Searching for our Soul

So it's a 'no'. I really thank God that the result of the Scottish referendum is in favour of a united kingdom. But what a lot we have learned from the experience. 85% of the population voted, which was a massive turnout, especially when you compare it with a typical vote in governmental elections. Why was the interest so great?

1. The passion of the people was kindled, realising what could be gained and what could be lost. There was a real, perceptible soul-searching with a view of the future which transcended the usual 5 years max in a normal election. In short, on both sides, there was vision and that surely was a key factor.
2. Behind this passion was also an anger. A friend of mine is married to a Scot, so she spends a lot of time north of the border, and did so this summer. She said everyone was talking about the referendum, but the 'backstory' was the catastrophic poll tax fiasco of Margaret Thatcher's years in government. David Cameron rightly identified the desire of some to 'kick the Tories', but equally rightly pointed out that this should not be the determining factor in deciding which way to vote. So history - further back than Thatcher, and more recent - played a part.
3. It wasn't just the 'Yes' campaigners who wanted change. Nor is it just the Scots. As I mentioned in my last blog, we are all trying to work out what it means to belong:  how we may remain part of a larger enterprise, contributing to the good of all while not losing our own distinctive identity. This calls at the same time for both humility and courage. Humility to change; courage to face a different kind of future.

If I am right in thinking that a supremacist attitude characterises the English - against which millions of Scots were reacting - then learning humility as a nation is surely a must. Behind the UKIP campaign, I believe, stands exactly that spirit. I would certainly be in favour of regional devolution and local determination, so long as there is a sense of a 'common good'. The North West, for example, not implementing policies which might be detrimental to Yorkshire. No spirit of rivalry. A sense of one nation, and for that matter one continent.

Last Wednesday, Bill Addy was appointed Leader-in-Mission at St Barnabas. It was a joyous evening, and the people of that church were clearly delighted. A number of Bill & Pauline's friends came to cheer them on - friends of many years. I was pleased that the other two churches in our team were well represented and it was a great time of worship. I am full of hope that all three of our churches will go from strength to strength. But as we agreed at a meeting earlier this week, what will determine our future will be the relationships and agreed strategies of us three leaders. And the same principle will be true nationally, as the United Kingdom. Leadership is key!

State of the Union

In just a fortnight's time, we may no longer be a united kingdom. As far as I know, I have no Scottish blood in me, but we have very good friends who are Scottish and we have had many a happy holiday north of the border. I view the prospect of separation with dismay, though I admit it is hardly likely to impact on me in any significant way. It's not so much the effects of separation as the logic. In a world where there is division (often forced) along ethnic or religious lines, it seems to me crazy actively to promote political and economic separation. I have a feeling that history will not judge Alex Salmond kindly. More than ever, surely, this is a world which desperately needs strong alliances and economic stability. I have the same concern about the growing clamour for England's separation from the European community,

A few years ago, a theologian by the name of Walter Wink wrote a book called Engaging the Powers. In it, he claimed that behind state, governmental, and corporate institutions there lies a Power, which might simply be described as 'the will to be', above and beyond the individuals that comprise them. So corporate action might be regarded as the outward expression of an inner spirituality. I found myself wondering what is the Power behind our English nation. The word 'supremacy' came to mind: through centuries resistance to enemy attack, of empire, colonialism and commonwealth we are used to thinking of ourselves as somehow impregnable, unconquerable. I wonder if it is this that the Scots are reacting against (what is their Power?). And, although any sense of supremacy must have evaporated surely many years ago, perhaps the desire to assert ourselves somehow remains - hence the 'go it alone' attitude which still appears in the language of some politicians and parts of the media.

Now more than ever we need the language of partnership and alliance both internally and internationally. In a funny kind of way, we are confronting the same issue here in Mossley Hill! This month, we begin a new chapter in the life of our Team ministry. The new minister (Bill Addy) coming to St Barnabas enables that church to find a new confidence and self-expression within the Team; and I at All Hallows, Alan at Mossley Hill church might find the same there. However, I do not regard this as the end of 'Team'. Just a moment for re-examination of our relationship. Instead of seeing Team as a monolithic structure (which, if I'm honest, I have tended to do) we might now see ourselves as joint contributors to each other's life and growth as partners and co-workers for God's kingdom. In microcosm, a model for a new united kingdom?

Aidan for Today

Last week, I was able to spend a couple of days on Holy Island, once more. The main reason was to accompany my son-in-law, Tim, who was keen to go and see the island, and to explore Celtic spirituality. We were able to spend some quality time together, as well as giving each other space to commune with God and nature. It was a refreshing time for me: I always draw fresh strength and inspiration not only from the place but from the stories of saints who lived there.

As it happens, yesterday was St Aidan's Day. All 3 of our churches combined for the main morning service, principally to say farewell to Rich, our youth minister, and Kathryn, our administrator, who are both leaving us for fresh challenges. It was also an opportunity to reflect on the continuing challenges of our contemporary mission and in my sermon I linked St Aidan with God's mission today. I have been asked to post the sermon on my blog, so here it is:

 ST AIDAN’S DAY SERMON – Mossley Hill Parish Church Sunday 31^st August 2014

A monk was once confessing to his friend that he was troubled with impure thoughts towards women. There was a pause as his friend decided on how to respond and then he said, “Great! It shows you’re alive!”

That’s the thing about passion: it shows there is life and energy in you whether that passion is for sex, football, food, shopping, your favourite hobby, a celebrity. It involves an intense feeling perhaps so strong it almost hurts. It’s a sign of life. Every passion needs disciplining and channelling, of course as unbridled passion can be dangerous. Nevertheless at least it shows that something is going on deep within.

Paul had a passion for the gospel. “Woe is me,” he said in the old translation, “if I preach not the gospel.” Paul’s commission came from Christ himself at that momentous meeting on the Damascus Road. It led to a real passion for God and for the good news of the Gospel. And what marks out the man or woman of God is that passion for God and the good news; they believe it intensely and want others to believe also. Paul’s passion was also his commission. 

Today we remember another saint, this time one of our own. St Aidan died this day in 651. He has been rightly described as ‘the apostle of England’. His commission came not directly from the Lord, as in Paul’s case, but from King Oswald of Northumbria who promised God that in return for victory in battle he would have his kingdom evangelised and united around the Christian gospel. So it was that Aidan came from Iona to preach good news with his band of monks.

Here are a few facts about Aidan:

·         He established a monastery on the holy island of Lindisfarne.

·         He trained many in prayer and knowledge of the scriptures.

·         He sent them out on mission.

·         He walked rather than rode, as any other man of his social status might do, enquiring of people along the way whether they were Christians. If they were he blessed them and encouraged them in the faith. If they were not he shared with them the good news of Jesus.

·         He gave away his possessions and used any money given to him to liberate slaves, so that they also might train as monks.

One of my favourite passages in Bede’s account of the early English church concerns the reaction that Aidan’s monks would receive as they entered a village. People would come out to welcome them with joy. The monks would bring with them perhaps food for the poor but also the good news of Jesus.  Many found peace for their souls with the promise of everlasting life, and in time the kingdom of Northumbria and even the nation were united around this Christian faith.

We stand today in succession to Paul and Aidan. We too have a commission and hopefully a passion. Unlike Aidan we don’t need to build monasteries, we have cathedrals and parish churches. We don’t need to train monks, we have our congregations. We can have the same passion for God and the good news. Our buildings can be mission stations, gospel resource centres. Our people – YOU! - can be trained as people of prayer and of the word of God to tell others. That picture of the monks being welcomed joyfully would be a wonderful description of how people might greet us. Wouldn’t it be great if in our places of work, in the supermarket, amongst our friends, in our homes, people delighted in our company because they could hear from us the good things God has done in history and in your life today. Wouldn’t it be great if people found us to be people of hope, integrity, joy, truthfulness to light up their lives? Wouldn’t it be good if every one of us was able to speak of a God of love; of a Saviour who died that they might be forgiven for any mess they’d made of their lives or ever could make;  and speak also of a Spirit of peace, of comfort, of healing and inward strength.

Did you know we had a murderer here in church just three weeks ago? He was passionate alright; we couldn't stop him talking. He’d had a terrible childhood, twenty years in prison. He’d got caught up in the drugs culture and in gang wars and it was in such a fight that he killed another gang member. While in prison, he met Christ through godly people who told him of God’s power and forgiveness. I don’t know about you but I long to hear more stories like that; of people whose lives have been transformed because they have found the grace of God. This can happen if we release that passion for God and his gospel. Sometimes I fear we are so preoccupied, anxious even, for the future of our church, its worship, buildings, finance – so anxious that we forget what we are here for. Our passions should be for God, and only afterwards for his church. But so often our passion, our energy is dissipated by the sheer slog of trying to keep things going. We must reach out; we are under commission; we must release that passion.

So let your spirits be raised today. We bless Kathryn and Rich with a sense of sending them out into the next phase of their life; nursing for Kathryn and for Rich maybe ordination. May they know a passion for God in their hearts.  Meanwhile we welcome another Kathryn as our new administrator and soon we will welcome Bill Addy as a new leader in mission, based at St Barnabas. His arrival releases me and Alan at All Hallows and Mossley Hill Churches respectively.

But please may there be no talk of full time and part time vicars; we are not reverting to the old model of one vicar one church. Let’s remind ourselves continually we are part of a new missionary movement for the conversion of our land. It’s not unlike Aidan’s day when many were fearful, confused and ignorant of the gospel story. You will have heard of the heightened terrorism alert this week; we have also been shocked at the terrible revelations of child abuse in Rotherham. In Aidan’s day people also lived in constant fear of starvation, disease, invasion by foreign or neighbouring armies. The gospel brought peace to their land and peace to people’s souls as they realised that they have here no permanent home; they could look forward to heaven as their eternal rest; and such confidence made them men and women of courage and hope. Such, also, we can be.

We begin a new chapter next month. I know that Alan and I both feel a rising tide of excitement at the new possibilities.

So let us worship with joy: let our passion be for God and his gospel:  let us be inflamed by the Spirit of God, that we may fulfil our commission. Amen.