Dear
Fellow Members,
I have
been greatly encouraged recently by two dear friends – one an elder
in St. John’s and the other an elder in St. Leonard’s in the
Fields. Each in his own way is thinking about God’s guidance and
the way forward for the church. It is good that we should be
proactive and talk together about how we can shape the inevitable
changes that lie before us. Their faith and vision has inspired me
to embark on a series of letters opening up the questions and
challenges we must face. My own ideas are simply that – my own.
They will never amount to anything without your criticism, input and
amendment. It is by talking together that ideas are shared, shaped
and fine-tuned; adopted or rejected. Please feel free, as this
series of letters evolves, to make your own suggestions and to share
your own vision.
Change
can sometimes be unwelcome and uncomfortable; but, as one of my
friends asks: “Is it possible that through the current
circumstances the Holy Spirit is leading us into new ways of being
the Church?” Can we discern the guidance of the Holy Spirit?
Already
we have seen great social change in our own lifetime. We can all
remember when every village, locality and community in Scotland had
its own Bank, Post Office, Police Station, Doctor’s Surgery,
Primary School, and Church. That is now no longer the case.
Economic forces, rationalisation and a tendency to centralise have
rendered that pattern of community life unviable and unsustainable.
More
recently, however, it now seems that we are standing on the cusp of
an even greater social revolution. Increasingly our interactions are
being conducted online. On line Shopping, Banking, Doctor’s
Consultations, Education and Learning, and Working from Home have
changed the landscape of our Town Centres. This trend was
discernible prior to the Covid pandemic; but has been accelerated
throughout lockdown. Shall we ever go back to things as they were;
or is this what the future holds?
More
particularly, in what ways will a Digital Future change and influence
(and hopefully enhance) the Worship, Fellowship and Pastoral Care of
the Christian Church? This is the challenge I should like to address
in subsequent letters. (Such letters will be all the more positive
and relevant with your comments, questions and input.)
More to
follow.
Every
Blessing,
Alex.
Alex.T.Stewart@blueyonder.co.uk
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