Part-time working?

As the recession continues, it is reported that more full-time jobs are being reduced to part-time posts.

These jobs are also disproportionately low paid jobs, and are also done by women. 

So women are suffering more that men, as usual.

I don't have any suggestions about how to remedy this situation.

However, I have been reflecting on whether we can be part-time or full-time Christians.

St. Paul describes himself and his fellow Chris-followers in a striking analogy.

'God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” (2 Corinthians 5.18-20)

In Paul's day, there were no 'full-time' Christian ministers, clergy, youth workers or anything else. Everyone who had become a follower and disciple of Jesus was part of the full-time sales team, as it were. 

But Paul doesn't call them sales staff. He describes them as ambassadors, which is a position of great honour and responsibility.

Paul is also aware that at the heart of that in which we are all engaged is this task of reconciling people to God. We have a great message to share - this wonderful message of reconciliation.

It was wonderful, last evening at our Carol Service, to see that so many people are actively involved in this shared full-time task. 

The large crowds of those who came for several reasons. 

Many people have been praying that our Christmas services would be effective - thank you!

Some said they said they had received our Christmas publicity leaflets - so thanks to those who delivered the Christmas publicity! 

Others came because they saw there was a Gospel Choir - and they didn't want to miss that. And wasn't the choir magnificent. Thanks to Daniel and all the hard work of his choir.

Others came because friends had invited them - and that is great.

And many people had given time and hard work in making the whole evening go so well. 

So I am excited to be part of  a large full-time team of committed Christ-followers, sharing the message “Come back to God!”

I am praying that all our other Christmas events will be similarly effective in reaching out to our community.

Best wishes,

Richard