Featured Articles
Why Become A Franciscan – Jill Godfrey From Peru With Love – Bishop Lee Rayfield The Mothers Union – Jacquie Owen
March 2013
Andy Writes…
“What is Church?” and “how does it behave, look and feel?” I think are the two biggest questions facing the Christian Community in this country at this time. A question I find more interesting is how did we get from the early Church described in the book of Acts to where we are today? I wonder whether people like St. Peter or St. Paul or the other apostles/disciples would recognise what we have come to know as Church, as Church? After-all the Communion was a corporate feast which has been reduced to a wafer and a sip of wine. This radical life-sharing community has been squeezed to an hour a week on a Sunday morning. This dynamic ‘every member ministry’ has become a passive institution that thinks ‘vicar should do it all’… and instead of a community which ‘gives to each other as any had need’ a polite community in which people hide their struggles and we often can’t even remember each-others names? I am convinced that how Church is in the UK is not how it is meant to be. For me, my most profound glimpse of what Church could/should be like was whilst doing a college placement at the Priory Clinic, a rehab for those with drug and alcohol addictions. What I was struck by is we often talk of Church not being a “showroom for Saints, but a repair shop for sinners” but here we were actually doing some repairing. People talking honestly and openly about their struggle, hard truths were bravely spoken in love, a grace-filled community that was filled with hope, and although real and honest about the problems of living life in recovery it was not defeatist. In one group we had a homeless guy aged 21 with his arm around the shoulder of a successful businessman comforting him as he cried. An authentic, inter-generational community, filled with grace and hope, where broken people are made whole, this struck me as what I believe the New Testament teaches me Church should be, but not like any Church I have ever experienced. I was also reading a lot of Dietrich Bonhoeffer at the time, who was part of the confessing Church in Nazi Germany (they refused to say ‘Hiel Hitler’ because Jesus alone is Lord). This Church was illegal, and Bonhoeffer re-discovered the value of Church when being part of a Church would cost him his life. He wrote in his amazing book ‘life together’ about the way as Christians we share what he called ‘the fellowship of the righteous’ where we come and we share polite pleasantries with each other, yet when he went to a Church which
attending could (and did) cost him his life, he talks about ‘the fellowship of sinners’ being real about his need for support, his struggles with his faith, his doubts and pain. He discovered in this community what the writer of Proverbs meant when he said “iron sharpens iron as one person sharpens another”. I believe that the challenge for us in the UK in the 21st Century is to discover afresh what it means to be a Community that is following Jesus Christ as his Church and to actually live this out together in our every-day lives.
Andy Mason – Team Vicar
“The church isn't a museum that displays perfect people. It's a hospital, a community of grace where we find God's love, acceptance & grace” Rev. Nicky Gumbel
Love
“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”
From the first letter to the Corinthians, Chapter 13 St Paul
At The End Of Our Lives
At the end of our lives, we will not be judged by how many diplomas we have received, how much money we have made or how many great things we have done. We will be judged by ‘I was hungry and you gave me to eat. I was naked and you clothed me. I was homeless and you took me in. Mother Teresa of Calcutta
Money
If our expenditure on comforts, luxuries, amusements, etc., is up to the standard common among those with the same income as our own, we are probably giving away too little. If our charities do not at all pinch or hamper us, I should say they are too small. There ought to be things we should like to do and cannot because our charitable expenditure excludes them. C.S.Lewis “As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother.” “Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.” Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth. Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!” Mark 10:17-23
"I was told at our AGM if we didn't sort out our giving the Church might close; I replied if we didn't sort out our outreach people would go to hell" Rev. Mark Redhouse
The Mothers Union origins go way back to 1876 when Mary Sumner, observing her daughter struggling to bring up her first born child thought how many other mums also find parenthood tough. Mary was married to George Sumner, the youngest son of Charles Richard Sumner, the Bishop of Winchester. Georges father, like Mary`s, was an historian being the Historiographer to King George IV. His uncle was later the Archbishop of Canterbury and his father`s cousin was William Wilberforce. Mary and George fell in love and married in 1848 when he was 24yrs, just 18 months after his ordination. George was to become a bishop himself later on. They had three children. Mary concerned to strengthen and support Christian family life, called a meeting at the rectory, to which she invited not only those of her own social class but all the village mothers where they lived, something unusual in itself for that era. On this occasion she became very nervous and her husband had to stand in for her, inviting the ladies back the following week. This was the inaugural meeting of the Mothers` Union. There are 5 `obects` which MU members aspire to but on asking `What does MU do?` enquirers may find that the answers vary anything from sharing cream teas to campaigning for things that concern parents and everything in between! This reflects the diverse branches and membership and the needs and resources available. We are a Christian membership based charity organisation with some 4 million members in 83 countries around the world. Although declining in the UK, membership is rapidly growing in countries such as Kenya and India. Our own branch of MU here at HTK/ASC is celebrating its centenary in 2013! We are currently exploring new ways to be Mother` Union in
a changing world perhaps by going for a coffee, doing crafts, hosting pamper evenings alongside chatting about things which concern parents and hearing about MU supported projects and campaigns. For those who may be interested, MU subscription will be ÂŁ18 for 2013 which goes to help the running costs of Mary Sumner House our head office in London. All fundraising is done separately and we therefore welcome donations of cash as well as items required to send to the projects through the year. A full list can be found later in the magazine, along with upcoming MU dates. Jacquie Owen - Branch Leader
Tuesday House Group
The Tuesday house group has just finished J Johns Just Ten course and I think I can speak for the group when I say we all really enjoyed it, it was a genuinely fun and inspiring course. We are following it on with The Acts Course. This course is written and will be led by me and it is the first course I have ever written (I’m somewhere between nervous and excited) and it will be going over the basics of Christianity by going through the book of Acts. The quick witted among you may have noticed that I called it the Tuesday House Group not the down under house group. This is because we have moved, the Masons have very graciously opened their home to us and we now meet at 60 Lavers close every other Tuesday, do come and join us. Sam
B1- A Church Without A Building
Last month a number of us (Joan, Sam, Rachel, Rob, Paul and Jo Vickery, the Vicar of Christ Church Downend) went to Birmingham to meet with Rev. Jonathan Dowman and his team, who run B1 in Birmingham. This is a Missional Community, who are exploring New Monasticism, they meet (by choice) in a café in the city centre on a Tuesday Night and a Sunday evening, they also have regular meals together (there is a meal every Friday at someone’s home for anyone who wants to come along). It made me realise how often we fall into the trap of thinking that the Church is the building, and our focus becomes on keeping the lights on rather than God’s focus which is seeing lives changed and transformed. A community not defined by their building, or even actually by the services they put on, but actually by their life-styles, by their relationships, by asking the question, what does it mean to follow Jesus radically and authentically in the 21st century. Interestingly, in seeking to be a Church that ‘seeks first the Kingdom of God’ they have found God to be faithful and have managed to pay their quota to the diocese every year! It is a Church that takes discipleship seriously, rather than having a sermon each week, everyone is text the lectionary readings in the week and they come together on a Sunday to discuss what God has been saying over the past week. I loved the idea that it is the people themselves to take responsibility for their own discipleship. I think all of us found the day really inspiring and gave us plenty of food for thought, a theme we have explored further at both the ‘Standing on the Shoul-
ders of Giants’ Lent Course, at Praise and Proclaim, with the PCC with Mal Caladine… yet the conversation about where God is leading us is actually only just beginning, and how to explore further next term with special evenings to meet up worship/pray and chat about ‘what it means to BE Church rather than simply GO to Church’. Andy
Repent and Believe
It was great having Church planting expert Mal Caladine and Greg Sharples, an ordinand from Pip and Jay, come and share with our PCC about discipleship and mission. This diagram was really helpful in helping us think a bit more about discipleship, as we seek to become more like Christ, and see others become disciples of Christ. This diagram, in other more monastic traditions might be called a ‘rule of life’ as we hold one another accountable to living a life in light before Christ with one another. Andy
If Jesus came to your house today
If Jesus came to your house to spend a day or two, If he came unexpectedly I wonder what you’d do? I know you’d give him the nicest room to such an honoured guest, And all the food you’d serve to him would be the very best! You’d keep on reassuring him, you were glad to have him there, That serving him in your home is joy beyond compare, But when you saw him coming, would your welcome be sincere? Or deep down would you worry that this man had come to near? Would you have a change of clothes before you let him in? Or hide some magazines and put a bible where they’d been? Would you turn of the dvd and hope that he hadn’t seen, The picture that was showing on your TV screen? Would you hide your world of music, tuck your CD’s out of sight? Would you rush around to tidy other things that weren’t right? I wonder if the Saviour spent a day or two with you, Would you keep on doing those things you often do? Would you keep on saying those things you often say? Would your life continue the same as every day? Would your conversation lul? Or would it keep its normal pace? Would you find it hard each meal to say a table grace? Would you sing the songs you always sing and read the books you read? Would you let him know the things on which your mind and spirit feed? Would you take Jesus with you, every-where you normally go? Or would you change your plans for just a day or so? Would you be glad to have him meet your very closest friends? Or would you hope they’d stay away until his visit ends? Would you be glad to have him stay forever, staying on and on? Or would you sigh with great relief when he’s has finally gone? It might be interesting to know the things that you would do, If Jesus came in person and spent some time with you? J.John (read on the Just10 Course we watched in the Down Under Home Group).
Ascension Centenary- Memories of Ascension
As a 40 year old who can barely remember what he did last week, my memories of being at Church of the Ascension as a child are both clear and fond. My first memory of Church of the Ascension is of the hall as a young cub. I remember the stacks of chairs which greeted you as you entered and the rows of neatly hung choir robes in the back room and even the odd visit from a furry friend from under the stage. As a scout I remember sleeping in the field under a plastic sheet wondering if we would survive the night and daring each other to run through the vicarage garden or go down the steps into the boiler room under the church. Most of my time was certainly spent in the hall, but my memories of Church of the Ascension are also of the church parades which punctuated the start of each month. At the time they somehow seemed special, although I'm not sure I could have said why at the time. Only now as an adult can I look back and understand that a seed was planted in my life at that time which has gradually grown into a faith and the assurance of salvation through the saving grace of our Lord Jesus Christ on the cross that I now have. A part of whatever I do for Christ today will I know be credited to the people of Church of the Ascension. I will always remember my time there and will continue to tend and allow God to prune the branches of the tree that has grown from the seed that was planted so long ago by God's people at Church of the Ascension and for that I will be eternally grateful. In Christ. Dave Summerhill Street Pastor Team leader, Assistant Leader and Trustee of New Life Church Bristol.
The next gatherings for the Mothers Union Kingswood branch are as follows:
Wednesday 10th April at 7.30pm at 13, Mount Gardens - with Revd. Chris Evans (talk tba) Thursday 18th April at 2pm in Down-under cafe - (speaker tbc) Thursday 9th May at 2.pm in Down-under cafe - With Captain Rebecca Eden Thur 20 Jun 2pm at Down Under Cafe - with Revd. Philip Bradley (Curate at St. Annes, Oldland Common). Wed 26 Jun 7.30pm at Holy Trinity Church - Mothers` Union Deanery Festival - Pr. Revd. Simon Jones, Area Dean. Followed with refreshments and a Cake Stall for MUs `Wheels Appeal` (Editor’s note, there are more events but we’ve run out of room!) As usual, we always welcome visitors and enquiries - Contact Jacquie Owen tel. 9600.273.
Items required for Mothers` Union supported projects: In new/excellent condition: Babywear and knitted baby jackets etc. knitted cot blankets Toys wide-necked knitted jumpers (all sizes,ages,gender,colours) men’s gloves, hats and scarves men’s wellington boots and waterproof outerwear rice and tinned foods baby toiletries good quality science fiction/detective books (ie not trashy) crossword puzzle books Jigsaw puzzles Garden implements Icecream boxes (empty 1 ltr) (cash donations very welcome)
The Irresistible Revolution: Living as an Ordinary Radical
A great book by a unique disciple, Shane Claiborne takes a refreshing approach to what it means to be church. I think the best way to describe it would be with an excerpt from the book, from the first chapter titled “When Christianity Was Still Safe” (for the record I took the quote from Soren Kiekergard From this book as well) “I know there are people out there who say, “my life was such a mess, I was drinking, partying sleeping around……and then I met Jesus and my whole life came together.” God bless those people. But me, I had it together. I used to be cool. And then I met Jesus and he wrecked my life. The more I read the gospel, the more it messed me up, turning everything I believed in, valued, and hoped for upside down.” This book shows us a Christianity unlike any I have come across before, its powerful, challenging and at times down right terrifying. This book asks us a question “Is it supposed to be like this” and answers that question with a remarkably enjoyable no that is very difficult to argue with. Sam
"The matter is quite simple. The bible is very easy to understand. But we Christians are a bunch of scheming swindlers. We pretend to be unable to understand it because we know very well that the minute we understand we are obliged to act accordingly. Take any words in the New Testament and forget everything except pledging yourself to act accordingly. My God, you will say, if I do that my whole life will be ruined, how will I ever get on in this world? Herein lies the true place of Christian scholarship. Christian scholarship is the church’s prodigious invention to protect itself against the bible, to ensure we can still be good Christians without the bible ever coming too close. Oh priceless scholarship, what would we do without you? Dreadful it is to fall into the hands of the living God. Yes it is even dreadful to be alone with the New Testament” Soren Kiekergard Read from Shane Claibourne’s “The Irresistible Revolution”
The year of the Onesy!
some good news we have in Christ. Andy.
We had a great sleep-over event organised by the legend that is Jane Huzzey, and it was great to welcome some young people from Ascension, Holy Trinity and our friends at Christ Church Hanham, as well as with a number of young people who aren’t part of a Church family. To start off with there were various little groups, but one of the real joys was seeing them come together by the end… We raised money for World Vision through fasting, and also, the experience of going without food did give us an insight (or rather a glimpse) at what it must like for the thousands of people, both in this country and abroad who go to bed hungry, Also it was great to share with these young people something of the awe-
“While women weep, as they do now, I'll fight While little children go hungry, as they do now, I'll fight While men go to prison, in and out, in and out, as they do now, I'll fight While there is a drunkard left, While there is a poor lost girl upon the streets, While there remains one dark soul without the light of God, I'll fight I'll fight to the very end!” William Booth
WHY BECOME A FRANCISCAN? St. Francis became a committed Christian eight hundred years ago, but he faced many of the same challenges we do today. He was born into a wealthy family, his father being a cloth merchant. Francis was a normal lad growing up in a society of which he played a big part. He loved singing and partying and romancing with his fashionable young friends. However, his Roman Catholic background soon became influenced by a nearby Celtic Christian community. One day he was captured in a local battle and sent to prison. This was the turning point in his life. During his time of incarceration he had time to think and he looked at his life so far and realised it was worth nothing. He decided then to serve Christ instead of fighting for local noblemen and trying to impress the ladies. After his time in prison Francis began to look at others in a different way. He even hugged a leper, which in those days was unheard of. He had a vision from God telling him to “Go and build up my Church, which as you see is falling down.” Standing in the ruins of the chapel at San Damiano, Francis took this vision literally and began to restore the church. The calling to rebuild His church really meant God wanted him to rebuild his people and soon he gathered others around him and went out to preach. Time went on and this new band of Christ’s followers showed others a new way to live by faith, having nothing of their own but trusting in God to provide for their needs. Soon a young noble woman called Clare followed in Francis’ footsteps serving the poor and needy. Others followed her and they became the “Poor Clares”. The Second Order. The mission of St. Francis and St. Clare grew rapidly and soon the first Rule of the order was formed. These were based on random openings of the Bible, and Francis did nothing without first having the approval of the Pope. The first rule being; “Go sell what you have, take nothing for your journey, let him deny himself, take up his cross.” Numbers grew, giving up all comforts and going out to preach joy and penitence. So many people wanted to join the order, but because they had families and responsibilities they couldn’t leave, Francis set up a Third order which meant
they became “Third Order Franciscans”. They lived by the same principles as the First and second orders but were free to take care of their families. So why have I decided to become a Third Order Franciscan? To set the record straight, first let me make it clear that Franciscans don’t worship Francis or Clare, but the Christ who is the Saviour of all. For a long time now I have been searching for a deeper relationship with God which somehow couldn’t be satisfied. I read a book some time ago called “The Furious longing of God”. It talks of the longing God has for each one of us and how he loves us so much, he will call and call until we answer. This led to a pilgrimage to Assisi about four years ago. We had a great holiday and visited lots of the places where St. Francis lived and worked. At that time it was just enjoyed as a holiday, nothing else. A year later I found myself writing to the Area Minister asking, could I come to a Third Order meeting. Well that was the beginning of my Franciscan journey. I became a postulant, then a novice for three years and as you know was professed a few weeks ago. I now feel freer than ever before in my life. I follow the principles set out for each day and a Rule of life which I have made my own. St. Francis way of life has become an encouragement by which I now try to live for Christ, serving Him in joy and humility. Who are we that God should love us so much, should die for us, should forgive all our sins and promise he will never leave us? Gill Godfrey – Ascension Church Warden, Third Order Franciscan
All Souls’ Southey Park
needed the most.
Charles Hutchins and Kelvin Bolton tried to plant a Church on the New Cheltenham/Southey Park side of the parish (presumably before some of the Kingsmeadow was built), it is amazing how the same idea keeps surfacing (I think God is keeping it on the agenda). Since I have been here we have been exploring ways of working in this community where as a Church we have the least input, but as this is the most deprived ward in the parish, one could argue it is where we are
I have become involved in the work of the Kingsmeadow Flat, and now sit on their management committee, and do regular events there, as well as the kids making cakes for lunchbox. I am also on the management committees of the Southey Park Bus project and also the New Cheltenham Community Centre. Interestingly this used to be a gospel hall, in fact it is (I believe) where both Vera Hodges and Colleen Mercer came to faith, a rich heritage. We had a fantastic Christmas service there, and were hoping to start meeting there at 4:00 on the 1st and 3rd Sundays of the month, starting in February, but sadly as you have already read we have had some problems with the lease, and haven’t yet been able to get into the building, though we have been prayer walking around the area. Although initially I was gutted about the delay to getting All Souls’ Southey Park off the ground, I think taking more time to pray and seek God further has actually been a real blessing and benefit. Hopefully we can be in by Easter Day. Andy.
Punk Monk: New Monasticism and the ancient art of breathing
Punk Monk is an awesome, in many ways a sort of sequel to “Red Moon Rising”, here the author Andy Freeman (with Pete Grieg), talks about launching a ‘boiler room’ house of prayer in a disused pub in Reading. Yet the really exciting part of the book is that inspiring passion for Christ and for meeting him in prayer and the discovery of new ways of enriching ones prayer life standing on the shoulders of the giants who have faithfully gone before us. This book not only gets you thinking about prayer, it actually gets you praying with liturgy and reflections from scripture interwoven with the text. It is an easy read, but does actually get you thinking theologically too. The ‘Ancient Art of Breathing’ refers to ‘breathing in’ of prayer and developing our own personal relationship with God and walk with him and the ‘breathing out’ is living out our missional calling in God’s world. A very inspiring and practical book, don’t let the title put you off, a great book even if you don’t feel like either a ‘punk’ or a ‘monk’. Andy
“Victimized by nostalgia and buffeted by fear, 'Church is focused too much on holding the small plot of ground that it currently occupies to confidently re-imagine a robust future”' Michael Frost
Namaste I recently read about a word they have in Calcutta, Namaste. It roughly translates to “I honor the Holy One who lives in you” Meaning “I see Jesus in you”. What an honor, what an amazing thing to be called. You can’t help but think of Galatians 2 verse 20 “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me”. It made me wonder, when people who aren’t Christians look at us, what do they see? Do they see a religion? Do they see pride? Arrogance? Prejudice? Or do they see the living Jesus in our eyes? 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price.” When the curtain in the temple tore as Jesus died, the presence of God moved out of the temple and into his disciples. Therefore you now represent God on this Earth. And I would add to that, that people who aren’t Christians do not judge Jesus on the bible, or on his own actions, because they haven’t read them, why would they? People judge Jesus on the behaviour of the Christians they meet, so to be less general, people are deciding what they think about Jesus based on the way you behave. That’s a big responsibility, and it begs the question, are we living up to it? Are we practising what we preach, are we taking this seriously? I’m afraid of the answer. Sam
Welcoming Sheldon
It was great to welcome at Church of the Ascension Sheldon Carlisle who is one of the Elders at Bridge Church, which has one of its congregations based in the Brunel Academy (which was formerly Speedwell School). It was great to welcome his wife Rachel and also his two children, Evie and Bella (and the one on the way). They really enjoyed their time with us, and great to remember that actually as Christians we are part of the wider family of God, across the various congregations, and even across the world, time and history too. Sheldon preached an awesome message about ‘resurrection’ and ‘resurrection hope’, a God who brings the dead to life, a hope that we all can have because of Christ’s own resurrection means that for us death who put our trust in Christ, death is not the end, but we have a glorious, and a sure and certain hope of new life with Christ for eternity. A message of hope too, for us as Church, that even when we feel discouraged and deflated, God is a God who turns the most impossible situations around, resurrection reminds us that even the most seemingly final and immoveable obstacles are not a problem to our awesome God! Andy
“Church is not an organization we join; it is a family where we belong” Rev. Nicky Gumbel
Praise and Proclaim
Sheet, or alternatively email
January’s praise and proclaim hosted by the Church of the Ascension was quite possibly the best one yet. A truly spectacular sermon from Glyn Blaze and expertly led worship from John Pike and his band from BCC. It’s only going to get better. If you haven’t been yet come to the next one. They are held on every fourth Sunday at Seven Fifteen pm. Hosted by Churches all over Kingswood and featuring a wide range of speakers and worship leaders. For details on the venue see Kingswood team ministry’s Link
e-prayernetwork@live.co.uk, the E-Prayer Network has thoroughly endorsed these events and I’m sure someone on the team would be happy to guide you to the next one.
All Souls Southey Park Has Launched! Sortoff……… There have been some complications in leasing the venue for Kingswood Team Ministry’s new church plant All Souls Southey Park; however we have now had our first meeting, a communion service led by Andy Mason In the Car Park. The door may have been locked but it wasn’t enough to stop God from showing up. A full article on All Souls is featured later in the magazine.
“Most God encounters lie on the other side of our willingness to be inconvenienced & interrupted” Christine Cain
From Peru with Love
Bishop Bill Godfrey (Left) is the Anglican Bishop of Peru. A few months ago I was fascinated to hear him speak about how the church has been growing in his adopted country. The Anglican Church in Peru dates back to 1846 but was virtually non-existent when he was sent to Peru from Uruguay in 1998. There were four Priests and one Deacon, no parishes, no churches and no liturgy (including for Holy Communion). Those who were members of the Anglican Church were almost entirely Latin American Spanish speakers rather than from the indigenous peoples. Now there are 36 Priests, all but four Peruvian, with some 55 places of Sunday worship, two seminaries and an internet based training program which is being used in Bolivia, Uruguay and the US. According to Bishop Bill, the key to their growth has been raising local people as ministers and ensuring that the Christian faith is modeled authentically in a way which impacts local communities. “The church must reveal Jesus by what we do�, he says. To make this absolutely crystal clear, parishes are liable to lose their status as parishes if they are not seen to be doing what a Christian community should be doing. The hallmarks are making disciples and engaging in social justice and Bishop Bill is robust on what makes and marks out a disciple: prayer, being sent in mission, being engaged in healing and forgiving others, taking bread to the hungry, being associated with signs and wonders, and being crucified. He is also very clear about what he expects from the clergy. In the seminaries, clergy are told that their role is not to teach what they think is right but what the church believes is true. Everything revolves around the person of Jesus – disciples are those who have been with those who have been with Jesus. The Church is fully Trinitarian but with a Christ-centered spirituality. The pre-eminent question is how can people be moved closer to Jesus? Will the villages, towns and cities be touched by the fragrance of Christ or not?
As I listened I was aware of the gulf between the church Bishop Bill spoke about and so much of the Church of England. What struck me most was the great clarity and simplicity of what he said. Of course there are huge differences between our contexts and cultures but I wondered whether in our sophistication and complexity we have lost contact with the key values and purpose that motivates the Church of Peru. I was left asking how many parishes in the UK would pass Bishop Bill’s test of remaining a parish. His strategy for growing the church was simple and clear but it was neither simplistic nor superficial. It sounded like Peru has a good deal to teach us. Bishop Lee Rayfield – Bishop of Swindon
Ascension Centenary-My Time at Ascension
It was a great honour (and joy) to be appointed Priest-in-charge of Ascension. The original appointment in Spring 1997 was followed by a further 4 years, ending in 2008. I left within days of my 66th birthday. Within days of my arrival, Church Warden John Moeketsi presented himself, demanding “What is your vision for our Church over the next few years?” Good question!!! I played for time. “Give me a couple of weeks,” I replied, “and I’ll let you know”. My vision was to offer a child-friendly Service on Sunday mornings, as an alternative to the current pattern of Morning Prayer or Holy Communion. But I was also clear that in fairness to our worshippers, who had been faithful to us for many years, their Services should continue. We deliberately delayed the start for three months, and I wrote to each member of the congregation outlining the vision, and the choice each would face, if they came in the morning. Eventually it happened. Two members of the congregation left in disgust (!), but others arrived. Two teenagers turned up to lead the music, playing keyboard and flute. A couple returned from holiday and presented me with a glove puppet. “We thought he would be useful for you All-Age Service”. He became the rather-badly-behaved Korky the Crow. After a year John Godfrey, our Treasurer announced the results. “Whether this is your cup of tea or not - it works. The figures show that more adults are now attending our Church on an average Sunday.” Things developed. We found the children missed their Sunday school teachers, and small group learning, so this had to be reintroduced. Later, with some children (and adults) confirmed, we had to introduce a family-style monthly Communion Service. But that wasn’t the half of it. We discovered that doing Church this way was enormous fun! Michael and Nicky brought their Hearing Dog to the new Service. The children loved him and he would wriggle in delight on his back on the carpet. Archdeacon Alan came one Sunday, and I was able to report with some truth “Well, Archdeacon, you had them rolling in the aisles!” One notable pattern was that grandparents brought their grandchildren, and often, they in turn would bring their parents! Happy days... Alistair Heagerty – Former Team Vicar, Kingswood Team Ministry
A Coffee That Changes Things
‘The woman said to Jesus “Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water”.’ John 4:15 There can be real power in sharing a drink together: someone lonely feels loved; a friend feels listened to; someone can be introduced to Jesus for the first time… We generally don’t find it hard to share a drink with someone we know and enjoy spending time with, but how often do we invite someone new for a drink? How often do we go for a coffee that changes things? For the woman at the well, it all began with Jesus asking her for a drink of water, when no one else would interact with her. Jesus used a drink as an opportunity to turn her whole life around. Two thousand years later and coffee could be seen as today’s ‘water’. The office, coffee shop, kitchen or church can all become the new ‘well’ for us and whoever God invites to meet us there. Why not make a commitment now to say hi to the person God has put next to you at work, where you live, or in church on Sunday, and initiate a coffee (Fairtrade, of course)? The conversation hasn’t got to be heavy, but if we show genuine interest and care for someone, God only knows how it will end. As the director of a Fairtrade coffee provider, I love knowing that each of your coffee-dates could not only change things in a new friend’s life, but can also change things for a hard-working Fairtrade coffee farmer overseas. If each reader of today’s 40acts challenge does this even just once a week, during Lent alone we could have 70,000 powerful encounters between us! The woman at the well went away and told her whole village the news and caused transformation in that place – and all over a drink with Jesus… Andrew Salsbury - The Indigo Valley Coffee Company
News From The Street Pastors
We are continuing to go out fortnightly, and it has been great to welcome another two people to our Prayer Pastors team, who pray whilst we go out on the Streets, it is such an encouragement to have people praying for us whilst we’re out there. There have been so many extraordinary stories of God at work on the Street (interestingly we have bought the lie that young people aren’t interested in Jesus, they are! They just aren’t exploring their spirituality in the context of our Church Communities). Here are two: Paul in the prayer room said (although it sounded a bit weird) he had a picture of man wearing a green top who we would have a significant conversation with that evening. Later on I was sitting on the pavement talking to a guy, who had been at his sons baptism service (his son was clearly a teenager and this was full emersion baptism) and asking about God’s forgiveness, and could God forgive someone who had done lots of bad things (yes!), I then realised that his t shirt was green! Also this Friday, we had just swapped teams so a couple could defrost in the prayer room, and on the new team was one of our street pastors Karla (who is from the Czech Republic) when we met two guys, both Czech, who were interested in Jesus and were able to talk to Karla in their own language. God is good. It is exciting to see that Bristol will be launching Street Pastors in the city centre, on Saturday 6th April, and we as Kingswood Street Pastors will be going down to support them. Kingswood Street Pastors
“We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean. But the ocean would be less because of that missing drop” Mother Teresa
Across 4. (and 5 down) 6. 7. 8. 9. 11. 13. 15. 16. 17.
“ I ***** at the **** and knock” (Revelation 3.20) (5) God’s name (Exodus 3.14) (1,2) Abraham was (3) Martha’s Sister (4) The Apostle that Replaced Judas Escariot (Acts 1.26) (8) He who has eyes let him…. (3) Where Lazarus was from (John 11.1) (7) The Great Commission, “Make *********” (Mathew 28.19) (9) Father of King David (1 Samuel 16.19) (5) Its walls fell with trumpets and shouting (Joshua 6. 2-6) (7)
Down 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 10. 12. 14.
Succeeded Solomon as King of Israel (1 Kings 11.43) (8) Last Book in the Old Testament (7) Thomas’ other name (John11.16) (7) Father Son and Holy ****** (6) See 4 across (4) Jesus often referred to himself as the *** of Man (3) The book of Exodus records the Israelites ***** in the desert (5) “Faith, Hope and Love” The Greatest of these. (1Corinthians 13.13) (4)
Hanham Alpha
Next term we are running Alpha with our friends from Hanham, we are starting on the 10th April (7:30) with a talk about “Is there more to life than this?” in the Colin Bailey Room at Christ Church Hall. We have a guest speaker, Dave Jeal, who is a former football hooligan who is now a Pastor of one of the Woodland’s family of Churches. Alpha is a great course for people with little or no knowledge of the Christian faith, it is also a great course as a refresher, going over the foundations of our faith (which we all need to do for time to time) it is also a great way to meet new people, and (one of) my prayers is that this will mean we end up with real friendships and positive relationships across the Hanham & Kingswood (and Soundwell) partnership. We are starting each session with a simple meal, followed by a talk either live or on a DVD, followed by splitting into small groups for a chance to chat and reflect together. Do come along… And if you can’t make it, do hold us in your prayers. Andy
What’s been happening?
There’s more happening than we can fit on the page!
Procession of Light and Colour
Candlemas is where Christians remember Jesus being presented as in the Temple, where he met Simeon (and old priest) and Anna (and elderly widow) who spoke prophetically over Jesus, proclaiming that Jesus would be a light to the Gentiles. Traditionally Christians have celebrated Candlemas by making lanterns and taking them out into the dark night, remembering Jesus description of himself as “the light of the world”. This Candlemas, Rev. Nick Adams (curate from St. Stephen’s) co-ordinated a community lantern making event and procession from the Kingsmeadow Flat to Page Park (in Staple Hill), pulling together various community groups such as St. Stephen’s School, the Kingsmeadow Flat, Scouts/Guides/Brownies/Cubs, we joined in with some great lanterns made at the last Elevenses, there were around 700 people processing in the event and some very spectacular lanterns too! Special thanks to Sam, Leighton and Mandy who helped steward the event. Andy.
The E-Prayer Network
The EPN has continued to pray, we are now just a little short of forty members, praying together every day through email. To join us just send an email to the address under the logo (e-prayernetwork@ live.co.uk) containing something along the lines of yes please and we’ll take it from there.
Some Things To Pray For Sunday
We pray for all our services within the parish, our traditional Sunday morning worship as well as services such as Elevenses, Praise and Proclaim and the work trying to set up an expression of church in the old Southey Mission Hall (now called the New Cheltenham Community Centre). Pray that through these things people who don’t yet know Jesus, will come to know him, those who have drifted away will return and all of us who know Christ may go deeper and become more like him.
Monday
We pray for all the home groups and discipleship that happens within the parish that we may reflect Christ in all we do –in every area of our lives-, being transformed into his likeness, and seeking to reach out to a hurting and broken world with the love and good news of Jesus Christ.
Tuesday
We pray today for the next generation, we pray for Café Tots, for Elevenses, youth group… pray that we may see this next generation reached for Christ, and encouraged and equipped to follow him and become like him.
Wednesday
We think of the Alpha course running with us and Hanham, pray that many people may encounter and be changed by Christ.
Thursday
“By this all people will know that you are my disciples, that you love one another”, pray that in all our dealings with one another we maybe loving and gracious.
Friday
We pray for the Street Pastors, that God will keep them safe, pray too for real opportunities to serve and bless our community, and opportunities to talk to people about Jesus.
Saturday
We pray for the other Churches in this area too, that we maybe united in Christ, standing on scripture, kneeling before the cross of Christ, and led by his Spirit, that we can see God’s Kingdom come more fully in this local area.
Celebrate Team
Audrey Higby – 2nd Editor Gill Godfrey – Contributor Rev. Andy “The Mace” Mason – Contributor, Creative Control Jackie Owen – Contributor Sam Sheppard – Contributor, Editor Articles also provided by……. The Right Reverend Dr Lee Rayfield (Bishop of Swindon) Dave Summerhill
Kingswood Team Ministry High Street Kingswood South Gloucestershire BS15 4AD