trying out a new blog

Please check this one out as it gives me more options - Blessings - Ian
http://missionmeanderings.wordpress.com/

With the Godfrey's at Nashotah House

There was a delightful gathering at Nashotah House last week. Actually it was two gatherings. The first was the meeting of the Anglican Global Mission Partners and then a missions conference put on by the seminarians at which Bishop Bill Godfrey of Peru was the featured speaker, having been awarded a DD at Nashotah on Wednesday. It was the first time that I had seen +Bill and Judith since May in Peru. It was a great reunion.

It was a reunion too for me as I was able to gather with so many friends from the Anglican mission world. I made some more too! I was a guest of SAMS and it was a privilege to see how God is moving amongst us as well as hearing how God is putting his hand on so many to send them overseas. The AGMP folk ran workshops on Saturday and Bishop Godfrey gave keynote talks.

Bishop Godfrey shared out of his long experience as a missionary bishop. He was very modest as usual. God has used him greatly in both Uruguay and Peru. He has a vision of mission and mission mobilization that is so fresh and effective. He talked of his "spider pattern" for church planting. He spoke of training and equipping the people of Peru for ministry and eventual oversight. He spoke of complete integration of mission that is both Gospel and socially transforming - Mision integral.

His talks were inspiring to all present.

+Bill's greeting to me was to say that he has my office awaiting me. Next to me is a Peruvian who speaks little English and wants to learn. I hope to learn Spanish from him. He confirmed that we should go to Arequipa for language school and I shall be setting that up shortly.

What a blessing!

Contending for the faith - Saints Simon and Jude. October 28

Saints Simon and Jude.

Today I celebrated Saints Simon and Jude at our daily service. I know the epistle was meant to be from Ephesians but I substituted portions of Jude. What a joy it was to read and to be reassured by his words. I was hugely encouraged by his admonition to “contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.”
It seems to me that this states plainly the challenge before me. I am sometimes asked, “Why bother?” Just be a parish priest who pastors his flock. Part of this is the ordination vow taken in 1976 “will you be ready with all faithful diligence, to banish and drive away all erroneous and strange doctrines contrary to God’s Word?” That vow is a direct application of Jude’s exhortation.
The Gospel reading for today was John 15:17ff. The reading ends “the word that is written in their Law must be fulfilled: ‘They hated me without a cause.’ “But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, the will bear witness about me. And you also will bear witness, because you have been with me from the beginning.”
The epistle set was from Ephesians 2:13-22 and concludes with these words, “you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. In him the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom you also are built together spiritually into a dwelling place for God.”
What does it mean to be the household of faith? What does it mean to be hated without cause and yet to bear witness to Jesus?
Jesus and St. Paul as much as St Jude knew what would happen. What would happen not simply in the interface of Church and world but would infect the Church. Jesus and Paul talk of “wolves”
Matt. 7:15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.
Matt. 10:16 “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.
Luke 10:3 Go your way; behold, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves.
Acts 20:29 I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock;
As I read Jude I was impressed not so much by the list of offences but by the description (vs. 17) of these people as “devoid of the Spirit.” One of the hallmarks of our current situation is that we are constantly told that these innovations that promote immorality are from the Holy Spirit. Mark 3:29 but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness but is guilty of an eternal sin.” Jude talks in verse 10 of their blasphemies.
The end of Jude is a lesson in how to be graceful. "But you, beloved, build yourselves up in your most holy faith; pray in the Holy Spirit; keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. And have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh.
Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.
Are these not words to live by? This morning at the altar I again committed myself to “contend for the faith once delivered to the saints.”

God is in charge and what an adventure!

Dear Ones. While at camp I shared from C.S.Lewis. If I may paraphrase it, it is that life following Jesus is like traveling with the engine at our backs. At once I thought of what he meant. Meanwhile Polly also thought on it. I shared the statement from Lewis and asked what it meant to them. What images did it conjure up? Some folk thought of it as traveling on a train (not something many of us do these days) and we had our back to the engine up front and we were being pulled along, seeing what we had past as we moved along. Many more saw this differently. They saw it as being in a vehicle where the engine pushed us along in front. One likened it to a modern dragster. Others saw it as perhaps being in an old VW with its engine behind the back seat. As you read this I am sure that you have your own first image. Mine was rather dramatic.
I saw myself sitting on the front of a steam engine, legs hanging over the cowcatcher, sensing the power that carried me along the tracks. God was the driver and I was thrilling at the ride and expectantly looking to see what was around the next corner. This may tell you more about me than you want to know. However this is how I deal with life, especially when in the midst of huge change, facing the unknown, wondering where God is in all this. I tell you – I am totally confident in God! The ride can be scary (reminds me of a friend taking me to sit at the front of Raging Bull (horrible, huge roller coaster ride) last year.)
You see that is the other part of my confidence. I am with people who I trust. We do not face change, crisis, death or disaster alone. We are in the community of God’s family. Alone we may feel. Alone we are not. Jesus said that he would never leave us. That is my faith as it is his promise. Upon that promise I live or die. There is an old hymn and this is the refrain: - Standing, standing, standing on the promises of Christ my Savior; standing, standing, I'm standing on the promises of God. Banks may fail; friends have died and are dying. In the midst of this I thank God that Jesus is my savior and is driving the engine. God bless you all

Family camp

This was my last family camp with St. Thomas. I was close to tears on a few occasions. Enough that God showed up and we were greatly blessed.

Encore ministry

I am testing out a piece that I want to write about being useful following retirement. I am set with a call to go to Peru for a few years and to assist Bishop Bill Godfrey in teaching clergy and seminarians. However, I meet a variety of similarly aged clergy whose idea of retirement is to find a home somewhere and then play golf while assisting some local parish. Some even seem to make themselves a nuisance in their old congregations! Others spend much time annoying their wives who are not used to having them around all the time. It seems that the house can only be painted so many times and living here in Wisconsin, golf gets iffy because of several feet of snow, notwithstanding temperatures as low as minus 20 degrees.

My research informs me that the age of 65 was arbitrarily selected by the German General Otto Bismark as an age when people should retire; in the 19th century, it was an age that few attained. Now we are expected to live several years longer. So what to do?

I believe in continuing in ministry. I was ordained in 1975 and by then had already exercised ministry of one kind or another since 1968. Most of my working life has been in parish ministry. I am taking my pension after 3o years in the Episcopal Church because I can do so and still be useful to God while not having the burden of running a congregation. I have no need to be "in charge." I do have a passion to help younger and beleaguered clergy.

Let me tell some of the story.

In 2005 I spent a sabbatical couple of months (I have a generous congregation) in Kenya. This led to two further trips with mission groups from our congregation. I believed that I would spend my "encore ministry" in Kenya, assisting a dear brother who is a Bishop near Nairobi as well as teaching at the local theological college. Several doors closed on that opportunity, the last being the political unrest following the last election. I asked God what I was to do. I literally threw myself at his feet and asked for guidance for my 2008 sabbatical. (I said the congregation was generous!) Low and behold I received three invitations. One was to Belize, one to Madagascar and the last to Peru. I was in fact offered jobs in each place. I knew I had to hear from God. Invitations from bishops were clearly not enough!

I spent April 2008 in Belize and May 2008 in Peru - where Polly joined me for a week or so. They even spoke my language in Belize, but it was in Peru that God spoke so we simply said yes. When I wrote to Bishop Todd in Madagascar to tell him of the call and my non-availability for Madagascar he was not only gracious but really affirmed the call to Peru. The reaction at SAMS-USA was interesting as they had thought that we would be going to Belize. I thought we were to go to Belize. I even had reactivated my scuba certification! I had a wonderful time as the Vicar of the congregation in San Ignacio, up in the hills near Guatemala. The picture above was taken at San Ignacio. How God must laugh at our ideas, plans and propositions.

I am often asked - "How Long?" The answer is naturally in God's hands; however, we think it will be three to eight years. The initial commitment is for three years and then it can extend until I expire. Truly that is in God's hands. We have taken the decision to work under the "covering" of SAMS-USA and they make no demands regarding age. They are excellent at helping the support raising and supervision in the field. I believe that they are the premier Anglican Mission society in the USA.

How about others? I know of five vacant parishes in Belize that are waiting for someone with a vision for an "encore ministry". Please let me know if you are interested and I will work with you and SAMS.

Mision San Andres - Cerro Cajamarca - Prayers needed

I have just received a bunch of pictures from Lima. The church that was begun with the dedication of the corner stone in May and then was held in a tent ten days later now has a building. Here is the picture!

The work was done by the women and children and under the guidance of Fr. Benjamin Salas and his wife Livia. They are indefatigable! Thanks too to Bishop Godfrey who found the funds for the materials. What I love is the "can do" attitude, inspired by the Holy Spirit.

Next week my dear friend and colleague - Fr. Mike Chapman and his wife Linda are attending a Crossroads conference with SAMS-USA to discern their possible calling to Lima. Mike and I worked together and are co-godfathers of the Mision San Andres.

On another matter. Praise God! I have heard from SAMS-GB that they are very happy jointly to sponsor our ministry in Peru. This means that contributions from the UK can be made to SAMS-GB and thus the full tax advantages are available there as well as in the USA. In the UK the charitable organization is able to recover the income taxes paid by the donor so long as the giving is done according to the UK system. Sounds good to me!

Blessings to all at the end of a very long and exciting summer.