All We Can Lent Devotional March 8 - 14

 

Week Three:

 

Going at the pace of trust

 

Bible Study

By Revd. Rachel Parkinson

Rachel is currently Chair of the Wolverhampton and Shrewsbury District. She

loves to run in good company and is passionate about the use of creative arts

in ministry and mission.

 

1 Corinthians 2: 1-5

 

In this first letter to the Church at Corinth, Paul

sets out the weird logic of the Cross in which

centering our relationships in an acceptance

of our own weakness becomes, through the

power of Christ crucified, our greatest strength

in becoming God’s agents of change. If we

are to ‘be as Christ’ to travelling companions

then it is not only a question of serving them

but also, as the hymn says, to let them be our

servants too. This means being ready to lay

down all of our own resources, as Jesus was

stripped of his garments, trusting that through

the power of God, our partner will be able to

resource the journey for the both of us, setting

both the pace and direction of travel.

 

Questions for discussion/reflection

Many church communities in

the UK are feeling diminished in

resource. Can you imagine how

this ‘weakness’ might become a

hidden ‘strength’ in our mission and

evangelism?

It can be uncomfortable to walk,

run or cycle faster or slower

than you’re used to. How might

your relationship with Jesus help

you cope with the ‘discomfort’

of letting others set the pace

and direction of travel?

 

Story from All We Can

If you are running a race, a marathon for example, even if

you are slow, you are given time to finish. In fact, the biggest

cheers are often reserved for people who go slowly but are

determined to make it to the finish. Think of the cheers for

Eric ‘the Eel’ Moussambani at the 2000 Sydney Olympics

whose unprecedentedly slow 100m Freestyle heat won

hearts across the world.

AGLIT+ stands for Adolescent Girls Literacy Plus (the plus because, while it started out as a  literacy project, it has become much more). Its founder, Hazel, saw too many girls being forced

to abandon their education either because they could not pass the tests necessary to advance to the next year or because of life events which dragged them away.

While rates of child marriage and pregnancy

All We Can’s partner in Malawi, AGLIT+, knows are decreasing in Malawi, a significant number  of girls still drop out of school each year due to

childcare responsibilities or pressure

from husbands.

AGLIT+ run a parallel education programme

which takes groups of girls who have stopped

attending school and builds them back up to a

place where they can re-enter the education

system. This is a gentler, slower schooling

programme which goes at an accessible pace

and is flexible enough to account for the girls’

complicated home lives.

While the main schools don’t let the girls

bring their babies to class, AGLIT+ does not

exclude anyone on the basis of their home

circumstances; allowing the girls to bring their

children with them and having volunteers on

hand to help with childcare when the girls need

to concentrate.

AGLIT+ also teach the girls life skills such as

sanitation and money management which

prevent them being exploited at markets and

improves their general welfare.

Of the girls who AGLIT+ help get back into

mainstream education, the vast majority are

able to stay there as a result of the scheme. Can you think of an example where

you were forced to go faster than you could manage?

AGLIT+ go at the pace of trust.

What does it feel like for

someone else to dictate the pace you should go?

Does your church expect everyone to go at the same pace? Or is there flexibility for people to travel slowly giving them the

time they need to reach their potential?

 

 

Challenge

By Holly Adams

Holly is the Evangelism and Contemporary Culture Officer for the Methodist Church

working to equip local churches for inclusive evangelism and speak relevantly into

contemporary issues. Holly also serves on the leadership team of her local church.

There was a homeless man in my town called Owen who loved to draw. I’m involved

in an initiative called Street Pastors, a group of Christians who walk the streets

helping, listening to, and caring for people. We’d sometimes take art supplies to give

to Owen, and gradually I got to know him over several years.

One winter, I was talking to him at the Night

Shelter. He told me he’d had a difficult time and asked if he could light a candle in the church. I asked if Owen would like me to pray with him,

and he said yes. It was moving, there was a

tangible sense of God’s presence, and as we leftthe church, he said he felt a weight lifted off his shoulders.

How might you commit

to loving somebody at the pace of trust?

Take an action:

Who do you know who needs to know love? Commit to praying for

them every day.

Who do you offer practical support? Get to know them better by

listening to them.

Love is at the heart of all we’re called into

as Christians – it motivates our worship. Think of the communities you’ve been hearing about in this resource.

 

 

Prayer

By Revd. Lansford Penn-Timity

Lansford is the Deputy Superintendent Minister of Methodist Central Hall

Westminster. He was born in Freetown, Sierra Leone and joined the team at

Methodist Central Hall Westminster in September 2020 having previously

served in the South Holderness Methodist Circuit in Hull for eight years.

God of truth, whose son Jesus is the way, the

truth and the life.

You are the defender and bearer of truth, the

reliable and unchangeable God.

In doing your will, you abide with us and with all

who will trust and obey you.

Dependable God, in you we put our trust.

You have called us to work together in love and

at the pace of trust.

In our partnership fulfilling your great

commission and meeting the needs of the needy

in society, grant us the grace to journey at a pace

of trust in you and in each other.

As your son Jesus journeyed towards the cross,

we remember how his disciples were too tired at

times to keep up with the pace of events.

We pray for patience to walk alongside those

whose pace is too fast and those who slow us

down on this journey.

Loving God, in a united voice we pray for

your church,

Pour out your Holy Spirit on us, so that we may

reflect your glory and extend your generosity to

all people.

We pray that you will shine in the places in the

world that feel dark, places where there is war,

hunger, persecution discrimination and poverty.

We pray for the governments and leaders of

the nations. May they govern justly and work

for peace, justice, and mutual respect between

communities and peoples.

We commit our friends and family into your

caring and capable hands.

And in this moment of silence, we bring to you

our individual needs.

Silence…

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Amen.