Vision Sunday.

Date: 13th July 2008

Preacher: Revd Canon Dr Frances Ward, Residential Canon of Bradford Cathedral

Isa. 55:10-13; Romans 8:1-11; Matthew13:1-9,18-23

It’s a privilege to be with you today—in this beautiful, ancient building as together we discern how the Holy Spirit is calling this church of St John the Baptist in Halifax onwards into the future.

I want to start, in good Pauline style, by bringing greetings in Christ from Bradford—and for a very particular reason. This last week in Bradford has been rather wonderful—on Tuesday and Wednesday we were visited by Archbishop Rowan—and I can’t tell you how strengthening his presence was. Coming from a difficult time at General Synod, and looking forward to a more difficult time at Lambeth, Rowan was inspirational as he engaged with civic leaders, with faith leaders, and preached in the cathedral on the anniversary of his father-in-law’s death—Geoffrey Paul had been bishop of Bradford in the early 1980s. All in all, Rowan has left those who encountered him with a profound sense of the privilege of faith, and for Christians, the privilege of believing in Jesus Christ in today’s world. Of course, it’s not a rose garden—but it never has been. It is, though, the highest calling there is—the call of discipleship.

And so today—here and now: What is it to respond to that call to discipleship in Halifax? What does it mean to respond to a calling of the deepest importance as together you reflect and plan, dream and scheme your way into the future?

Rowan talked of faith as trust—and requiring a sense of responsibility. Trust in God, Trust in each other. And responsibility—which means both response and care. Our first response must be, he said, one of thankfulness. Thankfulness to God for God’s grace in our lives, in the lives of this church, in this town of Halifax. And trust. Trust that God never lets us down when we respond in faith and hope. He might surprise us, though.

What are we called to, as disciples of Christ in today’s world? If we are people of faith and trust and responsibility to God and to each other, then I think three things flow. First we trust the future—we are open to it without fear, without anxiety. It is God’s future. Of course it will mean change—life in God always means change, transformation, changing from glory to glory as we mature in Christ. But it’s ok. We are growing into God. We need to trust God.

Then we need to trust each other. Here in the congregation—old friends and new.

The thing about living in Christ is that it’s never an individual thing—we become members of a body, we are incorporated. We work together for Christ. It’s good to imagine what this body is like—is it a flabby body of Christ? Or just good in parts? Or is it a body that has synergy—that has an energy from working together, trusting each other, producing an energy that is greater than its parts. A synergetic body of Christ.

And thirdly, what’s that trust and energy for? We come back to Rowan’s stress on responsibility. We have a responsibility to Christ in the world. We have a responsibility to trust the world. And then to build trust where there is little or none; to work with others out there for Christ. Which means we need to listen, to be responsive. And then take that same synergy into our relationships with the civic leaders, with the faith communities, in schools, in health provision, in the council chambers—all aspects of life around us. Each of you is there—whether as you shop, or as you teach, or drop the children off at school, or as a voter or councillor. Each of you participates—each can be trusting, responsive and can create synergy as a member of the body of Christ, active in the town. That’s a responsibility that belongs to you as a church—as the parish church of Halifax.

A report came out recently commissioned by Stephen Lowe entitled Moral but no Compass. It is very clear in that excellent report that the church is already much more heavily involved in civic life than many in government understand. There are tons of opportunities. All it takes is some strategic thinking, dreaming and scheming; fostering good relationships, working together, creating partnerships, creating synergy. That’s what today is all about. It’s about getting your act together so that together you are an effective church in this area. Crucial building blocks are trust. Responsibility. Synergy.

We don’t do this alone—God is with us. God gives us the resources we need. Prayer. A sense of God’s presence. The Bible. Resources from tradition. The gospel reading for this morning lends itself to reflection on how we are given seed and soil out of God’s great goodness and grace. We have a responsibility to ensure that the seeds that God sows fall on ground that is responsive—you and me, the church here. God relies on us to sow seeds around us—and to work with him to nurture the fruits of the Spirit.

And then resources from our rich traditions of faith. The lives of the saints, for a start—St John the Baptist. In what ways did he trust God? In what ways did he respond to God? How did he call others to a sense of responsibility? How did he work with others—like Jesus—so that the Kingdom of God drew near? Your own saint—what can he teach you today about responding as disciples of Christ?

Friday was St Benedict’s day—St Benedict of Nursia, who had the most profound impact upon Europe from his time in the 6th Century onwards. His rule of life, his gentle rule that established Benedictine monasteries in a world of disorder after the collapse of the Roman Empire. Monasteries that became power houses of prayer and stability. The church has shaped, continues to shape society, civilization and culture.

Benedict showed a different way of life—he created communities in the waste places of his society, creating the template of ordered community in a world of change. Benedict showed a life was rooted in prayer—gentle and sustainable prayer. And today: what does the church do that is distinctive—that no one else does? prayer and worship. That must be at the heart of any church. Without prayer there is no experience of God. In the anxiety and confusion of his day, Benedict lived under God's gaze and never lost sight of the duties of daily life and the needs of the world. For Benedict prayer is an act of listening which must then be expressed in action. Responsibility to God and to the world. Trustworthy habits of life. Confidence in the face of change. Spiritual renewal and energy. We return to those central building blocks.

Benedict left us a prayer—one that I use a lot. One that might be useful to us today in our deliberations. I’m going to read it line by line, with a pause for quiet between each. As we pray, make it your own, and pray it also on each other, on the work of this church here. Each phrase is worth meditating upon—and particularly its climax: Holy and gracious Father: give us a life to proclaim you. Give us—here at St John the Baptist, Halifax—give us a life to proclaim you.

Holy and gracious Father

give us wisdom to perceive you

diligence to seek for you

patience to wait for you

eyes to behold you

a heart to meditate upon you

and a life to proclaim you

in the power of the spirit of Jesus Christ our Lord.

This is an ancient and beautiful building. It symbolises the continuity of Christian faith in the world—a faith that has endured through the centuries, a faith that has been enlivened in the witness of the saints. It was the faith of St John the Baptist. It was Benedict’s faith. It is Rowan’s faith. It is your faith and mine. It is faith that gives us life—A life to proclaim God. Life and faith—the greatest gift we receive—and pass on. Let us do so with boldness and energy, with a sense of responsibility to the world and in the world. Above all, with trust and confidence in God’s grace.