On my desk sits a useful little book called “Vows and Partings” It was produced by the Methodist Church in response to the ups and downs of life. The prayers contained in this book recognise that relationships can be wonderful and also can end badly. There are prayers to recognise the changes that retirement brings and prayers to help both parents and children through different stages of life. Some of them read like modern day psalms, expressing human confusion and bewilderment.
For so many people who look at the church from the outside, it can seem irrelevant and outdated. It can appear that the pomp and preaching bears no relation to the everyday lives that most people are leading. This is why it is so important that MCC Newcastle gets out and about, in the
places where our people are. This year, as always we will have a strong presence at Northern Pride. We will also march in Sunderland Pride in September. We need to show our people that God is there for them and the church is rightfully theirs.
So what sort of rites and rituals might be more relevant to our community? How can we bring the sacred into the human – just as the prayers in the Methodist book do?
Naming ceremonies for babies are less formal than baptism and don’t require parents and godparents to say things that they don’t really believe. If a child decides to make a commitment to Christ later on, they can always be baptised then.
For people who are transitioning, having a blessing which celebrates their new name and embraces their gender is great way to support and affirm individuals.
How would it be to have a prayer or ritual for couples who are breaking up, especially those who have been together
a long time? Our community is so small, that learning to end relationships well helps us and our friends to live alongside each other without some of the hurt and bad feeling carrying on for years.
Where will you find the sacred in the human this week?
God bless,
Cecilia
For so many people who look at the church from the outside, it can seem irrelevant and outdated. It can appear that the pomp and preaching bears no relation to the everyday lives that most people are leading. This is why it is so important that MCC Newcastle gets out and about, in the
places where our people are. This year, as always we will have a strong presence at Northern Pride. We will also march in Sunderland Pride in September. We need to show our people that God is there for them and the church is rightfully theirs.
So what sort of rites and rituals might be more relevant to our community? How can we bring the sacred into the human – just as the prayers in the Methodist book do?
Naming ceremonies for babies are less formal than baptism and don’t require parents and godparents to say things that they don’t really believe. If a child decides to make a commitment to Christ later on, they can always be baptised then.
For people who are transitioning, having a blessing which celebrates their new name and embraces their gender is great way to support and affirm individuals.
How would it be to have a prayer or ritual for couples who are breaking up, especially those who have been together
a long time? Our community is so small, that learning to end relationships well helps us and our friends to live alongside each other without some of the hurt and bad feeling carrying on for years.
Where will you find the sacred in the human this week?
God bless,
Cecilia
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