The Encourager

The Encourager - September 2002

NIGEL WRITES ABOUT....Where were you?
This month sees the first anniversary of the most awful terrorist attack on the people of the United States of America, and indeed the western world. An event which has been described by many as changing the face of the world. It was one of those key moments in life: "what were you doing when you heard the news about the World Trade Centre attack?"
    I had just pulled up at school to collect my younger daughter. I was early, so I put the radio on and heard a reporter trying to describe what she was seeing in downtown Manhattan. As I got out of the car, a man I didn't know came over and started to talk about the awful news which he had just seen and heard. He needed someone to talk to, just to articulate the horror of the situation. He was moved by the effect on those in the middle of the situation, and also he was angry at those who could carry out such a horrific act.
    Has the attack on the world Trade Centre and the Pentagon changed anything? The business world appears to be more uncertain and volatile. The people of Afghanistan have faced invasion and war, and there is the continued threat of further acts of war against Iraq and others who are considered to be 'sponsors of terrorism'.
    For most of us, life goes on. The bigger picture, the events at a distance tend not to affect us very much. We see them on the TV and we can watch or switch off. But the bigger events can easily be mirrored in our own lives, and the effects of them can be just as great. We can be hurt, damaged, upset, angered, frustrated, etc, in the ordinary course of life by the people we encounter day by day.
    God our Father invites us to live in a way which reflects his ways and which are different to our ways. He offers to us unconditional love and with it unconditional forgiveness. And he asks us to live and to do likewise. Much of the time people are unaware of the implications of such a statement.
    If you were asked the question "Do you know, now, if your sins are forgiven?" Would your answer be a heartfelt yes, or a tentative maybe, or a hopeful possibly, or . . . ? We can live burdened by guilt, or locked in a state of unforgiveness. Broken relationships and the legacy of a lack of forgiveness litters our society.
    Paul Ashby writes: "Forgiveness is the sharp end of what we mean by love. The great New Testament word for love ‘agape’ carries with it the emphasis of positive regard and attitude towards others. It is privilege and an obligation because it is not easy to love others, particularly when we do not necessarily feel like it. The same can be said for forgiveness, as is clear in Paul’s letter to the Colossians (3:13ff) 'Forgive each other, just as the Lord has forgiven you so you also must forgive, and above all, clothe yourselves with love'. Love are forgiveness are all of a piece."
    Whatever the cause of our hurt and pain, whether a major tragedy, or the actions and words of an individual, we are asked to offer to others what is offered to us by Jesus - total and unconditional forgiveness. Easier said than done, perhaps, but food for thought?

The Prayer Team
The Prayer Team had an Away Day earlier in the summer and spent some time looking at our role in the life of the church. The questionnaires that some of you filled out recently were really helpful, so "thank you " to all who took the time and trouble to do this.
We would like to re-state that prayer is available at the end of every service at St. Barnabas, for anyone who would find this appropriate. You can come in response to something that has been highlighted for you during the service, or to something that is important in your own life. You can come for yourself or on behalf of another. You can spend a short time talking about the situation, or you can come in quietness for an unspecified need, and receive a more general prayer.
We always pray in twos, but nothing you say ever goes beyond those two people (even to married partners!), except in exceptional circumstances e.g. where there is a serious risk to yourself or to others.
For the time being, we will not be working to a rota, but on a more ad hoc basis. We still aim to cover every service at St. Barnabas. We will still meet monthly, for our mutual support, and to pray together. This includes praying for those on the Prayer Tree, but not for any who has come for prayer after the service, as confidentiality is a priority for the team.
We are seeking to serve God and each other in his church, and we acknowledge that we don't always get it right. We would therefore be glad to receive any feedback from you as to how you see the team working at the moment and anything you would like to see done differently. We would always be pleased to hear from anyone that is interested in joining us. Please speak to Nigel, or to anyone wearing a Prayer Team badge.

GenR8 update
Due to the summer break this is a little late in getting to you, but here is a brief word on the first GenR8 event that took place on Saturday 20 July.
    GenR8 has been a while in the making. One comment on the night was that it was like a mini-holiday club and that's not surprising as it was work at the holiday club last summer that brought some of the ideas and possibilities bubbling up to the surface. But the bulk of the work has taken place over the last 3 months and with input from Charles and Nigel and many others, we put together an event that, we hope, will steadily test out all these possibilities and more. Focusing on worship - what it is, new ways to do it and doing it - was the primary aim of GenR8 and the atmosphere of the first event was certainly worshipful. But we were also relaxed with each other and brought that worship together with an element of fun!
    A big thanks goes out to those of you who came. We hope it was something that you found stimulating and inspiring. (And if not, come and tell us why and we'll try to make it so next time!).   And we hope to see you all again, along with some new people and all your friends!! (But if you are bringing a coachload, do let us know so that we don't run out of doughnuts!).
    Over the summer we have been preparing the next event and taking things forward. We now have a webpage of our own on the church website - if you are hooked up to the net then take a look at www.stbarnabasleeds.org.uk/genr8. Oh, and do remember to send us your email address so that we can tell you what is going on and how you can get involved with GenR8. For those of you who are not on the web, call us on 216 4748 and leave us your details. We will get in touch with you!
    The next event will be run on Saturday 7 September at 7pm at St Stephen’s Church hall. But come along anytime from 6.30pm to chat and have a drink and a doughnut with us before we start. Our theme for the next one will be 'Worship that brings hope'. We hope you can join us!
The GenR8 team
ADVANCE WARNING: Our 3rd event is planned to be a 'have a go workshop' of skills and talents where you can try new things out. Lots of ideas are around, but we want to hear from you what you would like to see. Are you interested in using dance in worship? Or art? Have you always wanted to have a go at floral arrangements but been too afraid to ask? Let us know and we will hopefully put something together for a date in November. And if we have too many ideas, we'll just have to run a similar event later on! You never know, you might uncover some hidden gifts! (We promise that attendance will not automatically put you on any rota or team of any kind - unless you want to of course!)

The Greatest Promise of all
God is always there for us, no matter how hopeless we can be. Could this letter be for you?
Hello there.
When you woke up this morning, I thought perhaps you'd talk to me and involve me in your day, but you were preoccupied finding something to wear.
    When you had time to spare, I thought we'd have a few moments together, but you got on the 'phone and started talking to somebody else.
    I noticed that before you ate lunch at work, you looked around and seemed embarrassed to talk to me. Maybe that's why you didn't bow your head and give thanks.
    Later at home I waited while you watched television, ate dinner and did paperwork.
    At bedtime I suppose you were just too tired, because you dropped into bed and fell fast asleep.
    Do you know I am always here for you?
    I love you so much that I wait every day for a prayer, a thought, or just a chance to speak to you.
    It's not easy to have a one-sided conversation.
(Signed), Your Friend Jesus.
Sound familiar? It is so easy to crowd Jesus out of our busy days. What a privilege that we can turn to the Lord at any time, without making an appointment or waiting in a queue. Yet we must break His heart so often with our selfish attitude. We must never mistake our insensitivity for His absence.

Top of page