"Come, for everything is now ready" Luke 14:17: Reflecting on the Invitation of Christmas

"16 Jesus replied: “A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. 17 At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’"

There's something special about receiving a well-crafted personal invitation, whether for a wedding, a special party, or a good offer of a night out. When we are invited, we communicate worth, value, and honour. It says to the person, 'I was thinking of you.'

As I was reflecting on the parable of the banquet, the verse from Luke 14:16 struck me as a picture of God's value for all of His creation. In this story, He has prepared a banquet that is now ready for people to be invited in.

Now, never mind that many who were invited made excuses. The reality is that they were still invited and could eat at the table if they wanted to. The point I want to make when reflecting on this verse is that everything was now ready. There was something to invite people to.

A feast had been made.

A table had been laid.

A party had been organised, and the invites were out.

The only thing left to do was for the servants to go out and invite people in.

As we look towards Christmas, we find ourselves in that place. A celebration (Christmas) has been organised. The table has been laid for reflecting on Advent and celebrating Jesus' birth. Some parties have been organised (Beer and Carols, Christmas Parties, Carol Services and Nativity).

All that's left is the invite.

So, as servants of Jesus, who do you want to invite to the party this Christmas? One of the joys of having our over-18s event, Beer & Carols, at Tiempo Lounge this year is that you can also invite friends and neighbours out to dinner before the event.

The beauty of a carol service is that many will come freely into a church to celebrate Christmas if invited.

The beauty of a Christmas party is that many people come through the doors to experience the Christmas cheer.

They just need inviting.

So again, how about we extend the table this Christmas? Who can we invite through the doors? Who can we take to dinner and let them into our world where they might see a great banquet of the Kingdom laid before them?

'Come, for everything is now ready'.

Take a challenge over this week to reach out to someone you know who does not yet know Jesus and invite them along. It can be as simple as 'Hey, my church has a really fun Christmas event on. We love it, and it really helps us get into the Christmas spirit. If you're free, would you like to come along with me?’

Most people are waiting to be invited. The worst they can do is say no. The best thing is that they take you up on your invite, and you might just get to share their story as we make God's glorious table of grace available.

Think and pray and then ask.

Much love to you all as you get ready for Christmas,
Julian

Vision: Deeper as Church Family

The Lord has been giving me a recurring picture recently, that of a tapestry. A multi coloured, textured and obscenely beautiful illustration, admired by the weaver. 

The coloured, glittery stitched front is in stark contrast to the tangled mess at the back. 

The tangle of thread at the back is a story behind the image at the front. 

The tangled mess of our own pain, loneliness and grief is testament to the beauty of Jesus. 

Church family in connection, prayer, support and love is a weave of relationship, trust, integrity, honesty and forgiveness. Being stuck in at church, turning up each Sunday, contributing as part of our serving teams, sharing our lives in Small Groups and submitting our finances to God as King, is the backstory to our relationships with Jesus and each other. 

It isn’t always easy, we may not always feel like turning up or serving on Sunday but it matters to the tapestry. You matter to the tapestry of Sutton Vineyard. This autumn, let's commit to sharing our lives with one another, being honest about where we are at, growing trust in others as family and having so much fun whilst doing so. The back may be an intricate web of stories, prayer, healing, joy and sorrow but the front will be a beautiful picture of Sutton Vineyard extending the table. Can’t wait for it!

Vision: Deeper in Community

Well, this is very exciting to be writing my first Spotlight article as the new Community Pastor for Sutton Vineyard!

I’m so excited to be starting my new role and for all that God has for us as a church as we journey into this next chapter together. In the Vineyard we often use the word compassion to illustrate the kind of Christians we want to be. In the Vineyard Values book it describes compassion as ‘a motivation of the heart that gets your hands dirty’. I love this!

When we serve the poor and marginalised, we are indeed serving Christ himself. In this next season I’ll be looking for lots of opportunities for us as a Church to dive deeper into our compassion ministries and get our hands dirty!

As we head into the colder months, we know our support in, to and for our local community is needed more than ever. Providing warm and welcoming spaces for those who live locally to chat and connect is an absolute privilege and as a Church we delight in extending the table and building relationships in our mid week ministries. With Warm Welcome on Monday, Wendy House toddler group on a Wednesday, Lighthouse on a Thursday and soon to be launching Grace Advocacy on a Tuesday, we have so many opportunities for us as a church to connect and go deeper in serving our community.

Whether you are praying for these ministries or serving in one of the teams, the chance to welcome individuals and families from our community into our wider church family is a privilege for us all.

Let’s be a Church who seeks to welcome and serve the least, the lost, the near and the far off in all that we do! 

A small way in which we can show God’s love in this season is by donating food items as we partner with Sutton Community Works and the Food Bank. Our food bank trolley remains available each Sunday for you to donate items. Please see the up to date list here. We are soon to be launching a new initiative with our Mini and Big Kids so look out for this too and at the beginning of October we’ll be collecting for their Harvest appeal. Could you and your family be extra mindful of others when you shop for food in the coming weeks? 

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Interested in extending the table in our local community?

If you would like to know more about our community ministries or even thinking that you could spare some hours in the week to join one of the team get in touch with me at community@suttonvineyard.org

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Vision: Deeper in Kids Ministry

At Sutton Vineyard, we are firm believers in the fact that children should get to do ‘the stuff’ just as much as grown ups. We believe that God wants to have a deep and meaningful relationship with them and that they are never too young to start being Jesus’ hands and feet. Therefore, as we’re looking at ‘going deeper’ as a church family, this applies to our under 11s as much as anyone else.

For our Big and Mini Kids, there are three main areas in which our children have the opportunity to deepen their relationships, knowledge and faith:

Going Deeper at Church

While our kids are at church on a Sunday, our Kids Team are constantly working to make our children’s ministry a loving and welcoming space in which our kids can learn and build relationships. The church family is such an important part of the Christian journey and we’re seeing our kids develop deep and significant relationships with their peers which are spilling out of the Sunday morning setting. The consistent age groups they are in allow them to build on these friendships week on week and they are becoming a community of people who can support, love, encourage and trust each other as they develop and learn. 

Additionally, the topic of invitation is a focus in Kids several times a year, and our children are becoming more and more confident in inviting their friends from outside of church to our special events and services. The more our kids practise invitation, the deeper their confidence and boldness will be to share their faith and the more people they will see coming to Jesus. Our kids are putting the Great Commission into action!

Going Deeper at Home

As a church, we follow the Orange Philosophy, as we understand the church and the home need to work together in the faith development of our children in order to have the biggest impact. Parents and carers play the most significant role in the faith journey of a child and as a church, we want to support parents as they raise their children to love and follow Jesus.

Our termly family prayer trails give parents and carers creative and varied ways to pray with their kids and provide a dedicated space to connect with God as a family. The majority of our children have at least one parent or carer involved in the Kids team at church.

The significance and value of this should not be understated and this bridge between homelife and churchlife can give parents a deeper insight into their child’s faith, as well as giving them stepping stones of topics, activities and techniques they can use at home to help their children get to know God and the Bible on a deeper level.

We now have a Whatsapp Community group for parents and carers where we will send ideas of conversation starters and activities linked to our Kids sessions which you can do at home with your kids, further strengthening the link between home and church.

Going Deeper with God

Of course, our ultimate goal is for our children to experience the love of God in a deep and personal way. In Big and Mini Kids, we worship, pray and study the Bible in ways that are accessible and relevant to our children’s ages and stages.

We know our children are capable of connecting with God, experiencing the power of the Holy Spirit and having a real relationship with Jesus but we also know that we have to introduce these things to them in a way that is comprehensible, interesting and usually lots of fun! Silly actions to a song are actually an introduction to worshipping God with our whole bodies; a frantic race to find a Bible passage is the start of developing a strong understanding of God’s Word; and a beautifully crafted picture or gift for a family member is step towards becoming someone who is compassionate and caring and shares the love of Jesus in all aspects of their lives. Our kids are all on their own journeys with God and it is a privilege and a joy to support them and encourage them as they go deeper and deeper into the plans our Father has for them. 

If you’d like any more information on how to help your child go deeper with God or want to know more about our children’s ministry, feel free to email kids@suttonvineyard.org.

Vision: Deeper in Youth

Somebody once said, "I see no hope for the future of our people if they are dependent on the frivolous youth of today, for certainly all youth are reckless beyond words."

Everybody has an opinion on the state of our society and the challenges that face our young people. Some are optimistic, some are pessimistic, and some fall somewhere in between. It's important to remember that not everyone expects the worst. What if we refuse to believe the worst in today's youth but instead call them towards God's best for their lives? 

The above quote is actually from Hesiod, an 8th-century BCE Greek poet.  Even Greek poets who lived 2,700 years ago struggled to understand best how to nurture the rising generations. You may perhaps already know that the majority of Jesus' 12 disciples are thought to have been teenagers. The youngest was most likely John, sitting somewhere in his early teens. Jesus takes these young people and radically transforms the world, establishes his church and uses them to usher in the Kingdom of Heaven. 

What if we began to believe and expect that our young people can be used in similar ways? What if we shifted from the ancient old hat narrative of 'no hope for young people', to 'God can use them in a mighty and dynamic way'? 

Our young people have the ability to engage in their faith, rely on the Holy Spirit and see God move in extraordinary ways. The same Holy Spirit that rose Jesus from the dead, that is at work in our lives, is also available to our teenagers. At DTI our young people engaged in worship, prayed for and had words for one another - many of them encountered Jesus in new ways and were filled with the Holy Spirit. We want to make sure there are opportunities across the year for them to be encouraged to continue to go deeper in their faith and relationship with God. It is important that we don’t wait for a couple of big events each year, but that their faith is continually an active part of their lives!

Let's begin to get excited about their futures and expect the kind of depth that comes from walking closely with the Lord. They might surprise us all with the way in which God can use them in His Kingdom. 

In this next season, we want to take time to reset the table, empower our youth leaders and engage our young people on a deeper level, helping them thrive in their faith. Our young people are not the ‘church of tomorrow’ but are very much a part of the church today, they can encounter God in the same ways that adults can, and can (and do!) hear from God and minister to others. We are so excited for all that God will continue to do through our young people!

Vision: Deeper in Church

On Sunday, we discussed going deeper, individually and as a church. After the service, someone in the church shared a story that resonated with our discussion. They knew of an Australian cattle rancher with around 1 million acres of land as a ranch. It speaks to the creative ways the herders manage their cattle and the importance of our church community in our individual and collective spiritual growth.

Imagine the monumental task of herding animals across the vast and rugged expanse of the Australian outback, spanning a staggering 1 million acres. The sheer size of this land makes traditional physical fences impractical, if not impossible. Yet, the ranchers have ingeniously overcome this challenge with an innovative and relational approach.

They focus on water sources, not just as a means of sustenance for the cattle but as a tool to foster a unique and profound bond between them and their herds. These water sources are deep wells that capture rain and tap into the water from below the ground. This bond, more than any physical barrier, guides the herd's direction and ensures their thriving.

In Matthew 3:2, we find one of the first things Jesus preaches: "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."

Repent means to 'turn around', essentially changing your mind. We change direction and walk solidly towards Jesus, much like the Australian cattle travelling towards their watering holes and not wandering into the wilderness of the borderless outback.

We believe deeply that the Lord has called us to extend the table of the Kingdom of God to the least, the lost, the near and the far-off. The kingdom of God is not something we are 'in' or 'out' of. As Jesus said, it is something that is at hand and near. Most importantly, it is extended to everybody and can be walked towards. This change of direction means we can journey towards Jesus and encounter His glorious kingdom as we go deeper in our faith.

Jesus calls us to change our direction and move towards the wells and rain catches of substantial faith. We hope to see a direction of travel that moves us ever closer and ever deeper to Jesus.

So, what does going deeper look like for you?

It may be time to cultivate a deeper prayer life.

You may need to go deeper in understanding your faith and theology, and our new theology course is a pathway to explore.

You may often receive prophetic prompting from the Lord, and it's time to be bolder in listening and responding to the Holy Spirit's leading.

We often take simple spiritual practices for granted, but what would the church look like if we all doubled down on our acts of worship, reflection, and prayer?

What might we discover about God and ourselves as we go deeper? What refreshing might come if we travel towards the well and allow the Lord to refill us?

Just as cattle instinctively seek water, people naturally seek Jesus when they recognise their spiritual thirst. As a church, it is for all of us to go deeper with Jesus, but is also the role of the church is to provide access to that living water.

Let's go deeper personally, but let's go deeper together. Deeper in church, deeper in community and deeper in our connection to others, making Jesus the centre well we draw upon.

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We’re excited to be starting Vineyard Theological Training at Sutton Vineyard, a brand new series of filmed modules created to help train and equip you in the riches of the Bible and the Kingdom of God. Our first series starts on Tuesday 17th September!

Sign up to our Vineyard Theological Training course here

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Reflection: Post Sabbatical Musings

I landed back in the office a couple of weeks ago and in some ways, it feels like I haven’t left! To mark the occasion, I made the staff team a snazzy presentation of my time on sabbatical sharing photos and memories. Although unable to share that with you all, I will share some things I have learned, benefitted from and grown in over the fourteen weeks I was away from my role here. 

Jason and Bev, our wonderful founding pastors, have an interest in the Enneagram (it’s more than a personality test!) and how who we are, how we are built and other bits of our character are reflected in our journey with Jesus. I am privileged in that I have had time to explore the type of person I am and how this intermingles in my daily work as a pastor, but I hadn’t taken time to consider how this also impacts me in my rest. 

I typically thrive on action, am highly efficient and value doing things well. My sabbatical (and time with my Spiritual Director) has allowed me the space to explore what resting well looks like for me. How, as a more introverted person, spending time just with myself is refreshing to my soul. It’s not necessarily productive, nor efficient in the immediate sense, but it fills the well within my soul. Having the opportunity to potter at home, plug into my headphones at the gym and take time on public transport gazing out of the window refreshed something in me which I didn’t realise needed hydrating. 

Spending time with my Bible, re-reading the same passages has added to that flow of water. Musing on a verse or two for a whole week, allowing my thoughts to escape to places with Jesus that in the noise of normality would not have been possible, has allowed my heart and soul to take a significant pause. Psalm 19:7-10 has been one of the passages I have found new depths in each time I visited. 

The law of the Lord is perfect,
    refreshing the soul.
The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy,
    making wise the simple.

The precepts of the Lord are right,
    giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the Lord are radiant,
    giving light to the eyes.

The fear of the Lord is pure,
    enduring forever.
The decrees of the Lord are firm,
    and all of them are righteous.

They are more precious than gold,
    than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey,
    than honey from the honeycomb.

Even now, I read these words and am struck by their magnitude. I am vastly aware that it is a huge privilege to have had fourteen weeks to change my rhythm and have the opportunity to be spontaneous, but even in this next season I am going to focus on revisiting passages again and again. Lectio Divina is a great way to do this with structure, but as someone who thrives on structure, I’m going to try and focus on going with the flow a little more when reading and digesting scripture. Using passages like this as a springboard for creativity with the Lord. Having no agenda, other than to hear His words. 

Alongside time with Jesus, studying, coffees with friends and their beautiful babies, holidays, the gym and much more, I’ve also visited other churches to see what church looks like to other communities. I have loved seeing the Vineyard expression in other boroughs, experiencing new ways of worshipping and encountering the Holy Spirit with strangers. Along with very practical ideas that I can bring back with me from these Sundays, in me has been an affirmation of the beauty and necessity of the local church. I thoroughly enjoyed seeing and experiencing something new but came away each Sunday with a greater appreciation and love for the group of people who make up Sutton Vineyard. I love the journey we have been on together, the new things and the things of the past. I am privileged to have been invited on journeys with old friends and new. I am proud of how we come together for weddings and funerals, for parties and for picnics. I am especially in awe of our wonderful staff team and leaders for how they love Jesus and love people. 

The Lord is doing something very special in our church and I am privileged to be a part of it with you all. The last seven years have been a wonderful journey and I am refreshed, renewed and expectant for the next seven to come as a family and community at  Sutton Vineyard. 

Do come and speak to me to learn more about the Enneagram or about Spiritual Direction - I’d love to chat.

Reflection: Celebrating Imperfect Abundance

While summer seems to have only just begun, our little home garden is already bursting with a mini-harvest of juicy strawberries, plump peas, and garlic. Surrounded by this early harvest, I can't help but also notice the abundance of unripe fruits and vegetables waiting their turn. This, along with my little helper Judah who is usually more focused on "eating" than "picking" our little harvests, reminds me of the beautiful truth in Ecclesiastes 3:

"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens..."

(Ecclesiastes 3:1)

This verse speaks volumes about life, even echoed in our gardens. Just as there's a time for planting and a time for harvest, there are seasons of joy and sorrow, celebration and loss, all coexisting within our Christian community.

Our garden, like life, can be unpredictable. Some plants fall victim to mischievous squirrels, while others wilt under the harsh sun. Yet, amidst these setbacks, we see beautiful flowers and the promise of future harvests. It's a humbling reminder that even with our best efforts, things don't always go according to plan. The weather, like life's unforeseen challenges, throws us curveballs.

However, the harvest, like our faith journey, isn't defined by its imperfections. The sweet strawberries we enjoy are a testament to the life-giving power of both sunshine and rain. Just as some plants struggle, we can also sometimes stumble on our faith journey. Our efforts don't always yield the fruit we envision.

But like a farmer who sows seeds despite the uncertainty of the weather, we must keep planting seeds of faith. We nurture our spiritual growth through prayer, scripture, and being led by the Holy Spirit. Even though we are imperfect, God works through us. It always reassures me that God works through me, but also sometimes in spite of me too! Jesus says to his disciples:

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear

much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing...” (John 15:5)

It is only because of God that we get to be fruitful, but we get to play our part!

So, let us celebrate the journey of growing closer to Jesus, being guided by the Holy Spirit, and finding gratitude in the fruits of our lives. For in all seasons, God's constant provision sustains us.

Reflection: Walking Together

A Psalm of David

1  The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
2     He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
3     he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
    for his name’s sake.
4 Even though I walk
    through the darkest valley,
I will fear no evil,
    for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
    they comfort me.

5 You prepare a table before me
    in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
    my cup overflows.
6 Surely your goodness and love will follow me
    all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
    forever.

Psalm 23, a profoundly comforting scripture, assures us that we journey through life under God's loving guidance. 'Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil.

'I always wonder why the Lord doesn't remove us from 'the valley'. Instead, he provides comfort and guidance rather than removal from difficulty. I often find myself wishing he would lead us out of the valleys; however, it is more usual that he walks us through them.

The Psalm ends with 'surely goodness and love will follow me'. There is a promise of hope, having walked through dark valleys, a radiant road before us as we navigate the shadowed paths of life. And in that knowledge, we can have peace and confidence that the Lord has his hand in our lives.

As we step into June, the summer months call to us. With longer daylight hours, we often feel a surge of energy and time. This summer, let's seize the opportunity to walk alongside one another. Whether you're in a valley or on a spiritual and emotional peak, we all experience life's highs and lows in different seasons. Psalm 23 reminds us that we are not alone, and we can find tremendous encouragement in journeying together through these ups and downs.

So, as summer is upon us, are there some people you can walk alongside? This month is an excellent opportunity to fire up the BBQ and invite some people who may need some encouragement. Walk with a few people you've met on Sunday to try and connect more. Maybe look to drop a few messages of encouragement to the people in your Small Group. One of the greatest strengths of the Christian community is our opportunity to bond and do life together.

You don't need to be in difficulty reaching out and building some deeper friendships, but as we reach those valleys, you'll be glad you're inviting people of faith to walk alongside you.

So, as we walk into June, reach out more, connect with others, know you are under the covering of the Lord, and use that to encourage those around you.

I am praying the Lord's best over you this June.

Much love to you all,

Julian

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