Lent Course 2012

For churches around Selly Oak Birmingham coming together at Lent/Easter is becoming a strong ecumenical pull. This year we adopted a new format, to begin and end the season with a formal joint service at the Selly Oak Methodist Church and the Weoley Hill United Reformed Church respectively. Professor John Hull of the University of Birmingham, an erudite and eloquent speaker has been our guest speaker. Of course he did not disappoint at the first meeting which was well attended.

We chose for our use this time the lent study course of the Churches Together in Britain and Ireland (CTBI). The theme is The way to Freedom, inspired by the courageous life of late German pastor and theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer who was executed by the Nazis for joining the resistance movement that sought to topple Hitler in order to bring his reign of terror to quick end. It is debatable whether Christians should take active, or any, part at all in such plots. What should be our response to social and personal evil?

In the first two studies we were challenged to re-examine the question of Freedom and then Discipline. Can these work together or are they opposed to each other? What do you think? By the way what is freedom? Are we really free? What kinds of freedom are there? Of course, these questions can be endless. But let us take a look at a classic definition of freedom which is 'the power or right to act, speak or think as one wants without hindrance or restraint'. Going by this definition it is obvious that people in prison or those who live under a dictatorship are not free. But what about people in so called 'free societies' whose every movement is tracked by overhead cameras, can they be said to be free?

What about discipline, does it curtail or enhance people's freedom? Think about these and let's talk again soon. God bless you. Shalom.

George

Behold the Centenary Girl - Phyllis Townsend

One hundred hearty cheers to dear 'young' Phyllis Townsend who turned 100 on the 16th of February 2012. The entire congregation of Weoley Hill United Reformed Church celebrated with her the following Sunday the 19th, with many friends and family attending the service. It was indeed a great day as it is not a regular occurence to be privileged to have a centenarian in our midst. She was presented with a bouquet of flowers and a framed photo of the congregation, and she cut her special 100th birthday cake afterwards to hearty cheers.

Anyone who knows Mrs Phyllis Townsend knows that she reads and writes without glasses, she does not use any hearing aid, and she is quick to tell you that she still has most of her teeth. Of course, she has done her best to live a good life, as she neither drinks alcohol nor smokes. Phyllis engages in simple exercises to keep fit. No wonder her health has wowed countless health professionals who have been opportuned to examine her. This woman is simply amazing and really supernatural (borrowing the words of another keen admirer of hers). Of course, you do not mess around with her. Otherwise you will have yourself to blame (lol). When people half her age are struggling with memory loss, not so with Phyllis. She remembers every detail, nothing gets past her notice. Her intellect is as sharp as can be. She is a fountain of wisdom, a living history and a treasure store to be mined. I can only say she is truly a piece of God's master art.

You only need to come close to Phyllis to observe how neat she is. At her age she still prefers managing her own affairs, and has lived independently until recently when she moved with her family. She still does her own cooking, sews and knits. Spending time with Phyllis is a joy any day. You will realise how much influence her parents had on her, especially her father who she still revers even though he is long dead. He ensured that she never bought her clothes from the shops, they were all tailor-made to measure. He never wanted his daughter to wear the same dress as anyone else on the street - he wanted her to be unique all the time. No wonder she is so special even at this age. In fact, she will tell you that her father would disapprove of her eating elsewhere than the dining table.

Like many others I feel very privileged to be associated with Phyllis. She reminds me of what the bile records of Moses that at 'a hundred and twenty years old... his eyes were not weak nor his strength gone' Deuteronomy 34:7. I pray that at 100 I too will still be strong, stand firm on my feet preaching the gospel. I pray that I will be a 'living history' for later generations.