It has been a few months since I added a post on this Blog.This is simply that since living in England once again,there is very little to say, unless I want to go a windge of negativity! The downturn of faith in this country is sinking fast.It is sad case that in a country where national hollidays and events always meant a form of act of worship is now not happening. Just this past weekend, many towns & cities recognised "Remberance Sunday", but no one could miss has small it has now got! Now that all the WWI veterans are dead, the next group are the WWII & Korean war Veterans, but as they begin to hit their 90's, these are a matter of a handful of them.
If this is not bad enouugh, there is a reduction of church services across the country. In some rural parts, especially in Scotland,Wales & North Yorkshire, many churches of all denominations no longer have fulltime ministers or priests, but part timers who have to spread their free time across several churches per week. Evensong, a "Rock" within the Anglican communion is now going the same way as compline, a monthly service if you are lucky & some less than that. For the dedicators of compline, it is in Baptist & Methodist churches that will you find them, not in Anglican establishments.
It has been many years, since churches realised that to pull in the next generation, that they need to appeal to their needs; therefore many becan to offer family or childrwn friendly services with others going further with a regular form of "children's ministry", this especially being the case with the non-denominational churches, but as we hit new times of faith,even these churches are giving up this idea and therefore; creating the same environment as everyone else:a meeting place with a social gathering for Seniors who never get out! This makes families feel out of place and the young clergy are not enthusiastic about changing the status quo!
Now we have reached a point that sees the departure of children & whom may never return!
Thursday, 12 November 2009
Thursday, 4 June 2009
Changing Times
After six years in the United States, I am now back in the United Kingdom & what a shock! While recognise the fact the things change, it is surprising about the "Spiritual Welbeing" in the UK. Regardless of your denominational allegiance you me stay have, the established Church of England still have power even though their congregational membership hardly goes beyond 50% full! This was proven while I was in Croydon recently when a member of a local Baptist church informed me that it was really "Part of the Church of England". What they meant was that children of Baptists or any other churches were "permitted" to attend the local Anglican church school because the local Bishop "cooperating for ecumenical reasons".
As you move into rural England,things do not change.
While the church environment in every country is changing with a strong influence of non-denominational "Mega church' growth, this is not the case for the British conscience who still view them with suspicion!
While the Church of England struggle to keep a firm grip on representing the majority of the population, the Roman Catholic of England & Wales as well as Scotland are enjoying their growth partly due to influx of Polish Immigrants as well former Anglicans seeking a more conservative line in addition to those from "House Churches" seeking the structure of Liturgy offered by the Roman Catholic Church.
But it comes as continued surprise to me,how many people make an assumption that everyone is Anglican,not only that,but limited to the Middle-of-the -Road party believing that good old Anglo-Catholics are really "Papist Spies": Long Live Queen Elizabeth the First!! and the Evangelicals are not a "Real" church.
As you move into rural England,things do not change.
While the church environment in every country is changing with a strong influence of non-denominational "Mega church' growth, this is not the case for the British conscience who still view them with suspicion!
While the Church of England struggle to keep a firm grip on representing the majority of the population, the Roman Catholic of England & Wales as well as Scotland are enjoying their growth partly due to influx of Polish Immigrants as well former Anglicans seeking a more conservative line in addition to those from "House Churches" seeking the structure of Liturgy offered by the Roman Catholic Church.
But it comes as continued surprise to me,how many people make an assumption that everyone is Anglican,not only that,but limited to the Middle-of-the -Road party believing that good old Anglo-Catholics are really "Papist Spies": Long Live Queen Elizabeth the First!! and the Evangelicals are not a "Real" church.
Sunday, 22 March 2009
A Sense of Community?
As the numbers of church attendance hits an all time low: 3% of the UK poplutation & 18% of the US population,the question needs to be asked whether you can regard the "Body of Christ" in a local setting as Community anymore.
The community was very distinctive in Victorian society where education came under the leadership of the local Anglican Priest, and Sunday schools were a result of a baptist structure to help increase a child's Christian Education to a reasonable level. Within the communities where these churches were located, the church former part of the local environment. They were as much as part of that community as the local Doctor,the Postanceman & the Milkman. Services that were needed for the very existance of the village concerned.
The prequestite of it being a legal requirement to be seen in church, forced the issue, but even a 100 years later, the church had established itself among its people. They had achieved hey felythis by being very proactive in the community they felt they were part of. A Priest or minister was oncall 24/7. The thought of not being able to knock on their door regardless of the hour was unthinkable! They were heard & seen by all, they preached the gospel with power and put themselves among the most disadvantaged of society. Their working days were long & a full day off was rare!s
How things have changed! The Clergy of today, spend very little time conducting services, the majority which are short in length, there pastyoral care is limited to Hospital Visits with many sending laity of their congregation instead.The role of the clergy has become a job, rather than a calling, that is operated as a part-time duty on full time wages. Meetings is what most of the time is spent doing, r ather making themselves available. Focus on their own congregation is limited to the "Inner Circle" and as for the those who live locally but do not attend their church,they are completely dismissed!
The opportunity for mission & Evangelism is missed on alot of occasions, especially the youth & seniors to hear the Gospel.Sometimes it is not preaching that they need, but understanding & help from their social or cultural environment, but while the cls not mattergy continue to keep the doors closed, then progress will not take place, a feeling of twenty-first century anti-clericalism will continue to grow as well as a severe decline in actual church attendance.
Many people are open to evangelism in a practical format, but the name over the door doe treat!s not matter, what matters is how you treat those in your community & are you a good neighbour & a good samaritan; if not, then why not, for ministry is not always on a sunday morning from the pulpit!
The community was very distinctive in Victorian society where education came under the leadership of the local Anglican Priest, and Sunday schools were a result of a baptist structure to help increase a child's Christian Education to a reasonable level. Within the communities where these churches were located, the church former part of the local environment. They were as much as part of that community as the local Doctor,the Postanceman & the Milkman. Services that were needed for the very existance of the village concerned.
The prequestite of it being a legal requirement to be seen in church, forced the issue, but even a 100 years later, the church had established itself among its people. They had achieved hey felythis by being very proactive in the community they felt they were part of. A Priest or minister was oncall 24/7. The thought of not being able to knock on their door regardless of the hour was unthinkable! They were heard & seen by all, they preached the gospel with power and put themselves among the most disadvantaged of society. Their working days were long & a full day off was rare!s
How things have changed! The Clergy of today, spend very little time conducting services, the majority which are short in length, there pastyoral care is limited to Hospital Visits with many sending laity of their congregation instead.The role of the clergy has become a job, rather than a calling, that is operated as a part-time duty on full time wages. Meetings is what most of the time is spent doing, r ather making themselves available. Focus on their own congregation is limited to the "Inner Circle" and as for the those who live locally but do not attend their church,they are completely dismissed!
The opportunity for mission & Evangelism is missed on alot of occasions, especially the youth & seniors to hear the Gospel.Sometimes it is not preaching that they need, but understanding & help from their social or cultural environment, but while the cls not mattergy continue to keep the doors closed, then progress will not take place, a feeling of twenty-first century anti-clericalism will continue to grow as well as a severe decline in actual church attendance.
Many people are open to evangelism in a practical format, but the name over the door doe treat!s not matter, what matters is how you treat those in your community & are you a good neighbour & a good samaritan; if not, then why not, for ministry is not always on a sunday morning from the pulpit!
Saturday, 14 March 2009
Monday, 26 January 2009
Answered Prayers?
Anyone who has been brought up or made a personal decision to be part of an Anglican or Roman Catholic church ,as well, to a lesser exent, Orhtodox church will be familar with the structured prayers that these churches us. Others have in recent years, realised how beneficial these are, so the Lutheran and UCC have opted for this feature of their daily life.
But what is the point? why cannot we just "pray" or read scripture and pray over the text?
For many this is the form that they take and enjoy, stating arguments such " I am free from the restrictions" and this is a valid point, but one that has other problems linked to it, such as "Discipline". To give an example; what the Anglican Book of Common Prayer and the Roman Catholic Book of Hours offers is a structure. The prayers are organised throughout the day, for every day of the year, with "special" prayers during festivals. In this, is a required discipline, that reuires you to keep up with the prayers each day, otherwise, the Daily Scriptures readings will have gaps in them.Discpline is hard for many people. But the benefit of it is huge!
Sadly, within the Anglican churches, there is no requirement to follow anything more than the Daily office each morning, unlike the Roman Catholic Priests who are far commited with the requirement to follow all of them.But these prayers are for all, not just the "Theologically Professional". But the question is asked; why bother?
The answer is strickly personal, like many prayers, but it also links itself with what you believe prayers to be and what you expect from them. Firstly,prayers is our God-given way of communicated with our Heavenly Father. Jesus prayed the Prophets of old prayed ,and so must we. While God sees us and hears us, it is through prayers that our petitions are received.
As jesus said: Ask and it shall be given to you! So pray daily and pray diligently is the command.
But what is the point? why cannot we just "pray" or read scripture and pray over the text?
For many this is the form that they take and enjoy, stating arguments such " I am free from the restrictions" and this is a valid point, but one that has other problems linked to it, such as "Discipline". To give an example; what the Anglican Book of Common Prayer and the Roman Catholic Book of Hours offers is a structure. The prayers are organised throughout the day, for every day of the year, with "special" prayers during festivals. In this, is a required discipline, that reuires you to keep up with the prayers each day, otherwise, the Daily Scriptures readings will have gaps in them.Discpline is hard for many people. But the benefit of it is huge!
Sadly, within the Anglican churches, there is no requirement to follow anything more than the Daily office each morning, unlike the Roman Catholic Priests who are far commited with the requirement to follow all of them.But these prayers are for all, not just the "Theologically Professional". But the question is asked; why bother?
The answer is strickly personal, like many prayers, but it also links itself with what you believe prayers to be and what you expect from them. Firstly,prayers is our God-given way of communicated with our Heavenly Father. Jesus prayed the Prophets of old prayed ,and so must we. While God sees us and hears us, it is through prayers that our petitions are received.
As jesus said: Ask and it shall be given to you! So pray daily and pray diligently is the command.
