So, now church buildings are shut, what should we do? Most people are throwing themselves into technology to make ways of creating ‘virtual church’. After all, we are commanded not to neglect meeting together. But, something niggles in all this. What if God has a purpose in all this for his people?

One reason that we create ‘virtual church’ experiences is to support God’s people; that their faith may fail without this, or even that church may fail. But that’s not God’s way. What if, without gathering together, God’s people find that it is harder to know his presence and trust in him on their own.

Jesus could have made it so that Peter would not have stumbled and denied him. But he let him fail. Peter, was told that Satan wanted to have him – we need to learn that. But Jesus said to him, ‘I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail’ (Luke 22:32). Peter did fail, but not utterly.

Why? Because Peter discovered that in Jesus, God did not fail him; underneath (to catch him) were the everlasting arms (Deut 33:27), and holding him were hands from which no one could take him (John 10:29). In discovering his weakness, he found God’s strength and his grace.

Church gatherings, physically together are good, but they can also be a prop for our weakness in knowing him. God will do everything for us to discover that even the best things in this world are not enough without him; for us to say, each of us ‘I have no good apart from you’

Are we struggling to pray, keep struggling, because he is praying for you. Are we fearful, acknowledge that, and you may hear (not as a command but as a gift) ‘do not be afraid’. Is our peace utterly shaken, cry out to him and you will hear (and know), ‘My peace, I give to you, not as the world gives’

Is there no time in the day because of home schooling and living on top of one another. Or, is there too much time in the day, and we are listless in our loneliness and fear; Wherever, whenever, however we can, let us turn to him who is calling us; “Come unto me, all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matt 11:28)

There is no technological solution to our need for him [though I appreciate the irony of posting this online]

In a time of fear and real suffering, when deaths that any other year would have been largely invisible are counted daily before our eyes, we need to remember the suffering and death of our Lord.

Without Jesus, suffering – which is an unavoidable part of all life – seems futile, meaningless and tragic. We avoid thinking about it in the main, because otherwise life itself would be impossible – futile, meaningless and tragic. But sooner or later its reality will catch up with us, and most of us are entirely unprepared.

But Jesus has changed that. It is not that he has done away with suffering – though a day will come when he will – but he has himself entered into our suffering and transformed it. Without him the ultimate end of suffering is death. With Jesus, trusting in his suffering and death, its ultimate end becomes life; eternal life, fullness of life, reigning now in life!

Because Jesus has suffered for us and died, suffering and death are not taken from us, but they are transformed. So, Mary is told “a sword will pierce your heart also”. Some of us will learn again the reality of this during this Coronavirus crisis. So, let us also learn how Jesus can transform that suffering, so that our grief may not be without hope.

Paul learned this lesson. Just as, at his conversion and call to service, he was shown “How much he must suffer for the sake of my name” (Acts 9:16). So, in later life he says:

But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—  that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.  Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 3:7-14

Sooner or later ‘a sword will pierce your heart also’. Will it destroy you? Will it destroy your faith? Or will you receive it as grace – a very hard grace admittedly – because you have been counted worthy to suffer with him who has suffered for us all.

Only Jesus can transform your suffering, and mine. Now is the time to prepare our hearts, by giving them to Jesus. Now is the time to share the gift of Christ with others; to bear him and reveal him in our lives, as Mary did for us, regardless of the cost.

Have you yet discovered “the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord”? Now is the time

Hannah had longed for a child all her life, and in her old age God granted her request with the birth of Samuel. In modern parlance he might be described as a ‘rainbow-baby’, though personally I am not keen on that term. Nevertheless, there can be no doubt that Hannah loved Samuel as a precious gift.

Given this it’s a surprise to read that, when Samuel was weaned (how old that would have been in that society we are not sure) she brought him to the Temple and gave him to God – for his whole life, as long as he lives.

This year we face a Mothering Sunday when most will not be able to visit their mother. And we do so at a time when those mothers seem more vulnerable and at risk than ever before. How can we bear this?

The answer, and its not an easy one, is to sit a while with Hannah. Hannah loved Samuel as the son of her old age, a very special son. But she recognised that in a very deep way, Samuel was not hers to hold and keep.

She did not stop loving Samuel all her life. Every year she made a new robe for Samuel and took it to the Temple. So, every day Samuel could literally clothe himself with his mother’s love.

Yet, she let him go into the Lord’s hands. Hannah shows us that we can love and still let go; that loving we can see letting go into God’s hands as an act of costly love.

I don’t think that there is any easy way to do this and only God can help us to do it. But the reality is that we are all, first of all, in God’s hands. We may love our mother (or children, family or whoever) and feel as if that loved one is ours in some way, but first of all every one of us is God’s. And though we love and care for those we love, we will not be able to do everything for them that our love wants to do. Only God can hold, nurture and keep them, so that no one can take them out of his hands.

So, let us sit with Hannah and learn how she did this. Let us place our loved ones in God’s hands, even when this feels like letting go from our hands. And let us trust his love and power – so much greater than ours.

We can still make our robes for them, however that may be; in phone calls, gifts and above all our prayers.

In this time of Coronavirus, more than ever, we need to heed these words of from Colossians

The things that God calls us to are feelings, but they are also choices. You can put them on just as you chose what to wear when you get up each day. God is calling us to make the choices that he makes and put on Christ, in:

Compassion means thinking of how others are feeling and putting their interests before your own. Kindness means treating others as you would have them treat you. Gentleness means treating others perhaps better than they deserve, recognising their vulnerability. Meekness or Humility knows that the world does not revolve around us.

And Patience (bearing with one another and forgiving one another) is an antidote to our frustrations and pride. We put frustrations and pride off when we clothe ourselves with Patience, Bearing-With and Forgiving one another.

Love binds all these together. And we are, as Paul reminds us, “Holy and Beloved”. Those who have been chosen and loved by God should, above all people, know what it is to love … as we have been loved.

When the world around us is panic-buying, ignoring good counsel because they think that they are invincible, whatever the risk to others; When families locked in together, working from home and trying to teach their children at the same time; when some are left all alone and forgotten … we need to heed these words.

But it is not easy, and we will need to feed our hearts and minds if we are going to be able to do this. So, we must keep making time to read God’s word and let it really settle in our hearts and minds. We must keep making time to worship God, with thankfulness and love – feeding on his goodness and truth in a time when it may seem less real in our world.

So, as we live in the context of the Coronavirus, much more we must seek to live in the greater reality of Jesus Christ. The virus will pass, he is eternal. The virus may harm and even kill, but it cannot extinguish the life of Christ in you.

We may think that in these times the world is facing the consequences of its reckless disregard for God’s goodness and truth, but God is still in charge, still working his purposes of love and grace out in our world. And this, even this, he will work for good for those who love him. Jesus is Lord!

“Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.”

Isaiah 43:18–19 (ESV)

What is it – this change that God is leading us into – in our setting, with our people; and what is it in the wider church? If we cant identify something of what it is about with any clarity, it is difficult to know how to move towards it or encourage others to do so.

Some general thoughts may make a start:

• Brick-Making – In Egypt the people were burdened by brick-making, which was becoming harder as their resources were diminished – we need to release the church from brick-making to the ministry Jesus has given us.
• Change is to do with us – the people who are the church now. God may add others, but the fundamental change is in us and from us – these actual people
• Change means Leaving – Leaving behind (i.e. Ending) some of the things and ways we have been used to. It probably means leaving, before what replaces these things and ways is apparent
• Change involves Grieving – as things and ways die there will be grief and a sense of loss. We need to recognise this, allow space for it and understand that people will feel this differently
• Change involves Discovery – we are being called to discover (or rediscover) some important thin
  • God’s real purpose in gathering us to himself as church
  • God’s particular grace in each one of us – every part of the building/body is important and plays a part.
  • The power of God in each of us (Holy Spirit) to be and make what God is calling forth
  • What Membership of Christ’s body means
  • New ways of Leadership – the priesthood of all the saints

This is both new-Church and not new. There is a sense that church needs to be re-formed in every generation. Times and people change and we need to present the gospel afresh in each generation. However, there is also something fundamental and ancient in the Gospel which is unchanging. Se we read:

“Thus says the Lord: “Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’ “

Jeremiah 6:16 (ESV)

“Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness, you who seek the Lord: look to the rock from which you were hewn, and to the quarry from which you were dug.”

Isaiah 51:1 (ESV)

But we also read

“No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. If he does, the patch tears away from it, the new from the old, and a worse tear is made. And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the wine will burst the skins—and the wine is destroyed, and so are the skins. But new wine is for fresh wineskins.”

Mark 2:21–22 (ESV)

Perhaps Church can thought of as like an old house that has been built up, converted and changed until we can’t simple carry on renovating but must go down to the foundations to build anew. Or its walls have been papered and painted again and again, and we need to scrape back to the solid original.

This is not only true of traditional forms of church. It can also be true of modern congregational churches; seeker friendly; offering worship experiences; run like business. Francis Chan has observed recently that such churches have become too expensive to maintain

Do you realize how volatile our system is of our church gatherings? How much money it requires?

Francis Chan, from: Premier Christian Magazine

In a smaller way, our parish churches have become too expensive to maintain; both in terms of the buildings, legal structures and the cost of stipendiary ministry (which is in reality beyond most small congregations).

In the Church of England (and in other churches e.g. The Methodist Church) this is now rapidly approaching a crisis as churches and parishes will be left with fewer clergy to look after them. And the increasing stress on clergy may accelerate retirements. There is evidence that such reductions has a depressing affect on church life and congregational numbers. So, some worry about a race to the bottom.

But there is an alternative. It is the transformation of church from something external and provided … to something organic and grown. Each church is the gathering of a particular group of people together in Christ. What that church looks like and what it does, then flows from that relationship rather than attempting to fit into a ‘one size fits all’ model of church.

Ministry is not restricted to a licensed few (let alone to just ordained clergy), but is expressed in a broader variety of ways, recognising and releasing the gifts of all the people. It is possible that this will allow the continuation of a worshiping community in each town and village (along the lines of the Parish system), but in a more flexible  and dynamic way.

Such a transformation is a real challenge. It goes against a great deal of tradition, history and expectations. But, something is going to happen, and it is better to plan than face a crisis. And, it is closer to the church that scripture speaks of – more like the sort of church that God has promised to bless and Jesus has promised to build

These are my recollections and notes from the meeting. I hope I have heard Bp Philip accurately, but any errors are my own. Bp Philip spoke of four priorities that he comes to the Diocese with. They are what he presented to the selection group when he was interviewed for the post.

However, before laying out those priorities he also referenced the Diocesan Mission Statement – To Discovering God’s Kingdom and Growing the Church. He very much supports this; both as recognising that the Kingdom is greater than the church (God is at work in the world at large, revealing his Kingdom), and affirming a passion to see the Church grow and flourish in its calling. He is not planning to change this Mission Statement.

He also spoke about an emphasis:

• on Prayer, which is at the hart of everything he is seeking,
• on Hope, which he believes we must recognise and speak out (as someone has said, we are seeing signs of hope and statistics of despair – let’s major on hope), and
• on the Legacy of Faith in this county. Bp Philip certainly treasures the peculiar legacy of faith that we are inheritors of in Cornwall.

As to his four main priorities, he set these out as (in no particular order):

Celebrating Children & Young People – not just looking for them, but celebrating them as fellow disciples. [Personally, I would want to add ‘Families’, as a focus alongside this, as they so intimately linked in God’s heart and purposes]. He seems to be a fan of Messy Church, but is keen to promote the place of children & young people in our ministry and church life.

Valuing Innovation & Pioneers (in fact being innovating and pioneering) – he is keen for the church to trying all sorts of things and not afraid of failure. He referenced Tribute ale, named after the system of tribute whereby miners were encouraged to seek out new seams. The Diocese has started a particular pioneering work at Falmouth (largely funded from national resources) and others will follow, but we are all encouraged to be innovative and pioneering.

Being Transformed from the Inside Out – He values the church’s work in transforming society, but is clearly looking for a church that is itself transformed from the inside out. This means that we need to pay attention to where we are and who we are – and especially pay attention to God in who and where we are. The test of such transformation, he suggested would be whether what we become its truly contextual both to the Gospel and to our local situations.

He believes that this may mean a new model of ministry; setting the whole people of God free in their gifts and calling. He recognises that this could be messy, but suggested that it was not only worth the risks, but an increasing necessity.

Looking Beyond these Shores – from his CMS background he is keen to expand our links with other churches overseas. He values our existing relationships, but wants to add others. Reflecting on Cornwall’s ancient past trading links, he has a particular desire to see links with the church in the Lebanon (ancient Phoenicia)

Finally, from a personal point of view, he spoke about his desire to be a listening bishop, collaborative and to give a voice to the marginalised and – most of all – to be gospel centred, gospel celebrating and gospel proclaiming.

I believe we have a Bishop who has been sent to us for this time. He is not the answer – Jesus is – but we need to pray for him, listen to him, and surprise him with what God is calling us to be and do. All institutions, by their nature, are resistant to change. The Church of England, in its structures and procedures, seems to have an extraordinary ability to frustrate the very things that Bp Philip is passionate about; let us pray for him, encourage him, and hold him to what he has set out to do.

Perhaps there is an approach that can move on from this image to something more appropriate for the Body of Christ

Start with a Team – often it seems that only one person is pushing, so the first step is to gather a team of those who seem most active in the church (always admitting that not all the active people are active in a good way; so we are looking for godly people). Getting them together and getting them to recognise their calling together as leaders in the church. Identifying the leadership team is the first hard step.

Getting the Team to Work Together – the next stage is to recognise that the people who may seem to be called to leadership all have their own ideas and agenda. If they are pushing (or pulling) in different directions they are not going to be part of the solution. There is probably no shortcut in this stage – it takes time talking, praying and worshiping together, to find some sense of mutual calling and vision. And, this needs to be an ongoing working at relationship; regular and committed.

Envisioning the Church – if it is left there, we have only achieved more people pushing the wheelbarrow. We need to do something about the wider Church. Perhaps, the first stage is to begin to encourage a vision of what the church is and what it can be. This can be like oiling the wheel; making the wheelbarrow easier to push and decreasing its natural resistance. Churches naturally get rusty unless they are maintained. Envisioning, here, has a double meaning: it is both giving the church a vision (a purpose and direction); and it is seeing the church differently (envisioning a different way of being church). Both are necessary.

Equipping the Body – Making the wheelbarrow easier to push is a great thing (it is often harder than it should be; somehow like pushing it uphill). But the next stage is like installing a motor. The church is not meant to be pushed, like a wheelbarrow; it is a living body, that moves because it is alive. And Leadership is meant to be an encouraging and managing its growth and life, not pushing it along. Often, though, the body has become like a patient in hospital; a once living and vital person, becomes dependent and passive. We need to free the people and equip them to live out their calling together.

Given all of the above, however, we need to remember that each church is the actual people of Christ that have been gathered as that local expression. They are not theoretical, but real, people; and they are the people that must be that particular expression of church. We always have to work with what we’ve got – with who we are – and to wish we (or they) were different is lacking in faith. Jesus gathered the most unpromising group of disciples, but in his hands, and with the gift of his Spirit, they turned the world upside down.