Looking Back, Looking Forward

It's been pointed out that over a month has passed since I last posted. I think David was the first to mention "Blog Guilt" in Psalm 51:14 - I know what he meant now!

As a family we all spent the weekend back in our home town and I joined in with my home band's visit to a local corps to lead meetings. It was good to be back in my old seat and to enjoy the fellowship of the band once again. On top of that I was just there to play my trombone and, apart from leading one song, I didn't have anything to do on the platform. Prior to coming to college one of my roles was to lead worship and preach if the band were leading the meetings anywhere. On this occasion I was able to sit under the ministry of my successor in that role - and very well he did, too.

It is true that I miss playing, and although I still enjoy the more limited expression of banding we have here at college that generally involves me in conducting rather than playing. I also have to admit that I was itching to be on the platform, despite the fact that it was good to sit back. As I sat with old friends someone asked me if it felt different. It did, but I think that is because I am different. Going back helps me to realise the extent to which the college experience has been, and continues to be, transformational. I am still a long way short of being who God wants me to be, but I am increasingly thankful for the opportunity of personal growth and reflection that college affords.

As we took part in worship, Salvation Army leaders were gathering at Sunbury for the Appointments Conference. This will determine where Lynley and I will be appointed next year. I remain fairly relaxed about that - believing that God will work through, and maybe in spite of, the process to place us where He wants us, but as I spent a weekend thinking back, I couldn't avoid thinking forward at the same time.

Today we started to think about what we really mean by Salvation - past, present and future. Still working through all that but I know that God has led me this far, is working in me now, and has my future within His care.

God is good - All the time.

Clapton-on-Sea?

Our final Sunday placement has been announced. When she opened the letter Lynley said, "Clacton's a long way to go!" Thankfully, in her excitement she had misread the letter - we will be worshipping, leading and preaching at Clapton. An interesting place, but no sea! (And I mean no disrespect to Clacton either - it just would be a long way to go just for Sunday meetings.)

Really looking forward to the final placement, not just because it's the last one, but because it's a completely different expression to anything we've experienced so far in college. Very multi-cultural, people new to the Salvation Army, no music expect midi files, but a corps with a fine SA heritage that has had to reinvent itself to be effective in its community. As part of the placement Lynley and I each need to deliver a series of three sermons on the same text. Quite a daunting task but one that we are currently working on - both privately and in class. This morning we had a preaching class where we got to do some detail work on Genesis 12 and John 10. I still don't have my text for the series, although I think Lynley is making good progress with hers.

College life is still rather mixed, however, and we're all looking forward to a few days study leave next week, coinciding with the school half-term holiday. We spent some time this afternoon with our friends who comprise our spiritual formation group. It was good to share concerns and very helpful to pray together.

That's all very well, but I am supposed to be writing a pastoral practice essay, not blogging!

Mission - Quotable Quote

Something from a Mission in Practice lecture today that I want to remember:

"Our churches should be such, that if they were taken away, they would be missed by their communities."

I don't think I have it 100% accurate, but something that was helpful as Lynley and I completed our personal profiles today - the document that forms part of the process that will result in our first appointment.

I want to be part of a church that is at the heart of its local community.

Something to ponder on; something to help against complacency?

End of Summer Placement

Today (it still feels like Wednesday) was the last official day of our summer placement at Bexleyheath. Tomorrow sees the official first day of term for the second year cadets. Much to reflect on about the summer, positive and negative, but I guess my abiding memory will be of our final Sunday meeting on 24th September. Lynley was about to lead a testimony time when an elderly lady at the front was taken very ill. Fortunately for her there were three nurses in the congregation who administered CPR whilst an ambulance was called. We later discovered she had stopped breathing. Despite that, after about twenty-five minutes she was able to get up and was helped out of the hall, during which time we had managed to keep some music going, offered some prayer and worked out what changes to make to the meeting plan. I was able to chat with her and share a joke with her before she went in the ambulance to the hospital.

Coping with the unexpected just goes with the territory, I guess, but the Lord really helped us through the meeting and guided our attempts to keep the meeting together in some form whilst the lady was treated, and then pick it up again once it was appropriate to do so.

I am struck more and more by the privilege that is ours to lead worship, and we've had some moments over the summer when God has been very near. So we move on from Bexleyheath with thanks to God for all He has done for us, through us and with us; and with thanks to the people of Bexleyheath who have been so supportive and encouraging.

Lost Themes of Mission - Worship

Been debating with Gordon on and off for a couple of days now in response to something he posted on his blog this week. Much to think about in recognising that worship is so much more than what we do on a Sunday, but also in ensuring that we retain balance and ensure that the importance of the coming together of God's people in community to celebrate all that He is, has done and is doing doesn't get lost somewhere in the mix.

Street Pastors & Men's Spirituality

Two articles in the October 2006 edition of Christianity Magazine have given me cause for thought:

A piece on street pastors has helpful references to where I used to live (Southend) and where I live now (Camberwell). This is an initiative which seems to be having a positive impact on communities and is something I think we will need to come back to, depending on where we find ourselves next year. What encourages me is that this is non-denominational, just local Christians getting together (with some training) to be and bring the Good News of Jesus right in the heart of their local trouble spots. Something I would also love my home church in Southend to be encouraged by and to take hold of.

In the same magazine, an article on men's spirituality made my blood boil. This one's not available online, but packed full of trite generalisations like, "[men] can get worked up about football, be animated about cars, and enthuse about DIY, yet be tongue-tied and lethargic when it comes to prayer, or Bible study, or Christian witness." Were someone to write something similarly sterotyped about women's spirituality there would be outrage. I am still composing a letter to the editor on this one...

...but maybe there is something here to think about in churches where so much of the programme excludes people who work all day and who are too tired for church in the evening. Perhaps the challenge is to continually look for new ways to ensure that everyone is included - isn't that part of what we mean by Kingdom values?

Meeting the Public and Serving Snacks

The Salvation Army's Annual Appeal still entails house-to-house collections in many areas, and somewhat reluctantly I spent some time last Tuesday evening collecting envelopes in Bexleyheath as part of our summer placement responsibilities. Whether collecting at the door is still the most effective means of fund raising is probably a discussion for another day, but I am always humbled by the generosity (mostly) with which the public deal with us, and support us.

I met one man who declined to give, albeit politely, because of a grievance he had with the Salvation Army over a property deal. There was nothing I could say to him other than express how sad it was that his experience was so negative.

Last Thursday evening we were leaving the quarters for another round of collecting when the local police called to say that a large fire had broken out on an industrial estate in Erith, and bottles of water were needed urgently for the fire crews. Whilst making arrangements to get the Salvation Army Emergency Response Unit to the scene we headed off for the nearest Asda store, filled the boot of the car with bottles of water, and went to where we were needed. I've attended a couple of these incidents now and it is always a humbling experience that offers an opportunity for meaningful ministry. The police allowed us through the cordons and we were able to get close to where the fire crews were preparing to tackle the fire - a little too close initially as some very nasty gas cylinders were still exploding when we arrived! Immediately we were greeted by a number of fire fighters who had already worked several hours and who were very pleased to take our drinks! A couple of hours later the SA's "official" van arrived and we were able to serve a variety of drinks, sandwiches and snacks to the members of the police, fire and ambulance services. A friend from college kindly drove out to bring me home just after 11pm, by which time we had arranged for others to cover the service through the night and into the next day.

It's about more than serving drinks and snacks, though. It's about providing a presence, and although the people working there have never met us as individuals before, because we are the Salvation Army they trust us immediately. "Teapot 1", as the van is affectionately known, became an informal rest area for the crews, and in just sharing small talk and jokes with them hopefully we were able to show that the Church is about getting alongside ordinary people, that Jesus is interested in the details of life.

I came away grateful to God for the opportunities He gives us for practical ministry, and grateful to have been called to serve Him in an organisation that, on the whole, is held in high regard and is often allowed to "access all areas". Maybe we don't always get it right, as my conversation with the gentleman I met collecting earlier in the week would seem to suggest, but the personal challenge for me is to be obedient to Christ and to take hold of all the opportunities of service He so graciously gives me.

Getting Started

It hardly seems possible that Lynley and I are almost at the end of our summer placement and about to start our second year of training at William Booth College. When we first arrived here a year ago a friend suggested that I should record something of our journey because there were bound to be experiences that we would otherwise forget. I think he is right, so this is my attempt to capture something of our second year of training, and maybe beyond that into our first appointment if this turns into something of value.

It's rather experimental just now, and I don't really have any expectations of anyone reading this. That said, I've often been challenged and encouraged by what other people have to say, so who knows?

Theological reflection is a discipline we are encouraged to do here at college, and I guess that is something I want to do here: What is God doing in my life? How is He shaping me to be the person He wants me to be? What do I learn about Him from the small and big experiences of life?

And in the unlikely event that someone reads this and wants to know why "kerukoi" in the URL...? Well, I am privileged to be part of a group of people here at college who comprise the "Heralds of the Good News" session. When we started our first year Biblical studies we were divided into two groups. Mine was known as "kerukoi" which is Greek for "Herald" and can apparently be found somewhere in 2 Timothy. I was trying to come up with an imaginative name for the blog and decided this was as good as any.

So here ends my first post, and knowing my talent for self-discipline, possibly my last for a while.