Inspiration weekend

"Worship is the submission of all of our nature to God.

It is the quickening of conscience by His holiness, the nourishment of mind by His truth, the purifying of imagination by His beauty, the opening of the heart to His love, and submission of will to His purpose.

All this gathered up in adoration is the greatest of human expressions of which we are capable; and therefore the chief remedy for that self-centredness which is our original sin and the source of actual sin.

Yes, worship in spirit and truth is the solution for perplexity, and the liberation from sin."

William Temple, Archbishop of Canterbury, Readings in St John's Gospel, 1945.

 

Maurice Denis, The Offertory at Calvary

Our church is spending time considering our vision and purpose. The themes of mission, worship, discipleship and community have guided our preaching, and discussion.
 
I have difficulty stretching my mind around vision statements. They can feel like motherhood statements. Read it and think, 'of course that's what we're about, but do we need to state the obvious?' A friend said it more graciously, 'It can seem that a vision says nothing, but it actually says everything.'
 
A vision is capable of lifting me by the heart, to action. I need to keep reminding myself of the beautiful things of God - his grace, his resurrection, his forgiveness, mercy and love. Then I see possibility in his mission for us.
 
There are tensions, too, in what we are to be. Not tensions rooted in disagreement. Tensions of dialectical dilemmas.
The tension of acceptance of people while also teaching them to turn from core-deep sin.
The tension of accepting broken-ness but seeking resurrected transformation.
The tension of necessary unity with exploring cloudy truths, and strongly held opinions, openly and honestly.
The tension of following leadership while leaders serve sacrificially.
 
God help us to be his people in our neighbourhood, ... and beyond. Help us to gather, grow and glorify Christ, creatively, passionately and intentionally.
 
Thanks today...
 
835.  being inspired together
836.  the power of a resurrected life
837.  God calling us to be his hands in the world
838.  a life journey of worship in spirit and truth
839.  encouragement from people who love me
840.  children learning new things
841.  being given a 'maybe'
842.  a clean bench, even just for a few minutes
843.  peaceful sleep
844.  winter turning today
845.  gloves on cold mornings
846.  an accepting, growing, resurrected community
847.  adoration of God in all aspects of life
848.  teaching, learning, growing, transforming together
849.  Jesus using us to grow his family (please)