Kia ora e te whanau
Curating Worship
We’ve been reflecting on the reality that many of our Parishes are lay led, with no stipended clergy. It’s going to be increasingly true of many of our smaller parishes in the days ahead. This is not only the case in CVs (Co-operative Ventures), it’s also true in our denominational partner churches. The reality is that the largest costs for most parishes is the stipend, and associated ‘ministry’ costs. While trained stipended ministry can undoubtedly be a rich resource, it can also be a blockage to lay people, those with already full ‘ordinary’ lives, from finding their leadership place in the life of the worshipping community.
What I’ve observed is that it sometimes takes very little for a reluctant, yet gifted person, to be encouraged, at first haltingly, into a place of leadership. Some of my best worship experiences have been in churches absent of clergy.
Given all of that, we (Andrew & Andrew), are wanting to offer a place of engagement, by zoom, at a set time each week (I’m suggesting 10am each Wednesday morning) where we can consider the lectionary text for the coming Sunday, and chat together about how we might put a worship event together. We can consider using on-line resources – music, prayers, liturgy, reflections, video clips, PowerPoint, trusting that each will bring something to each day. I’m reminded of my favourite Sci-Fi series ‘The Expanse’, where the most dispossessed people group, the Belters, have a simple mantra “The more you share, the more your bowl will be plentiful” – while this is specifically related to food, the implications are much broader.
Interested in dipping your toe into this project? A little feedback would be appreciated – email me at yomyom@xtra.co.nz
Leadership & Personal Development Resources
Executive presence starts before you say hello
To Quote – ‘Twenty seconds. That’s roughly how long research suggests it takes for someone to decide whether they trust you, like you, and think you’re competent. It’s likely faster than that.’ The article then offers great counsel under 3 simple headings: 1. The body speaks first; 2. How you show up matters; 3. Make it about them. This easily accessed article can be engaged with here: https://www.inc.com/andrea-wojnicki/confident-people-do-this-before-they-say-a-single-word/91343074
Busyness is killing strategic thinking
Many of us are addicted to being busy (guilty as charged). This does not mean we’re being effective, or doing what might be most necessary. Often ‘busy work’ masquerades as productivity, where we really need to be stepping back and taking a good hard look at where we are, what we’re doing, and what our priorities need to be. Sometimes the priority needs to be doing nothing. This FastCompany article can be accessed here: https://www.fastcompany.com/91542342/busyness-is-killing-strategic-thinking-heres-how-to-prevent-that-from-happening
A mop, a broom and a calmer mind
In 1998, in my 2nd year of Theological College, I did a 3 week ministry placement at Carrington Hospital. At the time Carrington was a large psych hospital. I was placed in an acute admissions ward. Being a little on the fragile side, it was a somewhat scary experience. One of the things that struck me was that the hospital had significant vegetable gardens, which had, at one time, feed to institution. These now lay largely fallow. The reason? Patients were not allowed to be ‘forced’ to work – it was regarded as a form of slave labour, and gardening as a form of therapy was discontinued. They could garden if they wanted to, but there was no plan, no supervision, no support, and consequently, no work. I mention this because I was only too aware that in my times of psychological fragility (yes, I’ve been there), one of the most therapeutic experiences was to get into my vegetable garden, weeding, thinning carrots, getting my hands in the soil. I could come out of the garden somewhat restored. This zen article references a similar principle – it can be accessed here: https://apnews.com/article/cleaning-mental-health-benefits-zen-mindfulness-12e97e6e3f93dd64eb35bd08ce789abf
Homilies and Preaching Resources
My response to the lectionary Gospel for the 31st of May – based on Matthew 28 vs 16-20 (The Great Commission), recognises that many messages have been offered on this text, including by me – so rather than directly considering it, I address the context of uncertainties in which it is given. It can be engaged with here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFpW-CBM7uw
Gospel Conversations – out of the Dunedin Anglican Diocese. They host a conversation of (usually) 4 Theologians / Practitioners. The site with all its options can be accessed here: https://www.calledsouth.org.nz/gospel-conversations/. Led by Michael Godfrey, rather than the Gospel text, this year they are generally focusing on other parts of the Lectionary. For this coming Trinity Sunday, the 31st of May they consider Genesis 1 vs 1 through to 2 vs 4a. It can be accessed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3zA5p4PwCI
Rev Darryn Hickling (Methodist colleague leading the Rolleston Project) has posted a brief reflection on Instagram – focussing on Matthew 28 vs 16-20, and titled ‘How do you end a gospel?’ It can be accessed here: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DYv5PjIBdkb/?igsh=MXhqM2s3eHEwYXN2OA==