Among the heartwarming stories of communities responding positively in the light of events over the last few days is this from Phil Jump, who was, when I lived in the North West of England 'my' Regional Minister.  I know similar stories are being told across the nation, and Christians are not the only people of faith getting stuck in, but it's good to read - and a powerful apologetic for the appropriate wearing of clerical collars!

Last night I was 'making corrections' to my MPhil thesis - well, actually I was writing an extra 300 words to satisfy the desires of the examiners.  What made me smile was that I spotted a glaring spelling error on the first page that no-one had noticed - despite five people other than me having carefully read it and noted other typing errors.

Just so you know, the University of Manchester seemingly has a department that embraces 'humanties'

I have corrected the typo and emailed my new version to the examiner for approval....

Lots of people are making comments on events in the news and lots of opinions are being expressed.

In amongst all the stuff I've seen, nothing has spoken into the situation more clearly or more profoundly than this from Annie. 

Just over a week ago I was preaching on Luke's parables about wealthy people - the son who squandered his wealth, the manager who feared his loss of status, the nameless wealthy man who chose not to see what was on his doorstep.  As part of that sermon I commented that even people on job seekers allowance are among the top 20% in the world for wealth - even before we allow from free education, free at the point of delivery health care and welfare benefits.  I'm not naive enough to pretend all is well in the UK - I know there are people who go to bed hungry, but at least they have a bed to go to; I know there are people who live with little opportunity to achieve their dreams, but at least they can be reasonably assured of living beyond childhood.

What has been striking, amidst all the mindless violence and looting, has been the response of local communities - people coming together to clean up the mess, to guard small business premises, to speak for the majority of people who just want to get on with their lives.  I am saddened to see places I know and love featured on television for all the wrong reasons but I guess being saddened isn't going to change anything.

A lot of the blame is being put in government spending cuts, which is an easy and lazy response.  Past generations lived through worse hardship without resorting to violence, it is not inevitable.  But those of us who claim to be Christians have to ask ourselves, where is the church and what is it doing?  I know for a fact that in some of these troubled areas churches (and synagogues and temples and mosques) quietly get on with being 'salt' or 'kingdom yeast' (Sunday's parables) to transform them for good.  But sometimes we are more worried about graffiti on our walls, mud on the carpets and smashed mugs or light bulbs than doing what we know we are called to do. 

The Gathering Place is set in a mixed residential and commercial area, wealth and poverty live cheek by jowl, it is slightly shabby, and it is well used by some of the 'least of these' in our area.  When I look at the scenes from London, Birmingham, Liverpool, Manchester, Salford, Bristol, Nottingham, I am forced to say, 'there but for the grace of God, go we.'  If there is a wake-up call from any of this, it is for people of faith/faiths to ask ourselves what we can do locally and globally to work for good.

Two hymns/songs comes to mind as I ponder...

Jesus Christ is waiting,
waiting in the streets;
no one is his neighbour,
all alone he eats.
Listen, Lord Jesus,
I am lonely too.
Make me, friend or stranger,
fit to wait on you.

Jesus Christ is raging,
raging in the streets, 
where injustice spirals
and real hope retreats.
Listen, Lord Jesus
I am angry too.
In the Kingdom's causes 
let me rage with you.

Jesus Christ is healing,
healing in the streets;
curing those who suffer,
touching those he greets.
Listen, Lord Jesus,
I have pity too.
Let my care be active,
healing, just like you.

Jesus Christ is dancing,
dancing in the streets,
where each sign of hatred
he, with love, defeats.
Listen, Lord Jesus  
I should triumph too.
On suspicion's graveyard
let me dance with you.

Jesus Christ is calling,
calling in the streets,
'Who will join my journey?
I will guide their feet.'
Listen, Lord Jesus,
let my fears be few.
Walk one step before me;
I will follow you.

John L Bell (born 1949) and Graham Maule (born 1958) © 1988 WGRG, Iona Community

And this one, especially the first half of verse three:

Lord, thy church on earth is seeking
thy renewal from above;
teach us all the art of speaking
with the accent of thy love.
We would heed thy great commission:
go ye into every place-
preach, baptise, fulfil my mission,
serve with love and share my grace.

Freedom give to those in bondage,
lift the burdens caused by sin.
Give new hope, new strength and courage,
grant release from fears within:
light for darkness; joy for sorrow;
love for hatred; peace for strife.
These and countless blessings follow
as the Spirit gives new life.

In the streets of every city
where the bruised and lonely dwell,
let us show the Saviour's pity,
let us of his mercy tell.
In all lands and with all races
let us serve, and seek to bring
all the world to render praises,
Christ, to thee, Redeemer, King.

Hugh Sherlock (1905-1998) © Successor to Hugh Sherlock/administered by The Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes

Today I'm reading around my topic for Sunday, the last in our parables series, 'stories Jesus told about prayer.'  I saw these and they seemed worth sharing:

Intercession is work for others.  It is an act of faith in God, his caring, his goodness.  It is involved in the mystery of God and the freedom of man (sic).  We intercede for others because of what we believe about God as loving Father, who works directly, but also through men and women, using their cooperation.  Intercession depends on th elife of faith, not on words.  We intercede with out whol being, opening a door for God, becomign channels, bringing people to God as Aaron did (Ex. 28.29).  We can do this by name in a list, on request, because we aware of need.  We can cover all persons and subjects.  Results are only sometimes known, and all intercessions implies: 'Not my will, but thine, be done.'

Michael Hollings

And on the difference between intercession (prayer for others) and petition (prayer for self)

The distinction between petition and intercession - which is petition for others - is not always easy to draw.  But the two should be kept separate.  Petition concerns our straight course to God; intercession our placing of oursleves between him and the world.

George Appleton

Both from SCM A Dictionary of Christian Spirituality

Taking the two together, then, intercession has a pontifical (bridge) or priestly function, which sits well with understandings of the 'priesthood of all believers' which is why it is so important in public worship.

There's an old hymn, technically I think a Sunday school hymn, which as been quietly excised from most contemporary hymnbooks:

Jesus calls above the tumult
of our life's wild, restless sea;
day by day his voice re-echoes,
saying, 'Christian, follow me!'

As of old, apostles heard it
by the Galilean lake,
turned from home and toil and kindred,
leaving all for his dear sake.

Jesus calls us from the worship
of the vain world's golden store,
from each rival that would claim us,
saying, 'Christian, love me more!'

In our joys and in our sorrows,
days of toil and hours of ease,
still he calls, in cares and pleasures,
'Christian, love me more than these!'

Jesus calls us! By your mercies,
Saviour, make us hear your call,
give to you our heart's obedience,
serve and love you best of all.

Cecil F Alexander (1818-1895)

I suspect this lovely hymn, with its clear echoes of John 21, is a bit too discomfiting for the average middle class western Christian who steadily acquires more and more material wealth.

When I was leaving college, and preaching with a view for the second time (out of three before a church was kind/mad enough to call me) it was on John 21.  I recall lingering on the words of Jesus to Peter, 'do you love me more than these...?'  The Greek is neatly ambiguous, and most often is interpreted/heard as 'out these eleven men are you the one who loves me the most?'  But an equally valid, and I think more likely interpretation is 'do you love me more than these things... you boat, your home, your livelihood, your wealth, your family and friends...?'  It is a question that should leave us going 'ulp!'

At this time of year new students are setting off to begin training as for pastoral ministry and for overseas mission.  Many of them have left well-paid careers, some have sold the homes (others are trapped by negative equity or a dead market), some move far away from family and friends and so on.  If they are Baptist ministerial students (or student ministers or whatever they call them these days) they go to college knowing there is no promise of a church at the end... following the call could, technically, leave them destitute.

Following my call into ordained ministry has definitely been a voyage on a wild, restless, sea, but I have no doubt at all it was the right thing to have done.  Today, as others prepare to step into that boat, to embark on their own stormy journeys, my prayer is that they will know that Jesus is there with them - even if sometimes he's so busy sleeping on a cushion they need to give him a good shake!