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

from Rev Wes Hampton

Dear Friends,

A fortnight ago I attended a wedding.  The families of the bride and groom took their places on each side of the church, and the couple stood together at the front as they made their vows to each other.  The coming together of two people, as is often the case, brought together wider family who had not seen each other for months or longer.  It also enabled people to meet their new family and learn how far it now stretches.  As families tend to spread themselves, so such occasions bring us together both geographically and socially.  And, of course, we all said that we must not leave it so long before we meet up again.

The wedding took place in a church building that is home to five different denominations.  The traditions of all five are included in the worship and ministry of the single church of which they are all part.  There seemed to be something appropriate about the marriage taking place in a setting that speaks of the potential for unity, bringing together different backgrounds and characteristics in an optimistic intent to forge a partnership for the future.

Easter and Pentecost have brought us to the early life of the Church, where we see the Holy Spirit’s work in building up both individuals and the Christian community.  We remember some of the key players, but for every Paul, Lydia, and Barnabas, there are the unnamed followers who responded to and passed on the Good News that the Church shared.  To this day, it is the Church that remains in the world, not the individuals whose stories we tell.  It is both our calling and our privilege to be part of this partnership, and to draw others to the triune God in whom it is held together.

Wes

from Rosi MorganBarry

The Christian year has times of joy and celebration: Christmas, Easter, Pentecost, perhaps also Harvest.  The remaining days fall into “ordinary tine”, which is where we are now.

In ordinary time, we live out our everyday lives: at work, at home, in the garden, meeting with family and friends, listening to the news (which is never ‘good news’) doing the chores, in fact, not doing anything special.

 So where is God in ordinary time?  God is with us.  In special times and even more in ordinary time.  God is with us in all we do.  Which is a reminder that whatever we are doing at any one moment of ordinary time, we are being watched; reminded to take care what we do; being looked after; being loved.  Reminded too that we need to take care of others in the same way.

Jesus said: “I will be with you always, to the end of the age”.

And that means even in ordinary time.