Eternal Echoes

Twelve days....

I am sitting at my desk and trying to take a step back to think about the last twelve days;I feel as if I have been caught up in a fast moving soap opera script, and the writers have just taken a break to focus their attention elsewhere!

Twelve days ago my home started filling up with family members, they were coming to celebrate my eldest sons' wedding, by the day of the wedding there were 14 0f us at lunch time. Paul and Louise's wedding was a joyful family occasion.... and we moved on

... to a yard sale, because we are moving house, and raising funds to send my youngest daughter Jo on a mission trip to Zambia....

Preaching is normal for a Sunday, but with the busyness of the week it proved a challenge, our minds were preoccupied any way as n Tuesday we dropped Chris and his girlfriend Ness at Downham station...

Chris was to be admitted to the Royal Brompton Hospital for surgery, which was thankfully a great success... it has been a long time coming!

While Chris was in hospital with Ness wonderfully supporting him we prepared for another wedding, this time for a young friend. We helped to set up the reception venue and sorted out various instruments for the band at the ceremony, I was privileged to be invited to preach ...

....Tim and I stayed for the wedding speeches and headed off to London to collect Chris and Ness....

Time for a rest???

No, time to travel down to Essex for a family get together to celebrate my mother-in-laws 70th....

Followed the next day by 2 services, first my final service and sermonin Downham Market, and then a Circuit farewell service where God was praised and we were thanked for our ministry...

... a rest?

Well not quite because to add to the excitement Emma my eldest daughter was left stranded by an ineffective train service. Tim and I are grateful to Ann and Mike her boyfriends' parents for rescuing her!...

And now, I am sitting at my desk trying to take stock, next to me is a pile of prayers and blessings written during yesterdays service by the folk who were there. The prayers are for our whole family, and we are grateful, and not a little overwhelmed...

No wonder I can't think.....

Right, back to the packing in 20 days we will be living in Yorkshire!!!

Through all the changing scenes of life,
In trouble and in joy,
The praises of my God shall still
My heart and tongue employ.

....on taking a stand in seeking a fresh vision...

Over the last few weeks I have been extremely busy, too busy in fact. I might be excused then for suffering a brain glitch on Saturday evening when I decided to revisit the Scriptures for the morning service. For some reason I thought that I had chosen the Epistle and the Gospel readings, and not the Old Testament and the Gospel readings... in the light of what I read I pottered around with my sermon and printed off the final order of service...

...to my surprise when I arrived at the Chapel the first reader stood to read from Ezekiel and not 2 Corinthians! And it was through that reading that God spoke, and any sermon preparation I had done was swiftly changed again...

As Ezekiel 2: 1-7 was read the first few verses seemed to shout out for attention;

"He said to me, "Son of man, stand up on your feet and I will speak to you." As he spoke, the Spirit came into me and raised me to my feet, and I heard him speaking to me. "

This passage follows directly on from Ezekiel's' initial vision of God and it is as he is face down on the ground, awed by what he has seen that God speaks and tells him to stand. To me this was significant because I rarely find myself face down in the dirt before a God. Ezekiel had been caught up in a vision, seeing perhaps only a glimpse of God's glory, but it was enough to drive him to his knees. It strikes me that we domesticate God too often, we make him safe and reliable, we don't grasp his might, his power, her radiance or wildness. Perhaps what the Church today needs more than anything else is a sense of the glory and majesty of the God we profess to worship.

The Gospel reading ( Mark 6: 1-13) makes our predicament clear, Jesus friends and family in his home town are finding it difficult to accept him as the Messiah, they have heard his teaching and witnessed miraculous healings, but remain unconvinced. I wonder if we live in a state of being unconvinced, we know the Gospels, but we don't truly know or accept the Christ who longs to move amongst us in power. When he is domesticated and safe and full of a warming love that makes us comfortable we remain largely unchanged.

I wounder what would happen to us if we dared to draw closer to the heat of that love, if we dared to allow it to consume us, in being consumed would we catch a glimpse of his glory and end up on our knees, or better still face down in the dirt....

If we were to remain there for long enough would we hear God's voice, would he command us to stand, and as we did would we find the Spirit speaking clearly to us?

I often find myself in meetings where strategy and finance are discussed, the question always seems to be about the survival of the church; how long can we hold on for....? Too often these meetings are panic driven, too often they are not God centered, and rarely do we seek a real vision, we are too focused on plans and budgets....

...and yet I hear a very real spiritual thirst and hunger voiced not only from the people who frequent our pews week by week, but also by members of the wider community. The desire is for something more and something deeper, something as yet unrealised, but something that they know deep within to be possible. Could it be that the something that folk are longing for is a real encounter with the living God?

I think that it is, and I also believe that it is time that we raised our eyes from our budgets and our plans and cried out to God for a fresh vision. I am not advocating dumping our earthly responsibilities, but I am suggesting that we revisit the sense that HE IS ABLE! He is able to do more than we could ask or imagine, and he is asking us in difficult and challenging times, when congregations are dwindling and budgets are becoming tighter to stand, and to look up, to be filled again by the fire of the Spirit through whose transforming power the church is called to be and to minister.

BUT, first we must seek that vision, and allow it to drive us not only to our knees but lower still, accepting that without him we are nothing.......

Being myself with integrity ....(thoughts on worship and practice, esp. concerning the Lords Supper/ Eucharist)

A caveat for this post is that the opinions and preferences expressed are my opinions , and do not  represent the opinions and views of the whole of the Methodist Church in Great Britain, some may in fact be quite unique to me!

I have been mulling over this post for the last day or so, and think that perhaps the only way to collect my thoughts together is to go ahead and write it. Last weekend I was privileged to be present as some of my friends were ordained either as Deacons or Priests in the Anglican Church. The first group of ordinations I attended were set in Ely Cathedral and carried out with much pomp and ceremony as fitted the occasion and the place. The robes were splendid, the liturgy was solemn and yet celebratory and the music from the organist and the choir was wonderful. I enjoyed being there, but to borrow a phrase from Dave Perry, who is currently District Chair for Lincoln and Grimsby ( who was speaking on a not entirely disconnected matter) ".....As a Methodist (almost) presbyter, .... I found myself in a foreign land....."

On Sunday I set of early in the morning in order to be able to attend my good friend Mike Bursell's ordination, the bonus was that Iain Bendry another friend from ERMCwas also being ordained. Not quite the grandeur of Ely Cathedral this time, but the more intimate setting of St Andrew's Church Halstead. The ceremony was still very much in evidence however with all of the clergy robing for the occasion, processions in order of precedence and much more besides. Whilst I appreciate the solemnity of such occasionss and even believe that it is right and proper there were some elements again through which  "....As a Methodist (almost) presbyter....I found myself in a foreign land...."

Practices such as reverencing the altar are foreign to me, I smile because Mike refered to it as a table several times in conversation so there is hope for him yet. I do believe that the table is no ordinary table, but becomes for us a sacred table and reminds us of the sacramental nature of our worship even when the service being conducted is a service of the word. To reverence the table for me would be to reverence a symbol, and therefore unnecessary, and potentially unhelpful.

On Sunday afternoon I felt honoured and privileged to assist Mike in his first Mass, and have to admit that there is very little difference in the Eucharistic liturgies that we use at first glance. Rather than going into what could be a very long explanation and exploration now I will wait to see how this conversation develops. What I will do is say what is important to me about the Eucharistic Service.

1. We receive the sacrament in response to the word of God and at his invitation. Although we bring to the table the elements of bread and wine the invitation is given by God and we respond to God. The word read ( and preferably preached upon ) is an important part of the whole liturgy for me. Interesting because as Methodists we do not usually stand to hear the gospel read, and if I were to adopt any of the practices from Sunday that are not currently my own then this would probably be one. This is because I do acknowledge the uniqueness, importance and relevance of the gospels in relation to the incarnation ( God as Christ).
2. The invitation to receive the elements needs to be heard as if it were given by Christ himself. For me this is an intimate meal, a thin place ( yes I am getting all celtic) where heaven and earth meet.
3. We meet to participate in an active remembrance, understanding and embodying through our intention and actions what we have inherited from those who went before us. To quote the Methodist publication Share this Feast:            " (we) re-enact the story and allow its meaning and power to shape our actions in the present world."
4. The meal to which we are invited is a communal meal, this is highlighted in the Methodist liturgy where possible by the act of waiting together "table by table" for each group to be served, and then receiving together a blessing through the presbyter who has officiated.
5. I believe in the transformative power of the reception of the elements, into which the Holy Spirit has poured life and power.
6. The Eucharistic prayer should be a drama, let me explain, we act out and respond to the invitation of God in Christ to actively remember and receive from him. Therefore gestures and elevations etc are important, however I do not see them as a prescribed and set in stone group of enactions, my practicce may differ from one service to another and from one liturgy to another.
7. I like to use creative liturgies ( Iona, Northumbria, and variations on both which I have constructed), but maintain that they must contain elements of confession, and thanksgiving, and that the Eucharistic prayer itself must maintain its integrity ( words of institution and the epiclesis).
8. For mysefl I would prefer the elements to consist of real bread which can be torn and broken, and for all to share from the same loaf, and for real wine served from a chalice.... which just goes to show that I am a mixture, and will remain constrained by tradition, but willing to take it to its limits!

I am very aware that this list could go on and on, and so I leave it now in the hope that it will open a conversation, and will finish with a poem/ prayer that I have posted before.

 

 

Eucharistic thoughts

.

I want to meet you

in chewable chunks of grace,

to savour the flavour

of your gift…

.

I want to spend time

contemplating the wonder

of your givenness,

I want to be

nourished, challenged

and transformed!

.

I want to gulp down

deep draughts

of your love,

to feel it’s fire

filling my heart and soul

warming my bones!

.

I want to be cleansed

and restored

as I meet you

in the brokenness of bread,

and in the cup freely offered.

.

I want to go different,

to be different!

Will you meet me here?

.

Is it right that

I should leave your table

still hungry?

 

 

Pondering Pentecost

Yesterday along with Christians from around the globe I celebrated Pentecost, but I must admit that as I set off to drive through the beautiful Norfolk countryside to my first service of the day I did not have any particularly high expectations. Don't get me wrong I believe that the Holy Spirit is alive and well and active in the church and throughout the world, I also believe that she continues to pour out gifts upon the church. I believe that the Spirit brings healing and release as she works and moves amongst us....

I guess that what I wasn't prepared for was the joy that she released amongst the morning congregation, or the liberation, healing and peace that poured into and through the evening celebration service.

First the morning, quite simply there was a real sense of joy amongst the gathered folk, there were times of reflection and peace, and times of exuberant joy with people clapping and dancing; while this might not seem particularly amazing the joy was tangible. God the Holy Spirit drew close and blessed us.

From the morning service I drove to the beach to join Tim who was sailing, we ate lunch, chatted with friends and went for a walk before heading for home, and to the evening service that Tim was leading with the Circuit Evangelism Group, and the Healing Team.

The Evangelism Group and Healing Team are new initiatives in our Circuit, the groups have been meeting, praying and learning together for the last 6 months,  they have been active throughout the Circuit in a number of ways, but yesterday evening was the first big event they have put on together.

With the church was full of folk from all over the area,  worship began, this was followed by a time of testimony with three people from the Evangelism Group speaking about how God has touched and changed their lives. Another shorter time of worship was followed by Tim preaching, (and if I may say so I think my husband is an awesome preacher!) prayer and then an offer of healing prayer whilst some quieter worship songs were played.  As soon as the healing team was ready people started to come forward for prayer, slowly at first, but more and more as they gained confidence in what God was doing. There was a real peace in the building, and lives were being touched and transformed by the love of God.

 Patdoes not mind her story being told; late last year Pat's husband died from cancer after a long battle with the horrible disease, Pat was naturally devastated and continues to grieve her loss. She has had a few health struggles of her own, but yesterday something different happened. She said that as she sat listening to the worship songs she sensed God speaking to her and telling her to go forward with another member of the congregation who is suffering with terminal cancer. Pat went and gently put her arm around the lady and joined the healing team members in prayer for her friend.

Pat told me afterward that as she was praying a deep peace came upon her and the gift of tongues was re-released into her life. She had never denied having this gift, it was simply that neither life nor the style of worship at her home church had enabled her to pray and praise God in this way and so the gift lay dormant within her. Pat knew that as the holy words flowed from her that God had come close to her in a special way bringing healing and comfort as she ministered to another. Pat's story was echoed by two other people who felt that long forgotten gifts were stirred up within them.

The folk who had received prayer for healing spoke of a sense of peace and blessing, whether there will be anything more, we wait to see, but this I know God is active in His Church, and longs for us to be open enough to receive the gifts he has so graciously poured out upon us.... yesterday it seemed that there was an openness amongst the folk I ministered to and worshiped with ... as God came close we found ourselves standing on Holy Ground...

Festival outreach part 2, who came and why?

My last post was about the Churches Together Prayer Tent at Downham Market Festival, and following Angela's comment on the post I'd like to think a little more about who came and why....

The tent has been placed on the Festival site for almost 10 years now, with Tim and I responsible for setting up the installations and the team for the last 5 years. It represents a small part of the work that we do in the community, but is by contrast a large and visible representation of that work.. The installation itself is carefully thought out and prepared to be colourful and inviting, but I suspect that more people come because of the relationships we have built than anything else, because they felt comfortable with us they came....

...and because this was not a formal or churchy setting they felt free to engage with what was on offer....

What was on offer was the Through the Church Year Installation, which beginning with Advent took folk on a journey through the life of Jesus. At each section there was an interactive meditation and a Chance to respond (pray).

The fact that most folk took longer at the sections for Lent and Good Friday provides the Church with an instructive reflection, folk want to engage with a Jesus who meets them where they are,  one who understands temptation and suffering. They don't want an unattainable, untouchable Jesus. The Church folk as I mentioned yesterday were more interested in the Christmas and Easter sections, I wonder if in our rush to communicate the Good News we forget that sometimes we have to make room for it, by that I mean that often people carry around with them the concept that they are not and cannot be good enough. Negative images of Church and church folk abound, and an unreal rush to communicate the good stuff ( and it undoubtedly is good stuff) misses the depths that some need. We have Good news because of the wilderness and because of Good Friday.

I believe that what we saw yesterday was the evidence of a real hunger for meaning and depth to life, Tim was surrounded by about ten members of one family as he told Jesus story from the Jesus Deck, mixing in his testimony and being relaxed enough to answer questions, treating them as welcome interruptions. I spent over half an hour with one couple, again using the Jesus Deck, they picked cards one by one to speak into their past, present and future, finding once again that this representation of the Gospels opened connectionsand made room for meaningful dialogue.

Meeting people where they are is essential, I believe that most people are aware of the spiritual side of their nature but quite often don't know how to go about exploring what it might mean for them to be spiritual beings. This work contrasts the Mind Body and Soul outreach that I am more often involved in, here people are aware of their spirituality and are actively seeking, yesterday I think that for some folk that seeking began as they allowed a misunderstood or ignored part of themselves to surface. For some this was joyful, for others ( and these were the majority), it meant finding the suffering Jesus and allowing themselves to be found by him.

John, Jesus and Astral Travelling

John picked up one of the scripture cards in an MBS Exhibition and was delighted with the words from John 15 “these are the Masters words" he said with absolute conviction. We asked him how he knew the Masters words, and who the Master was.

“Jesus," he replied, looking at us as if we were mad I’ve been meeting him recently while I’ve been travelling” he said,

A conversation developed and we discovered that in his quest for peace and harmony John had been Astral Travelling/ Projecting and that was where he was meeting Jesus and talking with him. We asked him what the Master had said to him and he said that the Master had told him he needed to follow, and that he would be shown the way.

Every inch of my evangelical being was screaming at me to tell John that he could meet Jesus here and now, that all he had to do was pray "our" prayer. The trouble is John had already met Jesus and was having one to one conversations with him, he didn't need our rather narrow sounding prescriptive solutions.

So swallowing my words I asked John to keep in touch with us, he has and he is growing in his faith and meeting with Jesus in his own unconventional way. We are still in touch, as spiritual seekers and friends.

John Drane reminded us at the ROMBS Conference recently that we do not own the franchise on God, that it is not up to us to decide where and how God works and reaches people, sadly however all too often we behave as if we do. Perhaps one of the greatest challenges to the Church is to free itsel from its own constraints, to chhose to see where God is working and to go and join in!

 

 

Scripture cards laid out for people to choose, some read, others go by colour, others "sense" the right card for them.

A lesson in Easter joy!

Like many other people I was up early this morning and went to celebrate the first Eucharist of Easter. I was in a fairly subdued mood and began by sitting on my own, very soon I was joined by Claire, Claire has learning difficulties and needs help with our service books. I will have to be honest I sometimes find Claire difficult to deal with and was not really in the mood for helping her negotiate the pages this morning especially as we weren't following the liturgy right through.

As we stood to sing the first hymn she turned to me and beamed, "He's alive" she said, she sang with gusto, and followed the prayers and readings with equal enthusiasm, throwing in extra "Alleluias" all over the place! Her joy was infectious and she led me to a place in worship that I would not have gone to on my own, I left the service filled with the joy of the resurrection and ready to assist Douglas in presiding at the morning service that followed!

Claire's joy and  faith were a lesson to me today, her desire to receive communion before going on to a celebration service at the Christian Fellowship Center where she is a member spoke volumes of the depth of her understanding of the Easter message. The Christian Fellowships service was not planned to offer communion, but for Claire not to celebrate through the elements of bread and wine seemed wrong on Easter Sunday ( I agree with her) and so she looked for an opportunity, deciding to join us at the Methodist Church. I am glad she did, she certainly brought me joy this Easter day!

Alleluia! Christ is Risen!

Evidence of grace...

Do you ever stop to ask yourself who you might have become were it not for the grace of God?

These words from Paul are a challenge to me;

1 Tim. 1:12-17     I'm so grateful to Christ Jesus for making me adequate to do this work. He went out on a limb, you know, in trusting me with this ministry. The only credentials I brought to it were invective and witch hunts and arrogance. But I was treated mercifully because I didn't know what I was doing—didn't know Who I was doing it against! Grace mixed with faith and love poured over me and into me. And all because of Jesus.
    Here's a word you can take to heart and depend on: Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners. I'm proof—Public Sinner Number One— of someone who could never have made it apart from sheer mercy. And now he shows me off—evidence of his endless patience—to those who are right on the edge of trusting him forever.

       Deep honour and bright glory
            to the King of All Time—
        One God, Immortal, Invisible,
            ever and always. Oh, yes!

What might I write? I wasn't conducting witch hunts, so what credentials did I bring to this ministry...

...those of confusion and broken relationships,  fear and lack of confidence?

It would be easy to say that I wasn't as bad a Paul- but then what exactly do I use to measure that with?

In a comment on a previous post one of the commenter's spoke of seeing God as transcendent, and whilst I agree with that, I also believe that we need to know the God who comes close, who breaks into our lives either gently- born in the night, known only to shepherds and angels, - revealing himself bit by bit, or in a shocking way as Jesus confronted Paul on the Damascus road....

Jesus came to me gently, revealing himself little by little, first to the confused teenager whose parents divorce was a hard thing to handle, he introduced my to a loving community- his church...

Then to a young mother struggling with the illness of her son, as the God who comes close, who sees our tears and answers our prayers...( even if the answer is sometimes no, or silence)... through tears and confusion I learnt to pray....

.. and now- the one who was too afraid to ask for a bag of sugar at a corner shop finds herself leading and preaching...

The one who was afraid of relationships has been married for almost 26 years, and has 5 amazing children... and I find myself called as all Christ followers do, called into a ministry of reconciliation- by the Holy Spirit reconciling people to God...

..yes I believe God's ways are mysterious, but I also believe that s/he desires a personal relationship with us, and calls us to be open to the mystery of that, to reach beyond our understanding, to know and to be known by the creator of the world, the author and perfecter of our faith. If we are able to be open, truly open to the possibility and reality of relationship with a mysterious yet immanent God, might we grasp like Paul the wonder of;

    Grace mixed with faith and love poured over us and into us. And all because of Jesus. ...That he might reveal in us evidence of his endless patience—to those who are right on the edge of trusting him forever.

            

Self Love

The first few paragraphs of this post are copied from Jemila Monroe's post from the Emerging Women blog, she raises some interesting and important points and questions:

"Miroslav Volf writes in Free of Charge that when the Spirit of Christ indwells us, God occupies the space, of "I," so that Christ lives in and through us; the cooperation and intimacy between our spirit and God's spirit becomes so intimate that there is in some ways no distinction.When we love, it is truly God loving through us. When we will God's will, it is also God willing through us.

What does this have to do with self-love? Simply that when we love ourselves, it is God loving us through us.

It isn't even controversial to talk about showing someone else the love of God, or letting God love someone through our presence, our actions, our listening, our acceptance. But somehow when we apply this exact same theology to self-love we feel a little worried. Is it self-indulgent? Selfish? Shouldn't we make ourselves feel guilty for our failures so we can improve? Is God loving us through loving ourselves too close to saying that we are God?

Or sin of all sins, Is self-love New-Agey?

If it's wrong to allow God to love us through our own spirit-filled self-love, then let's be consistent: It's plain wrong to let God love others through our love. Trying to let Christ shine through us to others is too close to self-worship.

Or does loving self in God's Spirit actually lead to the death of ego and the birth of a renewed life?"

I am greatly indebted to a friend who has consistently pointed out the command of Jesus to love others as we love ourselves- stating quite simply that it is impossible to love others unless we have a healthy and Godly love for ourselves!

"Mark 12:28-31     One of the religion scholars came up. Hearing the lively exchanges of question and answer and seeing how sharp Jesus was in his answers, he put in his question: "Which is most important of all the commandments?"
    Jesus said, "The first in importance is, listen, Israel: The Lord your God is one; so love the Lord God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence and energy.'  And here is the second: Love others as well as you love yourself.' There is no other commandment that ranks with these."

Note Jesus words- " there is no other commandment that ranks with these". Godly self love then is different to selfish self love- so how do begin to love ourselves without getting it wrong?

Many of us struggle with self-love, we see ourselves as unworthy, and as unlovable, we know ourselves well enough to be aware of our faults and flaws, and feel like failures. Shame can lead us to cover these faults with the fig leaves of human efforts, and yet inwardly we know that God sees right through them, we do not fool God nor do we fool ourselves, and we fear that others will see through our flimsy covering.

In his letter John writes; "Perfect love casts out fear" (1 John 4 : 18)- dare we then drop our fig leaves before the God who loves us perfectly- to discover that there is no fear in love, that if we would only turn towards the one who loves us perfectly and stop trying to cover and defend ourselves,  we would be swept into a loving embrace. Dare we discover ourselves engulfed in a love so deep and wide that we will never be able to find the edges of it?

To be loved in this way requires that we stop hiding from love, that we allow ourselves to become vulnerable, that we cease to believe the lies that only the rich and the beautiful or the extraordinarily talented are worthy of love. To be loved like this requires us to acknowledge that we are indeed fearfully and wonderfully made(Psalm 139), and  that we can say with confidence that because God first loved us we too are able to receive and give love!

To truly love- perhaps one of the greatest pictures we have of this comes from Song of Songs- that book we shy away from because we daren't read the loosed sexual passions that confront us with power and purity!

"Song 8:7
        Flood waters can't drown love,
            torrents of rain can't put it out.
        Love can't be bought, love can't be sold—
            it's not to be found in the marketplace."

I am not advocating a Christian orgy, rather I am suggesting there is something pure about love when we allow it to penetrate our souls. This God-given picture of human love in purity should encourage rather than dismay us. Song of Songs offers us a picture of the beloved discovering herself loved, and delighting in that love. In knowing herself loved, love was awakened and grew within....

True love recognises itself as being the beloved, true love awakens within us a desire to give. We must learn to love ourselves because Jesus commanded it- but first I suggest we must learn to accept the love of God, and through that love as we discover ourselves loved, and in that discovery as we allow the love of God to occupy the space of the selfish "I ", we will love others also.

                                    

Sermon musing- Mary & Martha

The story of Mary and Martha is a bit like a very British delicacy (hmmmm) Marmite; for people either love it and are encouraged by it, or it seems they hate it feeling condemned unfairly by Jesus stinging words to Martha.... I have to admit to loving Marmite- and once I get past the surface shock I also find that I am challenged and changed by this account of the two sisters....

Just for a moment let's look at a traditional interpretation of the scene- Jesus has come to visit, he and his disciples are welcomed into the home of Mary, Martha and Lazarus- with all of these extra mouths to feed Martha gets busy immediately- she bustles around preparing a meal, making sure everyone is comfortable and catered for....

....Mary on the other hand is to be found sitting at Jesus feet, listening intently to his every word, hot and bothered and more than a little flustered Martha breaks onto the scene, demanding that Mary should be sent to help her.....

Now as a wife and mother I can truly identify with Martha- I can recall numerous occasions when it seems as if I am the only one doing any work- the endless round of meals that need cooking and clothes that need washing can become overwhelming, it is all to easy to become cranky and not a little resentful about the demands of domestic life. More than once I have interrupted my family's T.V. viewing with demands for help....

... and yet there is also a part of me that also longs to be a Mary- to sit at Jesus feet, to drink in his words of wisdom, to allow the rush and bustle of life to pass me by- to declare that right now meals and clothes take second place!

... let's step back from this not so cosy domestic scene and read the story again, let's allow it to challenge us afresh;

"Jesus and his disciples went on their way. Jesus came to a village where a woman named Martha lived. She welcomed him into her home. She had a sister named Mary.

   Mary sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. But Martha was busy with all the things that had to be done. She came to Jesus and said, "Lord, my sister has left me to do the work by myself. Don't you care? Tell her to help me!"

Martha was consumed with busyness it is true- and although this busyness has been traditionally and possibly correctly interpreted as domestic tasks, it is not the tasks themselves but the all consuming busyness that is challenged by Jesus... the all consuming busyness- the busyness that took her away from fellowship with Jesus and the disciples and Mary- and propelled her into countless tasks leaving her frazzled and upset.

..and I wonder how often we too are consumed with busyness- too distracted to realise how ineffective and dis-ordered we become, simply because we have neglected to be in Jesus presence, to spend time with God, to be still enough to ask for the Holy Spirit's fullness to revive and refresh the very core of our beings?

It was not so much the tasks that hindered Martha as her pre-occupation with them, and her attitude towards those who were willing to sit and to receive, this busyness is a symptom of 21st century life- I just caught an advert for a mobile with Internet access encouraging folk with the goodness that purchasing such a wonder would mean that not one minute need be wasted- we could be busy surfing the net or checking our e-mail wherever we are- no limits to our connectedness....

I wonder sometimes how I used to manage without such technology- without the sense of being  available, busyness overtakes and overwhelms me and I end up shouting for someone to come and help me- my focus slips from being one of joyful service to God to one of frustration with folk around me- my own family often coming top of the list!

The point is that I need to let go of my connection with busyness and to embrace a deeper connection with the lover of my soul, the author and perfecter of my faith....

There is a Mary inside crying to b let out, crying out for a chance to be, a chance to sit at Jesus feet and to absorb his teaching, a chance to wonder at a sunset, to take time to breathe, to be disconnected from busyness and simply to be.... A Mary who longs to pray and to meditate and who needs to do so lest she would shrivel and die inside...

Martha's could be workaholic dad's or ministers, Martha's could be nurses or teachers, Dr's or Social workers, engineers, or housewives, ... the list is as endless as life's possible distractions are, good and pure motives can be so easily become overwhelmed with frustrations...

... to draw near to God and to feel her embrace... and from that receiving to go again into the world of busyness with a lighter heart, and a firmer step....

I don't believe it was Martha's tasks that Jesus was challenging but rather her inability to sit and to be because she had become chocked by the weeds of distraction, and found herself unable to sink her roots into good soil, to rest beside still waters...

..Jesus words are a challenge to us today- Mary has chosen the better part- she has chosen to come aside, to listen and to be still...

Matthew 11:28-30     "Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you.  Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly."

BE STILL, for the presence of the Lord, the Holy One is here;

Come bow before Him now with reverence and fear.

In Him no sin is found, we stand on holy ground;

Be still, for the presence of the Lord, the Holy One is here.

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Be still, for the glory of the Lord is shining all around;

He burns with holy fire, with splendour He is crowned.

How awesome is the sight, our radiant King of light!

Be still, for the glory of the Lord is shining all around.

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Be still, for the power of the Lord is moving in this place;

He comes to cleanse and heal, to minister His grace.

No work too hard for Him, in faith receive from Him;

Be still, for the power of the Lord is moving in this place.

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