Recently at a meeting dedicated to the mission of Uplyme church to provide water resources in Zambia I taught the African song Thuma mina ‘Send me…’ At the time I suggested that whilst not many may feel called to places such as Zambia, we can ‘send’ ourselves in the form of our resources and I suggested that people sang the song as that kind of prayer (i.e. asking God to make us willing to give sacrificially)

A little while later I was challenged to reveal by what authority I was able to say that people didn’t actually have to go, but could simply ‘send money instead’ this person reminded me that Jesus sent us to ‘All the world’.

So how should we interpret this Great Commission, as it’s been called? What does ‘all the world’ actually mean? Well for most of us the ‘world’ is a very tangible presence on our doorstep. It exists as an entity that seems to automatically ‘rubbish’ the whole idea of faith and regard gathering to worship as a ‘quaint’ activity for a harmless deluded minority. Indeed so ‘worldly’ has our country become that missionaries from the African continent have started to arrive to carry out mission here! Jo and I have often desired to abandon our ties here and do something ‘positive’ in what we call the third world, but as I scan journals such as Tear times, or MAF’s ‘Flightwatch’ I can never find positions for music teachers or aromatherapists; so with a marked absence of linguistic or practical skills, I’ve had to conclude that my territory is the world of Choirs and Musicians and that this is where I can be a ‘light to the world’.

So as I help Jo to move suits, shirts and ties some of which I have never worn from one room to another (we’ve got the builders and decorators in) it’s another commandment, this time from John the Baptist that seems to be more incisive ‘If you have two shirts, give one to the poor’. And this brings me back to the encouragement that I gave at that meeting. I never meant to suggest that we could buy our way out of the great commission. Indeed if the Spirit of Christ is burning within us, we have a hard time not sharing the good news. However the gift that we all have to share with people in countries such as Zambia is our resources and if in doing so we can learn to live minimally, as Jesus wants us to, we’ll be doing ourselves a massive favour as well.

In the meantime for those who do feel a calling to serve oversees, perhaps in a gap year or on a more permanent basis; I pray that my words will not dampen any feeling of vocation that you have.

Lionel Handy, the internationally acclaimed cellist is returning to Uplyme Church with his accompanist David Clayton for a concert on Tuesday 12^th June at 7.30.

Lionel is one of the outstanding cellists of his generation. As a scholarship student at the Royal Academy of Music, Lionel Handy won all the prizes for cello and chamber music, Later he became a professor at the Royal Academy of Music, and taught at the Birmingham Conservatoire in addition to summer schools in Europe.

Lionel was principal cello with the Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields for ten years with whom he recorded extensively and toured in the United States and Europe. Later he was solo cellist with the Bournemouth Sinfonietta, He has broadcast frequently for BBC Radio Three and European networks and has made numerous commercial recordings. He has given solo recitals at the Wigmore Hall.

In 2007 he suffered an horrific accident whilst on tour in Germany which could have ended his life. Thanks to outstanding medical care in Germany and Southampton he made a miraculous recovery. His come back concert was in Uplyme in February 2008. Since then he has rebuilt his career. Lionel Handy launched a series of concerts to promote new works for the cello, and also to celebrate his own physical recovery from the accident. His recent recording for the Cadenza music label has received both national and international critical acclaim. In 2010 he was made a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Music, an honor given to only to the most distinguished academy musicians

The Uplyme concert will feature the music of Beethoven, Bax and Schubert.  This will be another memorable evening of superb cello music; a unique opportunity to hear one of the foremost cellists in an intimate church setting. Admission will cost £8 payable on the door. Children and college students come free.

10am Morning Worship  Led by Judith, talk by Andy.  Junior Church in the school.

6pm Evening Worship  Led by Roger, talk by Shuna

Dear Friends

The very first book in the Bible is called Genesis and Genesis means beginning.  At the very beginning of  the beginning, in the book of Genesis, is an account of God making the world and human beings.  This wonderful poem affirms something very special about the nature of God and of human beings. Here are two things you need to know about Genesis:

Thing Number 1

The first point of the poem at the beginning of the book of Genesis is that human beings are made in the image of God.  For five days God makes stuff and then on day six God makes human beings in his (or their) image.  All we know about God up to day six is that he makes stuff.  God has been making stuff for five days.  All God has been doing is being creative and then God makes human beings in his image.

Have you ever wondered why human beings are so creative?  We cannot stop being creative.  We are creative with the way we dress, do our hair (if we have any), speak, think and move.  We are created in the image of a creative God, therefore to be human is to be creative.

I often hear people say, “I’m not creative.”  Rubbish.  You are creative.  Some people are creative in what we call ‘creative arts’ – i.e. music, dance, art, writing, etc. – but the creative arts is a small subset of creativity.  Some people are creative with numbers, others with building materials, others with with plants and animals.  When you get along side someone who is lonely or broken-hearted and you listen to them, you are being creative.  When you wipe someone’s bum in an elderly care home you are being creative.  Yes, really.  And this leads us nicely onto Thing Number 2.

Thing Number 2

The second thing you need to know about the story at the beginning of Genesis is that creativity is bringing order out of chaos.  Right at the beginning, the very first words in Genesis say, “The Spirit of God was hovering over the water.”  Water in the Bible – especially natural water – is very important.  Water in ancient times symbolised one thing and one thing only – chaos.

So, from this water or chaos, God starts making stuff.  In other words he starts bringing order out of the chaos and that is what he is all about. This is what God does.  He plans and wants to bring order out of chaos in the world.  Then God makes human beings in his image.  God makes us like ‘mini Gods’ (i.e. like him) to be co-creators with him in the world.

We are created and called to use our God-given creativity to bring order out of chaos in the world – the chaos in people’s relationships, health, politics, in the environment, and so on. How cool is that?

So today, this week and in your life, may you use your God-given creativity for good and may you join in with the ongoing mission of God in the world.

Amen.

Uplyme Gospel Singers have launched a CD priced at £5.50.  Follow the link to listen to a sample ‘O Nkosi Jesu’ and place your order!

http://uplymegospelsingers.wordpress.com/

Dear Sue.  Once again Thank you for the wonderful Teddies, it has made everyone smile to see them.  God Bless. Mary  (Mary Steer Exeter Mothers’ Union Diocesan President)

Another batch of 75 “Teddies for Tragedies” have been taken down to Exeter and then on to Shelterbox in Cornwall. A super bunch of people are knitting away - thank you once again……..Keep Knitting!  If anyone would like to knit a teddy – the pattern is pinned to the Mothers’ Union noticeboard in church.

This post is for blokes only…

Dear Fellaz

Looks like we’re on for Fluff Chucking (or Tinsel Tossing) tonight on Cogden Beach at 8pm. Weather and tides look good.

Our mission (if we choose to accept it) is to catch some mackerel and BBQ them on the beach. It’ll bring out the hunter-gatherer in us (ho ho).

So… please bring (if you wish): a portable BBQ (I have one), a fork, a beer, a lemon, a dog (not for eating but for walking), raincoat, torch or lamp.

I’m going to get there early, get to the beach, set up 4 rods, make sure things are tickety-boo and catch them all before you get there. If anyone wants a lift and can led a pair of hands let me know. I’ll be heading down 6pm – 7pm.

Cogden is easy to find. Go through Burton Breadstick (don’t you just love auto-spelling), past turning to Hive Beach and holiday parks. Head out into the countryside over first hill and it’s the first carpark on the right. It’s a NT carpark and does require a quid in the machine but if you get there later then you won’t need it. Walk straight down to the beach. I will attempt to be as in line with the carpark as possible. Note that you have to bear right slightly on the path as you walk down the hill (don’t follow the road that bears left as it will pop you on the beach a couple of yards to the left).

See you later!

Gavz

Come and join us for a cup of tea/coffee, cake and fellowship at 5.15pm on Sunday 27^th May before the 6.00pm Evening Worship.

We would like to make this a regular get together before Evening Worship and are looking for a few people to help with making a pot of tea, maybe bake a cake and a little bit of washing up.

It would be great to be able to have time to talk and get to know one another.

Please speak to Roger Grose or one of the churchwardens for more information.

10am Morning Worship   Led by Morag, talk by Bishop Thuma from Zambia.  Junior Church in the school.

6pm Evening Worship  Led by Shuna, talk by David D.

1st July 1 – The Word – John 1:1-14
8th July 2 – Son of Man – John 9:35-41
15th July 3 – Son of David – Luke 18:35-42
22nd July 4 – Son of God – Matthew 14:22-33
29th July 5 - Messiah (Christ) – John 10:22-33
5th August 6 - Good Shepherd – John 10:11-21
12th August 7 - Lamb of God – John 1: 29-35
19th August 8 - King of the Jews – Matthew 2:1-8 and Mark 15:1-26
26th August 9 - Alpha and Omega – Revelation 21:1-7