The Sunday Archive: The Pilot, August 1997 - Part 8
St John
From
ANDY THEWLIS Priest-in-Charge
THE twelfth chapter of Paul's first letter to the Corinthians contains some wonderful imagery and some sound teaching. Interestingly, it was the chapter from which the lay Chairman of Synod read, during the opening act of worship at last month's Deanery Synod meeting and consequently it is a chapter I have been pondering as I continue to contemplate the Pastoral Committee's recommendations for reducing the number of clergymen in the Island by two.
The chairman of the Pastoral Committee exhibited a degree of courage and great wisdom in amending the proposal that was before Synod, requesting that members receive the report, but that discussion and voting be postponed until later in the year (18th November) to facilitate further reflection on the part of his Committee and to enable full consultations within the Parishes that the recommendations will affect.
The recommendation received by Synod states that "the living of St Mary be suspended from presentation when the incumbency falls vacant, and at that time, the clergyman in post at St John would become Rector of St John and Rector of St Mary."
Although, the heat has been taken out of the fire that burned when these recommendations were first made, the report has been received and decisions will be made in November. Therefore, it is essential that we do not waste the time before us and perhaps begin by pondering 1 Corinthians 12.
In the opening verses, Paul reminds us that there are different kinds of gifts, "given to individuals for the common good" (v7). Surely this is an important factor in our current plans for pastoral reorganisation, for not only do we have church buildings, congregations and parishes of various sizes, but we also have a gifted workforce of clergymen and women. We have a responsibility and duty to encourage and develop all God-given gifts and never to stifle the move of his Spirit. In planning for the future, let us ensure that we do not end up with round pegs in square holes.
In the latter part of the chapter, Paul draws an analogy between the Church, the body of Christ, and a human Body, in which "though all its parts are many, they form one body." (v 12) and comments, "those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable." (v22). The historic foundation of the Island of Jersey is its twelve Ancient Parishes, which over many centuries have reflected a unique relationship between Church and Municipality. It is imperative for our Island that a positive way forward is found that respects and builds upon these links and can be embraced by all.
Please continue to pray for members of the Pastoral Committee and all Synod members as we wrestle with this difficult task of managing a reduction in clergy numbers. I would also ask you to be creative and send your own proposals to me indicating your suggestions in respect of a positive way forward.
HOLY BAPTISM. 22nd June, Daniel James Vibert; 29th June, Emily Alice Renouf; 6th July, Hannah Victoria Couriard.
FUNERAL. 28th June, Mary Elaine Dick.
St Paul
From
ANDY THEWLIS Priest-in-Charge
THE twelfth chapter of Paul's first letter to the Corinthians contains some wonderful imagery and some sound teaching. Interestingly, it was the chapter from which the lay Chairman of Synod read, during the opening act of worship at last month's Deanery Synod meeting and consequently it is a chapter I have been pondering as I continue to contemplate the Pastoral Committee's recommendations for reducing the number of clergymen in the Island by two.
The chairman of the Pastoral Committee exhibited a degree of courage and great wisdom in amending the proposal that was before Synod, requesting that members receive the report, but that discussion and voting be postponed until later in the year (18th November) to facilitate further reflection on the part of his Committee and to enable full consultations within the Parishes that the recommendations will affect.
The recommendation received by Synod states that "the living of St Mary be suspended from presentation when the incumbency falls vacant, and at that time, the clergyman in post at St John would become Rector of St John and Rector of St Mary."
Although, the heat has been taken out of the fire that burned when these recommendations were first made, the report has been received and decisions will be made in November. Therefore, it is essential that we do not waste the time before us and perhaps begin by pondering 1 Corinthians 12.
In the opening verses, Paul reminds us that there are different kinds of gifts, "given to individuals for the common good" (v7). Surely this is an important factor in our current plans for pastoral reorganisation, for not only do we have church buildings, congregations and parishes of various sizes, but we also have a gifted workforce of clergymen and women. We have a responsibility and duty to encourage and develop all God-given gifts and never to stifle the move of his Spirit. In planning for the future, let us ensure that we do not end up with round pegs in square holes.
In the latter part of the chapter, Paul draws an analogy between the Church, the body of Christ, and a human Body, in which "though all its parts are many, they form one body." (v 12) and comments, "those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable." (v22). The historic foundation of the Island of Jersey is its twelve Ancient Parishes, which over many centuries have reflected a unique relationship between Church and Municipality. It is imperative for our Island that a positive way forward is found that respects and builds upon these links and can be embraced by all.
Please continue to pray for members of the Pastoral Committee and all Synod members as we wrestle with this difficult task of managing a reduction in clergy numbers. I would also ask you to be creative and send your own proposals to me indicating your suggestions in respect of a positive way forward.
HOLY BAPTISM. 22nd June, Daniel James Vibert; 29th June, Emily Alice Renouf; 6th July, Hannah Victoria Couriard.
FUNERAL. 28th June, Mary Elaine Dick.
St Paul
From PAUL BROOKS Minister
OUR friends from Toxteth arrive this week. A wonderful opportunity for Christians in one part of the British Isles to see how the other live, and to learn from one another. Our Youth Group will be returning on 2nd August, having worked for a week in Toxteth, and 30 members of their congregation (The Toxteth Tabernacle Baptist Church) will arrive here for a week's holiday with members of St Paul's.
The two communities are very different and the insights into how we follow Jesus in these different places will be something very helpful. There is a special evening on Wednesday
6th August at 7.30 pm in St Paul's Centre, to which all are welcome, both from St Paul's and elsewhere, to discover what life in the inner city is like.
Last month you may remember we had a team over from England wanting to share the Gospel on the streets of St Helier during the very successful Island Games. Hugo and Sharon Anson and the Mouth Peace team spoke to literally hundreds of people during the week and many discovered Jesus in that time. Conversations were had with people from Sweden, Aarland, Greenland, as well as various parts of the UK and other Channel Islands. The team made contributions to the worship of St Paul's, St Ouen's, the Elim Pentecostal Church and Oasis at Le Squez.
OUR friends from Toxteth arrive this week. A wonderful opportunity for Christians in one part of the British Isles to see how the other live, and to learn from one another. Our Youth Group will be returning on 2nd August, having worked for a week in Toxteth, and 30 members of their congregation (The Toxteth Tabernacle Baptist Church) will arrive here for a week's holiday with members of St Paul's.
The two communities are very different and the insights into how we follow Jesus in these different places will be something very helpful. There is a special evening on Wednesday
6th August at 7.30 pm in St Paul's Centre, to which all are welcome, both from St Paul's and elsewhere, to discover what life in the inner city is like.
Last month you may remember we had a team over from England wanting to share the Gospel on the streets of St Helier during the very successful Island Games. Hugo and Sharon Anson and the Mouth Peace team spoke to literally hundreds of people during the week and many discovered Jesus in that time. Conversations were had with people from Sweden, Aarland, Greenland, as well as various parts of the UK and other Channel Islands. The team made contributions to the worship of St Paul's, St Ouen's, the Elim Pentecostal Church and Oasis at Le Squez.
Further, the two events on the Tuesday Lunchtime and Wednesday evening were very well attended and many people professed a commitment or recommitment to Jesus. One person who comes to mind is a young lady training for youth work in the Church in Scandinavia. This is her second year here with students and during the Wednesday evening she met with God in a very real and profound way — it was glorious.
Youth Keswick was also a highlight for many of our young people and a big hank you to the team for providing such a great opportunity for our youngsters with God.
Highlights are all very well, but God's desire is that we should walk with him in good times and bad, and in the midst of all that is happening it is good to remember that God doesn't change. We don't know what may be around the next corner, but we do know that there is a living, loving God who walks with us around the corner.
Excitement in events is all very well, but God wants us to be excited in Him, and our delight to be in Him. "Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart." (Psalm 37: 4).
Youth Keswick was also a highlight for many of our young people and a big hank you to the team for providing such a great opportunity for our youngsters with God.
Highlights are all very well, but God's desire is that we should walk with him in good times and bad, and in the midst of all that is happening it is good to remember that God doesn't change. We don't know what may be around the next corner, but we do know that there is a living, loving God who walks with us around the corner.
Excitement in events is all very well, but God wants us to be excited in Him, and our delight to be in Him. "Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart." (Psalm 37: 4).
From Martin Inman
Hospital Chaplain
IN common with many young people at the present time my son and daughter are awaiting their GCSE and A-level results. It can be a very trying time. So much hangs on how well they do.
For many the next few weeks will be a time of triumph as they see a bright future opening up for them and the world looking very much like their oyster. For others there will be disappointment as they have to revise their expectations, possibly quite radically.
Many of those who suffer disappointment will, for a time at least, be quite unable to see a way ahead. They have set hearts on a particular goal, they may have done their very best to achieve it, and they have been thwarted.
It is my sincere hope and prayer that those who find themselves in this situation will come to understand that this is not the end of every-thing. Admittedly this is not an easy realisation to make in a culture such as ours which, on the whole, looks upon failure with contempt. However, it is worth noting that, in a sense, our Christian faith is based on an event which, viewed in purely worldly terms, was a catastrophic failure.
A young man endowed with the greatest gifts of eloquence and spiritual insight who seemed to have so much promise and so much to offer ended his days executed like a common criminal with his followers scattered. However, from this abject failure there came the greatest outpouring of life, love and power that the world has ever known.
This, I believe, teaches us that in God's world no failure need ever be a total catastrophe. In Jesus he brought life out of death, glorious success out of crushing failure. If we have faith in him and, of course, do our best there will always be a way forward.
Hospital Chaplain
IN common with many young people at the present time my son and daughter are awaiting their GCSE and A-level results. It can be a very trying time. So much hangs on how well they do.
For many the next few weeks will be a time of triumph as they see a bright future opening up for them and the world looking very much like their oyster. For others there will be disappointment as they have to revise their expectations, possibly quite radically.
Many of those who suffer disappointment will, for a time at least, be quite unable to see a way ahead. They have set hearts on a particular goal, they may have done their very best to achieve it, and they have been thwarted.
It is my sincere hope and prayer that those who find themselves in this situation will come to understand that this is not the end of every-thing. Admittedly this is not an easy realisation to make in a culture such as ours which, on the whole, looks upon failure with contempt. However, it is worth noting that, in a sense, our Christian faith is based on an event which, viewed in purely worldly terms, was a catastrophic failure.
A young man endowed with the greatest gifts of eloquence and spiritual insight who seemed to have so much promise and so much to offer ended his days executed like a common criminal with his followers scattered. However, from this abject failure there came the greatest outpouring of life, love and power that the world has ever known.
This, I believe, teaches us that in God's world no failure need ever be a total catastrophe. In Jesus he brought life out of death, glorious success out of crushing failure. If we have faith in him and, of course, do our best there will always be a way forward.
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