Edinburgh 2010

A reflection on the journey to 2010
by Bernard Thorogood

1. Foundations for Mission

Care
I think of them, my sister and my brother,
caught up in long tragedy,
lost in a vast teeming city,
desperate for hope in a refugee camp,
and I know a burden on my heart.

I think of them, my mother and my father,
so fearful of the modern world,
facing health costs impossible to meet,
cut adrift from their children,
and I know a burden on my heart.

Yes, I care. But do you care enough?

Call
There was no voice from heaven,
no temple filled with smoke,
no light on the Damascus Road,
But through human voices
the call comes loud and clear.

If you have gifts, give them freely,
if you have time, share it,
if you have strength, march on,
if you have love, embrace me
and if you know the blessing of God
you are needed to become a blessing.

Cross
Pain, blood, wounds, weakness, death -
so the cross marks the boundary of life,
old life over, new life to be born.

Here is the crossing place
from the old gods of bloodless power
to the vulnerable presence of love.

Here eternity is midday
and light shines in the darkness.

Humanity exposed, our crisis known,
our wounds bound up with love,
and so we say

This death is life-giving,
see the heart of the Creator.

Covenant
I will be with you always
not only in the rainbow's assurance,
not only in the garden at dawn,
not only in ancient days of faith,
but now, tomorrow, always.

That's the only confidence we need,
not empires and glory
but the healing' presence.

This is the new covenant in my blood,
life given, life giving, life abundant.