Blog
We are certainly in for interesting times, but I am hopeful that the shakeup of our politics may yet be a really good thing for our country. As we enter an era of coalition politics, we should see much less power concentrated in the hands of the few, and our politicians will be obliged to work together across party lines if our nation is to move forward. There will be greater accountability with coalition partners watching each other closely, and hopefully a maturing in the South African political space.
It's a story that is so familiar to Methodists: On 24 May 1738 John Wesley went "unwillingly" to a meeting of a small church (society) in Fetter Lane, London. There he heard a lay preacher reading from the preface to Luther's commentary on the book of Romans, and, as he listened, Wesley felt a strong sense of assurance - the confidence that he was forgiven and accepted by God. He wrote of the experience that his "heart was strangely warmed".
During this last week, Methodist leaders and ministers from the Natal Coastal District have gathered at Montclair Methodist Church for our annual synod. Over the course of three days we worshipped and ate and talked and laughed and wept together as we wrestled with the work of God in our church.
This week we marked Ascension Day (40 days after the resurrection of Jesus). Looking back on that day, it must have been both a wonderful and yet terrifying moment for the disciples, watching Jesus leave in the way he did, and then realising that they were all alone and the mission that Jesus had entrusted to them was now their responsibility.
It seems then that God appreciates creativity (and we shouldn't be surprised for God is the Creator after all). How you and I express creativity will vary greatly between us - it may be with paint or music, by preparing a meal or arranging flowers, solving a problem or designing an administrative process. When we create, heaven applauds!
Last week I wrote about outward-looking mission projects at WMC and how you can get involved. This week our focus turns inward: we had a meeting during the week of our pastoral care team which focuses on providing care for members of our congregation. This group is growing and there a number of different aspects to this work...
Archbishop William Temple famously said that "The Church is the only society on earth that exists for the benefit of those who are not its members". I'm sure that other organisations have a similarly selfless purpose, but the quote is a helpful wake-up call when we find ourselves thinking that the church exists simply for us. In fact, the call of Jesus to deny our selves daily and follow him points very clearly to a life of thinking of others and not just ourselves.
English minister and author Leslie Weatherhead writes about how in the forty days after his resurrection, we see Jesus helping his disciples adjust to the complex reality that one day he will not be with them, and yet he will always be with them. So, the disciples will be in a room together and suddenly Jesus is there. Then, just as suddenly he is gone again. It is as if, when he is absent, it is always possible that he might turn up at any minute. And so the disciples learn during these days to expect his presence even when his body is not there. It’s a kind of orientation process.
When you have lived through enough Easter weekends it can start to feel like we have seen this movie before - we know the story and there are no surprises left for us. Well, we may know the plot, but we can't afford to lose sight of the fact that this weekend literally changes everything for all of us: death is defeated, love has triumphed and the Saviour who walks with us through all of life lives!
When fishes flew and forests walked, And figs grew upon thorn, Some moment when the moon was blood, Then surely I was born.