Mission and Community

Dear Oaks,

So as we journey through my thoughts on what I truly value for Oak Tree we get to the third value that I mentioned in my AGM talk. Number 3 is mission and community.

Now on the face of it those two may not appear to go together but I want to argue that we must live in both the tension of these two and the creative dynamic that each brings to the other.  An emphasis on community can sound rather inward looking but if true authentic relationships are what people really long for then community in it self can become missional.

Jesus said “By this shall all people know that you are my disciples that you love one another”.

As we build community I am desperately keen that we increasingly mirror the diversity of Acton.  Now if you are white, balding, slightly chubby, in your fifties and male then you might think you are not very representative of Acton. So would such a gem of a person be at home in Oak Tree?  But if that did describe you then rejoice, we each have something to bring to the party!  But at the same time just as there is only room for one person like me, or you, so too we must be accessible to as many different people as possible, no matter what their colour, creed at the moment, gender, socio-economic situation or even their sexuality!  All are welcome to this transforming community.

God loves all of us so much that he is not willing that any of us stay the same as we are now!

As I have already stated such community is missional. But if mission to the so called “last, lost, least and lonely” is not made an absolute priority then it usually falls off the priority list all together.  As we move in to our own building we must re-double our commitment to get “out there”.

To quote the New Wine values “we want to see the church become a missionary movement to love and reach the lost, to care for the poor and to bring justice to our homes, neighbourhoods, workplaces and nations, while also being a grace filled community in which people can find relationship, healing, faith, hope and love”.

Every blessing,

Mark

Tomorrow (Wednesday) evening is Church Central held at Acton Green Church in Cunnington Street, W4.  We continue our sozo training as we develop teams to share the faith through ministry in the power of the Holy Spirit. You will hear of testimonies of team members who went all the way to Ealing and of opportunities to travel continents in Jesus name.  Every single one of you is welcome

Presence and Transcendence

Dear Oaks,

What is it that we truly and fundamentally value about being a church? You may recall that in my previous message, and at the AGM, I said that we needed to have a conversation about our values and our vision.  I began with cross and resurrection.  This week I want to suggest presence and transcendence.  Or to put it in plain English, God is both near and far, with us in ways we can experience and yet glorious, majestic and beyond

This is important for several reasons as it will influence the “how we do church” and also what we communicate to those who are not yet part of the Oak Tree family.

The presence of God is a wonderful gift to any believer. It is the knowledge that you have been drawn in to intimacy with our Heavenly Father.  An old worship song described it like this: “when the things of this world grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace”.  It is as if worldly concerns are overruled by a peace that cannot be overcome and a strength that empowers life well lived.  Often we experience this presence in terms of both peace and a weight upon us. Indeed the glory of God literally implies a heaviness.  I remember queuing to get in to a church in Canada and being unable to stand such was the reality of Gods closeness.

It was not the experience, exciting though that was that mattered, it was that in the place of knowing God’s presence hearts are transformed; bodies healed; minds renewed, and in the case I have sited, I came to a deep place of repentance.  I knew that to live in such proximity to the Living and Holy God I had to forgive others and ask their forgiveness of me.

Many churches will try and hype or imitate this sense of excitement and presence but be sure when it is real God will not leave you as you are.  He loves you too much to let you experience froth; He wants you to experience deeply His holiness.

Transcendence is about acknowledging and celebrating that we have a BIG GOD.  He is powerful, majestic and sovereign.  Whilst He loves to draw near in intimacy He is not a God we can box in or domesticate like some heavenly pet.  His ways are above our ways and He is not a God to be messed with.  He is ultimate truth, searing fire and light in whom there is no shadow of darkness.  Whilst Father full of love, He is a judge of all as well.

We all need a God we truly revere. We are created to worship.  We need to know we have a God in whom we can expect the “exceedingly more than can we ask or imagine” of Ephesians.  When life is tough and the mountains we must scale dwarf us we must know that God is on His throne and that all is therefore well.

So as we come to worship on Sunday (Pentecost, when we plan to pray for all that are wanting, that the fire of His presence and glory will fall) let us do so with reverence for God is King, and with heartfelt joy for He is near.

And do let me or one of the ACC know what you think should be included in the vision and values of Oak Tree. The ACC meets on Monday and over the next couple of meetings will discuss our vision and values. Why not have your say?

In the Fathers love,

Mark