A Future and a Hope (Jeremiah 29.1-14 and Colossians 3.1-4)

They say that people used to hold impassioned debates in the Middle-Ages on the question “how many angels can dance on the head of a pin.” It’s difficult to imagine anything more entertaining isn’t it? But in fact, it’s a bit of a QI myth, as no trace has ever been found of the question ever having been raised in that form.

The nearest you get to it is in the writings of Thomas Aquinas who raised several questions about angels around the year 1270, including "can several angels be in the same place at the same time?"

But that question, whether it was actually genuinely discussed or not, is a classic example of the church being so heavenly minded that it is no earthly use.

That’s an expression we use to describe people who show no awareness of practical needs while being a bit otherworldly. They spiritualise everything. They see a mighty battle of spiritual warfare behind the provision of a parking space. They agonise in prayer about what colour socks to wear. And forget about visiting a neighbour in hospital and never think about how they can serve others better.

But in Colossians 3, the Bible says being heavenly minded is a good thing to be.

It says “Since then you have been raised with Christ, set your minds on things above where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.”

And then, as if to really emphasise the importance of this, it repeats that command: “Set your mind on things above, not earthly things.”

“Since you have been raised with Christ.” You see, Easter is not just about Jesus being raised from the dead.

We’ve been seeing the first new buds on the trees this month as spring takes hold. We know that means that very soon, they will be in full leaf. In the same way, Christ’s resurrection is the first fruits, just the start of something much bigger – we are all raised with him too.

Now, we have a calling, a command, to look to heaven and not limit our vision to earthly, worldly things.

One of the really significant events since the last APCM here was Sylvia’s departure. We gladly and willingly released her to pursue God’s call on her life. And as God has led Sylvia to move on, some people have asked me “Who is going to replace her?”

I’ve found it difficult to answer that question because it’s not quite the way I see things. It isn’t like “Sylvia flies off, so hundreds of little beaks in the nest point to the sky, and then the diocese sends another bird to drop worms into them.”

The way I see it is different. Rather, it’s as we bless others and give ministry away in faith – and we’ve been doing this for years now especially to help grow the church at Long Newton – as we give ministry away, God gives more back. He raises up new ministry.

This is why our Growing Leaders course is so important. It means that as we give away our blessings, we have people who are trained and equipped to flourish as leaders in every corner of church life.

As we move into the future I believe God is going to raise up others to stand in the gap and say “It’s my time to lead, it’s my time to serve.” And he already has in fact.

For everything Sylvia did here, with public worship, with pastoral care, with Connect and everything else there are already capable people fulfilling those roles. Not one person, but several. And, as God raises up new ministry and anoints new leaders, he is adding to our numbers.

Just like God said to Israel as they prepared for an incredible national restoration after a time of brokenness, he says to us, “I have plans for you, to prosper you and not harm you, to give you a future and a hope.”

I want to say a few things about how God is prospering us at All Saints’ and in what ways I see that promise of a future and a hope being fulfilled here.

Firstly, how is God prospering us at All Saints’? He is prospering us in many ways, but I want to be specific and pick out a few examples. I could have chosen more.

He prospered us in our roof renovation project last year. As we gave with willing hearts, we were able not just to replace the roof but also upgrade it – and there was a considerable underspend, meaning we can do other things too. Thanks once again to all who were involved in that project.

He has prospered our Connect ministry to retired people. As I said earlier, the Lord has raised up new people in the team for the Lunch Club and Seated Exercise. In March we had our record attendance at the Lunch Club worship service before the meal – that was the one after Sylvia left. People are growing in faith. A few months ago, after the reflection at Seated Exercise, people were offered “Why Jesus?” booklets. Many people took one. The Holy Spirit is at work in Connect.

Thanks to all on the Connect team: Dawn, Mark, John, Pam, all the cooks and bottle washers and everyone else. You are inspirational.

Recent research by the Church of England says that churches with young people are twice as likely to be growing.

Churches that employ children’s/youth workers are half as likely to be in decline.

The research concluded that youth/children’s workers are the most effective lay workers in a growing church.

God has prospered our Youth ministry. Our trips to Mexico in 2013 and 2014 have been an excellent way of growing in discipleship. Some of our young people are growing in leadership too through the Doulos programme. Our Youth club on Fridays now has a God slot and numbers are growing. The evening Refresh service has continued to grow. From very small beginnings, just half a dozen or so, Refresh now fills our hall with young people from all over the Tees Valley.

Thanks to Kathryn, John, Tim (who’s now moved on) and all those who volunteer their time to help with youth work whether it’s in weekday life groups, Friday nights, Sundays, weeks away or whenever. You are amazing.

God has prospered our Children’s/Family ministry. Messy Church, which did not even exist this time last year, is now All Saints’ best attended service – we regularly have between 130 and 170 at Messy Church. We’ve been delighted to welcome some people at 10:30am services who first came to Messy Church. Enquiries for Thanksgivings and Baptisms are at their highest level in all my time here.

As I said a few weeks’ back, in 1910 over 85% of children in the UK went to Sunday school. In 2010 it was less than 5%. Much of the dechristianisation of our society can be traced to this trend. I believe we can reverse it and Messy Church is the best way to do it that I’ve seen.

Thanks to Jan, Chris and all those who help with puppets, Play and Praise, toddlers, school assemblies, Messy Church and our amazing Xplore Sunday morning ministry. There is a phenomenal amount of prayer and preparation that goes into all this.

God has prospered our evening services, which looked like they were about to die two or three years ago but are now all doing well. I’ve mentioned Refresh and Messy Church. But the Source and Ablaze are going well too. Most of the most amazing, heart stopping moments of worship in my time here have been at The Source. Ablaze is raising the temperature of intercessory prayer here – and we’re seeing God respond. It’s on tonight and I hope to see many of you there again.

I have rejoiced to see prayer becoming more central to our way of life here since the New Year. I’d like to thank Mark Harrison for all he has done as Prayer Coordinator, especially with Ablaze and the prayer times in the chapel every Sunday between services but in many other ways, we are closer to our vision of praying in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests than we were before.

So there are a few examples of how God is prospering us. There are more but time is limited.

In what ways do I see that promise of a future and a hope being fulfilled here?

Again I want to just pick out a few things that are coming up.

One of the biggest challenges we face in Messy Church is making messy disciples. Making disciples is always hard work but in Messy Church it is particularly difficult for three reasons:

• because there are so many people it’s hard to know where to start
• because we only see people once a month so it’s hard to build relationships
• because anything in the evening is immediately going to mean babysitters etc

But we must make headway here.

We are going to start a Messy Church Facebook group so people can get to know each other a bit better.

We would like to start giving people who come to Messy Church a takeaway which will be like a mini In Touch with interviews of team members, suggested prayers to pray with children and ideas for going deeper with the theme for both children and grown-ups.

We’d like to run a faith discovery course in the autumn, probably Journeys, inviting the most regular Messy Church people, parents bringing children to baptism and some of the new families who are now on the edge of church life here.

We’d also like to do some other things like John Archer entertainment evenings, family picnics and so on.

Please pray that we will make disciples through Messy Church.

We have spent several months over the last year building a team to run Sozo. Sozo is a form of gentle Spirit-led prayer ministry which has been developed in a church called Bethel in northern California. Sozo is a Greek word that has a depth of meaning, covering the English words healing, salvation and deliverance.

Some people freak out a bit when they hear talk of deliverance but Jesus told us to pray “deliver us from evil” in the Lord’s Prayer so it’s nothing to be especially wary about.

Those who have agreed to be on the team and those who have had a Sozo appointment have all come back very enthusiastic about it. I think this is going to take off based on the testimony of people who have experienced it. Sozo will be a great tool for us to ensure we are spiritually healthy, right with God and free from stuff that would hold us back.

You will be able to book your Sozo appointment in a few weeks – I am first on the list and very much looking forward to it.

Please pray for Sozo and for the team.

The weekend of June 21-22 we will welcome Bishop Paul to be with us.

It is nearly four years ago now that we embarked on a 4-year vision plan to let every home in our parish know that we are a vibrant Christian community ready to pray, serve practically and lead to faith those in our neighbourhood.

Whenever I meet people around the parish I am always amazed at how highly this church is esteemed by people who have little to do with it. Some of the things I mentioned earlier (the Mexico mission that was covered in the local press, Messy Church, youth club, the Connect lunch club and day trips, holiday clubs – and also funerals and baptisms… there are many ways people get to hear about or experience the buzz of faith here) – all this is the fruit of our vision.

But I wonder what the next thing is for us here. I am hoping Bishop Paul will inspire us and challenge us and set the direction for the next few years.

He’s here for the whole weekend and we hope to have plenty of time for fun as well as strengthening our faith and renewing our vision.

Please pray for that weekend.

I want to end by showing you what the Church of England research found to be the common factors in growing churches.

1. They have a clear mission purpose and direction. There is te sense that they are going somewhere.

2. The leaders in those churches don’t go through the motions. They innovate inspire and motivate people around them.

3. They don’t just hit and hope. They are intentional and specific about praying for and working for church growth.

4. They make an effort to nurture disciples. They do this through specific encouragement, small groups and courses.

5. Instead of saying “but we’ve always done it another way” or “we tried that before and it didn’t work” they are willing to adapt and are open to change.

6. They have an overall welcoming culture that encourages ongoing relationships and friendships.

7. They have lay people as well as ordained clergy active in key leadership roles.

8. They actively engage children and young people.

I thought I’d show you that because it shows, I hope, that we’re mostly on the right track.

Everything on that screen I believe reflects All Saints’ to some extent. Let’s pray that the Lord prospers us in the year ahead giving to an increasing number of people a future and a hope.

Talk given at All Saints' Preston on Tees, 27th March 2014