from Rev Wes Hampton

Dear Friends,

Forgive me for stating the obvious, but we do not know what the future holds. There are some things that we can be confident about, of course – the sun rose yesterday, and the day before, and for so many days previously that we have no doubt that it shall rise again tomorrow. Other things, however, are much less certain. As I write, at Wimbledon we have British success in the men’s singles, and the England football team is still competing in the World Cup, but I cannot know whether either of those will be true by the time you read this.

Rudyard Kipling’s poem If famously refers to Triumph and Disaster as two imposters. One of the implications might be that we can be ready for the unknown future by accepting that success in a venture, being neither impossible nor guaranteed, is not always as important as it seems to those of us involved in it. The emotional reactions of our sporting champions when they win or lose – and of their supporters – may give the impression that their achievements or failures eclipse all others, but time will give a different perspective.

As I drove home recently, a warning light was illuminated on the dashboard. Did this tell me that a disaster was about to happen? No, but it did mean that there was a problem that needed to be fixed as soon as possible. A moderate reaction was called for, not a panic-driven cry of despair. So we know that the ‘Triumphs and Disasters’ do not just belong to others. The Unknown lurks around every corner, tempting us to fear every opportunity as a potential catastrophe. Such situations, however, though unknowable to us, to God are fully known. As the psalmist put it: “If I ascend to heaven, you are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, you are there.” (Psalm 139:8 NRSV.) Whatever we face, we do so with God.

Wes

from Malcolm Ray-Smith

Dear friends,

"Water"    

During the recent hot weather we were all advised to drink more water.

The plants I want to grow in my garden, so that I can enjoy their flowers, fruits and vegetables, have needed extra water too, but on the very hottest days my energy levels were reduced to a point when I had to choose what mattered most.  My first priority had to be to drink enough to remain healthy myself and only then think hard about my decisions in the garden.

The bible has many references to the importance of water including the psalm that suggests that the good shepherd took his flock to places where cool water would refresh them.  John’s gospel refers to eternal water. Jesus claimed that whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed the water I give them will become to them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.  With the forecast promising the return of hot days again we need the water that Jesus promised.

The Tree of Life is a theme often referred to in the scriptures, beginning in Genesis 2 v9 where it was planted in the Garden of Eden alongside the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil.  It was intended as a source of eternal life for Adam and Eve, but after their disobedience this was denied them. In Proverbs the Tree of Life is used metaphorically to describe spiritual and moral values.

In view of that weather forecast I will encourage us all to make sure we drink plenty of water but our spiritual thirst will only be met as we continue to drink the spiritual water that Jesus promised to those who ask him for it.  This is why we need the discipline of setting aside time every day to read God’s Word and to say our prayers as we listen and watch to the news.

Malcolm Ray-Smith

from Rev Wes Hampton

Dear Friends,

The annual meeting of the Methodist Conference is under way. Representatives have gathered in Telford to consider matters from the possibility of on-line communion services to the membership statistics, from the Methodist Church’s ‘net-zero’ aspiration to its relationships with other denominations. There is plenty more to be crammed into a few days.

Among the highlights of Conference are the Reception into Full Connexion, and subsequently the ordination, of those who have been serving as probationers. In our own circuit, Kyung Mi Banks has completed her second year as a presbyteral probationer, and will be ordained this afternoon (Sunday 28 June, 4pm) at Shrewsbury Abbey – if you wish to follow the service on-line, you can do so at

https://www.youtube.com/live/oTKwpOqC2Ps

Ordination services inevitably lead to a focus on the individuals. The service includes recognition that they are called by God to this particular ministry, and a summary of what their own order of ministry involves. However, all this takes place in the context of the Church’s whole ministry. The congregation is reminded that “All who are received into the Church by Baptism are called to proclaim the mighty acts of God in Jesus Christ our Saviour, and to serve him in the Church and in the world.”

Indeed, the very idea of a “Conference” is that we are a people who discern God’s intention by conferring. We arrive at our policies and practices through shared consideration, because we recognize that there is no class or group of people set over us. How we govern ourselves as a denomination, and how we make decisions as a local church, should reflect our understanding of the Church as the Body of Christ.

We acknowledge that different people have different gifts, and different roles have different responsibilities. In ordination, we celebrate that Kyung Mi, and others are set apart for a lifelong role of ministry. At the same time, we commit ourselves afresh to the ministry of the whole people of God.

Wes

from Kim Tame

"My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me."  (John 10:27)

Dear friends,

Recently, some former colleagues wanted to organise a reunion; and with the assistance of technology, we started a process of tracking people down.  Some people were easy; some were very difficult.  I spent hours on social media, squinting at tiny photos trying to figure out if they were that person I worked with 40 years ago.  There were disagreements; "Isn't that...?"  "No, it can't be..."

Then on the day, there was a little anxiety. What if I don't recognise people?  Will it be awkward? We had changed, of course, in 40 years.  The group of people I remembered as young and full of energy, were now grown up - just a little greyer, a little heavier, a little slower, perhaps, and with not a curly perm in sight!  Many of us have become parents and grandparents and have done all sorts of interesting things since working together.

As more people arrived, there was a little nudging.  "Oh, is that...?"  "I'm not sure..."

And what struck me was that though my eyes sometimes struggled to recognise a former colleague, my ears didn't.  As soon as they spoke, I recognised them at once.  Time went quickly as we shared old photos and memories.

I started to appreciate what a powerful metaphor Jesus used; sheep do recognise the voice of their shepherd and know whom to follow.  In a world subject to radical and rapid change, with conflicting information from all directions, may our ears be sensitive to the voice we should follow.

Kim Tame