Out of Sight…
As most of you know,
this time next week I will be in Edinburgh at the General Assembly.
As some of you know, the General Assembly is the annual
gathering of the church, where representatives from every area where the Church
of Scotland serves come together, representing their Presbyteries, but acting
independently, to listen to reports of the work that the wider church has done
over the past year, reflect on what that means, and instruct those councils for
the work to come.
Alongside our commissioners there will be representatives
from the world Church and Interdenominational Bodies; from charities and other
organisations who work alongside our church. There will be youth reps and older
people; there will be ministers and elders – it will be the church gathered
from around the world – and around 800 voices will lift in praise and prayer.
General Assembly can be dry and dull; but it can also be
vibrant and encouraging, uplifting and inspiring. The theme this year is “Peace
be with YOU!” – with an exclamation mark – it is a triumphant shout, not a passive murmur.
More than 2000 years ago, as Jesus left the earth for the
final time he promised that although he would be gone, out of sight, they would
not be alone for he was sending the Holy Spirit, to fill them with power and
strength and the enable them to be witnesses “to the ends of the earth”.
Here we are, 2000 years later, the descendants of those
witnesses, in the furthest reaches of the world; in every corner; on every
continent, responsible for sharing the news and love of God in Jesus Christ, in
our community, in our small corner.
As we prepare to remember again the first outpouring of the Spirit,
I am preparing for the General Assembly.
This week, in preparation for this I received a copy of the “Strategic
Plan” for the next 10 years; it states, “whatever we do, we do prayerfully,
with humility and seeking to be in tune with the Spirit of God at work in the
world”
Alongside preparing for GA, I have also been preparing for
our own local review; this happens every five years, reviewing our work, our
place, our church. And I find I am challenged; we are blessed with a small but active
and committed congregation and trustees – elders and board members who
willingly give of their time and talents for the church here in our community;
alongside the work I do here in the parish, I also fulfil my ordination vows in
engaging with the wider church at both presbytery and national level.
Currently, our charge is under terms of what is called
reviewable tenure, which means every seven years, the charge is reviewed to
consider whether it is still right to have a full time minister; do we need
more help? Could we manage with a minister who works less time? Other charges
in the area are under unrestricted tenure – there is no compunction for review
of tenure every seven years; (I’ve been here seven years so it happens that
that review is also due this year, but it will not happen until later in the year)
It has long been the view of our trustees and minister that
we should move to an unrestricted tenure, to give more stability and security. But,
as I look at our national church; there are challenges which in all consciousness
mean that I can no longer support that thought.
The numbers of vacancies continue to rise; the length of
vacancies continues to grow; almost one in four congregations do not have a
minister at all!
The sad reality is that in the next five to ten years this
number will not improve, it is estimated that the numbers will continue to
drop.
And yet!!! We are resurrection people!!
We are ascension people!
“We are moved by faith to be recognised by all as the
mainspring of the community, and so to bring its members closer to God”
(Earlston)
“whatever we do, we do prayerfully, with humility and seeking
to be in tune with the Spirit of God at work in the world” (strategic plan)
“when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, you will be filled with
power, and you will be witnesses for me in Jerusalem, in all of Judea and
Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Jesus)
The week after assembly there is to be a gathering in
Galashiels for members of congregations in Presbytery to gather and try to do a
creative positive forward looking realistic appraisal of our area.
Can we collaborate with our neighbours?
Can we create a hub where fewer minsters work together with
lay people to bring together the three elements of being church today: Worship;
Community; Discipleship.
Can we work together – to build our community; to bring
worship in new more accessible ways to more people; and to make disciples of
those who have yet to hear the Good News of Jesus Christ?
Maybe you think “I am too old for change”
Maybe you feel, “this church (my church) will see me out”
Maybe you hope that if you just keep your head down it will
all somehow just be ok.
Or maybe, just maybe you can see opportunities here?
Maybe, just maybe change doesn’t feel like a terrible thing –
maybe it is scary, but maybe also, it is exactly what we, what the church
needs!
Maybe, you can help to envisage a church fit for our children’s
children? And their children? Maybe you can be creative, and help to come up
with a plan that will bring the news of Jesus’ love into hearts who are crying
out for it.
Our church meets for an hour a week in this building; but continues to be church, at home, on the
street, in the hall, and the working place for the other 167 hours in each week…
Jesus may be out of sight; but the Spirit is living and here
and active – we are Resurrection people!
Are we looking out? Or in?
Are we looking forward? Or back?
Up? Or down?
The angel came to the disciples as they looked up to the sky
and told them to stop gazing at clouds,
and get back to doing what Jesus told them to.
We are Earlston Church.
We can sit and wait for the end, or we can go and share the
joy of being Ascension People, Children of Pentecost – we are Earlston Church:
“We are moved by faith to be recognised by all as the
mainspring of the community, and so to bring its members closer to God”
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