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Commissioning of the Pastoral Care Team I always find it is an enjoyable exercise to think back on how I came to know Christ. How did you come to know Christ? I bet most of you became aware of and interested in exploring the Christian faith first and foremost not because of what you might have read and thought, but through a significant relationship you had with someone, perhaps someone you respected, perhaps one of your parents or a good friend or your marriage partner or a grandparent or even a godparent introduced you to the idea of following Jesus. Now what comes around, goes around. It follows that given that many of you will have come to know Christ through the relationship you had with others so others will come to know Christ through you ! on account of your relationship with them. Thus making Christ known is first and foremost about being present in people’s lives, being there for them in their time of need, being there to celebrate with them in the good times being there to support and journey with them. And in the course of that ongoing relationship there will be times when it is appropriate to share your faith with them. Today we have baptized three children into the family of Christ. Parents and Godparents you have been commissioned to share the Christian faith with these three children. There is only one appropriate way in which that task will be possible, and that is in the context of your ongoing presence in their lives. Spend time with them and develop an ongoing relationship with them that you might be better placed to share the Christian faith with them. Similarly, Church family, we have been commissioned to share the faith with these children. Again there is only one way in which it is appropriate for us to do this and that is to be present in their lives and in the lives of their families. This is what the church calls ministry. The passage which we have just read is an excellent model for ministry. In this passage we read that Jesus called forth his 12 chosen people and sent them out into the surrounding communities two by two. Perhaps this was so that they could lend each other mutual support. He gave them authority to do good and the power to overcome evil. His advice to them was that they should form relationships with people. They should travel light taking only a staff with them and no extra baggage so that they depended on the hospitality of those they were endeavouring to serve. Hospitality is key. They should only remain in those places where they were welcomed and not force themselves on any one. He instructed them to be bearers of the good news , a force for good, to overcome evil, to anoint the sick with oil and to bring healing wherever they went. So here we have a pattern for ministry. Our vision statement is to be a community that attracts people into a relationship with God and inspires them to serve. To do this we must move out of our comfort zones and engage with a faith that actively seeks to make the world a better place and to bring the Gospel of Jesus in all its richness and fullness to the community in which we find ourselves. The phrase we use for this kind of ministry is Pastoral Care. Our faith, this church and all we do means nothing if we do not actively offer pastoral care to all who need it. In this way and this way alone, we become Christ’s hands and feet in Devonport. In line with this, we are starting a new initiative here in the parish. We are forming pastoral care teams in order that we might be able to do just that. We have chosen a number of leaders who will co-ordinate these teams: Sue , David, Laura, Penny, Kirstin and Raewyn. A number of people have stepped forward to join these teams and have indicated a willingness to be sent. The church will offer training and we will pray for them and thank God for them and the Holy Spirit we believe will do the rest using them to heal the sick, bring comfort to the lonely, build relationships and offer friendships and when appropriate share their faith in Jesus with those whom they serve. (Invite parish visiting team to stand and pray for them) |
