On the Edge of a New Era

On Sunday 29 March Coatesville made a significant step of faith when a congregational meeting approved the Church Council and Joint Nominating Committee’s recommendation that we present a call to a new minister. We should know his response by the middle of April, and it is normal for ministers to provide three months notice of intention to move to a new congregation.

It is particularly appropriate that this decision was made during the season of Lent, traditionally a time of refining our relationship with God as we consider the story of Jesus’ journey to the cross. For Christ and the disciples the story of Easter was one of having to live faithfully moment by moment, amidst the unfolding of God’s purpose. At each stage of the journey the option of the easy road is available to Jesus and his disciples.

On Palm Sunday, there would have been a temptation for Christ to personally accept the adulation of the crowd as he entered Jerusalem in the traditional manner of a king. He even says, ‘The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.’ But, recognising the moment for what it was, he explains immediately what he means by glorified - that God’s glory should be shown through his life – saying ‘unless a seed falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.’ (John 12:23-24)

And so it is for us, we don’t have a full picture of what Gareth’s ministry amongst us will bring. What we do sense is God’s call to share the journey together, a belief that some ‘good growing’ will result for us all as we plant another of the seeds of God’s glory. We are asking Gareth whether he shares this sense of call and confidence that God’s purposes will unfold as we partner in ministry and mission.

On the night immediately preceding the Crucifixion, while Jesus’ commitment to the path ahead remains clear, Peter wavers. Three times he is asked ‘Are you God’s person in this moment?’ and three times he denies it. It appears that he is simply scared and reverts to selfprotective behaviour. He puts his own comfort and safety ahead of the Kingdom of God showing that, while Jesus had explained to Peter several times that His death was the way to freedom, the message had not really sunk in.

The good news at that moment was that our gracious God gave Peter four chances to get it right. While question and answer only occurs three times, you can almost hear the penny drop for Peter after his third response when the cock crowed for the third time. God’s grace was clearly still available to Peter, even though he had stumbled: Peter went on to fulfil Christ’s call to become the Rock of the Church.

When the cock crows this Easter eve, what will our response be, ‘I don’t know him’ or ‘Use me, so that thy will be done on earth as in heaven’?

Richard Palmer for the Leaders