Our mission – wherever we are, is to share the Good News of Jesus Christ and show God’s love through worship, witness, and service.

If you’re part of our Crowland community, you’ll recognise reflections here from a sermon I delivered right before Lent—a message that’s stayed with me, I have not been able to shake it off. But the context for today is different. It is wonderful to see people here from across the circuit. As we all know, we are navigating through some tough times, actively seeking where God wants us to go next. Accepting that change needs to happen, and talking about change, and making decisions for the future, is difficult. Today I feel led to stress how important it is that we are open to the Holy Spirit. As for the transfiguration, I have been led to think about the parallels between where we are now, and the questioning and chaos that is going on half-way down the mountain, where Jesus steps in and brings healing and peace. We need to listen to Jesus.

Elijah and Elisha – 2 Kings 2:1-12

Elijah and Elisha are two of the most significant prophets in the OT. Elijah is the older one – his name means my God is Yahweh. Elisha’s name means God is Salvation – God has the power to save and sustain life. They belong to a community of prophets. They are celebrated for leading God’s people through a time of crisis and change. They called people back to worshipping the one true God, rather than false god’s, and to honouring God’s law. But now there is another change. Elijah’s ministry will close, he will be taken up to heaven in a fiery chariot, and Elisha will take over. It is easy to be distracted by this vision, but the real story is of the intimate relationship between Elijah and Elisha, and how Elisha struggles with change. He does not want to be separated from Elijah. When he turns up for worship and sees the other prophets, they say to him. ‘You know that this is the day don’t you’ – I paraphrase – and Elisha says – and this is exact – Yes I know, so be quiet’. In other words. I know. I don’t want to talk about it.

2 Kings 2: 3,5

How revealing that is! Elisha, faced with the prospect of change, and an uncertain future, says what all of us say directly to others. “Don’t say anything”. “I don’t want to talk about it”. And the same is true for us as we are in this moment where we are questioning what is sustainable for us as a circuit of churches with staff – not just financially, but in terms of energy – and seeking God’s will. According to the human playbook our first response is predicted to be, ‘We don’t want to talk about it’. But we have no option. No matter how painful it might be, and how insecure we might feel. I am always moved by leading the covenant service. I am moved not just by the prayer, but by the preamble. To receive from God, we need to give from God, we need to make ourselves vulnerable. If we honour God, God will honour us.

The other important thing about this story is having accepted that change is going to happen, Elisha asks for a double portion of Elijah’s spirit – the Holy Spirit. Elisha has seen the divine spark at work in Elijah, and reasons that this is what has made him robust in times of great challenge – there was one moment – after he had defeated the false prophets of Baal – when Elijah ran away. He thought he would be better off dead but he is visited by an angel and hears God in the still small voice if you remember. And he recovers. But Elisha can see that it is the divine spark – the Holy Spirit that sees Elijah through that. We understand that the Holy Spirit is our comforter, counsellor, helper, friend, the one who convicts us, and the one who empowers us. We can face all things if we ask God’s spirit within us. Without the spirit we are nothing but dust in the wind.

Elijah and Elisha cross over the Jordan. It is symbolic as a place of transition. Are you at a life-changing moment?

Sandra – who is involved in our livestream worship community said this – it is hard to choose from so many life changing moments when God has moved mightily and amazingly in my life – sometimes at times of real difficulty – each strengthening and deepening my faith. I remember one time when I was searching for work and felt drawn to work for a mental health charity. I encountered many battles for others. Many lives were changed including mine. I often see God’s hand at work in bringing volunteers alongside me. The work kept me sane and helped my family. It is difficult to be brief on how God has been with me over the past 15 years.

Elijah and Elisha’s journey across the Jordan reminds us that we all face moments that can change our lives. But change is not all bad. Change can be exciting. Rewarding. Sometimes small changes have big consequences. And how might God be calling your church to embrace change. One thing covid did, peculiarly, is to accept that we had to do things differently, but I think we are at risk of backsliding and taking comfort now things are more settled.

Let us move on to the Transfiguration and exorcism
(Mark 9:2-29)

It is easy to be distracted by Jesus, whiter than white, transfigured on the mountaintop.

It is easy to be distracted by His conversation with Moses, the greatest high-priest known to Israel, and Elijah, one of the greatest prophets known to Israel.

It is easy to be distracted by Peter’s clumsy offer to set up tents. There was Jesus, Moses, and Elijah, talking about how Jesus’ mission would unfold (Luke tells us that), and Peter may as well be asking if anyone wants tea, biscuits, and cake. Peter, you might be missing the point here! There might be something more important going on!

Jesus is trying to give Peter, James, and John – three of his key leaders – confidence by allowing them to see this. The point of it all is the voice from heaven that says to them ‘This is my beloved Son. Listen to Him’.

Another of my church leaders – who has experienced the death of her teenage son some years ago, said this; ‘Listening to Jesus has made a big difference in my life, especially at the hardest points when I felt so alone. Knowing the Holy Spirit is in and around me and my family and friends, gives me hope for the future’.

And so there we have it. In our own lives, within our Churches – as well as being open to the Spirit, we need to listen to Jesus. One of the most heartening pieces of feedback I have had from one of our church leaders is that whilst we need to look at what our finances say, and be honest about the people and energy we have, we also need to have faith. Let us be sure that we are not too earthly in our thinking to be of any heavenly use. Neither should we have our head in the clouds. God has great things for us. If the attitudes of James and John are to go by though, we cannot comprehend what that will be because our God is too small, and we only think in certain ways.

Down the mountain

For me it is impossible to remember the transfiguration without being honest about the chaos that is going on down below – that Jesus steps in and sorts out. For today we will forgo a detailed look at the difference between exorcism and healing. The point is that Jesus steps into a chaotic situation, where I am sure that everyone has their ideas, and everyone has an opinion, as a family is in crisis and a young boy is desperate for release.

You can either view this as how we can have spiritual highs in one place, and spiritual lows in the next. I remember visiting one of the members of our churches, who has since passed away. Although it was sad, it was deeply important, and it left me feeling that I had done some good. She knew she had little time left. She recognised me. She said my name – and there was such appreciation in her voice. We prayed. We prayed against her fears. We prayed for her peace. Then I left the ward, to find a message pinged on my phone, and chaos unfolding at Westgate New Church on the day that we were expecting people for BoB, our lunchtime fellowship.

The problem half-way down the mountain was that the toilet floors were being replaced, the contractors were in, but somewhere along the line there had been ‘a communication issue’! To make things even more challenging, the contractors thought that we could work around them – but they struggled to understand our context. I mean, when we looked at the access we had, it would have meant asking those who come, and who use walking sticks and strollers to shimmy down the main corridor with their backs to the wall! And as for the kitchen floor that had been repurposed as a cutting station – we will say no more – there was nowhere for Suzanne to cook. What started out with good intentions descended into chaos – and then organised chaos as we had to cancel BoB.

There was a period of frantic activity as we tried to call round everyone before they boarded their local bus to reach us. And then we had to work out what had gone wrong. I should say that the story ends well. We have new toilet floors and a new kitchen floor. I think that is enough of an example of chaos down the mountain. I won’t even mention the tarmac lorry that arrived ahead of schedule the other day because another contractor was so pleased with the progress that they were making that they delivered early!

I should say thanks to Bernie for his work at Westgate New Church, and all those other property secretaries who help across our churches, and to our trustees. But here is the important point – when we survey the scene halfway down the mountain – whilst we can be frustrated, annoyed, trying to work out who arranged what, frantic in our efforts to sort everything, ultimately we will find a way through the chaos so long as we remember that we are routed in Jesus, that we treat each other with grace, and that we keep the main thing the main thing. Whilst BoB did not happen, every person knew that they were cared for. And those new toilet and kitchen floors are lovely! Remember that God is with you when you encounter chaos halfway down the mountain. Remember that how you behave when you are halfway down the mountain is crucial because it is a witness to others.

Another way of looking at this link is how the mountaintop is where the leaders gather – the mountaintop for us might be our Circuit Leadership Team, our Circuit Meeting, our Treasurers meeting, our Gathering, our Circuit Services – the places where the core gathers, and then down the mountain is where the rest of our churches are at. And communicating to the crowd is a nightmare because it is about the challenge, it is about the process, it is about the people, and it is about what we can, and cannot do, and it is about trying to involve as many as people as possible as we strive to discern how God is leading us to work together in the future. Some people are early on in that conversation. For others it is new.

And there are the insecurities. Shortly, the Circuit will be publishing the findings from our first gathering. These are really encouraging. To give you a teaser; we celebrate these Circuit Services and our involvement in Social Action are things we celebrate, we mourn Numbers at Worship, and our decline in membership but nonetheless celebrate new members that have joined us and become involved. People see music as being of deep significance to our Methodist identity, followed by Pastoral Groups, Social Action, and our link with Connexion and District in equal measure. But there were three written points that betray our fears – amongst the positives there was one written comment that I need to address – there were three but the other two – we need to act now, and we need to think through the scenarios, are in play, even though yes, I would prefer the future to be sorted in one nice, easy move.

The point – just one worrying comment, among many positives, is that we, as a circuit, already know what buildings are going to close. And by buildings what I think the person really meant was churches. (The feedback is anonymised to encourage people to be honest, open and transparent). That’s the fear that is getting in the way – the fear that someone somewhere will close your church. Well, allow me to assure you. Nothing is decided. More than that, there is not a boardroom where a group of directors make decisions that you are not involved in. There is no them and us. There is no church and circuit. We are all the circuit. The circuit meeting is filled with representatives from your churches; stewards, treasurers, and more.

There are exceptions, and they are not set by us – if your numbers fall or you cannot function, there is no option but to close or merge, but beyond that, you have the power. And think about it – none of us would want to force things – that would be counterproductive – we are One Body and we are rightly reluctant to cut off one bit because we say it is not needed. But we do need you to be honest and help us find a way forward that is sustainable. And I am hoping that because you have the security, you are better placed to ask yourselves the challenging questions. How might God have a better future for you? For your church?

We do need to act now. To which I respond, we are acting now, yes there is an urgency, we do have a plan – but informing and mobilising people takes time. We need your help. We need to help people understand and take people with us. Personally, I have a mix of vulnerability, and excitement about the future. I am mindful that we have people’s lives in our hands. I am mindful that we are dependent on people’s generosity. I can see where the future leads if things do not change. But God is a God of change.

Let’s revisit what Jesus says when he is confronted by the chaos.

Jesus comes down the mountain, he sees chaos, and at the heart of this chaos is the struggle that the disciples are having to bring healing to a young boy. He is clearly frustrated. I close with three lessons. First, he looks on the scene and declares:

You unbelieving generation, how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you?

Now, I think that is a word to those of us who have caught the vision that God is doing a new thing but are frustrated in how difficult it is to communicate this to the crowd. The good news is that Jesus felt it. Take comfort in that. Take comfort in how the story ends, with a healing, but remember that you are not Jesus, and criticising people for their lack of faith, when you think you have it, is probably not a good idea! We need to take people with us. Note that Jesus’ focus is on a generation, a group of people, not just one or two. Mark 9:19

Second, Jesus affirms the importance of belief. Do you believe that Jesus can make a difference to your life, your church, your community. The father of the boy says he believes, but there is an element of unbelief there – ‘I do believe, help me overcome my unbelief’. Is that not true of us all? Mk 9:24

Third, Jesus talks about the importance of prayer. Leaving aside a complex look at healing and deliverance, it is prayer that focuses and changes the mood of the scene here. Prayer puts the focus on God rather than our wisdom. As I stand in the middle of lent, I am minded that our focus needs to be on prayer – and repentance, to allow God to work in us, see things God’s way, and to be open to change.

There is one final point. If you notice, Jesus tells Peter, James and John not to speak of the transfiguration until his death. He also tells people not to disclose that he is the Messiah. This is known as the Messianic Secret. My first thought was this was a strategy from Jesus to ensure that He is gossiped about – since when you ask some people to keep a secret, they think it so precious that they share it everywhere. But no, Jesus tells people to hold back – people will not understand his role, he is managing the timing of his death, he is wanting time to prepare the disciples and for their faith to grow, he does not want unwanted attention from the authorities.

You however can gossip as much as you like….

Tell people newcomers are finding a home with us.

Tell people how faith has guided and been precious to the faithful who have died.

Tell people how by working together we are helping people who face, illness, poverty, sickness, and injustice.

Tell people our churches are actively changing lives.

Tell people, despite the challenges, God’s support never wavers.

Tell people God will provide, but we will need to give something ourselves.

Tell people every prayer, every service, brings us closer to God’s vision.
Tell people every act of faithfulness truly counts.
Tell people with God, we risk nothing and stand to gain everything.

Tell people that God has a promising future for us.

Tell people we’re seeking God’s direction in every step we take.

Tell people that we have nothing to lose, and everything to gain.

Tell people that just as Jesus died and rose again, we are being raised.

Amen

 

We are still in advent – but Christmas approaches. One of the texts that has resonated with me has been Isaiah’s prophecy that the desert will come into blossom as God brings restoration to a people who have been occupied by foreign powers, and whose communities have been decimated. Isaiah’s words are quite literally birthed from the rubble and give comfort to those who survey the scene as the dust swirls at their feet; the desecration of holy spaces, the buildings once used for one purpose now occupied by another, the absence of loved ones who have died or who have deported, and longing that separated families might regather. The parallels between this scene, and for example the ongoing conflict in Ukraine are profound and poignant – but the war in Ukraine continues. My prayer continues to be that the war would cease, that both sides observe the Geneva Convention (since conflict can bring both the worst – and the best – out of us), and that negotiations would ensue. 

It can be difficult to have hope that the blossom will come. And yet, despite this tragedy we have seen evidence of the best that humanity has to offer, as families from other countries have looked to house refugees. One important aspect of Isaiah’s prophecy is that we are not referring to how the seasons give rise to new growth, but how God can bring about the conditions by which that which is dormant within us can be brought to life. I note that whilst the spiritual dust swirls at the feet of those who have a direct connection to Ukraine, it also stirs at the feet of anyone here who experiences grief through the lost of loved ones, hardship as we struggle to pay the bills, and exhaustion as we battle the elements that can drain the life from us. But the blossom will indeed come, and there are times when you can see it blowing in the wind. These can sometimes be the briefest moments where we see God breaking through. In the simplest things.

I remember one moment this year when I prayed for someone who was homeless in Peterborough City centre. I had simply said ‘hello’, and a conversation ensued (as it often does). His story was difficult. When he said (almost in tears) that he would welcome a prayer I crouched down and asked, ‘What is your name?’ And that was the point where something changed because for him, to ask his name, was to give him dignity. For him it was, I hope like blossom in the wind. For me it was blossom because it demonstrated how people were open to prayer and the touch of God in their lives.

As I reflect on the Christmas story, I wonder how many places Mary and Joseph visited, only to receive the line, ‘Sorry we are full’, ‘Sorry we have no room’, ‘If only you had booked ahead earlier’. That must have been heartbreaking. However, I am more intrigued by the family who said, ‘There is no room’, and then stopped and looked at a heavily pregnant Mary and said, ‘But we can still find space for you.’ When it comes to loving our neighbour and showing it in action, we have more space than we think we do to make room for someone else. This can come, quite literally, as a revelation. Moreover, whilst some people have opened up their homes to support refugees, this openness can be shown in other ways. What does it mean for you to make room for someone in your daily living? Is it about us listening more and showing that we are willing to hear someone’s story when they share that they are in difficulty? Is it about us recognising that there is something we can do to support others that would have little impact on our routine; buying extra food and donating it to a food bank? Is it about giving just one hour of our time to volunteer in a warm bank? It it is about texting someone, to say, ‘Just checking you are ok.?’

Sometimes the smallest gestures have incredible consequences – let alone the feeling of fulfilment we get when we realise that we are making a difference to other people’s lives. One of the most moving things about our Livestream services has been the sense of community that arises as people from different places connect for a brief moment on the journey. The depth of sharing, caring, and praying is undeniable. However, whilst this depth of prayer and dedication to hearing the scrupture is wonderful, our desire is that those who are able become part of a local church – if they are not (almost all of them are). At the same time, we realise we are reaching those who are unwell, those who care for loved ones, or those who work shifts.  

The Methodist Church focus for this Advent and Christmas has been the truth that ‘There is Room for You’. God has a place for you, a space for you, and a plan for your life. That is good news. The Church has showcased examples (of which there are countless others), where there is room for (among others), people of all ages, orientations, and genders, where this room for families under serious pressure, room for those who are experiencing poverty, where there is room for those who are homeless, where there is room for refugees, where there is room for difference (and especially those who are neurodiverse). This is good news. However, as we know from Jesus’ ministry, what is good news for some, is bad news for others. The priviso is that because there is room for you, you need to make room for others. I am minded that as we journey through winter, and as people struggle with the cost of living and staying warm, there is no room for our insularity. We are a Church. We are not a private members club. Whilst we may well focus on creating warm spaces, if we seek to honour God and be faithful to the Christmas message, whenever anyone new comes, it is incumbent on us to show them a warm welcome. Insularity is a significant word is that to be insular is to fail to let others in because we are content with our own comfort or isolation, and we are unwilling to be troubled by the difficult experiences of others.

Let me put it this way. We long to experience God’s blessing. We cherish our friends in the life of the church. Sometimes we even feel so cosy we are nervous about how new people might change things – the feeling of a group or even what we do. But to turn the ‘There is Room for You’ paradigm on its head, why should God offer room for you if you are not prepared to make room for someone else? That’s the deal. Ironically if we are unable to do this, all we will face is loneliness, isolation, and ruin.

Every blessing

You can view the There is Room main video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-DxY1hSohE

There is Room monologue

 You can view the playlist for other videos on https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLoWWaJT3-_P7oX7x8SmIdGQkANPBfzrc3

There is room. There is room, for you. There is a space in the world, for you. There’s a place in God’s story, for you. Love actually is all around, in the glistening lights, the warmth of the fire on winter nights. The ‘here-ness’ of you, and you, and you. Of course there is room. How could there not be when the music is playing, the people are praying and all of the universe is saying ‘you are loved’. This is where the story starts. The story that God is not apart. She’s here, right here. Whether you’re a wise man or a shepherd, feeling like an angel or holding a story that’s hopeful or shameful. This is the time when we welcome the stranger, like Mary welcoming men to the manger and discovering that these strangers, are angels. With messages of love for you and me, messages to hang on the Christmas trees of our hearts. This story is yours, because God is here, not there; near, not far, because Christmas is coming and of course, there is room.

First, we should celebrate our Christmas present from the United Reformed Church (and the generosity of the Methodist Church), in that we have been successful in our application for a £30,000 grant towards the appointment of our Community and Family Worker. Our immediate focus will be on supporting our work with children and young people, working outwards from there. As I write we are in the process of completing our Application Pack, which will contain all kinds of information on our Church, our Fresh Horizons Vision, the role we want to fill, and our Job Description. Beyond this, we will work with the Methodist Circuit to agree a timetable for recruitment (where we advertise, for how long, and how we move to interviews.) I think it fair to say that whilst much will be going on in the background, some good things are worth waiting for. 

The second part of our Fresh Horizon’s vision concerns how we make changes to our building in order to make us more hospitable. The immediate urgency is to improve access – whether you come to church with a push chair, stroller, walking stick – we are here for everyone. Beyond this is the quesion of how we make better use of our foyet. Whilst we still need to make progress on what we do (again I am writing ahead of Christmas so this may be out of date by the time your read it), we are at least working in the right direction.

Christmas, and the visit of the Wise Men, is for me about hospitality and welcome. If the family who welcomed Mary and Joseph had not shown hospitality the story would have turned out differently. If Joseph has not been such a good father, in accepting Mary, and protecting the family the same would be true. And if the Wise Men had been unable to discern false hospitality from the real thing, Jesus and his entire family would be dead. (Herod was not interested in paying homage to Jesus but protecting his own power.)

So what is my Christmas and New Year message to the good folk of Whittlesey? It is that hospitality is a matter of life and death. And hospitality not includes how we welcome people and help them find a home in our Church. It is about feeding people, physically and spiritually. And it is about protecting people from the ravages of a world that in certain places, is in turmoil. The Good News is that God is alive and kicking in that world – screaming, and alive, and kicking in fact – bringing light to dark places, through those who follow Him and his ways. It is plain to me that our Church is a place where people can find light and love, and a place where we can experience deep friendship and joy as we journey together, and a deep satisfaction in knowing that God has a plan for our church, our lives, and those we seek to help. In a sense, words are a blunt tool to try and communicate what if feels like to be here. You have to experience it. So come. All are welcome. Come and be refreshed. Come and let your perspective on life be changed by looking to a new horizon.

I can honestly say that it has been both one of the busiest and productive periods that I can remember in my ministry. From remembering the passing of our former Queen, Elizabeth 2nd, to overseeing roof repairs at Westgate New Church (specifically the bookshop), to collating and applying for grant funding towards our hoped for lay employee, it has been pretty non-stop.

Malcolm, our Church Secretary at Whittlesey, commented to me the other day that things were going well, apart from that we seemed to be buried in paperwork! I hope he does not mind me quoting him. He is right though, in that whilst we do need planning and paperwork in the life of the church, we must never lose sight of what ‘church’ is. It is about faith, and fellowship, and finding love and fulfilment in ways that we had never anticipated.

 

 

 

On the other hand, I am ok with paperwork so long as it gets us somewhere. One useful phrase I have picked up over the years is, ‘Prayerful planning prevents poor performance.’ If we are to move forward as a church then we need to understand each other, engage quickly over areas where we need to make decisions, hold lightly to what is ultimately not important, and plan for the future. And for this to happen, we need paperwork. I was so grateful to know that someone in the Methodist Church and the United Reformed Church had prepared paperwork and prayers/suggestions in the event of the death of our sovereign. I have also been grateful for the paperwork where the costs of our building work at Westgate New Church were agreed, and contracts signed. As we search for a solution to some of the concerns about our entrance and how it could be remodelled to provide a more welcoming accessible space, I am grateful for the paperwork that runs two and fro from our surveyor, even though we are all concerned about the costs! I am also grateful for rotas in the life of the church. Without planning and paperwork, we don’t know what we are doing. Finally, I am glad that we have the ‘paperwork’ that is the gospels and epistles; fragments of the accounts, collected together on the life, death, and resurrections of Jesus, and of the conversations that took place between churches.

So paperwork is not always a bad thing. But Malcolm is right. Amidst of all of our planning, we need to remember that we still have a church to run, and reach out to newcomers. The paperwork should inspire us, excite us, push us forward. At tomorrow’s meeting we will therefore begin by agreeing some Christmas dates and talking through how we support our children and young people, in worship, right now. We will move on to talk about the progress we have made with our hopes to employ a lay employee and improve our building – but the paperwork in this is there to serve us, to keep us informed, to add clarity – if it does this then fine. If not, well lets just say that the paperwork is best used for something else!

The Peterborough Circuit has a history in offering prayer ministry for healing and wholeness,, as do countless other churches and circuits. We might term this ‘Ministry in the Spirit’. In one sense, this feels like an odd statement to make given that the Holy Spirit is present every time we pray in Jesus name before Father. However, the phrase does of course point to a particular openess, approach, and expectation to God in those being prayed for and those who are suporting as they offer prayer. This policy (which remains under review) is driven by three considerations:

First, as we gather post-pandemic, the practice of inviting people to respond and request prayer, and come alongside other who will listen and support them in prayer, has the potential to deepen the sense of koinonia (spiritual fellowship, community, partnership) between people.

Second, the offer of prayer ministry is a testament in itself in that it projects the expectation that God has a work to do in people’s lives. Prayer ministry is an intensely evangelical act – evangelical in the sense that it encourages people to centre their lives around the Word of God and the work of the Holy Spirit and gives them the confidence to share their faith with others. As the latin summary of our Christian Tradition puts it, what we pray, reflects what we believe, and how we live (Lex orandi, lex credendi, lex vivendi).

Third, in order that people feel secure and to mitigate against hurt or harm, appropriate safeguards must be in place. These will relate to our ongoing experience of safeguarding issues, and the present context of the church, particualry in relation to God in Love Unites Us, our inclusivity towards members of the LGBT community, and the Methodist Church ban on conversion therapies.

The following is offered as an initial policy, to be held under constant review.

General Principles of Prayer Ministry

• We believe God hears and answers prayer. We want to see that in our lives and in the lives of individuals who seek prayer ministry.
• We will minister with God’s grace and mercy without judgement or prejudice.
• We aim to provide a safe space for people to share their needs and concerns in confidence.
• We will listen to the person. We will listen to God. We will assure people that God loves them. We will give people the confidence to open their hearts to the Holy Spirit.  
• We believe that prayers spoken in the name of Jesus have the power to free us from sin (which ensnares us), death, and all that oppresses.
• We believe that from the point where someone steps forward to receive prayer,  the Holy Spirit begins to bring or continue works of healing, restoration and hope.
• Whilst we draw strength from the prevalence of exorcism and healing in the gospels, we also acknowledge the damage that can be done through unhelpful declarations, invocations, promises, and practices. Our focus is therefore not to rationalise what is happening but to simply help people encounter Jesus and have confidence in opening themselves up to the work of the Holy Spirit.
• We uphold the Methodist Church’s Safeguarding teaching, particularly around physical abuse, emotional abuse, spiritual abuse, controlling behaviour, and coercive control.
• We uphold the position of the Methodist Church against conversion therapies. Our approach, for those people who are questioning their sexuality or gender identity, is to support them on their journey but to emphasise those values that will enable loving and committed relationships.

Our personal discipleship and approach

• The Team Leader in any setting will be any minister, or a fully-accredited Local Preacher or Worship Leader.
• Any safeguarding concerns will be forwarded to the Team Leader and thereafter to the Circuit Safeguarding Officer.
• We will maintain our own spiritual health through our daily prayers, reading of the scriptures, and worship. We will be support and be supported by a local church.
• We will maintain privacy, unless we have obtained permission to share. Only in the event that we consider that the person’s own life or that of another is at risk, or if someone discloses that they have been abused, will be breach this.  
• Individuals from other Christian denominations may be invited to assist in prayer on a case by case basis at the discretion of the circuit superintendent. The principles of Safer Recruitment will apply.
• We will pray with humility, sensitivity, gentleness, value and respect, and will always protect the dignity of those seeking care.
• Someone coming for prayer will never be prayed for alone; they will be supported by a second person (even if they are watching and listening at a distance).
• Whilst we do not require men to pray for men, or women to pray for women, we recognise that this may be helpful in certain situations and so will always ask the person whether they are happy with who is listening and praying. We will be sensitive in our discernment to offer this as conversations unfold.
• After having prayed for others, we will seek assurances that all is well in ourselves, and we will pray for God’s protection and blessing over each other.

How we Pray – what does ‘good practice’ look like?

• Welcome people. If unknown to you, introduce yourself and ask their name.  Spend a few moments putting them at ease. Assure the person what they are sharing will be kept confidential. It may be more helpful for people to sit for prayer; if you can, offer this but sit beside them rather than stand above them.
• “What do you want God to do for you today?” is a good starting question. Give people time to express why they are seeking prayer; listen well, don’t judge, and remember we here to offer prayer rather than advice or counselling.  Keep folk focused on what they want God to do for them. Do reflect back what they have said, particularly if there are strong phrases that highlight how they feel. Make sure you have tissues to hand.
• Never touch someone without asking permission. If you wish to lay lay a hand on a specific area (that they may have referred to), ask the person to put their hand there and you lay yours on top, if they would be comfortable with this.
• Invite the Holy Spirit to come upon the person. Allow time for the Holy Spirit to minister. Encourage the person being prayed for to close their eyes and receive.  Keep your eyes open, be watching, and listen for what God is saying.  Speak thanks and blessing for what God is doing.
• If you feel led to pray in tongues, please do so silently unless you have explained to the person what this is. An acceptable thing to say is, ‘Is it ok if I pray for you in a special prayer language – it helps when I do not know what to pray but I know I must pray something?’ Do not speak the tongue out loud but under your breath.
• People will be moved powerfully by the Holy Spirit. Reassure than that this is normal and that they can trust God. Frequently, the Spirit enables the release of emotion, and the person can lament or be moved by joy: this can surprise us. Affirm what you see, assuring then that God can release pain and anger etc. If someone becomes very distressed or noisy, pray that they come to a point of calm. Act sooner rather than later. Seek help if needed.
• Unhelpful declarations: Do not say ‘You are healed’ (the best testimony on healing comes from the person being prayed for). Just pray for healing. Rejoice with the person. Advise them to consult with their doctor and continue with medication etc. Avoid, “Do this or that and all will be well”, “You need more faith”, “It’s your fault you are not healed”.
• Unhelpful invocations: Do not speak to the ‘demon within’ someone, yet alone attempt to deliver someone. Just because Jesus, the Son of God did it, that does not mean that you have the discernment to identify what is at work or the authority to deliver someone here. There is need for sensitivity and deep discernment in this area, and much harm and hurt can be caused if this is handled badly. Focus instead on the power of Christ to release us from oppression, and (should this relate), speak of ‘spiritual oppression’.
• Unhelpful promises: ‘You will find a partner’, ‘You will get pregnant’ are obvious no-no’s.
• Respecting boundaries: ‘I will keep a secret’, ‘Would you like to meet 1:1 later’ are an obvious breach of boundaries that potentially isolate you from other members of the team, and leave you vulnerable as well. Take care.
• If you feel you or the person needs further support, ask for their permission to refer to the Prayer Team Leader.

I write during the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity and one of the priorities that began to surface as a result of our last MAP (Mission Action Plan) gathering was the shared sense of calling for the churches from across Whittlesey to support each other. One observation, particularly over the Christmas period – and this has been common elsewhere – is that whilst as churches we have rightly focused on northing our own congregations back into onsite worship, we have not had the time to regroup as Churches Together. This said, some essential Churches Together work across the region in terms of Foodbanks and mental health support groups have continued. At Whittlesey I am pleased to say that Churches Together are reconvening. My personal hope is that we may at the very least be able to share news about what we are offering in terms of worship, and share opportunities about how we can support each other in our mission. There are more than enough potential converts for all of the churches in Whittlesey, and certainly no room for protectionism.

The theme of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity this week is ‘We have seen the star’. Personally, I have been delighted to see the theme of Epiphany continuing. All too often in Methodist circles, Epiphany is lost, buried under the (much loved) Covenant Service, and being covered under ‘Ordinary Seasons’ in our liturgical cycle. The readings that speak of Epiphany; God’s glory being revealed to us, us having a moment of realisation that we have encountered God or an understanding of how God is at work in our lives are present within our set readings, yet need drawing out.

The take-away for us as churches in Whittlesey for 2022, is that like the wise men (and wise women), we journey through the years seeking Jesus continually. In the biblical accounts. the wise ones are from a different culture and, no doubt, religion (most likely Zoroastrians from what is now Syria , Egypt or India – I’ll leave you to look that up). The are not kings – figures of power – but they are wise. The point is that God is revealed to the ‘outsiders’. We don’t really know if they knew one another when they started – but I cannot help but think they were representatives from other tribes or ‘nations’. However, by the end of the journey they must have known each other well. The point is that they journey together. And I can’t help that they must have had to support each other to survive, encounter Christ, and spread the news. And so should we as Churches Together.

Perhaps one thought is that at times we can be dismissive of meetings, and it can be disheartening when we leave a meeting thinking, ‘What did that result in?’, ‘What was the point?’ But not so here at Queen’s Street. We talked about this at our trustees meeting and felt that it was something that we could begin acting on, and whilst I have made the suggestion of a Churches Together Facebook Page, it is good to see that Churches Together is planning an AGM in February. It is heartening to know that we have had some part to play, in putting something into action. And we look forward to our next Church Gathering in February, where we draw everything together and are open about our dreams and visions for the future.

Greetings all. As Christine Hardman, editor of the Brookside Magazine recently commented, we have now reached the time when we are about to light three candles on our advent ring, and remember (alongside the life of John the Baptist), the fact that Christmas is nearly upon us. Of course, there is more to it than this – yes, Christmas is upon us, and no, we are nowhere near having done all those things that we would have preferred to do. As ever though, it is more helpful to focus on what is both important and urgent, in the hope that the two have not collided too much in the same space, and at the same time. This week I need to tell you about/would want to encourage you in:

1/ Welcoming people who are on the fringes of the Church to attend your church services. This is likely to be difficult as the arrangements that many of our churches are making require people (often most known by our congregation) to book ahead. Of course, we want to welcome others, and so let us pray that this would be the case as well. Special prayers please for the folks at Westgate New Church who have planned their first service since lockdown for the 20^th at 2pm. Here it is a case of us looking at the premises and finding a way in which we can create a covid-safe environment. WNC is significant of course because it is in the heart of the city. Please also pray for the staff at CROPS, and for the Bookshop as they continue to strive to support people during this challenging period.

2/ Online worship and resources. I have recently put out a video asking folks to feedback on what support that they would value over the Christmas period, especially Christmas Eve, where we would usually hold crib services for children and families, and for Christmas Day. Whilst I am aware that churches are looking to accommodate people, I continue to be concerned about those who are self-isolating. In terms of how we support our young people, I am painfully aware that this group has been the hardest to support through lockdown, as children in particular cannot engage easily in the kind of cutting and sticking exercises(!) that enliven a retelling of the nativity story. I await to see how people respond. It would be great to hear examples of where families are able to attend church across this period, but I am realistic about the prospect that many will feel the more formal setting of church, and the restrictions that will be in place, will be less than ideal. It is more than likely that we will offer a 4pm nativity on Christmas eve, and a 10am short Christmas service/reflection on Christmas Day.

3/ Linked to online worship again; Matt’s involvement as our Circuit Livestream Worship Producer, and Dale’s ongoing support has released me to focus on other things. As ever, we are grateful for those who produce content for our worship (and there are some beautifully creative things that are out there). However, one advantage of this shift has been that I have been able to record relaxed interviews with Rev Geoffrey Clarke (Moderator of the East Midlands United Reformed Church Synod). Stephen Pettigan (CEO of the Light Project Peterborough and known to many of us of course for his leadership of the Winter Night Shelter), and next Tuesday I will be speaking with Rev Helen Cameron, our Chair of District. Whilst I realise that not everyone is able to access online material, this option is one of the better ways of being able to help our senior leaders share across the churches. The first interview, with Rev Geoffrey, will premiere via YouTube (we will advertise the link of course) tomorrow morning. The conversations last around 20 minutes in total, and are split into two. In the first part we hear something of ‘the person behind the collar’ as they prepare for Christmas (Rev Geoffrey puts me to shame with his commitment of writing Christmas cards), and in the second part we get to hear a much deeper message about how a Christmas message is forming in his heart as he surveys life during this challenging period. Obviously, our primary format is digital – with video coming first. If there is a demand for us to release audio versions of the interviews, we will respond as this is simple to create.

https://fb.watch/4D5mHY2r_I/

4/ There have been many good news stories across the circuit, with new births of our own ahead of Christmas, but most recently we have seen an increase in people who are struggling with health conditions – and sadly, bereavements, so prayers all round please as we continue to support folk.

I wish you all the best in the forthcoming week.

YouTube conversation with Rev Canon Helen Cameron

Greetings to all of you. Happy Advent, and Happy Christmas when it arrives. It was great to meet some of you face to face for a communion service recently (by the time this is printed, it will be beyond recent), and disappointing of course that the second lockdown prevented more of this. Still, we can rejoice (although sadly not sing) about the fact that the lockdown restrictions have been eased for Christmas. This said, we must still take great care lest the good that may well be done by the vaccines as they work their way through the populous, might be undone by our easing off too quickly. 

Advent is not Christmas. Advent is about the promise that Jesus will come. Christmas is about the arrival of the infant Jesus. Personally, I value the balance as we move from Advent, to Christmas, to Epiphany; from remembering that Jesus will return in the clouds (a little difficult to picture I grant you, but the point is that he brings healing, release for those who are oppressed, and justice); to remembering the infant Jesus born into our world – into poverty and homelessness no less; to us hearing of the increasing acknowledgement that Jesus is the Messiah (the visit from the wise men, and a teenage excursion during a Jerusalem pilgrimage where Jesus was found not around the Fruit Machines or playing Space Invaders but teaching the rabbis in the Temple. If I have lost you now, just allow yourself to be amused by engineering a early first century Fruit Machine in your head – but I digress. My point is that this was no ordinary child. 

As Advent and Christmas approaches I am mindful that in a couple of weeks our focus will begin to shift on Christ coming to us – as a vulnerable child in a manger. Curiously, despite His being the Son of God, that child is as needy as any other for our care. There is a beautiful circle in this; first. we take Him into our arms – think of how we cradle a baby and support its head.

Later, He takes children into his arms, ‘Suffer the little children’, he says – even the ones that chomp crisps in front of the tele and make it impossible to hear, ‘That they might come unto me.’ Note here that it is the adults that are inhibiting intimacy, not the other way round. Jesus then says ‘Come follow me!’ when we are older, and embraces us as adults just as He did the sisters of Lazarus who were grieving, or Peter, when after denying Jesus he resserted his commitment to Him (you don’t have to read it, it just jumps from the page).  

…All of which brings me back to a point of sorrow, and a point of promise that is underpinned by the theology of Advent and Christmas. First, whilst we might not be able to embrace each other, God embraces still embraces us. Second, there will come a time again where we will be able to embrace (and even if you are not a particularly huggy person you will know what I mean). Whist the unfolding impact of the coronavirus has wrought havoc on our lives, and notwithstanding the questions that surface about the presence and purpose of God in a world that has been ravaged by the virus (these can be addressed, but not here), the one thing that we can be thankful for is the increased sense of family and community that has grown in the face of such hardship. 

This week has been busy but productive. The Pioneer Hub met on Sunday afternoon online – this remains open to everyone and continues to serve almost as a ‘think-tank’ for some of our leaders as we question how we support our churches. The Circuit Leadership Team then met via Zoom on Monday night. Among other key themes, both meetings highlighted a sense in which we are all feeling a lament, and a degree of fear despite the lockdown being eased in certain contexts. This has also surfaced in my conversations with pastoral leaders. We all thought it would be helpful for me to share openly about this. As I write, I don’t know whether I am praying or writing.

I want to say, ‘Lord, we Lament’. I feel the sorrow myself. I feel tearful as I put words to paper. We all feel it. Whist we can celebrate the good things that have come out of this pandemic, we lament the fact that we still cannot properly ‘embrace’ each other. When I use the word ‘embrace’, I am not referring to my missing the opportunity to hug another human who may as well be as close to me as a member of my own family (we have all amassed plenty of those). Rather, I am lamenting the fact that, until we don’t have to worry about keeping two (or even one) metres distance from each other, our relationships lack something. What we all miss is the ability to talk to each other and to share in group conversations that feel more natural.

It has even reached the point that I am missing the tea and biscuits after services. It is always easy to overlook the significance of this, believing that biscuits, and chat, are an unholy distraction, an irreverent aside to what should be our principal occupation, namely worship. Yet, whilst worship is important because it keeps us centred on God, I lament equally the loss of fellowship. I lament it because, even though I am still able to keep abreast of how people are doing over e-mail and after morning prayers, it always opens up a ‘space’ where I am able to touch the soul of another and they, in return, can touch me. I have long since realised that I spend more time talking with people in churches than leading worship. Indeed, this is the reason why I am so often among the last who leave our buildings. I feel that it is important for you to know that I lament this loss and long for its return, just as much as you do. Yet my role as a leader is also to help people to stay positive, to highlight the good things that are happening in difficult times, and to encourage us to discern a way forward for the future. But, yes, there are times when it is important that I acknowledge, ‘Yes, this is tough’.

I also want to share personally (but know that I also speak for others), and say that, despite the lockdown easing, I am fearful. I am fearful of catching the Coronavirus myself if I have not had it. I am fearful of passing it on to others, and the effect that this might have. And if I am fearful, how much more fearful will others be who are in that vulnerable category. There is not much to say apart from that it is not a nice feeling to have inside. All we can do is stay alert and save lives as we do the best we can in observing social distancing and isolation.

We will meet again
I think, at the same time, I should offer a word of hope. Rev Sarah Gower shared this as part of our CLT meeting, and I feel that it is important to share it with us all. We will meet again. We will gather as a whole people of God, and worship together, as we did before. Sarah pointed out that this is not the first time that the Church has been unable to gather because of a pandemic. However, even through it has taken time, God’s people have been able to reach the point where they have been able to gather again. The same will be true for us. The overriding question, however, is when and how.

Rest assured – we are living through a cycle

Whilst we may well feel uncomfortable living through the pandemic, Bruggemann’s writings remind us that living through a cycle of orientation (where everything makes sense and in which we feel most secure), to disorientation (where, as now, we feel uncomfortable as we live with a degree of uncertainty and even chaos, through to a place of new orientation, where God’s work of healing and wholeness in us comes to fruition. Life is different. We have adjusted, but we discovered what is truly important and what will not change – and within this we give our thanks to God and are more attuned to his presence and purpose in our lives.

Prayer and Small Groups
The suggestion that churches should follow what the easing of the lockdown permits, with a focus on investing in prayer and small groups has been well received. I think we can all see that this is not only because it may well be the kinds of activities that are possible in some churches, but also because it is at the heart of our own tradition. Yet, I suspect that, whilst some will relish the opportunity to focus their energies on something new, others will struggle. This is partly because we are in a state of lament and fear; celebrating the latest ‘great idea’ is harder. Also, the prospect of embracing something new becomes harder when we have already had to adapt. When I think of where we were, and how so many of us have had to turn more to IT, suddenly start using Zoom, and all kinds of other applications, I am amazed. At the same time, I am aware constantly of those who do not have internet access.

Returning to our tradition as we look to the future
What has been your immediate feeling when you have heard this call to prayer and thinking about how we might gather in small groups? I would encourage you not to see this as something new – or worse still, something that replaces how we used to worship – but as something that will be a healthy addition to what we were doing before. Of course, a good number of folks already experience the benefit of prayer partners or small groups. I would, therefore, encourage our church leaders (and we are all ‘leaders’ by example), to look at how we can develop this. To expand on my message of last week, I do not think it is for anyone to dictate to a church what they should do. That is not Methodist. I doubt it is even Christian. And I am sure it is poor leadership. Rather, it is for the leaders in our local churches to discern the best way forward. By way of assistance through, I know of at least three groups who are already finding the Bible Society’s Lyfe material helpful. If you would appreciate any more information on this, contact Rev Dale at: dale.sherriff@methodist.org.uk

A brief word on Churches opening for individual prayer
Some churches have begun to reflect on how they might open for individual prayer but, on looking at the requirements, they have struggled to see how this can be managed. We are not alone in this by far. We will see how things might become easier – for small groups and individuals as the lockdown eases.

A final invitation to prayer
And, an invitation for you: You are invited by the Pioneer Hub to pray with us via Zoom at 4pm on Sunday, 28^th June, at 4pm. If you would like to join us online, please let me know; I will email you the link. Otherwise, Neat has produced a simple prayer sheet and if you are able to join us for half and hour around this time, that would be great. Alternatively, this serves as a resource for people to pray through at any time of the day or week. This prayer guide will be sent out next week.

Finally, every blessing be with you. Thanks for taking the time to read this.

Langley