Central Methodist Mission

Last week we were reeling in shock as we heard the news of the killings in Norway.  A tragic testimony of what one person filled with fear and prejudice can achieve.

The reporting of the events as they were unfolding in Norway were also disturbingly filled with their own fear and prejudice.  At first it was reported that it must be Al-Qaida or some “Muslim fundamentalist”.  And when it was finally revealed that it was a Christian fundamentalist—then all mention of his religion became irrelevant, and he was thereafter referred to as a “far-rightwinger”.  Such is the continued prejudice of so much media coverage about Muslims.   This is shameful.

Shortly after the horror of the shootings I was moved by the amazing words from Eskil Pedersen, the youth camp leader where the killings took place, “We will meet terror and violence with more democracy…we will continue to fight against intolerance.”  How different these words are to what we heard after 9/11 and other such attacks!

It reminded me of 1 Peter 3:9 “Never return evil for evil…but on the contrary repay with a blessing.”  We thank God for people who live these words out—may their example inspire all of us to be more   Christ-like.  Alan

Lately I have been reminded of the privilege it is to be in the presence of  people who risk being real.  Real, as in being, genuine and authentic without the protective mechanisms of pretence at play.  Real—in all its rawness by those who open their hearts and not simply their mouths when they speak.  People who are not content to paddle in the shallows of public approval—but who put out into the depths—beyond their own ability to control and manage.  Those who dare to grapple with the countless contradictions and boundless beauty of their human condition.  People who speak difficult truth — confession-like — regardless of how vulnerable it leaves them.

There is something about witnessing the “risking realness” of others that is not only inspiring but inviting.  For isn’t it true that one word spoken in truth enables another and another.  One confession uttered makes it easier for someone else to follow with their own…and so on.  This is an invitation for us to live “risking realness”.

At Wednesday Church we were told by an ‘angel’ named William (who heard the music in the Sanctuary and came in to see what was happening) that fear and pride are probably the greatest stumbling blocks preventing us from “risking realness”.  If this be so then it may mean that our first act of risking realness is to name and face our fear/pride, and for the courage to do this we best start with a prayer: “Lord, enable me to trust that nothing can ever  separate me from your love…nothing… now knowing your loving hold on my life help set me free to name and face my fear/pride.”

Joy-full journeying, Alan.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MADIBA

Tomorrow is Nelson Mandela’s 93^rd birthday.  It is also the Nelson Mandela  International Day, marked as a day to honour Madiba’s legacy by people   engaging in selfless acts of service. Many people have responded. People of faith or no faith, young and old, all over the world. Even here at CMM.

Media houses are running stories of how individuals will be spending their 67        minutes. How will you spend Mandela Day?

As Christians we are expected to give our lives in service to those created in the image of God. Through love, care and compassion we follow Jesus’ example.

How awesome it would be if as Christians we went beyond the Mandela Day gift and continued our minutes or hours of service on a Christ-inspired basis, daily, weekly…… to meet the needs of  our neighbours.

The Mandela Day hype has a challenge for us to turn our words and speech into truth and action. Let us share in the words of a hymn:

Jesus’ hands were kind hands, doing good to all,

Healing pain and sickness, blessing children small,

Washing tired feet and saving those who fall;

Jesus’ hands were kind hands, doing good to all.

Take my hands Lord Jesus, let them work for you;

Make them strong and gentle, kind in all I do;

Let me watch you, Jesus, till I’m gentle too,

Till my hands are kind hands, quick to work for you.

(Margaret Cropper)

Gilbert.

Our lives are forever in flux and we find ourselves constantly entering         different seasons. It is with tremendous sadness that we travel into a winter season… a time to say goodbye to a dear and precious friend, a talented    musician, and an energetic servant of Christ…. Mike Spann.

Time to Say Goodbye

Funny how time flies, we meet in a blink, we say goodbye.

Time would have flown away.

When seconds become minutes, minutes become hours and the dark hour passes by.

To signal the break of a new dawn. Time would be moving.

When days become weeks, weeks become months and new leaves bloom.

They signal the beginning of Spring. Time would be approaching.

When months become seasons, seasons become years, and flowers become fruits.

They signal the arrival of Summer. Time would be nearing.

When seasons fly past and trees dry again. They signal the arrival of Winter.

Time would have come. A time to say goodbye.

By Sandy Whitfield-Carter

May we draw nearer to our Lord as we discover the fruitfulness of Summer.

May we reap the rewards of time spent with God during harvest in Autumn.

May we courageously journey through the tough pruning stages of Winter.

May we all be inspired to seek out the youthful energy of Spring, as Mike did.

Blessings in Christ.        Beulah

Not sure how many of you know that the first Church Service to be broadcast live by the SABC took place here in this sanctuary in 1925?  (See the plaque in the “Time Tunnel” next to the bathrooms).  It was cutting edge technology back then and this community was at the forefront.  Since then things have moved on….a long way.  Here are some interesting facts about technology today that may interest some of you…

• It took 38 years for Radio to reach 50 million users while it took only 13 years for TV.  Yet it took only 4 years for the Internet, and 3 years for iPod while Facebook added over 200 million users in less than a year.  If Facebook were a country it would be the third largest in the world (China and India ahead and the USA in fourth place).   Lady Gaga—Justin Bieber and Britney Spears have more twitter  followers than the entire populations of: Sweden, Israel, Australia and Chile.
• eBooks surpassed traditional book sales during Christmas 2010.  If the online  encyclopedia, Wikipedia, were made into a book it would be 2.25 million pages long and would take you 123 years to read.
• 1-in-5 couples meet on line.  Some babies in Egypt have been recently named  Facebook as a tribute to how instrumental it was in their recent revolution.    Facebook was the first social media site to insist on users using their real names—some say this has contributed to their success.  Could this mean that people still long for real, authentic relationships?

Things that many of us know little or nothing about consume much of our children’s lives—with “virtual reality” seemingly taking over real reality.  What does it all this mean?  What does it all mean for us as a community?  I am not sure, but I am interested in what you think it means.  Lets talk,  Alan.