The Methodist Church in Ireland

May's Letter and Engagements - by Hazel Loney

I love May, we sing of the merry month, have a holiday to celebrate and some places still have a maypole, but for Christians we have Ascension

and Pentecost, two great highpoints in the story of salvation. When I think of the Ascension my mind goes to the mountain with the disciples.

In Matthew’s account we hear Jesus give his great commission to his followers. In the light of His authority they were to go and make disciples

of all nations, baptize and teach them to obey everything he commanded, confident that he would be with them always. They had also been

instructed to wait until they were given new power, that took place on Pentecost when the  Holy Spirit came from heaven like a mighty rushing

wind, the rest as they say is history. However it must never be just history, it must be the ongoing living experience of all of us who claim to be

followers of Christ. The question is, is it? Is it true that for the western church the discipleship element has faltered?

I read a quote recently attributed to Soren Kierkegaard a Danish philosopher of another age, “Jesus doesn’t want admirers, he can do without them,

but not disciples, he needs disciples.” In fact for Jesus nothing else would do, unless his followers were radical in their following, they were not his

disciples. Admirers admire respectfully at a distance, disciples follow closely learn and obey.

It seems to me as I watch the struggle in the church for leaders and workers at every level, not just MWI; we need to be reminded again of Christ’s

great commission, lest it become the great omission of our church life.

At All Ireland, District and Branch level we need women to respond to the call “To know Christ and to make Him known” through MWI.  Knowing Him

and making Him known is the work of disciples and is therefore a call to service. This may be as a president giving a lead and inspiration,

a treasurer handling the money so generously and faithfully given by our women across the whole of Ireland. You may be an efficient secretary

with administration skills and able to “keep the show on the road”, or you may be a faithful praying member always ready to lend a hand.

Last year the MWI General Officers presented the General Executive with an action plan for this year, September 08/09, making some recommendations

based on our mission statement, which consists of four points;

1. To enable members through fellowship with each other to deepen their personal commitment to Jesus Christ.
2. To relate the teaching of Jesus Christ to life in the home, the church, the community and the world.
3. To share in the mission of the world church.
4. To provide a link with the women of other churches in Ireland and throughout the world.

This plan expands on all these points with suggestions for your group planning.

If you don’t have copies of this contact your district secretary.

 

As All Ireland President I am asking all our branches to consider these suggestions prayerfully for the incoming year,

as you set about making your programme and calling our women to respond to the challenge of serving Christ through

MWI. I have spoken to many women through the year who have told me how they have enjoyed serving in MWI and

been really blessed and challenged in the doing of it.

In my contact with our Methodist women throughout the connection, Mothers’ Union, Presbyterian Women and others

I am impressed and inspired by their work and influence and know that the church would be poorer without the

dedication and faithfulness of “these women who work hard in the Lord”

The apostle Paul at the end of his magnificent chapter on the resurrection in 1 Corinthians 15 gave this word of

exhortation, in the light of death being swallowed by triumphant life, “With all this going for us, my dear, dear friends,

stand your ground. And don’t hold back. Throw yourselves into the work of the master, confident that nothing you

do for him is a waste of time or effort”. (The Message) May we all respond and throw ourselves into the work

for the master, “to know Him and make Him known”.

Dates for May 08   MWI President

Thursday 1st                 Olive Branch, Jethro Centre, Lurgan &

                                      Presbyterian Women’s Association Annual Meeting, 

                                      Church House Belfast

Sunday 11th                  Ballyclare MWI Service

Monday 12th                 World Federation, Cairnshill Methodist

Tuesday 13th                 Belfast Bible College Devotional Service for staff and students

Saturday 17th                Ladies’ Breakfast, Trinity Methodist, Lisburn.

Sunday 25th                  Glastry MWI Service.

Wednesday 28th           General Officers Meeting, Whiteabbey

 

                    

 

 

 

Hazel Loney