How to watch the Olympics

Britain is gripped by Olympics fever at the moment and rightly so. It's great to watch the best athletes in the world competing against each other and to learn about a few of the more obscure sports in the world!

But as Christians, should we be getting more from the Olympics?

According to John Piper in a great blog on the Desiring God website based on 1 Corinthians 9:25,  as we watch the Olympics we should be 'seeing through them, and beyond them, to the ultimate realities to which they point in God’s created world, spring-loaded at every turn to teach us about redemption.'

'Why would the Christian Scriptures mention the games? To help us upgrade our two weeks of Olympic watching by opening our eyes to what they have to say about God, the gospel, and the Christian life.

'Every time you turn the television set on, I want you to hear God talking to you through the games... the games... are meant to be seen and heard by Christians as a tremendous impulse to fight the fight of faith and run the race of life with nothing less than Olympic passion and perseverance.'

Click HERE to read the whole blog.

It's well worth it and it might change the way you watch the Olympics.




Direct Link: http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/how-to-watch-the-olympic-games

The Parmenters are off to Uganda!

During this Sunday mornings service we will be hearing from Neil, Bethan, Zoe and Isobel about the mission trip to Uganda they are about to embark on as a family with Mission Direct.

Zoe has put together a fantastic video full of pictures of the project they will be involved in, which explains what they will be doing. Why not watch it and then commit to pray for them over the next few weeks?

Direct Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_G7WenkhWk&feature=youtu.be

More to Life?

I've been doing some work over the last few weeks on our evangelism strategy for the next couple of years. As you may know, I've taken over the leadership of the Evangelism Team and we're going to be getting together over the summer to think through the opportunities there are in the run up to Christmas and beyond.

It's been refreshing to pause and take some time to really think about how we can be more effective in taking Jesus out to our families, friends and local community.

According to one of the 5 key 'statements' we've developed over the last few years,

 

Our MISSION is to make disciples who understand our culture and know, sow and show Jesus in Warndon Villages, Worcester and the World.

But how can we do that more effectively?

I'm convinced that most unchurched people have a sense that there is 'more to life', and are open to considering faith, however what they need to see is a faith that genuinely makes a positive difference, that works.

I find that an immense challenge.

Am I close enough to my unchurched friends so that they can see the difference Jesus makes in my life? Do I spend time with them? Do I listen to what bothers them? Do I exhibit genuine interest in them? Am I non-judgemental and accepting, willing to go onto their territory and inhabit their world?

And if I am close to them, do they notice any difference at all? Or is all they see religion, rules and restrictions?

Challenging questions, but ones we must face up to if we are to reach the 1,000s of people all around us who know there is more to life and are looking for something authentic that works and someone who can show them what that looks like in practice.

I've found the following song by Phatfish really helpful in reminding me of the wonderful good news we have to share..enjoy!

Direct link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2z1LZEPQ-8

So... what do you do exactly?

I'm often asked by non-church-going friends (and by some church-going friends as well!) how I spend my days as a Pastor.

In many ways the work of any Pastor is like an iceburg - the bulk of it isn't visible and remains hidden below the surface out of public view. Preparing for sermons, talks and Bible studies;  preparing to lead meetings, meeting up with individuals and fellow leaders, and pastoral care and counselling, all takes up a considerable amount of unseen time. And that's not to mention time given over to praying, reading the Bible and nurturing my own soul in order to stay spiritually fresh and authentic.

It's a cliche, but most Pastors would say that the only really predictable thing about most weeks is their unpredictabilty. While I am very diligent about taking a day off each week to spend with my family, the reality is that I am always 'on duty': 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. I just never know what the next phone call will bring or what pastoral crisis is around the corner.

Most pastoral situations need to remain confidential and necessarily go unseen, but when they do come, they soak up an enormous amount of emotional, physical and spirtual energy and time. A failing marriage can't be dealt with in only one session; confronting a man caught in a sin is never without ripples; a sudden bereavement or unsettling diagnosis needs pastoral time. So the next time the sermon seems a little ragged or the pastor a little distracted, spare a thought for what he may have had to deal with that week.

Having said that, last week contained many of the elements that make up my role, so it seems like as good a week as any to use as the basis for answering that question.

So here goes: a look beneath the surface of the iceburg...

Monday

MORNING: I try to reserve the first two hours of every Monday morning to take the kids to school and catch up with my wife, Carolyn. We ran the excellent Marriage Course a few years ago at Woodgreen and this emphasised the need for 'Marriage Time' - protected time together each week. Because I am out most evenings, this is a really important time for us to talk, have a coffee together and just be together.

However, this week was little different. A good friend's Mum had died recently and the funeral was today. So I skipped my date with Carolyn and went to support him. Sometimes pastoral care can't be put off or pigeonholed neatly into the diary.

AFTERNOON: Catching up with admin, plus preparing to lead Discipleship Explored tonight.

EVENING: Discipleship Explored: I've loved leading this course: 4 other guys, all hungry to learn and grow in their faith. It runs 8-10pm - fueled with cakes baked by Carolyn - what's not to like?

Tuesday

MORNING: First look at passage for Sunday morning sermon: James 4:13-5:11. The aim at this stage of the week is to meditate on the passage to try to get the big idea, start formulating some idea of my sermon structure and check my exegesis by reading a few commentaries.

LUNCHTIME: Bi-monthly meeting with Jesus in the City Leaders @ Woodgreen. 12.30-2pm

AFTERNOON: Two-weekly  meeting with Phil Jackson, Head of Warndon Villages Primary School, where I am Chair of Governors. Followed by prep for the Elders' Meeting tonight.

EVENING: Chair Elders' Meeting @ Woodgreen

Wednesday

MORNING+EARLY AFTERNOON: Visiting a Church Member in hospital with Carolyn. Then sermon prep. The aim now is to put some flesh on the bones, and find relevant illustrations. By the middle of the afternoon I  have a first (very rough) draft.

AFTERNOON: Prayer Meeting Prep: I am leading the first part of the prayer meeting, including an introductory devotion tonight.

EVENING: Leading our 'First Wednesday' Prayer Meeting, with guest visitor Caroline Geuter from Open Doors who support Christians around the world who are persecuted for their faith.

Thursday

MORNING: Write Growth Group Bible Study Sheets and Leaders' Guide. Woodgreen's Growth Groups have been working through Bible studies I have written as follow ups to the ministry on Sunday mornings from James.

AFTERNOON: Preparation for funeral tomorrow.

EVENING: A rare night in, but only because Carolyn is leading the music practice.

Friday

EARLY MORNING: Leading the men@woodgreen early morning prayer meeting.

MORNING: Final draft of Sunday sermon, including PowerPoint slides.

AFTERNOON: Take funeral @ Worcester Crematorium of a dear Christian lady. I then attend funeral of a mother of a lady who comes to our Luncheon Club.

EVENING: Mission Team Meal at our house, a chance for the Mission Team to talk with Hannah Coggins about her preparations to go to Madagascar and how we can support her as a church.

Saturday

Usually my day of with the family, but today it's the Woodgreen Community Fun Day, a great opportunity to engage with our local community.

And it lived up to it's name (see previous post) - it was great fun!

Community Fun Day Photos

A HUGE thank you to all who organised, helped out and came along to Woodgreen's Community Fun Day this Saturday. Hundreds of local people came along and enjoyed the many activities that were put on. The highlight this year was undoubtedly the merry-go-round and the stilt-walker, although Tom's balloon-modelling skills were a surprise to many of us as well!

The rain stayed away for most of the afternoon, but even when it did come, most of the activities were inside.

All the money raised will be going to local charities.  

Below are some of the photos from the day....

Bristol Men's Convention: 'Men of Passion'

Had an excellent day yesterday at the Bristol Men's Convention with 15 other guys from Woodgreen. Hope you enjoyed the twitter updates!

The theme of the day was of 'Men of Passion'. 500 men gathered at the Colston Hall in the city centre to hear great ministry and enjoy robust fellowship with each other.The main speakers were Andy Paterson, FIEC Director of Mission, and Hugh Palmer, Minister of All Souls church in London.

There is something very stirring about being with a group of blokes who are all passionate about living for Jesus and reaching others for him. In an age where masculinity is increasingly either dismissed as outdated or misrepresented as yobbism, it is so refreshing to be reminded of the affirming model of manhood Jesus gave: courageous self-sacrifice for others.

Our broken society desperately needs men who model their masculinity on Jesus: who love their wives, children, neighbours and work colleagues with manly, robust, truth-saturated love. We were reminded and challenged throughout the day that real men not only love God passionately, but also love others unconditionally.

If you're a bloke: why not put the date for next years conference in your diary now: Saturday 8th June.

If you're not a bloke, why not put the date of the Woodgreen Women's Day Conference in your diary: 24th November @ (you've guessed it) Woodgreen.