lurchersontheedge

When I was writing about childlessness many years ago now, I said the words to describe those who were involuntarily childless were always entirely negative: childless, infertile, impotent. Such words defined someone by what they are not.

Words have in the last day overflowed with grief, disbelief, shock and anger as we come to terms with the death of Jo Cox, a UK democratically elected politician. Those words I hope in time with contribute to the desire of Jo’s widower, Brendan, that their children should be bathed in love. I hope and pray that this is true.

Words have been used to demean politicians, even hard working ones, in ways they do not deserve. (Let’s leave aside the fact that sometimes they do deserve a sharp reminder from those whom they represent, as much as I sometimes deserve harsh words too). It has become too easy to vilify, ridicule or laugh at those who make our laws and to allow this to overspill into anger.

Words have been used of late to dehumanise other human beings; those whom may be fleeing for their lives. Words have been used carelessly to stoke up hatred and fear.

Words do not have to be used in this way.

Words may have been uttered in a small Yorkshire town on 16 June 2016 as the life of a young mum was snatched away. Words were stated later by a grieving husband, who managed to remind us of our common humanity.

Our words are never isolated. We pretend that they are at our peril. Words can be used for all sorts of good; to praise, compliment and enable.

It is those sorts of words that we now, as we remember that they are never isolated.

When I was a child, even growing up within a bog standard Parish Church in Sheffield (if there is such a thing), I was used to people from time to time confidently (in an Anglican sort of way :-)) asserting that Jesus is the answer (we use to sing that in the school choir), and encouraging those who were not Christians to consider the claims of Christianity (in the days before Alpha, we still did it)

We don’t do that any more, usually. There seems to be an embarrassment about asking people to think about matters of faith.

In Bro Cybi, we have recently had opportunity to invite our friends and neighbours to hear something about what we believe (Archdeacon John Lomas, Jill Saward and Bishop Andy) and also have a good time in the church building (Concert featuring the ever so wonderful Calfari, as well as an amazing puppet show).It did not work out as I expected. People did not really have confidence in what was put on, so felt unable to invite their friends.

We are going to try Faith Pictures…. it has already brought some surprising comments. Here is the first clip. You can find more details on the ever so wonderful Church Army website: http://www.churcharmy.org.uk/Groups/266913/Church_Army/ms/Faith_Pictures/Faith_Pictures.aspx

I sort of had godparents.

That is to say I was baptised by a nurse. Anyone can baptise. You do not need to be ordained. I was then welcomed according to my baby book, which was amongst my mum’s things, into the church later. I have to say that being welcomed after baptism, which for me marks the entry point into the life of the church, seems to be a contradiction in terms.

My Aunt and Uncle, the late Mary and Stan, became my godparents. Indeed, I believe that they met me before my mum did, such was the length of time it took me to be born.

They were good to me. More importantly they prayed for me. They even took me to Israel when I was 17, the first time I had been on a plane… although I appear to recall I saved for the plane ticket from my weekly newspaper round.

One of the best parts of my vicaring is meeting godparents. If you are about to be a godparent, then this site is worth visiting: https://churchofenglandchristenings.org/godparents/role-godparent/

I enjoy meeting godparents because it presents an opportunity to talk about the Christian faith to a range of people. One of the questions, I often ask is ‘if you could describe God in three words, what would they be?’ I wonder what they might be for you?

I find that most godparents want to engage with such questions or maybe they feel with me that they have no choice.

I hope as importantly I leave them with no doubt that they are about to undertake one of the most precious tasks in the world; journeying with a child.

The Bishop of Bangor regularly gathers Ministry Area (MA) Leaders from across the Diocese of Bangor to confer, consult, laugh and learn together. I have just returned (9 June) from one such 24 hour event. They usually take place in Nant Gwrtheyrn (http://www.nantgwrtheyrn.org/)

The 24 hours are temperature checks on where we are at as the Church in Wales in this part of North Wales (bangor.churchinwales.org.uk). The Church in Wales has been on an incredible journey of late as it repositions itself to be fit for mission and ministry in the 21st Century. We have heard from the new principal of the St Padarn’s Theological Institute about how clergy and those licensed for ministry will continue to be trained and formed. Discussion took place as to how we might together affirm the ministries of all God’s people.

Most of all, we were heard. That is the amazing thing about belonging to the Diocese of Bangor: the strength of companionship with our Bishop as we together make waves for the kingdom of God.

I could begin by bellyaching about the fact that I think this Referendum should not be called. That it has been because of the need for the leader of the Conservative and Unionist Party to appease his own troops.

That said, I will vote Remain because

… I am not afraid of immigration. Human beings have always migrated for centuries. I think it is a lie to suggest that immigration has robbed Britons of their jobs. Yet, the even bigger lie is that the poorest in our communities have been allowed to believe that this is true, and politicians of different hues and rosettes have encouraged this.

…I believe in partnerships and co-operation, and that there is not just one way of doing things. That agreeing together on climate change, environment, the mass migration of human beings is better than many different, incoherent approaches.

… we are at our best when we do things together, when we pool our resources and share with our neighbours (not just those next door). Sharing inevitably means that I cannot always have something that I might want.

…I realise that Britain needs its neighbours…. Gone are the days when the problems of the world could be solved by one nation acting unilaterally. The idea of Britain standing alone is partly mythical. In World War 2, it was not just plucky Britons standing up against the Nazis, but men and women from the Commonwealth, as well as the Free French, Dutch etc etc. Then those wonderful Commonwealth citizens were invited to help shape a new future for Britain. Britain depends, it always has and always will, on migration.

… the EU, rather than the British Left, have lately been the organisation that have reminded us we are not just individual economic units

… As a Christian, I want to say that we are interdependent with others. That we are committed to each other, no matter what… and we do not walk away just because we do not get our own way. It is not undemocratic to be outvoted…

… I am aware that the EU is not perfect. Then neither is Westminster, Cardiff Bay, Holyrood or Stormont. I am not and neither are you. It costs money to be part of the club, but not as much as is being peddled by the Leave Campaign.

… Sometimes the EU has been right and the UK wrong…. sometimes in recent history, the UK has committed itself to armed action and the EU has not, and perhaps it will be judged aright

I don’t want the status quo.

But I don’t want to walk out on our friends…. and then have the temerity to think we can have the benefits of being in the club, without being part of it.

I will vote Remain…

I have in the course of my ministry a number of hard conversations. Sometimes they are in surprising places. The best of them are completely unexpected.

Yesterday afternoon, I was talking with someone who does not now attend church regularly about how my efforts, sometimes paltry, to lead the churches, which I serve, into growth.

‘The problem for you’, he or she said, ‘is that you do not realise how critical things are and you seem to have forgotten that the church is supposed to be full of good news?’

The person then added, ‘you are starting the long way round’

I have been pondering about what that might mean.

Church, community, mission, people are not meant to be easy. They are all inherently a bit messy.

Sometimes in my ministry, I do forget what I am meant to be about. That is to say, a person of good news, sharing that the Jesus I believe in has indeed conquered death.

And the churches I serve…. maybe we have forgotten that we are meant to be places of healing and grace… and much more than imitations of other clubs yet with a tower or spired roof

I have run and being involved in running both the ALPHA Course and Start! At their best, they are wonderful places in which to introduce people to basic teachings of the Christian faith, and more importantly to Jesus.

At the heart of these initiatives though is the simple task, indeed I would say, the easy task of invitation and hospitality. Most of us love spending time with family and friends. Moreover, most of us enjoy talking with those who around us about things that we regard to be important.

In essence the Bro Cybi Weekend of invitations is all about giving people the chance to invite and be hospitable.

Take a look at what is happening here:

a weekend full of invitations.final

I spent some time in Sheffield with family this week – not enough time. It was a delight to collect my niece and her youngest brother from school. When we got to their home, my niece quickly ran upstairs and came down brandishing a piece of paper.

‘Uncle Kevin’, she proclaimed, ‘I have been learning Welsh’. Sure enough written in her own hand were words like ‘helo’, ‘hywl fawr’, ‘s’mae’… and we practiced them together. I enjoyed it and so did she. Why had she gone to all this trouble? I am not sure that my brother knew what she was doing.

I think she was learning Welsh because she knows that I am, and when she and her brothers come to visit, I do some Welsh pronunciation with them. I think she knew something was important to me, and wanted to share it. It was a moment of shared gift.

I am a strange creature – don’t all rush to disagree with me at once. I actually like evangelism. It is an amazing task. I have bodged it a lot. I have though got it gloriously right both in the context of a cold call or in a longstanding friendship.

I well remember Tracy and Mike (not their real names actually). Tracy was a churchgoer and Mike not. Mike knew that I was a Christian (long before I was even an ordinand). I seem to remember he even helped me with some power points for training in evangelism (power points were all the rage once), but we hardly ever mentioned Jesus.

Then there was a glorious moment, when he almost yelled. ‘I know Jesus is important to you, and if I am important to you, you must tell me about him’.

Evangelism was a gift just like my niece learning Welsh.

I need to do some more thinking about this.