Minus 8 to 8!
It seemed like an eternity for me, the freezing weather, but it lasted really only for a short time in our area compared to some parts of the UK. But while it lasted, it was cold and new lows in temperature were continually being recorded, colder even than minus 8. It felt like towns and villages were trying to outdo one another in claiming a community had the lowest temperature ! The freeze dominated the news.
But suddenly in the midst of the big freeze, the world’s headlines are hit with the news of the earthquake in Haiti and our TV screens are full of horrendous scenes of chaos. These scenes were described as ‘hell on earth’ and the most worrying aspect for me was the breakdown in law and order. As the horror unfolded I was struck by the comment of one newsreader. He said that seeing the hell of Haiti made the problems we are having with the weather pale into insignificance. He said we need to put everything into perspective.
We are approaching the season of putting things into perspective. Lent begins on 17th February and it is an important time for soul searching and asking God to help us see the world and our lives through God’s eyes. I see Christ’s journey into the wilderness as Christ preparing himself for his task ahead as Saviour of the world. As Christ needed to focus on the road ahead to the Cross, so we too need to be focused in our Christian Discipleship.
The Methodist Class ticket reminds us of our calling as Christians. We are called to WORSHIP,LEARNING AND CARING, SERVICE, EVANGELISM.
So we need to have a balance in our Discipleship between these four aspects of our faith. I suspect all of us struggle with the fourth !
I have been thinking a lot about this and about the difference between INREACH and OUTREACH ! We think so much as a church in terms of bringing people INTO the church but maybe we need to be thinking about OUTREACH which goes right back to our roots in Methodism as we think about John Wesley travelling thousands of miles preaching the Gospel of Christ. Maybe this Lent we can all pray and think about ways in which we can do outreach into our communities as individuals and as a church. Today it is +8 degrees .What a difference to a fortnight ago ! The warmer weather beckons. We need the warmth of the Holy Spirit to fill us with his love, joy and peace and to help us communicate God’s love to all people in ways which people can understand.
What I would like each of us to do is to pray each day during Lent if possible for the life of your church that God will help us in our OUTREACH. As you pray and think, write down what God is saying to you and share what you have with one other person. Or maybe share what you have with me or at a fellowship group. Prayer is the key to effective mission. Through prayer we gain a new perspective on life as we give ourselves to the one who ‘created us and continually preserves and sustains us’.(Covenant Service opening prayer).
As a basis for prayer read the lessons appointed for the week so that you in tune with what the preachers are talking about on Sunday.
I look forward to hearing what God says to you.
Clive Fowle
