I've copped some flak this week for having my hair cut too short. I've actually had my hair cut the same way for at least 12 years! This time it seems I've gone too far! We're all pretty busy at the moment and actually most of it has been enjoyable. Highlights would be an opportunity to go through 'Introducing God' as a couple with some lovely friends of ours. Being involved with a wedding of a couple of our youth leaders. Lovely to see and hear about their shared passion for gospel ministry as well as for each other.
On a different note one of Ali's grandads passed away last Saturday morning. It made our recent trip to England that much more precious to us and especially Ali as we were able to spend some time with him. We're praying for the family, especially Ali's dad - Dave - at this time. We were able to get a lovely photo of Ron together with Ali's other grandad Pat.
To my mind he was a down to earth sort of man with a gift of common sense. It doesn't appear that he had a faith. Certainly not one that he talked about. Ali was about to send him a letter to share some of the things she felt she hadn't shared with him before. But it was his time. She's still going to send it but to her grandmother instead who will be hardest hit by his passing.
I guess I'm most reminded that 'there is a time for everything... a time to be born and a time to die...' and therefore 'to remember your creator before the silver cord is severed... and the dust returns to to the ground it came from and the spirit returns to God who gave it.'
(Ecclesiastes 3v1-2, 12v6-7, The Bible)
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Thank you
I've been taking some grief about this blog! So thank you, those of you who have been kind and encouraging, even constructive! It's OK - I'm determined to fight on through the gentle jibes and boyish banter - I'll win you all over, you'll see! In time you'll not be able to wait for the next weeks family bullets!
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Less sleepless nights
Does any particular ministry in the church live or die with me? It's an issue I've been thinking about. I'm not thinking here of my core remit but of various 'church ministry departments'. A recent example is our kid's church. The coordinator had indicated she would step down last year. She stayed on until end of term 1 this year in the hope that someone would step up. No one did.
Who's responsibility is it?
Organisationally there are certain things that the leadership should do: communicate the issue, communicate the need, approach likely candidates - basically, ensure the church is aware of the situation and the need.
But if 'the worst' happens and Kid's Church stops, where then does the responsibility lie? Who was responsible for the closure? Well surely it was the church who 'functionally' decided not to step forward. At that point there is opportunity to confirm the 'decision' made, even though or 'especially since' it may have been a default decision.
The church is a body which Christ equips with the gifts it needs to do what he wants it to do. The pastor is an influential part of that body as are other leaders... but that's what they are, PART of the body. It is the WHOLE BODY that must take ownership of the activities. As it happens Christ has given us his gift to the body for this role - we now have a coordinator for Kid's Church!
Who's responsibility is it?
Organisationally there are certain things that the leadership should do: communicate the issue, communicate the need, approach likely candidates - basically, ensure the church is aware of the situation and the need.
But if 'the worst' happens and Kid's Church stops, where then does the responsibility lie? Who was responsible for the closure? Well surely it was the church who 'functionally' decided not to step forward. At that point there is opportunity to confirm the 'decision' made, even though or 'especially since' it may have been a default decision.
The church is a body which Christ equips with the gifts it needs to do what he wants it to do. The pastor is an influential part of that body as are other leaders... but that's what they are, PART of the body. It is the WHOLE BODY that must take ownership of the activities. As it happens Christ has given us his gift to the body for this role - we now have a coordinator for Kid's Church!
Monday, June 16, 2008
welcome to my world
This is my new blog. Welcome.
I hope it is going to keep all those of you who crave information about what's going on with us Sayer's satisfied. I see it as a little window into our world down here in Tasmania. It also provides a quick way for you to share back / comment / say hi etc. I'll be posting bullets about the family; various thoughts I'm having; and of course bits and pieces of what's going on in our lives and ministry.
I'm aware that lots of people still graciously pray for us (despite having no up-to-date information!) I thank God for all of you.
It was really good to spend some time in the motherland over May. We're sorry to those of you who missed us. Unfortunately there were always going to be some casualties. It was a time of BIG hellos and BIG goodbyes. It was a time to marvel at that peculiar level of relational intensity that results when you add two or more sets of children together. We certainly won't miss the traffic congestion. We certainly will continue to miss our family and friends.
All of it seems like a long time ago... especially with the long haul homeward journey in between!
We're back into it again here in Margate. Our senior minister is away on 3 months paid long service leave (great idea! you get it after 10 years service... 8 yrs 3 months to go then!) and the other key leader will be away for a month very shortly. I'd like to remind them that while I was away nothing big and nasty reared up in the church life and so it would be nice if they could reciprocate!
I took my first wedding recently. I don't know about anyone else but I really enjoyed it! And it seems that I did, in fact, marry the bride and the groom before God, according to Australian law and under the rites of the Christian Reformed Churches of Australia. God is gracious indeed. It should be noted that I was far more nervous than at least the groom and possibly even the bride!
Well I'll leave it there for now.
I hope it is going to keep all those of you who crave information about what's going on with us Sayer's satisfied. I see it as a little window into our world down here in Tasmania. It also provides a quick way for you to share back / comment / say hi etc. I'll be posting bullets about the family; various thoughts I'm having; and of course bits and pieces of what's going on in our lives and ministry.
I'm aware that lots of people still graciously pray for us (despite having no up-to-date information!) I thank God for all of you.
It was really good to spend some time in the motherland over May. We're sorry to those of you who missed us. Unfortunately there were always going to be some casualties. It was a time of BIG hellos and BIG goodbyes. It was a time to marvel at that peculiar level of relational intensity that results when you add two or more sets of children together. We certainly won't miss the traffic congestion. We certainly will continue to miss our family and friends.
All of it seems like a long time ago... especially with the long haul homeward journey in between!
We're back into it again here in Margate. Our senior minister is away on 3 months paid long service leave (great idea! you get it after 10 years service... 8 yrs 3 months to go then!) and the other key leader will be away for a month very shortly. I'd like to remind them that while I was away nothing big and nasty reared up in the church life and so it would be nice if they could reciprocate!
I took my first wedding recently. I don't know about anyone else but I really enjoyed it! And it seems that I did, in fact, marry the bride and the groom before God, according to Australian law and under the rites of the Christian Reformed Churches of Australia. God is gracious indeed. It should be noted that I was far more nervous than at least the groom and possibly even the bride!
Well I'll leave it there for now.
why the church isn't mine
'you know my folly, O God; my guilt is not hidden from you. May those who hope in you not be disgraced because of me' (psalm 69 v5-6)
These verses hit me pretty hard this morning. They hit me hard not just as a pastor, but in all my roles; father, husband, friend.
I'm always a model - the question is 'Am I a good one or a bad one?' Fact is: I fail. That fact brings with it the sharp edge of these verses... that's the challenge for me as one who has some influence and responsibility for God's people, and it extends into my other roles too.
The spectre of moral failure and its consequences has kept on reappearing recently... just the other day I heard of another minister who's blown it. May those who's hope is in God not be disgraced because of it!
Thankfully God is infinitely more influential and despite any failings, on my part or others, is still well able to sustain people's hope. Including my hope too.
These verses hit me pretty hard this morning. They hit me hard not just as a pastor, but in all my roles; father, husband, friend.
I'm always a model - the question is 'Am I a good one or a bad one?' Fact is: I fail. That fact brings with it the sharp edge of these verses... that's the challenge for me as one who has some influence and responsibility for God's people, and it extends into my other roles too.
The spectre of moral failure and its consequences has kept on reappearing recently... just the other day I heard of another minister who's blown it. May those who's hope is in God not be disgraced because of it!
Thankfully God is infinitely more influential and despite any failings, on my part or others, is still well able to sustain people's hope. Including my hope too.
As David goes on... 'O Lord, the LORD Almighty, may those who seek you not be put to shame because of me'
I thank God that the church is his. And his people are his. Not mine.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)