The Residential

Apologies for the slight delay in posting this.  The weekend residential threw up a few 'issues' to deal with, mull over, reflect on...

...I was not looking forward to the weekend- at all.  For some reason I was really emotional and upset about going- not really sure why,  part of me didn't want to leave the 'hubby' (apologies- I hate that term but it seemed to fit quite well there) and I guess another part of me was nervous about spending a weekend with still relatively new people.

BUT- and it's a HUGE but, the weekend was amazing and would have been a huge loss to miss.  The weekend focused around the Eucharist.

The Essential History of Christianity...?!?

I have never really enjoyed history, it is beyond me as to why I took it for GCSE?  However, I figured, just as the Old Testament is important in understanding the New Testament (The new is in the old contained and the old is in the new explained), maybe the history of the church would help me to understand the present church (and maybe the future)? 

Let's face it, this was not an easy topic to study. 

One question that came out of this was; 'what does your denomination mean to you?'

My initial answer to this would have been not very much at all, however, the more I think about it, the more I realise that I have come some to enjoy being an Anglican.  I was baptised into the United Reformed Church, however, I disagree with some of their practices (namely the way they treat/view children) and I've become to realise how much I relate to the traditions and structure of the Church of England (liturgy included) and actually, yes, being an Anglican means quite a lot after all.

St Cuthbert and Co

This was a great session, I love St Cuthbert (although he doesn't get quoted quite as much as St Francis...)!

St Anthony, St Benedict and St Basil were all famous monks, yet they were hermits.  I always assumed that monks lived in monasteries, however, it seemed that the majority lived in isolation and led a life of solitude.

The purpose of their isolated was to be in union with Christ (his time in the desert), to live a pure Christian life (taking away distractions from God), and to complete a spiritual journey. 

I wonder if we could take an example from the Monks, maybe we need to take time out from the world to reassess and reform our lives and thinking in order to become more like Christ and develop our relationship with God?

10 Days to go- Advent

The liturgical year works through the whole of the salvation story.  Advent is the start of the church year.  The focus of Advent hymns are; Jesus' coming, light from darkness, preparation, and the fulfilling of prophecy. 

The speaker raised an interesting point about the cross over between advent and Christmas.  Should we spend the advent period waiting/preparing for Christmas, or does this detract from the period of advent? 

The Old Testament Genesis- Jeremiah (well not quite everything in between)

Before the first session we were asked to think about the following question:

'how would you answer Dawkins or anyone else who said that the God of the OT was a vengeful, violent, and wrathful deity?'  Truth be told, I don't know.  The Old Testament is always something that I've struggled with.  The Old Testament God doesn't seem to marry well with The God of the New Testament, I've often thanked God that I was born in the time AD and don't need to follow all those rules, regulations and endure all the wars etc.  

Our first session focused on Genesis, the book that covers the great flood which ended most of the people on Earth- give or take a Noah or two.  From this we are supposed to identify a God of Grace, and a God of Blessing? 

I find this a little hard to swallow, however, I've always found great comfort in the seemingly simple sign of a rainbow.  A while ago I was studying for an MA and I really struggled to fit in, one morning I was heading to my course after a pretty bad nights sleep and was not in a good place.  When trying to leave the house my front door stuck (it would do this every now and again) and I began to get upset.  Eventually I left the house and getting into my car I noticed the most beautiful rainbow and I just knew that everything was going to be ok.  I guess that maybe the God of the OT is offering some of that 'tough love' that people so often talk about. 

Anyhoo- to sum up, maybe we need to focus on the positive results of negative times, not to be too clichéd, maybe we really do need to focus on the silver linings?

Baptism and Ministry

 

 

Our second session on baptism offered a slightly different focus- Stephen Cherry (the leg-end that he is) reflected on our responsibilities as baptised people, what happens after the baptism.  Reflecting back on my last post- this could have some impact on infant baptism and the importance (or not) of it.  Stephen suggests that out baptism doesn't just end at the giving of the candle, but really starts.  We can view our baptism as a sending out, or commissioning if you will, a commission from God to serve him and help to build up his kingdom. 

 

As baptised people what are our moral obligations? 

The symbolism of Baptism

 

I was baptised as a baby and I think probably found it easier to come back to church because I already had that sense of belonging.  When I was 20, I became a Christian whilst studying at university and returned to church and was confirmed, and the rest as they say is history!  I do wonder if that journey would have been so easy, or even happened at all if I hadn't been baptised as a child. 

 

However, thinking of the importance of baptism and the promises made during the baptism service I do wonder whether or not we ('we' being the church) should encourage infant baptism or not.  In some ways I wonder if it's a modern day circumcision, a right of passage so to speak.  I can kid of see two schools of thought; 'Operato, operata'- when it's done, it's done.  Regardless of the legitimacy of the promises made by parents/godparents, once baptised any child will always be a member of Gods family and confirmation can offer them a chance to confirm the promises made on their behalf.  The second school of thought, I guess would be to wait until the individual can decide for themselves and I guess be baptised as an adult- just as Jesus was. 

 

I'm not really sure which way I'm swaying towards, however, one this is for sure- we, as a church and as individuals need to make the most of the opportunities we have to reach out to baptism families and candidates to encourage them to feel a part of the church family and to want to learn more about God's kingdom.