Until I came
to Amersham I hadn’t spent much of my ministerial life in the pew – instead I’d
be in the ‘pulpit’ most Sundays at most of the services. That’s changed a little here. Once a month I have the privilege of
listening to our Associate Minister preach and on Sunday evenings I sometimes
take the opportunity of sitting in the pew of some central London
churches. That means in the last twelve
months it’s been a joy to attend services and listen to sermons at Bloomsbury
Central Baptist, Westminster Abbey, St Martin in The Fields and All Souls,
Langham Place.
However, over the last few days I’ve sat in pews closer to home.
On Wednesday last, along with about three hundred others, I sat in Chesham’s Broadway Baptist Church listening to the engaging ‘teller of stories’, Cardinal Cormack Murphy O’Conner – the emeritus Archbishop of Westminster. He told us of his friendship with Pope Francis and the events, in which he took part, at the Vatican just prior to his election in the spring of this year. You could have heard a pin drop as he spoke because something about his mix of gentle, respectful humour alongside profound spiritual insight caught all our imaginations that night and sent us home with that inner sense that we had been in the presence of God.
Then last Saturday my own church hosted a Bible Teaching Day as we looked at the Gospel of Matthew under the direction of Professor David Catchpole of Exeter University and Sarum College. Once again it was great to be in the pew – or in this case sitting on a comfortable chair! David’s extensive New Testament scholarship helped us appreciate many new insights into why Matthew put his gospel together in such a Jewish way and I suspect those of us preaching from Matthew next year will refer to David’s notes often.
And this ‘pew sitting’ of mine goes on - because come Sunday evening I had the delight of listening to Liz preach at our monthly evening communion. It’s a regular feature at AFC that we invite one of our seven ‘lay preachers’ to share in the evening services this way.
On Sunday Liz took ‘pilgrimage’ as her theme and spoke of that ‘inner’ journey we all make with God and each other. It was a delight to listen to such a well thought through and delivered sermon.
And my last ‘pew’ experience of the week? Well, actually, it was neither in a pew nor a church but at least I was sitting – this time in front of my computer watching a clip from last Sunday’s Andrew Marr’s show – this clip: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-24511696
In it Malala Yousafzar, the sixteen year old girl from the Swat District of Pakistan, was being interviewed. She spoke of that day, a year ago this month, when she was shot by the Taliban whilst travelling on the school bus. This crime was carried out because Malala had ‘blogged’, under a pseudonym on the BBC, speaking out against the Taliban’s opposition to education for girls. Malala was flown to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham where she recovered from her wounds and this year, as well as addressing The United Nations General Assembly, she was nominated for the South African Children’s Peace Prize by Desmond Tutu. I was so moved by the grace and eloquence she showed during her interview with Marr and thank God for this young ‘prophetic’ voice to come out of such a bleak situation and episode.
So, even though I have the responsibility and privilege of speaking most Sundays from a pulpit – it’s been an equal privilege over these last few days to sit, listen and learn.
With best wishes,
However, over the last few days I’ve sat in pews closer to home.
On Wednesday last, along with about three hundred others, I sat in Chesham’s Broadway Baptist Church listening to the engaging ‘teller of stories’, Cardinal Cormack Murphy O’Conner – the emeritus Archbishop of Westminster. He told us of his friendship with Pope Francis and the events, in which he took part, at the Vatican just prior to his election in the spring of this year. You could have heard a pin drop as he spoke because something about his mix of gentle, respectful humour alongside profound spiritual insight caught all our imaginations that night and sent us home with that inner sense that we had been in the presence of God.
Then last Saturday my own church hosted a Bible Teaching Day as we looked at the Gospel of Matthew under the direction of Professor David Catchpole of Exeter University and Sarum College. Once again it was great to be in the pew – or in this case sitting on a comfortable chair! David’s extensive New Testament scholarship helped us appreciate many new insights into why Matthew put his gospel together in such a Jewish way and I suspect those of us preaching from Matthew next year will refer to David’s notes often.
And this ‘pew sitting’ of mine goes on - because come Sunday evening I had the delight of listening to Liz preach at our monthly evening communion. It’s a regular feature at AFC that we invite one of our seven ‘lay preachers’ to share in the evening services this way.
On Sunday Liz took ‘pilgrimage’ as her theme and spoke of that ‘inner’ journey we all make with God and each other. It was a delight to listen to such a well thought through and delivered sermon.
And my last ‘pew’ experience of the week? Well, actually, it was neither in a pew nor a church but at least I was sitting – this time in front of my computer watching a clip from last Sunday’s Andrew Marr’s show – this clip: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-24511696
In it Malala Yousafzar, the sixteen year old girl from the Swat District of Pakistan, was being interviewed. She spoke of that day, a year ago this month, when she was shot by the Taliban whilst travelling on the school bus. This crime was carried out because Malala had ‘blogged’, under a pseudonym on the BBC, speaking out against the Taliban’s opposition to education for girls. Malala was flown to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham where she recovered from her wounds and this year, as well as addressing The United Nations General Assembly, she was nominated for the South African Children’s Peace Prize by Desmond Tutu. I was so moved by the grace and eloquence she showed during her interview with Marr and thank God for this young ‘prophetic’ voice to come out of such a bleak situation and episode.
So, even though I have the responsibility and privilege of speaking most Sundays from a pulpit – it’s been an equal privilege over these last few days to sit, listen and learn.
With best wishes,
Ian
Ps I
heard on Sunday that my former church in Yeovil has appointed a new minister –
my prayers and very best wishes go to Simon and the congregation at South
Street as this new partnership in ministry begins.
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