‘Tirpitz’ in its ‘safe’ harbour in a Norwegian Fjord. Their training was undertaken on Bute and a high proportion of the volunteers lost their lives in training or on missions.
On the free day we wandered into Rothesay centre from our hotel. The small local museum was excellent, as was the Discovery Centre (The Tourist Information Bureau). Among the things I learnt there was the fact that back in the 1950s during the summer months some 60,000 people would arrive each day for their holidays. The figures were staggering.
A DVD showed how they would spend their holidays and brought back memories of seaside holidays at Scarborough and other English seaside resorts from those days. All have since felt the pinch as cheap package holidays and a preference for going abroad to warmer climes where the weather might be more reliable have dramatically reduced the number of visitors.
Well Rothesay and those dependent on tourism have had to adapt. New ventures such as a Jazz Festival, Farmers’ Markets and a marina have appeared, among other things. For me it was a salutary reminder that change is one of the things that will always be with us. It affects us all and churches as much as any other community grouping. We’ve seen changing emphases in cricket and other sports as they have had to adapt. It is not always easy and the challenge often to both individuals and churches seems to me to be to manage to combine tradition with ‘the new’. I’ve seen it happening myself and I’ve seen it in our villages. I’ve seen the Church endeavouring often in a fast changing world to provide some much needed sense of stability for people’s lives. I’ve also seen the Church seeking new ways of connecting with people and being relevant for their lives and our times. In all I want to encourage folk in times and things that are not always easy.
Your Minister and friend,
Ray
My Dear friends,
I write this as Easter approaches, very much thinking ‘Easter – here again already.’ How many times have I heard, read, rehearsed or entered into the Easter story in one way or another over the years. As we have progressed through Lent, we have seen Jesus saying things that point to his death on the cross which looms ever larger the further we go. Holy Week will come and we will remember the entry into Jerusalem, a last meal with his friends, betrayal in a garden and then after the trials the crucifixion itself. But it will not be the end of the story for we shall come within 48 hours of that to Easter Day and the story of his rising and the way in which he was so very real to many afterwards.
This year I have been reminded very forcibly of the way in which he is still alive and at work in the world and in the lives of individuals. ‘Love never ends’ says St Paul and I have seen it living on in others in so many ways. We believe he gave his life for others, a sacrificial love at work in him. ‘Greater love has no man than this, that a man lays down his life for his friends.’ The words of Jesus are oft repeated around Remembrance Sunday, but in reality we could use them many times over throughout the year.
I think of the sacrifices my parents made – I would not be the person I am or have some of the gifts I possess without them.
I think of sacrifices made by partners in life that others might pursue a particular path. I have read recently of people moved by Christian love to give their lives and take the place of another in going to their death. Olympic athlete and Christian Missionary Eric Liddell, whose story was portrayed in ‘Chariots of Fire’, was taken Prisoner of War by the Japanese in the Second World War. When the chance of freedom came he gave it up so a pregnant woman could leave instead. He would die shortly before others were liberated. More recently, what about the soldiers who have died in Ireland – when one saw what was happening he flung himself on top of the pizza deliverer bringing their supper to the camp. He took the bullets and died and in so doing saved the pizza deliverer who lives to tell the tale.
The love of Jesus is lived out and acted on in many lives. As we celebrate it afresh again this Easter, may something of it be seen in you and me that others may benefit as we have.
With my very best wishes for Easter,
Your Minister and friend,
Ray
My Dear friends,
As I write this letter, the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is drawing to a close for another year. The theme for 2009 has been “Reconcile Your People”, and has drawn on material from the Korean Church, whose people worship and serve against a background of division. Korea is split into North Korea and South Korea. Will they ever be one again?
At the moment the conflict in Gaza is over, with both Israel and Hamas having declared a ceasefire, but for how long and what does the future hold? There is a need for both humanitarian aid and also the work of reconstruction, but while medical supplies and food are being allowed in, Israeli forces are at present refusing to allow totally open borders and building materials are not being allowed in, the fear being that more open communication channels could allow armaments into the country and they might be used against Israel. Fear rules their behaviour.
The prayer of many is that a new man in the White House and a seasoned peace campaigner like George Mitchell, who as a Senator did so much to bring the parties in Northern Ireland closer together, might make a difference. There is certainly much to overcome. But Northern Ireland, the fall of the Berlin Wall and the reunification of East and West
Germany give grounds for hope. So too does the presence of somebody like President Obama, something Martin Luther King Junior could only have dreamt of considering the state of race relations in his day, which is not that far back in my lifetime.
All these thoughts brought to mind the words of a hymn:
“We turn to you, O God of every nation, giver of life and origin of good;
Your love is at the heart of all creation, your hurt is people’s broken brotherhood.
We turn to you, that we may be forgiven for crucifying Christ on earth again;
We know that we have never wholly striven, forgetting self, to love the other man.”
Divisions are not just elsewhere. Fear governs behaviour and attitudes much closer to home, in our town and churches I would suggest. There is a very real sense in which the solution to many of these problems begins right here with us. As individuals and churches we can set the model and standard.
“Let there be peace on earth – and let it begin with me!”
With much love,
Your Minister and friend,
Ray
Dear Friends,
The news as I write does not make for wonderful reading. “When does it ever?” some would say. It’s the economic situation that particularly comes to mind and somehow the darker mornings as winter approaches only add to the gloom.
It’s at such times that you look for signs of hope – they are there! Governments seem to be taking positive steps to address the situation rather than just wringing hands helplessly. The election in the United States is over and holds out the possibility of a new dawn with Barack Obama having been elected on a ticket for change. As we enter December, thoughts turn to Christmas and a New Year which is an open book, with all sorts of opportunities
For many, Advent and Christmas are times to sing well-loved hymns and carols which often speak of the hope that Jesus will bring. His way is one of love and peace, his desire that people will pull together. I cannot help but think how different relationships might be in many places in a troubled world were more people to live by such principles.
At the same time, it is no good just saying wistfully, ‘if only’. God in Jesus works through people and the challenge to all is about what we personally or with others can do to bring hope to people. This year of 2008 saw a Christian initiative called Hope08. It is hoped by the organisers that anything started will continue over onto 2009 and subsequent years. It would be my hope that if no fresh initiative was taken under this banner then 2009 will offer another chance. The idea was based round 5 high points of activity that tie in with the Christian calendar:
· Fresh Hope, from January to Easter, might be an opportunity for helping people from the local community by running lifestyle courses and offering support to people.
· The Big Hope celebrates Easter.
· Hope where you live (around Pentecost time – next year May 31st). In 2008 Churches in the UK pledged to bring 1 million hours of kind deeds to people in their communities – what kind deeds could we do to help others?
· Hope Explored – the Autumn could be a time to explore Christianity more fully.
· The Gift of Hope at Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus and is perhaps a time to invite more people to hear the good news.
If you are reading this letter and had no particular plans for coming to church at Christmas, I would want to invite you and promise you will be very welcome.
Wishing you every blessing for Christmas and the New Year,
With much love,
Your Minister and friend,
Ray
Dear Friends,
I have just returned from a day at the Christian Resources Exhibition in Harrogate and felt an urge to write about it! It was amazing the number of people we saw that we knew and that in itself was a reminder of the way in which we are part of a wider family that is made up of both fellow Methodists and friends from other traditions, and I have to say that if I only ever mixed and worked with Methodists, I would be much the poorer! As it was I lunched with some Anglican friends I work with while on the next table were a few from our own congregation here in Tadcaster.
There was plenty to see, lots to buy and some teaching sessions on all kinds of subjects. With a ticket costing £3.50 that would allow me to go on each of three days, with different subjects for the teaching on each day, it was exceptionally good value! One of the sessions or workshops was on the use of story-telling and drama in worship and I rather have the feeling others there will make sure its lessons are put into practice here in Tadcaster.
The final session that I went to was on Evangelism and was led by a young man who was both inspiring and practical. The subject is the sort that often Methodists will shy away from, sometimes saying things like, “I can’t do that!” Probably we all can, but the trouble is we may have the wrong sort of idea about what Evangelism is. It is simply sharing the good news about Jesus and what he means to us and there are many ways we can engage in it. He had some points for Church Leaders and then some encouragement to those who might regard themselves as mainly evangelists. But he went on to give some pointers for all who attend church because he like I believe in “Every Member Ministry”. We all have gifts and a part to play in the mission and work of God. What he said made sense to me and included the following suggestions/points:
We need to rediscover our confidence in sharing the good news of Jesus. (For Methodists this was something they used to do when they met in Class Meetings – there they would talk about what God was doing in their lives.) The fact that we find it difficult to speak to people outside of church circles about Jesus is no surprise – we don’t talk a great deal to others in church about him! This was what Tom Stuckey was saying a few years ago when he was President and he produced a book called “Time to Talk of God” to address this very problem.
Very few people come into the life of the church because of a campaign of house-to-house visiting, a special event or because of a Minister’s preaching. The main thing that draws people (77% come this way) is because of friends or family. When, I wondered, did we last invite somebody we know to come with us? Perhaps, he suggested, we’re so afraid the impression folk would get if they did come would pout them off forever that we don’t ask. Is that what we think? Friendship and friendly welcome can be so powerful.
We need to work together. I have experienced some fine examples of that in Tadcaster. Perhaps we could apply it to inviting and drawing people into a living relationship with Jesus that would develop through being part of the family.
Perhaps we need to devote a larger part of our church budgets to parties, entertainment and going out and doing things as a group in cafes and pubs, where others might see we don’t have horns on!
I came away with a lot to think about and there are things here we could all act on and seek to put into practice.
With much love,
Your Minister and friend,
Ray