Category: church

covenant

wonderfulexchange7 Comments

No, not that one.

The Methodist one.

I’ve been pouring through piles of liturgy books and re-reading the Methodist covenant service.  The covenant service is a peculiarly Methodist thing.  I realise that it covers much of the same landscape as my version of the Maundy Thursday Vigil  — i.e., what happens in the silence as I pray through the year, the people in the room, the people on my faith journey, and then move into that other space, harder to explain.  But that is rather idiosyncratic.

It is what we are supposed to be doing each time we gather for communion, each time we renew our baptismal vows, each time we get up in the morning.   But you see, that’s the genious of Methodism.  I have a profusion of images and ideas.  They have a nice orderly service to remind you of who you are.

The congregation is asked to pray:

I am no longer my own, but yours.
Your will, not mine, be done in all things,
wherever you may place me,
in all that I do
and in all that I may endure;
when there is work for me
and when there is none;
when I am troubled
and when I am at peace.
Your will be done
when I am valued
and when I am disregarded;
when I find fulfillment
and when it is lacking;
when I have all things,
and when I have nothing.
I willingly offer
all that I have and am
to serve you,
as and where you choose.

Glorious and blessed God,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
you are mine and I am yours.
May it be so for ever.
Let this covenant now made on earth
be fulfilled in heaven.  Amen.

The Methodist Worship Book, Covenant Service

Absolutely terrifying, isn’t it?

I suspect the ones who avoid the service and say ‘no’ might be the most honest.
But the ones who keep trying to mean it stand a better chance of it one day becoming true.

don’t pretend

wonderfulexchange1 Comment

In my last teaching job, the headmaster once sent out a list of events for which we were allowed to take a day off school.  It read something like:  own funeral, spouse’s funeral, own-child’s funeral, parent’s funeral, second coming.

As I stood in the corridor reading it I immediately made another list of things I would rather resign for than miss.  Ever since, I have thought it was worth knowing what you would resign for.

Apparently, a certain rector in London lost his list.

Really — either say yes, and stick by it; or say no and play safe.  Saying ‘I didn’t realise’ doesn’t really wash.   See here.

not me

wonderfulexchange8 Comments

A blissful morning of church without responsibility.

I have realised that on those rare occasions when I go to church somewhere else, what I want is in many cases the exact opposite of what I think matters as a priest.

So, I went early for quiet (a hoped for, but often unrealised goal in my various congregations).

I said a quick good-morning to the welcomer, and was impressed when he used as few words as possible to direct me to the second pew-sheet I missed.  (‘ you need… (point)’ ‘oh, thanks…’ and we both went on our way)

I said nothing to anyone after that.

The music was superb (and crucial to the experience of worship).
The sermon was tedious (which was frustrating, but didn’t matter nearly as much as I would tell myself it did if I had preached it).

As I left, the person ahead of me stopped to tell the rector about someone who had died, and I slipped past with a deliberate (simple) bow to show I wasn’t ignoring him, but no words.

I didn’t go to coffee (well, not at church) and I felt no need to linger.

Now, I know that that is not how I would behave if I lived there and were going every week.  But I was grateful for the freedom to come and go without being overwhelmed by people trying to make me welcome.

But if we in Cowal and Bute (or in our companion overseas diocese) let someone slip by so easily, would we think we had failed?