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When The Shine Wears Off

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  When the Shine Wears Off Today was not a great day.  It had lots of potential, but it started without prayer.  And so working in my own strength and measure, I quickly forgot whose ministry it is, and who is Head of the Church. Each difficulty I met today, and there were a few, I took as a measure of my own work and worth; someone de-registering from our records, a leader or two who decided not to come back to their role in September, leadership holes beginning to appear here and there, third hand criticism that we don’t provide enough in one area, a phone call or two needed to still waters that might become choppy, and to cap it all … no one to click through a power-point on Sunday. Imagine. How did our forebears ever manage without digital technology? On another day, I would smile politely, and carry on. Today I was easily discouraged, because I forgot, again, that it isn’t my Church, it is His, it’s not my ministry, rather it is His, and the flock I am called t...
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Looking Ahead

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  Fellowship Evenings 4 evenings are planned to help promote and develop discipleship in our lives. I’ve learned that during lockdown that even when all structures are set aside,  a living relationship continues between every believer and the Lord.  Learning to pay attention to that relationship is at the heart of following Jesus.  And when each of us is strengthened, the Church is stronger. And realising that we benefit from the support of others,  four evenings are planned with worship, Bible readings,  prayer and special guest speakers.  Our last evening saw 25 gather,  so together we can hope to build that fellowship.  Email us at the parish and request the link for each evening.  You are very welcome to join us. In Jesus,  Precentor Hanlon fivemiletownparish2@gmail.com
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He Is A Great Shepherd

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  The  Lord  Is My Shepherd,  I lack nothing. This week I’ve been thinking a lot about the Good Shepherd. It could be the number of parishioners who are lambing at the moment. I feel conversant now in lambing being spread out over too long a period, or the benefit of twins over triplets, and the chore of bottle feeding or finding a surrogate mother to take on an extra one. It might also be that parish life gets interrupted for a while as we try to adjust times of prayers and online to see if some of the farmers might join later in the evening, or that I’ve even had grooms to be come late to the own wedding rehearsal because they were calving. Some things you can’t argue with, only smile, and wait. This year, lambs et al, Easter has settled itself into a great weekend. Daffodils and Spring bulbs are in their prime, lawns are possibly on their second cut, and there is a readiness for the holidays weekend. Families are ready for the break from home schooling, and ...
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'What To Do? What To Do?'

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  'Not That You Know These Things.’   I noticed a typo I sent out in this evening’s service sheet. It’s a misquote of Jesus saying to His closest disciples, ‘Now that You Know These Things.’   My version read, ‘Not That You Know These Things.’ And either could be a reading of the church’s current state. We do know the example of Jesus, and we now ought to do as He did, but very often I’m inclined to think that we really don’t know what He has asked of us.   Holy Week is a very particular time. It’s a part of the Church year which the Church itself has created to help us journey again in our worship and thinking, through the days which led up to the crucifixion of Jesus.   What does it mean to us today? Other church traditions seem to get along perfectly well without observing Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday or Easter Eve. Most, even the very reformed, seem to have adopted something of an observance around Christmas and Easter Day, but I often wonder is that...
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Don't be Numbered With Them.

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  ‘Many of His disciples left Him.’   You know the story. Palm Sunday. The search for a donkey. The cheering crowds. The quickly gathered leaves. Coats thrown on the ground. A welcome fit for a King. And within days, Jesus goes alone to the Cross,  to do a work for us that no one else could do. Usually we journey in our hearts and minds through that week with Him. Usually eight services in as many days, perhaps lit on an occasional year with mention of the Queen at Armagh Cathedral presenting the Maundy Monies, or a Kids' Brunch in the parish, or the once long sought for Agreement. Holy Week. It’s barely noticed these days. Few businesses will close for the Three Hours on Good Friday, if anyone still remembers what that even means, and the lasting impression usually is of fluffy bunnies and Easter chicks. Yes, the church has a bit of a job to do. Or does it? This year will not be the same. Christians will not have the infrastructure around th...
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Your Feet Beside My Own On The Way

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Your Feet Beside My Own ‘Lead, Kindly Light … Your feet beside my own on the Way.’ Audrey Assad   It’s great to receive encouragements.   This week I mention three.   The first is a small grey envelope with my name and address handwritten which greeted me from the front door mat. On opening it was a delightfully bright card which included the loveliest words of encouragement and appreciation from a parishioner who has been listening to the online services we have made available during this last year. I was quietly gob-smacked. Sadly, handwritten to me sometimes means complaining and unkind.  This was very far removed, and even thanked me for the sermons. Who knew someone was listening? That of course is the problem with on-line ministry, it becomes an offering sent into the wherever, and the harder part is to quietly accept that it was simply that, an offering. A former rector of mine would have excelled in this digital age because he wisely ref...
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