Fellowship of the Saints

I've just survived my first Safari Supper (or Progressive Dinner as we Americans like to call it). We started at the Drayton Church for "starters" (appetizers) of melon, orange juice, and pate (I had orange juice and melon). We then went to the Horsford Church for the main course--we could choose from some sort of chicken dish, meat or vegetable lasagna, or chili. I was interested to see what English chili was like, so took that. It wasn't bad. It had good flavor. It was thicker than some chilis we might have (at least thicker than mom's) and they served it with rice. We ended up at Horsham-St. Faiths for "puddings" (dessert) for which this congregation is particularly well-known. They like to do things with fruit. There wasn't any chocolate to be had. I survived. Then, in good English fashion, we ended the evening with cheese (leicester, brie, cheddar, and some others that looked like cheese...but I don't know what kind) and biscuits (crackers). Apparently a member of Trinity Church likes to sing in the pubs now and again, so he serenaded us (not very well) with what appeared to be classics...most of which I didn't know...but everybody else enjoyed singing along! It was quite the pleasant evening. Except, now I'm in charge of the next section supper--Thanksgiving! Ummm....right. How do I use my American recipes (in cups, teaspoons, and farenheit) to cook in England (with grams, pints, and celsius)?? Mom, you'd better send the recipes now, so I can start my conversions! Everybody else, send some ideas of traditional Thanksgiving fare--so far I've got Turkey, Ham, mashed potatoes, stuffing/dressing, some sweet potato dish (candied yams or the soufle) a green vegetable (probably green beans), cranberry sauce with Pumpkin and Pecan pies for dessert. I might even tape a football game and put it on for the sake of authenticity.

Otherwise this week has been fairly uneventful. I almost went a few rounds with the head teacher at one of the local schools, but decided against it for now. She's very stubborn and completely unreasonable. I've come up with a few ideas for revenge (she was very unpleasant), but I think those will probably remain in the realm of ideas instead of actions. Doing the Christian thing always gets in the way of the fun (or spiteful) things!

Oh, and I survived my first Circuit Meeting (it only lasted 2 1/2 hours)! Luckily, the circuit doesn't meet very often...the next one isn't until after the first of the year. But boy, were those pews uncomfortable!

I already have several meetings and visits scheduled for this next week....then the week after that will be horendous! Church Council season has started...and I have four churches, plus one church that has two meetings (at the joint Methodist-Anglican church, each congregation has its own council meeting and then they also have a joint one).

I hope you all are well. Many thanks for your continued prayers and support!

"That they may be one."

What an incredible experience this morning in worship. Anglicans, Roman Catholics, Methodist, Assemblies of God--all gathered for a covenant-signing service. This covenant, more than a document, but a sign of reconciliation in a small step toward fulfilling Jesus' wish in John 17--that they be one.

I felt quite moved by the service. I had been looking forward to it since I found out about it. When it came to the time for it all to take place, I felt quite humbled. Here I was, I've only been in the country for a month, and only on the job for two weeks, but as minister of two of the participating churches, and still, I signed my name to this incredible document. (I was also the only woman clergy...out of the 5 other clergy and 4 visiting ecumenical dignitaries. The prayer before the service started was when I first noticed. I'm sure it made quite a sight during the service.) The hymns were fantastic, the confession poignant, the readings appropriate, and the sermon challenging. Then, at the signing, lay representatives from each congregation came forward out of the gathered faithful to sign alongside the clergy. Following the affixing of signatures, we all shared the Peace with one another. It was simply amazing. I didn't know half of the people I greeted, and yet we are brothers and sisters in Christ, committed to proclaiming the Gospel to the people in Taverham, Drayton, and Thorpe Marriott.

At school, and as clergy, we often go on and on about how the Church is not what it is supposed to be, but here in this service, at this point in time, the Church took a step in the right direction. Our division into denominations is sinful. How can we present a unified witness as the one body of Christ when we aren't united? This isn't to say that the things we disagree about are not important or simply rectified. However, I don't know that any of us fully realize the importance of our unity or lack thereof. It is important to remember as well, that unity does not equal sameness. A unified Church does not mean a homogenous Church. Instead, it celebrates the diversity of traditions that currently serve as divisve elements instead of a cause for celebration.

Granted, there's still a long way to go. We couldn't celebrate the Eucharist/Holy Communion together and a discussion of Baptism would have been disastrous (not to mention the other 5 sacraments adhered to by the Roman Catholics.) But it's still a step in the right direction. Below you will find the text of the covenant. In the service this morning, the participating clergy read it aloud before we signed it--speaking the covenant outloud for all to hear, before God and all assembled. It is my prayer and hope that this will be something I can bring home...if not the text itself, but the idea that we must all work together in unity to bring about the Reign of God on earth.

“We declare our common belief as Christians in the love of God, the Lordship and saving grace of Jesus Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit. We believe that we are called by God to reach out in mission to the people of Drayton, Taverham and Thorpe Marriott.

To fulfill this calling, and in obedience to God’s will, we commit ourselves
to proclaim the Gospel by common witness and service in our locality,
to seek a deepening of our communion with Christ and with one another in the Church, which is his body
to the glory of the one God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
We rejoice in the rich variety of our heritage and we shall continue to pray and work for the unity of the whole church and its mission to all people.

We envisage our shared life being expressed in the following ways:
· Working together in mission
· Worshiping together
· Praying together
· Exploring the richness and diversity of our Christian discipleship
· Growing together in faith.

To this end, we commit ourselves and our churches to consult and to collaborate.”

Aaaargh!

The BBC morning news show contained a story from Kansas City this morning. I even yelled at the TV. They kept talking about the people from KANSAS. I can see how it might be confusing...BUT MOST OF KANSAS CITY ISN'T IN KANSAS. Granted, the people they talked to were at a car show and were quite the rednecks...but still. Here I was excited that they were reporting from KC....and all they talked about was KANSAS.

My Quick Thoughts of the Week and some other stuff, too

Nursing homes are about the same wherever you go.

So is the need for chocolate at the end of a long day.

People in churches have a very strong desire to bring children and youth into their congregation...but haven't a clue how to do it or the willingness to put forth the effort to try.

I heard the most awful song on Sunday...by a very popular group, apparently, and it repeats the same line over and over again, ad nausium: "It's all about you, it's all about you..." If ever there was a song to capture the spirit of the times...(and of course, I can't get it out of my head)

If commenters on this site what their comments taken seriously, then sign your name.

Church meetings are church meetings wherever you go.

Everybody suffers inadequacy attacks at the beginning of a new job.

It's amazing how much friendlier and more helpful people get when you wear a clerical collar (or dog collar in the ecclesial vernacular).

What I wouldn't give for a tall glass of anything with more than 3 ice cubes in it.

What I wouldn't give for a tall glass.

Teddy bears are universal.

So are spiders.

One doesn't appreciate wall decorations until you have none.

Media everywhere know how to mutilate a dead horse.

England retains the Ashes!

How does anyone get into football over here, when you can't get into a game nor do they air them on television (but they still have the "experts" on hour-long shows with no commercials to talk about these games that you can never see.)

I miss ESPN.

It's weird to call football "American football" and soccer football.

On the back of my peanut butter jar (my comments in parentheses): "Try topping your peanut butter with banana (which i just did...), COOKED CHICKEN (ew...), or even Marmite yeast extract (what is that?).'

That's about it for now. I'm spent. More about the ecumenical covenant signing service later in the week (probably after the service on Sunday).

Proud to be an American?

I never thought I had an accent. My brother accused me of picking up a drawl in North Carolina, but on the whole, I thought I had a fairly neutral way of speaking. Well, of course, I come over here and give myself away within the first two words that come out of my mouth. One shopkeeper asked if I was on holiday (vacation), while a member of the circuit guessed my identity within a few words. I have never been more aware of where I come from. Many times, especially in the supermarket or on the bus, I intentionally avoid speaking unnecessarily. I don't want to be pegged.

During the summer months, starting in July, I think, there is a classical music series that runs on the BBC called "BBC Proms." I have not learned its origins nor its purpose, but each Saturday night, different orchestras perform music from different eras and for different purposes--or something like that, I'm not sure. :) I caught the end of the program tonight--which was the last one of the year. For the finale, they had choirs and orchestras positioned all over the UK--Ireland, Scotland, Wales, England--and they each sang a traditional song--Northern Ireland sang "O Danny Boy". The choir in London then sang a variety of anthems celebrating the heritage of this kingdom--Rule Brittania was the one that struck me. Throughout the time that I watched, every time the camera scanned the crowds, various people could be seen waving their Union Jacks (the flag of the UK) or their national flags from each nation of the kingdom. This might not seem unusual, but I also read today that the English are not a flag-waving people. The article did not describe why that is...simply that it isn't done. (Incidentally, the Union Jack is a combination of the national flags of England, Ireland, and Scotland.)

Where is this going? Well, ,as I watched people from across the UK wave their flags, belting out their national songs (some of them soaking wet in the pouring rain), I found myself in tears. Not one to ignore such a display, I immediately wondered why. Was it because I was homesick? Possibly. Perhaps a sense of pride in my new adopted (and temporary) home--but that seems a little weird, though not out of the realm of possibility (English pride is sweeping the nation as the England team is closer to defeating Australia in cricket than they have been in over 20 years.) After running through these options, my mind went back to a worship service this past summer at home.

The Sunday when our church celebrated the 4th of July (problematic, yes...but we won't go there now), a man in the congregation sang "God Bless the USA" as special music. A climactic point in that song (the chorus, maybe) says "I'm proud to be an American...." I remember reflecting at the time that I was indeed not proud to be an American at this point in my nation's history. I think perhaps why I cried tonight was a sense of mourning that I don't feel like I can wave my nation's flag proudly--for the simple fact that I am incredibly disappointed in my government and its actions.

Knowing who reads this blog, I am aware that many of you will heartily disagree with what I am about to say. These things are all up for debate and I do not pretend to have a claim on what is absolutely "right." However, in reflecting on who I am, where I am, and where I come from, I feel this needs to be said.

Several things contribute to my disappointment. Right now, it rests on our absolute disregard for some of the poorest people on the planet. In the past few weeks, President Bush has appointed a man as ambassador to the UN--even though this appointee doesn't even like the UN! And now, later this week, the UN has an opportunity to make history in an attempt to wipe out a large portion of poverty through the forgiveness of crippling debt that hinders these poorer countries from escaping the grips of poverty. Britain supports this jubilee as does a majority of the other G8 countries. Yet the US, the most powerful and one of the wealthiest nations is witholding support, bogging negotiations down in an unbelievable bureaucratic mess. Why? In a nation claiming its foundation upon supposedly Christian ideals (at least that's what we claim...highly debatable) with a President who was elected by a Christian majority because of his professed faith, why in the world are we turning our backs on a Christian practice of debt forgiveness and Jubilee? I simply do not understand.

The US has been using its power over and over again to destroy life in defense against terrorism. I say that our unwillingness to use our abundance to help rescue people from poverty, the likes of which even the poorest Americans will never see, is an act of violence against people who cannot possibly defend themselves. On this anniversary of September 11, Americans and others across the world mourn the loss of so many lives due to the violence of hatred on that awful day. But who will mourn the loss of the thousands of lives lost every day throughout Africa simply because they don't have enough food to eat or clean water to drink?

I want to be proud of my country. I think the ideals America set forth in the Constitution and the freedom we profess are essential in any country in any part of the globe. Consider this my act of patriotism, my flag waving to call my country into accountability and to live up to the ideals it professes.

Thoughts from today

I find myself in a difficult situation. My predecessor has not been reappointed to another circuit in another place, but instead has taken a job as chaplain at the local hospital. In addition, her husband remains an active member of one of my churches. When my super asked if I minded, it was phrased in such a way that I knew I wasn't supposed to mind: "I told her it wouldn't be a problem, but wanted to let you know I was aware of the situation" was what he said to me. Didn't even ask me! On top of all that, I have a "pastoral assistant" at my largest church (since when does a minister of a church with about 50 people on the rolls need a pastoral assistant...yet i have one). At this point (and yes, it is still early), he seems to be doing my job for me. He's a retired baptist minister who still has the "pastor" in him. I'm finding that the passive-agressive behavior is not one limited to the shores of the US. I found out last night, after it was too late to do anything, that one of my parishioners is in hospital (the Brits just say "in hospital"). I called my pastoral assistant this morning and basically got the brush-off, saying that the person in the hospital would have already contacted Pauline (my predecessor turned chaplain) and that would be fine. It almost feels like I'm being denied my place.

On top of all of this drama, I do find myself wondering where exactly my place is. The Methodist Church is Britain, especially in smaller congregations, is very much a laity-driven church. The minister's duty is to preside over meetings and provide pastoral care. Since I have four churches and may or may not see them for worship within any given month (one church I won't see until mid-October), ministry in this situation looks very different than it does at home.

With a variety of things that are going on and things that have been said (like planning for next year already...they're deciding tomorrow night what they plan on looking for in my successor), I feel like I'm a warm body filling a space. I'm beginning to resent the situation that I find myself in, which is not a healthy place to be. While I appreciate the opportunity to learn and grow by ministering and doing so in a different culture, I have far too much pride to be put into such a spot. I'm angry, I'm frustrated, and yet I don't know where to turn because the only people I know are the ones causing my grief!

Part of me thinks that the more information I get, the better equipped I will be to handle these situations. The problem about this whole escapade of mine is that I don't know whether any of this is due to being new in ministry, being in a new culture, or some combination of both. Half the time, I don't even know what questions to ask to get the information I want. We'll get started on this road tomorrow morning when I have a breakfast meeting (7:30!!) with my pastoral assistant. (followed by a tour of the local crematorium...what a morning!) Hopefully I'll have a better sense of direction after this meeting.

Thanks for reading this far. I hope it makes at least some sense. I realize this isn't one of those cheerful, "everything's great" entries, but I want to be honest about the experience that I'm having. I do hope you all are well. Peace to you.

Success!

Well, I have officially completed my first service in Britain and my first ever Communion service! Whew! So good to get that out of the way. :) Things went smashingly. I didn't spill the "wine" or drop the bread or anything. The only problem--the bread was a half of a loaf cut from the original, and it had been sliced down the middle for easy "breaking". Not the best theological statement, but I didn't say anything. The communion steward was already nervous enough since I used the common cup instead of the shot glasses. Another funny thing, which can mean funny--ha ha, or funny-weird/interesting, I had to laugh (after I stared in disbelief) b/c there really wasn't anything to do about it--but when they put the white cloth on the altar, i got to looking at the lace around it--the pattern that had been used was that of a swastika. So all around the edge of the communion altar cloth was one swastika after another. Now, knowing that the swastika was a Christian symbol, a form of a cross, co-opted by the epitomy of evil made it a little better. Needless to say, I will be talking to somebody before the next time I do communion there.

Yesterday was a full day. In the morning (at 8:00!!) members of Trinity held a prayer breakfast. They gather once a month to pray for the community of Thorpe Marriott (where I live and where the church is located) as well as the wider world community. Then after praying for about half an hour, we had breakfast. They served "porridge" (i don't know how to spell that), which was basically oatmeal made with milk. Then, as soon as that was over, the same church hosts a "Contact Centre" where they supervise what amounts to child visitation--the parents of the children are divorced and when the parent without custody wants to see his or her child(ren), they can come to the church every other Saturday morning. There are six of these centers in Norfolk county, three or four of which are in Norwich. One guy traveled all the way from London (120ish miles) to see his kid(s) and his ex-wife never brought them. It's quite sad really.

Then, after a day of sermon finalizing and some bit of relaxing, the section held a "Faith Tea" to welcome me. A Faith Tea is basically a pot luck (covered dish for those of you in the south), but they only bring finger foods. So we had about half a dozen quiches, some sandwiches (salmon salad--ew!) and some desserts. Afterwards, I went to the children's worker's home and relaxed with her and her mum. It was a nice way to end the day.

Several of you have asked if I've been keeping up with the Katrina disaster. It's been the lead story in all the newspapers (not the tabloids) and on the BBC for pretty much the whole week. I've been very shocked by the amount of coverage its been getting. In a way, its good b/c I can keep tabs on the situation, but on the other hand, I'm a little embarrassed--one for the way its been handled, and two, how prominent the US has played in its news. The coverage lasts for a good half of the 30-minute news program. It's quite unreal. It has been good to see that churches are opening their doors and Christians opening their homes to the refugees/evacuees.

Well, thanks to those of you who have posted comments and kept in touch. I appreciate very much the support and love recieved. Blessings to you! Until next time...

The Manse!!

Finally! I have broadband! Yippee!! So, as promised, here's some pictures of the house. You should be impressed...I even cleaned before I took the pictures! Anyways, pictures of the churches coming soon.

http://revsarah29.tripod.com/the_manse

A Cat through the Window

Yes, this morning, as I sat in my lounge doing my devotions, I look up and in the reflection on the TV I see movement in the kitchen. I look, and it's a cat! Its been quite warm the past couple of days...yesterday I think it got up to 33 or 34 in some places (that's celsius folks...close to 90 farenheit) and since I don't have AC, I open up the windows. Well, the windows don't have screens! So a cat crawled through this morning. Didn't much like it when it found me in the house, but I'm really not too sorry about that.

Today's the official start date for me. Though, as E pointed out, it certainly feels like I've already started. With dinners and trips to the coast (fantastic, by the way) and games on the glebe, I'm starting to be part of the community. The meetings can begin now, I guess...which they will...in earnest. I'm quite at a loss as to what to be doing. I can work on my sermon, but I've already been familiarizing myself with the area for the last 2 weeks or so. I've got a couple calls to make...but nothing magic is happening as one might suspect given the big deal made by "1 September". So today I have a wedding to go to, a music rehearsal that I might go to...and a sermon to write. Other things I can't really do until I get a printer (which I hope is before Sunday so I can print out my sermon). But then again, as FZ might say--Blessed are the flexible, as they will not be bent out of shape!

Many of you have asked about pictures...they're coming...but not until I get broadband set up. Which was supposed to be last week, but the equipment they sent was faulty, so I'm waiting for the replacements to arrive (hopefully today or tomorrow).

I hope you all are well. Many thanks for the comments! You all rock.