Columns (March 2009)
Green Links column
By Janis Irvine
Imagine. You’ve had a tough morning and now you are walking along the main street of your town or village. It is a normal week day; someone is shouting across the street, cars are passing by, there is the hoot of a car horn and then the thump, thump of the bass as a young motorist flies by, intent on sharing his musical taste with the world at large. You have one or two problems that seem insurmountable and you just want to sit down somewhere and think. But where? Many of the properties are private homes although there are one or two shops and businesses plus the post office. There is a café — but that is too busy and filled with people. Ah, but somewhere along the street there is a church and it has a churchyard — and it is, after all, a public place isn’t it?
You are not a church person, so you walk tentatively through the gate and up the path. You don’t really want to go in the church, that is, if it is open, but you walk round the back and there is a wooden bench. You collapse on to it and dump your bag. You lean back and shut your eyes and slowly, very slowly, you begin to relax as the sun warms your face. After a bit you are aware of a bird singing nearby, and then you are aware of other birds and other sounds. You hear the buzz of a bumblebee and, still with your eyes shut, you mentally chart its progress as it alternates between busy buzzing and periods of quiet. The bee seems to be flitting from one side of you to the other, and you are intrigued so you open your eyes and watch, fascinated as it flits from one big white daisy to another and then disappears along the bell of a pink foxglove. A robin flies down from the church wall and sits watching you from a short distance, then chirrups and sings as it flies onto a headstone. Your spirits rise and somehow the world seems a better place. It is time to go, but you vow to come back soon and perhaps you’ll bring a packed lunch and share it with that robin.
How does this relate to your churchyard? Is there a bench and are there birds and bees, flowers, bushes and trees? Sadly, many churchyards offer a well-kept green space for burials, with the grass mown to within an inch of its life, and that’s about it. Even sadder, is the fact that many of our birds and bees are declining in number. Even up here in the North East, where we would seem to have acres of open space, ample wooded areas and a great variety of habitats, there are some species which are in decline while some have even reached, or are near to, extinction levels. These species include the great yellow bumblebee, the shrill carder bee, the pearl-bordered fritillary and the narrow-bordered bee hawk-moth. We have perhaps also lost sword-grass, wild forms of cornflower, red hemp-nettle and shepherd’s needle. All of these used to be recorded in our Region.
Between 1968 and 1991 the UK lost 85% of tree sparrows, 76% of corn buntings and 54% of sky larks, while up to 50% of dormice have been lost over the past 25 years. Then there is the loss of habitat including the 5.2% of hedgerows which are being lost each year and the 97% of semi-natural lowland grasslands which have been lost in England and Wales over the last 50 years. This last habitat is what we might also know as wildflower hay meadows.
Our churchyards can’t be a cure-all for all declining species, but they can help in their own way, and help quite significantly, depending on how big they are, in what area they are sited, how big the management team and, perhaps most importantly, how much the PCC and congregation feel that it matters. Below you will find details of an ‘Encouraging Wildlife’ Seminar which is to take place on Saturday, 25th April. If your Church thinks it matters about wildlife, then why not come along? And remember our imaginary friend who came to sit in the churchyard? Isn’t this a kind of church ministry, another form of hospitality and welcome?
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Rural Affairs
With Dagmar Winter
The drive to Wooler was slow on partially ungritted roads. But it was well worth it – not just for the glorious views of the Cheviots in snow but also for the immense privilege of being able to spend several hours in a small group discussing rural issues with the Government's Rural Advocate, Dr Stuart Burgess, Chair of the Commission for Rural Communities (CRC) in February.
So there we were, in the Cheviot Centre in Wooler, a mix of Anglican clergy (including the Archdeacon of Lindisfarne) and lay people, a URC as well as a Methodist rural officer, and Hugh Logan from Northumberland Farm Crisis Network.
An important subject discussed was CRC's forthcoming Inquiry on the future of England's upland communities. Our upland communities are much more complex than the casual observer might assume. It's about hill farmers, of course, but it's about so much more: different people with diverse lifestyles and interests, relating to their environment, the economy and the community in lots of different ways.
Fortunately, the Inquiry is well aware of this complexity. Its aim is to identify and evaluate the key drivers of change in England's upland communities and to develop and promote realistic policy recommendations that enable and equip these communities to move towards more secure, economically prosperous and sustainable futures.
It's a tall order. The Inquiry began mid-February and this is where rural people themselves come in because the most important thing for the Panel will be to listen to those who actually live and work in these communities: Stuart encouraged everyone with something to say to submit evidence. A questionnaire has been posted on their website at: www.ruralcommunities.gov.uk/projects/uplandcommunities, setting out 20 key questions, and requesting written submissions of evidence by 30th April 2009. Do take this opportunity!
Of course, we also talked about the economic crisis. Its effect on savings through low interest rates and the rise of fuel cost (with mains gas often not available in rural areas) is set to affect everyone, but particularly those who are retired. Audrey Roy, Head of Social Justice at CRC, said recently: "The average age of rural people is already nearly six years higher than people living in urban areas and the gap is widening by a further three months each year. By 2025 the difference in average age between the rural and urban populations could be as much as 10 years. This situation will place inevitable and increasing pressure on the delivery of care services in rural areas and, in particular, on demands for housing to meet the care needs of rural elderly people." Yes, it's all linked and really complex.
Finally, Stuart, incidentally also a Methodist minister, challenged the churches to be less inward-looking. He encouraged us to use the buildings we have for public benefit (and to have a can-do attitude about it!) since every community needs a focal point. He spoke of going out with the spiritual heart of the church and welcoming and embracing the religiosity we find, and – Tread lighter during Lent! – he urged every church to contribute positively in at least one way to the climate change problems.
We left the day with more than enough to think about, but also encouraged by Stuart's engagement at many different political levels, and grateful for the time he gave us.
Post offices report
This follows on neatly from Stuart's plea for public use of church buildings. The Scottish Churches' Rural Group has produced a very useful report stemming from a recent conference they ran, entitled “The Changing Post Office - An Opportunity for Churches to lead their communities in the provision of cost effective sustainable services.” It 'does what is says on the tin', with examples from England as well as Scotland, legal notes, stories of people with experience of running a post office, guidelines and best practice, etc. You can find this report at www.acts-scotland.org/downloads/reports/Postofficereport.pdf or I'm happy to e-mail it to you.
Rogation Sunday 2009
And finally – for those of you who like to plan ahead, don't forget that 17th May is Rogation Sunday, a great opportunity to support the farming community particularly, maybe with an outdoor service, or a parish walk. If you have stories to share, let me know. See the Arthur Rank Centre website for resources. www.arthurrankcentre.org.uk with the Rural Advocate in Wooler.
*Picture shows the Rural Advocate, Dr. Stuart Burgess (right) in discussion with the Archdeacon of Lindisfarne, Peter Robinson
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View from the Lantern
By Canon Sydney Connolly
“By your holy cross you have redeemed the world”
Visitors to the Cathedral during the fortnight before Easter will find it a somewhat sombre place, and indeed may think it all rather puzzling. In common with many churches, flowers are removed, and purple veils are placed over the various statues and icons. This is to emphasise the season of Passiontide, when we enter a time of reflection and meditation on the suffering and death of Christ. The readings in the liturgy, the music by the choir and the hymns all pick up this theme and provide us with powerful ways of marking the last days of our Lord’s earthly life. It is during this time that we have the opportunity to sing those haunting Passiontide hymns: When I survey the wondrous cross; My song is love unknown; O sacred head, sore wounded; and, not everybody’s favourite, (but I like it): The old rugged cross.
If those visitors find their way to the “Eastern Chapels” they will discover not only some of the great glories of the Cathedral, but also some further aids for Passiontide devotions. The Eastern Chapels are three: the Resurrection, the Incarnation, and the Ascension. Plenty of space is provided for those who want to have a good look at the details of the woodwork and the stained glass windows. There is also seating for those who want to gather their thoughts together and spend some time in prayer.
In the windows above the Resurrection Chapel there are five scenes from the Passion that will be easily recognised by those who are familiar with the Stations of the Cross: Jesus receives his cross; he meets the women of Jerusalem; he falls under the weight of the cross; Simon of Cyrene helps him; Jesus is nailed to the cross. Moving to the great east window above the Incarnation Chapel there is a depiction of the Last Supper and above it, the Crucifixion of our Lord. There is an abundance of detail and much food for thought and silent reflection in these windows, and of course, they are there all year round, not just in Passiontide. Easily missed, high up on the wall facing the central eastern window is the more modern sculpture depicting the broken wafer of the Eucharist. The Ascension Chapel has the Leonard Evetts window with its striking Ascension theme. You have to go to the southern side of the Cathedral to find windows depicting the Resurrection, complete with sleeping soldiers.
Should those same visitors come in Eastertide, they will find quite a different scene from the Passiontide one. Gone are the veils; flowers and candles are in abundance; alleluias punctuate the liturgy, hymns and music; and an Easter garden tells of Christ risen and glorified. Perhaps we should give out leaflets to our Passiontide visitors explaining the purple veils and lack of flowers, and urging them, if they can, to come back to the Cathedral and follow the rest of the story in Eastertide!
I think it is at the great Christian seasons that the Cathedral is at its best. It has such wonderful visual resources for encouraging reflection on the great stories of our faith, and it is open each day to anyone and everyone who wishes to come.
Passiontide this year begins on Sunday 29th March. If you are likely to be in the Cathedral at this holy season, you might like to say this prayer used by Franciscans worldwide on entering a church:
We adore you, most holy Lord Jesus Christ,
here, and in all your churches throughout the world;
and we bless you
because by your holy cross
you have redeemed the world.
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Christan Aid column
Finger on buzzers!
Q: What is the smartest way to help people in the world’s poorest communities help themselves?
A: Quizaid
Last year Quizaid, a nationwide fundraising event organised by Christian Aid, raised a brainbusting £185,000 for its overseas development work in 50 countries across Africa, Asia and Latin America. This year Quizaid aims to raise £225,000 with the help of Smart Alecs and Brainy Brendas across the country.
In the North East, the launch of Quizaid was enthusiastically supported by schools, churches and community groups throughout the region. ‘It’s one of the best quizzes that I’ve come across in a long time, and a great way to involve people who don’t normally take part in Christian Aid’s house to house collection’ said Rev Caroline Dick of St Peter’s Church, Harton. ‘We made Quizaid our Christian Aid Week social for Harton Churches Together and decorated the room with red and white helium balloons donated by the local florist. The cubs and scouts made a presentation on Christian Aid so that everyone knew how the money raised would be spent.’
Miriam Knights, a local 6th-former, can’t wait to take part in Quizaid again this year. ‘We all loved Quizaid’ she confessed. ‘School made it into a competition in each class group, so everyone tried hard to beat their friends. The quiz was fun, but not too easy! Since the whole school took part, we only had to bring 50p in each, but this still added up. It was great to know that people were going to benefit from us having fun! Roll on Quizaid 09!’
In a bid to get even more people quizzing this year, Christian Aid has introduced three new levels of questions. Choose from subjects such as sport, music, geography, pot luck, history and maths and then decide which category you fall into, whether it’s braniacs, average Joes, 11-18 year olds or under-tens.
Most people will be quizzing on the evening of Thursday 14 May 2009, but you can hold your Quizaid whenever it suits you. Specially produced Quizaid packs give organisers everything they need to make the event a roaring success, including posters, question cards and invitations. Packs can be ordered online at www.christianaid.org.uk/quizaid or by calling 0808 000 5005.
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Domestic Violence column
By Revd. Jean Skinner
Healing and Wholeness: a Lifetime’s Journey
This month in our series on domestic abuse, the Revd. Jean Skinner, Child Protection Officer, assesses the affect of abuse on children in a family where relationships are poisoned by one member
All the aspects of domestic abuse are experienced by children as well as the adult directly being abused, and it can be a lifetime’s journey to process the impact, for the young victims to achieve a sense of healing in their own lives.
The impact of domestic abuse on children can never be underestimated - the influences extend well into adulthood.
One adult survivor of domestic and emotional abuse experienced as a child has described to me the effect had on her and her sister. The abuser in their case was their mother, with their father being a victim also. This mother’s controlling personality subjected the family to a reign of domination that poisoned every aspect of family life.
“She organised every moment of our waking lives telling us all precisely what to do and how to do it, and even what to think. Any deviation from her schedule was met with a torrent of verbal and physical abuse. We were all terrified of her and learned to keep our heads down, praying for each storm to blow over”.
The storms were unpredictable and occurred even when it was meant to be happy family occasion.
“School was my sanctuary, however the anxiety of the evening flapped its wings like a black cloud over the day, and school holidays were a nightmare. She told everyone we met that H…has the brains and P.. has the beauty, which made me feel ugly and my sister feel stupid, we grew to hate meeting new people in public. It has taken us a lifetime to rid ourselves of these convictions.
“Nothing we ever did was right and even when I passed a scholarship to senior school, because of her own egocentricity she could not bring herself to say well done. My father was too afraid to intervene on my behalf. She wanted to be the centre of my father’s universe and she made out that she would suffer because of my success. Had I not escaped to university I would have become a recluse.”
For children there is no hierarchy of abuse and the impact on each individual child may be different. Resilience may help to explain why some children who live with domestic abuse fare better than others. Resilience doesn’t protect against adversity, but it does give the ability to recover more quickly. A good education is certainly one of the resilience factors, as is religious faith.
“I had a strong belief in God and a sense of an inner nugget of integrity that couldn't be destroyed by outside pressure, no matter how great”
This could explain why these two sisters reacted differently to their experience.
“The malign influence of our abuse continued into the next generation as my sister behaved towards her daughters in the same way our mother had treated us. She had no other yardstick and thought all parents behaved that way. Consequently her daughters have now rejected her completely. I was determined to be a better mother to my two children, In spite of two disastrous marriages.”
Even children from the same family have different biological traits which help form their personality. How they respond to adversity is dictated to a large extent by their level of resilience. These two sisters had different levels of resilience which influenced how they dealt with their abuse. For one, the abuse became integrated into her own abusive parenting, for the other her feelings of unworthiness led her into two disastrous marriages, but she was able to be a good parent.
For both women it has taken them a lifetime to come to a sense of understanding and healing from their experience.
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