Well, it seemed to go OK. I, in my role as "Mr Anabaptist disguised as Anglican" was able to explain my position to the group, while accepting that otehr views exist. "Mrs Roman Catholic" also stated her case, and "Mr Elder in a URC church" also spoke a lot. "Mr Former Baptist now Anglican Church Warden despite not being confirmed" was very supportive of me. The Alpha Candidates were all completely new to the idea of believer's baptism, so they have learned something new at least, even if it is only that there is a range of views.
Perhaps more profitable was a pre-session chat about who and what are angels, from a question from a candidate.
So - if you prayed for the session, I think you can safely say your prayers were answered. Thank you!
Showing posts with label alpha. Show all posts
Showing posts with label alpha. Show all posts
Monday, June 18
Tuesday, June 12
After Alpha, and baptism
Our workplace Alpha course has been a success. Of the five candidates, two have had to stop attending owing to work commitments covering for sick colleagues - sounds like an excuse to me - but the other three are really solid. At the end of Alpha they didn't want to stop, so we have been carrying on with a general beginner's bible study group leaders book.
We are starting to make plans to merge this group with the pre-existing prayer group whose members organised the Alpha course. Step one, make the meetings on separate days so that attendance at both is possible.
It's my turn to lead the study group next Monday - session three, Baptism. The first paragraph of this book asserts the need for baptism after coming to faith, discounting infant baptism as a post-Constantinian invention. Personally, the author must have read my mind. But I don't own the group which is much more ecumenical and includes a Roman Catholic and several other Anglicans, and so I will have to lead the session with due respect to the pro infant baptism members while somehow maintaining my own integrity.
Even if you strongly disagree with my views, plese pray that the session will be marked by unity rather than controversy, and that while the whole spectrum of opinion is discussed the conclusion may be in line with what God wants rather than with our own theological agendas. Or yours.
We are starting to make plans to merge this group with the pre-existing prayer group whose members organised the Alpha course. Step one, make the meetings on separate days so that attendance at both is possible.
It's my turn to lead the study group next Monday - session three, Baptism. The first paragraph of this book asserts the need for baptism after coming to faith, discounting infant baptism as a post-Constantinian invention. Personally, the author must have read my mind. But I don't own the group which is much more ecumenical and includes a Roman Catholic and several other Anglicans, and so I will have to lead the session with due respect to the pro infant baptism members while somehow maintaining my own integrity.
Even if you strongly disagree with my views, plese pray that the session will be marked by unity rather than controversy, and that while the whole spectrum of opinion is discussed the conclusion may be in line with what God wants rather than with our own theological agendas. Or yours.
Tuesday, January 9
Hi I'm back
Well back for now anyway. Life is still very full.
Mrs is still strongly pregnant, with loads of morning sickness etc, but is suffering a few small bleeds. in the past these have always heralded the doom of the pregnancy, but we feel so strongly that this is the Lord's will that we still hold hope.
At work I am busy with engineering projects which leaves little time for blogging. Following the success fo our Carol service we are starting an Alpha course next week. Please pray that people will come and find the Lord Jesus.
I wrote the ideas below before I received a letter from my MP, which basically demonstrated that there are exemptions to the SORs for churches, etc, and so I have typed a whole rant for nothing. Apologies to all! I will scan the MPs letter for you on Thursday if I get a chance.
A dark day for the UK today with the Sexual Orientation Regulations. Thyey were originaly introduced through the back door without proper consultation. An attempt to annul them in Northern Ireland was defeated by one party using the vote of a deceased member. And in the hosue of Lords today the english objectors were overruled. The regulations in themselves are well intentioned, and I would support their intent, but they have been taken to far. A Church that now declines to hire out its hall to a gay group on the grounds that their objectives are not compatible with the church's theology can now be fined large sums of money. The pastor/Vicar would also be fined personally. This clearly exchanges one oppression for another. Fair enough, in society at large, let people do as they will. But why should we be forced to let them do and say things that we object to on our property? Why should people be forced to do things that are contrary to their religion? Next Buckingham Palace will be forced to sell anarchist flags in its gift shop. It seems to me that politicians are even more frightened of the gay lobby than they are of Islamic fundamentalism.
Mrs is still strongly pregnant, with loads of morning sickness etc, but is suffering a few small bleeds. in the past these have always heralded the doom of the pregnancy, but we feel so strongly that this is the Lord's will that we still hold hope.
At work I am busy with engineering projects which leaves little time for blogging. Following the success fo our Carol service we are starting an Alpha course next week. Please pray that people will come and find the Lord Jesus.
I wrote the ideas below before I received a letter from my MP, which basically demonstrated that there are exemptions to the SORs for churches, etc, and so I have typed a whole rant for nothing. Apologies to all! I will scan the MPs letter for you on Thursday if I get a chance.
A dark day for the UK today with the Sexual Orientation Regulations. Thyey were originaly introduced through the back door without proper consultation. An attempt to annul them in Northern Ireland was defeated by one party using the vote of a deceased member. And in the hosue of Lords today the english objectors were overruled. The regulations in themselves are well intentioned, and I would support their intent, but they have been taken to far. A Church that now declines to hire out its hall to a gay group on the grounds that their objectives are not compatible with the church's theology can now be fined large sums of money. The pastor/Vicar would also be fined personally. This clearly exchanges one oppression for another. Fair enough, in society at large, let people do as they will. But why should we be forced to let them do and say things that we object to on our property? Why should people be forced to do things that are contrary to their religion? Next Buckingham Palace will be forced to sell anarchist flags in its gift shop. It seems to me that politicians are even more frightened of the gay lobby than they are of Islamic fundamentalism.
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