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The Speechless Sing - Page 47

  • 26 February 2006, Hallfold & Bamford

    2 Kings 2;1-12 
    Mark 9: 2-9

    "On a Mountain Top"

    Epiphany - revelation of Jesus - child, man, now as the one bringing the past into the future - “My beloved Son - listen to him”

    Some see a Resurrection story - a hint at the glory to come - only risen Jesus story in Mark - letting the reader know that it will be alright in the end - but for the disciples more confusion - don’t talk until you understand - never seem to understand

    Other see the shadow of the Cross - a reminder of suffering - white robes of martyrs (Daniel) - deny yourself, take up the cross, follow. - be a disciple to one who suffers and calls us to suffer with him! - for the sake of the kingdom, for justice for righteousness we are called to battle the powers of the day - whatever they may be and in whatever context we find ourselves.

    On the mountaintop is to dream a dream and to know the struggle that lies ahead - MLK “from every mountainside let freedom ring” - he knew the struggle ahead.

    When we come to the mountain top - we are allowed to dream - to have a hint of the future God promises to us - but also to know the struggle that lies ahead.

    I’ve dreamt that dream - and I still wonder how it can be - I dream of a church 
    where all people are valued - not just those who push themselves forward, 
    where everyone is listened to - not just those with the biggest voices,
    where people in pain can know healing, 
    where people in fear can know safety
    where people with creative ideas can express themselves and be encouraged, 
    where everyone works together to seek God’s way.

    where people are prepared to take risks for the kingdom’s sake

    Is that the church you know?  glimpes - but too often self-interest, small-mindedness, fear, inaction, lack of imagination, looking to the past, no self-denial, no taking up of the cross, no following - no discipleship. - kingdom comes by way of the cross.

    Go to a mountaintop - consider the future - your discipleship - your willingness to follow Jesus - the path God is calling you to at this time - see the struggle, the self-denial, the cross involved - and may God’s glory be revealed.

  • Bamford 22 Jan 2005

    "The time is now"
    Jonah is a wonderfully comic story of a reluctant miserable prophet. On hearing God's call he runs away, tries to hide, as if he could really hide from God. Spewed up on the beach covered in fish he heads for Nineveh - with all the enthusiasm of a teenager sent to make their bed! And we have the a brilliant eight word sermon - which brings repentance m- and still Jonah isn't happy. How many of us have head God's call and behaved like Jonah? - running, hiding, getting busy  -doing anything except God's will - there is no place to hide - but still excuses are heard and God's call ignored.

    Simon, Andrew, James and John didn't prevaricate with excuses. They had  work - a family business for James and John, families - a mother-in-law, so presumably a wife, perhaps children for Simon,-  fears, doubts, uncertainty, risk - but it was time to follow- time to listen to God’s call - time to repent (turn around) believe - Believe in God, Jesus, self

    The time to follow Jesus is now - not some indeterminate time in the future, we can’t plan the future, in a moment everything changes ....

    And not a lifestyle choice - To “repent and believe” - is to turn around, to embracing a new set of values and norms.  It will change forever the way in which those who respond – the disciples – will view the world and live in it.  It is a call to take up the struggle against all the powers that hold the world and its people captive – demons, sickness, hatred, discrimination, political and religious authorities.  disclosing new worlds
    The call to fish for people picks up on Jeremiah, Amos, Ezekial where “hooking of fish” is a euphemism for judgement upon the rich - Jesus mandate “inviting common folk to join him in his struggle to overturn the existing order of power and privilege.” 

    Our lives? - Repent?
    private life - shame?, unworthy? - can’t be hidden from God
    working life - transforming?, liberating? “hooking fish or fattening the fish? - 
    kingdom life - This is an active faith - come, go, follow, on the way, producing fruit, go out, proclaim, heal, - putting faith into action, living as the people of God. And in the kingdom there is a role for each of us - perhaps within the church, our work, our daily life. We don 't have to go far to find the mission field it is here, it is now. 

    The time is now - to become a kingdom person  - it is time to put down your nets, to break with business as usual - to follow Jesus, are you coming or hiding?

  • 8 January 2006 St. Andrew's

    Confirmation, Covenant, Contemplation

    A busy service which combined The Methodist Covenant Service with the Confirmation of K, a young woman who has grown up within this church. Our text is Romans 12:1-2

    I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect. 

    Confirmation of Baptism, of discipleship - of belief and a way of life in which Jesus is at the centre.  
    Do you commit yourself to this life? - question for each of us - commitment seems so hard to come by, yet here K has committed herself to a life of discipleship - do we live by the commitments we have made?
    Do you accept the gift and cost? - there is gift & cost to any commitment - time, energy, focus, priorities - “in daily life and work” - putting theory into practice - living out the gospel, the words of Sunday in our work, in our social lives, in our moral ethical lives. It's not all cost - the gift is to live in the presence of God.
    With the whole church will you proclaim by word and action? Will you put faith into action - 
    Powerful statements, daunting, but we are not alone  - part of a community of faith - strengthed by the power of the Holy Spirit - to be a living sacrifice, to be transformed.

    Covenant - submission - service - I willingly offer ... don’t say it if you don’t mean it - essence of discipleship is discerning the will of God and carrying it out.  We belong to an Active Faith - follow, on the way, producing fruit, go out, proclaim, heal. This covenant is another powerful statement - we do not say it alone, we do not need to work out God’s will alone. We belong to a worshipping, praying fellowship - we share this journey with one another and the whole community of faith - discernment - prayer - strengthening, transforming power of the Holy Spirit.

    Contemplation - We need to seek God’s will as a whole church. There is always a danger of drift - WADITW - If we take baptismal/confirmation promises seriously we need to look at where we are, and where God is calling us to be. So the Elders have been reflecting upon our life together and are giving the whole congregation a chance to reflect with us - a questionnaire, which can give us some pointers, a report on 2 April, - together we look to discern the will of God for this church — what is good and acceptable and perfect.?


    I am no longer my own but yours.
    Your will, not mine, be done in all things, 
    wherever you may place me, 
    in all that I do 
    and in all that I may endure; 
    when there is work for me 
    and when there is none; 
    when I am troubled 
    and when I am at peace. 
    Your will be done 
    when I am valued 
    and when I am disregarded; 
    when I find fulfilment and
    when it is lacking; 
    when I have all things,
    and when I have nothing. 
    I willingly offer 
    all I have and am 
    to serve you, 
    as and where you choose.  

    Glorious and blessed God, 
    Father, Son and Holy Spirit, 
    you are mine  and I am yours. 
    May it be so for ever. 
    Let this covenant now made on earth 
    be fulfilled in heaven.  Amen.