Clap for Carers

Last Thursday at 8pm our family ventured outside and joined with others in our street to ‘Clap for Carers’, and in particular those working for the NHS.

It was an uplifting moment!

Normally when we cheer and clap in the street it’s because a grand procession is coming our way.  But on Thursday evening nothing arrived.  No one actually received our applause, yet every health worker in the country, I suspect, was buoyed up by it.

Upon reflection I think we knew what we were supporting.  We were giving thanks for dedication and compassion.  We were conscious of all those who’ve gone the extra mile for us, often at some personal risk.  We were thinking of wonderful people in hospitals who do a difficult job.
We also, I suspect, knew why we were doing it. It was all about thanksgiving and having an opportunity to show appreciation.

In the end, this slightly wacky idea caught on and created a great sense of unity for a nation in the midst of crisis.

At the weekend, on Palm Sunday, we’ll be thinking of another crowd out on the streets doing their on kind of clapping, this time by waving branches and calling out Hosanna!

However, maybe this crowd got a few things wrong.  They certainly did if their greeting was for a conquering hero sort of king.  They got it wrong if they thought all the palm waving in the world would bring about transition through violent change, or that freedom could only be achieved by power.

They needed a re-think and the cross gives us all that.  The cross is about self-sacrifice, forgiveness, suffering for others and living out the consequences of love.The cross redefines our lives, our relationships, our community and our response to the needs of others.  And in these challenging days of Lent 2020 these qualities are rightly being applauded; even  by people out on the streets.

Monday 30th March 2020

A big 'thank you' to everyone who has contacted us after yesterday morning's Audio-Service.  Your comments and encouragements are much appreciated.  One person said that sending an email had now become her equivalent of shaking hands at the door after a service!

I wonder if we'll ever get back to shaking hands once all this is all over? Somethings, I suspect, will change for ever.

It has surprised me that the audio service has been listened to in a number of places, not just Amersham.  The list includes: Slough, Reading, Milton Keynes, Pevensey Bay, Malvern, Kettering and Yeovil.  The 'power' to reach out via the internet is certainly significant.

I know at least one person in the congregation who has the virus, others have family or friends who are down with it, and one or two of you lost a friend last week because of it.  We keep each other in our thoughts and prayers.

Our church magazine, Family News, was put together over the weekend; the Editorial Team operating by email.  The April edition will be with you either by post or through your computer 'in' box this week sometime. Our thanks to everyone involved.

May you, today, know the blessing and presence of God in all you do.

Friday 27th March 2020

Recording pieces for this week's audio service yesterday!

Last week a neighbour of ours sent everyone in Cedar Grove a 'call to arms'.  She has been a most effective organisor so we now have a spreadsheet of contact numbers enabling us to keep in contact and look after each other, if and when the time comes.  What struck me was that she spoke in her first letter of us all re-discovering the 'Dunkirk Spirit'. 

I fully understand that, yet, upon reflection this crisis is very different to a war time one.  From what I can make out my grandparents' generation drew great strength from physically being in it together.  That longing for 'community' drove them to the cinema to see the latest Pathe newsreel, to church for national prayer services or simply into each other's kitchens for a cup of tea and a chat.  None of that physical contact is available in this crisis, so we are inventing new ways of expressing 'community'.

One such way is to speak to each other more often whilst out on a walk.  As I've taken the dog out on my one 'exercise' outing per day I've noticed that although we are observing that 2m rule, most people do it with a smile on their face and a cheerful 'hello'.  Ironically, I've felt more connected with my fellow walkers since the 2m apart rule than before!

Yesterday the Green household did a bit of recording for this Sunday's audio service.  Although there was lots of laughter as we all pretended we were at the BBC, I hope the end result will be helpful and uplifting.  Even as I write Michael is putting it all together.

I'm delighted that The Revd Heather McIntyre will be writing a short Prayer and Reflection devotional every Friday throughout the Crisis for our website and the first one appears today. Thank you Heather!

May you, today and this weekend, know the blessing and peace of God in all you do.

Ian

Thursday 26th March 2020

Our two boys, well they are grown men really, both standing 6 foot 5 inches tall, did the Green family shop yesterday at Tesco.  I think it was a seminal experience for them!  They joined a long queue to get in and headed straight for the loo roll section to claim their one packet.  So elated were they at this achievement that they immediately Whatsapped me with a picture of the afore mentioned item safely in the trolly! 

These are strange days, yet in many ways they are also days in which we are re-evaluating what's really important to us, and the ability to go and do the weekly shop succesfully is one 'ordinary' thing that now feels quite 'special'.

Today, on our website and through your emails and letter boxes, we have posted a Minister's Letter.  This, amongst other things, will contain some of the issues we discuss at our regular Wednesday Church Officers Meeting - which, I'll have you know, we successfully (well almost) held via Zoom yesterday!  We are going to get better at this.

It's been heartening to hear of so many people signing up to be volunteers as a result of the Government's appeal.  We have our own band of volunteers here at AFC and yesterday one of them helped one of our older folk with a prescription delivery.  Do contact me if you, or someone known to you, needs practical help.

And a lovely thing to finish with.  We did a broadcast service on Sunday and one member of our congregation realised not everyone has access to the internet.  So, he made some CDs of the service and gave them out to three church friends who don't have a computer.  Hearing that news yesterday made my heart glad - small acts of kindness - that's what I call living Lent well!

May you, today, know the blessing and presence of God in all you do.

Ian

Wednesday 25th March 2020

I awoke early this morning and heard the Dawn Chorus.  It's odd, isn't it, to think of the birds, animals and flowers making their way through this spring quite 'normally', unaware of their context on Planet Earth!

We've had some super offers from members of the church community to help with shopping if required.  So if you, or someone known to you, needs such assistance don't hestitate to contact me and I'll put you in touch.

This morning I meet with the Church Secretary and Church Tresurer 'virtually' by something called 'Zoom'!  Being something of a Luddite when it comes to technology I'm not entirely optimistic at the prospect.  What I do know is that these 'meetings' have become very important so that discussion can be had and decisions made.  The notes of these events are then circulated to the Elders for any further input - and that's the way we are working at AFC at the moment.

I'm delighted that our first Thought for the Week is published today on the website and Janet has wrtten a wonderfully uplifting piece for us.

One of our Regional Ministers, Colin Pye, wrote at the weekend: It used to be said, you can't teach an old dog new tricks, well now we've all discovered that you can...

It's true - we are all learning how to do things differently - and how to do them well.

May you, today, know the blessing and presence of God in all you do.

Ian

The Consequences of Struggle

1816 is sometimes described as ‘The Year without a Summer’.

A massive volcanic eruption in Asia sent so much toxic smoke into the sky, over such a prolonged period, that world wide temperatures fell by a couple of degrees. 

That year, even as far away from the volcano as Britain and the USA, people woke up to dull, dreary and cold summer days.

Mary Shelley, along with other writing companions, happened to be spending August at a house by Lake Geneva.  The party was so frustrated by the weather that they launched a competition between themselves to come up with a novel.  From this ‘housebound’ experience Shelley penned her book The Modern Prometheus, better known to us today as Frankenstein.  

I wonder what will emerge from our lives as a result of these ‘Lock Down’ days?  For Shelley it was a horror story; for us, pray God, could it be something more hope-filled?

Last week, whilst listening to Rishi Sunak, I was struck by the way The Chancellor of The Exchequer finished his press conference.  He talked of ‘this moment defining us’ and went on to express a hope that throughout the crisis we might become a nation characterised by ‘small acts of kindnesses'. 

Instead of the Year without a Summer, we are going through a Worldwide Pandemic.  Already, I sense, we have a re-ordered sense of priorities and maybe the start of a long term re-evaluation of what really matters in life.

Our prayer is that, over time, the consequences of this crisis will not be solely tragic and horrific, but ultimately positive and constructive.

Monday 23rd March 2020

I hope your weekend went well.  For all of us it no doubt seemed very different, especially 10.30am on Sunday morning!

We have now planned for there to be something different every day on the web site.  I hope you find this helpful and a good way to feel 'connected'.We've had a lot of positive comments about yesterday's audio service and thought you might like to see some of these.  I found them very touching...

...so lovely to hear Eric on the organ, good job I was at home, as tears flowed...

...what a wonderful experience, it really brought us together...

...lovely to hear familiar voices coming out of my computer...

...the last Sung Amen has brought a lump into my throat...

...many of us are feeling concerned and vulnerable, yet the feeling of warmth and belonging that the service provided was truly wonderful...

...it brought me great joy...

...I look forward to logging in next Sunday...

...it is so helpful to feel one belongs...

...perhaps a good job nobody else could hear me singing the hymns - full voice!...

May you, today, know the blessing and presence of God in all you do.

Ian

Friday 20th March 2020

We have a Team Meeting today at 11am at which we'll review measures we have put in place this week and discuss what needs to be done over the next seven days.

We are very grateful for all the caretaker duties Peter undertakes at AFC, and in this quieter time he is engaged in doing some of those jobs that have been on the list for some time, which we've never got around to.

The Sunday Morning Service has now been put together, we did the last bit of recording yesterday evening.  Michael is tweaking it today and later on we'll put the 'Order of Service' on line for you to have a look at.  Tomorrow we'll attempt a trial 'upload'! Do tell others about this if you have a chance.

Today we are going to agree on a rolling programme for Website updates, so that everyday of the week something 'new' appears.  We will also be looking at how we can maintain church finances over this time of not meeting together with no offerings, plus the significant loss of income from lettings.

I am spending part of every day making around 20 phone calls, working my way through the church directory.  I was pleased yesterday to learn that people are back safely from holiday, some told me they appreciated this opportunity to 'slow down', others had family members who have symptoms, whilst others shared with me their new practise of 'family video conferencing' via Whatsapp.  People are very resourceful!

And don't forget, if you have a moment at noon, do stop and pray the Lord's Prayer and The Grace, remembering the AFC community as you pray.

May you, today, know the blessing and presence of God in all you do.

Ian

Thursday 19th March 2020

 A 'new normal' is beginning to settle in amongst us - we hope just for the time being.

I've been struck by just how many churches will be trying to 'stream' a service on Sunday.

I hear the Archbishop of Canterbury has suggested we light a candle at 7pm on Sunday evening and place it at a window; showing solidarity with each other and affirming our belief that light is stronger than darkness.

Lent has always challenged us to 'slow down', and this year that opportunity has come in a most unexpected way.  So, just the thought, that we might grasp this moment to do one or two of those things we've been putting off for years, making the most of the spaces that have now appeared in our diaries.

And people are talking more.  I've just had a lovely conversation with our postman, and we don't often do that.  He asked about my 'job' with great interest, and I thanked him for all he was doing.  He gave me the post and said with a cheery smile: 'Now wash your hands'!  So I have.

Of course, we continue to hold in our thoughts and prayers those who are suffering and those who are working so hard to keep us as safe as possible.

Please also remember today Mary and her family as they gather for Jamie's funeral service this afternoon.

May you, today, know the blessing and presence of God in all you do.

Ian

Wednesday 18th March 2020

In view of current events I'm slightly changing the nature of this Blog.

Up till now I've tried to upload once a week with a reflection.

I'm changing that for the duration of the crisis; especially having in mind the folk at Amersham Free Church. 

The Blog will be an alternative way of me keeping in touch with you, as we won't see each other at Morning Worship for some time.

The challenge before us all is to do church 'differently'. And as someone said to me in an email yesterday, 'We can do this'!

So, I'll be posting much more often and most of it will be about our life together here in Amersham.

I know other valued friends from other places visit the Blog from time to time - please be assured of my prayerful best wishes for you at this time too. We are all in this together and the bonds of fellowship between us mean a great deal.

So, like all churches, AFC has taken the decision to close its public worship services.  I confess there was a lump in my throat and a wobble in my voice as I said the blessing last Sunday - I suspected it would be the last time I did that for a while.

Michael Autton and I, along with Matthew, are trying to put together a service which can be accessed via our church website.  We are fortunate in having discs of recorded AFC services going back many years and the hymns will be taken from these.  We'll add a contemporary Thought for the Day and some relevant intercessions. I hope you might be able to tune in - and hopefully it will be up and running and easily accesibly by 10.30am this Sunday.

In the meantime we have asked folks at AFC to phone, phone, phone.  My 'elder' phoned me yesterday just to see how I was and I greatly appreciated her interested. 

This morning the URC Ministers from our local area met at AFC, probably for the last time for a while.  It was good to share what each of our churches is doing at this time.  A really supportive and encouraging moment - quite an emotional one too as we ended our prayers with The Lord's Prayer and sharing the Grace together.

May you, today, know the blessing and presence of God in all you do.

Ian

When closing the door becomes a loving action…

Yesterday evening I did one of the strangest tasks I’ve ever undertaken as a Minister since my ordination in 1987.  Through one phone call after another I basically ‘closed down’ the weekday ministry of Amersham Free Church.  That’s because the advice given by Church Authorities had this clause in it:  Suspend catering (teas, coffees etc.) where multiple people touch mugs, utensils and foodstuffs.





I hadn’t fully realised until now that just about everything we do at church revolves around food, or at least a cup of tea! 

It was sad today to sit in a quiet vestibule and meet just one or two people instead of the usual buzz of the Friday Coffee Morning with the procession of community choir members, having a rehearsal break, coming for a refreshing cuppa.  For the time being this is the way it’s going to be, very quiet.

We’ll have to find different ways of supporting each other and perhaps none better than a lot of friendly phone calls.

So, whereas we’d normally say that we express our love and compassion by holding the door open and offering a cup of tea, it’s now the other way around, at least for a time.  It’s because we care about people’s well being that the door is no longer wide open and the tea pot is empty.  It all seems the wrong way round but we want to do our bit to help.

Lent 2020 is beginning to really feel like something of a ‘wilderness’. In his time there Jesus taught us what it means to trust in God and think, not primarily of ourselves, but of others.  Vital lessons for us all this Spring.

Lead us not into temptation?

One version of The Lord’s Prayer has that line: Save us from the time of trial – more commonly prayed: Lead us not into temptation.

Most of us want to avoid temptations, to have them locked away, so that way we don’t succumb to them.

This week I was reading all about our illegal use of mobile phones whilst driving.  To avoid the temptation to just take a peek who’s calling us the author suggested the ‘glove’ compartment should become the ‘phone’ compartment.  At the start of every trip, he wrote, we ought to lock our phones away so that if they are out of sight, they won’t tempt us.

Now all of this is fine and makes eminent sense, that is until we start reading about Jesus’ temptations in the wilderness.  At this point in his ministry, right at the beginning, it seems as if Jesus is positively seeking temptation.  He goes out to deliberately meet it.  It’s as he confronts it that he learns much about both himself and God.  These wilderness encounters with pride, power and idolatry begin to define who Jesus is and what his message is about.  In saying ‘no’ to the abuse of power for selfish gain we get those first glimpses of a Kingdom of compassion, love, justice and generosity.

Of course, both ways may be right at different phases of our own lives.  There will be times when it’s good for us to confront our temptations, to face up to them and push them away.  At other moments our prayer will understandable be for God not to ‘bring us to a time of trial’.