Mark Carey writes:
It was good to see so many people taking part in our Network Weekend. There is a feedback form on our website https://ccbn.org.uk/network-weekend - we’d love to hear from you so we can shape and plan what looks likely to be an annual event – we have pencilled in the weekend of Friday 15th May to Sunday 17th May – please get that in your diaries and calendars.
Last Sunday we held one gathering – Network Communion – and I spoke on how powerful and important ‘One-ness’ is.
In a world full of division, fractured relationships and communities God has always been about Unity. God's people are one but not the same – an important message to a divided, frightened, fractured, anxious world. We are different but able to be united.
Ezekiel 37: 15-23 shows how God used Ezekiel to bring a word of restoration to God’s people with an image to reinforce it. The division of the 2 kingdoms, caught up in jealousy and hostile competition, was something that the Lord was going to work on. Ezekiel was told to bring 2 sticks representing Israel - Northern kingdom and Judah - Southern kingdom and bring them together in his hand.
In John 10: 22-30 Jesus uses the image of the shepherd and the flock to illustrate God's restoration work of One-ness - one shepherd and one flock through Jesus. Good shepherding is something that God does!
There are three One's to pay attention to and are relevant for us as a Network.
1. One People, One Promise
2. One Shepherd, One Flock
3. One God, One Purpose
One People, One Promise
The binding together of 2 sticks represent God's intentional work to make us one. We may write on one stick the name of our Network Church and on the other, CCBN. Brought together they demonstrate that what is different and diverse can be brought together in God’s hand. He promises to do this.
One Shepherd, One Flock
His sheep hear His voice and follow Him - know Him. His sheep are secure not because of their strength but His grip on them "no one can snatch them out of my hand"
In Christ we are more than united - we are in His hands - as one flock we find security and stability. It may feel like this Network can’t work – that it is too diverse – but with one shepherd we are able to function as one flock.
One God, One Purpose
Jesus says "I and the Father are one” – this is a significant theological and relational truth. The unity of Father and Son is the unity of the Church. We live in divine unity and live it out in our life together and walk it out in the world around us.
We are a people of united purpose in the unity of the Trinity. Our purpose? Join in with God’s works of rebuilding, renewing and restoring – whatever Network Church we belong to.
The Rev Canon Mark Carey - Christ Church Bridlington Network