We are nearly at the end of January already and discussions are happening about what we are going to offer for our Lent groups this year. Time can whizz by at some points, and drag so slowly at other times. I have very little concept of time, it seems to expand and contract in ways that I just don’t understand at all. One minute I have half an hour to spare, and then suddenly I am running late (again). A facilitator I used to know had a big sign inside the lid of his briefcase which read “Things always take longer than you think. Always.” And generally I find this to be true.

I surprised myself the other day by saying to someone “There is no such thing as “wasted time”.” I don’t why I said it, but it is worth thinking about. I suppose what I meant is that any experience might be useful, if we are willing to be mindful in it. One of the reasons that I don’t watch television very much is that there just seems to be so much else to do. However, over Christmas I ended up watching a couple of films and actually really enjoying them. I had finally relaxed enough to sit still and let my mind soak up the plot, however unlikely it was. True, I could have engaged in more “worthy” pursuits, but it was actually what my body and brain probably needed – to go into neutral for a bit and just chill.

Sometimes at the end of a work day, I am a little frustrated. I had a whole list of things to do, but God or technology had other plans. The printer decided not to print or a pastoral situation arose which took priority over my nicely ordered day. It is always worth taking stock on days like these. What are the things that really mattered? Did I actually make a difference to someone? It is very easy to get into a mindset where some things are “important” or are “proper work” and other things are not. I learned a good lesson about this once and it is a lesson worth re-visiting every so often. I had been travelling a great deal for work and finally had a weekend at home. I was desperate to finish decorating the kitchen and was trying to assemble and then varnish a set of shelves. All weekend long, it seemed family members kept dropping in and I became increasingly grouchy at being interrupted.  Finally, my longsuffering wife came in and said “You can varnish those shelves any time you like, but you will never get this day with the grandchildren again. “ Time with children and family, time with friends, time with God is never wasted time. Enjoy the time that God has given you this week.

God bless

Cecilia

“Still, My Soul Be Still” is one of my favourite worship songs. Different words in the song speak to me at different times. In worship on Sunday, Jonny played the melody very gently underneath the prayers that Helen offered. The prayers were related to our worship theme of “New Beginnings” and talked about waiting until the moment when we are called to act, called to love. As I listened to the prayers and then tuned into the music, one word leapt out from the lyrics of the song – steadfast. The song asks God to “renew a steadfast spirit in me”.

“Steadfast” is an old-fashioned word. It means steady, unwavering or determined in purpose. It reminds me of those black and white films I used to watch on a Sunday afternoon with my mother, when the thoroughly decent chap finally got the girl, after she had been mistreated by the complete rotter. The thoroughly decent chap remained steadfast in his love and was there, ready, when his moment came. Many of us have people in our lives who are like that (thoroughly decent, not complete rotters). We know that we can depend upon them, that they are safe and solid. Indeed, MCC Newcastle would grind to a complete halt without the steadfast work of so many individuals who are unwavering in their commitment to serve God and each of us.

At the end of an old year, and the beginning of a new one, it is time to take stock, to clear away the clutter. I know one person who is thoroughly spring-cleaning her house from top to bottom. I have been going through my wardrobe and clearing out some clothes. A new year is also the time to really examine what is important to us. The “New Beginnings” we seek are often about trying to put our energy into the relationships and activities that most matter to us.  The song talks about all the different ways that we get buffeted by life and become distracted by many things – “lesser lights and fleeting shadows”.  Having a steadfast spirit enables us to focus on those things that are truly important and stick with them, even when life is challenging or things seem to be going in a completely different direction.

We are also reminded that God is steadfast, always present, always loving. Resting in God’s presence will help us to be ready when our moment comes. With a steadfast God and a steadfast spirit, it is amazing what we can do. 

God bless,

Cecilia

Last night I attended a meeting of Newcastle City Centre Churches Together. MCC Newcastle became a Member of this Churches Together group last year, and this was the first meeting that I had attended. We spent most of the time discussing the various different activities that are planned over the coming months. You can read about them elsewhere in this edition of RN. The item that pleased me the most is that we are now included on the rota for “Provision of Help” in the city. Over the course of the year, the city centre churches take it in turn to support two local charities, The People’s Kitchen and Changing Lives (formerly Tyneside Cyrenians). Items of food, clothing, toiletries etc are donated by the congregation and given to these organisations to support their work with homeless and vulnerable people.

This social action is one of the ways that we can work in unity with other Christians, indeed other people of faith, to make a difference in the world. When we focus on what Jesus called us to do, rather than what Jesus called us to believe, then we may often find we have more in common with others than we think. The great splits and church fights have generally been about doctrine, rather than how we make the world a better place for everyone. A homeless person who hasn’t eaten for days is not really interested in what our view is on communion, or how we interpret scripture.

At the beginning of the meeting, we said a prayer together about Christian unity and I was mulling on what Christian unity actually means on my drive home. Early last year, MCC Newcastle took part in a Church Size Summit. Many of you completed questionnaires to gather information about your experience of being part of MCC Newcastle. One area the questionnaire focussed on was worship. Overwhelmingly, people thought our worship was good or excellent. What was fascinating was that the question on “personal worship style preference” revealed that we are very diverse in our preferred worship styles – traditional, praise and worship, blended and contemplative were each preferred by a fifth of those completing the form, with the final fifth composed of those were preferred contemporary, charismatic or weren’t sure. For me, this gives a glimpse of what Christian unity is like. We each have our own preferences, yet can come together to share something we all value and appreciate, because we recognise the common ground we share. MCC Newcastle is almost its own “churches together” group it seems.

God bless

Cecilia

Happy New Year. I hope that 2014 is a year full of blessing for you. Someone asked me recently what my plan for the church was for the coming year. The honest answer is that I don’t have one. We are in the middle of a visioning process, listening to what God is calling us to be and to do. Each morning, as part of my quiet time, I have been reading aloud the Dreams and Visions prayer that we shared together in November, when we started our process. I read it slowly and thoughtfully, earnestly asking God to help me to be the different things that the prayer asks for. The daily repetition is not about badgering God, it is about keeping me focussed on what I need to be and do to hear God. You can read the prayer for yourself elsewhere in this RN.

At the beginning of the year, I also started to read a new book to aid me in my daily reflections: I have chosen “Landmarks” by Margaret Silf. In one section, she describes how the love and strength of God is like the water in a canal holding up a barge made of iron. The water is gentle and barely moving, yet it holds the barge and allows it to move along. I have been on a longboat a couple of times and it is a wonderful and relaxing experience. The exception to this is when you are going through a lock. The Kennet and Avon canal has one of the deepest locks in the country and when the water level is dropping you down to the bottom of the lock, it can start to feel very enclosed and limiting.

 Silf uses the description of being in a lock for those times when we feel we might be stuck. We lose perspective of the rest of the landscape and may just start to focus on the dark, tall walls surrounding us. The boat slowly descends, or ascends, held all the while by the water. Eventually though, the water level settles, the lock gates open and we are treated to a brand new perspective, a whole open landscape for us to continue to travel through and explore. If we had not gone through the lock, we would not have access to this new experience.

So just now, rather than running round, dreaming up plans of my own, I am content to sit in the lock, held up and surrounded by God’s love and strength. Together, we will discern which way that loving water is carrying us and when we are ready, then we begin the work of opening the lock gate and seeing all that God has in store for us. Meanwhile, I will continue to say our Dreams and Visions prayer each day: will you join me?

God bless,

Cecilia