I am heartened by the decision of the General Synod to give equal pension rights to Partners of Clergy in a Civil Partnership. I have read that "The Holy Spirit was working here" and I would agree with that comment.
The Church has for to long procrastinated about issues of Inclusion of all, who are God's people, who are all created in his image. Hiding behind Scripture to disguise prejudice and being judgemental, when Jesus himself said that "He will be the Judge".
This not only applies to Gender and Sexual matters, it applies to every one from any race, social position, class distinction or religious belief. All deserve to be treated as truly equal and to be given the dignity and respect for their humanity and likeness to Christ, which they personify by their 'being'.
I am not an academic and do not have deep biblical knowledge, but having lived for 60 years sometimes in God's good grace, but possibly, the majority without it, I have learned that how we treat others (love thy neighbour the second most important commandment) will certainly be part of our accountability in the next life.
The Church is slowly moving towards the recoginition that it can no longer afford to exist in a cocoon - but to take the 'word' out in mission to love and greet all as their brothers and sisters in Christ.
God is Great
Friday, 12 February 2010
Monday, 8 February 2010
Confession or Reconciliation or both?
Coming from a Catholic background, my concept of Confession is founded on my childhood experience of the Sacrement, which I discarded when I left the RC Church.
My view of the place of Confession in the Anglican tradition had been formed by initial contact and learning, in that unless there were real or specific reasons for someone to feel the need for personal confession to a Priest, the General Confession and Repentance within Anglican Daily Prayer and Worship services was sufficient to examine your consience and to offer the acknowledged errors and transgressions to Jesus Christ as my Saviour and Remeemer to be reconciled to God. Confession within the Anglican tradition, seems to be a very specialised area, with few Priests actually available, unless you go to a High Anglo Catholic, where it is commonplace.
Having been thinking carefully and prayerfully about this - I believe that my views are changed, perhaps discussions with a Priest have helped, but also perhaps something has happened in myself, which allows me to put aside pre-conceptions and inhibitions going back to childhood regarding confession to view it in a renewed light.
So, I now accept that Confession AND Reconciliation are necessary to make us whole, to bring things out into the open between us and God, with the Priest as an intermediary - approaching this idea, after 25 years or more, without being in a confessional, is daunting but something I feel drawn to do if I can feel that I am made whole and to be fully reconciled with Jesus Christ.
I have found a Priest for this, and will be going soon. Lots of reflection needed to allow discernment from my inner self, where I have issues, some historic, which need to be aired! Having repented already, they still seem to be there below the surface colouring how I feel and even impact on how I worship. Very Soon!!
My view of the place of Confession in the Anglican tradition had been formed by initial contact and learning, in that unless there were real or specific reasons for someone to feel the need for personal confession to a Priest, the General Confession and Repentance within Anglican Daily Prayer and Worship services was sufficient to examine your consience and to offer the acknowledged errors and transgressions to Jesus Christ as my Saviour and Remeemer to be reconciled to God. Confession within the Anglican tradition, seems to be a very specialised area, with few Priests actually available, unless you go to a High Anglo Catholic, where it is commonplace.
Having been thinking carefully and prayerfully about this - I believe that my views are changed, perhaps discussions with a Priest have helped, but also perhaps something has happened in myself, which allows me to put aside pre-conceptions and inhibitions going back to childhood regarding confession to view it in a renewed light.
So, I now accept that Confession AND Reconciliation are necessary to make us whole, to bring things out into the open between us and God, with the Priest as an intermediary - approaching this idea, after 25 years or more, without being in a confessional, is daunting but something I feel drawn to do if I can feel that I am made whole and to be fully reconciled with Jesus Christ.
I have found a Priest for this, and will be going soon. Lots of reflection needed to allow discernment from my inner self, where I have issues, some historic, which need to be aired! Having repented already, they still seem to be there below the surface colouring how I feel and even impact on how I worship. Very Soon!!
Baptism
I attended a Baptism of Alice, the child of good friends of ours yesterday. Her parents wanted her baptism to be at the church at the centre of their primary family group, so we went to a lovely church near Brighton.
We went to the family home, and met for the first time the family, who surround our good friend, and I am impelled to say that they were wonderful. Welcoming, friendly and already having a great deal of background knowledge of us, from our friends, although, we knew little or nothing of them, as our friend has always been quite reserved about such detail. He is a professional, a Doctor and Pschiatrist, who while outgoing and a wonderful person, always seems to hold a watching brief for what is going on around him. However, seeing him with Alice is a revelation, all of the outer coat disappears and he is the epitome of a doting father.
Baptism means a lot to them as practicing Anglicans, and we found their family to be also life long Anglicans - regular church goers and committed to their faith and living accordingly.
So, seeing Alice being welcomed into the family of the church was an experience full of joy and with the opportunity to feel again and to understand the true meaning of Baptism for us. In particular the promises made by the Parents and God parents on behalf of Alice, but the mutual recitation of the Creed.
I actually felt instinctively, that those making this profession of faith alongside and for Alice and ourselves, really felt, and believed the things they were professing and that is a wonderful thing. To feel in both the presence of God as a happy occasion, but knowing that believers together were praising and worshiping God as well.
So, when we think of Baptism as the start of our life in Christ - we also look further forward to living the life fully human, in the way that God wills us to - in companionship, harmony, love, fellowship, compassion, community, loving and worshiping God. The Kingdom of God perhaps?
We went to the family home, and met for the first time the family, who surround our good friend, and I am impelled to say that they were wonderful. Welcoming, friendly and already having a great deal of background knowledge of us, from our friends, although, we knew little or nothing of them, as our friend has always been quite reserved about such detail. He is a professional, a Doctor and Pschiatrist, who while outgoing and a wonderful person, always seems to hold a watching brief for what is going on around him. However, seeing him with Alice is a revelation, all of the outer coat disappears and he is the epitome of a doting father.
Baptism means a lot to them as practicing Anglicans, and we found their family to be also life long Anglicans - regular church goers and committed to their faith and living accordingly.
So, seeing Alice being welcomed into the family of the church was an experience full of joy and with the opportunity to feel again and to understand the true meaning of Baptism for us. In particular the promises made by the Parents and God parents on behalf of Alice, but the mutual recitation of the Creed.
I actually felt instinctively, that those making this profession of faith alongside and for Alice and ourselves, really felt, and believed the things they were professing and that is a wonderful thing. To feel in both the presence of God as a happy occasion, but knowing that believers together were praising and worshiping God as well.
So, when we think of Baptism as the start of our life in Christ - we also look further forward to living the life fully human, in the way that God wills us to - in companionship, harmony, love, fellowship, compassion, community, loving and worshiping God. The Kingdom of God perhaps?
Thursday, 21 January 2010
Thoughtful Service
I was thinking about service, in the sense of ministry this week. I had a small disappointment in that a meeting with a DDO was not going to happen as early as anticipated. But on the same day, I had the privilege of taking Holy Communion to a Care Home, which I have been involved with for several months. The is a precious ministry and one which I find very affirming both for those we serve - who despite their age, are bright, alert and very involved, their limitations, in the main, being purely physical.
During the service, I realised that this is a fulfilling part of ministry, but I feel called to do so much more. I am now involved in doing intercessions on a rota and have supported worship and even led a Remembrance Service last November. In all of this, part of my Parish Placement, I am unlicensed and therefore, doing it under supervision.
So the delay in seeing a DDO, effected me more than I had thought and I had a few hours of self doubt and human weakness, wondering whether it was just me, and was I really upto the role and this was perhaps a subtle way of letting me down gently. However, after some reflection (and chats and communications with others) I saw that I was really over reacting and had forgotton the key thing - where is God in this, and what is his will?
I forgot momentarily I suppose that he knows what he wishes me to do, but will only let me know when he feels I am ready. I can feel as ready as I like, but until He is ready, it is for nothing.
So back to stability and a little common sense. A few prayers down the line I feel even better, so patience, waiting and prayer meanwhile serving where and how I can and worshipping wherever I can meet God and others in communion with him or even not, is the way forward.
God works so wonderfully, he speaks in so many ways and perhaps tests us a little - be he has all the answers, we just need to wait for him to reveal them.
During the service, I realised that this is a fulfilling part of ministry, but I feel called to do so much more. I am now involved in doing intercessions on a rota and have supported worship and even led a Remembrance Service last November. In all of this, part of my Parish Placement, I am unlicensed and therefore, doing it under supervision.
So the delay in seeing a DDO, effected me more than I had thought and I had a few hours of self doubt and human weakness, wondering whether it was just me, and was I really upto the role and this was perhaps a subtle way of letting me down gently. However, after some reflection (and chats and communications with others) I saw that I was really over reacting and had forgotton the key thing - where is God in this, and what is his will?
I forgot momentarily I suppose that he knows what he wishes me to do, but will only let me know when he feels I am ready. I can feel as ready as I like, but until He is ready, it is for nothing.
So back to stability and a little common sense. A few prayers down the line I feel even better, so patience, waiting and prayer meanwhile serving where and how I can and worshipping wherever I can meet God and others in communion with him or even not, is the way forward.
God works so wonderfully, he speaks in so many ways and perhaps tests us a little - be he has all the answers, we just need to wait for him to reveal them.
Saturday, 9 January 2010
Weather and Worship
I had a call today from my Vicar not to come to church tomorrow, as the weather conditions at my Church are so bad - that he thinks that the journey to and from could be an issue. I travel 53 miles to my church each way - as it is the place that I choose to belong to and to worship. Normally, the journey is quite pleasant and I travel in anticipation of meeting God in Worship and also the fellowship and affirmation in joining the community that I believe God willed me to join, and is now calling me to serve.
I am a little disappointed, but I know that he has done this out of concern for my personal safety, and I respect him and love him for that - I am unsure how many Vicars would take the time to do this, but Pastoral Care for the whole flock is his calling and he does it well.
I sometimes wonder why I feel called to Ordained Ministry, and then I reflect on how little things and kindness's and consideration and commitment from the Vicar and others in the church towards me, have made me so joyful and grateful to God for allowing me to be part of his love and being.
Tomorrow I will walk 150 yards to my local church, where I live. This is a place that I discovered as part of the directed mentoring from my Vicar. St Pauls is an Evangelical Church run by CPAS with a CA Vicar. This community is also welcoming and I feel welcome and comfortable there - they have so much to offer. But............... Do I feel called to serve there, while I wish I was, the answer is NO. I love the community, but the draw and the call rings loud and long to me at Canterbury.
I pray that the weather improves to let me resume my journeys to Canterbury, I have so much to do there, my Ministry is there, my worship belongs there, and my vocation and spirit is there.
I am a little disappointed, but I know that he has done this out of concern for my personal safety, and I respect him and love him for that - I am unsure how many Vicars would take the time to do this, but Pastoral Care for the whole flock is his calling and he does it well.
I sometimes wonder why I feel called to Ordained Ministry, and then I reflect on how little things and kindness's and consideration and commitment from the Vicar and others in the church towards me, have made me so joyful and grateful to God for allowing me to be part of his love and being.
Tomorrow I will walk 150 yards to my local church, where I live. This is a place that I discovered as part of the directed mentoring from my Vicar. St Pauls is an Evangelical Church run by CPAS with a CA Vicar. This community is also welcoming and I feel welcome and comfortable there - they have so much to offer. But............... Do I feel called to serve there, while I wish I was, the answer is NO. I love the community, but the draw and the call rings loud and long to me at Canterbury.
I pray that the weather improves to let me resume my journeys to Canterbury, I have so much to do there, my Ministry is there, my worship belongs there, and my vocation and spirit is there.
Monday, 28 December 2009
Exciting Times
I actually wrote this and posted elsewhere on 21st December, I thought that it was a summary of a great year in my life. I have amended it to protect the innocent.
Yesterday evening during worship, I reflected a little on how Exciting 2009 has been in my life. While I have had a full life, with lots of ups and downs, which is what life is about. In 2009, the first full year back as a Christian, answering a call from God, which is remains strong and full on - so much has happened.
Firstly, the call to some form of Ministry within the Church has now developed to the stage, where I feel that it is Ordained Ministry, which due to my age and circumstances, means Ordained, Local Ministry in a specific location - I feel called to Minister within my B&M Parish, the Bridge Benefice near Canterbury.
This call has been recognised in the Parish and I have become involved quite deeply in a Parish Placement, which has involved taking communion to people in Care Homes, supporting Worship in Reading and now latterly intercessions and actually been given the privilage of leading an Act of Worship for Remembrance Day. I is planned that I will be formally licensed by the Bishop as an Authorised Lay Minister for these duties in January. I also will be seeing the DDO in January, where I hope and pray that the call will be discerned to enable it to move forward.
I have now gained a Spiritual Director, who has proven thus far, to be supportive and truly helpful. I anticipate this relationship growing and developing in the new year. This relationship allows me to explore as yet unconsidered facets of the call and to help me deepen my faith and belief and to develop my personal prayer life. So it is immensely important for me.
In August, my spouse and I renewed our Wedding Vows at St Mary's church, the place where I was accepted into the Parish and the CofE in 2008. This was for us a day of great joy and reinforced our relationship of love and care for each other on so many levels.
In August, I actually retired from full time employment. In many ways a sad occasion, as I left behind a huge portion of my life (43 years) in the Army. However, it was time! I felt in many ways that being part of an organisation, which of necessity had to recruit young people, who would have to go to war in Afghanistan, was something which I had real concerns about. I have no regrets about my service, which has provided me with a good living and security in the form of a reasonable pension, and I continue to support my former friends and colleagues in what they do. Perhaps conscience is involved, but I just feel that we have been dragged into a war as a political expedient, which does not feel just or for the benefit of the population of Afghanistan.
The good thing about retirement, is seeing friends and colleagues, but without the stress and hassle of involvement of trying to do a hard job with tight financial constraints, diminishing resources but being expected to fulfill all statuatory duties to the fullest extent. In the last 2 years, I did my own job and that of an Officer, who had left and was not replaced due to financial constraints. Having to do this is draining, stressful and imposes conflicting responsibilities which cause all sorts of issues. Being in this situation is wearing physically and emotionally and I was glad to surrender it to someone else. Good luck to Linda my Successor.
Off course, there has been sadness. Some good friends have passed away, which has an edge when you have known them and also worked alongside them over many years - and of course, the migration of our grand children to Australia has given us some sadness. The reality is that a better life is offered there for them, so while regretting their leaving, we pray and hope that they will have a successful life there.
What I am trying to say here really is that God is working strongly in my life, I feel it every day and see his working in so many things. Things happen unexpectedly and in ways that cannot be coincidence to move things on. At the start of Lent I felt such excitement at the build up to Easter and the resurrection of Jesus as our Saviour. I feel a similar excitement now in anticipation of the Birth of Jesus being celebrated. I have done so much this year, The Pastoral Care Course, Joining the Course at Christchurch University and have met so many committed Christians whose life is for and through the Holy Spirit, it has served to help me grow and deepen my own faith.
Last and not least is my membership of i-church, which has been hugely beneficial to me with the fellowship, support, worship and affirmation of belonging to a community of people, none of who I have met, yet who feel closer to me than some of my friends that I have known for years.
God is wonderful, God is Great, God Is!!
Yesterday evening during worship, I reflected a little on how Exciting 2009 has been in my life. While I have had a full life, with lots of ups and downs, which is what life is about. In 2009, the first full year back as a Christian, answering a call from God, which is remains strong and full on - so much has happened.
Firstly, the call to some form of Ministry within the Church has now developed to the stage, where I feel that it is Ordained Ministry, which due to my age and circumstances, means Ordained, Local Ministry in a specific location - I feel called to Minister within my B&M Parish, the Bridge Benefice near Canterbury.
This call has been recognised in the Parish and I have become involved quite deeply in a Parish Placement, which has involved taking communion to people in Care Homes, supporting Worship in Reading and now latterly intercessions and actually been given the privilage of leading an Act of Worship for Remembrance Day. I is planned that I will be formally licensed by the Bishop as an Authorised Lay Minister for these duties in January. I also will be seeing the DDO in January, where I hope and pray that the call will be discerned to enable it to move forward.
I have now gained a Spiritual Director, who has proven thus far, to be supportive and truly helpful. I anticipate this relationship growing and developing in the new year. This relationship allows me to explore as yet unconsidered facets of the call and to help me deepen my faith and belief and to develop my personal prayer life. So it is immensely important for me.
In August, my spouse and I renewed our Wedding Vows at St Mary's church, the place where I was accepted into the Parish and the CofE in 2008. This was for us a day of great joy and reinforced our relationship of love and care for each other on so many levels.
In August, I actually retired from full time employment. In many ways a sad occasion, as I left behind a huge portion of my life (43 years) in the Army. However, it was time! I felt in many ways that being part of an organisation, which of necessity had to recruit young people, who would have to go to war in Afghanistan, was something which I had real concerns about. I have no regrets about my service, which has provided me with a good living and security in the form of a reasonable pension, and I continue to support my former friends and colleagues in what they do. Perhaps conscience is involved, but I just feel that we have been dragged into a war as a political expedient, which does not feel just or for the benefit of the population of Afghanistan.
The good thing about retirement, is seeing friends and colleagues, but without the stress and hassle of involvement of trying to do a hard job with tight financial constraints, diminishing resources but being expected to fulfill all statuatory duties to the fullest extent. In the last 2 years, I did my own job and that of an Officer, who had left and was not replaced due to financial constraints. Having to do this is draining, stressful and imposes conflicting responsibilities which cause all sorts of issues. Being in this situation is wearing physically and emotionally and I was glad to surrender it to someone else. Good luck to Linda my Successor.
Off course, there has been sadness. Some good friends have passed away, which has an edge when you have known them and also worked alongside them over many years - and of course, the migration of our grand children to Australia has given us some sadness. The reality is that a better life is offered there for them, so while regretting their leaving, we pray and hope that they will have a successful life there.
What I am trying to say here really is that God is working strongly in my life, I feel it every day and see his working in so many things. Things happen unexpectedly and in ways that cannot be coincidence to move things on. At the start of Lent I felt such excitement at the build up to Easter and the resurrection of Jesus as our Saviour. I feel a similar excitement now in anticipation of the Birth of Jesus being celebrated. I have done so much this year, The Pastoral Care Course, Joining the Course at Christchurch University and have met so many committed Christians whose life is for and through the Holy Spirit, it has served to help me grow and deepen my own faith.
Last and not least is my membership of i-church, which has been hugely beneficial to me with the fellowship, support, worship and affirmation of belonging to a community of people, none of who I have met, yet who feel closer to me than some of my friends that I have known for years.
God is wonderful, God is Great, God Is!!
Saturday, 28 November 2009
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