The past few months have been a trying time for me and my family as we have watched my mother gradually lose her capacity to live independently. Yes, she’s got all her faculties and has many years left but frailty has set in to such an extent that she now needs permanent care. As you can imagine, the burden has fallen to us to wind up her home which she has occupied for nearly 15 years and to decide what to do with all her belongings, many of which are steeped in treasured memories but are of no value to anyone but us. The quirky tea pot, the photo album of holidays in the sun, the Valentine’s card from her late husband – all priceless treasures which have no home to go to now – who would want to buy them?
It’s ironic that this bulletin coincides with the departure of both the manager and chairman from Nottingham Forest. When the dust has settled all that might be left for this club will be yesterday’s memories. A team that, in days gone by, were the champions of Europe and were feared by the likes of Liverpool and Manchester United are now reduced to an unsellable commodity. Who would want to buy yesterday’s memories?
Having spent last night at the Nottingham Royal Centre watching the Soweto Gospel Choir and seeing the passion and energy which they invest in their performance, I reflected upon the churches I attend and lead worship in week by week. Where is the passion and energy? Are we living on yesterday’s memories?
Now I’ve heard all the arguments about tradition and how we mustn’t throw the baby out with the bath water. Yes, I know that the Wesley brothers started a movement which is still respected and admired by Christians across the globe but I have to ask myself how much of what we do today is based on yesterday’s memories.
We need to re-invent ourselves.
The passion and energy which fuelled the 18th century revival was God’s gift to that generation but we are not that generation any longer. Many Methodists across the country have been praying for revival. Revival is what it says on the tin – coming back to life – being re-born. Resting on the laurels of yesterday’s memories is nothing more than nostalgia.
We live in a country where society’s attitudes towards religion have radically altered in recent years. Confronted by the threat of terrorism from religious fanatics, the growing influence of other faiths in Britain, the suspicion of those in authority (including the Church) and the belief that truth is relative, many are now questioning the place of the Church within society and are reluctant to join something which they see as yesterday’s memory.
As I seek to introduce new ways of worshipping in the churches, I can feel the tension from some sectors who still yearn for the formula with which they grew up – the hymn-prayer sandwich, the predictability, the preacher-focussed service, the organ, the silent reverence. I understand all of this but I also looked at the glazed look on the faces of the children who feel they have stepped back in time by coming into church. The old ways of ‘doing church’ still have appeal - but to whom?
The good news is that we are presented with an unprecedented opportunity to be re-born. The values which underpinned the 18th century revival are as relevant today as they ever were. The manner in which we ‘do church’ and present the gospel are different. We must guard against the subtle temptation of thinking that what worked well in the past will still work well today.
The Soweto Gospel Choir gave me hope and inspiration. As the audience rapturously applauded their final song and provoked a number of encores, what we were left with was the sense that God is present in a powerful way today. The multi-coloured dresses, the highly energetic dancing, the exuberant singing - all pointed to an inner conviction that Jesus is Lord.
This is our only hope today.
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