a reflection on the first 2 years

Reflection on our time together

As was mentioned earlier today, in a less than 2 weeks, I will be part of a conversation with a group of people from this Parish, along with 3 people from Presbytery. This conversation is called Vital Ministry.

It is also just over 2 years since I began in ministry with this Parish;

so, it has been a time for me to reflect on what has happened, or not happened.

For me, this placement was unsettled from the beginning:

Not long after I announced I was leaving my previous church, a child from that place died, a child I knew and cherished. Leaving 2 months after the funeral left like I was abandoning the family.

The week of the Induction in mid-September, I was ill and there were some concerns expressed about aspects of worship.

In November, Ian’s dad turned ninety, and died all within a few weeks.

Then Christmas, a trip overseas, and six months in, I was still trying to find my place, in what is a complex and busy Parish.

With all my experience in churches, as part of congregations as we moved around, and part of presbytery and Synod committees, there are some aspects of church life here that I have not come across before. Some of that is good, some I have concerns about.

In my reflecting, I looked again at the profile you prepared before I arrived.

The profile told me that your experience with Ministers has not always been positive.

It also noted how a dedicated group of people, most who are part of this parish, maintained the life of this church, its life and ministry and mission. Not all parishes are able to do that, not all parishes have people with the gifts and graces to be able to continue the work of Christ in the community without a Minister, especially for the length of time you did.

here are a few sentences from the profile, of what you were hoping and praying for:

The parish needs the continuity of a long-term placement of an experienced minister to enable it to grow, to support the leadership, and to foster the growth of new leadership in the development of new programs and in outreach to the community. The parish needs a minister to lead evangelistic programs and add new members.

That was a good reminder to me of one of the reasons I was keen to talk with the Nominating Committee. You were not wanting a minister to maintain what was, but to work with you for what might be.

I think this Parish has great potential, Friday evening worship is flourishing, with many new families involved. Though we do need something else for the young people once they get to about 9 or 10 years of age.  A youth worker is one of the Parish goals, that requires a substantial increase in our budget. I hope we find a way to raise the extra $35, 000 each year, because some of the families from FFFN are starting to attend less, as their children get older.

In June we will be trialling some Saturday evening worship services; and combined services each Sunday morning for the month with guest preachers. The Moderator has already agreed to preach on Sunday 24^th June.

You were looking for Minister to foster new leaders and develop new programs. Often new programs mean letting go of something else. Fostering new leaders means that some people will need to hand over responsibilities to newly appointed people.

I hope this next year is a time for consolidating the mission teams, recognising the opportunities for welcoming people in ways that allows them to hear the grace and love of God through Jesus.

That is possible, but only if we trust God, and each other.

Hope, seek God

Prior to the readings, there is a short section showing where Jeremiah is on a timeline, and giving a little background. 

after the Bible reading, a reflection From Spill the Beans: I Never Wanted to Live Here

this sermon is followed by a hymn, then my reflection on 2 years of ministry

...

Sometimes life is confusing, the things that happen to us do not make sense.

In this passage, Jeremiah is telling the people in exile, that they will be there for a while, so get used to it.
build your house
raise your family

Plant gardens
let your children marry, even locals

The welfare of the exiles is linked with the welfare of the community.

I wonder if that is true for us today?

In what ways is our welfare linked with that of the poorest in our area?

In our day there are so many voices competing for our attention. Advertisements tell us we need to buy particular clothes or shoes or furniture or car that will make us happy.

If only we lived in a different suburb or region, we would be satisfied.

And when election time rolls around, we will be offered a variety of reasons to vote for each candidate, often to do with how we will personally benefit.

Jeremiah, as with the other prophets, has told the people they are not following God’s commands, they are worshipping idols and sacrificing children.[i] This is not the way that God’s people live.

What we consider commandments, are more like signs.

Because the Lord is your God, this is how you will live, you won’t have idols, you won’t curse God, you won’t kill or steal or cheat others from what is theirs.

Sure, they are good rules to live by, but when we live by rules, we look for loopholes.

When we live in relationship with God, our lives are changed.

Because God is God, we don’t need idols

Because God is our God we don’t need to cheat each other

Because God is our God we don’t need to steal or murder

Etc.

The people of Israel and Judah had forgotten what it meant to live as God’s people,
they had abandoned the ways of God,
    of helping the poor, the orphan and the widow

    of worshipping only the Lord
    of valuing all life

and the consequence was destruction of the city and temple

exile of the leaders, and later others.

The prophet Jeremiah was still in Jerusalem, when the section from Chapter 29 was sent to the exiles in Babylon.

Even with the pain and anguish of exile, and Jeremiah’s words to settle in for the long haul – there is also hope in this reading.

“For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope. Then when you call upon me and come and pray to me, I will hear you. When you search for me, you will find me; if you seek me with all your heart, I will let you find me, says the Lord, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, says the Lord, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile.”

[Jeremiah 29: 11-14 NRSVA]

God said: I will bless you with a future filled with hope

Seek me and I will let you find me

Sounds like hide and seek to me, except God is in clear view

Next week we begin Advent and the theme for the first week is traditionally hope.

What will you hope for this year?

Where do you find God in that hope?

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[i] https://thebibleproject.com/explore/jeremiah/