No B@tCH this week
Please know you will be most welcome at the 10 am service.
OR
If you are away, how about worshipping with the locals?
The VOTE for a new Ministry leader.
I’m sorry to announce that there has been a change of plans.
Jono and I thought that we had it all sorted but found at the last moment we were not in line with National Church protocol.
Therefore, subject to Church Council approval the vote will now be on the 18th of July BETWEEN the two services. So after B@tCH on that day we will meet with our cousins across the road and vote together.
There will be time for questions and discussion too. Then they will have their service. I am sorry but there can be NO postal or email voting.
Another point of clarification.
We are voting to see if you would like to ask Geoffrey if he would consider coming to be Senior Minister at Highgate.
NOT
Voting whether to accept his application for the job. We have to ask him to apply (be ‘called’).
Hope that clears some misunderstanding. I realize this process must seem foreign to some of our folk.
In lieu of B@tCH –
The Linscott’s invite you to join them for coffee (or tea), fellowship, and prayer this Sunday morning between 10 am and noon. E-mail linscott@psy.otago.ac.nz or telephone 464 0131 for address details.
In case you don’t get to hear any ‘food for thought’ this Sunday may I make this offering?
Now I don’t want to play fast and loose with history but I must say that I will tend to speak in generalizations rather than a strict chronological order.
In the four weeks leading up to the holidays we looked at the topic ………..
“And they devoted themselves to the Apostles teaching, fellowship, the breaking of bread and prayer.”
There were also glimpses at the church in Galatia. Galatians, the letter from Paul, happened to be the lectionary for the season but also served as an interesting contrast to the workings and idealism of that early fellowship. Without wanting to go over 4 weeks teaching again I would like to remind you that the Apostle’s teaching and Prayer seem to be the vital ‘goalposts’ between fellowship was strung. Remember we spoke about the fine line of fellowship. How tenuous it was/is. It will only be a good as the ‘posts’ are solid. Geoffrey finished this so well and as difficult as it must be to come in ‘cold’ and finish someone else’s series (not to mention being on show a little). He reminded us among many other things that prayer also involves listening. Lots of it. Something we are not always good at. Remember also that fellowship took on many faces. Sharing, eating, communal living and the Lords supper were among the ‘trade marks’. This community was basically Jerusalem based and amongst Jewish Christians’. The great mission to the gentiles and beyond Jerusalem was yet to happen. We will get to that soon as we look at Stephen, Philip, and Saul/Paul. We are in a tight wee window of history here. (Chocolate fish for folk who can estimate how many year we are talking about.) Now the Jerusalem church had come under persecution and some corruption (we hadn’t really spoken about that so read Acts 5 1-11 and Acts 4) but the 3rd and possibly the cleverest ploy of devil according to Revd Dr John Stott was distraction.
“If he could preoccupy the apostles with social administration (which, though essential, was not their calling), they could neglect their God-given responsibilities to preach and pray, and so leave the young church without adequate defense against false doctrine”.
Or in Barry speak, fail to sure up the goalposts and the fellowship is at the mercy of the enemy. One of the ways to weaken the ‘posts’ is to distract them from the task of prayer and teaching. (But hey I know you got that.) Now back to first century Jerusalem ….. A γογγυσμός goggysmos ( a murmur, murmuring, muttering, a secret debate a secret displeasure not openly avowed ) [Barry speak again secret yeah right grumbling!! ] had broken out between two groups (Greek Jews and Hebraic Jews) about the distribution of food to the widows. The apostles ended up getting caught up in what was possibly a cultural issue and instead of praying and teaching they had now become administrators. Eventually, having realized that they were now working outside their gifting and calling, (having to wait on tables to insure they fair distribution of food) yet still realizing that there was a real issue of fairness and need, they had a meeting. (meetings eh) Upshot was the church caught the apostles’ plan and appointed 7 men (sorry ladies remember we are sill in 1st century Jerusalem) who would care for the widows. This is an aside but can you see why I go on about this context thing. You know I point out that down the back of the hall by the servery is 1C AD and we need to float between there and the front corner 2010 as we hear these stories. … really important. Anyway these seven blokes handled the social work within the church. (Chocolate fish for the name of one of these chaps). The apostles prayed for them commissioned them and authorized them to exercise this ministry. Have a wee look, too, at Ephesians 4 11-12. This work was/is vital. We are now whizzing between 1C Ad and 2010. Interestingly the work of the twelve and the work of the seven were both called ‘ministry’ or ‘service’. (Bad sentence should that have been was? Another Chocolate fish) Both are vital. Different but vital. B@tCH is no exception. As we continue to reflect on these matters in the weeks to come, as we look at ways to serve, as we look to scripture for best practice, I pray that we will become increasingly aware of where we fit. That we will work within our passion and gifts, that we will not find ourselves being diverted or distracted from our core business what ever that may be. That we will be sure of what that is and thankful for it.
Blessings as you ponder these musings.
PS….. for those who want to think further…. Wouldnt there have been women as official pastoral carers in the 1C AD? OR do we not hear about them because Acts was written by a man?
Blessings Pastor Barry