Monthly Archives: February 2010

it does make a difference!

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Some people have asked if I think writing letters or sending emails on behalf of the Burmese people really does make a difference. I believe it does (or I would not be involved) but this feedback email from the Burma Campaign UK is evidence that we can, and do, make a difference. if you have not responded yet … please do!

Last week we emailed you asking for your help in persuading the governmentof Thailand not to forcibly deport 3,000 ethnic Karen refugees back toBurma, to an area covered in landmines.

We asked you to email the Thai Prime Minister and the local governor. BurmaCampaign UK also contacted governments, MPs and media to let them know whatwas happening, ask them to lobby the Thai government, and report on the situation.

On Friday morning Thai authorities started the deportations, sending three  families back to Burma, but then halted them. The reason for halting the deportations was undoubtedly the international attention being paid to what they were doing. Thousands of people answered our request and sent emails to the Thai Prime Minister and the local governor. Media, including The Independent, reported on what was going on, and European governments also called on Thailand to halt the deportations.

Now we have heard further good news, the three families who were forced back to Burma were able to return to the temporary refugee camp in Thailand yesterday.

This crisis campaign is a great example of how we can all work together, Burma Campaign groups, individuals, working with and supporting Karen organisations defending their people.  Together we have made a difference, and no doubt saved lives and prevented horrific injuries. Thank you for your support.

However, the danger is not completely over yet. Local soldiers have still been pressuring the refugees to agree to return, and no permanent solution has yet been agreed that means the refugees are safe and secure. Senior level meetings involving Karen organisations and government officials are being held in Thailand to try to find a solution.

Burma Campaign UK will continue to watch the situation closely, and be ready to act if need be to try to prevent any further deportations.

A full briefing is available here.

The Independent article can be viewed here.

The Burma Campaign UK depends on donations from the public to carry out our vital work. You can donate online.

Thank you again for your support.

Anna Roberts
The Burma Campaign UK

Pray for Synod today

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Please pray for Philip Giddings, chair of the Mission and Public Affairs Council, as he proposes the motion below to General Synod this afternoon, and for all those who will contribute to the debate.
Also for Graham Cray and his team as they share the latest on Fresh Expressions with Synod on Thursday.

That this Synod:
  • affirm the mixed economy of traditional churches and fresh expressions of church, working in partnership, as the most promising mission strategy in a fast changing culture;
  • encourage those responsible for vocations and training in dioceses and parishes to promote the imaginative recruitment, training and deployment of ordained and lay pioneer ministers in and beyond title posts;
  • commend the making of Bishops’ Mission Orders to integrate suitable fresh expressions of church in the life of the dioceses; and
  • request the Mission and Public Affairs Division and the Research and Statistics Unit to gather evidence on the spiritual and numerical growth of the mixed economy church in general and fresh expressions of church in particular, and to bring a further report or reports to Synod in the next quinquennium.

originally blessed?

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I have been back in England for four days and back at the cathedral for two. It has been a real joy returning and seeing everyone. It is interesting, though, how quickly the body and mind fall back into old ways. I have returned and it is starting to feel is as if I have never been away.

I don’t think that is a negative thing. I think it is an example of the great and wonderful way that God has created us. In just four days back, however,  I have come across people who, for one reason or another, deny that fact about themselves. The fact that they are created great and wonderful.

While driving back froma  great lunch with Jeremy today, this led me to think about the whole doctrine of being born with original sin and how this fascination that ‘we are inherently bad’ seems to have become entwined with our identity.

We are reading Genesis at the moment in the lectionary in Morning Prayer. In the first chapter we read of the creation account and God says, of creation, that ‘it was excellent’. Initially creation was good. Humanity was not only part of that creation, but humans were, and are, unique in that we are created in God’s image. Verse 28 of that chapter also tells us that God blessed humanity. It follows then, surely, that we should talk far more of being originally blessed rather than having original sin. I don’t think I have ever heard this preached in church.

I remember a while back when director at Gillingham YFC that we ran a Christmas quiz. We were shocked to learn that the young people we were working with have incredibly little knowledge of the Christmas story. The one question that 100% of the young people got correct was a question to do with what ‘sin’ was. We concluded that the church, as a whole, was failing to teach the exciting good news …. but it was seemingly quite good at talking about sin.

We talk a lot of original sin and I wonder if this has resulted in many of us developing quite a negative view of humanity and particularly ourselves.

maybe we would be a lot healthier as people if we stopped viewing ourselves as being bound with origianl sin due to the intrusion of satan into the garden, but rather as being origianally blessed due to God’s initial magnificent creative act.

Photo Friday : Surfaces

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I find it interesting the way the eye seems naturally drawn along these various surfaces in a confined space
you can see other photos on the theme over at Photo Friday

early reflections from Seatac

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I’m sitting at the airport in Seattle with time to kill so thought i would use the time to mull over some immediate reflections on my past 3 weeks here with COTA.

There are things that I think I can transport across the Atlantic and try out almost straight away. I suppose I am surprised by this as I only came looking for principles. I did not think things that are domne here would transport into British culture all that well.  But, I think I have come away with pub theology and sacred cocktails as real possibilities in a Medway setting, albeit with a little alteration here and there to take account iof cultural differences – not so much US and UK but more Seattle and Medway. I have no problem with the idea and name of Sacred Cocktails, but I suppose I do wonder whether ‘Pub Theology’ as a name may put people off, or may make it sound a lot more academic that it is. Drinking beer and talking about God (which is essentially what theology is) is not that great a title either … so, readers – any suggestions?

I have been thinking along the pub thing for a while I guess but thinking I need others to help plan. I have seen at COTA that a topic only needs to be chosen, and the date, time and location can be shared on Facebook. If people come they come and a discussion happens, if they don’t, then it doesn’t. I think I am going to go ahead and see if this will work in our local setting – if no one tries then we will never know – I do seem to know a lot of people that like to talk spirituality/theology/about God AND drink beer … so who knows!

I think I have had a COTA insight, as well, into principles of community building. COTA seems to have always set out to build a community rather than looking to plant a church. Community, friendship, caring for each other are all quite central to COTA. They are not perfect, and they would be at the front of the line of people to say that, but they do community pretty well. They know how to eat and party, but i think that has a lot to do with being a church of under 30’s, which add an excitement to church that is lacking in some places. These people like to hang out together, so giving opportunitiers for community to grow in this way is important.

I think, as well, though that this aspect showed me that COTA knows how to party, but they also talk about fasting  but have not worked out how to do this yet. That’s an observation that they are aware of ratehr than a criticism and it speaks of balance more than anything else. I don’t think COTA is unbalanced (far from it!),  but it could be at risk of becoming so if things like fasting are not explored. For our community in Medway, we need to grow community but also look to a balance in how we operate and work out our spirituality.

I said these were early reflections – I possibly have more but then this nlog would be long and I have 10 hours on a plane ahead in which I can reflect more!

I believe as time goes on this experience is going to ooze more and more thoughts and reflections into my mind and possibly yhis blog, and hopefully into my practice.

If all goes well, in 2 hours I will be in the air and on my way home – I’m really looking forward to seeing my family!

Last night

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Tonight is my last evening in Seattle. Tonight I went to pub theology and we had a good conversation along the lines of ‘why do I believe in God?’

After that I took some last photos of Seattle at night courtesy of Ned’s roof and tripod. I’m quite pleased with some of the results which are in the flickr album.

It’s been a good 3 weeks and I guess it will be strange coming home. I’ve missed my family and really looking forward to being with them, but I will also miss being part of the COTA family. I’ve made some friends here, had some great discussion and been made to think about things which I think ill have an impact on how the community develops back home.

As I write I am thinking in 18 hours I should be sat on the plane. I’m checked in, boarding pass is printed so now it is just a matter of time.

COTA people – thank you for your time, your insights, the laughter and your friendship – you know who you are and if you ever visit England you know you will be very welcome at our place. Maybe we’ll meet at Greenbelt … who knows!! (anyone in Medway want to do a Greenbelt trip?)

the mountain is out!

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It’s my last full day here in Seattle (unless you are in the UK and it’s already Wednesday!) The sun is shining and Mount Rainier has appeared from behind the clouds. Well … strictly speaking the clouds have lifted and rainier has always been there, but the locals say she has come out and so who am I to argue!!

The sight is pretty amazing. The skyline of Seattle is impressive but seen next to the massiveness of Rainier its kind of pales into insignificance.

To me it is a kind of iconic appearance. Here in a place like Seattle where life is pretty progressive and people enjoy life and know how to party, it is quite easy to think that we are very much in control of our lives and have to worry about nothing else. This place has been built by pioneering people and it is easy to think there was nothing here before. I have spoken to many people here and a typical topic we have got around to chatting about is that I am based in a 1400 year old cathedral. Seattle history starts in 1851, and so the city is only 159 years old. People have spoken of the history of the are being very young.

Then … a day like today comes, when this massive volcano created by God just appears, sitting quietly reminding us that this area is much bigger than city life and does have a much longer history – the present cone of the volcano is though to be 500 000 years old – that’s pretty impressive. It serves as a reminder that before us was God, and lying quietly and waiting the creator still stands and is ready to receive us when we are ready to give ourselves.

500 at compline!!!

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Tonight I had the opportunity to speak the homily at the COTA Eucharist. I enjoyed the experience and some people gave some good feedback which is always nice to receive. Afterwards we had a great meal (thanks Jana, Julie and Rachel) while we had a COTA family business meeting. Here we looked at the strengths and weaknesses of COTA and what the community needed to do to address these.

Following this Ned and I shot off to St. Mark’s Cathedral for the 9.30 compline service. I was amazed and surprised at the 500 or so people of all ages that were in attendance. It’s fair to say though, that the majority age group was under 30. Some brought blankets and pillows so they could sit or lay around the altar as the choir led us through compline.

This was a service where people just needed to turn up and enter into the worship. I wondered what so many people came to a 30 minute service for at such a time on a Sunday evening. Has it become a way to end the weekend with God? Are people attracted by the opportunity just to immerse themselves in God’s company inwhat is otherwise a very busy life? Without asking some of them I can’t find out, but it was quite amazing to be part of.

Apparantly this has been happening every Sunday night for the last 50 years! The service is even broadcast live on one of the local radio stations. It is even more surprising when you consider that Seattle is one of the most ‘unchurched’ cities in the USA!

Compline was a special experience. I included one photo here but others (only 2 this time … i’m tired!!!) are in the album.