Holocaust Memorial Day

Today is Holocaust Memorial Day. I simply, thinking about injustice and today's genocide and putting down of others, share some words I find powerful, and I pray I might have the courage where things are so wrong, even locally, to speak up and speak out. We pray for a world where no one lords it over another and destroys them because of difference.

Pastor Martin Niemoller was an ardent nationalist and prominent Protestant pastor who emerged as an outspoken public foe of Adolf Hitler and spent the last 7 years of Nazi rule in concentration camps.
Niemöller is perhaps best remembered for the quotation:
First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out --
Because I was not a Socialist.
Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out --
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out --
Because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me -- and there was no one left to speak for me.

Here Lord is my life

I have just finished my sermon for my second Covenant Service tomorrow morning. We will be thinking together about Jesus' invitation to "come and see" in John chapter 1, and our response to that invitation.
In recent days I have really noticed, in my slow return to work responsibilities, that so much can detract people from the actual invitation of Jesus to come to him. So often, the institution of church gets in the way. We have to spend so much energy on raising money to keep the church going; we fret where things are done a little differently to the script we cherish and find safety in; we find church tough because there are less of us, so sometimes we turn on one another and relationships become difficult. And yet, the church is built on faith, not rules, not numbers on seats, not how busy the building is and how much money we are bringing in. Jesus says to Peter at that moment when he shares his views on who he has been following, "on this rock, I will build my church" - a rock of faith, not a book of routine, rules or stress!

Tomorrow morning, I am taking two services for the first time since my return and will give communion to people for the first time since September. I have missed giving the people in my pastoral care communion. I believe it is the greatest privilege of ministry. As people come to the altar, Jesus allows them to remember his invitation, to start again, to find the reality of a new covenant, to go into the world renewed and wanting to do things differently - at least that's what he hopes will happen in people, I think!

I am using two readings which I share here. Today is the birthday of Albert Schweitzer, born in 1865, a missionary who set up a hospital and leper colony for the very poor in Africa and who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1952. I found a little prayer of his which is powerful:
"Here, Lord is my life. I place it on the altar today. Use my life as you will."

As we come to the altar, the table, we come to see again the grace of God and his love for us, despite who we are. We offer this God our lives and try to be better people as we receive of him. We come and see, and then we go and live.

I find strength in knowing I can always have this new start. I need to know I can receive this strength for life daily, especially when dealing with some things the church does when it gets sidetracked from the invitation!
We are also sharing these words tomorrow. In our new Methodist hymn collection "Singing the Faith" there is included this hymn by the New Zealand hymn writer, Shirley Murray. These words remind me of the quality of the invitation and the challenge of our response being worth something in return:

Because you came and sat beside us,
Because you came and heard us speak,
And we ignored you and we refused you,
We ask forgiveness, Jesus Christ.

Because you laughed and loved the child-like,
Because you lived from day to day,
And we love status and steady money,
We ask forgiveness, Jesus Christ.

Because our peace was your agenda,
Because you wept to see us war,
And we love power, and winning battles,
We ask forgiveness, Jesus Christ.

Because your cross compels an answer,
Because your love absorbs our sin,
And we are wounded because we wound you,
We ask forgiveness, Jesus Christ.

Because you came on Easter morning,
Because you come at Pentecost,
And in the Spirit, we are forgiven,
We live to praise you, Lord Jesus Christ!      

Going round and round?

I have been sitting thinking about what to say to a congregation I haven't been in touch with for nearly four months and I only have seven months left with. The annual Methodist Covenant service is a good opportunity to remind people about direction and opportunities. I was reminded of passing this roundabout the other week in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, known locally as the "magic roundabout" - I used to dread driving lessons which included it. The initial reaction facing something like this is to panic, to think I can’t keep travelling and want to get out, because the journey is too complicated. But if you look at it differently and think it is only several little roundabouts in a row, you can tackle it. If you say, I am in control, and I can cope with the obstacles and the traffic coming at me in all directions, I can tackle it. I have the resources. I am in control.

There are people who face 2012 with great uncertainty, going round and round without confidence in their own resources. Our local Rector in his letter in the Parish magazine said one parishioner said he would rather not think about it when asked about hopes for a New Year. There are people worried about money, job security, health, relationships and we seem to have begun 2012 with a lot of stabbings and killings for no explicable reason. 

How do we help people find direction rather than go round and round in a circle of panic? Perhaps we need to begin to face up to our task to simply care for people and help them on the road. 

Surely we are to care, and be there for others. We are to care for one another, to help one another find direction, to be there pastorally when life is like a confusing roundabout and we don’t know what to do.

I like this prayer written by the current Methodist Vice President, Ruth Pickles, on Day 1 in the current Methodist prayer book, inspired by Hebrews 12: 12:

Gracious God, through your Son, you call us to walk in your way of service and sacrifice. We don't expect it to be an easy way; we know we will get tired, sometimes lost and disillusioned. But you promise always to be with us: strengthening, guiding, uplifting. Help us to trust always in your promises, that we may walk with determination, faith, courage and joy until we find our rest in you. Amen.