This was a service to celebrate 25 years of WYEC celebrating Christian Unity, at Batley Methodist Church. The service was introduced by Rev Deborah Wainwright, conducted by Rev Dr Clive Barrett, County Ecumenical Development Officer. Church leaders present included Bishop Steven Platten of Wakefield, Bishop Tony Robinson of Pontefract and His Grace, Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster who gave the sermon.
The introductory joyous hymns from the choir and musicians and the wonderful piano player, set the scene for what was to come and the Wesley Singers excelled throughout the service. In the symbols and stories of churches working together, it was humbling to hear of the marvellous work of church groups who go out and give service to the community. These included Dewsbury Care, which offers food and comfort to vulnerable people, the Street Angels in Huddersfield, Batley Care, which provides a drop in facility at Batley Methodist Church as well as a number of other groups.
Archbishop Nichols in his sermon, said that as well as this year being the year to celebrate the 25th anniversary of WYEC, it was also the 25th anniversary of the Swanwick Declaration which led to the “Churches Together” groups which have since appeared. It’s also the 50 years since the Second Vatican Council opened, which led to huge change in the Catholic Church which reverberated throughout the Christian Faith. Pope Benedict has said recently, that the emotional tension during Vatican 2 from the need to proclaim Christ afresh in a new age without conceding the spirit of the past. Vatican 2 confirmed the stance to offer society a secular outlook, to science, autonomy, to other religions including other Christian denominations, open relations of respect for each other in an exchange of views and convictions. A shared means to communicate a single story for all to hear.
We heard in the Reading from St Paul to the Thessalonians, Be at peace, admonish the idlers, warn the quitters, encourage the faint-hearted to be brave. Help the weak, don’t let them drift away without being noticed, the approached will take up the journey. The three key messages are: Be happy, rejoice! Be full of prayer and always be in the presence of God. Remove self-satisfaction; be thankful for there are always blessings to count.
John’s gospel said that prayer reaches out beyond the inner circle of disciples, prayers of evangelism. Christ, the first evangelist was sent so that through him we may see the face of God and through him enter God. Christ said the glory you have given me, I have given them so they may be one in the glory of Jesus. We learn three things: the glory of Christ is our suffering, honour and witness; obedience to the Father, not our own will is essential; the relationship with the Father and Holy Spirit. We pray our witness to Christ will be to share his pain and sorrow and to be one in the glory of Christ is to be one in God.
It was an extremely uplifting occasion and the joy on everyone’s face in the congregation, was evident for all to see as they shook hands with the Archbishop and left the church.
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