Vicar’s Letter – Village Life

Well it is now a year since we moved into the Vicarage and I started as Priest in Charge of the Parish.   As you would probably expect, in some ways the year has flown by and in others it seems a very long time.  Looking back there have been many special moments, looking ahead I feel much more aware of the challenges to be faced.

Above all else it has been great to get to know people in the Village, both those who come to church and those who don’t.  It has been a real privilege to be welcomed here and to already feel a part of a community  that is so vibrant and full of life.   

What has impressed me most about the Village is the determination to hang on to the values that make Brockenhurst such a wonderful place to live.  Someone recently said to me that “We live in a bit of a time warp”, perhaps meaning that we have traditional ways of looking at things here that you might not find elsewhere.  If those values mean that you can trust your neighbours and show respect to those you live with then I see absolutely no reason to be anything other than traditional. 

And what have I learned about my part in all this.  What seems the most important lesson that I have learned in this last year?  Well I think it is one that I was already aware of but has become more apparent with each day that passes.  The lesson is that I can’t do this in my own strength.  Any time I get tempted to try, I am well on the way to failing.  It is only with the help of my Lord, in prayer, in direction and in the comfort He provides that I can hope to serve.  It is in His name that I work and it is to Him that I try to point people.  I don’t have to have all the answers as long as I know a man who does.

He has given me some gifts and talents to work with but it is only ever through the power of His Spirit that I can make good use of these.  Believe me I have tried it without Him and it really just doesn’t work.  This is the secret behind all Christian ministry, the most important foundation, summed up by this phrase that I try to keep at the front of my mind, “to seek to know who you are, and to know whose you are.”

Praise God from whom all blessings flow.  I give thanks for this place and I pray that God may give you His grace to find meaning and purpose in all that you do.

Neil

Vicar’s Notes – What the Church of England should be about !

As I write these words we are approaching the Lambeth Conference and a media frenzy that will yet again tell us all about the divisions and disagreements in the Anglican Church.  Journalists will be reporting every crossed word and argument but few will notice that the theme of the Conference is mission.

In a way mission is the very reason that the church exists as one quote puts it so clearly – “It is not the Church of God that has a mission in the world, but the God of mission who has a Church in the world.”   These five values are offered to provide a framework for any church to apply to its local situation. 

·        A mission-shaped Church is focussed on God the Trinity.

Worship lies at the centre of a missionary church and to love and know God as Father, Son and Holy Spirit is its chief inspiration and primary purpose.  It worships and serves a missionary God, and understands itself to share in the divine mission of God. 

·        A mission-shaped Church is incarnational.

As Jesus took on flesh to dwell among us the mission-shaped Church seeks to dwell in the midst of its community, seeking to pass on the Good News of the gospel by being in contact with those around it.  An incarnational church joins with the work of the Holy Spirit in the world.

·        A mission-shaped church is transformational.

A mission-shaped church seeks to transform the community it serves, through the power of the gospel and the Holy Spirit.  It is not self-serving, self-seeking or self-focused.  The Kingdom of God is its goal.

·        A mission-shaped church makes disciples.

This type of church is active in calling people to faith in Jesus, and is equally committed to developing disciples who live a consistent Christian lifestyle.

·        A mission-shaped church is relational.

In a mission-shaped church a community is being formed.  It is characterised by welcome and hospitality.  It does not seek to stand alone but to live in relation with others.

This is what our Church should be about.  But it is unlikely that this will be heard on our news programmes or in our newspapers.        Neil