I have a couple of meetings recently that have really given me pause for thought. They also feed into our visioning process which will begin in November – when we listen for what God is calling us to be and do going forward.

My first meeting was at the office of the Police Commissioner for Northumbria Police, Vera Baird QC. I have been invited to join the Police’s LGBT Advisory Panel and this was my first time. Northumbria Police had been at Northern Pride, carrying out a survey. Two of the questions were about whether people trusted the police and whether people would report a crime – any crime.

We had a long discussion about why trust in the police was low in the LGBT community and how it could be improved. We talked about our community’s history with the police and how the law prohibiting discrimination against LGBT people in the provision of goods and services only came into being in 2010.

Sitting in the Police Commissioner’s office was a far cry from the days when I used to go on protest marches against Section 28 and would see the police arresting people as we listened to speeches, or when the police helicopter would swoop down at night, searchlight blazing into the local park, to see who could be caught there.

The second meeting I had was with an Evangelical Christian who earnestly wants to listen to the stories of LGBT people to better understand our lives, and at the same time is struggling to balance this with a firm belief in the authority of scripture. For me, this encounter was like Ananias meeting Saul.   I was very apprehensive about whether this person was actually going to listen, or whether I was going to have to argue for my right to exist as a loved child of God. He did listen and we have agreed to continue our dialogue.

In both these meetings, I have had to face my own prejudices and my own unwillingness to accept that times are changing. Both meetings had their awkward moments, as well-meaning folk chose inappropriate vocabulary or showed a lack of understanding. However, there was no malice or intent to harm, just a genuine desire to understand and find common ground. Other people and organisations are changing. Am I prepared to change too? Are we?

God bless

Cecilia

This week I have experienced life’s full cycle. I have held a new born baby in my arms and marvelled at the miracle of life. I have conducted a funeral for an 86 year old man, and watched his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren grieve for him. Birth and death are part of life. However, we may not encounter them very often. Many of us do not have any children in our lives. Death is often hidden away and not much talked about. When we do encounter a birth or a death, it is often a time to take stock, to think about what is important to us.

Viktor Frankl wrote “Man’s Search for Meaning” based on his experiences in the Auschwitz concentration camp during the Second World War. You can find many quotes from him on life and its meaning. He talks about how we are able to choose our response to any situation, even if we are unable to change the circumstances in which we find ourselves. There is an old prayer, used by Alcoholics Anonymous and many other groups. “God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference.” Knowing the answers to these questions may help us identify those areas of our lives where we need to change. It may also help us to respond differently, if we cannot change our circumstances.

Frankl also talks about each of us having a unique part to play in life, because each of our lives is unique. What is it that makes your life, or my life, unique? What is it that we can offer the world?  When the family of the man who died got in contact with people in his address book, they uncovered so many small acts of kindness that he had performed over the years – regularly visiting and bringing flowers to someone who was housebound, being generous with his neighbours, doing shopping for someone who was ill. All small gestures that he never mentioned to his family, but meant so much to the recipients of his kindness. It was such a blessing at a time of great loss to hear so many of these stories. It was also very inspiring to realise that we do not need to be wealthy or talented or famous to make a difference with our lives. We just need to be willing to try.

Life is a miracle. What we do with it is up to us. What will give your life meaning this week?

God bless

Cecilia

This month’s worship theme at MCC Newcastle is “Back to the Future”. We are considering how our history is helping to shape our future, especially when it comes to generosity. At Worship team meetings, it is a real process of discernment to come up with each new worship theme. There is often quite a lot of discussion to and fro, and often several different versions of the theme title and content, until all the team really feel as though we have the right idea. I was pretty unsure about “Back to the Future” and how it connected with such topics as harvest, ministry teams and Fellowship Sunday. Someone in the team explained “Well, think about harvest. Someone had to sow the seeds in the past, so that we can harvest the crop in the present and make use of it in the future – back to the future.” Fair enough – that was me on board.

Sowing seeds – that is what this month is all about really. Obviously there is harvest, the easiest one to make the connection with. All the ministry teams have started off as “an idea waiting to be born”. Some are still in seed form, others are still maturing, some are well established. Next week we celebrate Fellowship Sunday and take up an offering to fund the networks, groups of MCCs supporting and connecting with each other. The final Sunday is looking at us sowing the seeds for our future – what is God calling MCC Newcastle to do and to be in the months and years ahead?

In all of these Sunday themes, there is the underlying message about celebrating our generosity. The food we collected at the Harvest service went to the People’s Kitchen. It is through the generosity of people giving their time and talents in ministry that we have so much going on at church each week. The offering we give for Fellowship Sunday will really make a difference in keeping MCCs around the world in touch with each other.

And what about the future? Not long ago, the Board asked everyone in the church to consider increasing their giving, or to start to give via standing order or giving envelope. This was so we could cover the budget that was agreed at the Annual Congregational Meeting in April. It is also about something more. It is about sowing those seeds for our future. And guess what? Together we are doing it. Financial giving has increased and we will meet our budget. We can do the things we wanted to do, to help us build for the future. Every little helps and whatever you have been able to give has made a difference. Thank you for your continued generosity, in so many ways.

God bless

Cecilia

“Love is patient, love is kind.” This is one of the most well-known verses in scripture. It is the start of a section describing what real love looks like (1Corinthians 13: 4-7) and is frequently read at weddings. It is a beautiful piece of prose.

Many of you will have heard the Macklemore song “Same Love”, which unequivocally supports gay marriage http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlVBg7_08n0

The female singer on the track is Mary Lambert and the parts that she sings on “Same Love” are from her song “She Keeps Me Warm.” This is a beautifully melodic lesbian love song, describing the beginning of a relationship – “What’s your middle name? Do you hate your job? What’s your favourite word?” At the end of the song, there is the refrain

“I don’t cry on Sundays “and the backing singers sing “Love is patient, love is kind.” http://marylambertsings.com/video/

This gentle singing out of a scriptural truth is such a rebuttal to all those who loudly, aggressively and sometimes cruelly denounce same sex relationships, especially on scriptural grounds. For me, “She Keeps Me Warm” is a wonderful track, not just because I love the melody and am a hopeless romantic (the video is fab). I love it because it effortlessly combines my spirituality and my sexuality. It reflects who I am, in a fully integrated way.

There are many wonderful, moving hymns and worship songs in which I can lose myself. There are powerful love songs that describe my emotional state far better than I ever could. It is just such a delight to find a song that brings these two aspects of me together.

Our mission statement at MCC Newcastle is “Be yourself. Find Meaning. Know God.” We try and create a space where we all can enjoy being fully ourselves, before God and with each other: a sacred space where our sexuality and spirituality can be fully integrated and celebrated. It is a space where we can live out “Love is patient, love is kind.” May love keep you warm this week.

God bless

Cecilia

It is always good to know that people are praying for me. It does not insure me against harm or discomfort, however it always makes me feel “lifted up” – a sense of being able to access God’s strength and grace, should I need to. This week I definitely need your prayers. If you are reading this on Wednesday 2nd October, you are reading it in between two potentially life changing events for me.

On 1st October, I have my induction as a student in the Theology Department at Durham University. I am enrolled on the Graduate Diploma course in Theology and Religion. It is a two year, part-time course and the members of MCC Newcastle very generously voted to contribute towards my fees – thank you for that, and for your confidence in me.

On 3rd October, it is the official opening of the “Inspirational Women of the North East” exhibition at the Hatton Gallery in Newcastle. I am one of 25 women, past and present who have their photograph in the exhibition, which runs until 21st December. You can find out more at www.iwne.org

Both these developments will provide me with opportunities to meet new people, to learn and to grow. They both also present challenges and risks. It is nerve-wracking walking into a group of people that you don’t know, having to come out all over again – as a lesbian, as a Christian, as a widow, as anything…… Most of my day to day life goes on in a “rainbow coloured bubble”. I work with, work for and mix overwhelmingly with LGBT people. I will be entering a world which most of you inhabit all the time and it will take me way out of my comfort zone.

When Jesus walked on water (Matthew 14:22 – 31), he called Peter out of the boat. Peter got out and he too started to walk on the surface, until he focussed on himself, instead of his trust in Jesus. Then he started to sink.

From past experience, I know that I am prepared to get out of the boat, to risk leaving my comfort zone, then blessing, connection, learning and friendship follow. Your continued prayers will encourage when I, like Peter, feel that I am starting to sink.

God bless

Cecilia