Hennie's March blog 2013

Hennie's March blog 2013


Dear All,

On the 4th February I said my bulbs were showing signs of growth, and as I look out of my window this Sunday afternoon, 3rd March, 7 daffodils have come into bloom!  Spring is on it's way, and we are 19 days into Lent, which means springtime. We celebrated Shrove Tuesday, as is St. Mark's tradition, with pancakes in the Link, which brought young and not so young together, and was very much enjoyed by all!  Thank you Lynda Tiplady and team - your pancakes were delicious!  Lent began with an Ash Wednesday service at 12 noon followed by soup and sandwiches in the Link, again a good time of worship and fellowship - thank you Joan Williams and team for another wonderful array of food. A generous way to start our Lentern fast!

I hope that in the past 19 days some of us have been able to have some extra time and space with God, to pray, fast, and reflect on Jesus' 40 days in the wilderness.  Lent should not be an easy time for followers of Jesus, but a time of truth and self-examination. Henri Nouwen says Lent is a 'spiritual season which calls for greater openness to the word of God, and a conversion in every area of our lives.  It is a time to face the darkness within and expose it to the light'.  I hope and pray we have the courage to do just that, and the courage to walk with Jesus along the road to Jerusalem during the rest of Lent, into Holy week, arriving with Him at the Cross on Good Friday, and celebrating His Resurrection on Easter Day!

Staying on the theme of space, the staff spent some time having a quiet day with the sisters in West Kirby listening to God, giving thanks for the last year, and sharing priorities for our ministries, and needs for prayer.  I hope those who came found it as restorative and a blessed time as I did. 

During February we had a time of celebration and joy when 5 members of St. Mark's, two adults, and three young people, got confirmed by Bishop Peter on the evening of Sunday 17th Februrary. It was a great evening, and 
thank you to all who came to support and encourage them, and let's continue to pray for Mike, Joe, Elliott, Cerys and Katrina following their confirmation.

Another day in February which fuelled me up was when 6 of us went to a conference entitled 'Re-imagining the Church for Mission in urban parishes'.  It was led by Phil Potter who is Director of Pioneer Ministry in Liverpool Diocese, and in fact I had read his book 'The Challenge of Change' - a guide to shaping change and changing the shape of church', just before I arrived in the parish. He talks about changing our whole approach to see our landscape in a very different way; such as re-imagining rather than re-structuring; movement rather than membership; blended rather than mixed, fluid rather than fixed; passion focussed rather than project; empowerment rather than education, coaching rather than courses. He taught about the need to attach out in the community rather than attract into a building; to improvise rather than orchestrate; cultivate rather than control; and releasing rather than retaining.  All this he calls a paradigm shift - very challenging and very exciting!  But those who like to be in control and feel safe - very risky and scary! We need to pray to see where some of his teaching, and experience, might help us to put our Vision into Practice.

So let's continue to pray about our Vision into Practice; and may I suggest that the remaining weeks of Lent might be a good time to reflect again on the booklet that we encouraged you to take away and read through.  My prayer is that every person who decides to make St. Mark's there home will, if able, 1) worship regularly on a Sunday or Thursday; 2) be part of a fellowship group, and 3) serve God - there are so many opportunities whether it be Up, In or Out - where is He calling you to get involved?

Let us pray for all that is going on, and for one another.

Hennie