At Face Value: a new mission field?

 At Face Value

 Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, ‘We have seen the Lord!’

But he said to them, ‘Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.’

A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you!’ Then he said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.’

Thomas said to him, ‘My Lord and my God!’  John 20: 24-28

 

On Sunday, like many of my colleagues, I was reflecting on Thomas and his story.  I was admitting my annoyance at his inability to accept what the other disciples said at face value. Why couldn't he just believe them? After all they would have been so excited, convinced by seeing the scars and hearing Jesus speak. For sure, Jesus had a way with words! Mary recognised him simply by hearing him speak her name.  Or the couple on the road to Emmaus who felt their hearts burn within them as Jesus opened up Scripture to them.  As I noted on Sunday we recognise his voice - the sheep know their Shepherd's voice.

For so long the Church has ignored Thomas. Oh yes we tell his story and some years we feel for him, others we are annoyed by him.  But what about the Thomas people in our communities? We have ignored them and we are paying the price now as we close churches and pretend it is all about mission.  

What do I mean by that? Well we have hung out with the convinced and pushed the doubters to the fringes. Our Sunday services are full of the convinced or at least the content.  We preach to those who have met Jesus.  And despite the occasional missional success stories of Alpha or Messy Church we are not great at converting.  We poach and attract and moan about the consumer mentality that the presbyterian system of ‘protecting God from the untrained’ and shutting down incubators of faith development and discipleship has enabled. 

Thomas had serious issues. No matter how much his friends tried to convince him he needed tangible proof.

We have often lived our mission stuck in the room, assuming that everyone will take us at face value. If we preach it, the people will come. If we have all the hall lets, if we put nice prayers on social media, if we keep the old happy then we can continue (to pay the bills) then all will be well.

But let’s be real-Thomas had experienced much under Jesus' leadership and yet he still couldn't accept at face value that Jesus had risen from the dead. He needed more.  No amount of talk would persuade him.  

Perhaps our challenge for mission is to stop focussing the majority of the effort on those already convinced and look for the Thomas’ around us.  And they are there. How do we share the Good News without relying on face value only? It can’t just be about the face we present to our parish.  You see, Thomas didn’t want the happy, convinced, overwhelmingly excited Christians shouting Jesus is risen.  He needed Jesus, his peace and his scars visible before him.  

For those of us in the know the most concerning element is that we are presenting as a Church in turmoil, lost and conflicted. How do we, as an institution, leave the Good Friday filled tomb and join the resurrected Lord, wearing our scars and ready to step out in faith?  What I am finding is that those who are in the know and feel bereft are those in the church.  Those outwith the Church are not shocked about our turmoil or indeed seeing it as catastrophic as we are. Such change is happening everywhere.  In fact they are not surprised about our pain and heartache because they are feeling it too. Maybe what they need is to see us joining them in their wait for Jesus to appear in his scarred body yet full of glory and bringing peace, instead of hiding behind some façade.  

And in that is a mission field…maybe…

And yes, I do have a soft spot for Thomas and the longest week he waited, as did his friends, for the moment of convincing to happen. 

With God in the driving seat, we pray for patience! 

Blessings

Sarah 

 

 

 

Resurrection Blues

 Resurrection Blues

As I sit to write this, feeling a little weary I wonder how many of us have the resurrection blues? It's the moment where all is done, 

Christ has died,

Christ has risen,

Christ is alive

 

and we all breathe a sigh of relief yet also miss it all. 

The services are past, the dawn hike is over, the breakfast/brunch smells have dissipated and suddenly we are left wondering; ‘what's next?’.  Don't worry we still have Pentecost, before we start planning Christmas again!

This coming Sunday is also known as Low Sunday, partly in recognition that it is a less intense celebration than Easter. Therefore, let me reassure you. If you are feeling out of sorts, tossed about, confused or generally ‘wabbit’, you are in good company.

Spare a prayer this week for your ministry team, be they the lone worker, the cover, or the church worship team. Many leading worship through Holy Week were already weary from meetings about Mission Planning, the multiple hats they wear, and the general angst in the air.  Each have preached and enthused about the all encompassing, sacrificial love of God.  That when all seemed lost, God knew the end game.

And within each burns a hope that God has an end game, a plan for their church and the institution. The light might be flickering but the darkness has not yet put it out.  Without the distraction (apologies Lord!) of Lent, Holy Week and Easter, the reality of our future seems to loom large on the horizon.  And it is concerning for all, indeed some might feel it more than others but no one is unaffected. 

May we find in the prayers of others, the support of colleagues (which was more apparent after the resurrection than before) and the care of our congregations the strength to engage, the courage to challenge and embrace change and the compassion to support those facing the toughest decisions.

May we walk rejoicing in the light of our resurrected Lord, Indeed may our priority be to run and tell others we have seen the Lord. Maybe that’s the true mission imperative. 

God bless you this Easter season!

Love Sarah

Easter Sunday - Explosion of Hope

 Luke 24: 12-17

On that same day two of Jesus' followers were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and they were talking to each other about all the things that had happened. As they talked and discussed, Jesus himself drew near and walked along with them; they saw him, but somehow did not recognize him. Jesus said to them, “What are you talking about to each other, as you walk along?”

The two people on the road to Emmaus were just ordinary folks trying to make sense of their world.    They had such high hopes that Jesus would change their world for the better and now, well now, there was nothing only shattered dreams and broken hearts.  They had seen amazing things when in his company and heard even more fantastical things about Jesus.  He was an influencer, a voice speaking out against injustice, caring for the sick, welcoming the outsider, treating women, children, the poor, the disabled with dignity.  Wherever he went people followed and hung on his every word.  Giving him a hero’s welcome into Jerusalem joy filled the air and hope for freedom from cruel invaders lifted hearts. 

 

But behind the celebrations of ordinary people a dark plot was hatched by leaders and politicians.  To them Jesus was dangerous, upsetting the status quo. He must be removed – permanently. 

 

Finding a quiet out of the way place,  away from the noticeable tension between the opposing parties, Jesus eats a special dinner with his friends, known as the Last Supper.  Following the meal, a short walk in the evening air gives his friend Judas the opportunity to betray him to the aforementioned plotters. Jesus is arrested on false charges and in court, firstly before the Jews, and then before Pilate the Roman Governor. Despite the fact it is obvious to Pilate that Jesus is innocent, he decides, in order to avoid a riot, that Jesus is sentenced to death – the cruellest imaginable type of death at the time.  Nailed to the cross Jesus hangs struggling to breathe.  As the Friday afternoon sky darkens unusually early it mirrors the light of hope being extinguished in the hearts of those who thought Jesus was the one. Crucified amongst other criminals Jesus prays and draws his last breath.  Laid in a borrowed tomb the cave is sealed and with it comes the grief and overwhelming hopelessness.    

 

Yet, Jesus knew he would die.  He tried to tell his friends that he would have to die.  He even tried to tell them that three days later he would rise from the dead.  But to be fair that is hard for anyone to comprehend.  And when our world collapses, when death happens, when what we thought was true is shattered, when our friends hurt or betray us, when our church seems bogged down and even crushed, when the tunnel seems inordinately long, when no one believes us…we can struggle to find hope. And we all need hope. 

 

Sometimes, if we could just see a little further ahead we might not be so downhearted.  When Jesus explained to our wandering friends the truth of it all, they felt such an explosion of hope.  But it wasn’t just hope for here and now.  They realised it was about so much more than fixing our problems in this life. It was hope for life after death.  It was for hope to burn brightly even when all around descends into chaos.  Faith in God shifts our focus from ourselves, from now to seeing the bigger picture – that with God, one day all will be well. 

 

They felt hope like a fire burning in their heart. Hope warms us and blossoms into courage which gives us strength to put one foot in front of the other.  The two people who walked with Jesus, when they realised who he was ran all the way back to Jerusalem in the dark, probably breaking all their personal bests for running.   The explosion of hope blossomed into courage giving them the strength to go back and say we met Jesus. The explosion of hope lifted them up and gave them confidence, purpose and even their lives back.  

 

Jesus will meet each of us where we are and as we are -whether we are hurting, angry, disappointed, scared, anxious or full of questions.  We don’t need to be perfect first.  And maybe when you recognise Jesus in his resurrected glory, you too will feel that explosion of hope that blossoms into courage and strength.  Remember we are people of the resurrection, people of the light and followers of the way. Let’s live in the light of his sacrificial love and be generous with all.  

 

Christ is risen. He is risen indeed. Hallelujah 

Love Sarah 

 

 (Based on material I wrote for Calderglen High Easter Assemblies) 

Holy Week Friday - Overcome the Grief

 When the people who had gathered there to watch the spectacle saw what happened, they all went back home, beating their breasts in sorrow. All those who knew Jesus personally, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance to watch.

Sometimes even with the best will in the world all one can do is stand back and watch. Even Peter who wanted to change the outcome finds himself silenced, in tears, helpless and heartbroken. We often call it guilt as he focus on his betrayal. But I have come to see it as grief as well.

That moment of utter helplessness as you watch the world in front of you collapse. All Peter thought he knew about himself, about Jesus, about his future fell apart in that sound. As the crock crowed Peter felt the grief fall on him. It is a different kind of grief to mourning a loved one although there are similarities.

It is one many of us have faced and for many of us in the Church it will hit us too. Maybe you have already hit the wall of grief. It is when your heat breaks into a thousand pieces and without warning the pain feels like an eruption that spills out from your heart, lungs and soul. The tears fall unbidden and try as you might you cannot silence the wail. The wave of grief crashes over you, threatening to drown you. 

Peter felt guilt but also grief.  He had carried the tension of those previous weeks and days, fought for Jesus, desperately tried to support his dearest friend and understand it all. But when the powers-that-be took Jesus,-' destroying the Temple' through their actions, handing him over to be crucified, confident that they were in the right, his followers were lost, confused and scared.

Sometimes sacrifice must come before glory, sometimes grief before a fresh start.

I hit my wall of grief for and about the Church of Scotland on Saturday 25h April. Writing up notes for a congregational meeting, where one church (not mine) is marked for closure, and the ministry of 3 becomes 1.5 for a parish of 13,000+,  known as Church of Scotland or non-denom plus knowing this is reflected across the Kirk, I felt guilty and grief-stricken.

I stand watching, helpless.
Yet I remain determined to do the best I can with the calling I have been given.

The women stood and watched.
They also went to grave to weep and dress the body.
And we all know how that goes.
They end up being the first to preach the good news.

We don't know what lies ahead but press forward. For with our God anything is possible and Jesus defeated death and even Peter is restored.

Watching can be active not just passive.

Every blessing especially today.
Love Sarah.

Thursday - wrestling back control

 From John 13:1-5

Now before the feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come (...) during supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him, Jesus rose from supper, laid aside his garments, and girded himself with a towel. Then he poured water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which he was girded…

Everyone's favourite Holy week text is foot washing, okay the one that gives us most pause. Feet are either a love 'em or hate 'em option. And for many the thought of having to wash another adult's feet, well, fills them with horror. To be fair I am not a feet fan either. Yet when you think about it, it was a normal practice in Jesus' community. Obviously not for a
Rabbi but for servants or slaves. I'd find it rather odd but others think nothing of going for a pedicure and getting their feet washed.  But for someone like the Moderator of the General
Assembly of the Church of Scotland, for example, to wash my feet-now that would be embarrassing and I would do a Peter.  (Remember I am a runner!)

So how many of us wouldn't do a Peter and overreact? When we feel out of control, when someone else is running the show and leading us down a route we feel embarrassed, angry, defensive, awkward, lost and often we attempt to wrestle back control.

If Lord you must do this then wash my hands and body too! In our challenging times we are trying to wrestle back control. Another has come and made our lives awkward, uncomfortable even intolerable. We defend and call everyone else out as if no blame lay with us. 

Jesus is able to explain himself and reassure Peter. He remains in calm control.  He knows what he is doing and why. Perhaps that is something we have lost and the vision of mission is not readily apparent.  Our why is not clear for there is no viable picture or achievable smart goal…

Neatly blended into the why is the who.  Indeed what is beautiful yet easily overlooked is that whilst that Jesus teaches a valuable lesson, Judas and Peter, both of whom will disown him are included. Betrayal - one with deliberation and the one through self-preservation.
Still Jesus loves them, washes their feet and reminds us all we are called to wash feet and have them washed. To serve and be served.

In all the change that is happening each of us need to ask ourselves how we behaving. Are we like Jesus, that is able to serve and be served? Able to serve even those who betray us on purpose or out of self-preservation? Can we allow ourselves to be served by letting go of buildings, congregations or even ministers? Can we serve by resisting the urge to wrestle back control? 

There is much in the process that feels unfair and out of place. But we all play a part in it. The vision God has for us might become apparent if we stop trying to wrestle control from Jesus, and simply let him serve us! After all, Jesus had numerous opportunities to deflect Judas from his path. Instead he trusted in God.  We might have to survive Judas in this time of change but even when all seemed bleak and lost, God prevailed. 

Easter blessings 

Love Sarah 

Wednesday - Presbyterians and Pharisees

 From Matthew 26: 1-5)

When Jesus had finished all these sayings, he said to his disciples,

'You know that after two days the Passover is coming, and the Son of Man will be delivered up to be crucified.'

Then the chief priests and the elders of the people gathered in the palace of the High Priest Caiaphas, and took counsel together in order to arrest Jesus by stealth and kill him. But they said, 'Not during the feast, lest there be a tumult of the people.

As we continue through Holy Week tonight we interview a Pharisee. And the most common complaint made is that Jesus didn't follow the rules. Oh yes, a touch of blasphemy too. But in the main Jesus set a bad example to the community.  Rules, laws, regulations and so on keep us in order and somehow he bent, twisted and reimagined them. 

It is said that the Rabbis and others built up law books to cover every possible crime under broad headings. It has always been a sadness of mine to see our own law books grow. I know why and I value its intention but the fact we need one re bullying in the Church saddens me greatly.

We are not a happy go lucky kind of church.

We are Presbyterian which is not a theology or belief system. It is a style of governance. I often say I'm not a true blue Presbyterian. But I never truly knew what I meant by it.  Now I do. I'm embarrassed sometimes to be Presbyterian. I genuinely love and value my ministry in the Protestant Church of Scotland that 'eventually' welcomed women into ministry. It's the volume of rules and regulations, policies and protocols that I find a heavy burden. Everything must be authorised in some way, like we protect God, protect the interpretation of Scripture and so on.

I never truly realised that about Presbyterianism. That it is a form of governance. And hear is the beauty of it - we wrote it! Therefore, why can't we rewrite it? Why can't we follow in the footsteps of Jesus and recognise truly the flaws in our
thinking?
'Sabbath is made for humankind, not humankind for the Sabbath! A gift from God. For example it is not an instruction that worship is only legitimate if it happens on Sundays around 11am (plus other times in the week but only if Sunday happens first). If it doesn't happen the Presbytery clerk must be informed within 3 weeks.
Jesus sent the disciples out to preach the good news and heal the sick. Our disciples must be authorised and only then used in their own church, preferably with supervision or only as a last resort. Pulpit supply should be sought using the official lists…

And don't get me started on extract minutes, formalised (read boring) presbytery reports and the argumentative style of debate in our court system. Lord, have mercy!
Anyone else dreading the Mission Plan hitting the floor of Presbytery? The last time I was unfortunate enough to do that I was told by a Rev I should never lift my face again in Presbytery and that I'd be hated. The irony is 10 yrs or so later the very plan he so cruelly dismissed out of hand has almost arrived.

What bothers me most is that each level of our governance has its own agenda. And the thought another level see it appropriate to humiliate, or bully a lower court for failure to adhere to self-imposed deadlines strikes me as pharisaic and not Christian. Is it not more important to empower and enable? Yes push for change but at what cost? Jesus speaks of easy yokes. He wasn’t presbyterian! Yet because of those now retired having set in motion a plan under resourced we are more in need of Christ.

And maybe, just maybe we need to ask ourselves whether we need to take a stand? Where is our line in the sand? Absolutely, I believe we are
all doing our best. However, at what cost and where, o where is the compassion?

Some could say for change to truly happen, for freedom to be found, for life to be given, death and suffering is necessary. Could it be this is our time to ‘die’ for resurrection to occur? Or do we need to step back and reevaluate?

Easter blessings

Sarah

Holy Week Tuesday ~ Scented Sacrifice

From Mark 14:3-9

While Jesus was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of a man known as Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head.

Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, 'Why this waste of perfume? It could have been sold for more than a year's wages and the money given to the poor.' And they rebuked her harshly.

'Leave her alone,' said Jesus, ‘Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. I tell you the truth, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her.'

Where Jesus sees love Judas and others see waste. What a waste of resources! What might have been done with a year's wages? I mean any church I know would be grateful for say £15,000-£30,000 gift to help the poor, do mission or cover some project.

Yet Jesus defends her. He recognises the sacrifice she made, the love and the beauty of the moment! He recognises the significance of it.

I wonder as we consider mission planning if we have got stuck in the pit where the smell is dank and unpleasant? This wee tale is insignificant and yet Jesus says it will be told throughout history. What story would be told about my congregation, your congregation? Would we be see as difficult, obstinate, greedy or would we be seen as loving, extravagant and spiritually aware?

 

Throughout the Church of Scotland we are seeing places where congregations have taken painful opportunities, given all they have to offer and poured it out for Jesus. And they must be commended. Indeed their stories should be shared and offered to others to encourage and inspire. Those places where the reality of death has been grasped, the burial taken place and from the grain of wheat buried life has sprung again. Mary has spiritual awareness that Jesus recognised. Are we spiritually aware?

It is said that when you point the finger at others, four point back at you. There is much to our current times that is heartbreaking. But, and this will not be popular, there is much that is self-inflicted. Too many of us are judging others and seeing ourselves as the ones in the right. We do not play nice. We know from other stories about Judas that he stole from the common purse. So are we guilty of looking after our own interests? We cannot see the bigger picture. We want to protect our space, our traditions, our presence, indeed we are terrified of becoming obsolete. And we don’t want to lose our power, our place or our income.

However, Jesus saw not just an act of worship but a preparation for burial-his burial. Talk about seeing the bigger picture!  There is no doubting that change is here to stay. Indeed death looms ominously as we wonder who will flourish. (I do miss the days when we planned for flourishing ministries and healthy congregations but hey ho.)

I wonder would Jesus rush to defend our actions like he did for Mary?
If Jesus sat at our conversations would he defend some and rebuke others?

In Holy Week we are reminded that all are equal in the sight of God. And it won't be long before we we reminded of the Great Commission. I pray we make it that far without imploding. Let's be extravagant in our love for Jesus, just as he was for Mary. When he could have rebuked the waste, he valued the person and the gift. No matter how little we have to offer Jesus knows the value and the spirit with which it is offered. Maybe if we saw him as the recipient we'd find a shift in our perspective. And we’d be less worried about ourselves and more focussed on Christ. After the world will always have a church…just maybe not as we know it. 

Easter peace.

Love Sarah 

Holy Week Monday - Den of Robbers

 Reflections on Holy Week text and Church Life 

(From Matthew 21:12-13)

And Jesus entered the Temple of God and drove out all who bought and sold in the Temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons. He said to them, 'It is written, "My house shall be called a house of prayer"; but you make it a den of robbers.'

I wonder what Jesus would make of our churches today if he were to walk in like he did the Temple?

Of course we would like to think he would be full of praise. Look at what we do to help the local community. We worship every Sunday at 11ish. We get on with our brothers and sisters in Christ.  And we spend as much time on discipleship and prayer as we do planning and doing fundraising and filling in paperwork.  If you found yourself thinking ‘aye right’ then I hear you.  

There is much we do that is wonderful and worthy of praise. But I wonder if we have lost sight of that over these past months. Over this past week I truly felt the grief and  anger I imagine Jesus felt. Listening to dear friends in other churches feeling bereft at the loss of trust or talking about war zones is beyond heartbreaking. I see colleagues hurting as their congregations flounder in the sea of mission planning. Others are reaching breaking point or behaving less than graciously and I even find myself wonder who is telling the truth anymore.
Sadly I found myself using the comment of the Assembly Trustees Convener at last year’s General Assembly saying that we have to look after the Golden Goose congregations.  You know the ones with money.  

Have we become a den of robbers more interested in money and protecting our empire? You might want to say I am being harsh. And perhaps you might be right.

But when two congregations can get a full time post because they have money yet a tiny parish, and another single congregation with a larger parish than the two put together but much less money because it is not a rich community can only get half a post you have to wonder. Let’s be honest money is the primary mover -not mission. And I’ll tell you what is suffering most right now – mission.  And only God knows if we will have enough thriving rather than surviving congregations left.  For sure the damage being done to relationships across churches will take some amount of healing. 

Previously I spearheaded a prayer campaign re mission planning sometime around the 2012 iteration. Throughout the month of May we at Moncreiff are going to have a focus on our prayers for the Church of Scotland especially in the run up to the General Assembly. Perhaps if prayer rather than money was at the heart of our decision making we wouldn't be so messed up. For when we pray we stop putting ourselves in control. Instead the wisdom of the Spirit guides and inspires. And with our eyes on God we see what he sees. Ordinary people gathering for worship, trying to live good lives and join God in his mission field.  And those in ministry wanting to be ministers not bureaucrats or money makers. 

Let’s pray!

Every blessing 

Sarah