Blog

What’s been happening in our youth groups during lockdown?

Core update

Core has been running regularly on Sunday evenings. It is a relatively small group, with six regular members, plus two or three who are irregular. The leadership team for this group has been predominantly myself and the Moorlands students. When the Moorlands students have been away, we have been joined by Lesley Barry, Lucy Cox-O’Rourke, and Lizzie Dibden. I am very grateful to the Moorlands students for stepping in and leading when I am on furlough.

Since the lockdown we have continued the group over Zoom. This hasn’t been without its challenges. It has made it difficult to engage the young people in the same way and to make sessions interactive. However, it also has had its benefits: some of the young people who aren’t always comfortable sharing out loud are happy to share over written chats; and using features on Zoom like the whiteboard has given some of the young people opportunities to share where they often wouldn’t feel comfortable. Since the lockdown I have opened up Core to younger ages as well, as I want to keep in touch with as many young people as possible.

Up until February we were following a series in which we were focusing on the Holy Spirit, who he is to us and what his role is in our lives. This series was split into two parts: the gifts of the Spirit and the fruit of the Spirit. The aim of these sessions was to make the young people more comfortable with the idea that we have a present God. He wasn’t only doing things thousands of years ago, but also moves with us today. We looked at how He is still working within us and uses us in all sorts of ways, including ways we might call supernatural, but also in ways which should change our hearts to be more Christ-like. Since then we have been following a series on Romans, working our way through it together and trying to explore God’s grace in our weaknesses. The complete resources we have been using can be found here (Holy Spirit) and here (Romans).

Furnace update

Furnace has been running on Wednesday evenings. It targets ages 11-14. However, a large segment of the group is made up of 15-18 year olds and has a large crossover with those who come to Core. We have 18 young people on the register and see an average attendance of approximately 13 young people. This group is a lot more relaxed than Core and normally consists of some free time to play games and do crafts, followed by a short Christian message and then organised group games.

Over the last six months we have been following three series: firstly, following David and emphasising that God wants to go on a journey with each of us; secondly, following the Storylines video resource, which covers several of the main themes that run through the Bible; and most recently, working our way through Jesus’ parables. Sadly we have not been able to continue Furnace during lockdown. The nature of the group doesn’t lend itself to online youth groups, so it is temporarily suspended.

Youth Alpha

We have also been running Youth Alpha. We have eight regular attendees. Thankfully it lends itself to Zoom, being predominantly a video resource, so we have been able to continue into this lockdown period.

Online presence

In the lockdown we have been trying to maintain an online presence. We have been working alongside St Paul’s Throop – creating video resources for the young people to watch each week, on top of the online youth groups we have been able to continue with.

Looking to the future and post-lockdown, one of my priorities is to support individual young people and do more one-to-one sessions. I also want to explore the possibilities of working on schools and how we might go about that.

Jez Ferguson, youth minister

Please be praying for our young people, and for Jez and the team as they continue to meet together.

Precious perfume of purpose

Matthew 26: 6-13 Jesus anointed at Bethany

A major step-change has been required of all of us recently. As I write we are starting our fifth week of official lockdown as directed by the government. Some, even in ordinarily innocuous jobs, are putting themselves on the frontline to serve the public, despite fears of COVID-19, alongside keyworkers in health and community services. There are those who are busier than ever, trying to support their community from self-isolation or home school their children. Others are making do within a range of constraints of isolation from loneliness to financial difficulty, and finding a full life suddenly empty.

As I write, I can overhear neighbours celebrating a child’s birthday virtually, with no presents, candles or pieces of cake to pass round. As a global community, as a nation, and as individuals, our priorities and purposes are being put into question. The known, habitual, and essential are no longer that. Life rhythms and the economic outlook still feel unquantifiable, with no serious informed discussion around when we will return to ‘normality’-whatever that will look like.

Some of us can see clearly what we are meant to be doing in these times, but others of us may feel a bit ‘lost at sea’. This can be more acute for those who have been experiencing major life changes or illness, which may be seriously impacted. Be assured, feeling this way is not a weakness of character.

According to writer Fyodor Dostoyevsky, ‘The mystery of human existence lies not in just staying alive, but in finding something to live for.’ It is a natural part of our design to need a sense of purpose. Viktor Frankl, a holocaust survivor, goes as far as to say that the quest for purpose and meaning is ‘the thing that can drive and carry us through trauma.’

We don’t know exactly how, but the woman at Simon’s home had quite suddenly arrived at a radical conclusion; her priorities and purpose shifting completely. She made an outrageous gesture, bursting in uninvited to pour precious perfume on Jesus’ feet (which was unexpected on several counts, and worth further study). Through this act she was following her God-ordained purpose, which the others could not see. Connecting with Jesus was the most essential thing for her to do; not dodging inevitable scrutiny or saving for her own financial future. She was there to worship.

The Westminster Catechism, written in 1647 to teach the doctrine of Scottish Church, describes our general life purpose in a most succinct and beautiful way. It states: ‘Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him for ever.’ No matter what we do, if we do it for God, it is an act of worship, and fulfilling our ultimate purpose. Paul commends us to live this out, bringing God worship and praise, with hearts focussed on Him, no matter how banal or humble our task (1 Cor 10:31).

Ultimately, what are the purposes and priorities your life illustrates? Are they ones that honour Jesus? Is there something we should let go of? Or something new to commit to? Are the priorities around time, money and energy the right ones? Do we need to throw out our agenda to worship right now?

In light of COVID-19, there may be things that we change for a season. Or there may be permanent life changes God is calling us to. Both the dramatic experiences some are living out, and the clear space for contemplation that others enjoy are fertile ground for growth if we look more honestly at how to ‘glorify him and enjoy Him forever’ through living life as an act of worship.

Suggested further reading

• 1 Corinthians 10:31 • Jerermiah 29:11 • Psalm 138:7-8

Suggested worship music

Light of the World/Here I Am to Worship (Tim Hughes)
Simple Pursuit (Melodie Malone)

Prayer

Lord, we thank you that your purposes for us are both for your glory and for the blessing of all you treasure. We repent of getting lost and forgetting the simple truth of our purpose: to worship you and enjoy being in your presence. Help us to take this into the specific work you have for each of us to do.

For those of us with more time on our hands than usual, we ask you to direct us to use it well. We lift up those for whom extended time in reflection and prayer is not available in these demanding times, and ask for unexpected space and your refreshing revelation to come to them sustain them.

We thank you that for our own joy, you fulfil us with purpose and meaning for our lives, and we offer them back to you as a fragrant perfume as we seek to worship you with our lives. Amen

Laura Simpkins, discipleship coordinator

As Thy Kingdom Come approaches, Les Barry shares some helpful lessons

A recent reflection from the Church of England included a passage from Genesis 32. In it, Jacob wrestles with God and God blesses him. Our relationship with God allows honesty, and the reflection challenged me with ‘where are you wrestling now?’ I felt prompted to pray and share with God my anguish and heartache over many unbelieving family members, friends, and loved ones. Later, time on the internet led to some helpful reading which I wanted to share with others.

Discovering that Jesus also had unbelieving family members was encouraging. His brothers, James, Judas, Joseph, Simon and his sisters are mentioned in Mark 6:3. Also, John 7:5 says, ‘For even his own brothers did not believe in him.’ And in Mark 3:21 his brothers claimed that Jesus was ‘out of his mind’. Those who lived with Jesus for decades didn’t know him. That’s incredible! The resurrection radically changed this because they joined the disciples in the upper room to wait for the Holy Spirit.

I decided I needed specific pointers to pray effectively for lost brothers and sisters.

• We need to pray for opportunities to share the gospel with loved ones. Paul says in Colossians 4: 3 – 4 ‘… that God may open a door … so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ … Pray that I may proclaim it clearly.’ We can sow seeds and pray that some will take root, reminding ourselves that God is at work achieving his purposes, however unseen or unacknowledged.
• We need to pray for God’s help in living the truth. The way we live will be read and inwardly digested as an extension of any words we share with others.
• Pray too that God will use times of family crisis to awaken the reality of the frail mortality of everyone. Psalm 90:12 says, ‘Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.’
• Finally, we need to ‘pray anyway’. When we have run out of prayers and don’t know what to pray, the Holy Spirit intercedes for us. When our hearts are aligned with God, his Spirit translates our prayers according to his Kingdom purposes. God hears the cries of our hearts and answers with the right thing, ‘far more abundantly than all that we ask or think’. Ephesians 3:20

So please be encouraged and newly refreshed on this journey of prayer for unbelieving loved ones. Don’t take their resistance as the final word – continue in steadfast prayer. Persist – they may yet believe.

Les Barry

Phil Smith encourages us to focus on the one who never changes

I have been thinking a lot about change recently. Change is inevitable, sometimes necessary, in many cases unwanted. The past six months have seen change within the world such that we never expected – change so drastic that it seems unlikely that what we knew to be normal will ever be so again. In turn, we as people have changed – through experience, loss, confinement, or shift in routine and priorities – the latter as Andy shared was true of him this past Sunday.

But, through all of this, there remains One Constant that never changes – our great God – I AM. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever (Hebrews 13:8). As the song says, He is: ‘Higher than the mountains that I face, stronger than the power of the grave, constant in the trial and the change – One thing remains … Your love never fails, it never gives up, it never runs out on me.’

As Max Lucado has said, ‘God loves you just the way you are, but He refuses to leave you that way. He wants you to be just like Jesus.’ God wants you to change, to be more like Him. What better way to do this than by spending time in His presence, meditating on His Word, sharing your thoughts and feelings with Him, and learning to listen to His voice and being obedient to what He has to say. There is a great opportunity to practise this in the coming weeks by getting involved in Thy Kingdom Come between 21-31 May, and there are some great ideas and resources available on the website.

It is hoped that partakers in Thy Kingdom Come will:

• Deepen their own relationship with Jesus Christ
• Pray for five friends or family to come to faith in Jesus
• And pray for the empowerment of the Spirit that we would be effective in our witness

‘And we all, who with unveiled faces reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.’ 2 Corinthians 3:18

Moses’ face had to be covered in a veil as it was so radiant following the time spent one-to-one with God. How wonderful it would be if, when we do get back together again, we have to wear face coverings – not for protection from the coronavirus, but because our faces radiate with God’s glory.

Phil Smith, Worship leader

Celebrating Pentecost in lockdown

May 31st is Pentecost Sunday and we would usually gather together for a great celebration service in church, giving thanks for the coming of the Holy Spirit and celebrating the birthday of the church, often including waving flags in a wonderful atmosphere of praise and worship.

Flags and videos

This year we can’t all be together in person, but wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could get to see one another as part of our online Pentecost celebration? We are suggesting that each household might like to make a flag or banner during the next two weeks, and then record a 10-second video of themselves, showing their flag and then waving it and shouting ‘Happy Pentecost!’, followed by a phrase, e.g. ‘Come Holy Spirit!’; ‘Happy birthday church!’; ‘Thank you Lord for the Holy Spirit’; ‘Jesus is Lord’; ‘You are amazing God’; etc.

Use your own creativity and imagination. It could be a fabric flag made from anything you have to hand, e.g. pillow case, scarf, tea towel, or a paper one. You might want to decorate it with words, symbols, or anything bright and cheerful you can find. It does not need to be a work of art (although it could be). Its just a creative expression of thanks for God’s amazing gift of the Spirit to live in us.

Please send your videos by WhatsApp to Jez on 07453 016016 by Sunday 24 May.

Don’t have a smartphone? You can still join in!

If you do not have a smartphone or cannot use WhatsApp but would like to take part, please let us know. We will try to find someone from church living nearby who can come and record you on your doorstep from a safe distance, or through your window if that feels safer for you. We need to know as soon as possible if you would like to do this, so we can arrange a time to come. Please phone 01202 425978 and leave a message if there is no answer.

Get making flags and videoing!

By uploading your video you consent to St Saviour’s Church using your video as part of our online services. If you are concerned about your children appearing on the video, why not get them to hold a banner or flag up in such a way that it covers the bottom half of their face and top half of their body and their eyes are looking over the top?

Please start making your flags, banners, bunting or whatever you feel inspired to do now so that you can send videos to Jez as soon as possible! Editing them all together will take time, so it’s no good if he gets them all at the last minute.

Thanks for all you are doing, and get making flags and videoing!

Mel McPherson

Worrier or warrior?

‘In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.’ Romans 8: 26 NIV

Can you remember the first time you tried to ride a bicycle? Or maybe your first trip to the dentist? Or perhaps you can recall struggling to find work? Maybe you or someone close endured a health scare. It’s a part of our normal defences to feel concerned when we think that we, or those we love, are at risk. We are in certainly in those sort of circumstances now.

I wonder though, if we sometimes allow our spiritual life to become another thing we get anxious about. ‘Am I faithful enough? Are my prayers right? Why am I still worried?’ Do we beat ourselves up thinking, ‘If only I could pray harder, for longer, mention more names, God might hear me better.’ Maybe we have a good reflex for praying when issues arise, but our trouble is that we fail to approach God with quietness and faith. Then our petitions are merely Christian wishes and worries expressed in a vaguely outward direction. Or worse still, ‘holy gossip.’

Some have a gift of intercession, compelling them to pray for what seems to everyone else like a really long time. For the rest of us, prayer can often be uplifting and draws us to God; but we can also find it hard, even overwhelming.

The refreshing truth is that God knows and cares deeply, as our good Father. Jesus experienced everything in his life on earth. We often forget that not just in his physical death, but in his separation from God, and through a deep spiritual mystery incomprehensible to us, he took on all sin and suffering for all time!

That’s where our freedom comes from. When we reflect on this, it begins to sound illogical that we get worried or overwhelmed by prayer and our relationship with God. That is clearly not trust, which is precisely what we need in order to receive freedom from fear in Christ!

Sometimes a detailed, emotional outpouring seems like the right way to approach God. Sometimes a few words punctuating silence are fitting, allowing more space to speak to us and fill us with His Spirit. God knows our hearts, he hears our conversations. The Holy Spirit even speaks for us when we don’t have the words (Romans 8: 26). What is left in that open, unhurried space is the opposite of worry: supernatural peace (Philippians 4: 7).

When a list of intercessions seems daunting, after a time of praise and centring on God, I simply give Him the names one at a time, and pray, ‘Bless so-and-so. Be all he/she needs.’ I praise God that He knows the best way forward and reflect on verses that affirm that. Then I thank Him for all the good that will come out of the situation (Romans 8: 28).

It’s helpful to remember that the weight of these prayers does not fall on us. All the work is God’s responsibility, and only he has the power to change a person or situation. Our task is to keep our eye on the Healer (Psalm 141:8). It’s also refreshing to consider Revelation 8: 3-5 where John sees a vision in which our prayers rise to God with the incense of burnt offerings of the angels. God hears all of our prayers. They are a beautiful aroma to him, and a treasure which he pours back on us, answered in his timing.

God is waiting for us as a people to pause long enough in communion with Him to recognise His authority, and to allow Him to move in our world. In the same way, he works in our individual hearts. His desire is to be with us, to nurture a relationship through time spent together. He longs to wash over us with His unsurpassed peace, so let’s meet with Him in prayer expectantly!

Laura Simpkins, discipleship coordinator

Suggested further reading

• Romans 8: 26-28
• Philippians 4: 4-7
• Psalm 141: 8

Suggested worship music

• Eyes Fixed (Phil Wickham)
• It is Well (Kristene DiMarco)

Prayer

Father of All,

I thank you that you desire a relationship with us, and that You receive our prayers with joy. Forgive us for our lack of trust in You and Your ability to reach intoour lives and our world to bring freedom and peace.

I pause now to mention to you the names of people beloved by us both, who need you now. (Pray for specific people on your heart.)

I thank you that you have heard these prayers and know exactly how to bring healing and help in real times of need for these, Your precious children, and my brothers and sisters.

Help me to remember that the burden to rescue and heal is not mine, but Yours; draw me into Your loving presence so that we may commune together, and that I may be directed by You. Holy Spirit, awaken me to your stirrings, and fill me with your peace.

For the sake of the blood shed by the Prince of Peace, Amen.