BELONG, BELIEVE AND BUILD COMMUNITY TOGETHER!

Yesterday morning I attended Synod to be asked preparatory questions for Ordination in the Summer. One of the questions was what did I now know that I had not known 2 years ago when I began probation to which I replied I had learnt the importance of keeping a sense of humour, and the importance of not neglecting your husband!
As I drove back to Solihull however in preparation for the 50th Tea Party Celebrations, I reflected that although those things were undoubtedly true, what I had also leant was that you can learn a lot about the character of a church, when a significant member dies, and in my case that person at the beginning of my time here was Gwlyam Lane. He extended such grace to me – a Rookie minister at a time when he didn’t have to.
From my journeying with him, I learnt that Lyndon was a place to belong. He had travelled the world several times I think; had such a successful career but his conversation significantly spoke of his Sunday School in the Welsh Valleys and the time that he and Margaret had spent at Lyndon.
But Lyndon was no social club, he spoke about a faith expressed, explored and enlivened at Lyndon through, worship, bible study group and house group. One of his favourite hymns was, “Will your anchor hold” which asks the question – Is your faith firmly rooted in the saving love of Christ? Here then was a church, where exploring a personal assurance of faith was a vibrant part of its spirituality.
Lastly he had a keen understanding of his need to be faithful to the task that God had called him to do. That his contribution mattered whether that be at work; at home with Margaret or within the community of Lyndon. That building together was vital and that only he could fulfil his unique contribution to the task. The Gwilym part of the fabric of the building. Building a community was important, however much of a challenge that would be.
Our bible reading from 1 Peter chapter 2, resonates with these themes.
Firstly church is a place to belong. The whole passage, is insistent on the unity of believers in 1 body and uses a variety of words and ideas that promote a keen social identity – a boundaried place of belonging . So we find words such as household, race, priesthood, nation. In Christ, God creates a new place of purpose and community for those who have tasted that the Lord is good.
This spiritual house is not a social club, which exists solely for the needs of its members. It is a household of which the Head is God and the Cornerstone Jesus Christ. As much as believers belong to 1 another, they also belong to God. God builds the house; God lays the cornerstone Christ by which the house will be known and by virtue of God’s own mercy, this household comes into being. Belief is at its heart.
And finally on this foundation, using the metaphor of “living bricks” we are exhorted to be built together for a purpose to proclaim the mighty acts of God, who called us out of darkness into his marvellous light by the death and resurrection of Jesus.
You will have seen in our informative and comprehensive booklet, produced for our 50th celebrations, the many activities by which this is proclaimed today but it is the spirit in which we carry out our Calling that interests me tonight. The way that we do it that....
For this I have drawn on our legacy.
Tonight we will be commissioning our stewards, some of them are faithful returners other will be new faces - but it is to those that will be passing the baton on that I look for a positive contribution to this address tonight.
Having completed the year that he agreed to undertake, Ian retires as our senior steward having made a significant contribution to the life of this church and the circuit. That he has done a lot, is not in doubt, but it is the way in which he has carried out the task that is helpful to our faith gaining understanding tonight.
Over the past year he has shown the spiritual gift of “Grace in Action.” By this I mean that he has demonstrated the ability to critically appraise a situation and then reflect on what might be the most helpful way forward. What would bring life? What would promote flourishing?
This involves an active choice away from judging to being critically helpful the very work of God and rather essential when your are working with a trainee minister I think.
In our community at Lyndon exercise “grace in action,” Lyndon becomes an empowering place.
If Ian’s legacy is that of grace in action, that choice to move forward to the better day and not to get lost in the stalemate of judgement – Roy, Dorothy and Eric leave behind them the example of encouragement – so exhorted in Paul’s letters.
Their hearts have been that this place provides spiritual nourishment for those within and those outside the church – and they have worked consistently and quietly to encourage others in this respect.
They may not see themselves as the ones to stand out the front, but they have been the ones to facilitate those around them and hold this body in prayer to fulfil its purpose in this place. They are builder-uppers – vital if we are to maintain that sense of welcome, belonging and building the community.
And finally, Judith and Chris, as we saw yesterday, it is their commitment to task and seeing a job through that they agreed to complete. It is service again often not obvious but clear and purposeful. They are sustainers of the framework of this place, helping to make lasting where the belonging, believing and building happens.
Grace in action, encouragement, and service are at the heart of this community of God’s people. They are part of the blue print extolled by Peter and in Christ God continues to create a new place of purpose and community for those who have tasted, and that others might taste that the Lord is indeed good. Very good. Amen!!
Julia Monaghan 27.04.09