July 2008

Come to me | Methodist Eucharist | Coffee Morning | The Revd James Rattue | Village Fair

Crusaders | Summer Fair | From the Registers | Calendar

Come to me

“No one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.” (Matthew 11:27)

How often have you overheard a remark like this? “Oh no, I don’t attend the local church. It’s all happy-clappy! I drive out to Nether Dodderington for a proper service with real hymns.” Or perhaps it’s the opposite. “We don’t go to the local church. It’s so boring, dreary hymns in old-fashioned words. We cycle into town, to the Jesus Generation.”

Both speakers have found a way of worship that suits them, one they’re comfortable with, but how much has the local church suffered from their departure? And how much does the local community suffer from the absence of a vibrant and varied church in its midst? In expecting everyone to conform to one style of worship, we may drive people away, inhibit our own faith and even risk creating God in our own image… making God dance to our tune.

In St Matthew’s Gospel Ch 11, Jesus uses the image of children singing sad and happy songs in their games. Naturally he’s not simply referring to music, but what an excellent example of the way we try to make God “dance to our tune”! When Jesus compares them to “this generation” does he mean all human beings? Some Christians today insist on happy songs and dancing and expect everyone else to join in; others want everyone to be solemn and dignified all the time. We want God to fit into our comfortable, familiar picture.

Jesus knew that some people grumbled, about his own ministry and John the Baptist’s. Neither John nor Jesus matched the grumblers’ picture of someone who had truly come from God. Fasting and repenting, as advocated and practised by John, didn’t appeal to all. But neither did the way Jesus seemed happy to mix with “sinners” and to lack a sense of dignity.

Among his listeners, some would be comfortable with the status quo. They made the required Temple sacrifices, attended synagogue regularly, kept the commandments. What need then for fasting and repentance? Others saw themselves as superior to those who didn’t follow the same rules and regulations. They wouldn’t associate with these “sinners” – and neither, surely, would the Son of God! Yet here, in a passage that could have leapt out of John’s Gospel, Jesus announces his identity as just that.

And he challenges all these comfortable onlookers, thinking themselves so wise and intelligent, so sure they know God – for none had actually got it right. Jesus is the one who knows God’s nature and purpose, because he shares them. And if he chooses to reveal the true image of God to “sinners” as well as saints, then so be it!

Jesus tells the onlookers, “Wisdom is vindicated by her deeds” – the proof of the pudding is in the eating. The cross and the resurrection would reveal that Jesus really had come from God. And those mind-blowing events would make some people at least reconsider their picture of God. For here was a God not demanding sacrifice, but making it; a God not keeping strict account of rules followed or broken, but a God who invites us all to come to Jesus.

How comfortable are we with our own picture of God? Too comfortable, perhaps? In the Gospel Jesus gives us all an invitation: “Come to me.” Both the Book of Common Prayer and the optional Preparation for a Common Worship communion service call these “comfortable words”. This invitation is indeed our comfort, but it offers a challenge, too: a yoke as well as a rest.

Come to me – whether you prefer old hymns or new choruses. Come to Jesus and see the variety of God – in a Jesus who attended synagogue and Temple and yet mixed with outcasts, a Jesus who partied and also wept, a Jesus who prayed quietly alone and yet taught the multitude, a gentle Jesus who healed the sick and an angry Jesus who railed at injustice and hypocrisy.

Rather than make God (or our fellow Christians!) dance to our tune, can we allow God’s own music to emerge? There is more to church life and Christian witness than worship, but variety in worship is just one way of opening ourselves to the immensity of God and thus enriching our faith. It also offers newcomers a glimpse of the God who is bigger than any of us can possibly imagine. Could we risk something different, if it helps others to come to Jesus? Is it time to accept the challenge he has given us – and step outside our comfort zone?

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COFFEE MORNING
There will be a Coffee Morning in the porch of the Methodist Church in Victoria Street on Saturday 5th July from 10.00am. This will be in aid of NCH, the Children's Charity. Do come along for a cup of coffee and a chat..

METHODIST EUCHARIST
Please note that on Sunday 27th July, the 9.30am service will be a Methodist Holy Communion and will be conducted by Linda Ashford, Methodist Lay Pastor.

The 8.00am service will be a said Holy Communion service according to Common Worship as usual.

THE REVD JAMES RATTUE
At the 9.30am service on Sunday 8th June, the Venerable Julian Archdeacon licensed the Revd James Rattue to work in this parish until into 2009. Although he will continue to live in Weybridge, he will work here in this parish for a lot of the week but does retain a few commitments in Weybridge.

SUMMER FAIR Saturday 12th July
In addition to all the usual items at the Fair, there will be three new items.

Table Top Sale
If you have items to sell and would like to make some money, why not take part in our tabletop sale. £10 a pitch, but please bring your own table. If you would like to reserve a pitch, please call 01753 833551.

Photography Competition
Entries for this must consist of two photographs based on two of the following categories: weather, portrait, nature, scenery. Photos should be up to 7 x 5 size and mounted, with the name and address of the entrant on the back. There will be two categories for judges to consider: young people (up to the age of 13) and adults (14 and above).The fee for entering is £3. Please bring entries to St Jude's Church either at a service or during Saturday Opening (2-4pm). Entries may also be given to Guy Bunce on the day.

Batty Hat Competition
Prizes for the silliest hats. Two age groups: under 7 and 7-11. The competition will be held on the day at 3pm.

THE VILLAGE FAIR
Now we know it's good when churches do things together! Members of three congregations shared a tent under the HOPE 08 banner on Saturday 14th May, for their stalls at the Village Fair. Christian books were sold, and jam and cakes, samosas too.

Children and some adults played bagatelle and giant jheinga; the crafts and face painting were free and gave time for chatting to parents and talking about plans for a fun-day, and holiday club in the Autumn. The atmosphere on the Green was happy, probably helped by lovely sunny weather. We are appreciative of the EGVRA committee who make it all happen. We are also grateful that many people took messages of hope and love, on paper and DVDs. We made a profit, but we'd rather the real profit were eternal.

CRUSADERS
It's halfway between the London Marathon and the Beijing Olympics.

Both featured in our camp programme at the end of May in Waverley Woods. Weather was good, with only a sprinkle of rain that you'd hardly notice, camp fires burned well and fun burst out; multi-activities were similar but different from previous years and sleep wasn't bad, though a few groups did do extra washing-up...

The theme lent itself powerfully to thinking about being a Christian. You have to take part in a race, not just be a spectator or even an official who knows all the rules; you have to have frequent contact with your coach and keep consulting the handbook; it's a marathon not a sprint; everyone who gets to the end gets a medal; you hear "Well done" and there's a party in heaven when you finish. Some campers clearly grew in their faith, to some it was new and they needed time to take it in, and all stages in between.

Sadly one of our six was poorly on the last night but recovered the next day.

We continue to build on all that's gone before on Monday nights, using the Urban Saints (Crusaders) Energize material.

FROM THE REGISTERS

Baptisms:
(8th June) Megan Graham, Benjamin Graham.

Wedding:
(14th June) Tracy Butler and David Humphreys.

Funeral:
(2nd June) Colin Roberts.

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CALENDAR FOR JULY 2008

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