Logo

 

Banner Image:   Baptist-Times-banner-2000x370-
Template Mode:   Baptist Times
Icon
    Post     Tweet


Three congregations, one family 


Three culturally different worshipping  congregations gathered for a morning worship service with a difference at Warley Baptist Church, writes Peter Spence



“For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.”   Matthew 18:20 NRSV


Warley1At Warley Baptist Church in the West Midlands there are three culturally different worshipping  congregations in the one building.  There is Ministerio Kadosh Brazilian congregation which meets on a Saturday night; Warley Baptist Church which meets on a Sunday morning; and Birmingham Chinese Christian Church, which meets on a Sunday afternoon.

The idea and vision for the this particular morning on Sunday (19 January) was to be in the space together and worship God, recognising our diversity and celebrating our unity. Sometimes I think it is too easy for us as Baptists to get hung up on our independence, and autonomy, so we decided to celebrate our interdependence.

So with three congregations, three main languages and three different worship groups we gathered. 

Warley3The morning started with Warley Baptist Church leading worship in English, then we had the Birmingham Chinese Christian Church choir lead us in some worship in Cantonese.

Our sermon was based around Hebrews 11 and how living a life of faith is about being prepared to step out of what we know and take the risk of following God to something new.

Warley4The sermon was delivered by Warley’s minister Peter, and was translated into Cantonese and Portuguese.

After the sermon we prayed the ‘The Lord’s Prayer’ simultaneously, each in their own language. There is something very profoundly powerful about being amongst God’s family where we are all expressing the same thing but doing that in our own languages; this was a moment of really sensing the presence of the Holy Spirit amongst us.

Warley5Next up was the worship band from Kadosh and they led us in some vibrant, lively,  exuberant worship. It was truly amazing to see people moving and dancing as they were moved by the Spirit of God and the sheer joy and excitement in the room.

We then moved to the Communion Table to share together. The children, who had been having their own multi-congregation Sunday School, led by their amazing Sunday School teachers, re-joined the adults to enable the whole family to be together at the Table, a truly beautiful time. 

To finish, we interviewed the children so they could tell us what they had been doing, and then sang the hymn ‘How Great Thou Art’ in all three languages. The morning concluded with lunch and time to chat and just be His family together. It was a powerful and breath-taking morning and something that we all want to repeat.

Warley2It is so easy for us to lose our sense that we are part of the global family of Christ.  We get trapped into our small independence when the reality is a global interdependence of people made in the image of God. 

Jesus said that we are to love God and love our neighbour and that all the law and prophets hang on love.                             

What most people didn’t see at the worship service was that much earlier, when the first person arrived to open up the building, there was a rough sleeper in the buggy shelter at the side of building. It would have been so easy to be preoccupied with the event and miss the opportunity to show love, compassion and mercy to ‘the least of these’.  The rough sleeper had no idea that he blessed us by his presence.    

It is suggested that John Chrysostom said that if we can’t find Jesus in the beggar at the church door, we won’t find him in the chalice, or in this case, the joy filled worship event. I am proud to be part of a community of God’s people who are prepared to be radical with love and mercy and are prepared to take risks as they hear and do what God is asking of them.

My prayer for us all is that we take the risk of following the new things God is leading each of us to.


Peter Spence is the minister of Warley Baptist Church

 
 

Baptist Times, 22/01/2020
    Post     Tweet
HEBA Home Mission Stories
Examples of how Home Mission funds are being used in the Heart of England Baptist Association
SubArticleD2019
'A sensitive mix of teaching, reflecting and challenge'
Disciple-making and the character of the young David were explored at two recent small church hub gatherings
‘I went home feeling refreshed and hopeful for our church’s future’
The latest Small Church Connexion hub was planted at an event wonderfully hosted by Perry Beeches Baptist Church, North Birmingham
'Making the word of God and the Christian message available to its local community'
A Birmingham Baptist church is bringing people together in its busy high street coffee shop, thanks to a grant from Baptist Insurance
Spreading the message of peace in Rugby 
Since 2004 the garden at Rugby Baptist Church has been a haven of peace in Rugby town centre. Now it is home to the first ‘Peace Pole’ in the town – a pole inscribed with the message "May Peace Prevail on Earth'' in several languages
From silver to gold 
How Fernhill Heath Baptist Church continued its Eco Church journey and became the second Baptist church to achieve the gold award
Baptist minister's Park Run challenge for the BSL Bible Translation Project 
Baptist minister the Revd Susan Myatt aims to raise £1500 for the BSL Bible Translation Project, which will provide 'an invaluable, long-awaited resource' to the Deaf Community and the wider church
     Regional News 
    Posted: 01/03/2023
    Posted: 12/11/2021
    Posted: 06/10/2021
    Posted: 27/08/2021
    Posted: 12/01/2021
    Posted: 02/12/2020
    Posted: 12/07/2019
    Posted: 15/01/2019
    Posted: 22/10/2018
    Posted: 19/09/2018