St Luke's Church Eccleshill - Articles from "The Link"

One body - many styles

"I hear that when you come together as a church, there are divisions among you, and to some extent I believe it ... Shall I praise you for this? Certainly not! (St Paul - 1 Corinthians 11:18 & 22)

Dear Church Members,

We live in an age of supermarkets, where you can choose your own particular favourite brands of everything you want. If you don’t like minty toothpaste you can have it without mint, and if you prefer your face-cream softer you can buy a brand which is more like margarine than butter! Lovely to have a choice, but the mindset gets into church if we aren’t careful.

Unlike a shop’s customers, a church’s congregation (according to the bible) is a body - a group of people who make a community, supporting and helping each other, putting up with each other’s foibles, and each doing their part in advancing Jesus’ kingdom on earth. And that means sometimes putting up with a worship style that might not be your particular taste. You can have your music in ancient or modern style, but you can’t be allowed to think that one style is more “Christian” than the other. Both are Christian.

During the Autumn we’ll be having two “joint services” at 10.30am. They are both occasions when the church’s unity needs to be expressed: a baptism, when new members join the whole church; and a visit from the Mayor, when the whole church acknowledges our concern for our city and society.

I expect you all to be there. There will be something for all tastes, and it is important that you show that you are part of the whole church. We need you because you are part of Christ’s body. If you stop off because you think it’s not going to be your style, I will draw the obvious conclusion that you’re not really bothered about Jesus.

John Hartley

	*St Luke's Church, Eccleshill - The Link* magazine** The Link is published monthly at 40p (Senior Citizens 35p), and we deliver free within the parish and post copies (at the reader's expense) to those who request it. Please contact us if you would like a free copy for a trial period. September 2000, Page 1.
Home Page. Index of articles. Vicar's Letters: index, "Starter for ten", Shepherd, Visiting, Settling in, One body, What for? In this issue: (September 2000) Vicar's Letter, Ephesus, Gift Aid, Question, Common Worship.	One body - many styles "I hear that when you come together as a church, there are divisions among you, and to some extent I believe it ... Shall I praise you for this? Certainly not! (St Paul - 1 Corinthians 11:18 & 22) Dear Church Members, We live in an age of supermarkets, where you can choose your own particular favourite brands of everything you want. If you don’t like minty toothpaste you can have it without mint, and if you prefer your face-cream softer you can buy a brand which is more like margarine than butter! Lovely to have a choice, but the mindset gets into church if we aren’t careful. Unlike a shop’s customers, a church’s congregation (according to the bible) is a body - a group of people who make a community, supporting and helping each other, putting up with each other’s foibles, and each doing their part in advancing Jesus’ kingdom on earth. And that means sometimes putting up with a worship style that might not be your particular taste. You can have your music in ancient or modern style, but you can’t be allowed to think that one style is more “Christian” than the other. Both are Christian. During the Autumn we’ll be having two “joint services” at 10.30am. They are both occasions when the church’s unity needs to be expressed: a baptism, when new members join the whole church; and a visit from the Mayor, when the whole church acknowledges our concern for our city and society. I expect you all to be there. There will be something for all tastes, and it is important that you show that you are part of the whole church. We need you because you are part of Christ’s body. If you stop off because you think it’s not going to be your style, I will draw the obvious conclusion that you’re not really bothered about Jesus. John Hartley
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