to know, grow and show the love of God
This is challenging stuff.
It is clear that ticking-over is not an option. To achieve the Vision we do need to change gear from just maintaining what we have and to move into mission mode.
That means that as church we need to do more than turn up for worship on a Sunday. It means, among other things, telling people outside of here about God’s love; it means finding opportunities to recruit new Christians and to help them grow in the faith – and it means doing our bit to change the world!
Moses was 80 years old. He’d been tending someone else’s flock for 40 years.
One day, he was out with the sheep, probably thinking about his pension plan, when he took a different path – and from there he saw a bush that was burning. His life completely changed direction…
But how long was that bush burning for, waiting to be noticed? How many other signs had Moses missed along the way, along the years?
Old Trafford has a number of places of worship. Our banns were heard at St Hilda’s, Old Trafford. But far and away the largest place of worship has thousands of adherents.
Every Saturday, or thereabouts, they gather to chant devotion to their god. At times they will invite the leader of the worship, dressed in black, to improve his eyesight. They cheer whenever the team in red puts the ball into the net.
Yes, football’s god is alive and well in Old Trafford. The fans do go there, they cheer the team, they wear red and they identify, they identify with the team of Manchester United.
It’s often said that history is written by the victors.
But what must it feel like to be defeated in war?
Ashamed, frightened, disorientated, demoralized, physically hurt, mentally traumatized, angry at those who promised that you would be victorious, relieved the fighting is over, struggling to survive, cold, hungry…??
We can learn that each of us has something to offer in service to progress God’s kingdom. It may not be immediately apparent; it may be hidden beneath the surface; but there will be something to offer in each one of us.
Maybe, like Joseph, a word from God will come to us and it will make us change our view on something; change our mind on a particular course of action; give us a new and different outlook.
As the Word made flesh and dwelling among us, Jesus physically demonstrated the continuity of God, his unchanging love and mercy that we can always count upon.
But he also showed us the God of surprises too. He changed what we thought about God and challenged the pre-conceived ideas that he came across in both society and religion.
In physical, bodily form – as the body language of God – Jesus re-imagined God for us.