Thursday 31 July 2014

Love has a price

The last three weeks have been difficult - in spite of the joy of being accredited as a local preacher.  Amidst the happiness, three people I have known and cared about have passed away - two of them quite suddenly and unexpected.  Love has a price - we love, accepting that any parting that comes will have a certain amount of pain attached to it.

1 Corinthians 13 is all about the importance of love - no matter what we do, no matter what we achieve, if we do not love, it all counts for nothing.  In loving others we leave ourselves open and vulnerable.  Vulnerable to the pain of disagreement, vulnerable to the pain of bereavement and sometimes it's not until we are without the person we regarded as a friend, we realise just how much that friendship meant to us.

Love is the foundation on which the Kingdom of God is built, without it, the Kingdom would be overwhelmed with the hatred and self-interest that threatens our world.  Jesus loved - if we read the story of Jesus and Lazarus, we read that when Jesus heard that Lazarus had died, that he wept.

When we accept Kingdom values as Christians, love for others is an intrinsic part of our discipleship. We cannot escape it, we cannot ignore it.  Our lives become intertwined and our lives are enriched by love shared with other people, and when love hurts, we must reflect on the great truth that love represents the very nature of God himself.

I give thanks for my friends whose passing I now mourn and I give thanks for the love shown to me by others.  I give thanks for friends who see beyond my faults and failings and love me unconditionally. We are reminded of the perfect love of God summed up so perfectly in Charles Wesley's wonderful hymn:

Love divine, all loves excelling,
Joy of heaven to earth come down;
Fix in us thy humble dwelling;
All thy faithful mercies crown!
Jesus, Thou art all compassion,
Pure unbounded love Thou art;
Visit us with Thy salvation;
Enter every trembling heart.

and the last verse....

Finish, then, Thy new creation;
Pure and spotless let us be.
Let us see Thy great salvation
Perfectly restored in Thee;
Changed from glory into glory,
Till in heaven we take our place,
Till we cast our crowns before Thee,
Lost in wonder, love, and praise.

God bless you!

Monday 21 July 2014

The Dawn of a New Beginning

Today is a new dawn, a new beginning as one of Mr Wesley's preachers.  It was a truly special service last night when we gathered with folk from around the Circuit and some visiting friends to say farewell to Rev Bill Tardy, and for the accreditation of Syntiche Dedji and myself as local preachers.  There was a real sense of joy, a real sense of celebration as a packed church opened the service by singing 'O for a thousand tongues to sing'.  The service was led by our Superintendent, Rev Geoff Cornell.

The rain poured down outside, thunder rumbled, but nothing could dampen the spirits of those within Bush Hill Park Methodist Church.  Geoff's sermon was exactly right for the occasion and he always manages to give food for thought.  We learned new hymns too, and that always helps!

It was special to stand alongside Syntiche and make my responses as we were formally presented to the Superintendent and recognised as local preachers within The Methodist Church.  We were presented with our Bible and our letter from the President.  The next hymn was my favourite, 'Blessed Assurance', the singing was absolutely wonderful and boosted by Alan Combes playing his trumpet.

What was most amazing was the love that was so evident.  I came away feeling truly loved.  I didn't think it was possible to be hugged by so many people in one hour.  Friends came, not because they are part of my past, but because they are part of my present. 

So now a new chapter dawns as one of Mr Wesley's preachers.  I go forward empowered and enabled by the Holy Spirit to live out the ministry to which I have been called.  It isn't a weekend thing, it is a 24/7 thing.  It is a lifelong responsibility.

We will walk the path that will cost us much,
And endure the pain and sorrow.
We will will trust in one who entrusts to us
The disciples of tomorrow.

Singing the Faith 662

Sunday 20 July 2014

A Special Day

Today's the day when I shall be accredited as one of Mr Wesley's preachers.  It's a day I have been working towards for three years, since I went 'on note' in July 2011.  It's going to be memorable, emotional, possibly even life-changing as I make promises before people from around the circuit and beyond at Bush Hill Park Methodist Church.

It's an awesome experience to sense God's call to such a ministry - it's also a huge responsibility.  I go forward confident of the guidance of the Holy Spirit and confident that I will be able to spread the Good News and inspire others.

Such a journey cannot be made without help.  For me, the most amazing support has been given to me by my husband Peter.  He has loved and supported me through my many hours of study, service preparation and by taking me to the various services around the circuit.  My mentor Margaret, who will reach 50 years as an accredited local preacher in 2015.  My tutor, Sandra Rose, who has been busy in the background offering encouragement, marking assignments and ensuring I had my assessed services at the appropriate times.  My Church family at Goffs Oak Methodist Church who love and support  me as resident local preacher and Senior Steward.  Our circuit ministers - especially Inez Reid (minister at Goffs Oak from 2010 until 2013, and our current minister Alan Combes who has encouraged, supported and guided me through the latter year of my training.  Also thank you to many friends, old and new and to the congregations of the Enfield Circuit who have been consistent in offering the warmest of welcomes.


Friday 11 July 2014

A Sad Day

Thursday 10th July 2014 was a sad day - a day that brought a double dose of sad news and it left me feeling very low indeed.  Firstly, I learned of the sudden death of my friend Ian Southall.  It was a friendship born via social media, that brought great encouragement.  Ian was a fellow local preacher, organist, singer, musician, and had a real enthusiasm for life, as well as an amazing sense of humour. As a Connexional Assessor for the Faith and Worship Course, Ian brought a wealth of experience and much encouragement to the Facebook Group for Methodist Local Preachers in training who were working their way through the units.  Not everyone found the going easy, but Ian was always there to help people through.

More recently, Ian and I enjoyed chatting online and we shared many a happy hour putting the world to right, sharing thoughts, ideas, news and best fun of all - good humour.  As I struggled my way through the final units, Ian provided some quality light relief.  My husband Peter and I had the great pleasure of meeting Ian in London at the end of April and it was wonderful to meet face to face.

As I faced the final hurdles in my training, Ian was there to stop the panic setting in.  Waiting for the results of Section D felt like a lifetime, and when they came on Wesley Day as I sat in the Museum of Methodism, it was a joy to share the good news with Ian.  As I travelled for my final interview at the local preachers' meeting, Ian was texting words of encouragement and waited by his computer for news of the outcome.  We were counting the days until my accreditation on 20th July with real joy.

I will miss you Ian, you were a real God-send.  Someone who spent so much of your time serving your Lord and bringing God's love to so many people.  You were a joy to know and a treasured friend, even though we only managed one brief meeting.

Thoughts and prayers are with Ian's wife Shirley and his family - it's hard to contemplate life without someone like Ian - I know because I've lost special people in my own family, but the happy memories will live on and the pain will get easier to bear.

Losing friends like Ian, and my other friend Vera who passed away on Tuesday, is hard.  Hearing about both on the same day was really painful.  I will miss both of them and will always remember them.