Mike's musings

Memorial service

I took a memorial service this evening. Several times a year we hold a service where those who have lost a loved one recently - or maybe a while ago, at that time of year, and Sally had prepared a new version of the service. It was a good liturgy, and I liked how she preached, too: about hope. It was an emotional service, with people coming up to leave a lit candle to be placed on that altar, with a note with the loved one's name on it. As in all these cases, there's a fine balance between being honest to emotion and allowing it to take over.

Labels: service

Emotion and service

(backposting) By service, I mean both types: what one does for other people, but also a religious service. I had quite a day today. I did my first BCP (Book of Common Prayer) Holy Communion at the 0800 at Halstead, which was great. John, my boss, was there, with some good advice afterwards, including noting the fact that I'd used one prayer which he'd only heard twice in 40 years!

The 1000 was very emotional, for a couple of reasons. First, we had someone from the organisation Samaritan's Purse, talking about their brilliant Operation Christmas Child. She showed pictures: sad pictures of children, but lots of hope. I was far from the only person there with tears in my eyes. And I just had one of those experiences during communion - specifically during the distribution - where I suddenly became aware of what a privilege it all is. I took the time, before the final hymn, to tell people what a blessing I felt serving them is.

The afternoon brought a trip to Colchester Hospital. Miri managed to pull her elbow out again, and we had a long wait before an examination during which we got it back in. She was very good about it all, poor thing.

And in the evening, I went to an ecumenical service held, this time, in the Roman Catholic Church in Halstead, with friends and colleagues from the Baptist, Methodist and Anglican churches in the town. I arrived late, and shuffled in somewhat embarrassed, but enjoyed the service and had a drink with David, the RC priest, in a pub afterwards. A good chat and natter, including some interesting discussions about theology and liturgy: similarities and differences.

Labels: service, services

Lenten service

I took a Lent service at noon today. Half an hour: I chose to talk about forgiveness, how hard it is, and how God will understand if we can't forgive. I based it around a guided reflection on Jesus' words on the cross: in particular his "forgive them, for they know not what they do", and his telling John and his mother to consider each other mother and son. I also used the Ravensbruck prayer, in which the woman who wrote it never says that she forgives those who have caused the suffering of her and those around her, but asks God to consider the good that has come of suffering. Apparently, the prayer was left next to a dead child, and we don't know whether the woman was Jewish, Christian, or of another faith, but it's one of the most powerful prayers I know, and very difficult to pray. I was nearly in tears, but I think it's important to be honest about our emotions, whether we are clergy or not, and a number of people commented positively on my openness. Anyway, enough of me: here's the prayer:

"O Lord, remember not only the men and women of good will, but also those of ill will. But do not remember all the suffering they have inflicted on us, remember the fruits we have bought, because of this suffering - our comradeship, our loyalty, our humility, our courage, our generosity, the greatness of heart that has grown out of all of this, and when they come to judgement, let all the fruits we have borne be their forgiveness."

Labels: curacy, Lent, service

Serving

(backposting) Today was my first church engagement since ordination: a Area Team Meeting, held in Halstead. I went to a service of Holy Communion in the church first, with just me, James (the other curate, presiding) and one of the people going to the meeting. So, "when two or three are gathered in my name", indeed. A lovely, intimate service: it made me think about how I'll be taking communion services in a year's time.

The meeting went on till 2115, and then I drove up to Loughborough. This is service. My mother-in-law's ADSL router had died, and she really needs to have Internet access for some work she does. Moo and I looked at possible dates to go up, but decided that just doing it might make most sense. So, I left the Halstead around 2130, and got to East Leake around 2345: a good, fast trip. Said the evening office, had a glass and a half of wine, and went to bed.

Labels: church, communion, diaconate, family, service

Trying something new

Today I took two services, one at Little Yeldham, and one at Great Yeldham. I did the same thing both times, something I'd not tried before, and with which I was very pleased. I was a little worried, as it was so new - and something that neither congregation is used to - but it went very well, I think. A few negative comments, but from the quarters I would have expected, so I'm not overly worried about that.

The general plan was the same for both churches:

• I entered in cassock-alb and girdle
• I started with the standard words for Morning Prayer (Common Worship), then moved into ...
• a reading: Luke 17:11-19 (the Samaritan leper who turned back to praise God for his healing)
• I then put down my bible, started to take off my girdle, and said "Right, let's have coffee, then". I'd already got water boiling, so it didn't take long to get everyone sat down with a hot drink.
• I then explained that I wanted people to get into 2s and 3s and to discuss for 5 or so minutes the question "why do I go to church?" - whether that means the building, or services, etc. - followed by "what do I get from going to church?"
• I wandered around the groups, encouraging, taking some notes
• after 7-8 minutes I stood at the front and collected the themes that people had come up with. I spent some time talking about the importance of worship as a reason for going to church (one congregation had come up with this, one not)
• I then handed round a set of Bibles that I'd gathered from home, and asked each mini-group to come up with a passage which they felt reflected one of the themes that had been identified
• I went round the groups with a concordance (which I'd cunningly thought to bring along!), pinning down the readings they'd been thinking of
• we then launched into a fairly standard but slightly cut-down Morning Prayer service, with confession, absolution and creed to start off
• this was followed by the passages that people had identified, read by the people who'd selected them (though I offered to read them if people wanted). After each, I said "This is the Word of the Lord", to which everyone replied "Thanks be to God"
• we had some intercessions (in one church)
• we then had an offertory hymn
• I then wrapped up, asking the congregation to think about the question "What would I like to get from going to church?" and the associated question "What would other people, who don't go to church, like to get from going to church?" I encouraged them to ask (or invite!) friends.
• we finished off with another hymn
• we then had some discussion.

Quite a few people loved it, at least one hated it, but I was very pleased with how it went overall. One comment from both churches was that they'd like to have a little more of a sermon to react to, discuss and think about, and I'll try to do that at some point. Next time, we're combining the two congregations into one service: that'll be the 2nd Sunday of December, if anyone fancies coming.

B*gger

I took Jo swimming today, and she had some problems getting her swimming costume on: "bugger," she said, matter-of-factly. I had to tell her off, and explain that it's a rude word that we don't usee. And, when we got home, I had to tell her mother off, who's been known to use at home, and who I'm had to tell off just this morning...

Looks like we're going to be playing South Africa in the final of the Rugby World Cup next weekend.

Labels: Jo, rugby, service, theology

Placements

(backposting) Most of the day we were working on placements, and verbatims that we'll have to do. It was interesting, and I feel much happier about the whole thing now. In the evening, our group led the service. We based it on Psalm 23, and I started the service off with "The Lord's my Shepherd", sung to the well-known tune Crimond. I also led a Taizé chant in the middle of the service: Ubi Caritas. But it was the whole thing put together that worked: we went through each verse with actions, and it was all based in the garden in the middle of the cloisters. Clive did a great job of it, and we had washing of hands; laying out of food; walking along the path; anointing with oil and quiet reflection to music. And a blackbird joined in. It worked really, really well, and we had lots of positive feedback.

It was odd knowing that from tomorrow, I'm going to be a third year. The next ERMC event is the Summer School, and although some of the tomorrow's "leavers" will be there then, it all kicks off then: I'm in my last year.

Labels: service