He bids us build each other up

On 22^nd May (the day before Pentecost and two days before the anniversary of John Wesley’s conversion) the Great Western Federation came into being. In case you’ve missed it, the GWF is a partnership between the Swindon & Marlborough, Upper Thames and Chippenham circuits. Through working closer together we aim to co-operate in mission across North Wiltshire.

The launch, held at St Josephs College in Swindon, was well attended with nearly all churches in the three circuits represented. I was pleased to see people from the three churches I look after there, as well as some from Butterworth Street (who I will be looking after from September.)

We started with a service and then the signing of the declaration by the great and good of each circuit and then each church was presented with a candle to mark the occasion. As well as the formal signing, everyone present was also invited to sign up to the agreement in a book. Over the next few months this book will be passed across the circuits between churches and at each stop everyone will be invited to sign. The book will be accompanied by a small gift from the previous church to the recipient. It is hoped that this passing of the book will enable strong links to be built up across the Federation.

But what does being part of a Federation mean? Well, as I’ve said, the Federation’s main aim is to provide ways of the three circuits working together for the mission of the Kingdom. To give you some of the ideas already being looked at. In each of the three circuits there are one or two people wanting to train as local preachers. Now I remember from my own time training as a local preacher the training is far more rewarding in a larger group than if there is just one or two of you. So one thing we can do as Federation is run the local preacher training jointly for the benefit of all.

Similarly we are starting to look at ways of providing training for Sunday School teachers and youth club leaders. Through the Federation we can put on a good amount of training hopefully.

Inevitably talk of the Federation makes us think about “Super Circuits”. And who knows, if that is where the Holy Spirit leads that may happen. But for now that is not the aim. The aim is I feel summed up neatly in a the second verse of a Charles Wesley hymn (HP 753) All Praise to our redeeming Lord

He bids us build each other up;
And, gathered into one,
To our high calling’s glorious hope,
We hand in hand go on.

In other words by working together we will build each other up and support one another in proclaiming Christ Jesus as Saviour.

I shed a tear

I attended a prayer breakfast for clergy in Swindon today. It was led (excellently) by two members of Swindon Youth for Christ.

The SYFC team explained how in the various schools they attend the young people were amazed to think that people would pray for them. So SYFC had brought along some requests for prayer that children (all at secondary school I think) had requested. I was given this:

"I prey to see all my brothers and sisters again and no that they are safe with there carers"

(I've typed it exactly as written.)

This broke my heart. And I was almost unable to read it out in the small group I was with.

I think it was partly because Mrs Not a normal vicar works in social services and shares with me so many of the tragic tales she encounters of children in care. This prayer was almost as if I knew the child making the request.

I hope and pray that God hears this prayer and answers it as the child wishes - even if in the long term the child may be better off in care (which is sometimes the case after all.)

Keep an eye on them!

So we've elected our MPs. But at the time of publishing this we still don't have a government. No doubt one way or the other that will be resolved in the next 48 hours.

And once Parliament is up and running then what?

I preached at the end of April on the importance of Christians voting and of course trying to vote for the political party that seems to most closely reflect Christian values. The essence of what I was saying is that legitimate, just governments are part of God’s plan to establish his Kingdom. Therefore, it is our duty as Christians to elect such Governments.

Driving home in the car after that service the Vicar's wife said “It was a good sermon but you missed out something. You should have said that as Christians we also have a duty to hold MPs accountable and watch what they are doing.”She was right. I should have made that point and in fact I am going to make that point now.

I am sure you are familiar with the story of Jesus being given a Roman coin by the Jewish authorities and asked him whether it was lawful to pay taxes to the Romans. They were attempting to impale him on the horns of a dilemma. Jesus said the tribute should not be paid then the Jews would have reported Jesus to the Roman authorities for treasonable talk. On the other hand if he said pay the Roman tax he would alienate a lot of his own supporters.

Jesus’ answer was that if you use Roman currency then you accept Rome’s right to raise taxes and should pay Roman taxes – using that currency. But equally Jesus said it was important to recognise that Roman authority only goes so far. God’s domain encompasses everything.

The point for us today is that if we use the services provided by Government, we must pay taxes to the Government and also accept that the Government is legitimate. If we enjoy the state and all its privileges then we cannot divorce ourselves from the state.

As Christians we have a duty to be conscientious citizens, honest citizens, accepting what the Government says. And therefore as conscientious citizens I believe it is important that we take part in how the country is run. For some that will mean wanting to enter politics. But for most of us it means making sure our views are heard and that MPs are acting in accordance with the values we hold dear. The values of people who are already citizens of God’s Kingdom.

So once the dust has settled and we know who the Prime Minister is and who our MP is, I think it is important that we as Christians monitor our MPs but also pray for them and maybe even send words of encouragement to them.

Father, You guide and govern everything with order and love.
Look upon the assembly of our national leaders
and fill them with the spirit of Your wisdom.
May they always act in accordance with Your will
and their decisions be for the peace and well-being of all. Amen.

Facebook - Home of Daily Mail readers?

I've just been invited on Facebook to vote for who I want to be Prime Minister.

OK, I know I am pedantic but none of us vote for Prime Minister. We vote for MPs and the convention is that the leader of the party with most MPs becomes Prime Minister.

But then looking at the posts that go with this I found this gem:

Carol TaylorneeWright

Most of the decent hardworking people i know and speak to want Cameron to be our next PM, they like his policies on immigration,law and order,europe and reforming the welfare state,the few that want Brown back in are to be honest ,workshy lazy spongers and are worried they might be forced to get off their backsides and work instead of poncing off the taxpayers.And after reading some of the comments on here,i think voting age should be raised to 21,because a few are clearly still wet behind the ears,and uneducated.

I've no idea who Carol Taylor nee Wright is. But I bet she read the Daily Mail!

I fear we have at least five years of this bigotry to come Lord help us.