Being Alert to the Spirit
In some ways it seems like a lifetime ago that we did the Jesus Shaped People course as church families. As we started to reflect on what we had learned through it, there was a lot of energy around for finding new ways to reach out to those around us and touch the lives of the community with the prayer in our hearts of drawing people towards God.
The pandemic has frozen so many organisations and individuals in their tracks. What we had assumed we could do had to go on pause. It’s been a genuine time of adversity and pain but, in the midst of the sorrow, the frustration and the confusion, we have been provided with a fresh opportunity for God’s Spirit to strip things back and to redirect us.
As we hold that tension between society starting to open up again and the potential threat of new waves of the virus spreading and increasing Covid cases, we are taking the opportunity, once again, as churches, to reflect upon what has happened to us over the last 14 months.
John the Baptist and Jesus began their ministry in a land that was invaded and occupied by Roman forces imposing a different and unwelcome way of life. That very challenge created a new spiritual hunger in many people. John the Baptist came from a priestly home and became the prophet who “prepared the way“ with a challenging message and invitation to all those who would listen.
Society is full of questions at the moment. How did this happen? How can we get rid of it? When will it end? How is it going to affect my future? Will I be able to pay my bills? Is this the end of society as we know it? Over the coming weeks we will be having our readings in a series that is not part of the lectionary that we usually cover. Instead we will be looking at some readings that consider these existential questions but also, significantly, ask “What is God saying to the churches?“
We will be considering whether we are living in a “Kairos moment“, such as was faced by Isaiah in his ministry, and by John the Baptist, as he prepared the way for Jesus. We will be reflecting on what we have learnt about how society values people and what we have learnt about the low paid and marginalised. We will also think about how our consumer lifestyles have adjusted, how we have learnt about interdependence as a community and we will think about how we can rediscover the ministry of prophecy in our churches as we look at a watching world that is suffering.
As part of the seven weeks, we will be having a public meeting with community groups and other organisations – inviting them to come and join in the conversation and see what we might be able to collaborate on that would truly bring a difference to our communities and so reveal God’s love and the joy offered by His kingdom to those living here.
In the midst of worldwide crisis, loss, fear and frustration, there have also been surprising blessings. Moments when we have seen things more clearly, and come to truly understand what is most important to us. We may be giving thanks for the recent reunions with our loved ones, discovered a different way of working that gives a more balanced life, found meaning in reaching out to people that we may not have otherwise met. We will all have our stories to tell of the challenges and the treasures. We will all never quite be the same as we were at the beginning of this journey.
We need the opportunity to stay alert to all that the Spirit has revealed to us during this season of our own, and the churches’, lives. I encourage you all to engage with our readings, sermons and prayers. We will be offering in person and socially distanced discussion groups in church for those who feel comfortable to do so. There will also be a Zoom discussion group for those who prefer to meet online.
Please check dates and times in the “What’s On” section below.
May God bless you and strengthen you, as we grow together in love and are alert and ready for wherever the Spirit might lead.
Caroline
What’s On
Our 7 week preaching series started on 6th June looking at being alert to what the Spirit is saying to the churches in these times as we emerge from lockdown into our new way of being. It is part of the Jesus Shaped People resources that we used 18 months ago.
There are study groups running alongside this both in person and online followed by a community meeting within each parish with different members of the community being invited to come and reflect upon their context and how we may collaborate in each respective parish. The same materials will be covered at each group regardless of the number of sessions.
ALL STUDY GROUPS WILL BE OFFERED AS A BENEFICE WHERAS THERE WILL BE SEPARATE COMMUNITY MEETINGS FOR EACH CHURCH.
| HOME GROUPS | ||
| Month | Zoom Sessions Monday evenings (on our Sunday Worship Link) 7:00pm – 8:00pm | Live Sessions Saturday mornings (at St Hilda’s Church) 10:00am – 11:30am |
| June | 14th, 21st & 28th | 26th |
| July | 5th, 12th & 19th | 3rd, 10th & 17th |
St Hilda’s Community Meeting – Saturday 24th July 2021 at 10:00am in the Whitby Room.
St John’s Community Meeting – Monday 26th July 2021 at 7:00pm in the Church Hall
Social Events in the Vicarage Garden
(all subject to latest Covid restrictions)
Tea and Cake in Vicarage Garden
MUST be pre-booked due to limited numbers.
Saturday 3rd July 2021 between 3pm and 5pm or
Sunday 18th July 2021 between 3pm and 5pm
Benefice BBQ – Saturday 21st August 2021 between 4pm & 7pm
(Restricted numbers – booking details to follow)
Tickets £5 to cover food and soft drinks. Profits to be donated to the Leprosy Mission.
A second date may be made available if demand exceeds space.
St Hilda's Church, Halifax 