Today was the college community event and welcome with a BBQ in the gardens, concluding with a short service of worship together. The chapel of Wycliffe Hall has to be my favourite place on the campus and hearing and seeing everyone worshiping God together is really special. The Principal, Revd Dr Michael Lloyd, gave a short but meaningful talk which sets the community up well for the year ahead: that we are all made in God’s image (cf. Genesis 1). Whoever we’re talking to or encountering, whether we like them or not, agree with them or not, each and every person reflects something unique about God. We are all reflections of God. The same is true when we read a book and hear someone’s thoughts and arguments. Do get distracted by what irritates us about the person? Or do we listen and look for God’s image in that person?
Update: Welcome Week at Wycliffe
My (unofficial) first day.
Although I don't start till January, this week I’m in Oxford for the college’s “Welcome Week”. This is when new students begin to get their bearings on college life, how to use the library, where to go for lectures, which fellowship group they’re in and so on. They meet with their tutors and start to find their way into their new student lives. Some come to Wycliffe Hall from other college degrees, some from full-time Christian ministry and many (possibly most?) from various other workplaces and industries. It can be quite an adjustment!
What a great way to start life in a new community. When I was at college (both times) people would ask what I liked or disliked about the experience. The answer for both questions was the same: community. It was the people that made it so special. But it was also the people that tested my patience and brought to the surface some of my character defects.
But also: what a great way to start studying theology. To learn well means to engage generously and openly with the views of others. By no means do we have to agree with everything we read, but to be open to God’s truth and ready to receive what He might want to reveal to us starts with our willingness to see the image of God in the other person. Every time you pick up a book you’re picking up something written by someone who was made in the image of God. What a prospect! What a gift to be curious and open rather than judgemental and close-minded.
In the church we can be quite comfortable saying God is the author of all truth. Jesus said as much when he said “I am the way, the truth and the life” (John 14:6)! But we’re often less comfortable saying that means we’re NOT the authors of all truth. If it’s God’s domain, then my views are probably a very mixed bag of good and bad. Truth and falsehood. And I think that we’re perhaps only really ready to learn well when we’ve come to terms with that and willing to acknowledge that even some of our strongest held opinions might be wildly misplaced.
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And lastly: today was a great encouragement to see how God is calling people into service in his church and beyond. There are many ordinands training to be clergy and many independent students furthering their vocation in the mission of God. I heard stories of people coming from all kinds of different backgrounds and areas of the country and many who sense God calling them onwards to under-resourced areas who are in need of renewed energy and life for the gospel.
Please do pray for all the new students, the continuing ones and those preparing for curacy!
