Luke 21:25-34

Strange things are happening around us!

Strange things happening mean our sense of our own ‘status quo’ has been upended. Personally, here are some strange things: I haven’t seen my mum since March; our family has made three 1,000 piece puzzles yet we usually struggle to complete just one at Christmas; my son has cut my hair (surprisingly well) and I find that I view hairdressers, keyworkers and shop keepers with new reverence. Strange times and strange things.

In my reflection last week, I mentioned that a friend of mine wondered if one of the reasons for the reaction to George Floyd’s death was partly because “the World has stopped”. We’ve realised that how we did things and why we lived them required adjusting or even radically re-orientating.

In strange times God unsettles our limited view of normal

It can be unsettling to reconsider things as we seek God’s spiritual normal for who we are. I was speaking with someone in our church family recently who has really struggled with not being able to gather for worship, but they didn’t call me for this reason. They called (and I have their permission to share this) because they’d realised that they’d made gathering for worship their primary way of being a Christian at the expense of a deep, personal daily walk with God through personal reading of Scripture and daily spiritual depth. In the past, one had kind of crowded the other out rather than the two acting together to complement one another.

They’d realised that strange times were leading them to realise what God’s normal in their life could be like. Strange times are a sign that we live in the End Times; the time between Christ’s resurrection as Saviour and Christ’s return as Judge. Our strange times do not indicate that His return is imminent, but Luke 21:25+ is clear: there will be strange things happening, whole countries will be in despair and fear and people will fear as strange things happen.

In strange times we’re called to discover God’s normal as a church and in our lives

Jesus call to us at this time is to live God’s normal. When “these things begin to happen” Jesus goes on in Luke 21 to call us to “stand up and raise your heads, because your salvation is near” (v28).

When we seek to have the deep things of Christ written on our hearts then the strangest of times may disturb us, but they won’t throw us off course. Instead, like the person who called me, we will recognise the Holy Spirit taking us beyond that which used to satisfy us spiritually and into a new normal with God. The things that truly matter about being a church and our faith increasingly become what we draw on.

In strange times Deep Truths of faith draw us to the Holy Spirit’s normal

I am reminded of Terry Waite, who worked for the Church Army. Waite was a Church of England hostage and peace negotiator in the Middle East in the 1980s. He became a hostage himself in Lebanon for 1,067 days. He had no fresh air or sight of the sky throughout and was not allowed books or writing paper for three and a half years. Even though he lost most of his muscle tone, he survived psychologically and spiritually by reciting the two things which were deep within him. One was a prayer he had memorised as a child (from the Book of Common Prayer!) and, at his point of mock-execution, he recited the Lord’s Prayer from memory. He had nothing else to draw on but these memories pointed to deep Truths which sustained him and enabled him to know the salvation of Jesus was near. You can read more here https://hope1032.com.au/stories/open-house/2013/terry-waite-break-my-body-bend-my-mind-but-my-soul-is-not-yours-to-possess/ or for how he is researching how we cope with extreme stress see here https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/whats-on/arts-and-entertainment/terry-waite-and-what-his-time-captivity-taught-him-about-resilience-human-brain-598020

As I read this, I wondered what from my present spiritual living I would be able to draw on for my connection with Christ if I was alone for nearly four years? I find it an unsettling question.

This leads me to wonder what the deep Truths are which are sustaining us right now, both as Christians in homes and streets and as a church family together. It asks what these deep Truths mean for the future as we think about ‘normal church’ for tomorrow.

I believe God is inviting us into something new which is founded on His unchanging deep Truth. As we look to the future as a church family we’re seeking the Holy Spirit’s wisdom and guidance as to how these unchanging deep truths shape our faith as we worship together, live together in Christ and walk together in love and care.

In strange times, eight questions for BHC about God’s Normal

Here are nine questions which may offer a glimpse of the future:

1.       How do we connect spirituality with those we have connected relationally with in recent months?

2.       What does our whatsapp neighbourhood say about where we focus our time and energy?

3.       What does worshipping together look like in a COVID19 world?

4.       What does Busbridge and Hambledon Church look and feel like as a community if we are always 2 metres (1 metre?) apart?

5.       How do we gather if gathering is limited to 20,30 or 40 people for our own health and for common good of the whole community?

6.       What is the connection between being a church which gathers on Sunday and a church of disciples living life together in the week?

7.       How can we deepen in knowledge, faith and understanding in a way which creates whole life discipleship?

8.       What has God gifted us with as a church which we can offer to others around us; what do other churches offer that will strengthen our walk with the Lord?

If the call of God is to be prepared for the future then these may be slightly unsettling questions brought about by strange times, but they are important questions because they ask what God’s spiritual normal is like for who we are as individuals and as a church family. They are questions of our preparation for the return of Christ on the Last Day so that we are people of watch and prayer (Luke 21:34;36), always ready to give an answer for the hope which we have.

All of this is not so much about services, buildings and locations (no, that isn’t code for no buildings!) and more whole life discipleship, mission and confidence in deep things of God, holiness and attitudes of grace and preparation as we journey with God into the future. We, the people of God, shaped by these things will be well placed to seek first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness.

In strange times, glimpses of God’s Normal future? There are some practical signs of this:

·         We’ve had two documents on the church website for some weeks, asking questions about how we shape ‘being church’ in the future. We’ve been asking people to explore the questions they raise. They are questions of strange things and times leading us deeper into God’s normal for our shared life.

They’ve been read or downloaded over 140 times and lots of home groups, music leaders, youth leaders and many others have offered great responses. Many are saying surprisingly similar things. But we’d expect that if we deeply believed the Holy Spirit was leading the way!

·         We’re finding that more people in the local community around here are openly expressing spiritual things – not Christian necessarily, but certainly more aware of life being more than it seemed to be 14 weeks ago; particularly those under 40.

·         We’ve re-opened the church buildings for private prayer all day, every day. We are very aware of many for whom Hambledon Church cannot have opened soon enough; both people of our church family and the wider community. We know this because we’ve been asked about it many times. The building matters to many people and is seen as a place for prayer.

·         Busbridge Church has a gentle and thoughtful art installation with music and silence, art pieces and videos. There’s been a steady stream of visitors and most are not regular worshippers.

·         As of July 5th Rev Sheila Samuels, (pioneer) curate in charge of Ockford Ridge, will be working closely with myself and others, including our good friends at St Peter and Paul’s in Godalming. Sheila will be developing pioneer ministry vision into the community of Ockford Ridge and will have access to resources and staff expertise as I become her training incumbent. We’ll work out with our friends in the town what all this means and how we can see God’s normal flowing in this important area of Godalming.

This is to help Jane (Rector of Godalming) for when she returns from a long period of illness. This allows an interim vicar who joins St Peter and Paul’s to concentrate on ministry in the town itself and hold things for Jane. Do pray for the churchwardens, PCC and worshippers.

·         Many of us have stepped out in new ways, both practically in care and through folding into a home group for the first time. Over sixty people have chosen to join a home group and be part of this amazing midweek journey of faith together. Some home groups are getting quite large!

Simon