Christmas services and beyond

One of my favourite services has always been midnight communion Christmas eve. As a student returning home I would go along to a local Anglican church as very few of the local methodist churches held one. In my early days of ministry I would drive out to my Hilton chapel in Cambridgeshire , the roads very empty and a sense of expectation in the air. Again it always seemed very special and the focus very different from a Christmas morning service. It's not about presents or food , just a moment to reflect on a God loving the world and all very vulnerable.

This year again worship down at out Pitsmoor church had that lovely feeling of expectation as we passed from christmas eve to christmas day , and bread broken and wine poured, and the mystery continues.

Christmas day at Firth Park was great as well with our two congregations gathering, and as the service progressed, and more joined us over 120, it felt to me like the gathering of the nations. Now thats an image to hold onto, peoples of the world  coming together because of Jesus.  

Then it was time to travel to London to spend the rest of  the day with family especially our grand daughter. Though she had lots of presents she didnt need any , 

Time for a cuddle out on a walk what more does a granddad need?

Well the holiday time soon moves on and back to routine and life in Sheffield.

The battle to save trees is an ongoing issue and good to see the protest outside the town hall.

The council really have misjudged this one. It can only be hoped that sense will prevail. Yet its good to see that the city of Sheffield that has always been a place of protest against injustice is alive and kicking. Especially in these uncertain times.

It was good in our staff meeting to worship and think ahead and symbolically express our thoughts, dreams and concerns. Laying them before both cross and candle.

  In sharing what they meant we learnt so much about one another. Being in community is of course about that willingness to  be open to another so we can grow closer together. Its not about agreeing. Its  about in love holding the tensions and not falling out. In a world of uncertainity when language used is so designed to divide. The Jesus community needs to be a cause of hope that walls do not have to be built because wallking and living Jesus life people can with justice live together. 

So a Christmas day service with people from around the world becomes the reality of what God is doing.

Nativity and Christingles

The nativity set has come in very useful this year.

At Firth Park we sought to make the link between Christmas and Easter with our nativity communion. Building up the scene with various members of the congregation and holding onto the fact our shared faith story does not stop at the manger.

No need for fancy  clothes / costumes just ordinary people for whom God comes and believes in. Well ordinary people do extraordinary things every day especially when they know their creator believes in their potential.

Then at St Peters from the nativity we moved into our christingles being shared but not before the young children showed they knew what following Jesus really means. Forget fancy talk of what we believe, rather how do you show love? Well without prompt they moved to hug people , family, friends and strangers . Yes Jesus did say 'unless you become as little children.....' Did he not mean they get it. To follow is to do rather than talking about doing, 

So already for me some special services to prepare afresh for  the news that God comes to be one with us.

The hard working team just chilling at the deep car band evening. 

A variety of experiences

Well the scene was all set for the visit of year 1 from Hinde House school.

They were coming to find out why christians celebrate Christmas. So one class in the morning and one in the afternoon. Extremely well behaved and fun to be with. Of course at their young age the building itself had a wow factor , plus the usual off the wall questions ' how many lights are there?  Just normal inquistive minds. We explored the advent ring and then the christingle and they all went home with a christingle kit less the orange.

So what a delight to be in school today Monday leading assemblies for key stage one and key stage  two. In came year one with hello Mark and three of the many christingles they had made.

So we played a pass the parcel  game to talk about christmas and had Jesus Christmas party story.

Then it was onto key stage 2 and again lots of familiar faces , not least year four who had visited the church earlier in the year.

Its a wonderful diverse school and I Look forward to going in next week for the key stage 1 nativity which the children had been keen to tell me all about.

In between these events we took the opportunity to visit the victorian market on Saturday down on Kelham Island.

It was a really busy event and amazing we had never been before. We even managed a couple of christmas presents .....

Set within and around the industrial museum the atmosphere was great. Next year we will have to go along early evening to gain a different  perspective and perhaps then a glass of mull wine will seem appropriate 11am was just a bit too early.

Well tonight we  held our BB Christmas informal service. Great turn out filling our hall with the  youngsters and parents. With a couple of carols, the making of advent dice telling the story, and an improvised nativity a good time was had followed of course with food.

 

Sheffield supers retreat Whitby

Hardly seems like a year since we were all here last year.

Our theme this year being 'Soul care for busy leaders' 

Exploring afresh the need to make time for ourselves if we are to be of any use to anyone. One important aspect of our time being able to just stop and go for a walk.

So up the 199 steps to the Abbey ruins

Take in the views 

And down again to the harbour

Then a walk out to the lighthouse 

And taking in the rolling grey waves

And  looking up again to the abbey.

The best thing I find about being with our fellow superintendents is to be with people who really do care about what they are doing. Laughter has been frequent as we now know one another quite well representing the eight circuits of the Sheffield District.  So eleven supers and the chair of district makes for an interesting mix of personalities.

So one more session tonight and then business meeting tomorrow followed by communion and then return home.  Our retreat is about investing in our well being. A reminder that we all need the ebb and flow of life to have fulfillng lives. 

Monday morning and another test

Sitting at the hospital waitng to undergo a test. Naturally a bit apprehensive . It feels that since  my TIA some 20 months ago I have spent a lot of time at the surgery and hospitals being the one getting sorted out. It still remains strange to be the one on the receiving end waiting with others. You see such a diversity of people of all ages trying to keep themselves preoccupied.  So some flick through the magazines, others are on kindles or tablets, while others check their mobiles or is it playing games on the   mobile? Always an air of expectancy of concern.

One consistent experience for me has been the helpful reassuring staff. Keen to put me at my ease  and explain what will happen. 

Well pretest check with the nurse saw the usual questions asked including has any one in the family suffered from a type of mad cows disease - No! 

Then I was taken through to get changed. Now I see what a friend meant by the pants!! Hilarious. And yes I will take the gas and air if needed! 

So far everything was  running to time which is fine by me. "You did well to drink all four litres' I was told. It was the stuff you had to take in preparation the evening before. I thought you had to drink it all the instructions were clear. A lot of people apparantly don't manage it which I can understand.  I wish I had been told that  I could have at least left the last glassful!

Getting a little bit nervous now so bring on the gas and air. But first it was time to put a line into my arm just in case. In case of what?

Back to the small male waiting room to find a man sitting there who was clearly nervous and wanted to talk about how bad it would be. I just wanted to get on with it. Thankfully his doctor came and then mine only a little behind schedule. 

It's a strange state of affairs that you have to go into hospital to learn how to wait. To not be doing which of course means time to think. We are of course people who fill our time  which can drive out the time just to be still.

Well into the room for the deed. It was going to be filled with folk. Two doctors and three nurses. The TV screen meant I could once I gathered myself after the initial beginning of the test , and a bit of gas and air, follow the procedure. Wow what clarity to be able to see inside yourself. What I was not expecting was the conversation with the nurse who I discovered did not like Donald Trump. Well we were on firm ground there. Then  I gained the impression she had voted brexit, liked Boris Johnson and Mrs May. So diplomatically I sought to avoid disagreement, and talk of a granddaugter was safer territory. Then it was all over and I could go home. I remain still a great admirer of our NHS which is worth fighting for and preserving.  

Mosborough Parents tots

A visit to Mosborough Parent and Tots group was once again a pleasure to see familiar faces and to be able to collect the wonderful selection of gifts for the children in Asebu, Ghana.  This group has proved to be very generous in their willingness to look beyond their own community and provide a sign of care for those who have so little.

The church here is so fortunate to have such a well led group and to see the way the parents support one another and the children interact is a delight.

While there I picked up an e.mail to let me know we had a problem with the false ceiling at Firth Park. So of course I had to go and take a look.

Sometimes you wonder what you have to do to get ahead on our building scheme. It transpired that a part of the plaster of the original ceiling had come down. Not quite heavy enough to break through and so we have replaced the damaged tile but of course the area is now out of action as we dare not use the space.

So the challenge continues to raise the funds and enable the main church building to be converted into two spaces for community as well as church use. Anyone with a spare £250,000 let me know!      

   

Sunday at Eckington

A Sunday morning drive to our church at Eckington with St Lukes LEP . It was their Sunday when they bring together the shoe boxes for "Samaritans Purse" which will bring joy to children in places where the reality is they have very little. 115 boxes had been collected which in prayer we trust will bring a ray of hope at Christmas. It will say you are valued and of worth. While we are not without challenges within our own society. Still the need for food banks, homelessness on the rise and again with some sleeping on the  streets, families living in B&B's, a crisis in social care for the elderly. We do remain a very wealthy nation, and while not always great at sharing it justly at home, we still have the capacity to recognise the need in places far worst. So it was good to have shared in a time of worship and sharing.  

Sunday youth group

Well what a fun night we had. The second evening of a new group and our numbers have quadruppled. So with a variety of games, getting to know each orher, tower building, food and a short worship time we took another step forward to  build our work with young people. Just as in the morning worship we had real diversity reflecting the community we are set within. For me it is another glimmer of how our work is developing in a tough place and the importance of keeping going to let young people know they are worth our commitment. 

So we look forward to our December session and who knows further growth. Oh and Ed Balls got through to Blackpool excellent news the fun goes on.

Remembrance

Its the eve of Remembrance Sunday as I write. Tomorrow's worship will seek to enable people of all ages to engage with a corporate memory that has its roots in World War 1. There will be mixed thoughts about what we are doing. The hope that in remembering we don't do it again has of course not proved to be the case. World war 2, the Korean War, Vietnam, ....... The list is endless and of course today numerous conflicts many of which no longer even get a mention. 

Fear is a great driver of conflict as people paint the oppostion in such a way that many folk fall into the trap of believing in an us and them. And 'them' are dangerous! The rise of Hitler had many strands to it. But his party did get elected to parliament, and with legislation was empowered to then deprive others of power by building on peoples fears and their sense of being downtrodden and over looked. 

Who really knows what a Trump president is going to bring. What is clear that intertwining facts of unemployment a consequence of the changing industrial world with words of the fear of others in the community led in part to his election. To speak of others in the way that he did was to play on fears. Even if he does not believe it , it shows the kind of individual he is. If he does not believe it then he should never have spoken in the way that he did. People will of course become disilluioned with him when he does not make good on his promies. As many now requote his election strap line 'making America Hate again!   After decades of progress a step back to a darker time. It should serve Christian communities as a reminder that we need to make good on what we say . Our words, our lifestyle, should both discomfort us and the world we serve for they should consistently be about liberating people from fear. Every individual made in the image of God is worthy of respect, a voice, of being truely loved. 

Remembrance is not just about recalling those who died in war, their sacrifice for the freedom of others, after all World War 1 was never about that. It should be about the way living a life of Love as revealed in the person of Jesus can set you free  from your fears. So you don't need to hate, and you don't need to add to the cycle of fear that so often creates wars by creating barriers between people. But then I'm one of Mr John Wesleys preachers and so 'the world is my parish too' , and the barriers to that are only my own prejudices.

So this morning we stood in silence and then went outside to plant our poppies a community of many races and ages, but made one by our common trust in Jesus Christ.

As we made our way from our normal worship space outside and in again to our plaque of those who died in the wars, a parent at the bus stop explained to their child 'it's  a church'. I assume they meant the building,  but the reailty the church was and is that the stream of people who were coming and going in and out of the building , they really are the church. Lives seeking to live out a love that casts out fear.  

Christians live in the shadow of Jesus Love. Sadly many live in the shadow of war . Rememering is one thing, living differently is another. When we finally do live the love of Christ we won't need poppies to annually jar our lives. 

Living in the inner city

One of the main reasons we moved to live in the inner city was the belief that it was important to retain Christian presence in our inner cities. So many have seen the slow withdrawal from them as people move out to the suburbs. This means leaving a small, aging congregation to try and deliver the wider mission of the church. Of course some of these buildings are not in good shape and their maintenence saps  at the remaining energy. Equally we felt it was important to not just serve in such an area but to live within it as well. We have not been disappointed in what we expected. It is hard for our faithful folk to  offer relevant worship that connects with peoples lives. It is hard to keep the fabric of the buildings in good   order. It is difficult as a minister to create a personal presence in a very built up and complex area compared to places I have lived in before. Yet it is the personal relationships that do help to make   people feel that Church is a safe place, a place of hospitality, a place you can work out what life is for. 

Education and schools have where ever I have lived been a challenge. My personal belief in an education system that works for all can often stand in stark contrast to the realities on the ground. The fragmantation created by successive governments only highlights people trying to get their children into  ' the best schools' - church schools feature highly. I have always questioned the truth of this and my joy has been to work with straightforward state schools. So to read the extract of the report below encourages me to stick with what I perceive God was saying to me. 'Go to the inner city, stick with it. ' 

Michael Hirst has carried out research into the Methodist Church’s presence in poor communities. He explains some of the challenges it revealed for the vision of building a “church of the poor”.

New research on the positioning of the Methodist Church suggests that Methodist ministers live predominantly in less deprived areas and that bias has increased in recent years. Other aspects of a Methodist presence – faith schools and lay people providing national oversight – also show a bias towards less deprived areas…

The first question addressed to humankind, represented by Adam, is ‘Where are you?’ (Genesis 3:9). This question adds comedic effect to the story but it also has serious intent.

God knows precisely where Adam is hiding and – like Juliet’s plea ‘Wherefore are thou Romeo?’ – the question is not primarily about location. ‘Where’ can sometimes mean WHY?

God is challenging Adam to reflect on his position: why are you over there and not here with me? What has happened to make you do that? What has become of you? God alludes to their former relationship which is now broken: Adam is in the wrong place, literally and metaphysically.

Nowadays, question marks hang over the Church’s position on many issues. The question posed in Church Action on Poverty’s report Church of the Poor? may be the most challenging.

As this report shows, all Christian denominations and indeed other faith traditions proclaim in various ways a preferential option for the poor.

Self-proclaimed solidarity with the poor – backed by doctrine, scriptures and tradition – might be expected to align their clergy and mission with deprived areas and marginalised communities.

New research on the positioning of the Methodist Church suggests otherwise. Methodist ministers live predominantly in less deprived areas: the more deprived an area the less likely they are to live there, and that bias has increased in recent years. Supernumerary ministers fulfill their lifelong calling in areas that are generally less deprived than the ones in which they had served before retirement.

Around one in eight Methodist churches are located in the most deprived communities and most members gather for worship in less deprived areas. Some ministers who officiate at services and minister religion in deprived areas cross noticeable social gradients on their journeys from manse to church.

Other aspects of a Methodist presence – faith schools and lay people providing national oversight – also show a bias towards less deprived areas. As a result, fewer pupils in state-funded Methodist schools, than in the school population at large, are entitled to free school meals – a key marker of income poverty and material deprivation.

These findings do not chime well with the Methodist Church’s commitment to ‘being alongside the poor’ as expressed in one of its priorities:

‘Supporting community development and action for justice, especially among the most deprived and poor – in Britain and worldwide’.

How can faith groups transcend economic inequalities and heal social divisions? Offering religious ministry, pastoral care, and witness from positions of relative comfort is one thing; entering into solidarity with the poor – acting out faith together in practical and transformative ways – is quite another.

When Jesus invites John’s disciples to see where he is staying (John 1:39), maybe he’s suggesting: come, position yourself with me, and look at the world from where I stand. The early disciples soon learned that following Jesus often meant leaving their preferred places, exchanging their point of view for God’s viewing points, and turning the taken-for-granted upside down (Acts 17:6).

Location matters because places differ, not least where poor people and wealthy people live in separate areas. Perhaps Church and clergy are being called to change places.

With finite resources, that may mean withdrawing clergy from affluent congregations in favour of deprived communities. Maybe that’s a fantasy. Nonetheless, directing resources towards deprived communities provides an authentic way to becoming Church of the Poor.

Location underpins incarnational theology, ministry and mission, and clergy embody those endeavours. Being in the right place is not sufficient to becoming Church of the Poor, but it is necessary.

---

Michael Hirst is  a retired researcher living in Glossop.

Sunday worship - creation

Well we had a great morning as a faith community as we told the story of creation.

With backgrounds produced by the young people

 

We had a marvellous back cloth being revealed as the story was told .

And then with words and song and all ages the story was related.

It was another step as a church developing both worship and the way we work with our children and young  people. Big thanks to Lynn and Peter, Malcolm, Nigel and  Joyce. 

 

City of culture

What a delightful city to live in. You find yourself walking through the winter gardens and you come across a wonderful group of people singing. It was the Sheffield chorale making people's day with a delightful sound . 

Then I spotted a woman from one of our Methodist churches . She's amazing how she finds time to do so many things .

The health service and Friday rest day

Well I was all set for a rest day apart from a firm coming to see where we have a leak on the pipe work at the house . "Mark I've fallen " so I discovered my wife had fallen backwards in the garden . Yes a gash on the back of the head  , no you can't leave it! So we found ourselves  sitting in A&E . Yes you have to wait but we do still have an amazing health service with great staff. So once checked it was time again to wait for the doctor and possible stitch. Oh yes ! as I was shown the gash not for the faint hearted to look at. It needed five stitches and finally we could go home. Just in time to learn the leak had been found fixed and all back to normal. So a not to be repeated day I spent part of the afternoon cleaning down the decking so no more slipping.

Signing the covenant

Well it was Tuesday evening at St Andrews Psalter Lane . Within an act of worship the Methodist Church and Church of England  in Sheffield signed an area covenant. 

Bishop Peter and Chair of District Gill Newton signed on behalf of the two traditions. 

 

It was witnessed by the mayor 

And 

Other faith leaders 

The hope is that we will work more closely and use our precious resources more widely to serve the city. 

Going to worship and starting a new youth group

How rare these days it is to sit in a congregation unless away on holiday. This morning saw me doing this though I was there for a purpose. Listening to a Local Preacher on trial for his final service before interview at the Local Preachers meeting which leads to being accredited as a preacher, and it was one of two services for candidating for the Methodist ministry. Quite a tall order for any to lead a sevice . So I found myself seeking both to worship while having to have a critical eye for detail. It was fun not to be recognised by most people. So as I stood deciding where to sit so as not to be noticed by the preacher if jotting down notes I was told 'you can sit anywhere, we don't have reserved seats' I am sure it was meant. Yet it made me smile as I recalled many a time my wife had been told that when she has come to churches with me, only to discover she has sat in someones seat!  The music group were good and the welcome of the church was very apparant from the moment you stepped through the doors. Certainly a church you could direct people to attend.

Then tonight the opportunity to begin a new venture with a Sunday night youth group. I felt it went really well and we will just have to be patient to allow it to grow at its own pace and out of their needs. For me it was a reminder of numerous young people I have worked with in youth groups throughout my ministry. Always a challenge and always great fun. So a mixed week has ended on a positive note and for that I am thankful.

Harlow Carr

A chance to get out and relax saw a great trip to Harlow Carr.

One of the four RHS gardens. Its  the third we have visited this year and the second time we have had chance to take in its rich and colourful gardens.

The Alpines were stunning in colour and diversity

You just wish you had more time to create your own planting of them .

Of course there is always fun sides to such places !

 The BFG in all his glory !

Now that's what I call a harvest display and makes my few squashes look a bit tiny.

Great vistas everywhere you looked and no self respecting garden is without a pond or to be precise a lake.

Such colour 

Where ever you looked. 

So a bought cake from Bettys and a coffee in the car saw us return home. What way to end the day than to enjoy a great strictly - and what about Ed Balls as 'The Mask'  I had tears of laughter and admiration putting his reputation on the line. He may not win but I do hope he stays in for a little bit longer. 

So just Wisley RHS to go and we will have the set. Probabley means we will have to go and stay with our daughter - just an excuse to see our granddaughter.