Is it just me or does your mind go completely blank sometimes when asked a very simple question? Maybe there was not a lot in there to start with! Graham just asked me for a verb – easy question there are plenty, could I think of one at the time? Not a chance, completely blank.. lights were on but no-one home. Sometimes we are trying to think of twenty things at the same time and the brain just does not compute! I am sticking to that excuse anyway!
Jennifer led our team reflection this morning. We looked at Judas asking the question ‘Was he responding to his calling when he betrayed Jesus?’ He was one of the disciples, was called to such by Jesus and without his actions Easter would have been very different.
If he was responding to a call by God to do what he did, we wondered what does that say about the nature of God and whether Judas is forgiven and redeemed. This led us on to think about the extent to genes and circumstances into which people are born can be so powerful that it explains why some people act criminally and if this in any way excuses them.
Going down such avenues ducks the issues of free will and personal accountability. We did not arrive at any conclusion here rather returned to the thought did Judas exercise his will or God’s will in his act of betrayal?
Since I have to preach this Sunday on Mothering Sunday I’ve been thinking about why Mothering Sunday comes in Lent. Wouldn’t it be nicer in the summer months when us blokes could take our mothers out to a nice pub and sit in the garden for a lunch? Instead it provides a headache for preachers as the readings, apart from the Book of Common Prayer epistle are not on much to do with mothers. Nevertheless I shall try and weave into my sermon on the man born blind, something to do with motherly love and mother Church and Mary. Perhaps it should be called Refreshment Sunday or even Rose Sunday like in a few other countries.
Any ideas about the link with the man born blind gratefully received.
I took my dog for a walk around the edges of Taunton Racecourse and she was in heaven. She had discovered a new smell – rabbits. Even though we didn’t see any, the smell was enough for her to be completely entranced and focussed on the ground. Her nose disappeared into every little hole she could find and going on
I was there because I was attending a conference for the Readers of the diocese where we explored some of the Old Testament themes and the Psalms. It was a great day, very well organised, good speaker, books for sale, lots of opportunity to meet with others and it finished with a good lunch.
Charley, my dog had discovered something new and exciting which no doubt will be replaced by something else on our next outing.
Readers preach and lead services, attend training days and are committed to develop their gifts to be able to serve the parishes they are in. This is a lifetime commitment not just following the latest fad (smell) and this really came across at the conference. They had come with an open mind, they really listened, engaged in conversation and asked questions.
What a focus!
We have been trying to decide when to upgrade our computer system to the new formats, Office 2010 etc. Trouble is that we know it will be out of date as soon as it is installed and we shall have to face the possibility of training for the new system, upgrading other hardware, trying to make everything compatible and then working out how long we shall be able to use this system before the next is essential.
Once upon a time I thought the new technology would save time – rubbish – it takes much longer and can easily become obsessive. There’s something about slaves and masters in all this and the temptation is to think that I can in control. Perhaps it’s a good learning point to realise that I can’t be.
In a sermon in the Cathedral this last Sunday (the first Sunday in Lent) we heard that Jesus was tempted in the wilderness, but this was after he had lived his life for thirty years as a good Jew and son of his parents. I want in Lent this year for it to be a time for me to think about who I have become and who I am becoming. Like our computer system, to think about what areas of life need to be upgraded at the moment – that is, what needs renewing; what needs to be retained from the past and what needs more work. This is my opportunity to pursue a discipline for these forty days
This weeks news headlines have made me reflect on how lucky we are despite many problems this country has at the moment. Especially so the ongoing situation in Japan. Not only the earthquake and subsequent tsunami and the huge destruction and loss this has brought but now the developing problems with Japans nuclear powerstations. We really should learn to appreciate how fortunate we are in comparison to others in the world! Read more…
Having a breakthrough rather than a breakdown seems much healthier to me, especially this last week in which I have been ill most of the time. Between bouts by chance I came across a model about having a breakthrough, written by Chris Johnstone in ‘Find your power a toolkit for resilience and positive change.’
It is a five step process but for me the first step was the most powerful
It has three elements
1 Write down your thoughts about ‘What is the problem?’ – write as much as you can about the problem
2 Write down ‘Why is this a problem?’ – write down a much as you can about the reasons why it is a problem. I find this the most insightful part of the whole process. Asking why brings greater insight.
3 Reframe the problem in a few sentences beginning ‘The problem is……’ This distils the thinking from the two elements above.
The remaining steps of the model involve listing as many solutions as you can think of, even ones which may seem impracticable, then going through the list to cross off what is unacceptable to you, then picking out a small number of cherries- acceptable possible solutions and working out the pros and cons of each. The final step is to work out a 7 day action plan , write it down and tell someone about it.
We have just applied it in a School of Formation meeting to a problem I have had for years, not saying here what is was, but the model has certainly helped me find a way forward on something seemingly that I had thought I just had to live with. So there has been a breakthrough this morning.
I have been thinking about how to bring about significant improvement in churches. Operating strategically, through the School of Formation, and being impatient for progress by nature I want to help make a difference rapidly to the practice of ministry, especially in austerity when the need for churches to serve their communities is even greater.
I thought about providing training to encourage and enable local ministry teams and certainly have not ruled this out. However training teams to lead and enable others to improve ministry feels a touch top down, remote, and slow. What is needed is a rapid improvement model at least I think it is.
The collaborative breakthrough model is well-known in bringing about rapid improvements in health care. I’m thinking about trying to apply it to help improve how churches in Somerset support their communities as they face the consequences of the economic austerity measures being applied by the government.
If anyone has experience of using the breakthrough approach in church settings or of using it in health care and has lessons to share please get in touch.
Jennifer
Graham
Steve
Yvonne
Dawn
