Like a mighty tortoise
Moves the Church of God;
Treading in the same place,
Where we've always trod.
That’s how a wonderful spoof version of “Onward, Christian Soldiers” describes the Church. But a Church on the move can be a fearsome sight.
Every couple of years clergy have an Episcopal Review. In the BBC we called it an Annual Appraisal. In it we are asked, amongst many other things, to say how our ministry has come alive in the place we serve.
At the time of my last review I had been in post here a matter of months and I described to the Bishop what I saw and what I hoped together we would achieve in the name of Christ. When I read what I had written then I am amazed to find that we have achieved a number of the goals I set out and are on the way and making progress in almost every area.
Sometimes we feel that the Church, our Church, is moving at the sedate pace of the tortoise, but according to the fable steady progress is sometimes of more value than dashing ahead like a hare! Perhaps that’s why we don’t notice. Or perhaps it is the wisdom of the Holy Spirit to deal so gently with us that, especially if we are naturally resistant to “change”, the movement is hardly noticed.
Next month a number of people, young and old, in our congregation will confirm that they have a living faith in God and Bishop Nigel will lay hands upon their heads and say, “Confirm, oh Lord, this your servant N with your Holy Spirit.” God works in individual lives and people often tell me the difference God makes in them. But God