Reflection 12 - The one about the Joint Service

On Sunday we met together at Comberton Leisure for our annual Joint Service. Our guest speaker was a Franciscan Friar, Brother Samuel. I had more than one conversation with people in the weeks leading up to the Joint Service along the lines of, ‘when I think about Friars I imagine someone in a long brown robe with a rope tied around their waist’. Well, for those of you who were there, you will know that that is indeed what Friars wear.

If you weren’t there you can watch the whole of the service using the link: https://woces.online.church or if you only want to listen to Brother Sam’s message you’ll find that at: https://youtu.be/YwWH4AvoWu8 

Brother Sam was talking about our connectedness to the rest of creation and how recapturing this truth is essential for addressing the climate crisis in which we find ourselves. This week’s home group questions are based on Brother Sam’s talk. Our service and my reflection a few weeks ago were on that theme. I have also just started writing a blog tracking my thoughts as I try and pick my way through the minefield of trying to live in a way that is better for the planet. You’ll find that blog here: https://milkandnosugar.blogspot.com/2021/11/trying-my-best-and-failing.html I am planning on adding to this series every week or so.

So, this week I thought I would reflect on the Joint Service itself rather than its content.

During the Last Supper Jesus says to his disciples, ‘A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.’ (John 13:34-35).

The evidence that we are disciples of Jesus is not an ability to perform miracles but our love for each other. Many of us have probably had experience that the opposite is true. When I’ve been talking to people about my faith the questions of why there are so many denominations, sectarian violence in places like Northern Ireland, or the behaviour of two Christians towards each other, has come up as reasons why people don’t want to be a part of this thing that we call church.

I think that the Joint Service is significant and special. As I said on Sunday, this is something that does not happen in very many places. Whilst it is far from perfect, the Joint Service is a powerful demonstration of our unity and a celebration of our diversity.

Yesterday I met with David Newton, the vicar of St. Mary’s, to have a cup of coffee, to chat and to pray together. This is something that we do every two to three months. One of the things we were talking about is another preaching exchange in January 2022. 

Tomorrow will be this month’s Oasis Tea – an event that is put on jointly between CBC, St. Mary’s, and the Catholic Community here in Comberton. 

It may have been my first Christmas here, but Mike (the previous vicar) invited me to do the talk at the Meridian Primary School Carol Service – which was held in St. Mary’s. Traditionally the vicar would take the whole service. Apparently, this caused quite a stir amongst some of the staff – who had an assumption that we were in competition with each other. “Weren’t ‘they’ the enemy?”

It is great that we live in a village where there are such close ties between the different church communities. But it’s not just about doing things together once a year. It’s also about recognising the importance of healing broken relationships with other Christians. Of forgiving others and being forgiven.

We spend a lot of time eating cake and drinking coffee here at CBC. And whilst coffee and cake might not have been the thing in Jesus’ day there are certainly a lot of records of meals in the gospels. The command to love one another could be a bit difficult to practically pin down. I think the coffee and cake test makes it simple.

Are there people within the family of God who you would not invite out for coffee and cake? A relationship that is so broken that you could not face the prospect of sitting and talking with them. If the answer to that question is ‘yes’ then we have a problem.

I am not suggesting that mending a broken relationship is going to be simple. It can be a very painful process. And of course, I am using a metaphor - there are plenty of examples where such an invite would be unwise or inappropriate. But hopefully you get the point.

Putting things right might not be simple – but it is vitally important.