What do I do? How am I helping out at St. Andrew's?
I'm going to make this a long post - no photos, so get a cup of coffee and sit down with me.
As you know, I came to do a job that had no definite description. Neither Andrew nor I were sure about what having me around would look like in the church. I came to be a servant to the church and a help to Andrew. After 10 weeks here, what does this look like?
I'm going to make this a long post - no photos, so get a cup of coffee and sit down with me.
As you know, I came to do a job that had no definite description. Neither Andrew nor I were sure about what having me around would look like in the church. I came to be a servant to the church and a help to Andrew. After 10 weeks here, what does this look like?
worship service
Most Sundays, Andrew asks me to take part in the service. It's one of 3 things:
prayer of intercession: This is a prayer where, through my prayer, the congregation intercedes for different people in the congregation who are out of work or sick or have a special need, for Andrew and the elders, for our authorities in Belgium and the European Union, for God's work in other places, for hot spots in other parts of the world where there are needs, and so on.
opening prayer & the Lord's Prayer: This is a prayer at the beginning of the service and includes a prayer of adoration and confession.
I enjoy doing this because it's a privilege to lead God's children in prayer. I'm not a professional public pray-er so my prayers are different from Andrew's and many in the church have come up to me afterwards and thanked me for their depth, meaningfulness and simplicity.
children's story: Some Sundays I replace Andrew and tell a story to the children, using material from Andrew's sermon. I have got to know the kids quite well now and they're used to me. At the end of the church aisle in front of the communion table, there are a few steps up, so the children sit there and I sit on the piano stool so I'm at their level. I love their spontaneous answers. Makes me miss the wee people in my life that I love dearly, that I've left behind in Canada: Donovan, Gabrielle, Genevieve, Kaleb, Yula, Thomas, Charlotte and all the little and young ones at St-Paul........
visits
Andrew has taken me on lots of visits to folk in the congregation that don't get out very often because of their age. It was a good way of introducing me to them so that I can go back now by myself and they know who I am. This is something new for me because at home in St-Paul, there are no "old folk" on a church list who don't attend the worship service. I'm the oldest in our congregation and I'm always present at the worship service!! I have enjoyed getting to know these people: for some, it's a social visit and a time to share tea with someone; for others, it's a time to talk about their faith with someone who cares. I have been "surprised by joy" several times as I've asked about their spiritual journey and have discovered quiet, beautiful saints who have been faithful to our Lord through many trials, including WW2 and broken marriages. It's a treat to pray with them.
Andrew has taken me on lots of visits to folk in the congregation that don't get out very often because of their age. It was a good way of introducing me to them so that I can go back now by myself and they know who I am. This is something new for me because at home in St-Paul, there are no "old folk" on a church list who don't attend the worship service. I'm the oldest in our congregation and I'm always present at the worship service!! I have enjoyed getting to know these people: for some, it's a social visit and a time to share tea with someone; for others, it's a time to talk about their faith with someone who cares. I have been "surprised by joy" several times as I've asked about their spiritual journey and have discovered quiet, beautiful saints who have been faithful to our Lord through many trials, including WW2 and broken marriages. It's a treat to pray with them.
I use the public transportation system as I have no car, so I'm really getting to know my way around Brussels now, and I'm not afraid to head out on my own to a new neighbourhood.
In the last month, Andrew has allowed me to take more initiative in visiting, so now I'm the one who phones and asks if I can come over, or takes them out to lunch or for coffee. I didn't want to limit myself to the shut-ins so I've started visiting some of the single ladies, young women, and married women who have time to go out for a morning/afternoon/evening coffee. It's a privilege to enter into their lives and I think they're pleased to have someone talk to them about spiritual things. Sharing one's faith doesn't come as easily to Europeans and Brits as it does to North Americans. It's special for me to sit quietly in someone's home and hear them express very real faith in God in terms that are different from mine. As I listen carefully, I sense that my Father is real and close to them, as much as He is to me. They don't have to use the same words as me.
In the last month, Andrew has allowed me to take more initiative in visiting, so now I'm the one who phones and asks if I can come over, or takes them out to lunch or for coffee. I didn't want to limit myself to the shut-ins so I've started visiting some of the single ladies, young women, and married women who have time to go out for a morning/afternoon/evening coffee. It's a privilege to enter into their lives and I think they're pleased to have someone talk to them about spiritual things. Sharing one's faith doesn't come as easily to Europeans and Brits as it does to North Americans. It's special for me to sit quietly in someone's home and hear them express very real faith in God in terms that are different from mine. As I listen carefully, I sense that my Father is real and close to them, as much as He is to me. They don't have to use the same words as me.
I try to have time with about 3 people/families every week so I guess I've visited about 40 homes since I arrived. I've been back to visit one lady twice and I think I'll start doing that soon on a more regular basis with other new friends too.
20s-30s
This is the group of young people in the church. They have asked me numerous times to come to their studies, help them when it's their turn in the church kitchen, and I'm slowly getting around to inviting each one out for coffee. They are having a retreat near the end of April in a chalet in Luxembourg and have invited me too so that's something to look forward to.
time with Andrew
Once a week, Andrew and I get together at the manse or at my apartment and go over things in the church and the visits to be made. We are reading a book together by John Stott on the pastorate and we bounce thoughts off each other. There is enough trust and ease now between us for me to play devil's advocate and challenge him on issues. I think he needs this time with me, someone of the same ilk: he has no one else. There is no elder he shares deeply with and this, to me, is sad, and a subject for prayer. We always have a time of prayer together before I leave. It would be super if you would remember in your prayers this moment each week that I have with Andrew. I believe it's one of the main reasons I'm here.
Bible Study
I am leading a ladies' Bible study as of this month, March, and am delighted! Since my arrival, in chats with different women, I detected a real interest in getting together to study the Bible, so I proposed it to Andrew and the elders and chose a topic and set it up and started!!! There were 12 women at our first study. I was so excited that 12 women wanted to study the Bible with me! And they all participated.
The subject is "Self-Esteem: seeing ourselves as God sees us" and we meet once a month after the worship service, instead of going into the hall for coffee. We only have 1 short hour, so I give them the questions several weeks ahead of time so they can familiarize themselves with the topic for that month. That way, we can make every minute count when we get together. Several have asked if we can meet twice a month (!) so we'll discuss that when we meet on April 1st.
prayer meeting
There is a church prayer meeting once a month that I attend.
kirk session
The kirk session, or board of elders and deacons/administrators, meets once a month and I attend that too. As I think I mentioned this board in another post, I will only say again that in my humble opinion, when the two boards are one and the same, most of the time is spent on administration rather than on the spiritual needs of the congregation and the elders, and I think this is a loss.
Presbytery meetings
St. Andrew's is part of the Presbytery of Europe of the Church of Scotland. The Presbytery meets only twice a year as the churches are flung from Bermuda to Sri Lanka. I attended the meetings with Andrew and two elders last week-end in Germany and was so interested to meet ministers and elders from the Church of Scotland in Paris, Rotterdam, Amsterdam, Germany, Rome, Turino, Bermuda, Sri Lanka, Malta, Cyprus, Greece, Bucharest, Spain, Portugal ...and I'm sure I've forgotten someone.
The next meetings are in Malta in the fall. Maybe I'll get to go too..... :)
So my weeks are full. I'm not just toddling around visiting carnivals and eating Belgian waffles. I really enjoy the work that Andrew gives me and I know I'm being a blessing to him and the congregation: this is my daily prayer.
Soooooo........................ Nancy's having fun and she's busy too :)
20s-30s
This is the group of young people in the church. They have asked me numerous times to come to their studies, help them when it's their turn in the church kitchen, and I'm slowly getting around to inviting each one out for coffee. They are having a retreat near the end of April in a chalet in Luxembourg and have invited me too so that's something to look forward to.
time with Andrew
Once a week, Andrew and I get together at the manse or at my apartment and go over things in the church and the visits to be made. We are reading a book together by John Stott on the pastorate and we bounce thoughts off each other. There is enough trust and ease now between us for me to play devil's advocate and challenge him on issues. I think he needs this time with me, someone of the same ilk: he has no one else. There is no elder he shares deeply with and this, to me, is sad, and a subject for prayer. We always have a time of prayer together before I leave. It would be super if you would remember in your prayers this moment each week that I have with Andrew. I believe it's one of the main reasons I'm here.
Bible Study
I am leading a ladies' Bible study as of this month, March, and am delighted! Since my arrival, in chats with different women, I detected a real interest in getting together to study the Bible, so I proposed it to Andrew and the elders and chose a topic and set it up and started!!! There were 12 women at our first study. I was so excited that 12 women wanted to study the Bible with me! And they all participated.
The subject is "Self-Esteem: seeing ourselves as God sees us" and we meet once a month after the worship service, instead of going into the hall for coffee. We only have 1 short hour, so I give them the questions several weeks ahead of time so they can familiarize themselves with the topic for that month. That way, we can make every minute count when we get together. Several have asked if we can meet twice a month (!) so we'll discuss that when we meet on April 1st.
prayer meeting
There is a church prayer meeting once a month that I attend.
kirk session
The kirk session, or board of elders and deacons/administrators, meets once a month and I attend that too. As I think I mentioned this board in another post, I will only say again that in my humble opinion, when the two boards are one and the same, most of the time is spent on administration rather than on the spiritual needs of the congregation and the elders, and I think this is a loss.
Presbytery meetings
St. Andrew's is part of the Presbytery of Europe of the Church of Scotland. The Presbytery meets only twice a year as the churches are flung from Bermuda to Sri Lanka. I attended the meetings with Andrew and two elders last week-end in Germany and was so interested to meet ministers and elders from the Church of Scotland in Paris, Rotterdam, Amsterdam, Germany, Rome, Turino, Bermuda, Sri Lanka, Malta, Cyprus, Greece, Bucharest, Spain, Portugal ...and I'm sure I've forgotten someone.
The next meetings are in Malta in the fall. Maybe I'll get to go too..... :)
So my weeks are full. I'm not just toddling around visiting carnivals and eating Belgian waffles. I really enjoy the work that Andrew gives me and I know I'm being a blessing to him and the congregation: this is my daily prayer.
Soooooo........................ Nancy's having fun and she's busy too :)
Thanks, Nancy. Great to have details about what your service at St. Paul's involves. With love and prayers, Jan
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