Abbots Langley Methodist Church
Magazine
October 2007

FROM THE MANSE

from Revd. Gill Hulme

Last Saturday (Sept 15th) was the District Synod, attended by ministers, deacons, circuit stewards and elected representatives from circuit. As well as the general business of synod, elections to Conference and reports, the theme of the Synod was Discipleship.

I attended the workshops on Discipleship and the Environment, and Discipleship and Spirituality.

The environment workshop was thought-provoking, led by a research scientist investigating climate change. He challenged us to think of how our discipleship should include care for God’s creation, and how climate change affected most severely the world’s poorest people. There were practical, simple, yet effective steps to enable all of us, both individually and as churches to reduce our carbon ‘footprint’.

Most of the suggestions needed only small changes, such as installing long life low energy light bulbs, ensuring our thermostats on radiators are working properly, and not leaving TVs or PCs on standby. Such simple steps can reduce our fuel consumption and carbon emissions drastically. Churches were encouraged to become ‘eco-churches’ and this may be something we can consider in our property committee.

The other workshop was quite different, encouraging us to use whatever works for us as individuals to deepen our spirituality, to walk more closely with God day by day, and hence improve our discipleship.

We were encouraged to think about the ‘roots’ of our discipleship, what influences and feeds us.

We were assured that there is no right or wrong way to do this – after all God has made us all individuals. One minister shared that he found it difficult to set aside a specific prayer time, but whilst in training (quite some time ago) a colleague had suggested he made use of the odd moments, so that he is in effect, praying continually. He called it ‘praying in the cracks’ which I think is a lovely description.

We were also encouraged to consider the discipline of ‘reviewing the day’ either last thing at night (or if like me you’ve a tendency to fall asleep – first thing in the morning).

To do this it is best to find a quiet and comfortable spot, relax and breathe rhythmically. Then:

1. Ask God to help you review your day and what has happened (some people imagine rewinding, like a video and let God use the pause button)
2. Ask yourself, for which moments are you most grateful, and thank God for them
3. Then if you wish ask yourself for what moments are you least grateful. Talk with God about them, say you are sorry if necessary, but don’t beat yourself up about them, let them go.
4. Ask God to help you serve and worship God in the period before you next review your day.

There are different versions of this review, some people stop after reflecting on what you are thankful for, and if you are good at berating yourself then this certainly makes sense, others use questions like- What energised me? What drained me?

If you are someone who likes to sit in front of a PC then this type of review combined with scripture readings is available at www.sacredspace.ie

What matters is what works for you, what deepens your spirituality, what strengthens your discipleship.

In the words of Alan Poole (who has a fantastic prayer ministry) what is important is to pray as you can, not as you can’t.

Don’t forget, of course, that praying in a group can help enormously, and if you haven’t yet got along to the Saturday morning ‘Pop-in-for prayer’ at 11am then do come along and try it for yourself.

Every Blessing

Text for October

Happy are those who are concerned for the poor; the Lord will help them when they are in trouble. The Lord will protect them and preserve their lives; he will make them happy in the land.

Psalm 41, v 1-2