There are vast crowds at the 6.45 am service at St Thomas’s Cathedral. Last week 694 communicants were recorded which clearly does not include the large number of children who came back from Sunday school for blessing at communion even at this early hour. There's also an overflow seating area as well as screens so that people in the side chapel can see. I read the Gospel and preach on fanning into flame the gift of God. Perhaps I shouldn’t have read the summary of the lectionary passages on the service sheet before I preached as I was left feeling my message was a bit on the simple style. The 'Notes on the Readings', printed on the Pew Sheet, refer to this passage 2 Tim 1: 1-14: 'We begin to read 2 Timothy, which purports to be a letter from Paul to his good friend. Some doubt this, but it is clearly in keeping with all that Paul writes elsewhere, in his teaching'.
I think this Cathedral setting is the scenario I was given for a 10 minute sermon I was asked to deliver at my interview for this job; I had to choose between either a vast Cathedral seating 900 for an early morning BCP service or else a tiny rural congregation huddled together one cold winter’s Sunday – I chose the former. As I reflect on fanning into flame the gift of God given to us (2 Tim 1:6) I think of the way in which for me and for many others from the Lichfield Diocese the experience of encountering churches here which are operating in such strategic and missional ways provides enormous encouragement and challenge. It is very telling that people tend to assume my title is Director of World Missions - (plural) with the focus being on global evangelisation and specific mission initiatives which are helping us to fulfil the the Great Commission.
The passage goes on the speak of guarding the good deposit (2 Tim 1:14). It is this desire to guard the deposit, to hold on to what is understood as biblical, orthodox, traditional teaching which lies behind the desire of many in the Global South to break away from the Anglican Communion. Indeed I interpreted the decision by Sabah not to renew their Companionship Link with Lichfield to came from the same motivation. I chose not to reflect on these issues in the sermon........................ when the matter has come up in conversation I have expressed my conviction that we need to work together, to listen together to discern how we are to be faithful guardians of the truth, truth into which God through His Spirit, is continually leading us more deeply as we approach that time when we shall fully know even as we are fully known.
As soon as the service is finished I am whisked off by a warden from St Faith's to preach a their 8.15am service. I arrive just in time for their time of open worship, free flowing charismatic in style led by a band. This leads into a conventional service of Holy Communion around 9.00am.
Just time for a plate of Luksa for brunch before my flight to KL.
Back to the Peace Community Church - a fairly new church meeting as is so widespread in a shop lot - for their 7.00pm service followed by shared food together. Fred David preaches with
passion and constantly challenges us to connect with the passage. After the service we go to pray at the home of one of the more recent families to join the church. They had lived in the States for 15 years before returning to KL. They began attending this church having seen the small permitted sign advertising the church at ground level. The father is the only Christian in his family, who are Buddhist, and as the elder son is expected to play a key role in his father's funeral service. Fred tells me that Christians will not carry the joss sticks or bow in worship but they may take part.
I think this Cathedral setting is the scenario I was given for a 10 minute sermon I was asked to deliver at my interview for this job; I had to choose between either a vast Cathedral seating 900 for an early morning BCP service or else a tiny rural congregation huddled together one cold winter’s Sunday – I chose the former. As I reflect on fanning into flame the gift of God given to us (2 Tim 1:6) I think of the way in which for me and for many others from the Lichfield Diocese the experience of encountering churches here which are operating in such strategic and missional ways provides enormous encouragement and challenge. It is very telling that people tend to assume my title is Director of World Missions - (plural) with the focus being on global evangelisation and specific mission initiatives which are helping us to fulfil the the Great Commission.
The passage goes on the speak of guarding the good deposit (2 Tim 1:14). It is this desire to guard the deposit, to hold on to what is understood as biblical, orthodox, traditional teaching which lies behind the desire of many in the Global South to break away from the Anglican Communion. Indeed I interpreted the decision by Sabah not to renew their Companionship Link with Lichfield to came from the same motivation. I chose not to reflect on these issues in the sermon........................ when the matter has come up in conversation I have expressed my conviction that we need to work together, to listen together to discern how we are to be faithful guardians of the truth, truth into which God through His Spirit, is continually leading us more deeply as we approach that time when we shall fully know even as we are fully known.
As soon as the service is finished I am whisked off by a warden from St Faith's to preach a their 8.15am service. I arrive just in time for their time of open worship, free flowing charismatic in style led by a band. This leads into a conventional service of Holy Communion around 9.00am.
Just time for a plate of Luksa for brunch before my flight to KL.
Back to the Peace Community Church - a fairly new church meeting as is so widespread in a shop lot - for their 7.00pm service followed by shared food together. Fred David preaches with
passion and constantly challenges us to connect with the passage. After the service we go to pray at the home of one of the more recent families to join the church. They had lived in the States for 15 years before returning to KL. They began attending this church having seen the small permitted sign advertising the church at ground level. The father is the only Christian in his family, who are Buddhist, and as the elder son is expected to play a key role in his father's funeral service. Fred tells me that Christians will not carry the joss sticks or bow in worship but they may take part.
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