Roger's Reflections
This is a reflection on a confusing world written by Roger Price. While he is a Worship Leader at Earlsdon Methodist Church with a ministry in writing, the views and comments contained in this reflection are his own and do not necessarily reflect any position held by Earlsdon Methodist Church.
More details of Roger’s writings can be found at:
www.rogoofsham.co.uk
(Please note Earlsdon Methodist Church is not responsible for the content of any external site.)
Pentecostal Speaking
One of those of you who read these occasional ramblings – perhaps for all
I know the only one! – said to me a couple of weeks ago that he was
surprised that there hadn’t been a musing for Pentecost. I said that I
don’t write to order – that’s why I’m not called to be a preacher – I
write when I have something to say. But his request wouldn’t go away. And
so this is Chris’s fault, not mine.
I spent Easter in Kefalonia, one of the Greek islands. If you haven’t
been, go. It is beautiful and, before the tourists get there, empty. I was
helping my niece get her villas ready for the season so pool cleaning was
interspersed with sightseeing. But throughout my stay there was one common
factor. Whenever you turned on the television a religious service was
being broadcast on one or more of the channels. Amanda said “They’ve been
doing it for weeks, and will go on doing so until after you’ve gone.”
Now, I did get a chance to attend a couple of these Greek Orthodox
services and they were different from what I’m used to. I could tell you
about the way they greet the Risen Lord in the main square of Argostoli at
midnight on Easter Saturday but that’s best seen on YouTube! But I did
come away from those services that I was at – and those I saw on the
television – with one lasting impression. I had no idea what was going on.
You might say that was because the liturgy was in Greek – or Latin maybe.
I’m not sure. It was all Greek to me! But it was more than that. The way
the service was conducted, the physical layout of the church, even where
those who attended stood and how they were involved was totally alien to
my experience.
The Sunday morning after I got back I was listening to the service on
Radio 4 just after the 8 a.m. news. Now, I have to admit I was still in
bed but more or less wide awake. I could hear quite clearly the words of
welcome and the prayer that started the worship. And then they began to
sing. It was clearly a hymn – the organ and general sound gave that away.
I think I sort of recognised the tune. But I couldn’t hear a word they
were singing. The noise made by voices was there, but the content was
totally lost.
Now, that might have been my radio – or my hearing – or simply my state on
that Sunday morning. Yet the fact still remains. Neither in Kefalonia, or
lying in my own bed, could I understand and take part in an act or worship
to the living god I serve.
And that’s the total opposite of what happened that first Pentecost in the
market square.
Ordinary people were stopped in their tracks when total strangers who were
obviously ordinary people themselves started talking to them in a language
and a way that could not be overlooked. That is what all of us who profess
to serve our Lord should be doing.
Why only this week the preacher said that Jesus was the master
storyteller, drawing on simple examples from the world around him to make
deep and complex theological points. They then went on for the next 20
minutes totally failing to do the same. And it’s not as if we haven’t been
shown how.
In an episode of “The West Wing”, someone critical of the President asks
“What do you call a leader without any followers?” The answer they give is
“a man going out for a walk.” So, in similar vein, let me ask you this
Pentecostal question: “What do you call a preacher and teacher without
anyone to listen to him?”
You call him Jesus Christ, dying on a cross for your sins and mine so that
the Spirit can come to empower each one of us to share the Good News to
those we meet, drawing on the simple examples of the world around us.
Roger
12th. July 2011
An archive of these reflections can be found on Roger’s Blog which can be accessed via his website as above.
