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SHERWOOD GREENLAW CHURCH
FROM THE MINISTER
Dear Friends
Elsewhere in this magazine you can read about the “The Challenge to the Church” – a directive from the General Assembly of 2011 for every congregation in the Church of Scotland to implement a Stewardship Programme – an exercise which will be supervised by each Presbytery.
While we usually associate the word “stewardship” with financial giving it is stressed that the programme is just as much about harnessing the time and talents of church members for the cause of the Gospel.
While I was thinking about “The Challenge to the Church” I got to thinking about the very first challenge to the service of the Gospel – the one issued by Jesus himself to his first disciples.
Imagine if someone asked you stop everything you were doing – no matter how important you felt it was – because they felt that what they were asking of you was more important, and it couldn’t wait.
According to Mark’s Gospel that was how Jesus called his first disciples Simon and Andrew.
He didn’t give them time to think it over – time for them to decide where it should fit with their other priorities – He demanded an immediate decision.
As we know from the Gospel record these two men, working to support their families, left everything to become His disciples.
It seems clear that there must have been something very impressive about Jesus for them to respond to Him so immediately, but I always think that there is another, remarkable angle involved in this story too. Jesus must have seen something special in them too!
The disciples were ordinary people in whom Jesus saw something they didn’t see themselves.
As Christians we know that Jesus calls each one of us – but often we look for excuses and hope that it’s actually someone else He’s asking.
We like to take time to think about what is being asked of us and often, if we are honest, we can end up convincing ourselves – it will be too much for us; it’s more suited to someone else; it would be better if the minister did it; it would be better to have someone with special skills and training – and certainly someone with more time!
Jesus’ call on our lives will not always mean dropping what we are doing immediately, as in the case of those disciples, nor will it always require leaving what we’re doing behind – but it might!
It is highly unlikely, as we implement “The Challenge to the Church” in Sherwood Greenlaw, that we will be called to undertake anything as radical as Simon and Andrew’s response to Jesus involved.
What it will involve is that each one of us thinks soberly and seriously about what we can offer to the work of the Gospel in our congregation and parish, bearing in mind that it’s not just about money.
In some ways the timing of “The Challenge to the Church” could not be more awkward, as, with my impending retirement, the congregation is going to be launched into a period of transition in the not too distant future.
May we always remember, though, that whatever Jesus has in mind for us – no matter how unsuitable, or unworthy, or daunted we may feel – He will provide the resources we need to carry the task through.
The words of the Apostle Paul in his letter to the Philippians underline Paul’s experience of Jesus’ enabling power – “I can do all things through Him who gives me strength”.
As we prepare to tackle “The Challenge to the Church” may Paul’s words echo in our lives also.
Sincerely,
Alasdair F. Cameron