One of the reasons I love coming to church is that I get to see the same old faces. At which someone pipes up ‘Hey Philip, less of the old’.

I occasionally attend a Missional Leaders Learning group. At the most recent, the topic of not letting folk know who is leading or preaching came up. In fact some have taken it off the notices as it seemed that some don’t come when so & so is leading or preaching, or they do come because so and so is leading or preaching. That got me to thinking about why we come to church.

I actually only have one main reason to come, which is to be with other believers, seekers, the indifferent, anyone really, to do all the things I can do alone at home, but which as regularly as possible I want to do with others. Why do you come?

There are many understandable reasons why we may not be in church on a Sunday. These include, health issues, travel restrictions, holidays and the breaks we all need, spending time with our families and partners who may not join us. The time of the service may also be a factor. We may occasionally like to go somewhere else, have a new experience etc.. Fab, please bring any ideas back with you!

We may have our own regular pattern that varies from being every week to, once a fortnight, once a month or whenever.

There are only a few reasons why folk may not come on any particular Sunday which we might (if you forgive me) consider fickle and not especially honouring to God. These include; not liking the person taking the service, not liking the type of service, such as; it’s not communion, it is communion, it’s all age and we don’t like children. And all because we looked at the service rota.

Please remember that when we can’t be there on a Sunday, there’s always the Team Zoom Service from Holy Trinity Lane End provided by Ian Sparrowhawk.

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/3448751858?pwd=MDk1WG1DY1VpTWh0KzhFVFJUcnBxdz09 Meeting ID: 344 875 1858 Passcode: clare

There are very good reasons for us letting you know where any of us might be on a Sunday. For example, you might need to catch one of us to talk about something.

We have a wonderful Ministry Team and one of its joys is the variety of personalities and services we can provide. If we love Jesus we will come as often as we can, because he’s the only one who will always be there, that matters.

And as I always say, ‘Church, it’s who we are, never where or when we go! And though it’s good to come to church, it’s a zillion times better to be church.

Every service is the never the same without any of us.

Keep the faith, but never ever to ourselves.

Love Philip x

If this Blog has challenged or annoyed you, have a chat when you see that I’ll be with you. Other forms of communication are available.

By Revd Philip Smith

This week, Mark and I have been at our Diocesan Conference. There were opportunities to attend various workshops on a wide variety of topics. I was struck by the title of one called ‘Swing when you Sing’. The blurb said ‘Ever dreamed of swinging like Sinatra or crooning like Crosby? Join Nick Gallant and Liam Cartwright seasoned musicians and church leaders for a fun interactive dive into the world of jazz singing. Learn the secrets of the style, build confidence and leave with practical ideas to bring soulful sound into your church context. Just bring your voice and your love of music.’

I was hooked. There were 5 other participants and it was great fun, but the blurb didn’t say it was participatory. For as we got into some warm up exercises and some understanding of the style we were asked to take a hymn and jazz it up and perform it to the group in 15 miuntes. They were all amazing because everyone basically thought, oh what the heck and rose to the challenge.

I love Church but Sunday Services can sometimes feel a bit trad. That’s not a criticism, it’s just I love spontaneity, improvisation and the creativity that sometimes is squashed by conforming to some unwritten norms that not everyone is sure about or where they came from.

One of our speakers shared Picasso’s definition of tradition. ‘Tradition should be like having a baby and not wearing your grandfather’s hat.’ It’s about birth and new things and not holding too tightly to the past.

In a few weeks’ time, we all have an opportunity to swing a bit as we are getting together a Community Choir to sing at the Stokenchurch Village Fete. Everyone is welcome of all ages, to give it a real family feel’.

Now the music will not be familiar to most, but it’s easily singable with repetitive catchy lines and great professional backings. Lucy and I use these songs in both of our church schools and we are plugging this with them and their families.

As with so much in life it may not be your cup of tea but it might be your cappuccino. But we won’t know unless we give it a go and step out of our comfort zones. You only need to come to at least two run-throughs. It’s that easy and hopefully lots of fun.

One of the songs has the lyric. ‘Here we are together joining in this song, even those who feel that their singing’s not that strong and as we sing may every person know that they belong. gathering in this place.’

I had no idea what to expect in the jazz workshop, so I went with the flow, and you can too. Tell a friend, a neighbour, put it on your social media groups, bring the grandkids, and let’s show our community that we are human, friendly and fun. Details are below.

Keep the faith, but never ever to ourselves.

Love Philip x

Back to the Future

By Revd Philip Smith

As we approach Passiontide and Easter, it’s also the season of our Annual Church Meetings. One down, four to go, ha-ha.

Annual anniversaries, whether they are personal or a church, give an opportunity to reflect on how the last year has gone. They are opportunities to say ‘thank you’ for all the wonderful things people do for our communities and each other. Volunteers are not paid because they are worthless, but because they are priceless.

A BIG thank you to those who clean, write reports, do admin, arrange flowers, sing & play, serve refreshments, dig holes, ring bells, create rotas, read, pray, Community Matters donors and helpers, verge, and those who have served faithfully on church councils & deanery synods, especially our wonderful wardens.* Annual meetings are also a time to encourage others to fill the shoes of those who have offered long service and may need a break. I often say ‘if you’re older than the vicar, put your feet up. If you’re younger than the vicar pull your socks up’. But it’s often said ‘if you want a job done, find a busy person’. God also is prompting new recruits! Believe it!

Annual meetings are especially an opportunity to look to the future. To challenge and inspire, to reflect on fresh approaches. How might we do things differently or better? How might we encourage us all to share our faith with family, friends, neighbours, colleagues? Not for them to be pew fodder, but to experience the grace we have received unconditionally. The best way to share our faith, is to share our lives. ‘Go to their parties’ as Bishop Alan once said. There’s so much more to church, than services and buildings.

Nostalgia is not what it used to be and we should ‘never let our attachment to the past be greater than our commitment to the future.’ We are all called to be on a love mission not just in the maintenance team. We can never look back to some golden era, the good old days. There’s actually only one reason for looking back and this is where Easter takes us. For we look back to the cross and resurrection as the defining point in history that shapes all our ‘back to the futures’.

So never let our love of traditions, rituals, liturgy, buildings, past glories, be greater than our love for Jesus, for it may hold us back from moving forward, and from always keeping the main thing, the main thing.

Onwards and upwards, for the best is yet to come.

Keep the faith, but never ever to ourselves.

Love Philip x
*if you are missed off the list, you are loved beyond measure

By Revd Philip Smith

This Thursday is momentous when our Prime Minister visits the President of the United States of America, and someone we know very well becomes a Bishop. I’m always intrigued by Jesus’ relationships with other readers who are nothing like him and I often imagine conversations Jesus has with the disciple Peter.

Peter: Jesus.

Jesus: yes Peter, this better be good.

Peter: I’m not sure you should go round calling the leaders a ‘brood of vipers’.

Jesus: Why not! They are a brood of vipers.

On another occasion he says of Herod ‘Go and tell that fox for me’ Luke 13:32

Jesus doesn’t always appear to hold back as I guess he sees through all the layers of bravado and sees them for who they really are. He’s certainly not fond of hypocrites, a word that comes from Greek actors wearing different masks as they play different characters. Most people can spot a fake a mile away. I doubt if they would do it, but I think all leaders should have to wear badges like Formula One Drivers, showing who sponsors them. Perhaps there should also be a sign at every meeting between them that reads: ‘Leave your egos at the door’.

For those of us in the Wycombe Deanery we have a special relationship with our new Bishop because we know him and have grown to appreciate his servant heart. We can see why he has been given this opportunity and great responsibility especially at a time when all Bishops are under a spot light. Please pray for Dave & Helen, we know he does for us.

Sadly, when world leaders and politicians behave in dubious ways we are not surprised, as expectations of integrity are often low. Leaders in the Church however are rightly held to a greater standard as we and they seek to follow our Lord’s example especially when he says that the Kings of the Gentiles Lord it over their subjects, it should not be like that with you.

Bishops, Prime Ministers and Presidents hold great responsibility, but they are human like us all and like us need much prayer as they seek to serve, but they are no more or less important than any of us. Jesus said that if we want to be the greatest, then we must become the least. It’s why seeing Pope Francis washing feet is so powerful. Pray for him too.

Here’s Peter and Jesus again.

Peter: Lord, what do you want me to do?

Jesus: What part of act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with me don’t you understand Peter.

Peter: Don’t you mean walk humbly with God.

Jesus: That’s what I said.

Always remember that the most important person on Airforce One is the pilot.

Keep the faith, but never ever to ourselves.

Love Philip x
PS It’s only a week till Lent. How might we do it differently? Please reread Lucy’s blog below.
*The first rule of the All Blacks.