Ilkley Baptist

Last night was the first meeting of a small group to offer alternative worship in Ilkley. People from three of the churches (there will be more) met in a home and, before eating together, shared various contributions on the theme of doorways; a quiet meditative, thought-provoking time. There was no leader, but the person who has done more of this sort of thing before gently asked a few questions about why we had chosen what we had chosen, why we had said what we said. It asked for interpretation and for a bit of personal disclosure. There was more debate and discussion about where we were coming from and where we hoped to go as we ate our meal.

I think, looking back, that those are the two things I learnt. The spirit of alternative worship is that you are not told what to think, or how to respond, or what this means; you are left to work out your own answers and to find your own way through the worship. It is a buffet, not a set menu with silver service. But interpretation can be offered. Not saying that this is the one meaning, but that this is what I find in it, and this may provoke others to make their own response.

Which leads on to the other revelation: that worship has to be personal to be worthwhile. Each of us has to find ourself in order to engage in worship, and we are aided in this by others revealing something of themselves, if it is done in the right spirit. This is, of course true in all sorts of worship. Preaching has been described as truth through personality. The great fight for a worship leader is to stop the congregation sitting back into conventionality. Worship must be about the people there, about engagement within and between, if it is to have a chance of touching God.

Christian Aid week runs from 14th to 21st May this year. Many years it falls in the first week of good weather, and calling on local houses is a real pleasure. This year it looks like being a week with a return to grey cool conditions. Not so appetising.

Getting enough volunteers is going to be difficult this year. A few older regulars have decided to call it a day, so we need to find some new people. Unfortunately collecting doesn't fit easily into busy family life. Many people don't have free time during the day until after their evening meal, which is a bit late for collecting.

I feel rather protective of people when it comes to finding volunteers. I don't want church to be a place of nagging and 'you ought to do this.' There are enough things to feel guilty about without the church adding to them. I also think that people genuinely have less time than a generation ago. So, though I'd love Christian Aid to find its collectors (as much for the publicity the week gives to the issues of aid as for the money that comes in), I don't feel inclined to ask too insistently.

Starting next week, on 3rd May, I will have a regular time of prayer in the church on Wednesdsay mornings at 9.30am. You are invited to join me, either by coming to the church and sharing in prayer, or by praying wherever you happen to be at that time.

I've floated this idea here and in other places and it has been positively received. I follow a simple pattern of prayer: a bible reading, a poem, a written prayer, then I pray for a list of poeple I regularly update. If you would like to add to that list, please let me know. I will keep all names completely confidential.

If you are praying by yourself, then find a way you are comfortable with. I have found things like regularity and using objects helpful, so you might go to a certain place, you might kneel or stand at certain times, you might like to read something aloud, you might light a candle or an incense stick, look at a view, or get out some item that has meaning for you. Use a certain amount of silence. Take time to not actually do much but just to be there, you and God.

Some people keep a diary of their prayer. Do you think it would be helpful to know who is praying? On the other hand we are told to pray in secret. Should we have a book, perhaps, in which requests for prayer could be written and which I and anyone who joins me could use on Wednesday mornings? It could be in church on Sundays, too.

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