Ever since last Autumn I've been haunted by John's Gospel Chapter 10 where Jesus talks about being the Good Shepherd and also The Gate of the Sheep. It speaks of the sheep hearing the Shepherd's voice, recognising it, following the Shepherd, avoiding other voices. For some reason when I read this in the course of Morning Prayer last year it seemed tremendously personally significant. Many of you may have had the same experience of God's word being highlighted on the page as you read. I have thought long and hard about those words since then.
John 10:2-5
2 The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep. 3 The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognise a stranger's voice."
John 10:16-17
16 I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.
As I mentioned in my First Sabbatical Report, this was the reading during my Sunday in Gateshead, and guess what, the Sunday Morning Communion Service in Iona Abbey had the same Gospel reading. Keep praying my sabbatical prayer.
Monday 23 May 2011
Impressions of Iona
A week living with the Iona Community in Iona Abbey sounds like an ideal retreat. Romantic, spiritual, surrounded by awesome scenery amid some of the earliest Christian sites in the UK. Well, some of that turned out to be true, but quite a lot of it turned out to be a very different to expectations.
For one thing, the Iona Community does not live on Iona! I know it sounds crazy but it's true. But neither did I arrive and find the Abbey and Community buildings empty. The Abbey is run by resident staff members and volunteers, a number of whom are associate members of the Iona Community. We did however have the benefit of the wisdom of Ron, Iona Community member in residence.
The Iona Community is not an enclosed order, living in the Abbey and singing its songs to themselves. They deliberately live out in the world, mainly in the UK, some in Europe. Their focus is to follow Christ out in the world, resourced by the spiritual centre of Iona and the strong ethos of work for peace and justice that flow from the Community's founder George MacLeod.
I was booked in for one of the recurrent 'Gathering Weeks' which is designed to give guests a taste of community and introduce the spiritual and moral compass of Iona. So far from a retreat, the guests are expected to work. Some, the Otters team, are on the morning shift, setting out breakfast and serving the other guests, then washing up and helping the kitchen staff prepare the day's vegetables. The other teams were Puffins, lunch squad, and Seals, evening meal duty. The latter two teams also provided cleaning and various other maintenance tasks during the week.
However, all work stops for worship. Almost the whole resident 'community' of staff, volunteers and guests adjourn to the Abbey for 9am Morning Worship and 9pm Evening 'space'. These had a core structure which became familiar, but especially the evening services each had a distinctive theme and content which incorporated a call, a challenge, a response from God to our worship. OK, here you are expressing faith in Me, so what are you going to do about it? This is a characteristic of Iona Worship liturgy and songs which makes it stand out from so much of the worship of the rest of the Church. It is an aspect that I for one want to consider how to incorporate into the weekly worship of a local church.
Of course guests are not working the whole time. There are fun times - a ceilidh (Celtic song and dance) night, a guest concert night (deeply embarrassing, but a scream), a trip to Staffa and Fingal's Cave, plus much free time to explore the beauties and heritage of the island. There is additional spiritual input as well, in the form of the regular Pilgrimage taking in various locations of the Island's history and spiritual legacy. Optional talks described the life and purpose of the present day Iona Community.
I enjoyed my week. The accommodation was basic and my room mate snored, but my fellow guests were mainly Christians from all over the world and it was fascinating getting to know them. The meal tables rang with voices from Holland, South Africa, Germany, Switzerland, Australia, New Zealand, and Scots brogue as well as commonplace English. I was also personally challenged to consider how Iona's themes of community, and commitment to justice and peace, can enrich the life of an ordinary local church.
For one thing, the Iona Community does not live on Iona! I know it sounds crazy but it's true. But neither did I arrive and find the Abbey and Community buildings empty. The Abbey is run by resident staff members and volunteers, a number of whom are associate members of the Iona Community. We did however have the benefit of the wisdom of Ron, Iona Community member in residence.
The Iona Community is not an enclosed order, living in the Abbey and singing its songs to themselves. They deliberately live out in the world, mainly in the UK, some in Europe. Their focus is to follow Christ out in the world, resourced by the spiritual centre of Iona and the strong ethos of work for peace and justice that flow from the Community's founder George MacLeod.
I was booked in for one of the recurrent 'Gathering Weeks' which is designed to give guests a taste of community and introduce the spiritual and moral compass of Iona. So far from a retreat, the guests are expected to work. Some, the Otters team, are on the morning shift, setting out breakfast and serving the other guests, then washing up and helping the kitchen staff prepare the day's vegetables. The other teams were Puffins, lunch squad, and Seals, evening meal duty. The latter two teams also provided cleaning and various other maintenance tasks during the week.
However, all work stops for worship. Almost the whole resident 'community' of staff, volunteers and guests adjourn to the Abbey for 9am Morning Worship and 9pm Evening 'space'. These had a core structure which became familiar, but especially the evening services each had a distinctive theme and content which incorporated a call, a challenge, a response from God to our worship. OK, here you are expressing faith in Me, so what are you going to do about it? This is a characteristic of Iona Worship liturgy and songs which makes it stand out from so much of the worship of the rest of the Church. It is an aspect that I for one want to consider how to incorporate into the weekly worship of a local church.
Of course guests are not working the whole time. There are fun times - a ceilidh (Celtic song and dance) night, a guest concert night (deeply embarrassing, but a scream), a trip to Staffa and Fingal's Cave, plus much free time to explore the beauties and heritage of the island. There is additional spiritual input as well, in the form of the regular Pilgrimage taking in various locations of the Island's history and spiritual legacy. Optional talks described the life and purpose of the present day Iona Community.
I enjoyed my week. The accommodation was basic and my room mate snored, but my fellow guests were mainly Christians from all over the world and it was fascinating getting to know them. The meal tables rang with voices from Holland, South Africa, Germany, Switzerland, Australia, New Zealand, and Scots brogue as well as commonplace English. I was also personally challenged to consider how Iona's themes of community, and commitment to justice and peace, can enrich the life of an ordinary local church.
Thursday 12 May 2011
Staying in a Franciscan Friary
Since Monday 9th May, I've been staying in Alnmouth Friary which is a small community of 6 Anglican Franciscan brothers. The day begins with Morning Prayer at 7am, followed by personal prayer time, silent breakfast at 8.05am until 8.45am when silence ends. Nothing is then timetabled until noon, Midday Prayer, followed by Holy Communion at 12.15pm and lunch at 1pm.
Then tea and biscuits at 4.30pm, Evening Prayer at 5pm followed by personal prayer, supper at 6.15pm, and Compline (Night Prayer) at 9pm.
Of course this is all voluntary and you can attend or miss whatever you like (giving notice re meals).
I only attended Mass once, which was pretty straightforward. However the community is Anglo Catholic and so includes some prayer to the Virgin Mary at each service. I was expecting this and so just let it go by me as it were, but it would not suit everyone.
The house has stunning views of the sea, being high above the shore. In the early 19th century Alnmouth was cut in two by a devastating flood which was so strong that the river Aln carved a new channel to the sea, sweeping away the lower part of the village in the process. It now requires a 3 mile walk avoiding dangerous estuary and tidal waters and saltmarsh, to get to the remnant of the old church on Church Hill across the river, just 300 yards as the crow flies! I have not done as much walking as I intended, being here for only 3 full days.
Tomorrow, Friday 13th, I'm setting off as early as possible on a five hour drive north to Oban in Argyll on the west coast of Scotland. I'm staying overnight and then catching the ferry to Mull just before noon. All being well I hope to arrive on Iona at around 2.15pm.
Then tea and biscuits at 4.30pm, Evening Prayer at 5pm followed by personal prayer, supper at 6.15pm, and Compline (Night Prayer) at 9pm.
Of course this is all voluntary and you can attend or miss whatever you like (giving notice re meals).
I only attended Mass once, which was pretty straightforward. However the community is Anglo Catholic and so includes some prayer to the Virgin Mary at each service. I was expecting this and so just let it go by me as it were, but it would not suit everyone.
The house has stunning views of the sea, being high above the shore. In the early 19th century Alnmouth was cut in two by a devastating flood which was so strong that the river Aln carved a new channel to the sea, sweeping away the lower part of the village in the process. It now requires a 3 mile walk avoiding dangerous estuary and tidal waters and saltmarsh, to get to the remnant of the old church on Church Hill across the river, just 300 yards as the crow flies! I have not done as much walking as I intended, being here for only 3 full days.
Tomorrow, Friday 13th, I'm setting off as early as possible on a five hour drive north to Oban in Argyll on the west coast of Scotland. I'm staying overnight and then catching the ferry to Mull just before noon. All being well I hope to arrive on Iona at around 2.15pm.
Tuesday 10 May 2011
God in our weaknesses
God's word to Paul when he repeated prayed for healing was "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." 2 Cor 12:9. That is some consolation when you are very conscious of your own weaknesses. God delights in using ordinary weak people rather than superstars, so that they are not tempted to think, when good things happen, "I did that". This is all by way of introducing how my weaknesses having been playing out.
First of all I travelled North to Gateshead in a car which had been giving problems starting. This was due to my weakness of procrastination. having had a note on the desk for all of last week saying 'Book car in'. So when after two days with Peter and Judith, I got into the car to reverse out of their drive and head up the coast, there was just a dull thud instead of a brisk roaring into life. Peter and I nearly both brought about our early demise by pushing the car onto the road, where fortunately a slight slope came to the rescue and I did a bump start.
So here I am driving up the coast road towards Alnmouth, my next stage. At that point, problem two of my weaknesses kicked in. I realised that I had left some stuff behind with the Swords. I also knew that no-one was now at home and I had no way of contacting either of them.
I suddenly realised that instead of enjoying a sabbatical rest I was busy worrying and planning and full of anxiety about the next two weeks. Especially how I could leave my car for a week whilst on Iona with any hope at all of restarting it when I retrieved it. The stuff left behind was also a minor niggle. So with this great revelation that I was worrying instead of resting I gave both problems to God. Amazing - how did this man ever get to be a vicar?
I suddenly realised that what I needed was John Beynon. John is a Christian who runs a motor garage in Fleckney. I didn't expect the Lord to transplant him to Northumbria, but he knows what I mean. Within minutes I am passing through the little town of Amble and there on the main road is a motor garage. I stop and the owner directs me round the corner to his friend with the Auto Spares shop. A little gizmo is applied to my car, the problem diagnosed as a dud battery, and in half an hour I am on the road greatly relieved of worry and a mere £45.
Arriving at Alnmouth around 11.30am it turned out I wasn't expected until 4pm, so had plenty of time to return to Gateshead - a half hour drive - and pick up my forgotten bits. This time the blessing in weakness was that having avoided the A1 in the morning, I took it to save time in the afternoon and discovered a little place that could be the answer to my need for a special wedding anniversary present later this year. So, God is good and uses even our weaknesses to bless us.
First of all I travelled North to Gateshead in a car which had been giving problems starting. This was due to my weakness of procrastination. having had a note on the desk for all of last week saying 'Book car in'. So when after two days with Peter and Judith, I got into the car to reverse out of their drive and head up the coast, there was just a dull thud instead of a brisk roaring into life. Peter and I nearly both brought about our early demise by pushing the car onto the road, where fortunately a slight slope came to the rescue and I did a bump start.
So here I am driving up the coast road towards Alnmouth, my next stage. At that point, problem two of my weaknesses kicked in. I realised that I had left some stuff behind with the Swords. I also knew that no-one was now at home and I had no way of contacting either of them.
I suddenly realised that instead of enjoying a sabbatical rest I was busy worrying and planning and full of anxiety about the next two weeks. Especially how I could leave my car for a week whilst on Iona with any hope at all of restarting it when I retrieved it. The stuff left behind was also a minor niggle. So with this great revelation that I was worrying instead of resting I gave both problems to God. Amazing - how did this man ever get to be a vicar?
I suddenly realised that what I needed was John Beynon. John is a Christian who runs a motor garage in Fleckney. I didn't expect the Lord to transplant him to Northumbria, but he knows what I mean. Within minutes I am passing through the little town of Amble and there on the main road is a motor garage. I stop and the owner directs me round the corner to his friend with the Auto Spares shop. A little gizmo is applied to my car, the problem diagnosed as a dud battery, and in half an hour I am on the road greatly relieved of worry and a mere £45.
Arriving at Alnmouth around 11.30am it turned out I wasn't expected until 4pm, so had plenty of time to return to Gateshead - a half hour drive - and pick up my forgotten bits. This time the blessing in weakness was that having avoided the A1 in the morning, I took it to save time in the afternoon and discovered a little place that could be the answer to my need for a special wedding anniversary present later this year. So, God is good and uses even our weaknesses to bless us.
Sunday 8 May 2011
First Sabbatical Report
I'm sitting in a front room in Gateshead on Sunday 8th May. It's 10 past 1 and the smells of cooking are making me salivate. I'm staying with my friends of old, Peter and Judith, and have been to church with them this morning. Our friendship goes back to the 70's when Peter and I were both in Christian bands, trying to spread the gospel through music and preaching, and in my case, through Christian poetry. We dropped immediately into our typical heated theological debates. Peter on the more exclusive side of predestination, me on the more universalist side.
I confess that I wouldn't be a comfortable regular worshipper at their church. But I found that God spoke to me through the Bible reading and the prayers. I have been praying and asking God to speak to me during this time, and especially asked for help to listen for his voice even when, like this morning, I knew I might have a slightly critical spirit. The vicar in his prayer, asked God to rouse us from our sleepiness and wake us up. My attention sharpened at those words. That was particularly apt for me as I have been struggling with sleepiness (physical rather than spiritual) for the past two or three years to the point where I recently had an appointment in a sleep disorders clinic. Is that relevant you might ask? Well I often find God gives small pointers like this to focus our attention.
The Gospel reading was from John 10, the Good Shepherd. Verses from that reading have been haunting me, if that's the right word, since it appeared in the Morning Prayer lectionary last autumn. Especially the references to hearing the Good Shepherd's voice, recognising it, listening to it and following it. When I composed a prayer for people to use for me on my Sabbatical I included a sentence about asking for me to hear the Good Shepherd's voice.
Tomorrow I'm heading north along the coast to Alnmouth Friary to have a time of retreat.
I confess that I wouldn't be a comfortable regular worshipper at their church. But I found that God spoke to me through the Bible reading and the prayers. I have been praying and asking God to speak to me during this time, and especially asked for help to listen for his voice even when, like this morning, I knew I might have a slightly critical spirit. The vicar in his prayer, asked God to rouse us from our sleepiness and wake us up. My attention sharpened at those words. That was particularly apt for me as I have been struggling with sleepiness (physical rather than spiritual) for the past two or three years to the point where I recently had an appointment in a sleep disorders clinic. Is that relevant you might ask? Well I often find God gives small pointers like this to focus our attention.
The Gospel reading was from John 10, the Good Shepherd. Verses from that reading have been haunting me, if that's the right word, since it appeared in the Morning Prayer lectionary last autumn. Especially the references to hearing the Good Shepherd's voice, recognising it, listening to it and following it. When I composed a prayer for people to use for me on my Sabbatical I included a sentence about asking for me to hear the Good Shepherd's voice.
Tomorrow I'm heading north along the coast to Alnmouth Friary to have a time of retreat.
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