Tiny church wins £10,000 survival prize

An Anglican church attended by just 22 people has won a £10,000 award to help it continue to exist. St Andrew's Church in South Warnborough in Hampshire has won the Country Life magazine Village Church for Village Life Award. The 12th century church was in poor condition until the church asked for help from the South Warnborough Gentlemen's Working Club. The Club has supervised a complete transformation which means it is now fit to host community events and concerts. The pews were removed, better lighting installed and a kitchen and disabled toilet added. The Country Life award was set up by Sir Roy Strong, former director of the National Portrait Gallery, to tackle the decline of historic rural churches.

Source: Daily Telegraph (29/7)
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/religion/5926360/Church-with-congregation-of-22-wins-10000-survival-award.html

Baroness believes it’s time for Christians to get into politics

A former deputy speaker of the House of Lords says now is a good time for Christians to consider a political career. Human rights campaigner Baroness Caroline Cox believes this post-expenses scandal era is ‘an even better time for young Christians to go into politics to make a difference’. Speaking at this year’s Keswick Convention, the Baroness told her Christian audience that the current low reputation of politics is ‘all the more reason to go into it and change it’. But she cautioned against students going straight into politics without having some other work and life experience first: ‘One of the problems with some of our politicians is that they have never done anything else but politics.’

Source: www.christiantoday.com (29/7)
http://www.christiantoday.com/article/now.is.a.good.time.for.christians.to.enter.politics.says.cox/23896.htm

Bible Study Courses

I was a bit disappointed that no-one commented on my report that our Circuit Disciple group had completed our study of the Disciple 4 course, especially as I believe we are probably the first group in the UK to have done so. This is probably because I mentioned it in my post on our Circuit Farewell Service. It could also be because of the current difficulties being experienced by the Methodist Publishing House that necessitates all study materials having to be ordered direct from Cokesbury in America via the Disciple website http://www.cokesbury.com/disciple.

However, I want to draw attention to the tremendous benefits that come from the study of the Disciple Courses - in discipline, in fellowship and, most of all, in personal transformation as we all walk closer with Jesus. It seems very daunting at first to commit to spending 34 weeks in in-depth Bible study (for the Disciple 1 course means covering most of the Bible in nine months), but all who make this commitment speak enthusiastically of the experience. Personally, I found the Disciple 2 course to have the deepest, most lasting effect on my Christian journey, though each course added to the others.

So I would urge you to seriously consider committing yourselves to a Disciple course this year. When a number of members in the same church commit themselves in this way, the effect on the church is quite extraordinary.

But if you really and truly feel that such a long commitment is not for you, please consider whether your house group could follow one of the six short Disciple courses that are now available, covering 8, 10 or 11 weeks. The titles of these are -

Invitation to Psalms
Invitation to John
Invitation to the New Testament
Invitation to the Old Testament
Invitation to Genesis
Invitation to Romans

Also I was surprised to find that after Disciple 4, they list two further 30-week courses -

Jesus in the Gospels and

Christian Believer

I am excited to read about 'Christian Believer' on the Disciple website because it looks to me as though this study could revitalise a church if enough people could be signed up to discover what it is we Christians really believe!

If you are alone in wanting to take a Disciple course, I have good news for you! I understand that, just as blogging and Facebook can form groups of friends, it is now posible to become part of an on-line Disciple group! So do make enquiries about this, if you think this is the way in for you.

Finally, I heard a whisper that our Connexional Team are about to resurrect the resourcing of Disciple courses in the UK. I do hope and pray that this is more than a rumour because the Disciple courses are such a powerful tool to enable earnest, committed Christians to grow. Over to you!

Local churches the ‘key’ to international development

The Church is ‘an essential partner in delivering sustainable development at the heart of the world’s poorest communities,’ a new paper claims. The Tearfund document In the Thick of It appeals to governments and international donors to develop strategies to work with faith groups, recognising that ‘in some places development simply would not happen without the local church’. The paper assembles a substantial body of evidence gained from the agency’s 40-year experience. Tearfund’s chief executive, Matthew Frost, said governments should ‘harness the unique position of church-based organisations’ to give people in poor communities ‘a greater say about decisions that impact their livelihoods and wellbeing’.

Source: Baptist Times (23/7)
http://www.baptisttimes.co.uk/news4.htm

Chalice withdrawn as swine flu precaution

The Archbishops of Canterbury and York have written to their 16,000 clergy asking them not to share the chalice at Holy Communion as a precaution against swine flu. The withdrawal of the cup from which Anglican communicants sip wine during the service is unprecedented. The measure was not taken even during the great plague in the 17th century. The Archbishops are advising ministers to wash their hands before presiding at Communion and dip Communion bread or wafers in the chalice rather than offer a shared cup. The guidance follows Department of Health advice warning against common vessels for food and drink.

Sources: The Times (24/7); Daily Telegraph (24/7)
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/faith/article6724764.ece
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/swine-flu/5895452/Swine-flu-Communion-chalice-should-not-be-shared-say-Archbishops.html

Christians urged to pray as Church leaders arrested in Fiji

The British Methodist Church is calling on Christians to pray for the Methodist Church in Fiji following the arrests of seven Church leaders by Fiji’s military government.

Earlier this week the church leaders, including the general secretary and two former Presidents, were arrested and held for questioning in relation to the Church’s annual Conference, scheduled in August. The government has banned the Conference from taking place, concerned that the Church’s discussions will be politically focused. Those arrested include the General Secretary of the Church, Revd Tuikilakila Waqairatu, the Church’s Finance Secretary, Viliame Gonelevu and two former Presidents of the Church, Revd Manasa Lasaro and Revd Tomasi Kanailagi. Revd Tomasi was a senator in the previous government.

Christine Elliott, Secretary for External Relationships for the Methodist Church in Britain, said; “It is clear that Colonel Frank Bainimarama is making a strong statement about who is in power. The Methodist Church is the largest faith group in Fiji, holds a significant amount of power amongst the people and has considerable influence over voters. The leadership of the Church is determined to stand against the government and has lobbied the UN regarding religious freedom and human rights.

“It is important that we hold our brothers and sisters in Fiji, their government and all in the islands in our prayers during these challenging times.”

The government’s action effectively ensures that the Conference will not go ahead even if the Church excludes the two former Presidents and agrees to refrain from any political discussions. The Methodist Church is the largest faith group in Fiji and Church leaders have insisted that the Conference will take place regardless of the ban. The ministers were treated well, have now all been released on conditional bail and are required to surrender their travel documents.

Prayer for Fiji

od of power and strength,
You make foolish the wisdom of this world.
You call upon us to find your strength in our weakness.
You offer us your guidance when all is in confusion.

We ask your protection and guidance for Church leaders in Fiji,
Your wisdom for the Fijian Government,
Your peace and stability for the people of Fiji.

Amen

Source: Methodist News Service 24/07/09

Methodist minister offers spiritual nourishment from the fourth plinth

A Methodist minister will be offering visitors to Trafalgar Square a touch of midweek spirituality as he leads a worship service from the fourth plinth, alongside Nelson’s Column and the imposing facade of the National Gallery.

From 9-10am on Tuesday 28 July, Revd Ken Chalmers, from Castle Cary in Somerset, will offer spiritual reflections and worship to gathering friends, tourists and other visitors to the Square. Visitors will also will hear Bible readings and worship songs and share Holy Communion, administered from the base of the plinth by Revd Martin Turner.

Explaining why he chose to use his hour in this way, Ken said; “Art and symbolism have always been used to express the Christian faith and I want my hour on the plinth to focus on spiritual reflection. Many people have come to Trafalgar square to feed the pigeons, but perhaps we can offer our human visitors a bit of spiritual food for an hour this Tuesday.”

Those who can’t make it to Trafalgar Square needn’t miss out completely – they can join in by visiting www.oneandother.co.uk, to watch the plinth live.

Ken is one of 2,400 people who will appear on the fourth plinth between 6 July and 14October 2009, picked from more than 28,000 applicants for sculptor Anthony Gormley’s One and Other project. Gormley is asking the people of the UK to occupy the empty fourth plinth in Trafalgar Square. Every hour, 24 hours a day, for 100 days without a break, a different person will make the plinth their own.

Source: Methodist news Service 24/07/09