Sermon - Psalm 85 & 3 Facebook Posts

Sermon preached at St. Senan's Inniscarra on Sunday 28th July 2019 - A service of the Word. 

May the words of my mouth and the meditations of all our hearts be now and always acceptable in thy sight O Lord our strength and our redeemer. Amen 

The text I am using today - is from the psalms - From Psalm 85 

In the middle of the psalm we read

Love and faithfulness meet together;

    righteousness and peace kiss each other.

The Lord will indeed give what is good,

    and our land will yield its harvest.

I was struck in the past week when I scrolling through Facebook - by 3 Posts (all by Bishops) have had a profound impact upon my thoughts as I’ve read through them this week 

The First was a from Bishop Ken Clarke - known to many of us here 

He wrote this on Monday

WHAT A CONTRAST!! Thousands were there to see it and yesterday millions around the world watched Shane Lowry's amazing win in The Open at Royal Portrush Golf Course in Northern Ireland. Cheers and celebrations marked his spectacular win. I will never forget it. I rejoiced! 

Nor will I ever forget the same day 47 years ago... 21st July in 1972, during what we call The Troubles. At least twenty bombs exploded in Belfast in the space of eighty minutes, most within a half hour period. Most of them were car bombs and most targeted infrastructure, especially the transport network. Nine people were killed: ….while 130 people of all political persuasions were injured. We will never forget the carnage, the loss of precious lives and the ensuing heartbreak. It became known as Bloody Friday. 
I wept!
What a CONTRAST yesterday.  

THANK YOU to all around the world who have prayed for Ireland! We thank the Lord and we thank you that we are in a different place now. As we thank the Lord for peace please continue to pray for a fresh move of The Holy Spirit in the lives of leaders and people in this beautiful island called Ireland!!! 
Thank you friends!

I share this … because history, our history is made up of darkest moments but also hopeful turn of events as well. 

We know that in our own individual histories as well as in the global scale … there are dark, bleak moments but then there are beautiful moments of love, peace and reconciliation. 

The second from Bishop Paul Colton - which was a post based upon a sermon he preached in crookhaven a few weeks ago about Rural Ministry -I mention it here - when things look bleak or desolate … actually there still is hope. He said …

Where the people of God are, in a particular place in the sparsely populated areas such as this, they are ‘the Church’ as much as the big city and suburban parishes in Cork, Dublin or in the North East of Ireland are ‘the Church’.   

‘It is no secret’ said Bishop Colton, ‘that in places like this, our Diocese, the Church of Ireland as a whole, indeed other churches too, and not only religious institutions, but also other organisations have been and are reflecting about how best to support the sustainability of rural Ireland. 

In this diocese we are working to have confidence - that we are indeed in a new place - The world is a different place than it was 47, 30 20 years ago - Thank God for that. 

But where we are now we need to own the fact that things are different and we might need to do things differently that we ever did before - I mention this because we won’t do things if we don’t have confidence that the future is bright, that we have a future and things can be different. 

In the darkest depths of the violence in Northern Ireland - there were always people who held out hope that things could be different, that worked for peace and reconciliation. That even in the depths of despair, in the unbearable pain of loss that a future could be crafted that communities could work together, live together and play together. 

At this point in my sermon - up until early this morning I was going to be looking at some stuff about the future of the Church and get quite excited  … but as I woke this morning some words from another Bishop that I read yesterday were echoing through my mind - and have changed what I want to say this morning. I don’t normally do this! - Nor do I want to get political in the pulpit 

The Church of Ireland Bishop of Clogher in an open letter to Prime Minister  Boris Johnston which appeared in the Belfast Telegraph on Friday about issues within his Cross Border Diocese It can be found in full on the diocese of Clogher website… 

see -Clogher Diocese

Bishop John writes - The Border and the problems which it poses for any form of Brexit are not only technical or technological issues. Nor are they simply issues to do with trade or security matters. Expressed in the starkest terms, the Border is the background against which all political and much cultural life in Northern Ireland (and in a more limited way in the Republic of Ireland) is worked out. Some people like the Border and others do not, but positively or negatively, consciously or unconsciously, it is pivotal to how politicians and people here assess almost all policy alternatives. 

For a political border, it is very beautiful in places. That is largely because of the hundreds of small farms looked after by hundreds of sturdy farmers along its length. There isn’t much money in it for most of them, but if you ask them why they don’t move to somewhere less difficult to farm they say “You can’t roll up the land and take it with you”. The long term well-being of men and women like these, and their neighbours all along the border, requires and deserves a clearly spelt-out, sustainable agreement between both sides. This is so that they have not only that material basis necessary for civilised living but also hope for their children’s future. Neither peace nor prosperity are possible without hope. 

I think it was the great English public figure and man of Letters Thomas Babbington Macauley who said of Ireland that “the molten lava of the past flows hot and dangerous under the thin crust of the present”.
The ground on which people build and grow in the Border region feels particularly fragile today. It is almost possible to feel the heat of the past burning the soles of our feet. 

So, please, in your consideration of the future of this place: tread carefully. And with deep and genuine concern I would ask you to be very conscious of the legacy your Government will leave. 

I have tremendous hope for the people of this Island and the church on this Island - Yes the turbulent times that the UK is going through at the moment and the uncertainty that is being faced. Yes we must pray for our leaders at this time. Our thoughts and prayers are with all those closer to the border than we are. 

Returning to Bishop Ken Clarkes comment - prayer and working for peace got us to where we are today - My hope and prayer is that this will be an opportunity for Christians right across the island of Ireland to stand up, speak truth to those in political leadership and call for action where there has been a void an perhaps where there is lack of understanding. 

People, kingdoms, governments, borders, politics, farming, relationships between nations - the world has been here before and will be here again. 

The psalmist poetically paints a picture of love and faithfulness - other wise translated as - love and truth meeting and going deeper right living and peace embracing and kissing each other 

What a wonderful picture and then the psalmist looks at the fruit of this ‘the Lord will give what is good and the land will bear fruit. 

It starts from a meeting of love and truth 

That seems like a good start to any dialogue which may lead to lasting peace. 

This is not just for nations - its the same pattern for Churches, Communities, families and individuals. 

The gospel mentions that the Lord will give good gifts to those who ask him … are we asking?, are we seeking? Are we knocking at the door? 

What ever our politics … lets pray for Leo and Borris as they discuss and sort out the future of this land. 

Let’s pray for those deep divisions in this land … that there may be healing and reconciliation and peace. 

Let’s do what we can to work for that peace … showing love, living rightly and displaying peace 

The past while ... and up coming

Not too much has been written in the Blog recently ... although a lot has been happening!

Maybe that's why nothing has been blogged!

Now that things are beginning to settle down ... Normal service might be resumed!

Over the summer in the morning services we're looking at the Psalms from the Lectionary in the parish ... songs with deep meaning, with real life and thought provoking reality.

If you had to write a song about what you're thinking about life, reality, God ... what you're going through what would you be saying?

Mission & Ministry - Week 2

Over the course of the next month or so I am teaching / facilitating learning on the Certificate in Christian Studies Course being run by the diocese - This evening was the Second night of the course.  

During the evening the participants looked at Church in the context in which we are living and working

The evening consisted of the following - looking back at what we did for the first week


Praying the collect for mission
Almighty God,

who called your Church to witness
that you were in Christ reconciling the world to yourself: Help us to proclaim the good news of your love,
that all who hear it may be drawn to you;
through him who was lifted up on the cross,
and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. 2 (BCP 334)

Discussing what comes to mind when we think about Church - this provoked a bit of discussion both  positive thoughts and also the negative side of mission.

Looking at models (images) of Understanding church

The different functions of Church

The Charities Regulator for Ireland is asking us to consider what we do - the Church of Ireland states this:

The principal function of the Parish of ________ of the Church of Ireland  is to support the advancement of the Christian religion by promoting, through the work of the Parish of ________, the whole mission of the Church, pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical. Being open to and engaging with society as a whole and offering support for those needing help are fundamental to the practical delivery of the benefits of Christianity.  As a result of activity in the pursuit of the advancement of the Christian religion, the Parish of ________ has custody of property and of records, materials and artefacts of significance to the cultural and religious heritage and maintenance of which is undertaken by the Parish of ________ .

We looked at Dulles' Models of Church 5 + 1 which he added in the second edition of his book. There was some discussion about which was most prominent.

We looked at the Marks of Church

One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic

Which in Mission Shaped Church allows us to consider another model (Dimensions of Church) - UP, IN, OUT, OF

UP- Our worship of God
IN - Our Discipleship, our Pastoral Care
OUT - Our outreach to the world
OF - Our catholicity - links to the universal Christian Church (Creeds)


And the looked at the vision of Church as out line in Cork Cloyne and Ross' Charting the Future - models of Church outlined it.

Underpinned by the Five Marks of Mission, our vision is an Inclusive, all-age church • that is a community of disciples following Jesus. • where all people, by virtue of baptism, have the opportunity to engage in ministry in various forms. • that listens. • that is based on relationships, ultimately the relationship with Christ. • that celebrates diversity. • that is rooted in the community and reaches out to the marginalised. • that reforms continually according to the word of God. • that is sharing faith and growing  (page35) 

The fact there is a vision of growth and moving forward - that we are not just going around in circles around the church's year.

We then began to consider the context in which we are living - in Western Europe today by Looking at some of Stuart Murray's Post-Christendom material

"The fourth and twentieth centuries form bookends marking transition points in the history of the church. Just as the fourth century adoption of Christianity by Constantine forced the church to struggle with its self-understanding as the new center of the culture, twentieth century Christians must now struggle to understand the meaning of their social location in a decentered world."

We looked at what Christendom looked like and where we are now

I then mentioned some of my own research recently completed critiquing what may be happening with churches in Ireland as they respond to the Post Christendom era which we are entering.

On the left we see that Church that have little cultural engagement have little effectiveness due to their tendency to simply be cosy clubs - their own rules and and not looking outwards. 

On the other side there is a tendency toward much cultural engagement but then they become 'gimmick church' where there is lack of community, no gospel proclamation and no effectiveness 

At the centre of the graph is a Church that is doing what I could describe as a healthy Church - whether looked at through the lens 5 Marks of Mission, the CCR Models of Church Group vision above, UP, IN OUT Church is calling us to.

I do think that this lens is useful to look at - as every church might begin to fall towards either extreme and maybe needs corrective measures.

My own research seems to find that there are a few reasons for this 

Historical Inhibitors - towards cosy club. 

Lack of Leadership support - either towards cosy Club or gimmick Church.

Implementation Deficit of plans which might lead to healthy church- which then causes falling into either extreme. 

A couple of quotes thrown in at the end - to provide a bit of hope! 

We need not be a despondent, isolationist, grumpy or frightened minority. Nor need we become compliant and conformist, relinquishing our convictions in return for social and cultural acceptability. We can choose to interpret this emerging context as an opportunity to recover our nerve, our soul, our missional identity and our primary allegiance. We can choose to be a creative minority, a prophetic minority and a hopeful minority – a community that unmasks idols, pioneers new possibilities and engenders authentic hope … pointing many others in this direction’. 

The most evangelistic thing the Church can do today is to be the church, to be formed by the Holy Spirit through core practices such as worship, forgiveness, hospitality, {proclamation} and economic sharing into a distinctive people in the world, a new social option, the body of Christ. This is… the witness to God’s reign in the world. [Mission] is neither the individual, private, or interior salvation of individuals nor the Christianisation of entire cultures, but the creation of a people… The church does not really need an evangelistic strategy, the Church is the evangelistic strategy.26 

Almighty God, You have called us through baptism to be your Church in this place. Draw near to us in Cork, Cloyne and Ross as we seek to renew our witness to your gospel; enable us to hear your voice, to know your way, and to do your will, so that, charting a future with confidence under the guidance of your Holy Spirit, we may truly and faithfully be the body of your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen 

Mission and Ministry Week 1

Over the course of the next month or so I am teaching / facilitating learning on the Certificate in Christian Studies Course being run by the diocese - This evening was the opening night of the course.  

During the evening the participants looked at an overview of 'Mission' as we understand it within the Anglican Church

The evening consisted of

outlining the Module:

MODULE LEARNING OUTCOMES: On completion of this module, students will be able to-

• Discuss the theological basis of mission and evangelism
• Explain contemporary approaches to mission and evangelism
• Evaluate  the influence of social context in defining the mission, nature and purpose of the local church
• Discuss the relationship between mission and pastoral care

Discussing what comes to mind when we think about mission - this provoked a bit of discussion both  positive thoughts and also the negative side of mission.

Praying the collect for mission
Almighty God,

who called your Church to witness
that you were in Christ reconciling the world to yourself: Help us to proclaim the good news of your love,
that all who hear it may be drawn to you;
through him who was lifted up on the cross,
and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. 2 (BCP 334)
------------

Looking at a definition of Mission - beyond the stereo types

Mission is the creating, reconciling and transforming action of God, flowing from the community of love found in the Trinity, made known to all humanity in the person of Jesus, and entrusted to the faithful action and witness of the people of God who, in the power of the Spirit, are a sign, foretaste and instrument of the reign of God. 

http://www.churchgrowthresearch.org.uk/concept_church_growth 

With such a definition there is tremendous scope to understand that mission is actually the act of God into which he calls us to work with him. The God of Mission has  a church! 

For more on this see Bosch - Transforming mission 

----------- 

In theology - we have the 4 sources of theology 

• Scripture
• Tradition 
• Reason 
• Experience 

Looking at Scripture 

We highlighted that with such a scope as per the definition above we need to go right back to the beginning ... 

God interacting with humanity  and throughout the pages of scripture there is God's action with his creation 

• OT Narratives & Characters

• The Beatitudes 

• The sheep and the goats 

• 12 & 72 Sent out

• Great Commission 

• Pentecost 

• Epistles

and we see that there is a continuous revealing and partnership with God and his people 

In the ministry of Jesus we see mission continuing - the relationship developing 

We could pick umpteen passages: 

One of those is 

Matthew 9:35–38 Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

What do we notice from these verses? 

Key words:  Teaching, Proclaiming good news, Healing, compassion, harassed and helpless, lack of workers, ask (prayer)

Focusing in on : word, action and compassion 

-----

What does mission look like today? 

Tradition - Yes there are negative stereotypes but actually we need to get beyond those 

The Anglican Church has 5 marks of mission 

1. To proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom
2. To teach, baptise and nurture new believers
3. To respond to human need by loving service
4. To transform unjust structures of society, to challenge violence of every kind and pursue peace and reconciliation
5. To strive to safeguard the integrity of creation, and sustain and renew the life of the earth

I got a bit controversial here and said that some parts of the church have some tendency to  focus primarily on one of these but actually we are called to have a balanced approach. 

Some deep discussion occurred around these. 

for more on these check out - 5 Marks of mission  

------

This then led into a discussion about the nature of where we are in history and what the means pastorally. 

A quick outline from 

• New Testament Times 
• Early Church History 
• Constantine  Conversion 
• Christendom (Church and State)
• Enlightenment 
• Post- Christendom 

The example was given of us as a post-christendom church - what does it mean when parents want to give their children a choice as to whether or not to baptise kids? 

which then led to the issues around church beyond the doors of church and the problems with a bounded set of parishioners and the challenges of 21st Century Church as opposed to 50 years ago. 

The tensions of locality v's network society and the difficulties of choice in our society and the range of decisions people are able to make today. 

If mission is bigger than the Church of Ireland ... we're not baptising babies into the Church of Ireland -but rather the church universal of which we are members.   how do we offer choice, maintain membership and do those things that we're called to do in those 5 marks. For more on post christendom check out - Stuart Murray

-----

Discussion was had around Historical Inhibitors to mission in the context of the Republic of Ireland - Issues such as Souperism and Tithe as well as issues with inter church Relations - Difficulties with Irish Catholic Church - highlighted by people like - Fr Joe McDonald  and 5 years to save the Irish Church  coupled with the difficulties around Centenaries commemorations and the work of reconciliation. 

These are very live issues - and need to be carefully handled - some discussion time was devoted to this. 

The point was made that history is important but must not forget that actually mission needs to continue as well as working for reconciliation of the past - a 2 track approach perhaps? 

----

After coffee these images were shown - one wonders if maybe there is some truth in these? 

The stereotypical church in popular  - boring, sleepy people sitting through a sermon irrelevant to their lives

The doors of the church building closed - either 6 days a week physically shut - what's that saying to people? 

or people who see the church door shut metaphorically due to their circumstances, past or present? 

or those who do go into the building but see an empty shell - they don't feel they belong or that there is nothing in there for them? 

This sadly for so many people is a reality.  What can we do about it? 

It surely brings us back to the 5 marks of mission - and then also searching for what's in our inherited structures but not yet implemented ... see Earl Storey - Apologetic for mission

We concluded with a Franciscan Benediction 

Some examples of mission happening

• City Centre Ministry - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0XT5is1Bgo
• Coffee & Cake https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qsy0ojkHrl0&list=PLcc_HT5TeqjqSHjnn6m-yLZa7CDhahAP5&index=9&t=0s
• Refugees from Syria - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=meXqOzej8AA&list=PLcc_HT5TeqjqSHjnn6m-yLZa7CDhahAP5&index=18&t=0s
• Jobs - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UjI0H9AQyA&list=PLcc_HT5TeqjqSHjnn6m-yLZa7CDhahAP5&index=5
• Sacred Path - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jG_wr_0QoVY

Back to normal?! - Some initial topics from Sabbatical

This is simply a quick wee blog - I have realised that it's been before Christmas that I last blogged and so much has happened - in the past 3 months I've clocked up a couple of thousand KM's on the car as I travelled around Ireland discovering what God is up to in unexpected places, as well as completing a 15,000 word dissertation + appendices in total came to 64,500 words!

The past three months I've learnt quite a bit about ministry, mission and am back in Blarney with a deep refreshment from time in retreat and prayer.

There does seem to be a huge amount of learning from this time which I do think has implications for the way ministry may need to develop.

Topics cropped up such as:

- The Gospel what it means in Ireland today.
- Clergy Self-care / supervision
- Pioneer Ministry and support
- The Dialectic tension between 'cosy club church' and 'gimmick church'
- What success looks like in Ministry
- the balancing of the 5 marks of mission
- Being church in new areas of Ireland
- The Church which seems ready for new forms of ministry to be enacted
- Not forgetting what has already been done
- The need for implementation to happen in areas where the church has already reported on
- The grappling with change within church circles
- The need for adequate support structures
- The good news stories in Church need to be celebrated
- 'Going beyond the Church of Ireland community' in mission
- Being sensitive to our historical context whilst also realising that we are in a new era
- Appraisal of ministry
- Support and mentoring within current and new expressions of Church

Over the next while I hope to blog about many of these topics - as many of them are problematic and challenging to those of us who are in inherited forms of church and in doing so discuss and ponder  what the Spirit might be saying to church.

Whatever that may be ... its certainly an adventure!

Mary & the Magificat

May the words of my mouth and the meditations of all our hearts be now and always acceptable in thy sight O Lord our strength and our redeemer. Amen 

Those words from this mornings gospel reading ... of Mary are words of immense importance … a declaration of who the child is and who he will be - a description of what God is up to in and through her but also what will be happening once the Child in her womb is born. 

This morning I would love us to stop for a moment at this juncture … before we celebrate Christmas and think about Mary. 

In Ireland, due to our history,  particularly we have many images of of the Blessed Virgin Mary … one just has to drive around the roads here and we see statues to her. 

Of course we as a church look to Mary as an example of faithfulness and also a woman called by God uniquely in salvation history 

Much has been written and debated across the centruries … for anyone looking to take this study further …check out ARCIC on Mary - available her http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/chrstuni/angl-comm-docs/rc_pc_chrstuni_doc_20050516_mary-grace-hope-christ_en.html 

This document which appears on the Vatican website repeats what Both the anglican and Roman Catholic Church can agree upon - What we must be clear on is that: 

• that any interpretation of the role of Mary must not obscure the unique mediation of Christ;
• that we recognize the Blessed Virgin Mary as the Theotókos, the mother of God incarnate, and so observe her festivals and accord her honour among the saints;
• that Mary was prepared by grace to be the mother of our Redeemer, by whom she herself was redeemed and received into glory;
• that we recognize Mary as a model of holiness, faith and obedience for all Christians; and
• that Mary can be seen as a prophetic figure of the Church.

It’s this prophetic role I would like to pick up on this morning - for a few moments 

Prophetic - is either fore-telling or forth-telling 

In other words - a prophet is someone who tells what is going to happen in the future or what should and needs to happen in the future. 

Mary in the Magificat - does  state both what the Child in her womb is going to do and also what needs to happen 

Mary paints a magnificent word picture of what the kingdom of God is going to be like - a vision that is attractive to the powerless, the vulnerable, the poor and the underdog. 

Its not too attractive for the powerful, the exploiter, the rich and the bully. 

Mary in her faithfulness shows what God can do with a single life who is ready to say yes to God. 

Mary in this prophetic role is powerful

<< This has been doing the rounds on Facebook -from a nativity play last year >>

As I watched this time and again … I see Mary in this picture as someone not going to take things that aren’t meant to be (we'll not go much further with this imagery! ;-) 

When we read elsewhere in the Gospels … Mary prompting Jesus, Mary having her heart broken, Mary in her supportive role 

But her prophetic role here … stating the what this child will become - This Christmas … as we pause … we have the kingdom of God being proclaimed here. 

So what are we to make of the Magificat … Mary’s song 

E. Stanley Jones, a famous preacher of two generations ago, said that the Magnificat is “the most revolutionary document in the world.”

Geldenhese, a Dutch theologian, said that the Magificat “announces powerful revolutionary principles.” 

Murrow, another theologian, talks about the “revolutionary germ” found in the Magnificat. 

Barclay, an English theologian, says that the Magificat is “a bombshell.” Barclay goes on to say that people have read it so often that they have forgotten its “revolutionary terror.” It takes “the standards of the world and turns them upside down.” Barclay teaches that in the Magnificat, there are three revolutions: 

“an economic revolution; a political revolution; and a moral revolution.”  

Still another author says that the Magnificat “terrified the Russian Czars.” 

Martin Luther, the father of the Lutheran church, says that the Magnificat “comforts the lowly and terrifies the rich.” 

Gilmore said that the Magnificat “fosters revolutionaries in our churches.”  He says that “the Church needs the leaven of discontent, and the Magnifcat makes the church strive against poverty and wretchedness.”

As we come to Christmas for another year … are we prepared to accept the revelation of the Christ Child - that actually there is a revolutionary message that the church has turned on its head - that we have somewhat sanitised and accepted the message that the world proclaims that it is a lovely story and makes us feel good but nothing more.

One Commentator sums this up quite well when he says Those who know God and his grace will echo Mary’s song. We do not have the honour of giving birth to the Saviour of the World, but we do have the blessing of becoming one of his children. The promises God makes to his humble children, revealed by Mary in her hymn of praise, are promises in which we share.

Casting Crowns wrote a song which is a wonderful piece of poetry - have a listen to it. 

Somewhere between the hot and the cold

Somewhere between the new and the old

Somewhere between who I am and who I used to be

Somewhere in the middle, you'll find me

Somewhere between the wrong and the right

Somewhere between the darkness and the light

Somewhere between who I was and who you're making me

Somewhere in the middle, you'll find me

Just how close can I get, lord, to my surrender without losing all control

Fearless warriors in a picket fence, reckless abandon wrapped in common sense

Deep water faith in the shallow end and we are caught in the middle

With eyes wide open to the differences, the god we want and the god who is

But will we trade our dreams for his or are we caught in the middle

Are we caught in the middle

Somewhere between my heart and my hands

Somewhere between my faith and my plans

Somewhere between the safety of the boat and the crashing waves

Somewhere between a whisper and a roar

Somewhere between the altar and the door

Somewhere between contented peace and always wanting more

Somewhere in the middle you'll find me

Just how close can I get, lord, to my surrender without losing all control

Fearless warriors in a picket fence, reckless abandon wrapped in common sense

Deep water faith in the shallow end and we are caught in the middle

With eyes wide open to the differences, the god we want and the god who is

But will we trade our dreams for his or are we caught in the middle

Lord, I feel you in this place and I know you're by my side

Loving me even on these nights, when I'm caught in the middle

Caught in the middle

2018 we look back on with all sorts of feelings for some its been a great year, for some a mixed blessings year, for others it may have been a horrid year.  

2019 is on the horizon - I wonder when we get to this time next year what are we going to look back on - will we be in the same place or do we have a bit of a vision for what could be birthed in our lives, in our community, what is God calling us collectively to, to you personally to. The magnificat was Mary’s song … her calling out what should be and needs to be. This is also not just for young people … its for all of us … remember how God used Abraham and Sarah, Noah, 

This all began with a young woman saying yes to the Lord, this revolution began with a simple let it be according to your will. What is your vision … what are you prepared to see brought to fruition 

Lets pray