The problem with unwritten rules...

The greatest difficulty with moving the church forward is the unwritten rules.  There seem to be so many of them and I don't know what they all are. I constantly bang into them and realise that my ability to see God in all things and all situations I struggle to deal with the sacrosanct. Can't use the communion table for anything but communion, can't use the sanctuary for non worship events, only ministers and those suitably trained can preach, lead worship - honestly put the children in control of worship and we might actually get the point of worship!

The institution is full of written laws that by their very nature mean we have unwritten rules - the interpretation of them.  And the biggest unwritten rule because it stems from identity is that of the minister.  I remember during training going to a wonderful bible study but because I was the minister I had to read it out loud. It is the privilege of the minister to read God's word out loud. So much has become the ministers job - just read a parish profile and it will tell you what is expected of a minister. And I know as my diary starts filling up with all good things that meet the list in the parish profile that other things I am expected to do will fall.  And as much as I am loved in one camp I am failing in another.

We don't need any more rules - written or unwritten.

What if we follow the teaching of St Paul - one body but many members? Keep Jesus as the head - most definitely - but if Jesus is the head then surely the minister is just another part of the body not the whole of it?

What if we started to pull together as one body, sharing our resources and building together? Then I believe people would want to become part of the church again because everyone would have a purpose and a sense of belonging. Jesus engendered that feeling in his disciples and certainly not everyone got on board but to still have 11 out of 12 at the end of those three years was pretty impressive. Maybe change, maybe embracing the body of Christ, maybe moving away from the rules (written or otherwise) and living with hope, faith and love we can change the church and the world.

Is it time to stop worrying about who is the pulpit and start concentrating on who is in the pews (so to speak!)? Have we been looking at this back to front? As a minister on ministries council I know that there is much good happening but I wonder, dangerously perhaps, is focusing on 800 people rather than the 44000 (or whatever our current membership is not forgetting the regular non members) keeping our vision small and missing the bigger part of the body?

Do congregations want to be empowered? The unwritten rule is they don't - most want to be consumers! Is that another unwritten rule that needs challenged?

Thoughts for another day perhaps.

What do you think ministers are for and what can you do to change the rules...?

Peace
Sarah

Is there a better way for ministry and ministers?

There has to be a better way to be church!

I was at a Ministries Council overnight conference this week and politely people ask you over breakfast – “How did you sleep?”  Please tell me I am not the only person who wants to respond – “with my eyes closed!”  I can’t help it – the quick answer, the smart alec answer is always there on the tip of my tongue and I physically had to stop myself saying that out loud. 

But sometimes we have to speak honestly.    Part of the conference was about clergy self-care, and how we get ministers to look after themselves, especially in an environment where there is more work, less people.  Well, as the day went on I was getting more and more wound up, especially when people with influence said “it’s an impossible job” and we just accepted that with a laugh.  Basically we get on with it, and know that God is there for us. 

Well – me being me decided that wasn't fair.  And reminiscent of my children I spoke up and said something along the lines of “That’s not fair.  It’s not fair to keep piling work on us, tell us we have an impossible job and then expect us to do more! What is Ministries Council doing for us, what practical support can be given?”  I said a few other things as well but I won’t bore you with that and I am part of the Ministries Council so I am speaking to myself here as well.  The words that spilled out weren't thought out, they were words that poured out from frustration, a desire to be heard and for something sensible to be done.  And a number of people came and told me they agreed with everything I said!  It isn't fair.  We all know this but seem at a loss to do anything.

I sometimes wonder what ministry has become.  “They” can’t fix things because it is impossible so to do so nothing is done.  Are we going through the motions of ministry because we have been told that’s what we should do, and that’s what we see our colleagues doing?  Have we given up on providing real solutions because Scotland is too big, because ministers are office holders, because we dare not interfere, because it means money?  Am I destined to spend the next 30 years in ministry (God willing) constantly disappointing people because I can’t be everything, do everything that my congregation, my presbytery, my church expect or desire?  I am not sure I can live with that.  Is there a better way?  

I want to believe so.  I want to believe that the Church could do so much more because we remember we are God’s people, and the building, the institution are not the Church, merely vessels and resources.  There has to be another way – where we shake the very foundations and re-create for the 21^st century.  We need to localise practical, paid support.  We need to stop piling on work and design functioning resources, accessible by all congregations.  We need to start working together in clusters that share, support and encourage.  Those that hold the power need to stop hiding in their corners and start working together deliberately, with a shared vision that supports ministry across Scotland.  And we need to stop hiding behind “aye beens”, excuses and fear.  Building resilience in our clergy and helping us take responsibility for our self-care are valuable options but if predictions are correct even that won’t enough.  What point is there in an institution if all it does is demand more and give less?  It’s not fair and it’s not dealing with the problem. 

And yes I am an idealist, I am naïve, I am an optimist and I believe there has to be more.  And ministers we need to work together, fight together and get out of our own little boxes and pull together. 

Then I believe we can actually do ministry – all of us – not just ministers.  Jesus said “Go into all the world and make disciples”.  I want to make disciples not property experts.  I want to make disciples not fundraisers.  I want to make disciples not conflict managers.  I want to help the poor not take money to fix the roof.  I want to be a minister of Word and Sacrament. 

There aren't easy solutions but if we believe we are the family of God then miracles are available. 

I hope you are not offended by this and maybe you think I am wide of the mark, or neurotic.  Or just maybe now is the time to take a stand and do something revolutionary.

With man this is impossible.  With God all things are possible.

Is there a better way?  God, I hope so.  Amen.  

It's not what you say...

But the way that you say it!

These past three weeks in the States has been encouraging and inspiring. Never before has my accent caused such joy or confusion, nor have I been responsible for corrupting or improving the language of another. The use of "wee" for little has increased, sweets instead of candy, or saying "I fancy doing that/having that" now bounce about in First Presbyterian Church Morganton. We are picking up some of the drawl and the occasional y'all! I have been told that I could recite nursery rhymes instead of preach and get away with it.

Sunday 19th we had Christmas in July and we thought about how God through Jesus made himself accessible. Jesus the Word became flesh - God was now to be found in a language we could all understand - humanity. And not the regal, unattainable, posh language but the common language understood by shepherds and angels, by wise men and teenagers Mary and Joseph, and still feared by Kings.

I am sure there is some being lost in translation here. We nod along and hope we catch the jist of it. And for some it is like that with God. Somewhere along the line God's language of love and presence gets lost in translation. We think we have the jist of it but what we really hear is the judgement or condemnation. And nobody wants that.  Jesus is God incarnate - God with us, one of us.  And Jesus speaks our language - whether it be Scottish or American or something right different!

If you think you might be losing something in translation, perhaps now would be a good time to take a breath, find a version of the Bible that is accessible to you (there are loads out there) and read through a Gospel. Mark is good for those who like to dive right in there, Matthew and Luke for the details and historical aspects, and John for the deep thinkers, philosophical types. The styles are different but Christ is the same.

Just take a wee bit time and make sure y'all listen good. Jesus speaks your language loud and clear!
In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John1:1

Bless y'all big yuns and weans!
Love Pastor Sarah (which when my kids say it sounds like Pasta Sarah)

There is a time for everything...

And everything in its time.

I love the passage from Ecclesiastes about there being a time for all things, though I wince at the thought of a time to hate. I guess, however, there are injustices that we should hate enough to be motivated to make a difference about.
I suspect if I was allowed I would add a few lines...
There is a time to run and a time not to run.
There is a time to diet and a time to eat cake.
There is a time to go the gym and a time to go to the pub.
There is a time for coffee alone and a time for coffee with friends.
And there isn't a time when God isn't there...

Last night I was woken from sleep around 1am, my nerves jangling and wondering where the alarm was.  It sounded like a beeping alarm clock, followed by creaky floor boards and the rocker in Jess' room.  Eventually I persuaded myself to do a circuit of the house (minus Fitbit!) and of course both children were out for the count and all was well, and I don't know where the alarm came from. Suspect it was a phone telling us it was out of charge (why always at night?)  I went back to bed and prayed for a blessing upon the house and her inhabitants and went back to sleep with God on my mind and heart, convinced of his presence.

The middle of the night is a spooky time sometimes (and I'm not talking ghosts). But the darkness, strange environment, noisy insects and over active imagination can stimulate negative responses. Taking time to pray can help to lift the darkness, and the light of God to shine. And I know it works in the daytime as well - as I pray for his wisdom, courage, peace and guidance.
There is always a time to pray even when we don't know the words...

Can I encourage you to pray in the wee small hours as well as in the bright light of day?

For some the Church is living in the dark, spooky hours of the night, but I know God is still with her. And I pray for a blessing upon her, and all who call upon the name of the Lord.  I believe that the Lord is still present but we need help with our negative responses. Perhaps we need to rest and let God be God, and awake refreshed and hope-full.  What are your prayers for God's church? (And by Church I mean the people not the buildings, and to a certain extent the institution).

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord's people. Eph 6:18
In my prayers.

Flatpack Christians

It has been quite an exciting few days - crossing the ocean to the other side, thankfully with family in tow! And apparently we brought the cooler weather with us. Starting to wonder if I have a rain cloud attached!

We are living in a beautiful house full of character, and each house has its own character and design. I am sure there are housing estates where everyone lives in matching homes but I love the variety here. The floorboards creak, the furniture is beautifully worn - as in not flat packed - and there are trees out the back to rival ours back home. If I could design my own home this would certainly be a model for it.

The trip to America is an opportunity to learn, to explore, to see that the world is bigger than my wee world (though Jess (6) keeps asking if we can go for a walk to explore America.) It is also an opportunity to find out more about my God because I am well and truly relying on him. And he is reminding me that we don't need to be flat packed Christians, built up and flimsy. Just look at the disciples - full of character and personality, even quite temperamental. I keep apologising for my children for they are full of character and personality and Scottish "tell it like it is!" And yet I think perhaps they are more Christlike because even Jesus "told it like it was".

What did the psalmist say "I am wonderfully and fearfully made!" Let's embrace our variety and see what happens....


I am heading off to learn what Being Presbyterian means! ;)

Will post some photos soon.  We are all well and coping well with the tiredness.

The 27 Minutes on Pause

Modern technology is a wonder - I love technology and gadgets.  New technology is perhaps my weakness but yes I have resisted the Apple Watch!  However  my children live in a world long since moved on from VHS and the mad dash to get a cuppa during the adverts.  They live in a world where television can be paused and adverts are to be fast forwarded except in the run up to Christmas or birthdays.  This week was no different - the television paused whilst breakfast was organised and 27 minutes later the children returned to the box.  They watched the end of their programme and the next programme, still 27 minutes behind the rest of the street.  

And that made me wonder how many of us live our lives somewhere behind the pace, not realising that actually the rest of the world is 27 minutes ahead of us (so to speak).  We are reluctant to embrace the world as it is and having hit the pause button, we are now living in our time, wondering why the world has stopped making sense.  No matter how hard we try to catch up we never seem to make up those 27 minutes, and those who live 27 minutes ahead seem alien, and always grumpy with us because we are always trying to drag them back in some way.  

For some it is the world of politics where some of us are trying to understand those results and wonder how we missed the signs.  For some it is the loss of loved one and for a while the world stopped for us - and although we are functioning again, we still haven't caught up to real time, living a little off the pace wondering why life doesn't add up.  For some it was that cruel word that damaged our self-esteem and we paused, never feeling that confident again.  .  More of us live our lives 27 minutes behind others than we realise - just for some the pause lasted a lot longer, and potentially, sadly some never push play again, permanently stuck in one place.  

Many believe the Church is stuck on pause, and yes the Church isn't necessarily the most up to date institution.  But I want to reassure you that the Church is quickly learning how to fast forward the adverts and is catching up - locally and nationally.  We aren't there yet but we are working on it, and Church, definitely in Blantyre Old, but also around the country there is much that is happening that is adventurous, forward thinking, challenging, and life enhancing.  You might think we are about Sunday best, prejudice and judgement, but actually the Jesus we follow is about community, love, grace and hope.  Jesus lived so far into the future that all of us are catching up with him! 

But as the Scriptures say,

“No one has ever seen,

no one has ever heard,

no one has ever imagined

what God has prepared for those who love him.”

But God has shown us these things through the Spirit. (1st Corinthians 2:9-10)

Is your life on pause or do you feel you are still trying to catch up?  For the television we push the power button and the television jumps back to real time.  If we push the power button of God, we could simply end up in the right place at the right time.  Regardless of what caused your "27 minute pause" - God can heal the time lost, and bring you to a time that is right for you - because he loves you and he wants you to enjoy life in all its fullness which is found when we live in the present, not the past nor the future but the present.  And remember all time is in God's hands. Another famous Scripture about time - there is such a thing as the right time.  (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 NIV)

There is a time for everything,
    and a season for every activity under the heavens:

2     a time to be born and a time to die,
    a time to plant and a time to uproot,
3     a time to kill and a time to heal,
    a time to tear down and a time to build,
4     a time to weep and a time to laugh,
    a time to mourn and a time to dance,
5     a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
    a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
6     a time to search and a time to give up,
    a time to keep and a time to throw away,
7     a time to tear and a time to mend,
    a time to be silent and a time to speak,
8     a time to love and a time to hate,
    a time for war and a time for peace.

Blessings,

Sarah

God gives....an Easter Sunday Perspective

Reflection:  God gives….
On Maundy Thursday I spoke about embarrassment and the fact that God was willing to bear what we would find so embarrassing.  To die on the cross was a shameful thing for within Jewish scripture God himself said it was shameful death.  God was willing to embarrass himself – to show to the world what looked like ultimate weakness, that he had lost control and everything was spiralling downhill.
For God, for humanity there is no bleaker moment in history – to hang God upon the cross and think we have won some battle…
And yet very few truly knew it was God upon the cross – Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.
And in the lowest moment of all – even Jesus felt abandoned – my God, my God, why have you abandoned me?
And yet Jesus also said – in your hands I commit my Spirit – because Jesus knew, deep down, in the part of us that this world cannot touch that God was there, with him, waiting for him.
If there is anything I truly love and believe in is the wonderful honesty and humanity of Christ.
At Christmas we say, we sing, God Immanuel – God with us.
Jesus is God – of that I have no doubt.  His presence though, his earthly presence gives us permission to be human.  So often we place unfair expectations on ourselves…
There was a woman who I loved and who was an angel in her own right but I swear she had the biggest guilt complex.  She worried constantly that God would judge her or strike her down if she had a bad thought about another, and regularly confessed them to me.  I pray that when she reached those pearly gates God just hugged her.
Did Jesus get frustrated at people?  Yes
Did Jesus cry at the graveside of a dear friend? Yes
Did Jesus party and enjoy himself?  Absolutely. How many water into wine jokes have you heard?
Did Jesus feel close to God, loved and appreciated? Yes
Did he feel scared, frightened, wanting to run away from his responsibility?  So much so he sweated drops of blood in the garden of Gethsemane.
Did Jesus have close friends and did he know the ups and downs of family life?  Yes – at times his family thought he was mad and wanted to hide him away. A close friend betrayed him for money, another denied he knew him, and they all legged it.
This Jesus is the Jesus we celebrate today who sits at the right hand of God, speaking on our behalf, walking with us through the ups and downs of our lives.  He isn’t looking for polished perfect human beings who when they call themselves Christians stop being bitter, hurt, disappointed, heartbroken.  Yes he calls us to live faithfully, to live with more love, more patience, more self-control, more joy, live in peace, with goodness and kindness and humility, just as he did. But he knows, he knows folks what it is to be human and that is what God gives us this Easter.
The permission to be human.
However God is more than that and so he wants to remind you this Easter that just as the cross was the not final scene, nor is what we see now the grand finale.
The resurrection of Jesus gives us a glimpse of what is yet to be for us.  In the story as recorded in John Jesus doesn’t let Mary touch him because he hasn’t yet seen his Father.  The resurrection restores and heals the body though the scars remain – we are who we are, scars an’ all.
We celebrate not a continuation of this broken world, but a new heaven and a new earth, where we will walk with God and there will be no more tears nor suffering nor death for all the old ways are gone.
Through Jesus we are given permission to be human and the opportunity to grasp the divine.  And like Jesus, through prayer, through friendship, through time with God as individuals and corporately in worship, we will overcome all things with faith, hope and love.
I pray this Easter you will know the presence of God with you.
Happy Easter.