Re-Energise 2007

Four elders from St John's were privileged to attend this conference which was a great opportunity to share stories of what God is doing in and through the Church of Scotland.

The full addresses by the main speakers are available for download from www.cwwresources.org.uk . What follows is merely a taster of the wonderful things we heard about.

Rev Peter Nielson on Sunday evening set the scene by stating in his opening address that God couldn't love you more than he loves you now. It is not about becoming more acceptable to God. It is about becoming more available to God.

If we live in the grace of God, we can live out the grace of God, and become a generous church. So much has been given to us; we have so much to give away.

Over the next two days there were four main speakers who used the four gospels to illustrate the four themes of the Church Without Walls report.

Rev Liz Henderson - Richmond Craigmillar church in Edinburgh

Church shaped by Friendship - Gospel of Luke

This church takes very seriously the injunction to help those deemed to be the least of God's children. They started a café heavily used by the community including those involved with drugs. They also run nearly new stalls and fruit and veg co-operative.

The area served by the congregation is undergoing regeneration, but this brings its own problems. Only 20% of the new houses are available for rent and there is a concern that there is no regard for the welfare of the tenants as long as the rent is paid.

The community is marked by suffering and a large number of funerals for or affecting young people. In 3 years there were 15 funerals which affected 36 children. They started a music group for bereaved kids but that was not too successful. However it highlighted the problems being faced by one particular youngster. They decided to get one worker to get this boy back on track and this has grown into an amazing bereavement project for children called Richmond's Hope which now serves whole city of Edinburgh and Mid Lothian.

Their church is shaped by friendship, suffering and listening to the community.

Rev Kenny Borthwick - Wester Hailes - Edinburgh

Church shaped by gifts of God's People Gospel of Mark

Jesus counted on people who could get things so very wrong. Why did he stick with them? They were God's gift to Jesus. "Father, they were yours and you gave them to me"

You are the gift of God to his Son and, through his Son, his gift to the world.

What is the Gospel? "The time promised by God has come at last. The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the Good news."

Why did James and John follow? Jesus got right into their dreams of having significance in the kingdom of God. We will release the gifts of God's people when we release them into their dreams and accept that there is a difference between abilities and dreams.

Church is too often run by people being fitted into the gaps. We push them into the hole and make them fit because we have standardised view of what church should look like and feel this model must keep running.

Challenge - how does your congregation run - do you fill gaps - do you live in your dream?

God is moving everything from A to B and for reasons we don't really understand he has chosen us to be part of that. God is doing something new in our lives - and we are just the sort of people he uses - the frightened and the confused.

Are we just filling the gaps?

Do we dare to dream?

Prof Elaine Storkey

Church shaped by the Gospel Mathew - Law and Grace

This talk dealt with issues such as law and grace and human identity in a culture which is unsure about its own identity and what it really means to be human.

On sin, Prof Starkey said that our society has a strong concept of evil, but a weak concept of sin. Evil is alien and inexplicable while sin resides within and is real. Sin is not removed by time but only by the blood of Christ. However through redemption we become not the moral elite, but a community of saved sinners

Grace is Good News about love in a society where love is misunderstood and mostly conditional. There are so many people in our society who are wary of what people call 'love'. From sad and bitter experience they have come to the conclusion that there is no one who will love them without conditions, and nowhere can they be vulnerable without being used.

Grace opens us up to the real meanings of identity, sin, redemption, love, justice and the heart of God

A church shaped by the Gospel is shaped by God and is the body of Christ as the created and redeemed body of grace and love.

Rev John Miller - Castlemilk, Glasgow

Church shaped by locality. Gospel of John.

Rev Miller told of his experiences as minister over 36 years in Castlemilk.

In John, miracles are described as signs which show God's presence. The signs to the people of Jesus' times referred to their knowledge of the scriptures of the Old Testament and were to draw their attention to God's presence among them. We still see signs of God's presence among us.

There have been many changes in Castlemilk in 36 years. The population has dropped and whole streets with schools and shops have been lost. Ties of community life have vanished.

Over the 36 years, the Wednesday Bible study has been a constant and most good ideas have come from there. A midnight café was started in response to a string of break-ins. Most of the customers were young unemployed people who would come in for a coffee and a chat and to play some of the games that were provided.

The congregation has brought innovation to worship. There is now a monthly healing service one Sunday morning/month with laying-on of hands. They hold "Flowers on the railings" day on the first Saturday of summer holidays to remember children and young people from the community who have died. This is of special importance in a community where drugs and violence has become a huge problem.

There has been a long decline and the congregation is not strong.

Jesus said "I am the true vine." He warns of tough times. In the churches in the priority areas there is real faith and fidelity. Every branch that bears good fruit he prunes, so that it will be even more fruitful.

In addition, on Monday afternoon there was a story telling session where we heard from four other situations:

In Royston in Glasgow where the church became involved with a local arts group and reached their community through planting memorial trees, a drama production and a photographic display

In Dunfermline East where there is a church with no building in an area of brand new housing and nothing else. In the summer they bring in the People with a Mission tent from Perth and provide a summer holiday club and run a family fun day for the community.

In Callendar where they have changed the structure for the church from a pyramid to a flat one with team responsible for Pastoral care, youth, admin and Christian education. Elders have spiritual oversight. People are encouraged to use their gifts even if they can't relate to the minister.

In Cathcart Trinity during the refurbishment of the sanctuary they started to hold two services in hall, one traditional, one all-age children on floor carrying our worksheets and singing along. Traditional service numbers stayed the same but the other one brought new people in. the sanctuary has now re-opened but they still have 2 services. - 10.00am traditional, 11.15am praise band and singers, drama, child friendly. Some folk stay for both. Coffee in between so the two groups can meet. Evening worship has also evolved to become more contemporary and it attracts the young teenagers. A weekly lunch time service is held for those who can't get out for Sunday mornings. It lasts 30 minutes and attracts 50-70 people.

What does it all mean for us in Carluke?

Are we available to God?

Are we ready to share the suffering of our community and show it friendship?

Will we let people follow their dreams instead of just pushing them into gaps?

Are we open to accept others in God's grace?

Are we ready to let our community shape what we do?

LB