Community, Endings and Beginnings

A few weeks ago, i wrote that our small community of friends in/around Romford had come up with a summary description of what we feel God has woven us together for, and that we were planning towards a marker-moment to celebrate and respond to this together. Today was that day.

Emma made some amazing pies - meat for the carnivores, fake-meat for the veggies, and a meat-pie-without-the-pastry (aka 'stew') for the wheat-intolerant amongst us - which we ate as we talked and caught up on one another recent stories.

After this we gathered in one room to take a final look at the summary description we'd agreed together, and to swap any thoughts and reflections from this week. Tim felt that it was important to let go of everything that had brought us to this point, whilst also thanking God for it all. Nick and Dewi talked about harvest and multiplication, and others talked and prayed about staying small but growing in impact and influence.

I read a bit from a leaflet I'd pasted into my journal during a visit to Bridget's Garden in Ireland early in the Summer about the pagan festival of Samhain... which is also known as Hallowe'en. I'm aware of the darker side to Hallowe'en, of course, but I'm also discovering that there is plenty of light to be found in the darkness sometimes. :)

"The festival of Samhain," the leaflet said, "marks the end of the old cycle and the beginning of the new. This is the time of death and the promise of re-birth, a time of waiting and reflection. It was understood that in the dark silence comes the whispering of new beginnings, the stirring of the seed beneath the ground... This is a place to be still, dream and prepare for the movement of spring."

And that, I think, is what this marker-moment was for our small community today.
...a place to be still, to stop and consider the journeys we've traced so far, the joy and pain, to acknowledge our 'community baggage' and choose to let go of some of it, to consider our friendships and God's purpose in bringing us together.
...a place to dream, to imagine, to begin to believe that there are "things to do and places to go", that God's Spirit beckons (Romans 8, MSG), to begin to believe that in hundreds of small ways, through living a life of love, we can change (our small part of) the world.
...a place to prepare for the movement of spring, to prepare for, and cross over into, the new season together.

So, Clare and David's youngest son, Oscar, read aloud the first paragraph of our summary-description, the verses from Paul's first letter to the Corinthians, as we all listened... “Go after a life of love as if your life depended on it - because it does. Give yourself to the gifts God gives you.”

And then Sue continued, "We are a community, a group of friends and families who love and follow Jesus. We recognise and accept that God is graciously giving our community particular gifts to use and freely give away."

"Creativity," read Ian, "We are a creative community, where all kinds of artistic forms are valued and encouraged as expressions of Creator God, and of our life of devotion to God."

And then Wendy. "Prayer. We are a prayerful community, practising regular rhythms of prayer, individually and with one another... encouraging all kinds of prayer on all kinds of occasions."

Richard read the next line about justice, which I felt was significant, given his faithfulness in keeping us alert and informed about all kinds of injustice. "Justice. We are a just and merciful community, believing in the dignity of all human beings made in the image of God, and active in challenging injustice in many forms... a community who “remember the poor”."

And then Clare read about hospitality (come to think of it, I have a feeling that all of the specific 'gift' lines were signficant for those who read them), "Hospitality. We are a hospitable community, a community of refuge and reconciliation, where we express (and receive) the welcome of God across all divides and boundaries."

And Thomas read the last lines, the lines that take us into the next season, "We want to honour God with, and encourage one another in, these gifts. We are endeavouring to do this continually by asking ourselves this question: "How then shall we live?”"

We prayed our response to these words for a while, asking for Holy Spirit's help - for grace and love and for our eyes to remain fixed on Jesus, and our lives to remain rooted in him. And then we expressed our response by gathering around our small wooden table, and sharing the bread and wine (and rice cakes and elderflower-juice) that so beautifully and mysteriously represents the body and blood of Jesus Christ. Though we are many, coming from various directions, living various stories, bringing various gifts, we are also one body (and are part of a wider body).

And so the afternoon drifted on... We ate puddings. Sarah sent along some excellent mini jam tarts and a blackcurrant frangipane (thank you!). Tim brought some custard-tart-like things. And someone (bless their soul!) had brought a teacle tart. And while we ate, we began to discuss the question, "How then shall we live?" Which is where the fun starts, of course.

"The end of the old cycle and the beginning of the new..."

Comments

[Linda]

I am so glad that you, your family and community used this day meaningfully - my man and me are all in the middle of a new season and it's time to move on to new things. Thanks for sharing your insights - many blessings to the Toggies

[E]

Thanks Phil. I feel like I was there! Oh, wait a minute, I was! :)