Movement!
About 30 of us from Lidgett Park, St Andrew's and St Edmund's
met together at Roundhay Methodist Church on one recent Sunday afternoon.
The beauty of it was that we didn't really know why we were there. However,
though as we left, later, to go home we might have been stretched to explain
what had happened there, there was no question that we had shared in a
significant experience and were the better for it.
It had all been to do with that improbable Greek work 'ecumenical', i.e.
being together in one place. For ten years the three churches have been
committed or 'covenanted' to being a tiny ecumenical movement. (This means,
of course, prayerful cooperation in every possible way.). In discussion
we asked ourselves what had been good about our movement - quite a lot
actually - and why it had been good, then we asked what had been disappointing
and why. Thirdly we looked ahead and considered where we would like to
be in 5 years time as we travel together, move together.
Ideas came thick and fast. It became clear that there are 3 aspects to
our journey:
-
Fellowship is important. We actually
like one another and want to get to know each other better!
-
Worship together is important. We need
to be true to our various traditions and to be ready to explore together
exciting new ways of worship.
-
Sharing skills and plant is important.
Practical cooperation could save much time, energy and expense and reveal
hidden strengths and talents.
None of this is revolutionary of course,
that was not the object of the exercise, but if we are to move on we need
to raise our sights, interest and involve our whole membership and follow
the Lord humbly into his future.
Together we constitute, in secular terms,
a medium to large sized business. Do let us become a more effective business
in Roundhay to the glory of God.
Pat Hooker
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©
St Edmund's Church, Roundhay - Charity Number 1131904
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28 March, 2011
