By Rev. Canon Val Kenyon
What is it to be a disciple of Jesus?
Of course in Jesus’ day his disciples ‘followed’ him, they accompanied him from place to place and shared and supported him in his ministry. In the early church, David Heywood reminds us, the ‘following’ took on the character of ‘a commitment to a way of life based on the pattern of God’s kingdom’.
The disciple is a ‘learner’, but not someone whose only goal is to gather information, but rather someone who opens themself, despite the inevitable discomforts that come with change, to being transformed into the ‘image’ or ‘pattern of Christ.’ (Matthew 10:25, Romans 8:29).
As disciples of Jesus we give ourselves to study and to reflection, intent on allowing our faith to influence and direct every area of our lives, our learning, and our growing. As we do this both as individuals and in community, as disciples we are ever in the process of becoming. Reflection becomes a tool for learning and change in this process, a tool that considers, Scripture and tradition, our thoughts and our feelings, as well as the church past and the church present. Reflection is couched in prayer, and is undergirded by our confidence in the presence and guidance of the Holy Spirit. We are all invited into this process.
Reflection lies at the heart of the EfM programme.
Looking ahead to September, we are anticipating the opening of a new, second evening EfM Group in London in September 2019, as well as continuing with the London Tuesday morning group. Registrations are now being accepted for these sessions as well as for groups in Windsor, Strathroy, Lucan and Kitchener.
To begin this process or to discuss possibilities of starting an EfM group in your area, please contact Libi Clifford, the Diocese of Huron EfM Coordinator or myself Val Kenyon at EFM@huron.anglican.ca
Rev. Canon Val Kenyon is EFM Animator in Huron.