This week I began a tour of parishes in dioceses of the western side of England in Gloucester and Hereford, and next week I will be in Liverpool diocese. My hosts have lined up a variety of visits with clergy and lay leaders in Local Ministry Team settings, and I am able to visit the magnificent cathedrals that are located in the dioceses as well.
This weekend I will be "off" for three days on my own in the ancient Roman city of Chester.
It is interesting to hear the stories of people who have given a considerable amount of time in service to God through their local parishes. In one case there is a benefice with seven parishes, and in another there are three. Most have only one or two clergy available, so their ministry teams are very much a part of the local ministries going on.
Most of the team members didn't think of themselves originally as "ministers." None of them volunteered. In fact, they cannot. They need to be called by others, and if they accept their calls they are asked to take some very valuable training courses offered locally. All of them are glad they said yes.
There are some valuable stories to tell, but at the end of a day like this, I need to rest. It is much easier to rest, however, when I know there are some very competent and dedicated servants here in the UK. It is also much easier when I know there are similar dedicated folks serving back home at Hope while I am on this journey.
Monday, April 29, 2013
Saturday, April 27, 2013
LOCAL MINISTRY NETWORK CONFERENCE
On Friday I arrived at the Coventry Hills Hotel where we are having a Local Ministry Network Conference. The Network consists of lay and clergy members who are serving either as diocesan ministry officers or as members of local ministry teams or both. About 40 people have come from dioceses and the national office from all around England. I am a visitor here.
It was interesting for me when I arrived to see people I had already met during the first week of the journey, and it was also interesting to meet several of the people with whom I will be spending time during the next two weeks as I complete my journey through England.
There have been worship services, large group presentations, and small discussion groups that focus on specific issues relating to local or shared ministry. Some of the people here come from settings with a dozen parishes with only a few ministry team members, and others come from settings with fewer churches but more team members. Each type of setting has different demands and challenges.
I am learning that one of the important roles of the Local Ministry Team is to serve as a "Development" Team. In other words, while the individual team members actually "do" ministry in their settings, they also have the role of identifying, inviting, training, and supporting others in their churches thereby extending or expanding the number of people who are actively doing ministry. Put simply, the goal is to have all baptized members of the church to understand themselves as called, gifted, and sent out in the name of Jesus to be the active presence of Jesus in their everyday world (as well as within the church itself).
Such a goal (100% participation) is obviously not something we can expect to achieve in the real world in which we live and love. But it does open up the real possibility that some who might otherwise not see themselves as full participants in the ministry of the church might start to use their gifts to show the love God has for all people.
How to create such an environment is a matter for future discussion, but it is clear that the goal should be to include all people in the vision of a church that is truly alive.
It was interesting for me when I arrived to see people I had already met during the first week of the journey, and it was also interesting to meet several of the people with whom I will be spending time during the next two weeks as I complete my journey through England.
There have been worship services, large group presentations, and small discussion groups that focus on specific issues relating to local or shared ministry. Some of the people here come from settings with a dozen parishes with only a few ministry team members, and others come from settings with fewer churches but more team members. Each type of setting has different demands and challenges.
I am learning that one of the important roles of the Local Ministry Team is to serve as a "Development" Team. In other words, while the individual team members actually "do" ministry in their settings, they also have the role of identifying, inviting, training, and supporting others in their churches thereby extending or expanding the number of people who are actively doing ministry. Put simply, the goal is to have all baptized members of the church to understand themselves as called, gifted, and sent out in the name of Jesus to be the active presence of Jesus in their everyday world (as well as within the church itself).
Such a goal (100% participation) is obviously not something we can expect to achieve in the real world in which we live and love. But it does open up the real possibility that some who might otherwise not see themselves as full participants in the ministry of the church might start to use their gifts to show the love God has for all people.
How to create such an environment is a matter for future discussion, but it is clear that the goal should be to include all people in the vision of a church that is truly alive.
Thursday, April 25, 2013
HOW LOCAL MINISTRY WORKS
Some of the earliest ventures into developing Local or Shared Ministry took place three decades ago in the Diocese of Lincoln. Once one of the largest dioceses in England, Lincoln has a significant rural character with many very small parishes.
I visited today with Judith, the Lay Coordinator for Local Ministry in the area of the diocese called South Wold. In this deanery there are 24 churches with just one rector, one rural missioner, one non-stipendiary deacon, and four retired clergy who have permission to preside at services. Such a small group of "professsionals" would be hard-pressed to provide pastoral care and worship leadership here if it all depended on them. That is why there are many more trained, authorized lay ministers who offer their gifts in service to God voluntarily in these churches.
They had at least one year-long course in "foundations" for ministry, and they took at least one module of training in either worship leadership or pastoral visiting offered in their area by the diocese. Most took two or more modules. They were "licensed" for their ministries, and they are reviewed at least annually.
Not every church has a service every Sunday. In fact some have not had a service led by a priest for more than a year. But they are all cared for, and they have an opportunity to grow spiritually because the church has not abandoned them.
Tomorrow we head out to Coventry to attend a three-day conference of leaders in the Local Ministry Network. They will discuss their problems and share their joys, and most importantly, they will pray for one another. Please remember them in your prayers as they seek God's guidance to discover new ways to make Local Ministry work.
I visited today with Judith, the Lay Coordinator for Local Ministry in the area of the diocese called South Wold. In this deanery there are 24 churches with just one rector, one rural missioner, one non-stipendiary deacon, and four retired clergy who have permission to preside at services. Such a small group of "professsionals" would be hard-pressed to provide pastoral care and worship leadership here if it all depended on them. That is why there are many more trained, authorized lay ministers who offer their gifts in service to God voluntarily in these churches.
They had at least one year-long course in "foundations" for ministry, and they took at least one module of training in either worship leadership or pastoral visiting offered in their area by the diocese. Most took two or more modules. They were "licensed" for their ministries, and they are reviewed at least annually.
Not every church has a service every Sunday. In fact some have not had a service led by a priest for more than a year. But they are all cared for, and they have an opportunity to grow spiritually because the church has not abandoned them.
Tomorrow we head out to Coventry to attend a three-day conference of leaders in the Local Ministry Network. They will discuss their problems and share their joys, and most importantly, they will pray for one another. Please remember them in your prayers as they seek God's guidance to discover new ways to make Local Ministry work.
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
A MEETING TO REMEMBER
Last night I had a wonderful opprtunity to experience what church life is like in a small parish in England. Andrew Tyler is serving as the priest for a two-point parish that consists of Cawston and Heydon. Both churches are near one another, both have buildings that date back at least 1,300 years, and both do not have indoor plumbing.
But they are quite different churches. St. Agnes is a growing congregation in a growing community not far from Norwich. Young families are coming into the community and joining the church. Sts. Peter and Paul, Heydon is in a stable, idyllic English village and has a membership of about 20 people, all of whom are on the Parish Council.
I was a guest at their three meetings, held in close succession in a community hall that has no windows because it is being refurbished. The first meeting was open to the entire community and was to elect the parish wardens for the year. Anyone can vote, but only church members were present.
The second meeting was the Annual Parish Meeting where elections were held for several offices and reports were given. There was one nominee for each office (the one currently in that office) except for treasurer which needed to be elected because the 20-year veteran treasurer was mvoing to another town. She had chosen her successor, so nominations were closed immediately.
Since this was a pure democrarcy, each office required a show of hands, and each office was elected in that way.
The third meeting was a meeting of the Parochial Church Council, the equivalent of our Congregation Council. A few more elections were held, one by one with a show of hands, and finally we got to the new business. The first item was to not hold an annual service becuase some people will be away that weekend. The second was to welcome the MG vintage group to finish their annual rally at the church with a special Saturday afternoon mass for the 70 drivers anticipated. Fortunately there are bathrooms in the tea room and the local pub and there is a car park for a few vehicles at the church.
After the meeting we walked over to the old vicarage (which actualy is rather new, not even 200 years old). There we had an elegant sit down dinner for everyone and a few spouses. It was wonderful and the conversation was interesting. I had more to eat than I needed to have.
The elegant hostess told me how she had been a football police person (one who watches the crowds at a soccer match in case they get too rowdy. She asked many questions including "What is a Lutheran?"
Next Sunday most of them will be there at worship, waiting for the arrival of a new blower for their pipe organ, using the King James Bibe for scripture lessons, and the Old English Prayer Book, just as their ancestors did for the past 400 years.
This was an evening to remember.
But they are quite different churches. St. Agnes is a growing congregation in a growing community not far from Norwich. Young families are coming into the community and joining the church. Sts. Peter and Paul, Heydon is in a stable, idyllic English village and has a membership of about 20 people, all of whom are on the Parish Council.
I was a guest at their three meetings, held in close succession in a community hall that has no windows because it is being refurbished. The first meeting was open to the entire community and was to elect the parish wardens for the year. Anyone can vote, but only church members were present.
The second meeting was the Annual Parish Meeting where elections were held for several offices and reports were given. There was one nominee for each office (the one currently in that office) except for treasurer which needed to be elected because the 20-year veteran treasurer was mvoing to another town. She had chosen her successor, so nominations were closed immediately.
Since this was a pure democrarcy, each office required a show of hands, and each office was elected in that way.
The third meeting was a meeting of the Parochial Church Council, the equivalent of our Congregation Council. A few more elections were held, one by one with a show of hands, and finally we got to the new business. The first item was to not hold an annual service becuase some people will be away that weekend. The second was to welcome the MG vintage group to finish their annual rally at the church with a special Saturday afternoon mass for the 70 drivers anticipated. Fortunately there are bathrooms in the tea room and the local pub and there is a car park for a few vehicles at the church.
After the meeting we walked over to the old vicarage (which actualy is rather new, not even 200 years old). There we had an elegant sit down dinner for everyone and a few spouses. It was wonderful and the conversation was interesting. I had more to eat than I needed to have.
The elegant hostess told me how she had been a football police person (one who watches the crowds at a soccer match in case they get too rowdy. She asked many questions including "What is a Lutheran?"
Next Sunday most of them will be there at worship, waiting for the arrival of a new blower for their pipe organ, using the King James Bibe for scripture lessons, and the Old English Prayer Book, just as their ancestors did for the past 400 years.
This was an evening to remember.
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
A MEETING TO REMEMBER
Now that I have successfully made the journey to Norwich, there is much to talk about.
I attended a meeting that I am sure I will remember, in a tiny village called Heydon.
I'm tired now so I'll have to write about it in the morning, but it is one I am sure I will remember.
I attended a meeting that I am sure I will remember, in a tiny village called Heydon.
I'm tired now so I'll have to write about it in the morning, but it is one I am sure I will remember.
Monday, April 22, 2013
SHARED MINISTRY-- THE ECUMENICAL DIMENSION
Today I had a chance to learn about another aspect of sharing ministry, a very important dimension which too often is hidden or not even considered. I was invited to sit in at the meeting of the Regional Senior leadership meeting in Northampton held at theBishop's House in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Northampton. Bishop John chaired the meeting, and Bishop Peter Doyle, our host, invited me to sit in on the conversation.
It was an honor to be invited because the meeting involved the Methodist Chair, the Baptist Regional Minister, and the Country Ecumenical Officer in addition to the host and Bishop John. They had an interesting discussion about the nature of their ministries, with a little "guessing exercise" that gave the ecumenical partners a chance to share what they knew (or didn't know) about the denominations each represented. For example, I learned that there are 5,700 Methodist churches in England, 155 Baptist churches in England, about 400 Anglican churches in the Peterborough Diocese alone, and 69 Roman Catholic parishes in the Northampton Diocese (one of 22 RC dioceses in England).
They also discussed specific Local Ecumenical Projects where churches of their various bodies form local churches and use clergy from their respective traditions in a pre-decided pattern depending on a variety of factors.
After lunch we visited All Saints Parish in Brixworth (where Bishop John is the Bishop of Brixworth), a church starting out as a monastery over 1,300 years ago by monks as a "Minster Church" from which other churches were started. Their new Vicar was installed just Saturday and had her first service just yesterday, so we "dropped in" on her and her husband for tea. Nothing like having the bishop visit a day or two after just starting out in a new post.
Tomorrow I head out by train from Huntingdon to Norwich where Andrew Tyler will meet me and conduct me for a few days on my journey in the dioceses of Norwich and Lincoln (the oldest Local Ministry diocese in the Church of England). We start early for the train station.
It was an honor to be invited because the meeting involved the Methodist Chair, the Baptist Regional Minister, and the Country Ecumenical Officer in addition to the host and Bishop John. They had an interesting discussion about the nature of their ministries, with a little "guessing exercise" that gave the ecumenical partners a chance to share what they knew (or didn't know) about the denominations each represented. For example, I learned that there are 5,700 Methodist churches in England, 155 Baptist churches in England, about 400 Anglican churches in the Peterborough Diocese alone, and 69 Roman Catholic parishes in the Northampton Diocese (one of 22 RC dioceses in England).
They also discussed specific Local Ecumenical Projects where churches of their various bodies form local churches and use clergy from their respective traditions in a pre-decided pattern depending on a variety of factors.
After lunch we visited All Saints Parish in Brixworth (where Bishop John is the Bishop of Brixworth), a church starting out as a monastery over 1,300 years ago by monks as a "Minster Church" from which other churches were started. Their new Vicar was installed just Saturday and had her first service just yesterday, so we "dropped in" on her and her husband for tea. Nothing like having the bishop visit a day or two after just starting out in a new post.
Tomorrow I head out by train from Huntingdon to Norwich where Andrew Tyler will meet me and conduct me for a few days on my journey in the dioceses of Norwich and Lincoln (the oldest Local Ministry diocese in the Church of England). We start early for the train station.
Sunday, April 21, 2013
MYSTERY WORSHIPPER
"Ship of Fools.com" is one of my favorite wacky websites. They do a lot of poking aT the foibles of modern church life.
One of my favorite features is their use of "mystery worshippers" who anonymously choose a church to visit and after they service they evaluate the experience using a long list of questions. The key to the effectiveness of these visits is that no one knows that a "visitor" is in their midst.
There's no way I could have been a "Mystery Visitor" this morning because in the opening announcements prior to the liturgy in Peterborough Cathedral I was welcomed by name as a guest of the preacher for the day, Bishop John Holbrook.
Besides, I think people might have noticed me because of the black clergy shirt I was wearing.
In any case, I had a wonderful worship experience and met some fine people afterwards during the coffee hour.
We were invited to lunch at the home of the Canon Precentor (the one responsible for all the many worship services at the Cathedral) and his wife, and we enjoyed the conversation there.
Tomorrow we drive to Northampton where my host is chairing an ecumenical clergy meeting. Since their conversations are private, I will bring a book to read.
Then on Tuesday I will leave this beautiful little village and the 18th century house where I am staying to head out to Norwich for the next leg of my sabbatical journey.
It was a bit strange not leading a worship service today. I wonder what it will feel like after being away twelve Sundays. I hope my friends at Hope had a good worship experience today as well.
One of my favorite features is their use of "mystery worshippers" who anonymously choose a church to visit and after they service they evaluate the experience using a long list of questions. The key to the effectiveness of these visits is that no one knows that a "visitor" is in their midst.
There's no way I could have been a "Mystery Visitor" this morning because in the opening announcements prior to the liturgy in Peterborough Cathedral I was welcomed by name as a guest of the preacher for the day, Bishop John Holbrook.
Besides, I think people might have noticed me because of the black clergy shirt I was wearing.
In any case, I had a wonderful worship experience and met some fine people afterwards during the coffee hour.
We were invited to lunch at the home of the Canon Precentor (the one responsible for all the many worship services at the Cathedral) and his wife, and we enjoyed the conversation there.
Tomorrow we drive to Northampton where my host is chairing an ecumenical clergy meeting. Since their conversations are private, I will bring a book to read.
Then on Tuesday I will leave this beautiful little village and the 18th century house where I am staying to head out to Norwich for the next leg of my sabbatical journey.
It was a bit strange not leading a worship service today. I wonder what it will feel like after being away twelve Sundays. I hope my friends at Hope had a good worship experience today as well.
Saturday, April 20, 2013
DAY OFF?
This morning when I got dressed, I put on my TEAM USA Olypic Shirt, my new blue jeans, and my sneakers. It was about 5:30 in the morning, but I was full of expectations because in a sense, this was going to be for me a real day off.
One of the criteria for describing the day this way was the fact that I was not going to be attending any worship services at all. After attending three services on Friday, I rationalized that it would be ok to take the day off, especially since I was heading to meet with my friend, Bishop John Holbrook, who lives in a quaint village of about 400 souls called Mears Ashby.
Soon after I arrived at his home we were making preparations for a trip to Derby (pronounced Darby) for a football match vs. Peterborough United.
We traveled with Quentin and his son John Mark. We ate lunch at Toby's Carvery and left the car in the restaurant's parking lot so we could wlk to the stadium which I discovered was about two miles away. Thousands of other supporters were on the same sidewalk, and stopping to catch your breath was not on the list of options.
The stadium seats 30,000, and most of the seats were filled. I took some video to prove it.
Peterborough lost, but they did scor a point on a penalty shot after the goal keeper got a red car dismissal from the field for taking out an attacking player. He may be forced to sit for three games for that.
We've had dinner here with Elizabeth, Thomas, and Anna. They were ten years younger when I met them.
Oh, by the way, over here "football games" are the equivalent for many of what we call worship, so was this really a day off?
One of the criteria for describing the day this way was the fact that I was not going to be attending any worship services at all. After attending three services on Friday, I rationalized that it would be ok to take the day off, especially since I was heading to meet with my friend, Bishop John Holbrook, who lives in a quaint village of about 400 souls called Mears Ashby.
Soon after I arrived at his home we were making preparations for a trip to Derby (pronounced Darby) for a football match vs. Peterborough United.
We traveled with Quentin and his son John Mark. We ate lunch at Toby's Carvery and left the car in the restaurant's parking lot so we could wlk to the stadium which I discovered was about two miles away. Thousands of other supporters were on the same sidewalk, and stopping to catch your breath was not on the list of options.
The stadium seats 30,000, and most of the seats were filled. I took some video to prove it.
Peterborough lost, but they did scor a point on a penalty shot after the goal keeper got a red car dismissal from the field for taking out an attacking player. He may be forced to sit for three games for that.
We've had dinner here with Elizabeth, Thomas, and Anna. They were ten years younger when I met them.
Oh, by the way, over here "football games" are the equivalent for many of what we call worship, so was this really a day off?
Friday, April 19, 2013
THE FIRST BRITISH MARTYR
After having a wonderful English Breakfast at the home of Doris and David Cheetham, I went again to Morning Prayer at St. Mary's. Will Gibbs, the Vicar met me there and brought me to St. Albans where I spent more than an hour with Archdeacon Jonathan talking about the challenge of providing pastoral ministry from the perspective of the Bishop and his staff.
I went from there up the hill to the Abbey where I attended a Roman Catholic Mass in the Lady Chapel. The Roman Catholic priest, Brian Reynolds, and the Anglican priest, Kevin Walton, led the service for about 60 people at noon time.
After mass I went to lunch in the Abbot's Kitchen as a guest of my ecumenical colleagues where I learned about the ministry going on in the cathedral, the oldest plsc of continuous pilgrimage in Britain, dedicated to Saint Alban who was the first British martyr, beheaded by Romans at that site in the 3rd Century. A shrine with his remains is in a chapel next to the Lady Chapel where the mass was held. Alban was a Roman who was converted to Christianity by Amphimbulas, a monk who reached out to him. The Romans were putting Christians to death, and Alban persuaded Amphibulas to let him wear his monk's clothing, and he was beheaded in place of the monk who had shared his faith with him and led him to Christ. The remains of Amphibulas are also in the cathedral somewhere.
After lunch I went on an hour-long tour of the Cathedral, learning about this wonderful place of worship. Then I walked down the hill to see some of the ruins of the ancient Roman settlement.
Back up the hill I went into the chapel where Evensong would be held and spent the time I had reading. The Evensong was sung by the girls' choir (which included two of Kevin's daughters) and Kevin presided.
I finally went over to fetch my luggage and check into the Comfort Hotel at the bottom of the hill. Even though the computer had reserved a room for me on May 19 rather than April 19, I persuaaded the clerk that I was really here now, and he found me a very nice room and chatted with me about my sabbatical journey.
I called Bishop John Holbrook to set up plans for meeting him tomorrow morning. He just got in five minites prior to my call from Okinawa and has a bit of jet lag. His body clock is 9 hours ahead of mine here (and 14 hours ahead of yours). Tomorrow we will meet and head over to see a football (soccer) match.
I have lots of pictures which I want to display once I figure out how to upload them by Eye-fi through my Ipad. Stay faithful.
I went from there up the hill to the Abbey where I attended a Roman Catholic Mass in the Lady Chapel. The Roman Catholic priest, Brian Reynolds, and the Anglican priest, Kevin Walton, led the service for about 60 people at noon time.
After mass I went to lunch in the Abbot's Kitchen as a guest of my ecumenical colleagues where I learned about the ministry going on in the cathedral, the oldest plsc of continuous pilgrimage in Britain, dedicated to Saint Alban who was the first British martyr, beheaded by Romans at that site in the 3rd Century. A shrine with his remains is in a chapel next to the Lady Chapel where the mass was held. Alban was a Roman who was converted to Christianity by Amphimbulas, a monk who reached out to him. The Romans were putting Christians to death, and Alban persuaded Amphibulas to let him wear his monk's clothing, and he was beheaded in place of the monk who had shared his faith with him and led him to Christ. The remains of Amphibulas are also in the cathedral somewhere.
After lunch I went on an hour-long tour of the Cathedral, learning about this wonderful place of worship. Then I walked down the hill to see some of the ruins of the ancient Roman settlement.
Back up the hill I went into the chapel where Evensong would be held and spent the time I had reading. The Evensong was sung by the girls' choir (which included two of Kevin's daughters) and Kevin presided.
I finally went over to fetch my luggage and check into the Comfort Hotel at the bottom of the hill. Even though the computer had reserved a room for me on May 19 rather than April 19, I persuaaded the clerk that I was really here now, and he found me a very nice room and chatted with me about my sabbatical journey.
I called Bishop John Holbrook to set up plans for meeting him tomorrow morning. He just got in five minites prior to my call from Okinawa and has a bit of jet lag. His body clock is 9 hours ahead of mine here (and 14 hours ahead of yours). Tomorrow we will meet and head over to see a football (soccer) match.
I have lots of pictures which I want to display once I figure out how to upload them by Eye-fi through my Ipad. Stay faithful.
Thursday, April 18, 2013
ON THE GROUND AND ON THE MOVE
I've been very busy since the plane landed, and my journey so far has brought me through London where I visited the Church House of the Church of England and went to Evensong at Westminster Abbey and then went to dinner and back to my room at St. Matthew's House where I slept for nearly 12 hours.
Moving out from London I finally got to the correct train station, avoiding the funeral of former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher to board a train for St. Albans where I was met by Jeanette Gosney who brought me to meet with the Local Ministry Team for five churches in four small rural villages called "The Hartford Hundred."
We traveled on to the city of Luton where I met with the LMT of a two church parish and learned how Local Ministry is carried out in an urban setting quite different from where I spent the afternoon. I stayed with the Vicar and his wife in a vey nice home.
Today Jeff Mercer, the consultant for St. Mary's, Redborn came to pick me up. We arrived in time for the 9:30 Team Morning Prayer service. Then we walked over to the Village Cricket field where the church has "Coffee on the Commons," an outreach to moms who drop their kids off at the school next to the Cricket Hall.
I met with individual members of the LMT in a 1-1 way, learning about marriage preparation and baptismal preparation at St. Mary's. Then I went to lunch with the Vicar, Will Gibbs, and his curate Lucy. At the home where I will spend the night I met with the team member who runs small group ministries, and then we went over to Hayden's for home communion led by Doris, a lay minister with whom I will stay tonight. Her husband David is an attorney whose chief client is the Church of England.
At the vicarage I am catching up on email from Bishop John who is returning from Okinawa today, with Andrew Tyler who is returning to England from California tomorrow, from two people from Northern California, and from Sandi Holmberg in Minnesota, all from a couch here in Redborn.
Tomorrow I meet at the Cathedral with the Archdeacon of the Diocese, attend an ecumenical service at the cathedral, and do some sightseeing at the Cathedral and if possible, some ancient Roman ruins.
Saturday I will move on to visit with Bishop Holbrook.
Are you exhausted reading all this? Imagine having to tote around a 50 pound suitcase etc.
I am learning a lot and sharing a lot also.
Moving out from London I finally got to the correct train station, avoiding the funeral of former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher to board a train for St. Albans where I was met by Jeanette Gosney who brought me to meet with the Local Ministry Team for five churches in four small rural villages called "The Hartford Hundred."
We traveled on to the city of Luton where I met with the LMT of a two church parish and learned how Local Ministry is carried out in an urban setting quite different from where I spent the afternoon. I stayed with the Vicar and his wife in a vey nice home.
Today Jeff Mercer, the consultant for St. Mary's, Redborn came to pick me up. We arrived in time for the 9:30 Team Morning Prayer service. Then we walked over to the Village Cricket field where the church has "Coffee on the Commons," an outreach to moms who drop their kids off at the school next to the Cricket Hall.
I met with individual members of the LMT in a 1-1 way, learning about marriage preparation and baptismal preparation at St. Mary's. Then I went to lunch with the Vicar, Will Gibbs, and his curate Lucy. At the home where I will spend the night I met with the team member who runs small group ministries, and then we went over to Hayden's for home communion led by Doris, a lay minister with whom I will stay tonight. Her husband David is an attorney whose chief client is the Church of England.
At the vicarage I am catching up on email from Bishop John who is returning from Okinawa today, with Andrew Tyler who is returning to England from California tomorrow, from two people from Northern California, and from Sandi Holmberg in Minnesota, all from a couch here in Redborn.
Tomorrow I meet at the Cathedral with the Archdeacon of the Diocese, attend an ecumenical service at the cathedral, and do some sightseeing at the Cathedral and if possible, some ancient Roman ruins.
Saturday I will move on to visit with Bishop Holbrook.
Are you exhausted reading all this? Imagine having to tote around a 50 pound suitcase etc.
I am learning a lot and sharing a lot also.
Monday, April 15, 2013
CHECKING IN
I'm off to a great start. John Kelly and Roger Meyer from the Sabbatical Team brought me to JFK, leaving the church at 1:15 and arriving here at 2:15. By 3 p.m. I was in the Admiral's Club thanks to the help of Michelle. We don't board for a couple of hours now, so I am listening to the news broadcast from the Boston Marathon Finish Line. They are still not sure what actually happened there.
I came across the phone number of Bishop Alan Scarfe of the Episcopal Diocese of Iowa. He has set aside two days after Memorial Day to travel with me to some Total Ministry parishes located in the far corners of Iowa. It sounds like the visits will take a while because the state is really large.
But that's later on for me. Now I'm heading out to London Heathrow where I will take a tube into the city and eventually meet up with Joanna Cox who works in the Church House in London.
On Wednesday morning I will find my way to the St. Pancras Train Station to get a train to St. Albans Diocese where I will be staying for three nights.
Keep me in your prayers as I will be praying for all of you.
I came across the phone number of Bishop Alan Scarfe of the Episcopal Diocese of Iowa. He has set aside two days after Memorial Day to travel with me to some Total Ministry parishes located in the far corners of Iowa. It sounds like the visits will take a while because the state is really large.
But that's later on for me. Now I'm heading out to London Heathrow where I will take a tube into the city and eventually meet up with Joanna Cox who works in the Church House in London.
On Wednesday morning I will find my way to the St. Pancras Train Station to get a train to St. Albans Diocese where I will be staying for three nights.
Keep me in your prayers as I will be praying for all of you.
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
SHARED MINISTRY'S KEY: HOSPITALITY
As I continue to work on details for the trips ahead, I am constantly amazed at the wonderful attitude of hospitality I keep encountering, Yesterday, for example, I heard from a member of a Local Ministry Team in Hereford who invited me to stay with him and his wife in their home for two nights. As I checked the schedule I realized that I had not booked a room as I had planned for the previous night, and I shared that in my email. I got word back that he was checking to make arrangements for me in the town where I would be that day on my behalf.
I really appreciate this sense of genuine hospitality, and it makes me aware of one of the invisible but extremely significant characteristics of shared ministry. Share Ministry is possible when there is a genuine sense of hospitality that welcomes others to share in a common life and ministry. Without that attitude of hospitality, it seems that it would be impossible for ministry to be shared among people.
I have experienced this attitude already in the numerous contacts with others in every place where I will be visiting. It is truly a fruit of the Holy Spirit.
I really appreciate this sense of genuine hospitality, and it makes me aware of one of the invisible but extremely significant characteristics of shared ministry. Share Ministry is possible when there is a genuine sense of hospitality that welcomes others to share in a common life and ministry. Without that attitude of hospitality, it seems that it would be impossible for ministry to be shared among people.
I have experienced this attitude already in the numerous contacts with others in every place where I will be visiting. It is truly a fruit of the Holy Spirit.
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
THE TOUGHEST CHALLENGE
Why is it that sharing ministry is so difficult? In my view, the greatest challenge to overcome is the basic set of assumptions that have served as the common paradigm for understanding the nature of the concept of ministry itself.
For too long we have believed that ministry is something reserved for a small group of people who have been trained and ordained for a specific office in the church. They are the professionals and everyone else is a recipient of that ministry.
It wasn't always that way. In fact, that is a more-or-less "recent" development in the life of the Christian community. Ministry is the work of all the baptized, not just a chosen few. Our challenge is to figure out how we can get clergy and laity to recapture the vision of how all the baptized people of God can help one another to identify and then use their God-given gifts in the service of the Gospel. That is what I will be focusing on in the months ahead.
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