Features (June 2009)
Reflections
The diocesan Holy Land pilgrims - 60 people from Eglingham to Snods Edge, from Wallsend to Harbottle – have arrived home with many stories to tell and blessings to share.
The pilgrimage was led by Bishop Martin and Archdeacon Geoff with the support of Dave & Audrey Elkington, and the party visited Jerusalem, Bethlehem and Galilee – staying and eating as far as was possible in Palestinian Christian establishments.
Audrey says: “We visited sites associated with Jesus’ birth, ministry, death and resurrection, and were open to Jesus speaking to us today.
“We met Christians who live in Palestine today. We learned about the difficulties under which they live, about their churches, and also about their projects open to all Palestinians irrespective of faith.
“We have all been encouraged to ‘go and tell’ of what we experienced – so here are a few reflections from those who went on the pilgrimage.”
Reading from the Gospels, sharing in the Eucharist and singing hymns at the historical sites we visited helped to heighten our knowledge of the scriptures and to give another vivid dimension to our understanding of the ‘Word made Flesh’.
Being in the places associated with Jesus, seeing the things he may have seen, sensing the gospel scenery, or grasping the atmosphere of beauty and cruelty, that Jesus knew so well gave us all the opportunity to grow in faith and change our lives.
We travelled in companionship, new friends were made and our souls inspired. There was so much to see, so much to take in, not only what took place over 2,000 years ago but all that is happening now, affecting the quality of life for so many today.
Our final Eucharist was by the shore of Lake Galilee beside the Church of the Primacy of St. Peter (commemorating the re-commissioning of Peter by the risen Christ) where during the service we renewed our baptismal vows.
The theme for our Pilgrimage was ‘Go and Tell’, about the Goodness of God, His Peace, His Mercy, His Compassion and his Love. This, I am sure, we will do. Pat Johnson
The Via Dolorosa in Jerusalem is a crowded narrow alleyway through a myriad of stalls selling combinations of essentials and undifferentiated tat. Yet in the quietness of the Ecce Homo basilica at the Eucharist we are offered three gifts: the Bread, the Wine … and the Cross. The body and blood are offered in the usual way. But the Cross (a small olive wood cross for every communicant) is offered with words like, “Ron, Christ carried the Cross for you!” Even typing this many days later, those words pierce the heart. Even the weirdness of the Holy Sepulchre where the Via Dolorosa ended cannot erase that particular moment of intense emotion. And many days later, at the Eucharist celebrated by the ‘Syrian Sea’, just by the sculpture of Jesus commissioning Peter, “Feed my sheep!” - ritual became inflamed with revelation. Ron Smithard
“Welcome home brothers and sisters in Christ. Welcome home to the land of the Holy One, where our faith began,” said Ghassan, our guide, setting the tone for our pilgrimage, one of openness, honesty and above all generosity.
There were many reunions in Jerusalem, the Mappa Mundi seems to be right, placing it as the centre of the world. We bumped into bishops from all over, long lost friends, relatives and the Mothers Union national branch!
There were also farewells and commendations of departed loved ones, as we sailed on the Sea of Galilee. Having sung and prayed, we came to silence as the boat bobbed on a calm sea, the morning mist gradually burning off and the strong sense of Jesus coming across the water to hold us all in love.
In an open sided church in a courtyard in Cana, Bishop Martin blessed two couples celebrating 50 years of marriage, as well as a new wedding ring.
Prayers and praise rang in a humble shepherd’s cave, in a glorious gilded cathedral, struggling parish church and bustling streets; and everywhere the message was the same, “Pray for us the remnant of Christianity in the land of the Holy One, the Living Stones of the church; and pray for peace with justice in this divided land.”
Sixty pilgrims started out as strangers, and after travelling in Jesus footsteps returned as friends. And now we are charged to ‘Go and Tell’ of all that we experienced of the living faith we share worldwide. Kath Cockburn
We were issued with bright yellow baseball caps at the beginning of the pilgrimage – and had mixed feelings about wearing them – but they were ‘ours’ and joined us together and showed up well in a crowd. Waved in the distance we got the message: ‘turn left here’ or ‘follow this way’. Those hats travelled with us, especially in the crowds of Jerusalem, to places where our hearts were stirred. They became symbolic ‘bread baskets’ holding the wooden crosses which we wore with pride. At the end of the day our yellow caps drew us together and taught us that Christ can turn even the very ordinary into something special. Mine will probably take pride of place among much more expensive souvenirs of a Pilgrimage which united us all in Christian love and fellowship. Georgina Harper
During our stay in Tiberius, near the Sea of Galilee, we had the opportunity to sail on board a fairly large boat. After about quarter of an hour, the engines were turned off and we recounted from the Bible two of the stories about the Sea of Galilee. One of which was when Jesus walked upon the surface of the water and invited Peter to do the same. Peter’s faith in the Lord falters as he begins to sink, but Jesus reaches out to him and catches him. As Jesus enters the boat the storm ceases. The second reading was Jesus calming the storm on the Sea, leaving the disciples wondering how even the wind and waves obey him. It was then that we had a chance to sit in silence on the boat. The sea was calm, no engine noise, only the sound of the water lapping on the side of the boat. This for me was an appropriate time to try and imagine what it must have been like for the disciples in the boat when Jesus had calmed the storm. The relief they must have felt and yet also realising the need to have faith in the Lord, especially in times of trouble. Simon Embleton
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Sea Sunday - July 12 2009
Seafarers are the invisible people at the heart of the world economy who bring us more than 90% of our everyday needs.
Our free, colourful Sea Sunday pack tells you all about the work we are doing. With sermon notes, information sheets, a poster and brightly coloured children’s material the pack is ideal for Family Services and young people’s groups.
Seafarers live a life unlike any other. Because seafarers are on a constant journey few of us will ever meet them but every day of our lives we depend on them. The Mission to Seafarers reaches out to all seafarers with a message of love and hope.
The Mission to Seafarers also distributed 175,000 bibles and other items of Christian literature to seafarers visiting our centres.
Jiang is just one of hundreds of thousands of seafarers who find friendship and help from the Mission in our 230 centres around the world. Last year we made almost 80,000 visits to ships to welcome and help crews. We also supported more than 800 seafarers who were victims of injustice.
Seafarers like Jiang who suffered a serious accident onboard his ship during a storm off the South West coast. Unable to return home for weeks, Jiang found friendship and support with the Mission to Seafarers’ team in Falmouth. We supplied him with new clothes and an allowance and helped him to send emails and make telephone calls to his wife and family.
Sea Sunday is a wonderful opportunity to remember seafarers who live hard, lonely lives in a harsh and inhospitable environment parted from their families and loved ones for months on end.
Faith and Life
‘I've realised that I'd been indirectly expressing my faith and bringing faith to people through music. 'Simply Northumbrian', to which I belong, plays for barn dances, and socials, and my tune 'St Cuthbert's Day' has become well known to Northumbrian pipers and with words, is sung in at least two churches.
Many conversations spring from music. I was 30 years away from church, but when Judith Grieve was exploring her own calling, (I know Judith through music), thoughts were set in my mind. Eventually with my wife Audrey, and then followed by our married daughter Angela, I came back to church. We went to St Cuthbert's Blyth, we were confirmed, and it's been brilliant.
On the Faith and Life course at Seaton Sluice I've learned how other people are living out their faith. The group members are very different. Its widening my view of ministry as I see that what people are doing is grounded in their faith. On the away-day we explored people's deeper motivations and gifts, not just their roles. From this we learnt more about why people express their faith in this way or that - by what they do.
I've enjoyed finding helpful ways of reading the Bible. The Old Testament has become more relevant to me. I'd never really looked at the psalms, and I’ve found that extremely interesting. We got behind the words of the psalms – to discover the gratitude and the frustration with God. St Mark's gospel from a new angle and the relevance of Acts and Paul has also been very insightful. I've found a new interest in the Bible, and I'm talking more about my faith, in a relaxed way, not getting tense. Work colleagues talk to me on a different level now, because they know I have a particular way of 'trying' at life!
I feel full of admiration for the others in the group - such a mixture of faithful people!
Roy Hugman
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No longer afraid of the Bible
Lent courses led me into learning more about my faith. God had brought me back to church by an amazing set of circumstances, and I always felt I should be doing more. But I could never find what it was. I put myself into church work as much as possible. I was always told I was a ‘people person’: I could get on with old and young alike. I found myself not to be academic. As I prayed about my faith I wondered, ‘Am I deaf and dumb, or do I not connect?’.
Since I’ve been on the Faith and Life course, I find I’m not frightened of the Bible. Before it was a bit of a closed book, now it’s starting to talk! Nothing’s changed in 2000 years; we face the same obstacles as did Jesus. I lived in Meadow Well with my family until 1978, so I was pleased when my Faith and Life group decided to visit the Cedarwood Project. One of our group asked Margaret Reynolds the Project Manager: ‘Where does God fit into all this?’. Margaret answered: ‘’They come here knowing that there is a place for dealing with their situations. You’re not talking to them about God, you’re being there for them”
It’s like in the Bible, where there is help for widows and orphans, and the captives are set free! On the away-day I discovered that my motivation was as a ‘Giver’, which I had never realised before. But now I see why I enjoy things like organising soup lunches at Kirkland Court in Burradon, and helping and providing for people in all sorts of ways.
Gloria Holmes
Short course or longer process?
However much or little time you can afford, God calls everyone of us to reflect on our Christian journey. In Psalm 23 the ‘paths of righteousness’ are like sheep-tracks on our own Northumbrian hills: they follow the contours! (useless if you ever want to get to the top!) I remember in my childhood trying to climb Humbleton Hill (Wooler) via the sheeptracks! The positive thing about following contours is that they don’t lead us up an impossible slope. And I firmly believe that God leads us in the sheep-tracks of righteousness, according to the grain of our personality (and circumstances). Yes, at times we are led ‘against the grain’, through shattering circumstances. He invites us to learn and reflect according to our circumstances and our personality.
Short courses:(six 90 minute sessions –over several weeks, or over a couple of Saturdays or to follow a pie and pea supper?………)
Lord teach us to pray: a practical introduction to various styles of prayer
Making sense of the Bible for today: an overview of the gospels and some Old Testament books referred to in them..
Struggling with Suffering: we are inviting parishes to help us trial this course which explores the ‘why’ questions
(For the full range please ask for a leaflet )
The Faith and Life couse:
Is a longer commitment over 9 months, but with long breaks over Christmas and Easter. It involves travelling literally as well as spiritually. One aim is to learn with folk from different backgrounds and churches. For people who have begun to grow in faith through their own church’s groups, this could be the big chance to spread the wings and explore further. A bit like a shared retreat or pilgrimage. People who sign up often fear that everyone else will be super-spiritual and know their Bibles inside out. There’s huge relief at the first meeting when they find that isn’t the case. Local groups will be meeting at
St John Lee (nr Hexham) contact the Rev Jeremy Thompson on 01434-600268
Morpeth Methodist Church (town centre) contact Sheila Rowley on 01670-515915
Newcastle –probably Fawdon- contact Dr Patricia Bragg on 2862765
Tynemouth – please contact Rev Alastair Macnaughton 01912340371
Norham Deanery (meeting at Holy Trinity Berwick Church Hall) please contact
Peter Middlemiss on 01289-308553
If you’d like a group in your area, please let us know! It might be possible this year, or next!
Living Theology Today – involves a journey that won’t be possible for very many. But if you have the transport, its worth considering. It is an introduction to some aspects of theology through the heart, not merely the head.
For some it will be a special opportunity to receive and reflect, and then to engage according to the ‘grain’ of their personality. Some people do Living Theology Today after the Faith and Life course, though it is not a direct sequel. It does, however, complement Faith and Life. The enquirer’s evening at Durham at 7 pm on the 7th September is a good way of testing the flavour without any commitment to attending! For a leaflet please contact Pamela.Wilson@durham.anglican.org
Accredited modules (level one) in theology for independent students, e.g Introduction to the Old Testament.
But Christian learning isn’t just about courses. It's about the whole of life. God may not be calling you to go on a course, but he is (I would argue) calling you to lifelong learning as a Christian. If courses are not for you, maybe I could put you in touch with someone - if not your vicar- with whom you could discuss what could be done instead.
Alastair Macnaughton
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Churches Togther Football League
Churches Together Football League want more churches to take part in the five-a -side league which starts in September. The games are at Concordia Leisure Centre, Cramlington, on Saturday mornings every fortnight, with two groups, one aged 9yrs to 13yrs, and the other aged 14yrs to 16yrs, boys and girls. Contact Bernard McCabe 01912862704 or 07751020918 for further details.