Ghana 2009

On Wednesday of this week (27th May) three Members of the Ghana 2008 Team - including myself - are travelling back to Lake Bosumtwe. The others are Dorothy Parish and James Dumigan

Originally the date was arranged to coincide with the Official Opening of the extended Clinic, however that has been postponed indefinitely so we've decided to proceed with the trip to get an update at first hand

We are really excited about the prospect of meeting up again with many of the folk with whom we worked last July and to bringing back the latest pictures of the completed building - only 3 more sleeps before we set off!!

I'm not sure if an internet connection is available at present, if so, I will try to keep everyone up to date through this Blog - as before the site is
www.thm40.spaces.live.com

We are really grateful for the opportunity to go back to Ghana and appreciate all the support we've enjoyed

Shell Club's amazing 100k row...

Tonight the Shell Club managed to row the whole way around Strangford Lough...without even leaving the church halls or getting wet!!!








It involved 4 rowing machines, 100 kilometres and lots of leaders, children and parents taking part and some getting just a little bit sweaty!!

Starting at 6.00pm and finishing in less than 4 hours, before the 10.00pm limit the 100k sailed by.

Our Kilometre marker was very excitedly and enthusiastically updated by Steve as each 10k was conquered!


All of the Shell Club Juniors who took part in the challenge.


But why were we doing this??

Shell Club chose the RNLI as their charity this year, so all this effort was to raise money for that very worthwhile charity and what better way than to choose a boating theme. It was a great night of fun and maybe a little bit of competition!!

Ghana 2009 - Team Members to return to Lake Bosumtwe

Following the announcement that the New Clinic at Lake Bosumtwe is to be officially opened and dedicated on Saturday 30th May a group of the 2008 building team are making a return trip to be part of the celebrations

The Team was impressed by recent pictures of the completed building and are keen to see the finished job at first hand

Contacts have already been made with friends at the Lake by Team Leader James Dumigan and there is excitement on both continents about the visit

The group travelling next month are James Dumigan, Dorothy Parish and Tom Millar and cameras will be at the ready to capture and bring back a sense of the work

Please remember the group in your prayers as they prepare for this trip

Now this is an interesting Chapter. We are in the great Eucharist Prayer about Holiness of God. But the main thrust of the section is on "why did Jesus have to die" It is the substitutionary theory that Jesus satisfies God's need for justice, and the innocent Jesus stood in our guilty shoes to set us free. Radcliffe struggles with this image of God and "Abba Father"

He gives an alternative - one proposed by Rene Girard- that rather than God being satisfied with Jesus death society is. Society is always looking for a scapegoat to solve its problems, so that has lead to war and more war and more war. So Jesus' death on the cross is the final statement against war. "Jesus' sacrifice upon an altar of the cross was not one more bloody example of this sacred violence but its defeat. He shows it up as empty and futile. " That Jesus passivity through the journey to the cross is an example of this non violent approach.

Was Jesus blood shed because of the human thirst for violence - yes and much more besides.
I will agree with Radcliffe's suggestion that The shedding of Jesus' Blood leads to Life. For him from a Catholic Background, that is the church that is born. For others it is the beginning of new life in the Spirit of God.

Does it not need something beyond ourselves to change us. I don't get to hung up on which theory of redemption is the best, rather that GOD- in Jesus was reaching out and saying I love and i am giving my all so that my love cannot be in question.

I think we all want a society free from Violence and suffering, but that I feel it has to be initiated by God and that man needs more than just an example but a greater power to make that change.

Why Go to Church=-- Hope

We have now moved into Act Two which is entitled HOPE. It centres around the Eucharistic Prayer of Jesus, The elements are brought to the table and we are prayerful.

Just before this Radcliffe speaks at length about the "Apostles Creed" and he claims that the Creed explains the story of our lives, it is time now to step inside the story and make it our own. Let the truth from the Church become our truth.

When we have a morning Communion service in SS, the altar table is usually full, with bread and wine, and Radcliffe draws attention to what is there is From God and For God. That on the Altar we offer our lives. I like the image of the bread and the wine, from God and for God mixing with my being and will being offered up. We place on the altar all of life, along side the Elements and offer them to God. All humanity, its joys and sufferings, offered up, in the hope that God's Grace can make something of them.

Sins most also be part of what is on the altar. Should we thank God for our sins. That is we should be thankful because offered to God, we can learn from the mistakes. I have been talking a little about resentment I held against someone. How I needed time to to let go. Maybe it would have been better to "lay that on the altar"and let them be sacrificed. Taken away.

Sometimes I wonder about looking back too much,and what good it does in revisit things. Get on with the present and plan for the future. But I also realize that carrying to much resentment, jealously, etc is not good, better to have them of my back and given to someone to deal with them.

However it is difficult for God, because the problem with Living Sacrifices, they Move!!!

Lagan Valley Maternity Unit

Well done to all those who worked so hard to lobby the Health Minister about the need of maintaining maternity service in Lagan Valley. His announcement today- that a midwifery unit will be created for up 500 babies born in anyone year. That's great news.

Just goes to show you if you get popular support and work hard, then this lobbying is not a waste of time on a paper exercise. So well done all who signed petitions and worked to change the policy of a complete closure.

And great to see again that when the people join together and fight for a just cause, things can change for the good.

lenten journey of the Eucharist recovery

I have got into a lovely habit of early morning walking, returning home around 7.15am- Yes that's correct- and reading for 15-20 minute before family and Church work interferes with my day.

My posts has got a little behinds. Here is what I've missed.

Firstly, Radcliffe talks about Mary going to Elizabeth to share her faith Story. The Homily must therefore reflect the truth of the preacher's life. It can't be cerebal, it must live. I like my preaching be out of my experience. But is that always a good thing? if my experience of God is only the areas I can preach on then whole swaths of theology - God talk - would not be touched by me. I have to confess to feeling a little of a fraud on Sunday night preaching on the Charismatic Pathway to pray, when in truth my experience of that way to God has been restricted to 6 or 7 encounters, and not all of them good ones. Yet someone shared how they had a moment with God of a Charismatic type during the service. So then the Truth is Gods Truth not my experience of that Truth and then I can preach beyond my experience.

The Author excourages the Preacher to read widely and to read theologies that are different to your thinking About God so that our Words are more likely to be Closer to Gods Words.

"Evangelism and dialogue are not alternatives" but rather one in the same, Radcliffe states. In Seymour Street we have had at least two encounters with Islam. In September we had a Ramadan Meal with two Muslims as part of a course on understanding of other faith traditions in Ireland. That was a very real honest revealing encounter. The second happened last night when Majed from Arab World Ministries spoke about their work and speaking to Muslims in Arab countries largely through the Internet. Both were dialogues, both framed by the circumstances but both evangelism and dialogue together. All conversation about God hopes for conversion. What form that Conversion will take is in God's Hands. All conversion leads to conversation. Each word implies that we turn to each other, to speak and to Listen.

SNASS weekend 2009

Want to find out what really happened on the SNASS weekend??

Check out my blog for the full story!!! :)

My Lentan journey continues

Timothy Radcliffe's Journey with The Eucharist travels on ; having confessed, Interceded, read the Scripture to the Homily - or the sermon as we call it. Strange but refreshing choice the author takes- he bases his reflection through his writing upon Mary and her reaction to the Annunciation of Christ's birth. Unusual to take Christmas to Easter.

How can a Homily be tedious he asks, but there is a record of it being so, while even Paul droned on so long Eutychus, feel asleep, dropped three storeys and died, so maybe I didn't feel so bad now when people nod of in Seymour Street, at least they are safe in our pews.

How often does God break into peoples lives with Pregnancy- Sarah, Hannah, Mary Elizabeth. Radcliffe states "Gods word is fertile" and mixing his metaphors he says it impregnates the soil of our lives" He continues today, where Gods word draws change in lives and sometimes from the most unusual people. Do we see God's word as a living dynamic organism effecting the soul.

Sydney Callaghan taught me that Preaching is "truth through Personality" and author develops that when he says "it is part of preaching that the preacher is seen to be someone who is not transmitting his own wisdom but merely transmitting a gift"

Where else does someone get the opportunity to speak uninterrupted for 15 - 30 minutes on a subject of their choosing, it is such a privilege and a frightening responsibly, and it is so vital that we Listen to God before we dare to speak on behalf of him- We need to wrestle with it like Jacobs and take those slippery intriguing Hebrew and Greek words and find English meanings that help broaden horizons of truth.

Strangley enough over lent, so far my sermon prep has been like my chocolate intake- nil, but that changes next week when I shall wrestle not with silver wrappers but silver words of wisdom.

Grace from Attenborough

Did you see David Attenborough on Jonathan Ross last night. An obvious questioning line for the restored host was about Darwinism against Creationism given it is 250 years since the publication of the " Origin of Species". I don't know if the naturist is a theist, but his answer to Ross question was laced with Grace. Jonathan asked if he believed in a young earth as creationist would advocate, to which David replied "no- that he believed in a world that has evolved over many many millions of years." Then the grace part, as he continued" I don't think to hold this view argues against there being a God.

It would be nice if some of the accommodating language came from those who claim" They do know God"

The drama begins to unfold in the book. The first Act is entitled Faith and Scene one is about confession, the first action in the Liturgy of Eucharist. I only learnt this week the the RCs have changed the name of the the sacrament of Confession to The Sacrament of Reconciliation. Maybe more user friendly?

Radcliffe's first thought fits in with a chat I had recently with a fine Christian man. Why should we focus so much on Confession. Nothing like coming to a celebration and starting by feeling bad about ourselves. Hardly a bags of Laughter, more like bags of guilt. My friend also added that confession gives us the wrong focus. Our sins have been dwelt with and to include in each service is misplaced. I don't know?

Surely to confess is to get a right judgement of ourselves- To take the ego out, to repent is to reawaken to God, oneself and to each other. When I face " the Celestial Tribunal, I shall not be asked why I was not Abraham, Jacob or Moses. I shall be asked why was I not Brian" Is not most repentance the coming to our senses and admitting that we are pretending to be someone we are not. Th author draws much from the story of the Prodigal and his Home coming. It was the dawning that he was living a form of self Exile, taking refuge in an imaginary self. Confession bursts all our pretense and demands we wake up and smell the coffee. Is confession not the necessary for us to come to the Table in the proper Manner.

And surely we believe in God's Unconditional love and forgiveness that we dare to approach the Altar, so to receive that gift is such a treat.

I hear U2'S New Album is released in Ireland today. I have mixed feelings about the band and their music. Some of their composing is brillant- I love every track on the the Joshua Tree and the opening to "Where the Street have no Name" is classical. But I don't get some of what Bono says so I feel detached from the band .

For me to approach God without understanding who I am and What I mean by my actions is me to be detached from the music of forgiveness. I need to confess.

It has been my habit to read the Archbishop of Canterbury's Lent Book. I have receive much over the years form these publications. This years is by Timothy Radcliffe, master of the Dominican Order. His book is entitled "Why Go To Church?" with the Strap line, " The Drama of the Eucharist." The quick among will have realized it is written against the backdrop of a decline in the numbers attending Roman Catholic Mass and with Challenges that go with that. There is an irony when the Anglican top man asks a Catholic to write about Eucharist, when their two traditions cant share it. But I want to read it to deepen my understanding and to be Spiritually blessed.

As a sub-plot, there is also the question" what is really going on in a Ritual." We Methodists observe Lords Supper once a month, and often it nothing much is happening- or am I wrong in that.


The book begins with a joke about someone who could hardly bear to get out of bed for church on a Sunday morning. His mother shook him, but he would not budge, asking why he should bother. "For two reasons, You know you must go to Church on a Sunday and secondly because you are Bishop of the diocese.

The opening Chapter outlines Radcliffe's thesis, that the Eucharist is indeed a drama which helps form us as people who believe, hope and have charity" I am not sure we all see it just as that when we come forward on the first Sunday in the month, but I do agree with Him that it is one of the means by which our humanity can be changed into the new humanity that God wants. The proper daily engagement with Eucharist can help that i would imagine.

So i plan to post a few more reflections on the Book over lent but I most go I have some much Chocolate to eat today!!!

Seymour Sreet prayer room - 24/4

What better way is there to start the New Year than by praying - 24 hours a day...for 4 days??

SNASS have set up a prayer room to facilitate the Seymour Street congregation in doing just that. The room will be opened at 1.00am on Thursday 1sy January until midnight on Sunday night.

So far a few people have signed up to come to the prayer room and pray for an hour but we need a lot more people to commit to doing so.

There are a number of stations to help challenge you and help you to pray for yourself, for our local and global community and for others.

Are you prepared to take up this challenge to get Seymour Street praying constantly and to receive the blessings that can come from it?

If so contact me to sign up for an available slot.


Blessings

Lou

Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Ghana revisited

The weekend of 29th & 30th November 2008 was one of celebrations for the Seymour Street Ghana 2008 Team. Edenmore Golf Club was the venue for a re-union dinner on Saturday evening and this was a wonderful opportunity for Team Members and immediate family members to share and relive the many experiences of Lake Bosumtwe

After a delicious dinner a PowerPoint presentation of the activites of the trip created an opportunity for comments and smart remarks on some of the pictures

Sunday saw the Team out in full force to lead the morning Service - well actually there was one person missing, Clem Gilbert and his wife Margaret - who has just had a special birthday - were away for the weekend

The Service which was led by Paul Good was geared to give a flavour of the Team's work in Ghana and the Order of Service allowed for the participation of all Team Members

During the Service presentations were made to Eric & Jane Dawson and Harold & Joan Baird for their help and support in organisng the find raising events and maintaining the financial records and to Brian Anderson for his inspiration in getting the concept of a trip to become a reality

A packed Church, great singing, interesting stories from Ghana all contributed to the warm sense of worship and fellowship

Fire and Rescue Service called to Seymour Street...

The new year is well under way in Shell Club and our 'centre spots' have had a bit of a twist. We have four themes for the year:

Occupations

Destinations

Generations

Charity...and our chosen charity for this year is...

Royal National Lifeboat Institute (R.N.L.I.)

For each theme we have different people from within church and from outside coming to speak to the children about their faith in each of the different situations.

So far our guests have been a Doctor (Clifford Mayes), Teacher (Rodney McCrea) and Bikers (2 members of the Trinity Motorcycle Club, Kenny and Debbie Gray) and the children have really enjoyed hearing what they have to tell them and each week go away with a different message or encouragement from the speaker.

Last night our speaker was Jeff Good who has been a Firefighter for 19 years. The children had a great time seeing his uniform and the equipment that he wears when out fighting fires. Even some of the leaders had a chance to dress up!!

Joanne needed a little help with the helmet!

Helen ready to go and tackle a bush fire!

Jeff spoke about how even though he has all his equipment to protect him, he has something even greater helping to protect him, God is always with him and helps to protect him in any dangerous situations helping him to make the right choices.

He also spoke a little bit about fire safety which is an ever relevant subject, particularly at the minute as we approach Halloween and so many fireworks and sparklers around...but one thing that really struck me was when he stated that when we see a fire the most natural and sensible thing to do is run away...but when we haven't accepted Christ into our lives we are actually running towards a fire...it's the choice of heaven and hell...so why would we choose to run towards a fire?

Then he finished with Isaiah 43:2-4...

2 When you go through deep waters,
I will be with you.
When you go through rivers of difficulty,
you will not drown.
When you walk through the fire of oppression,
you will not be burned up;
the flames will not consume you.
3 For I am the Lord, your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.
I gave Egypt as a ransom for your freedom;
I gave Ethiopia and Seba in your place.
4 Others were given in exchange for you.
I traded their lives for yours
because you are precious to me.
You are honored, and I love you.

A very relevant message for young and old alike, are you running towards the fire or have you accepted the ransom Christ has paid for you His precious child?