When I talk to people with no knowledge of the URC about what it is to be Moderator of General Assembly, one description I use is that I am in some ways an internal and external ambassador of the URC.
External is probably self-explanatory, I am a face of the URC to other bodies. As an internal “ambassador” I see my role in part as representing the URC to itself – visiting churches and other organisations within the denomination and taking a message from one to another.
Each congregation has its own character but they are all joined by a common thread of love of our Lord. I think I might also say that a very common theme is cake or a more substantial meal after the service. So often we find we can talk to each other more easily over a shared meal.
Dulwich and Solihull invited me to join their celebrations of anniversaries, and we considered during our services how the church community is part of the wider community in which it is set. As Jeremiah urged, they have built houses and planted gardens, seeking the peace and prosperity of the city as if it prospered so would they.
Going “home”
It was a particular pleasure for me to lead worship at Northgate URC in Darlington, the church in which I grew up and first professed my faith in Christ on becoming a member. We had a joint congregation from the Tees and Swale pastorate of people from Northgate, Northallerton’s Zion URC and Low Row URC. During our service we considered community as well – the danger of dividing people into an “us” and “them”.
On the one hand, this was in the context of the URC. There is no “them” who do things and make decisions that affect the “us”. We are all the “them” from the pews and pulpits who contribute to the Synod, General Assembly and the committees of General Assembly who, with the Lord’s guidance, make those decisions.
We also considered the more dangerous “us” and “them” that is creeping into our society as a whole. Again, looking at Jeremiah’s message, the Jews in exile were told to pray for strangers who were just as deserving of God’s love as those who are strangers to us.
Planting gardens and seeking peace
Zion URC invited me to see their beautiful Secret Garden – a community garden lying beside the church. It may have the name of Secret but it’s very much a place where the community is welcomed with an open heart. I am a very poor gardener but can appreciate the nooks and crannies that have created spaces for conversation, for thought, for enjoying the beauty of flowers and vegetables. At Zion they have put into practice Jeremiah’s message to plant gardens and seek the peace and prosperity of the city.