2010:365:80 Sunday

This is where I'll be most Sundays in the year - probably not in August when I take holiday - but for the rest of the year Saint Nicholas' is my "home".  Today, for the spring equinox, the sun was shining and I got some good pictures between the early service and the main act of worship at 11.00 am.  

In the bad weather our numbers were at their lowest but now that the days are a bit warmer, brighter and frost free we're creeping back up to around sixty gathering week by week.  I'm looking forward to Easter Sunday when we'll have an outdoor service at 8.30 am followed by a cooked breakfast - the works - bacon, egg, sausage, tomato, fried bread....  If you're in the area do feel free to join us and then stay on for the main service at 10.30 am.  That's a half hour earlier than usual so that folk can get away in good time for family celebrations and egg rolling.

The morning I was in Saint Nicholas' and the afternoon in Saint Anne's, the cathedral in Belfast.  This was for the Mothers' Union Festival service and to see the crowds attending was very encouraging.  This congregation represented the churches in Connor Diocese and each branch had their banner which were processed in at the beginning of the service.

I had to take a picture of the Saint Nicholas' one, of course.  And I managed to find one of our members so snapped a few photographs of her as well.

There aren't any shots from the THIRD church I was in.  That's the neighbouring parish of Saint Thomas' and hosts a Bach Cantata every third Sunday.  

The organist of Saint Nicholas' is the conductor of the Consort and the evenings are always full of wonderful music - tonight was better than ever and although I was exhausted when the worship started by the end I was refreshed and ready to come home to write a blog!

It's been a good Sunday, if a busy one.  Now an early night because the incoming week is going to be unbelievably busy!  Already I'm looking forward to my hour of quiet in Saint Nicholas' tomorrow over lunch time when I look after the Open Church.  

Tonight we'll end with the lovely prayer of Saint Chrysostom which we had at Morning Prayer.

Almighty God, who hast given us grace at this time with one accord to make our common supplications unto thee; and dost promise that when two or three are gathered together in thy Name thou wilt grant their requests: Fulfil now, O Lord, the desires and petitions of thy servants as may be most expedient for them; granting us in this world knowledge of thy truth, and in the world to come life everlasting.  Amen. 

Book of Common Prayer

Morning/Evening Prayer

Publish Post

2010:365:31 Still blogging along after a month...

End of a day, end of a month, and ready for bed ... but not before the thirty first blog with photograph is posted!

The services in Saint Nicholas' were good this morning and people seemed to enjoy singing some of the "old favourites".  I don't know where the time went but maybe it just vanishes when folk are contented.  It felt like a good number in church - but that's hard to gauge and I forgot to check the book.  (For the non-Anglicans who read this, if there are any, we keep a register in which numbers attending worship are recorded and the book is signed by the person who reads the service and by the preacher.)

You'll have noticed that the photograph has nothing at all to do with church.  It is a Birthday non-Cake!  My niece, who must have had her twenty first birthday a few times by now, didn't want a big cake.  So, her Mum, my sister, listened to her wishes and made a pile of wee buns instead!  They were the cutest wee tiny morsels that you can imagine and very, very tasty!  

A long time ago I must have fulfilled my role very well as the "Big Sister" because both of my "Wee Sisters" are excellent cooks!  We had a beautiful meal and enjoyed a pleasant afternoon together.  

With the brighter evenings it is all too easy to forget the time - and that's maybe not a bad thing either.  So now I'm home to the rectory and ready to switch off the computer in preparation for a really early night!

Lord of all power and might,
the author and giver of all good things:
Graft in our hearts the love of your name,
increase in us true religion,
nourish us with all goodness,
and of your great mercy keep us in the same;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

The Collect of the Seventh Sunday after Trinity

The Book of Common Prayer

The Poached Egg

A title for today's blog might just as easily be "procrastination"... but I did say yesterday that all I'd need for my tea last night would be a poached egg. And how delicious was that! A feast for the eyes as well as the taste buds, though a slightly larger plate would have improved the appearance.

This is a sunny Saturday morning in Belfast and the dog needs to have a quick walk before things become too hectic. I'll take him as far as the church to see what progress was made yesterday and maybe even photograph one or two more bits...if all else fails there's always the tools that the men are using!

The music from last night's concert by the Ulster Orchestra is still running around my head - will root around in the CD pile to see if the Beethoven is there so I can fill the rectory with it this afternoon.

Hidden beauty

Why do I want to keep one old feature and yet remove another?

The aisles of Saint Nicholas' have been uncovered! Why were they hidden? The carpet has been taken up so that it doesn't become marked during the building work but underneath are the most beautiful tiles. I hope that we can use this original feature and not replace the "cosy" red carpet. Time will tell.

The pipes from the old central heating system are to be moved under the floor and, instead of six big radiators, every seat in the nave will have a heating pipe underneath! The church hasn't been a cold building so it could well become a very warm one! Of course, each of us has our own idea of what is a good temperature so no doubt, it will be acceptable to some and not to others!

The old boiler is about to be removed. It is a great age and of immense size and yet a thing of industrial genius and beauty. Another photograph needs to be taken with an indication of just how big is the machine. It has served us well and provides a tremendous amount of heat week by week but sooner or later it will reach the end of its useful life. And it is also true that a more modern machine would work with greater efficiency.

So why do I want to recover the tiles and dispose of the boiler?

"Fit for purpose" might be the most useful criteria.

The tiles are probably the best flooring that we could have. The acoustics of the building will be enhanced by the hard surface and the tiles themselves are objects of beauty and original to the building. They are in good order (apart from the wee holes that were drilled to lay the carpet rods!). On the other hand, the boiler has a limited life-span and is coming towards the end of that. It wasn't original to the building and is simply a machine to provide heat and better machines are now available.

So, "because we always done it" or "it has always been that way" isn't enough. In any process of change each element has to be examined on its own merit. To maintain something, simply because it has "always been thus" is not enough. As we prepare for a new phase in the life of Saint Nicholas' we need to be alert to keeping what is good and appropriate and to change what is no longer the best. May God help us to know the difference.

Sunday - The Big Move!

Up early and a huge choice from a wardrobe full of freshly ironed shirts (thank you S). Of course, earrings to match...and since I had this pair with scallop shells...how much further did I need to look?

Dog had a short walk, very early, and then I set off to Saint Nicholas' for the 9.30 am Holy Communion. The last in the building until September. The Wednesday and early Sunday Eucharists will be in the Rector's Office - it now has one of the pews that we've removed from the north aisle.

The theme for today was pilgrimage so a bowl of shells was available for everyone to have a little reminder of the journey that we're on - a personal journey - but also travelling together. There was even reference to Chaucer's pilgrims and the story telling that helped them on their pilgrimage. As we looked quickly over both Testaments and church history it is remarkable just how much "journey" is part of the narrative. We stand, or walk, in good company!

Introducing the morning service I spoke of the continuity of our worship from one "room" in our property to another and I felt it important that physically we made the link by moving together to the new place. Two weeks ago the sermon had been on biblical metaphors for the church: the family of God, the body, a temple, bride... We'd noted how much emphasis there is on being church "together". We need each other. We travel as the people of God.

When we arrived in the hall the seating plan was an attempt to reinforce our unity as the body of Christ in this place. Like a family we sat around a table and were able to see one another. When it comes to Parish Holy Communion in a couple of weeks we'll gather in the space around this same table to receive the bread and wine.

I know that it will take a while for people to feel comfortable with the different way of doing things - but as we work through the pain together and begin to understand what is happening when we meet to worship then we'll grow closer in fellowship and in enjoying being in the Lord's presence together.

For most people the experience of today was good - even the companionship on the journey across the Lisburn Road was part of the worship not a distraction from it. There were balloons and fun, there were people helping people, there was a sense of doing something together. In the weeks to come with the Pentecost Praise service (United Churches Picnic and Barbecue) and then the now annual end of Sunday Space year Parish Picnic with Bouncy Castle... hopefully we'll continue to grow together and enjoy being the family of God in this place. And as others see how we love one another they too will be drawn into our fellowship and find a home, a refuge and a place where they too can exercise the gifts that God has given them.

Monday in Holy Week

Lunchtime. It will be a short blog!
I've just eaten the last of yesterday's dinner...okay, but probably should have waited until it warmed a bit more? Dog happy enough with the leftovers - not that I want to leave leftovers - just couldn't resist his big brown eyes watching every forkfull!
Was up early to put out the bin...refuse collection is usually 7.00 am here...but today the black bins are still standing to attention at our gates while the brown ones are steadily creeping away to the back gardens since they were emptied mid-morning.
A "sudden rush of blood to the head" then motivated me to do laundry (of course it is now raining!) and clean the kitchen before heading out to the first of today's home Holy Communions.
That's always a great delight and privilege. And I'm booked for another two this afternoon, so need to keep an eye on the clock.
Eliot is around somewhere. This week the poor wee soul is totally neglected! He copes! And maybe next week there'll be a little more time to walk and play and maybe even spend a while with his dog friends! Every so often, if I'm around, a little toy is dropped at my feet or beside the chair...no demands...just the pulling of heart strings as you know he wants a game. Dream on my dog!
If you're around this evening there's a service in Saint Nicholas' at 8.00 pm - as there will be every day this week! Tonight is traditional Evening Prayer.

Wet Saturday

My second year in Saint Nicholas' begins with a wet Saturday. So much for the little bits I wanted to plant in the garden! Next week...not likely to be time to do that kind of thing. Had a mad idea that we'd do breakfast after the "Dawn" service on Easter Sunday. That should be fun - hope someone comes along.
Next week - two or three home communions every day and services each evening. I love this time of year and the message of resurrection. Good Friday we'll have three hours at the cross from noon until 3.00 pm. Every year when I was teaching we had a London trip and always brought the young people to Saint George's, Windsor, for one of the twenty minute slots. Even in the middle of a holiday it is good to pause for moments of quiet reflection.
The Tenebrae on Good Friday evening is one of the highlights. Candles are already in the car - travelling up and down the Lisburn Road with me! Sooner or later I'll remember to bring them into the church.
Meanwhile, the Palm Crosses for tomorrow have already made the move from car to vestry...looking forward to that service and the traditional hymns of Palm Sunday. The choir have a beautiful anthem as well....and it is Holy Communion...
It won't be long until we move out of the building for repair work to commence. We move on 19th and then for twenty weeks we'll be "displaced people" in the halls...
Pilgrimage may well be the theme explored over some of the early weeks as we consider how best we can be church in twenty first century Belfast.
Rambling here this morning....maybe getting my thoughts in order so that the day can start....

Familiar words

It is the season for private Holy Communions...the appointment cards went out a couple of weeks ago and now two or three people each day will have this important service in their home where they've become "shut in" for most of the time. It is a great privilege to be so closely with someone as they receive the bread and wine.
One of the very interesting aspects is the effect that the familiar words have. For those whose memory is slipping the traditional service brings back long forgotten phrases and stories from their past. The service is sometimes punctuated with tales of family or church. But the prayers and the words of comfort clearly work at a very deep level. "That's an old one" was the comment that came with the "Amen" as I prayed "Almighty God, to whom all hearts are open..."
Year after year of attending church and using the same phrases has created a reservoir of prayer into which we can tap... Maybe it isn't often seen at surface level... Maybe it requires the liturgy to trigger the memories... But it is there. And the spirituality that it represents is real and important.
What of the future? What of the young people who drop in to church once or twice every month or two? What of their parents who are seldom seen in church at all? What of the children who are never brought into the fellowship? Will they have the same reservoir on which to draw when they reach their 80s and 90s? Perhaps The Lord's Prayer...but...what else? How will their adult spiritual lives be nourished if they lose their sight or their hearing...will they be able to recall words of prayers or hymns to encourage and strengthen?
Lines of hymns and psalms, passages of scripture, prayers from the liturgy all create a great fund of spiritual reserves that will be lost to many of the present generation of church members... Familiar words have a place among all the variety of liturgies and songs. We need both - one to build up reserves, the other to stretch our thinking.

Passiontide

The last two weeks leading up to Easter begin...

Most merciful God,
who by the death and resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ
delivered and saved the world:
Grant that by faith in him who suffered on the cross,
we may triumph in the power of his victory;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Across the world Christians will spend extra time in these two weeks reflecting on the suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus. Those who are "shut in" will receive Holy Communion and others will make a special effort to gather in the fellowship of their local Christian community or church.
How easy it is to become distracted - drawn away from the essential truths...

Anticipation, Participation and Reflection

Anticipation is part of the excitement of any activity. Even on a dull and slightly damp Saturday when the fridge is empty and the dog is wet there's a little dollop of joy at the thought of going out later in the day.
A tiny wee private cinema has been booked (no idea what we're going to see) and then we'll share a leisurely meal together. Nothing terribly unusual or dramatic - just a sense of togetherness in a shared activity. Maybe that's what church is partly about. Being together, building relationships and quite simply enjoying the company of one another.
And afterwards - memories! The event is more than the moments we spend in each other's company. It is also the reflection. The lingering of conversations that are part of the building blocks of relationships.
This is a good day - even if the showers have dampened the clothes that had dried on the line overnight! Easier to iron - maybe?! And even if I need to join the Saturday morning shoppers to stock up on the essentials like bread and milk!

Monday Morning

Beautiful morning - but had to fix a hole in the fence as Eliot trying to get through to the neighbour's garden where he could play with their collie. Huh! Apart from that - it is bin day here - recycling - so blue and brown bins line the leafy street! Do we appreciate how convenient it is to have rubbish collected from in front of the house?
There's a lot of traffic on the road today as preparation is underway for the Balmoral Show. At least from upstairs I'll have a good view of some of the activities. Any journey in the area may take a little longer this week as crowds pour in for the annual agricultural show - frustration at times perhaps!
What could we do to attract the same crowds to church services...?

Getting Started

Will this be a nine-day-wonder? Or perhaps of shorter duration? I guess you don't know until you begin.
Today was the Day of Pentecost. Wonderful service of praise on the theme of the Holy Spirit. Great atmosphere in church. May it change our lives so that what we say is lived out in what we do.