New leader

I decided to take time out to listen to the Labour leader make his first conference speach. Now as a reader of this blog put aside your political bias.

It was refreshing to hear a person speak without bile and stay true to his roots. My Granddad, a local preacher, councillor, town mayor J.P. And yes a Labour man through and through. Well he would have been delighted by what he would have heard.

 For once it did feel like someone saying what they really believe. What they have worked for all their lives, and inspite of becoming labour party leader sticking to their principals. Yet clearly he would be willing to debate with anyone, disagree and not then hold a grudge because he didnt get his own way or you didnt agree with him.

You can disagree about the need for upgrading trident, but ask yourself 'Would you really press the button that sends us all to armageddon ? If you wouldn't because that is morally indefensible then you dont need it! Have better equipped conventional forces oh and an extra hospital, school and staff to boot. 

We know that the largest part of the welfare bill goes on housing costs then it does make sense to both control rents and build new social housing. 

It was refreshing to hear a more visionary view of society that means things don't have to be the way they are. Yes that's why women got the vote, a health service for all was created and trade unions protected the vulnerable. 

Yes we do have the wealth and the means to do things differently. It's just can we really set aside our   selfishness to allow others to share what we have in abundance. 

My time in Ghana back in May reminded me that we just don't see what we have and value it. Just as I know as I work in Burngreave and Firth Park that for some this is a no go area. People often comment to me, as someone did only today, that they are looked down upon because they live here. 

The new Methodist Sheffield circuit was meant to create justice across our city in the life of the Methodist people. That has yet to find fruition as vested interests still seek to control resources for their places. 

Jeremy Corbyn has connected with people. I believe he will stick to his principals even if vested interests end up bringing him down. The Methodist people of Sheffield need to stick to their principals and connect with people in the community. They need however to see the original vision of the new circuit through because if they don't a moment in history will be squandered and we will become history. 

I'm not a joiner of groups, apart from the Iona Community, but I am tempted to join a Labour party that has a vision that reveals aspects of the Kingdom of God.

The curious incident of the dog in the nighttime

 

Well what an amazing set at the Lyceum with modern technology used at its most effective to enhance some amazing individual performances. The lead playing an autistic youth was outstanding, and it gave such an insightful glimpse into what it must be like for a family. It was full of humour which is a great safety valve  when everyone is caught up in such a stressful life. It begs again the question what is normal? We all live life on a spectrum and we know that stresses can sometimes make us all flip. It was in its way quite a humbling experience with the challenge to look at everyone with the eyes of God. Only then will we see the potential of every unique person made in the image of God. More often than not we chose to discretely sideline such people. They become hidden to us as its the easiest way to cope. 

I am struck once again how through plays and novels we can discover so much about relationships. God is to be found here just as much as in Sunday worship and the bible if we are open to it. So I count myself fortunate that Jill, I and Lizzie could spend an afternoon soaking up the atmosphere of this play. 

The bonus of the day was we could then unwind with strictly come dancing. I wonder who will become our favourite!

another chapter

It had been a particularly harrowing day spent at the hospital which had followed a previous night being called out and the night before that. It didn’t happen that often but like buses people seemed to become ill all at the same time or a crisis would arise just to add to the pressure. One of the most irritating aspects of ministry was when predecessors kept on taking funerals. Not only was it a loss of vital income it interfered with the pastoral care of the community. Maurice was one particularly annoying retired minister who seemed to live for and off funerals. To hear that he was doing yet another after an exhausting run of hospital visiting was the last straw. Roger called late one night in the full knowledge that he would be doing a burial the next day at the Methodist Church graveyard. He had arranged for it to be dug a little deeper than normal as he explained to the grave digger they will be wanting to bury his wife on top. So with the ground literally prepared Rogers late night call to the isolated home of Maurice was just a simple matter. A shared cup of tea and a drop of the stuff used for Betty quickly did for Maurice. Then neatly wrapping Maurice up in an old sleeping bag it was simply a matter of not being seen. Good job the boot of the car was deep and so a short drive took Roger to the grave yard. Quickly he placed the body at the bottom of the deep grave covered it well with the freshly dug soil and ensured it was well beaten down to hide any trace of what had occurred. It was of course a risk but as the coffin was lowered into the grave early next morning and covered over, Roger’s secret was well and truly buried. The disappearance of Maurice was to remain a mystery.

Synod and meetings!!!!!! A few thoughts !

Now I know its September!

I am  sitting in our Synod the gathering of representatives from the circuits that make up our Methodist district of Sheffield. Many of us keeping an eye on our phones to see what the Labour leadership result would be. Well what a result as Jeremy Corbyn wins by a landslide , people did not expect that a couple of months ago. It appears he has tapped into something very deep rooted that seeks to go to the heart of the ethos of a socialist understanding of society.

Well I wish we could tap into something that brings a real spark of excitement to this synod it feels like we have lost our way, our roots.......

So its the end of the week and  I have journeyed through a series of meetings. Two pastoral committees, a supers gathering, circuit meeting and thankfully these have been balanced out by conducting a funeral and some good pastoral visits made possible by creating more space in the diary by not doing or going to pointless meetings. 

One of the positive outcomes in having a TIA in March with time for reflection during my sabbatical, is claiming back my life from the treadmill of meetings, and to begin to reconnect with the call to make time for people. Being set free is a state of mind as you give yourself permission to not feel guilty if you are not at every meeting or rushing around like a headless chicken. This is really liberating to remember that being set free as a minister was so you could be available to exercise a ministry. If diaries are so crammed with 'important meetings' you either can not respond to needs as they arise or you squeeze more into the day which just increases the pressure which becomes unhealthy. So I now find myself back in the place which asks the questions 'Do I need to be at this meeting? Will this meeting be anything more than a talking shop?  and Will any decisions be made that will in fact be implemented?  It does not take long, putting a healthy dose of cynicism to one side to know the answers. Suddenly the diary opens up and quality of life improves. You can attend properly to others when real needs are heard. Its not that you are not passionate about things when you are in meetings its just you can stop taking yourself so seriously.

So day be day, week by week I will claim back my sense of being called to be a minister and I may not be at the next synod and strangely enough the world will not collapse.

read a good book lately? and a circuit service

Finally completed reading Karen Armstrong's book ' Fields of Blood Religion and The History of Violence'   excellent read as it explored the old chestnut of 'religion has caused more wars and suffering...' Not only does she write so well and is extremely knowledgeable, she is able with such clarity to explode this myth. For me it reveals that down through literally thousands of years humanity has sought to find meaning, sometimes it has shown itself as liberating and life enhancing. The way of love, peace, forgiveness compassion. Yet humanity has struggled against the need to create order so that it has been caught up with power and domination of the masses by a minority, and so there has been suffering war and violence. And it is political, its about people holding power. So we find even with so called secular societies where faith/religion is put to one side from the realm of politics e.g. the USA, violence & war still continues. Very often it has created more death and suffering than regimes of the past associated with a religion. Its an amazingly complex subject and Karen captures that complexity. So a very good but challenging read one to be recommended. Local readers can borrow my copy.

Well last night the new Methodist year kicked off with a circuit service at our Woodseats Church. It was good to see the place full, with lay leadership within the service. We welcomed Keith Blinston as a lay pastor in the circuit and celebrated with a presentation of a number of long service certificates for Local Preachers.

 It was for me the end of a long day following morning worship at Firth Park and  then preaching and leading communion at our Family Worship centre congregation in the afternoon. The later being a largely Ghanaian congregation with lively singing, movement and of course a longer service took me back to my recent time in Ghana. As always it was a joy to be with them. I feel welcome there and a sense of belonging to them, just as much as any of our more traditional congregations. Its going to be good at the outset of October when our morning congregation will join them in the afternoon as we continue to learn to grow more closely together. 

Well tomorrow brings a staff meeting in the morning and then a gathering of all our leaders of worship and preachers. We will share food together, some buisness and holy communion as a way of beginning a new Methodist year. It really does feel like I have not been away but its also good to get back into a routine and recconect with people. 

Welcome service

Last night I travelled to Lincoln to be present at the welcome service for Eric, Mary and family my hosts in Ghana. They have now come to serve in the UK.

Richard our Minister from our Family Worship Centre congregation travelled with me. The service  was at St Giles Methodist   Church which will be one of Eric's churches .

What a joy to see them all and receive cuddles from the younger children. My amusement increased as I walked into the church with the children to be greeted with 'you must be Eric' Now I know I have caught the sun on holiday but not to that  extent ! 

Good to meet Alan  the super once again and to find myself sitting next to Sylvia Jill's auntie. So a chance to catch up on family news. Then to my surprise another lady looked at me with recognition and the penny dropped. Margaret a retired minister who had been super in the Peak  circuit when I first came to Sheffield. Yes Methodism is a small world. So we too caught up on news. 

The service was led by Alan the super and the chair of district preached and led the formal welcome to Eric. 

Then time for refreshments in true Methodist style.

Mary with a very sleepy Jehu

Richard and I went back to the manse  which has been furnished partly through generosity of folk in Sheffield. So a chance to see them all settled into their new home. Time for me to pray for their new life here and home before a return to Sheffield. It should have been a reasonable journey home, but no a diversion which was not well sign posted so we did not get home till midnight.