New blog!

Its been a while!! sorry but I am Back.. "I know you have heard it all before. "

Anyway I've started a new blog: http://skypilot78.blogspot.co.uk

My thoughts can be found here from now on!! I will explain why shortly!

blessings

rich


http://skypilot78.blogspot.co.uk

After last week!

Dear Church 1v23,

Well that was hard work..........wasn't it. 

Community meal I mean. Last week we saw 6 family groups get together and let's be honest, it was at times chaos and felt like trying to walk uphill with a strong wind in our face.

The irony that we were discussing and reflecting on being patient on a night when everyones patience was tested made me smile.

I'm sorry for my part in that chaos. 

Afterwards I was like "arrrrr" this isn't working, what can we change, should we scrap it completely! These were unhelpful and dark thoughts. 

There are somethings we can all do to help reduce the chaos, but I think Eat123 will always have an element of the crazy about it. 

After a couple of days thinking a realised what I love about Eat123 and what we feel called to have each week.

Does some of this reflect your thoughts? Maybe we can discuss these over some washing up. 

1)I am really grateful for everyone who comes to community meal- it would be lonely without you.  

2) The only way to a nice quiet evening is to all stay in our own homes, lonely and isolated!

3) I am grateful that when I go wrong as a parent I'm not judged by my friends at Eat123.

4) I hope that Church1v23 is a place you can come if you are feeling happy or at the end of your rope.

5) Eat123 and Church1v23 are not about providing a "show" or a "club" it is about providing a place where we as families can support, love and challenge each other and change the communty we live in, starting with us.

6) I long that our children can grow up knowing how to interact and talk with others. That they can survive 2 hours without a "screen" of any sort. That they are willing to try new food and learn about different cultures. I long that our kids forgive when wronged and seek forgiveness when they have wronged. That they know what it is to be respected and show repsect, be welcomed and show welcome to others who are different. That they learn from others that they are gifted and talented. Eat123 is a safe place learn about God and have the freedom to choose to accept those beliefs if they wish too.  ( I long for us adults to be like this too and often the children are ahead of us in these things!)

 7) Eat123 is God's idea, he wants us to experience community, but it takes time to shape those communties, and often what shapes it most is the bits we find uncomfortable. I hope that those who come to eat123 can hear, learn and meet Jesus who's bizarre and loving idea,  real and honest community was.

8) I want to share Eat123 with others, I long that Eat123 grows because what we are trying to do is messy, sometimes hard work and annoying, but it is good.   

................see you on friday.

Live below the line challenge.

Two weeks ago, Alison and I along with Jess and Caleb, did the live below the line challenge. 

See https://www.livebelowtheline.com/ for more details

The idea is that you live on £1s worth of food per person for the five week days. Some people get sponsored to do it, we are going to  give away what we saved on our normal food shop. 

Obviously, we had £20 for the four of us.*

We did this to help us walk in the shoes of others and to remind us of how full our lives are. 

We also do it to help us see how much we take for granted and how our shopping is often done without reflection.

One of the Urban expression values are:

•

We realise the importance of living uncluttered lives, holding possessions lightly and recognising that all we have is to be at God’s disposal.

Doing this for 5 days is in some ways tokenistic, but he has really challenged Alison and I once again about the way we shop and uses the amazing resources God has given us.

Is our shopping uncluttered? We'll we've learnt some more lessons this time and will be asking God to help de clutter even more.

The other challenge of this task is how it is not always best to spend less, crap food is cheaper that healthier food. Cheap food is often mass produced and so I probably very unethically produced. 

De-cluttering is more that just saying no- it's about having the time to think about the choices I'm making with the things and people  god has given me and he impact of those choices. 

May Jesus help us be content with what we have and my what we have be a blessing to others. 

* the kids had school meals in the week because if our resources were that small in the uk it is likely that they would qualify for free school meals. We did this because we felt low in energy and ratty at the end of the week and didn't think it wise to put a 7&9 year old through that. 

My day with social workers- so much in common- so much which is different.

This week I had the privilege of doing some teaching for about 30 first year social work students. 

They were a great bunch and the day went well. 

The main sessions I did were on what is professional (comparing church ministers practice to social workers.)

What influences the judgements and decisions you make. 

How to use questions to help people learn and how using questions avoid you imposing your values and judgments on others.

Lastly I did a brief session on how I keep going and what sustains me when working with families and families in crisis.  All of which I was freely able to weave my spirituality. 

My main reflections from this day were:

• Self awareness is key to effective working practice for both professions. You can know all there is to know about social work or about theology and God, but if you don't know you and your strengths and weakness then your good knowledge will be held back. For me I know that my character defects have at times effected my working ability greatly. My response to situations is not just governed by what I know but by who I am. I want to be more like Jesus and the person He would have me to be. I am grateful to the writing of Dallas Willard "renovation of the heart" for helping me in this area.  I am grateful for knowing so very self aware social workers.
• We are different: Some of the criticism from within the church about those who do pioneer ministry the way we do is that we are pseudo social workers. Once again, a day spent with social workers makes me see that this is so completely a miss understanding of social workers and Christians involved in social action. The boundaries and aims of these professions are very different. Yes there is overlap, but we are different. Yes I think there are many areas the church and social work compliment each other, but we are not the same. 
• We need each other for justice. When I read the story of Jesus I see Justice for the vulnerable at it's centre. The partnerships which I have enjoyed with the local social services I believe have been for the advancement of Justice for the vulnerable. Neither agencies can claim perfection in this area, but our different working approaches, influences and power I believe are for the advancement of the kingdom of God. 
• We need each other for accountability. The church and the state provision of social work offer accountability to each other.  Both are separate enough from each other to offer the other reflection on each other practices and help both improve. The fact that a church minister was invited in to do this days teaching shows that there is clearly within social work an agenda to look beyond it's self for wisdom to good practice. I know that I was learning thought the day, I'm a better follower of Jesus and servant of his church for my interactions with social services. 

Mothers day- worth the pain?

As most know this sunday is Mothers Day, or mothering sunday in the UK. 

It is a day ( and week before) in which holds many tensions for people. It is a day to be confronted* with our feelings about those who nurtured us and those who we get to nurture. For some it's a celebration of goodness and love, for others it's a day to be reminded of what has passed or was never there. I suspect for most it's a combination of both. 

So what to do about it as churches. I've seen on Facebook many churches will be doing as little as possible because it's a painful over commercialised day! 

Shame, understandable, but a shame. I think that pain is exactly what the church should be talking about and people in pain should be able to be held in community at such time. Obviously a person has the right to op out of gathering as church for many reasons, but I'm sad that at time when society is hurting the parts of the church will be avoiding a painful topic. 

As I see it the bible wonderfully tells of the following things:

• God loves us and nurtures us like a good mother and father do.
• God loves good healthily parenting and nurturing. 
• Parenting is hard.
• Church community is place mourning people can find support and love.
• Church community is place where people can celebrate God's goodness.
• God in His grace can breath new life into broken relationship.
• God heals broken hearts. 

People I met and know are longing to hear the Goodnews of the Gospel and mothers day is one such opportunity for the church. To creativity try to hold real people with real issues together while worshipping God and allowing him to heal us and change us in the week in and week out role of the church. Not easy on mothers day, not everyone will come and not everyone will like what we do- but hey that every time we gather together anyway! 

This week church1v23 will be trying to hold the people we love with their emotions around mothers day, and so share and be the Gospel to one another. Pray for us, we'll pray for you. 

*by confronted I mean that if you have any connection to children they spend time most of the built up week doing mothers day stuff, making cards having stalls selling more stuff. Shop also make it clear that this is time for you to spend you money on mushy cards for your mums.

Call it lent snobbery, call them lent Pharisees

 There is now a new way of thinking and the new ways as it so often does looks down in the simple old way. It looks down on the old ways as shallow and not "deep" enough.  Lent is place we see this old human trait raise it ugly head.

I've seen many a post in the last couple of weeks (and years) looking down upon the simple lent fasts of chocolates or fizzy drinks or a certain tv soap as well, not really good enough. Now instead of giving things up (far too negative for the modern trendy church) we need to be doing things and smiling about them. Lent is not more about stop- it's about GO.

When I read the temptation of Jesus I see character and issues of control at the centre of this wrestle between these ancient foe. 

What controls you? Where are your character defects? Do you find yourself reaching for the confort of the choc bar or fizzy drink or beer or ..... To numb you feelings and lack of control. Are you frozen into inaction by low self worth or fears you have. Well bless you, your not alone, try giving up that choc bar and seeing you are made for more and that you can endure the pain. And forgive those who snobbishly look down at your need. If your frozen by inaction believing you can't change anything and that you have no power, we go do something and I hope that by  giving up inaction you will be set free to enjoy life. 

Of couse we can continue to hide our character defects and control issues behind our lent fasts and so choose something easy, which does not confront our weaknesses of character and our wrestle with control. 

Life has deserts, Jesus knew that. Deserts are temping places to take the easy path. Jesus experienced that. But He stood firm for live even in the hard place. Let's not try to control others by judging their deserts and their attempts to not be controlled by them. 

is there anyway to deal with pain?

Last night at team meeting we were talking about helping friends who seem at the bottom of a barrel.
I am aways humbled how honest people in our community are about what is going on in their lives. It's amazingly refreshing.  Often I'm left wondering what I can do to help, and often I fall short of coming up with anything that is going to make a real difference in the short term.

I also find that people who feel at the bottom of the barrel have worked hard a creating coping strategies for their pain and sadness. Some of these coping strategies are also coursing them hurt and pain, but they are also bring comfort at the same time. I know the struggle to let go of my person coping strategies, it's like that moment of swimming in the deep-end without holding onto the sides, so i don't blame people for being suspicious of letting go of the "side".  But at the same time I long for them to know there are alternatives to help them in the moments of pain and hurt. I long for people to know and more importantly experiences Jesus as comfort and support. I guess that even if I can't convince people to let go of the "side" and try letting jesus help them I can be a faithful friend reminding them that Jesus is aways another way of dealing with the pain in life.

One of the reason's liz and I go out and do little things (some would say silly things) like free hugs, paying for people's car parking and giving stuff away is that we want to challenging people that stages we have and individuals for coping with life are not he only options. there are options. God in his grace as not forgotten us and is offering us alternatives, he is here to help.

no simple answers

I love our community meal, in many ways it's the heart beat of what we do. Food, family fun, serving together and trying to think about and work out who Jesus is.

Over the last couple of months it's been going through a change and we can't put our finger on what that change is. The change requires us to make some changes to Eat123 ( the name of the community meal). But we're not really sure that we know what changes to make, when or how!

This is not a big deal, the world is not going to end and life will carry on fine. It's just i don;t like not knowing!!

Not knowing is a part of leadership- but i'm not going to blag it and try to pretend i do know.

I'm going to listen to the advice of friends ( most who don't have any more of clue than i do!!)

Listen to God and trust that when i don't have a clue - he does and he might share what he's up to with me and he might not!!

I think I have been unfaithful-

This is my confession- Sorry I've given the attention and love I promised to one, to another!!

It's not that I meant to, it's just that I've been really busy and not have the time to love as I want too.

The look in the others eyes said to me love me, care for me and touch me!

I felt as if I could only say yes!!

I wish I had given more time to the things which matter, then at least I could have show love to both!

I wish I could say no as often as I say yes.

If only I could make decisions based on what I'm called to do and not on what will massage my ego and pride, then maybe i would not come home smelling of another.

If I could just remember the amazing things God has put into my hand and stop trying to add more and more, maybe I wouldn't be so so guilt right now.

God, you have been so good to me, help me to be good to what you have given me and stop taking what you have given to another.




[Some lovely friends have had a baby, they have a dog. I have helped look after that dog while they were having the baby. My faithful and often ignored dog is asking "how come you can make time for to play, stoke and walk another, but not for me. How can you come home smelling of another?"]

Guess how much (in %) a kids spends in school in a year!

Go on? have try?

45%?


32%?


62%?

??%

Well the answer is..... I tell you in a moment and keep you reading for now. The answer is a shattering reminder that the HOME is the key to a child. Teachers are amazing and do an amazing job, but we need to support, cheer on and challenge parents to be raising world changers and not clones of a broken society.

Parents our job is to let are kids know they are loved, have skills and talents which God has a great joy to use.

Parents we need to send our kids out into the world with positive self esteem, being highly socially   competent and with the self discipline so they can face the challenges in changing a broken and unjust world.

School is good and important, but lets say sorry for leaving it all to the teachers. Those who spend the most time with children have the most influence on them.  Not easy, often tiring, often unappreciated, often flawed and mistake ridden, but if we could rise to our challenge then maybe our kids could change the world to see an end to hunger, the rich getting richer and the poor getting poor. See the 'different' being accepted and loved as humans and not pushed the to sidelines of society.  

And so they would see God's kingdom come in ways we can't imagine.

The answer is 16% of year.

PS If they sleep for 10 hours a night thats still leaves 40% with YOU!!

PPS Kids still need to go to school BTW. That 16% is still incredibly important. ( unless you home school)

PPPS I realise some family shapes mean that that % is different, but i don't think that reduces the challenge.

Did we get the balance right? Did we do too much telling and not enough living!

Over the month of December we as a team had a number of amazing opportunities to share the good news of Jesus at Christmas. We had the local youth centre Christmas faye, the Harold Hill Light switch on, a church Christmas meal, and the pub carol service and other. All were good fun, all we very time consuming. All meant that the relationships I have suffered ( at home and in the community).

But to be honest we weren't say much new- People on the Hill tend to know the story the local school all have nativity based school shows.

Would it have been better to send the time and energy explain the "so what" of the Christmas story and helping people understand how understanding it can free us from some of the trap of the "material" Christmas.

Is part of the problem that so much of the what the church does fits so neatly into the material christmas?

I know as a Dad I'm struggling with what my children learn about life through the way we celebrate christmas.

Is Christmas seen too much as proclamation time of year over a discipleship opportunity?

Would churches and communities be healthier if the time, energy and money poured into telling people what most know and used for helping the saints live it and understand the So what of the christmas story?

I think next year less will be more for us at church1v23



(PHOTO: LIZ doing some out on the streets time with some art work- Inspired by Chris Duffet)

it's been a while- sorry

Sorry it's been a while, i'm planning to be better!

rich

Would you please pray?

Last year during September we asked you to pray for more team members and God answered by providing Liz. She is an amazing gift, however four years into our adventure we still feel we could do with another couple of people willing to move onto the hill to share in this incredible adventure.

I'm sure all churches would love extra servants living for Jesus, here is why we are praying for more.

The harvest is plentiful but the shorters and Liz can only stretch so far! We know so many people, but only have so much time.

Much relies on Rich and Alison and this can't be healthy in the long term for the church we are planting, nor is it healthy for the shorters in the short term!

Iron sharpens iron! We'd loved and needed Steve and Lauren's company, Liz is so wise and full of energy but others would help us bring the best out of each other.

To help make this work of God sustainable we need to bring in different gifts and life/ God experiance. ( for example Rich is doing a lot of admin- I know scary)

So for September would you pray the following? Put it in church notice sheets. Pray it at small groups- every time you pray it we would be very grateful.

Father, we thank you for your love of Harold hill, we thank you for those who know you and serve you on the hill. We praise you for all you have done through the urban expression team over the last 4 years. Please send others to live on the hill and join in the adventure of serving and living for Jesus. Holy Spirit stir those you are calling to explore this adventure of faith.

Many thanks

rich.

our New Wine experience

Alison, the Kids and myself went to New Wine last week with some friends of ours.

New wine is a Christian family week, camping in summerset with 15,000 others. This was our first year. We choice to go because Alison and I used to enjoyed Soul survivor, the youth version of this event and because this event has a charismatic expression of spirituality which both of us would say is part of our spirit shape.

There are two main sessions a day and many different seminars throughout the day.

Taking kids to an event like is knackering and does change how much you can go too, but we still managed to get to all the seminars we wanted to. We even got to hear the Arch bishop of Canterbury, who came across as a very likeable and deep person.

The main highlights/ challenges for us were.

Hungry venue:

There was an alternative morning worship and teaching venue for those in urban settings. We were nervous going to New Wine, we know we needed to spiritually refreshed and recharged, but main stream church now makes us a little twitchy!  Hungry for us was honest, creative, raw and had a great balance of word and spirit.  Its was focused on sending us back out to serve the poor and needy for Christ. It was just what we needed.

Generous spirit.

There was the room to be different and think differently to others. The leadership of new wine come across as very generous and this is reflected in the tapestry of speakers that they have. I was very humbled by this.

Kids work.

The Kids work was amazing in both quality and content. Listening to our kids pray and talk about God, it is clear they had so much more than a good time.

Band trinity

On the Thursday night we went to see a band called trinity. This was the most multi cultural band I have ever seen- if you get a chance hear/ experience them.

 Friendship

Being with another family whom all the kids get on and the adults could share an honest place to be real and laugh together was for me the biggest highlight of the week.

Over all we come back inspired, reminded of our call and God’s ability to fulfil that call.

It's been a while.... sorry

Hey faithful blog followers, how are you all?

We are good and things are going well.

I will write more in the coming weeks, but wanted to check in!

2 bits of good news.

• Liz has become a team member. She is an amazing lady with an amazing life story and we are sure that God has called her to work with us.
• We have 5 more years. Romford Baptist church who started this partnership have extended it by another 5 years. this is a great encouragement. 

talk soon......honest!

spare bedroom tax- letter to my MP

Dear Dame Watkinson MP

I hope this finds you well. I am writing to you about the proposed changes to housing benefit that are commonly being called the ‘spare bedroom tax’.

While I understand that there are no easy solutions to the present economic difficulties, I think that the route the present government are taking to reduce the welfare bill is illogical and will in the end prove to be both morally detrimental and financially costly to the UK as a whole, but especially to the most vulnerable communities. 

This is because the ‘tax’ is a subtle but dangerous way of undermining of local community. In my opinion it will have the following effects.

It will reduce community stability

This 'tax' would not be as big an issue if people were able to stay in the same area but the lack of suitable housing stock means that this is not guaranteed. Obviously all communities experience levels of change, but if we are intentionally ‘moving’ people on then we are reducing the sense of local pride and ownership over a local community.

It will increase the pressure on Children

It is well documented that children’s performance levels and behaviour are both affected by moving to a new area. By forcing families to move the bedroom tax will actually add to the pressure on children who are already living in very demanding circumstances.

It will increase the stress felt by people who are already stretched

People in more vulnerable communities typically have higher levels of poor physical health and mental health issues. Again I wonder if this change to housing policy will only make things worse and result in increased pressure on other community resources like doctors and community mental health care teams.

It will reduce the number of socially rich people

Socially rich people are those who have good local support networks, which have taken time to build, and which they have come to rely on. If our social housing policies mean that people will need to move more regularly then we will be reducing the number of people who not only own the community, but who work for it and so contribute to the common good of those who live within it.

It will significantly increase levels of personal debt

Debt per household is already high and this ‘tax’ can only contribute to that problem. Some will not move, because they cannot afford to, and will have to borrow more to supplement the reduction in their housing benefit. Others will move but get into greater debt because moving is expensive and they cannot really afford these costs.

It will lead to a reduction in people's engagement with professionals and support services

In communities like Harold Hill it can take years to help a person or family have the confidence to engage with local professionals, such as GP’s or family support workers. By reducing community stability we reduce the possibility of those who need it most engaging with those who can help. People will slip through the net if they move.

As you can see, I am convinced that the 'spare bedroom tax' will cost the poorest communities dearly.

I’m really not interested in who is to blame for the current financial mess. I am however very concerned about my community and others like it will be effected in the years to come.

As a church leader I’m convinced that part of the church's message of hope is that while life alone is hard, almost impossible, together as a community it can be fun, varied and vibrant. What a shame if this 'tax’ then puts this type of community experience even further beyond the reach of those who are most vulnerable and who most need it. 

Yours sincerely 

Rev. Rich Shorter 

Is it wrong to look for instant changes in people?, I have a hunch it might be!

So Caleb is watching the Lord of the Rings films with me, bit by bit. I love him watching with excitement as the story unfolds. (We watch about 20mins 2/3 evening a week). So I've started to listen to the books. The books are different to the films. The films had to be different from the books, because they probably would not make great films if the story was not changed.  The thing is the time span of the books is far longer than the film. Frodo for example is not a young hobbit when he set out to destroy the ring. Gandalf spends decades researching and seeking wisdom about the ring before doing something. The world of middle earth and the world of Tolkin seem to be one which appreciates the wisdom and changes which come with time.
So coming to think of does the Old Testament and God. There are loads of Stories in which people have to wait for change for God's change take time to ferment. The exodus, 40 years, 40 years. Ok as a result of peoples sin, but still God seemed to be happy with a process of change, an acceptable of wisdom which was not a snap acceptance of the will of God, but a slow and thoroughly taken in acceptance of change to the will and character of God.

I wonder if we've done to discipleship what the film makers had to do the Tolkin books! This is certainly the way of the world, working with the Local authority they want to change families in months, rather than years! Is our discipleship now about  making about big fast and dramatic changes! Rather than the working out of what it is to follow Jesus day by day season by season.  Do we expect church plants to working with broken people and in a few years see people ready to leader them?

I believe the reality is that change for those who we are serving is a big deal and it's only change if it's given the chance to ferment and adapt  through the seasons of life.

Don't get me wrong, God, can do as God wishes in an instant, thats why he's God,( and there are plenty of stories in the bible where he does bring real instant change) but it seems to me He loves us into real change, and real change requires us to step by step work out what following Jesus is like. It also give permission for mistakes and failure. After all we are to work out living for God. That sound like process, not instant miracle. The miracle is God stay with us as we step forward, backwards and side to side. Now that is Love and Grace to stay with me on the road to my own mordor.

I'm praying God changes people's lives beyond their understanding, that He gives Hope, freedom, forgiveness, an identity and Himself. Our culture would say do it now god, but I pray I have the faith to stay on my path serving others for the long haul.

The films are good, but the book are far richer and beautiful by the way.

R.

PS, come back in 20 years time when i'd probably learnt to understand this better and so say it better!

getting ready

some people have put together this blog 25things for advent . have a look, its about getting more from advent.

r.

Words last year from a 93 year old lady who we bury tomorrow- wisdom comes with age

"Even though your work in the community seems slow to materialise, it really will make a difference.
Even small things are remembered for many years to come, helping in so many ways.
One will never know the extent of your Ministry."

written in a card to R.

So on friday I met the Queen, thanks to you!

This last Friday the Queen came to Harold Hill to open the new academy on the Hill.

The Academy opened 2 years ago, but the the key staff have been working on the Hill for the last three years. I was privileged to be invited to have lunch with the Queen, which I thought would mean I be in a room with around 100 others have a bit of grub! This was in fact the case, but the real surprise for me was that I was part of group of people invited to be introduced to her personally in the school staff room. There were five groups- school governors, some of the school staff, people from the local authority, the local primary heads and the builders/ architects of the new buildings.( I was placed with the local head teachers). I informed the Queen that we had done parenting courses and such in the school. I also informed her that my three children wanted me to tell her that they thought she was a wonderful Queen. ( Caleb asked me to say this and Alison and the kids saw her outside the school.) Over all it was an amazing experience and I'm very grateful to the staff at Drapers for the opportunity.

I could write so much more, but the point of writing this in a blog was not to brag, but  to say thank you.

Thank you for your support because I believe I was invited not because I was a local Minister- but because of the way we have worked with the school, and we have worked in this way because others have supported and released us and believed in us and our calling from God to be/live in this way.

When we think about the way we have worked with the school it has been marked out by being relational, willing to work with those families who others have, will to work long term, willing to be openly Christian but not forceful, willing to ask how are you and too listen.

Meeting the queen was amazing, but in a difficult week, it was such an encouragement to realise that the invitation to do so was an outcome of us trying to follow Jesus and live out the lifestyle values he has called us to live out.  Thank you for the support and encouragement to live in this way.

PS- I must say Steve T did loads of work in the school while he was part of the team, so it did feel a little like stealing his glory meeting her, but hey I'm not complaining.

PPS, I think I would call myself a royalist and Her Majesty was amazing, but i'm still a baptist- The church and state should be separated for a number of reasons, but I didn't think friday was the time to bring this up!!!

PPPS yes I did wear a suit and tie!