The Unexpected Leader

Dear Friends in Christ,

One of the things I’ve noticed about being embedded in a community is the role of the unexpected leader. These are people who may be the most unlikely to lead in an ‘official’ way but who do so, often in dramatic and dynamic style, but also in quiet and unobtrusive ways.

In reality many of us are people of influence and manifest ‘soft’ authority, perhaps within our families or our friendship groups.

The unexpected leader is often someone who doesn’t follow conventional, ‘polite’ paths. They often are the ones who challenge authorities or systems. They may be those establish groups  to come together to achieve a common goal or address an injustice.

It’s easy to think that we as ordinary citizens have no power, no influence, but we do, and we can enable others to do so. It just needs the spark of one person to start a fire that changes everything.

This Sunday is Bible Sunday, and Jesus is starting his own journey through leadership. As a male in Judaic society, he would already possess inherited and unearned power. Now he speaks at the synagogue, itself a conveyer of his position.

 His listeners are initially proud of what he’s doing-the local boy doing good-until he dumbfounds them by not playing the expected game, challenging them and breaking out a message that affronts them.

Jesus begins his ministry with the Isaiah reading, proclaiming a message bigger than his hearers want. He’s not limited by his context. He’s now emerging into a new era, the ultimate in unexpected leaders.

This Sunday 26 October the Last after Trinity

8:00am                      Holy Communion, All Saints

10:00am                   Holy Communion, St. Mary’s

10:30am                   Cafe Church, All Saints

The Week Ahead

Wednesday  29th Oct   9:00am –  Celtic Morning Prayer, All Saints

Thursday 30th Oct      10:00am –   Holy Communion, St. Mary’s

Friday 31st Oct            11:00am –   Living After Loss, St. Mary’s

Saturday 1st Nov        10:00am –   Coffee Morning, Book Sale & Bristol Repair Café, All Saints

                    12:00pm - 1:30pm –    Saturday Lunches, St. Mary’s

Next Sunday 2nd November

 10:00am –.  Creative Church, St. Mary’s

 10:30am –   Holy Communion, & Junior Church, All Saints

   6:30pm –   Choral Evensong, St. Mary’s

 May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all, evermore. Amen.

Blessings,

Fr Kester de Oliveira