from theory into practice...

So having reflected last week about a growing conviction surrounding our experience of Church, I thought I would consider the actual practice from first hand involvement today. The YF and I were given the task of organising both morning and evening services. A great deal of thought, effort and prayer went into this and the response from the church family was greatly encouraging. So what have I learned from this busy, sometimes stressful, but ultimately rewarding, day?

Seek meaning not perfection

I have been brought to appreciate that our task is not one of creating a perfect service, but of crafting a meaningful service. My default is to want everything to go without a hitch. I made mistakes today. I guess other people did too. But this is makes what we do believable. That must be worth more than clever organisation and delivery.

Strive to be innovative and creative

I love the story of Walt Disney who was once pulled up by his teacher for drawings of flowers all of which had faces and therefore a sense of personality. “Flowers don’t have faces”, she said. Walt Disney replied, “Mine do!” Innovation and creativity move us from a 2-D experience to a multi-dimensional approach to church.

Submit to the Holy Spirit

I recognised the importance of being flexible. Parts of the programme had to be adapted and changed. There was an awareness of the need to be open to the Spirit to direct in unexpected ways.

One snapshot has captured the entire day. A church member approached me at the end of the morning service and, with tears in her eyes, thanked me for the way it had helped her and given a lot to think about.

Therefore, the attitude that is uppermost in my heart as I look back on today is one of gratitude.

- Gratitude that I work with an outstanding group of young people.

- Gratitude that we are given the opportunity to bless others in Jesus’ name.

why church?

I have asked this question recently not in the broad sense of reflecting on the overall theology of church but from the narrower parameters of what we do on a Sunday.  I have led and preached at many services over the years but the opportunity for the Cartsbridge YF to lead both morning and evening services this weekend has crystallised my thinking. In essence, why do we meet on a Sunday as God's people? Two key answers have developed out of this enquiry...

Encounter

We gather to encounter God and in doing so we meet each other. We ought to jettison anything that hinders this movement. "Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart..." (Heb. 10 :22) is the clear instruction of Scripture. William Temple (former Archbishop of Canterbury) saw this with remarkable clarity when he wrote:

"Worship is the submission of all our nature to God.

It is the quickening of the conscience by his holiness;

the nourishment of the mind with his truth;

the purifying of the imagination by his beauty;

the opening of the heart to his love;

the surrender of the will to his purpose -

and all this is gathered up in adoration,

the most selfless emotion of which our nature is capable..."

Equipping

Flowing naturally out of this meeting with God is the sense in which we are resourced to live for him. The vast majority of life is spent out with the formal structure of church. Therefore, it is of vital importance that, as we encounter God through worship and Bible teaching, we are given resources to life a faithful life in the community where we live, work and play!

I wonder...do we make things too complicated? After all, what takes place on a Sunday is primarily about an encounter with God in worship that leads to our equipping to be disciples of Jesus in the world.

beginnings

heart·land/ˈhärtˌland/

Noun 

1. The central or most important part of a country, area, or field of activity.

2. The centre of support for a belief or movement.

I have always found that the word "heartland" has an emotive ring to it. I'm taken in my imagination to people and places that are most important in life. The aim of this blog is to explore some of that terrain. I may find myself reflecting on youth ministry...the Bible...the story of the church...the high places of Scotland...In anyone of these locations I know I am very close to the heart and centre of existence…

I am also conscious that people are bombarded with information, articles and features today. I want to make a commitment to simple, short and concise blogs (400 words max!) that will hopefully give the opportunity to reflect on a key idea.

I trust that what I write will be helpful in the mix!