Keep Going
Are there times when you feel like giving up? When life, work or ministry all seem too much? If so, then you may resonate with the story of Elijah in 1 Kings 19. He’s had enough and doesn’t want to keep going. Despairing, he falls asleep under a broom tree. God sends an angel to touch him, and to provide fresh food and water, his basic needs. Elijah then sets off on a journey to Horeb, the mountain of God.
The wandering prophet finds a cave on the mountain where he takes shelter. The next day God comes with an unexpected question: “What are you doing here, Elijah?” The prophet takes this as a cue to set out his complaint: his people have abandoned God and killed God’s prophets. “I’m the only one left,” Elijah continues, “and now they’re trying to kill me.”
We might expect God to be sympathetic to Elijah’s plight. Instead God instructs Elijah to go out and face the elements on the mountain. Elijah seems to ignore this, staying safely put inside his cave. A hurricane wind, an earthquake and a fire all then strike the mountain. But God was not in these. Then comes a sound of sheer silence, or a quiet and gentle whisper. Finally Elijah emerges. The still small voice again asks: “What are you doing here?” Elijah again tells his sad story.
Still there is no sympathy expressed. Instead the LORD re-commissions Elijah. The prophet has new work to do: to anoint a new king for Aram, and another for Israel; and then to anoint Elisha as his successor. God also tells Elijah that there remain 7,000 faithful people of Israel, whom the prophet has failed to notice: he is not, it turns out, the only one left.
When we feel like giving up, we certainly need those angels who can provide our basic needs, for hope and reassurance. It’s possible that we may find ourselves on a detour in the wilderness. We certainly need safe places to pour out our hearts, and offload what we’re carrying. Maybe we also need to ponder that question, “What are you doing here?”: a prompt to reflect on the purpose of our lives. We might also listen for God’s voice inviting us to keep going, and to return to God’s calling on our lives. And we might open our eyes afresh to notice the companions and neighbours who are faithfully following God with us.
(Adapted, with thanks, from a reflection by Bishop Rosemarie Mallett, offered during the recent Reconciling Mission residential.)
New team members
Since our last newsletter, two new Trustees, Akeem Adagbada and Ruwani Gunawardene, have been appointed to RI’s board; and RI’s staff team also has a new Communications Lead, Amber Jackson, working on a freelance basis.
Please visit our website to learn more about our new team members or follow RI on social media to stay in touch with our news, insights and offerings.
Reconciling Mission 4th Cohort begins
The 4th cohort of the Reconciling Mission programme comprises 21 participants from the Dioceses of Bristol, Leeds, Lincoln and York. Their programme launched with the initial residential held at Launde Abbey in the first week of October.
It was a joy to gather and learn in person together, and there was a strong sense of the group bonding together over the course of the week. As part of the residential, Al Barrett and Paul Wright led five sessions on community-building. This drew on their long experience in Firs and Bromford in east Birmingham.
Watch a short 40 second highlight of Al and Paul’s time with the 4th cohort group:
Holding open conversations about race
RI’s Being White programme offers one route in a wider conversation which challenges the prevailing culture of whiteness in our churches.
Earlier this year representatives from RI and the CofE Racial Justice Unit reviewed the programme, which has been running for over four years. This affirmed the need for those of us who are white to engage in this work and to increase receptivity in hearing the lived experience of colleagues of global majority heritage.
Since then, RI has begun the Being White programme with a new group from Southwark Diocese and looks forward to working with other groups in 2025.
If you’d like to explore the Being White programme being offered in your diocese, please contact Carey Haslam, RI’s Racial Justice Lead
A festival of ideas on missional thinking
Conference coming to Coventry Cathedral on 10 June 2025. Save the date!
Keynote speakers: Bishop Guli Francis-Dehqani and Al Barrett
RI is delighted to be partnering with Coventry Cathedral for a national conference next year, on Tuesday, 10 June 2025. Our keynote speakers will be Bishop Guli Francis-Dehqani and Al Barrett. Diverse seminar speakers, in dialogue pairs, will address questions on missional thinking, and then engage in conversation with participants. This one-day conference will include participative opportunities and creative activities for diverse learning.
Speakers will address one of these questions:
- How might social and political disruptions, and disruptions within the church, aid or frustrate our work for the Kingdom of God?
- In what ways is this current season liminal, for us in the church, and for those amongst whom we serve? How might we in the church need to reshape our self-understanding for such a season, and work differently?
- At this time, how might practices of reconciliation enable us to engage fruitfully in our local contexts?
Seminar speakers include:
- Carlton Turner & Catherine Okoronkwo
- Sharon Prentis & Harvey Kwiyani
- Nigel Rooms & Rosy Fairhurst
- Peniel Rajkumar & Victoria Turner
- Robert Beckford & Gale Richards
- Al Barrett & Ruth Harley (tbc)
- Alastair McKay & David Brubaker
Workshops include:
- Wonder with Mary Gregory
- Using Lego™ for Vision
with Mina Munns - Crafty Café with Vicki & Graham Adamson
Prayer requests
We welcome your prayers for Reconciliation Initiatives. In particular for:
- The 21 Reconciling Mission participants in the latest cohort of the programme holding their first Action Learning Groups on 5 November.
- Our Trustees, meeting next on 18 November, including Akeem Adagbada and Ruwani Gunawardene as they contribute to the board’s discussions.
- Participants from Southwark Diocese who are undertaking the Being White programme.
- Recruitment for the 5th cohort of the Reconciling Mission programme, to begin in May 2025. We have three diocesan groups on board and are seeking a fourth group to complete the cohort.
Thank you for remembering us in your prayers. May you be blessed as you join us in God’s reconciling work.
Grace and peace to you,
Alastair McKay, Executive Director
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