This is our last day with you for ten weeks. I have never had that long away from anything I have been committed to before.
When the Apostle Paul planted new churches, he would find a leader, teach a group the truth about Jesus very intentionally for a short or a longer time, commission leaders and then move on. He wrote them letters responding to their theological and pastoral needs and requests and some of them he managed to visit again. Sometimes it was a disaster, often not. This was enough, under the Holy Spirit’s guidance, to spread and establish faith in Jesus across the world.
Not much of a plan was it?
Golly, when I think how we control and micro-manage and presume things will run off the rails if we don’t sit on them. What would St Philips look like if there were no “ordained” leaders? What would you do? What would you need to take more responsibility for the spiritual life of the community? You never know, the day may come.
Because “we are who we are”, you will not be abandoned to your own devices. It is a pleasure to welcome Peter and Christine Brain who will be taking my place for the next ten weeks. (We supported Peter and Christine’s son, Matthew, a pastor in Kalbarri several years ago.) Peter was born and trained in Sydney, moved to the west for over a decade serving in Waneroo and Maddington before going east once more and concluding his full-time ministry as Bishop of Armidale. He and Christine have” been there and done that”! I would love to serve alongside Peter and am thrilled he will be your pastor in my absence.
In my job I am constantly aware of my deficiencies – not in a self-critical way; deficiencies in the sense that “we are who we are”. Most of us would like to have traits and strengths that we just do not have. As a result we lead, teach, pastor, disciple in the way our character and gifting dictates. My character and gifting lacks some hues of the spectrum and shines with others. I often giggle to myself when someone says after the same sermon on a Sunday, “That talk will change my life forever, Vicar!” and someone else says, “I had absolutely no idea what you were on about. Half an hour wasted!”
We are who we are.
I am excited because Peter will bring you a freshness, a difference, a passion, character and gifting all his own and undoubtedly very different from mine. I expect to come back to a different church to the one I am leaving and I welcome that. We will miss you and pray for you AND we do love and appreciate you.
Remember, when the cat is away the mice should have a good old play – for good and in loving service of our great God and King and one another.
Until July 23rd – over to you Peter!
Blessings
Malcolm