Together For The Harvest
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Week of Prayer 2009
A Week In The Life Of...
Jonathan Birch
Before I share my week with you, I’ll just let you know some of the background stuff.
I’m 44 and have been married to Rachael for 19 years. We have 3 daughters, 15, 14
and 9 -
When we started the church I worked full time in business but within 3 months I was
made redundant. I then worked full-
Monday
This is the start of a busy week and we are all up early as the 2 oldest girls are out to catch the school bus by 8 and the rest of us leave by 8.30. I’m in the office all day, which is usually pretty busy as we run 3 companies from the same office. I spend a great deal of time at work so I’m very aware that although none of my colleagues come to our meetings they know exactly what sort of church we are by watching me! Everything we believe is being played out in front of their eyes.
Tuesday
In the office all day. A great conversation starts around the book ‘The Shack’. I’ve lent it to all the girls and we discuss some of the points of the book. It's funny (or not) how so many people see God as being ‘out to get them’ or he’s cross with them, when actually the complete opposite is true. Tuesday night is normally a meeting night, usually an elders meeting or something similar, but tonight it’s a school Governors meeting. I believe strongly that we have to be involved in the life of the community as much as possible. There is no point moaning when people make daft decisions when we don’t engage ourselves. We have to see more Christians involved in local politics, as school governors, community planning etc. etc.! At the governors meeting there is the challenge from the Council to see if the school has any sort of vision for the community. Wow! What a privilege to be part of that meeting and be able to bring a Kingdom perspective!
Wednesday
Work as usual, but lunchtime is a meeting with one of the other church leaders to
think about next year’s meetings. We meet at the Hope Centre where her office is
based. The Hope Centre is a community centre that Wirral Council literally gave to
us last December. The church meets there, but our heart is to see it a place of hope
for the whole community so we are beginning to offer a number of services from the
centre including a club for people with cerebral palsy / disabilities, free legal
advice clinic, debt counselling, Healing Rooms, Hip Hop/ street dance lessons, after-
Thursday
Today’s highlight is lunch with a young guy from church. We meet up once a month for some mentoring. I mentor a few guys from church and we usually meet over lunch as it’s hard to find an evening free.
Friday
At the office all day. Friday night is normally a night to relax at home as by this point in the week I’m pretty shattered. No relaxing tonight though as there is a major spiritual battle to be fought – direct from the pit of hell comes decorating! I’m not suggesting that this sport tests my sanctification, but...
Saturday
Major battle with the forces of darkness not won and more decorating is on the cards. Several trips to Beelzebub’s main lair (a.k.a. B&Q) and some severe damage to the bank account and I think there could be a breakthrough on the horizon. Saturday night is TV watching with the family which, surrounded by the direct descendants of the Von Trapp family, means only one thing – X Factor (with accompanying loud singing! Help me Jesus!)
Sunday
I’m up at the Hope Centre from 9 through till 1.30. We have a few different meetings going on including our main Sunday gathering. I normally preach at least once a month, but this week I’m not. The rest of Sunday is for relaxing and we will no doubt be off to West Kirby for a walk round the lake or to Parkgate for an ice cream, if it stops raining for just 1 minute.
