Stamford United Reformed Church

 Dear friends

I have probably started my sabbatical by time you receive this so I thought you might be interested in learning what I plan to do. I want to explore with practitioners how mission is understood within a chaplaincy setting. I have multiple experiences of being a chaplain in various schools and care homes; at Jaguar Cars in Coventry; as Chaplain to Southwark Council; on a large building site in the Elephant and Castle and now as Mayor’s Chaplain in Stamford.

The role of a chaplain is undoubtably ministry and brings care and comfort to the workplace. Those who have experienced the work of a hospital chaplain will no doubt testify to the prayer ministry that is offered by them. However, most lay and ordained chaplaincies will have to enter into a formal agreement not to proselytise or be overtly religious or seek to guide people into faith. I want to explore with others how such ministry can be seen as joining in with God’s mission in the world.

I have secured three one-week placements; in a hospital, at a prison, and on a military base. I will shadow the Christian chaplains to see their approaches to people and reflect with them on the area of interest I have. Before the visits begin at the end of June I have a pile of literature to study to see what others have said on the subject and in the second half of August I hope to write my dissertation on the subject. I will try to have it published via Grove Booklets in Cambridge under the title The Missiology of Chaplaincy. I have a writing week booked at Westminster College.

It won’t all be work as I have planned a couple of short weekend breaks to East Sussex and West Sussex and a visit to friends in Oxford. I have also arranged an afternoon with my brothers in Crawley.

If the planning goes well I will do much of the studying at a table in the garden and might pull the odd weed or two up and enjoy one or two BBQs with just the hint of a libation. The duration of the sabbatical is from 1^st June to 30^th August during which time the churches will be served by others and I look forward to catching up with you all in September.

Happy summer and every blessing, Peter

Garden Tea Party

On June 26^th (2-6pm @ 1 Ermine Close) I will have an open garden for us all to join together, enjoy tea and cake, and have a good catch-up – weather permitting.

Would love to hear from those who could come, Anne Thompson (phone: 762549)

The Duty Rota for the Sabbatical Period

Friday Coffee Mornings

Friday Coffee Mornings will resume on June 4^th.  To start with there will be social distancing, sanitising etc and we also hope to have two tables outside at the pavement entrance. However, hopefully, by the end of June we may be totally back to normal.  We shall probably need some extra helpers, so if you are interested or know of someone who may be, please let me or Ishobel know.  Really looking forward to seeing some of you at this reopening.

Blessings to all, Pam

The Beatitudes Explored Continued…

Persistent Persecution                                                                                      Tony Barry

“Blessed are those that are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

As JB Phillips’ translation of the New Testament puts it, Jesus went on to say “And what happiness will be yours […] when people say slanderous things against you for my sake.”

In his Daily Study Bible, Dr Barclay devotes a number of pages to the subject of persecution, which has affected Christians since Roman times. Mockery may await/result those who practise Christian love and forgiveness. But he points to three key areas of persecution - many which can still apply in some countries today. 

1. Peoples’ Christianity could well disrupt their work “If it came to a choice between loyalty to God and their living “the real Christian never hesitated to choose loyalty.

2. Christianity would certainly disrupt their social life. So “people had to be prepared to be lonely in order to be Christians.”

3. It could also disrupt their home lives. But Dr Barclay points out that suffering persecution could be seen as an opportunity to show loyalty to Christ. As Jesus said it was to take the same road “as the prophets, the saints and the martyrs have walked.” Dr Barclay adds that “no one ever suffers persecution alone […] Christ will be nearer to them than at any other time.”

He concludes by saying that “Christ still needs his witnesses: he needs those who are prepared not so much to die for him as to live for him”, emphasising that Christian struggle and glory still exist.

Thanks go to Anne Thompson for the front cover design.

WE HOPE EVERYONE IS STAYING SAFE AND WELL