Monthly Archives: September 2010

gathering: grace

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Yesterday the gathering got together again in the crypt of the cathedral. This time we looked at the topic of Grace and started by talking about the story of the Prodigal Son.

I was surprised again by what happened. Via email people from the gathering agreed to be responsible for stations for ‘open space’ which is a time we use to help people earth the discussion and topic in the flow of their everyday life. I was surprised, again, because despite lack of detailed planning between us all the stations challenged us in a different way in our thinking of grace and what that is all about. Everything linked, as it often does when we choose to allow God to influence us rather than attempt to control things ourselves.

The time together was varied and gave different experiences under the banner of the theme because the people bringing ideas are at different places on the journey of faith and, with that, bring different needs and interests with them. It was fun to join together to look at grace. I liked that we had a good discussion, but I liked even more that we did not come to any agreement. It showed the person who was there for the first time that Christians can flourish together in disagreement.

I also liked having my mind stretched by the stations as I contemplated what this all meant in how I live my life. On another station transforming the ugliness of my short comings and frustrations into a graceful swan while the words of The Ugly Duckling story rang in my ears was quite a powerful experience.

As I look back it is interesting to see how the gathering is taking shape. It’s interesting and I look forward to continuing to travel with this group of people in to the future.

(late) photo Friday: Daybreak

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Although this is a little late for Photo Friday I am still pleased with how this shot of the day breaking into the cathedral crypt, came out! You can see the image bigger and better here

discovering hidden gifts

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The last few Wednesdays, and the next few, have been set aside for compiling a portfolio of my last two years working as a pioneer curate. The material is all there in various places (blog, journals, podcasts etc) and I now need to draw stuff from it and put it into an 8000 word essay to satisfy the particular authorities that I am learning and reflecting adequately on my experiences. You may well detect some sarcasm there … and you would be right as I think there is a lost opportunity here for some creativity but … that’s another story!

A large part of pulling the portfolio together has involved me in reading through old blog posts and journal entries. This week I came across this writing in my journal for 31st October 2008. This is 8 weeks in to my visiting places:

‘I’m finding this really difficult as I don’t think I’m particularly good at small talk. I don’t think I find it easy to naturally talk to men either. I’m not sure how to do this other than ‘hello’, ‘how are you?’, or ‘are you having a good day?’ This is tough and I am not sure what to do or how to achieve any sort of balance here. How do I make progress here?’

I had forgotten I had written this nearly 2 years ago. I remember genuinely feeling that I did not have the ability to just be able to talk to people that I do not know. I remember feeling pretty useless and wondering whether I had this all wrong. I look back now and realise that I have been able to do what I have been called to; that I am able to engage with many different people in conversation and that I was just not aware that I could.

I have been reminded this week that first and foremost God calls …. when we respond God then gives us the gifts to fit that calling. As I look back over just 2 years I am quite stunned by what God has given me the ability to do. It has been fairly scary and I have been on a steep learning path – but as I look back I am quite amazed at how God has equipped me with new gifts to do a new thing.

So … what have I learned? First and foremost God calls, when we respond, or step forward, then God equips. That’s a pretty amazing thing to hold on to.

Coffee as a means of grace

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I was sent this article and I love it. Thank you Rachael for encouraging me in my coffee ministry!

The time has come for evangelicals to experience yet another great awakening! Though we have long overlooked a crucial means of grace, we have done so doctrinally, not practically. This all-but-ignored means of grace is about to have its day (or at least its early morning and late night)! Some could even say a new age is dawning. Surely, the age of the Spirit is about to be given a dramatic boost and the Church is certain to receive a timely wake-up-call as we grow to accept coffee as a means of grace.


This present work will survey many of the major biblical passages that discuss coffee as a means of grace, as well as a few corroborative arguments from experience and even historical theology. Of course, further study needs to be done on coffee as a means of grace, perhaps in future theses or dissertations by more progressive theologians. And although a number of passages could be piled one on top of the other to establish beyond a reasonable doubt that coffee is to be recognized as a legitimate means of grace, this paper will focus on a few key Scriptures first from the Old Testament and then from the New.


you can read more here

I dance for Jesus

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A while ago I wrote about the condemnation of others for not fitting with our reading of certain doctrines or for not fitting with our assumed lifestyles. Certainly the gathering, the developing christian community that I am part of, strongly believes how we live our faith is far more important than what we believe. You can fairly easily believe ‘God is love’ and ‘Jesus is the only way’ but if you treat people that disagree with you with contempt and ridicule or refuse to even talk to them, then I would say something of the gospel ‘good news of acceptance and love’ has been lost.

A few months ago I found myself in a coffee shop talking to a young woman who was passing through Rochester. This woman is a Christian although she has not been able to settle in an established church set up. This has a lot to do with the fact that this Christian woman also happens to be a lap dancer. Churches that she has tried to join have condemned her because of her job and way of life. When she first became a Christian she gave up her job, because others in the church told her it was wrong, and tried to get other jobs. People told her that God would provide other things to make money for her and her young daughter, but as she tried living in the way others suggested, church after church offered little support and eventually other work was provided …. in another lap dancing club.

The way she spoke of God showed me that without a doubt this woman has a thriving relationship with the living God. She was clearly in love with the God who created her and spoke of Jesus in a way that I have not heard anyone talk in a long while. I felt that her trust in Jesus was incredibly strong. This young woman understood God’s grace, she understood she was loved and she longed for a christian community to accept her fully. I don’t know where she is today but I fear she is alone and living her Christian life outside of Christian community.

I was reminded of this woman during the summer when I read a report in the Independent newspaper on lap dancing outlining research that showed 40% of lap dancers in the UK have a uni degree or are studying for one. I personally thought the article was glamourising or missing the real issue and  I must admit I am of a similar mind to Amy Jenkins who responds in the opinion section of the newspaper that irrespective of education lap dancing is degrading. I believe that to be the case but ….

Something about this woman struck me. This was not her job of choice but I sensed that she felt this was where God wanted her. I plucked up the courage to ask the burning question …’ok, you are a lap dancer and a Christian …. how do you reconcile the two?’ Her answer still brings tears to my eyes:

‘all the girls think of something when they dance. I pray on stage and I dance for Jesus. This is my worship, he created my body … I use my body to worship him.’

Some will have issues with that, some will say it is not morally possible, and a large part of me might go along with that, but what is a Christian other than someone who totally loves God and wants their life to be worship of Christ? Whatever way I recall this encounter in the coffee shop I remember the girls faith and commitment as she said ‘I dance for Jesus’.

Sometimes I just don’t know what to think ….

please sponsor Wai Hnin

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(As many of you know my father is Burmese and since knowing that I have had a great interest in this country. Please respond to this and get involved in altering this massively horrible injustice)

Dear friend

I am 21 years old and a refugee from Burma. I work as a Campaigns Officer for the Burma Campaign UK.

On Saturday 16th October 2010 at the O2 Arena in London I am doing a 160 feet bungee jump. I am scared of heights and I am fearful about the jump.

But my fear is nothing compared to what my father, Mya Aye, the more than 2,100 political prisoners in Burma and of course, Aung San Suu Kyi have gone through.

I want to raise money for the Burma Campaign UK so that we can campaign to free all political prisoners in the country. Please support me in my jump by sponsoring me now.

My father is in jail for trying to get freedom and democracy for his people. He was arrested over three years ago, at the start of the democracy uprising, which became known as the “Saffron Revolution”. He is serving a 65 year prison sentence because he wants what you and I want – democracy and freedom in Burma.

When I think of my father in jail I cry. I feel like I will never see him again. Like any daughter, I love my father – but I am also very proud of what he has done to stand up for the people of Burma.

That is why I am telling you my story and need to ask you to please to sponsor my jump for the Burma Campaign UK now.

My father was one of the leaders of the democracy uprising in 1988 and he was in prison then for 8 years. He was in jail when I was born in 1989 and the first time I saw him was through iron bars in Insein prison. I was a little girl, just four years old.

I grew up without my father, and now I face the possibility of never seeing him again. I am determined not to let this happen. I know that together, we can work to free the prisoners if we can put enough pressure on the generals, but I need your help. Please support our campaign – please sponsor me now

Thank you.
Wai Hnin

catch up

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On my first day back this week I was able to catch up with Karen Ward from COTA who I spent 3 weeks with in Seattle back in January.

It was good to be able to spend some time together and for her to get some idea of the context in which I am working. Being based at a cathedral and released to pioneer from that setting is an excellent model which Karen is interested in investigating in the States.

We are able to chat more about what I am doing and Karen’s insights after experiencing my context for herself were very helpful.

Karen is a great thinker and enabler and I have learned a lot from my association with COTA, the COTA community and Karen herself. I love COTA and what they do, and are trying to do, in Fremont. The feel of the place and the desire to engage creatively with genuinely seeking people is quite inspiring.

Thanks for taking time out of your schedule to visit me in Rochester – and for giving me the excuse to take you to visit the best curry house in England!

Photo Friday: Round

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this weeks entry can be seen better here

Change

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There is a lot of change going around our family at the moment as there normally is at this time of the year with many families.

Sarah starts with a new class of reception children over the next few days with home visiting and stuff.
Tom will be starting Sixth Form.
Beth will be moving to Year 10 and starting GCSE’s in earnest.
Joe will be starting his first day at secondary school – a pretty major change for him.

It seems pretty much that I am the only one returning to ‘work’ this week who will be continuing with the same sort of stuff. It does, however, feel different. After nearly 3 weeks off to rest and reflect I feel things are ‘the same but different’. Relationship are continually evolving, the gathering may be gaining momentum and people certainly seem keen and excited abou pub theology ….. I could not have said any of that a few months ago.

In addition over these next few weeks I really have to get to grips with producing a portfolio of my two years work (2 years! where did that time go???) As I put that in to some form that is both understandable and markable by others I will remember more about the travel I have journeyed thus far.

So … here’s to change …. bring it on!

(the change seen in the pics are from our garden, by the way, courtesy of some great work by Read Garden Services. Jason, a good friend, has recently started this business … and I can fully recommend him if you need some work doing: 07905770628 or ready22@blueyonder.co.uk)