GadgetVicar

Out With the Old and In With The New

It's been a most interesting end of the old and start to the new.

The rectory was burgled one early evening just before Christmas. The intruder was met by GV Boy, who is stilll struggling with the shock of that confrontation. I know what that's like - a few years ago I returned to the rectory during the day and discovered the front door smashed. As I got into the house and called the police, I heard movement upstairs and went to confront my visitor. He was out on the roof, making his escape by jumping off. If I 'd done the same, I'd have broken my neck, so thought better of it. A few months later the culprits (for there were two) were caught in another house nearby and given short sentences after admitting several dozen other offences. It's painful dealing with such events: the sense of violation and the fear of it happening again can linger for a long time. It does look like we'll need to increase the security arrangements at my home -"Machine Gun Preacher"?

No damage to the rectory or church in "Son of Bawbag", though I had to rescue GV Girl #1 on her way to work on Tuesday, after she was blown into a lamp post. Thankfully her injuries were slight.

The damage around the city however is very great and I saw several streets in the West End blocked off by police cars, as the fear of chimneys and slates falling was so great. Many trees have come down, and the debris is still being cleared up.

Yesterday, I was out getting soaked in the rain as I assisted the Dynorod man who was trying to sort out a damaged drain. I think he appreciated me holding my ladder for him. I wonder if his employers will accept my hourly rate?

Despite all of that disruption and difficulty, there has been much good time with family and friends as well as some wonderful worship (with larger attendances on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, possibly because the latter was on a Sunday?), especially on New Year's Day, when we had a simple eucharist, with one musician, some old songs and hymns and a lot of reflection. More people were present than I'd anticipated, and it felt like a good start to the year.

Today the sun is shining on Glasgow - I know it always does during the day, but it seems like it's had to do it through clouds forever!

I preached on the following passage last Sunday. It can easily be taken too personally and out of context, but this year I'm seeking new things in my following of Jesus Christ, not resting on my laurels or taking anything for granted.

"Forget the former things;
do not dwell on the past.

See, I am doing a new thing!
Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the desert
and streams in the wasteland." Isaiah 43:18-19

Big Events

It's been a bit of an emotional rollercoaster over the last few weeks.

It was a privilege to lead and speak at Alan Ervine's funeral. I don't have to do such things very often because we are such a young congregation, but when I do, generally I know the people who have died quite well, and more often than not count them as friends. Alan was no exception to this - he offered wise counsel, generous encouragement and helped me to keep leading when I felt like giving up. He is sorely missed by St Silas'. We share some of the grief that Liz and Paul are going through.

The following Sunday night I was to preach at Nick Cox's ordination. Again, it was an emotional time. I commented on feeling that I was at a wedding, but that I wasn't sure if I was best man or a bridesmaid. Perhaps I was a bit of both, lending support to my dear brother Nick? Or maybe even the father of the bride 'giving her way'? It was a grand occasion with the preaching described elsewhere as 'exuberant'. Which is good given that I'd left my Bible and notes for the sermon in St Silas' that morning. Cue me furiously scribbling some headings down at 5.15pm. I preached on the ministry of deacons (and their spouses!) from 1 Timothy 3. I missed out my whole reflection on 'Welcome to the world of Rev', in which I would have pointed out that, in this world, one has to laugh every time someone says, '"You only work one day a week," and laugh as if you are hearing this comment for the first time. I loved it that many St Silas' kids were present and that they were so well behaved during the extra long distribution of communion (comment from one child on seeing Bishop Gregor:" God is here and He's speaking to us!").  Prayers for Nick and Karen in their new ministry in South Ayrshire.

Now who else is God encouraging into ordained ministry?

He Come From A Land Down Under

We've got an Australian friend, Gary Nelson, arriving tomorrow. He is Director of External Studies at Moore College, Sydney and he travels the world offering courses in theological education. He arrives in Scotland having spent two weeks in Nigeria. He'll be preaching at St Silas' on Sunday night.

Here's a little flavour of what he does:

Interpreting the Bible - Introduction from Moore College on Vimeo.

Finding The Lost Battalions

I watched the Channel 4 documentary about the lives of the soldiers who died in the second battle of Fromelle in 1916, and who were buried with full miltary honours in a new war cemetery yesterday. Finding the Lost Battalions was very moving from the beginning, but the part I found most moving was discovery of pages of the Bible in the mass grave. Their owner had underlined many parts, so that he could return to them again and again. The underlined verse that was mentioned was this:

For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. Romans 5:6

I suppose in World War One, many more people had a living faith, and so were familiar with the Bible. Of course, after the war, many faced a crisis of faith in the face of the horrors they had experienced.

It reminded me of my cousin, an army sergeant-major who began corresponding with me on the eve of the first Gulf War. Some soldiers take comfort in spiritual things when they face combat.

The programme reminded to pray for those facing the terror of combat in Afghanistan and to pray that a peace can be found that will allow them to return safely.

Washed

A highlight at yesterday's morning service was when some little children (along with their parents) had their feet washed. They usually miss this on Maundy Thursday, and it was delightful to see their very happy reaction. Many of the adults were less keen - I'm not sure if that was because of the state of their feet, or simply because it was too much hard work.

We were physically taking the whole church through some of the events of Holy Week, on the basis that many of us go from 'Hosanna!' to 'He is risen!', missing out all the serving and suffering. This meant going on a little journey around the church before joining together for some sung worship and a short sermon.

I was nervous about how it would all go, but in spite of a few bottlenecks, on the whole it seemed to work. Experimenting in public worship is a costly business sometimes.

Reading 1 Kings

The pastors' Bible reading group continues to meet weekly in Starbucks on Byres Road. This morning we were on 1 Kings. My shares: Wise Solomon being not so wise (too many wives leading to too many gods: "his wives turned his heart after other gods and his heart was not fully devoted to the Lord his God" - Chapter 11:4), the difficulties of surrounding ourselves with "Yes" people and the responsibility of the prophet to go against the flow, risking a slap in the face of the process (Chapter 22).

It's such an encouraging time. We meet for an hour, do the business, and maybe share briefly other matters, though most of the time we rush off to get on with stuff. Helpful this morning to linger and hear of a mission trip to India and discuss what the best time strategically for a Sunday service is (my answer - there isn't one - too early misses the long-lie-in people, too late means the day is taken up by church. However, if I was starting from scratch, I'd go with early - 9 or 10am).

Get The Right Focus

This is for the miserablists who lash out at others, stick verbal knives in backs (and fronts), resent the support others receive (show a little compassion, why don't you?), are so self-absorbed with their own project or agenda and who generally make Church such a downer. I do count myself among them.........

God loves you and has chosen you as his own special people.

So be gentle, kind, humble, meek, and patient.

Put up with each other, and forgive anyone who does you wrong,

just as Christ has forgiven you.

Love is more important than anything else.

It is what ties everything completely together.

Each one of you is part of the body of Christ,

and you were chosen to live together in peace. 

So let the peace that comes from Christ control your thoughts. 

And be grateful.

Let the message about Christ completely fill your lives,

while you use all your wisdom to teach and instruct each other.

With thankful hearts, sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God.

Whatever you say or do should be done in the name of the Lord Jesus,

as you give thanks to God the Father because of him.

Colossians 3:12-17

 

Not Just Idle Words

"Take to heart all the words I have solemnly declared to you this day, so that you may command your children to obey carefully all the words of this law. They are not just idle words for you—they are your life. By them you will live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to possess." Deuteronomy 32:46-47

In our pastors' Bible reading group we've been in Deuteronomy this week. Coincidentally, I've heard the following said several times this week; "I'm glad that the God of the Old Testament is not the one we worship today". So, there are different Gods in the Bible? Who'd have thought it? Try this for size. This is the same God. The blood and the tough judgement that we read of in Deuteronomy, shows that sin has serious consequences and must be dealt with, but also points to the Father doing that through the blood of Jesus Christ. Yet again, we were all humbled by the enormity of this.

Last weekend was the thirtieth anniversary of the day I consciously decided to follow Jesus Christ. Amazingly, I've been reading Deuteronomy this week. The church where I came to faith spent what seemed like an eternity studying this book in 1979-80. It's my first memory of taking the Bible seriously. How good it has been to be reminded of God's love and grace seen in what seems at first glance to be a difficult book.

Prayers of Preparation for the Election of a Bishop

Lord God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob,

to whom you revealed your power and might and promised your presence and blessing,

be among us during this special time in the life of our church as we pray for a bishop to shepherd us.

Reveal your power and might to us in our ministries, in our ministers,

in our planning and in all our deliberations. 

Bless and guide our prayers and our labours that our mission and witness might be strong in you;

through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

Send forth your Holy Spirit, O Lord, and raise up for us a shepherd of your own choosing:

a bishop to lead and guide us, a shepherd of wisdom and strength,

compassion and grace, holiness and learning,

with vision and the commitment to build up your Church and unite your faithful people around

the love of him who offered himself for us and for all the world, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

O Wise and Gracious God, when your chosen people Israel prayed for a leader,

you sent the prophet Samuel to discern your will, not with the eyes of the faithless,

not with the ears of the popular, not with the wisdom of humanity,

but with the insight of faith and trust in you alone. 

As we prepare for the election of a bishop for our church, make our conversations holy,

our listening attentive, our prayer fervent, our trust in you strong,

and our insight filled with faith and knowledge of your will for our lives;

through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

From the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

Reading the Bible

One of the highlights of this year and something of a spiritual lifeline has been the weekly Bible study at Starbucks every Thursday morning. Six pastors have read our way throught the New Testament together and it has been most edifying and a good discipline. We start on Genesis in the New Year.

Beat Attitude is the brains behind another Bible-reading scheme, which we are encouraging St Silasites and friends to engage with. The details can be found here. It's another good way of reading the Bible regularly. The resources needed are available on the internet, which should make it accessible to most people in the congregation.

Bible reading is one of the things that has sustained me most in the darker days of 2009. Why not give it a go too?