You’ll be relieved to hear that I am not going to speak for long. I just want to say a few words about our journey here over the last six months.
Phase One of our reordering and extension project was supposed
to be the simplest of the four we are planning. It was meant to take six weeks
and be all done by Easter. In fact, it took six months and we only finished it last
week.
The reason is simple. Our main contractor went bust before
the work was completed. We had settled up front 90% of the total bill, but we then learned that the
subcontractors had not got paid.
It became very complex legally and financially - and we
had to more or less finish the work off ourselves.
At the same time, though we were assured that we had
no liability towards the subcontractors, we felt very unhappy about good, local
professionals working on our church building, doing a fantastic job, and going home
with nothing in their pockets.
Ours is not a rich church, and have practically no reserves to draw
on. But we felt we should find the money and offer to pay them again. As soon
as we took that decision, a number of people came to me offering serious money from
their own savings so we could cover our subcontractors’ shortfall.
And I am pleased to say that all those who accepted
our offer have now received their money.
We’re going to end with Amazing Grace in a few minutes. Grace means an extravagant gift,
freely and lovingly given. It's a word that describes how God relates to us.
The short story we just heard, is one of many that
Jesus told. Two lads; one said "no" but then helped. The other said "yes" but forgot his promise and did nothing. One started well but finished badly. The other started
badly but finished well.
Our project started well, went badly wrong, but
crucially it has finished well. We’ve learned this year that however much things
go wrong, with God, it can always work out fine in the end.
I wonder if there are people here today at a kind of
crossroads. Maybe in an important relationship, or a project, or a life choice,
or on a spiritual journey...
You may have begun well, everything was going fine,
but then life got in the way. Stuff happened. And now it's all gone a bit pear
shaped. Could today be the day when you turn around get back on track?
Or perhaps you started badly. Like Gary who spoke
earlier. His story is like many here where, to be honest, no one’s putting our
name forward for the Queen’s birthday honours.
But however seriously we’ve messed up, however low we’ve
sunk, however far we’ve strayed, while we’re alive, it’s never too late for God
to turn it round.
That’s what this place is all about; it’s just ordinary,
broken people whom God is putting back together.
The most important thing in life is not that you start
out OK, but that you finish well. And Jesus makes that all possible…
Short talk given at All Saints' Preston on Tees, 29 July 2018
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