At bowls (in Motukarara) last Friday night I sat next to a man well into his 80s, and we began talking about the weather. (I actually like talking about the weather!) This man is usually quiet and doesn't say much, although he likes to tease poor bowling. But when I asked him if he remembered the big snow of 1946 he enthusiastically told me about the terrible Nor'Wester that brought wind, rain, hail and snow (48cm!) to Canterbury that winter.
I find myself wishing that more people would tell their stories. We all have stories to tell, and they are all stories that have the grace of God woven throughout them. But sometimes it takes telling the stories and sharing them with others for us to see that thread of grace sparkle.
I hear stories most weeks that I would love more people to hear. So this year I hope to create a regular space for storytelling - for both young and old, Christian and non-Christian, male and female - to be safe and be heard.
You never know: you might have a story you'd like to tell.
I watched history happen on Wednesday morning. Whatever your opinion on Barack Obama himself or his politics, it is a remarkable thing that there is now an African-American president in the White House. In just a generation from Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King's "I have a dream" speech America has done something that was considered so unlikely in 1992 that Bill Clinton was affectionately nicknamed "the first Black President."
What I think is inspiring about Obama's rhetoric is his appeal to the "better history" and qualities of the American people, and indeed of us all. Politicians of all stripes often use "wedge issues" to divide groups of people who essentially agree on most things, in order to create constituencies for themselves. So, what I think is truly remarkable about Obama is his appeal to hope over and against fear, and his refusal thus far to play off different groups against one another.
I cannot help be reminded of the Bible's repeated exhortation not to fear, but to have faith and hope in God. Every day God invites us to walk in faith, hope and love, and not in fear. God invites us to see little miracles every day in the healing, love and beauty we are surrounded with, to see the presence of the Kingdom among us, and to cling to those things as promises that all things are being and will be made new.
Steve Taylor is on holiday. Paul will write a note next week.
May God bless all your holidays as 2009 begins!
We’ve been delighting in catching up this week, enjoying meals with different people, glad of the richness they bring into our lives.
The Landers family left on Friday and will arrive in Darwin on 18 January ready for Amanda to start work on the 19th, Pray for them as they settle into work and school and find friends, church and places to play and have fun.
This afternoon the Taylor Family set off for three weeks of annual leave. We are looking forward to reading, relaxing, kayaking and walking. We will be back on deck on 3 February.
Next Sunday Annette McGowan is preaching, “It takes a church to raise a child”. Then Paul McMahon will do two weeks on “life and faith transitions”.
Welcome to 2009!
We are enjoying the slower pace that the holiday season brings and trust that you are too. We have only one service running through January: 10.30 am on Sundays. It is a way of ensuring a good break for all and an acknowledgement of the fact that many people are away on holiday over January so numbers can be lower, which probably affects our smaller congregations.
We trust you are enjoying the lighter flavour of "Summer Delight" and leave the services enriched and blessed. Don't forget that there is a picnic after each of these services - a chance to relax with each other and enjoy some time to simply be together. See you there!