Celebrating a life not a death

I have been pondering....
Yesterday Mrs T. more recently known as Baroness Thatcher died.
To my mind the place of her death says more than I ever could about the legacy of Thatcherism: she died in the place that she had called home for the last four months: The Ritz Hotel in London. 
I cannot imagine ever in my life even taking tea at the Ritz, let alone making it my home! 
Yet she, who strove to bring greater riches to the wealthiest, who sought to remove all power from the Unions, who instilled into my generation such an ethos of self aggrandisement that when I reached forty for a brief while I truly believed I must have failed because I was not "wealthy", this woman, made that extraordinary hotel her home. 

In recent years she has been seen rarely and then all have been shocked by the diminishing of the Iron Lady. It seemed both poignant and tragic that a woman of such substance was reduced to a frail old lady. Her politics I totally rejected and despised. The woman, in her determination and singlemindedness I had a grudging respect for. 

But last night I was appalled to see people dancing in the streets, dancing on newspaper pictures of her face!
What is this about?!
This is not how we mark the passing of a human soul. No matter what they did, or how aggrieved any individual may feel, rampant celebrations and vitriol are not appropriate on the death of another. (And incidentally, many of those doing the dancing can barely have been bairns when she was in her prime)

She may not have been universally loved. But she was loved, she has a family, she has close friends and they will have been hurt and shocked by the response. 

The days of passionate left and right wing politics are a dim and distant memory.... the middle ground seems safer and more acceptable. But there is a part of me that misses those heady days of the 80s and 90s when you knew exactly what politicians stood for, even when you thought they were wrong. 

Rest in peace Mrs T, I never once agreed with you, but I always knew what you believed. 

Faith, Hope, Joy

You may remember my sermon from this, the second Sunday of Easter two years ago... and you may not!

This is the week when, by sticking to the traditional readings we consider good old Doubting Thomas. Now, just to remind you – two years ago I spoke about how maligned Thomas was, how he’d actually lots of faith, and lots of courage, for he did not mind voicing his doubts, nor was he slow to admit when he was wrong. And considering it was one small event in a whole life of faith, it seems a bit small minded to call him doubting Thomas – especially when we don’t call Peter- Denying Pete; or Mark- Run-away-with-no-clothes-on Mark.

So, today we once again consider Thomas the Twin (no idea who his twin was btw!) and what this chapter of his story can tell us about our own faith journey. 

When I think about my faith, and my journey of faith (not entirely the same thing) I am all too aware that it has never been a constant line; there have been some constants, but the line is not unwavering at all.

The constant is simple: I simply cannot remember a time when I have not believed in God, and in all that he did for us through Jesus. There have been times when the dogma, the practises, the traditions and some of the extras that seem to get added on have caused me enormous grief and difficulty. But underlying it all was the sure knowledge and foundation that God made me; that God loves me and that God calls me to be his own.

I have had my doubts; I have had my crises of confidence, but because the foundations went deep and were solid I have managed to weather every storm.

And, I suspect, if I am really honest with myself... the crises have more often than not been brought about because I was in the wrong place, or listening to the wrong people, or putting myself into the wrong circumstances.

But through it all, God was constant; God, through the Spirit’s prompting nudged me back; sometimes even dragged me back!

And I emerged the other side of whatever it was a stronger person and better equipped to follow the life he has called me to.

I have learned that God’s amazing grace, God’s strong and powerful forgiveness have enabled good to come about, and new adventures experienced. I have learned that Peter’s flawed lifestyle; and Thomas’s and Paul’s and Matthew, and James and John and Mark – all of them, whose stories are recorded in these pages, are able to show me, that when I feel I have failed; when I am assuaged with guilt, or overcome by circumstance, that it’s ok! I am not the first, and I am not the last. And actually it’s alright. God knows exactly what we are like and he still loves us, calls us, chooses us, wants us to experience his love and his awesome power for ourselves – and that really is stunning!!

So, Thomas, who on one occasion had his doubts, teaches us that it’s ok. And Thomas, who was resilient in amongst friends who had seen something that he’d missed, shows us that we too can hang on in there, and we will come through the other side.

When Jesus came amongst them, he singled Thomas out – not to be told off, but to be comforted. Peace Thomas, Peace.

Stop your doubting, it’s ok Thomas, it’s ok. Here you go – it really is me, believe it.

Thomas was so lucky!!

He saw and he believed

We may not see as he did

But we too are blessed

We hear the words; in our minds eye we see the story unfold; and in our hearts the words turn into a deep heat, bubbling up within – yes indeed!! Jesus is God’s own Son; and God has raised him from the dead.

How awesome is our God!!

This is our hope, our faith, our joy!

That God sent his Son.

That his Son lived to show us life; died to bring us life; and lives on to fill our lives with good things

Jesus stands among us: he whispers “peace be with you”

Stop doubting and believe!

unscripted....

On Palm Sunday I did something I do not often do.... I strayed from my script
It has always been my practise to script my entire service - prayers & sermon and it has always been fine. Occasionally I'll stray slightly away from the script, but usually just a wee aside.
Palm Sunday was different - somehow what I had prepared did not feel right as I stood up to preach - so I ignored what I'd written and went with my gut/ heart/ the Spirit... or I suspect a combination of all three. Whatever it was, I knew I was "on Fire" I could feel it, and see it on the faces of those who were listening. And the feedback 'at the door' was very positive too.

Over the past two years, here in my lovely village parish, I have had one elder in particular who has been an enourmous encouragement to me; he often tells me he sees the Spirit in church, and is aware of her presence during worship.

This Holy Week I experienced it first hand
Our Evening Services were also unscripted.... and the words that flowed from my lips did not feel like my own.
Holy Saturday dawned with me utterly exhausted - wrung out - and I could not imagine where or how I would have energy for the Resurrection Morn. God will provide!!
Suddenly around 6 pm I knew what I would say - but was unable to write more than a couple of sentences - but also knew it would be fine - I had the most amazing evening with my family. Just fun and relaxing and perfect!
Easter dawned. We gathered to worship. The Spirit again opened my lips.... and the words of inspiration flowed.

Christ is Risen, He is risen indeed. And God - Father, Son & Holy Spirit reign
Alleluia!!!

Blether round the table

Today has been spent in many different homes sharing a good blether as we broke bread and remembered the King of good blethers.... There is something so beautiful about the way we chat the Good News. Spending time with the faithful who are no longer able to get to the building we call church, and instead simply being the church in their homes.

We sit
We chat
We remember
We restore
We renew
We rejoice
What could be better?

strength in numbers

Today, as I was writing the second funeral address of the week; pondering the responses from a new challenge to the Church Board & Session; considering the consultation on how to guide our students into the vagaries of church law; and generally reflecting on the sheer number of my fellow RevGals who are facing their own challenges as they serve Christ I had to stop.
This is just one week... & it made me go WOW!!

I had a brief chat with my father this morning over the phone, catching up and hearing about his & Mum's various health issues. I'd told him a little of my week, and he simply said, but that's what you get when you serve God (or words to that effect!) I had instantly agreed and we'd moved on.

But now, again, I am pondering his simple response.
God calls us
Calls us to be all sorts of things - as a clerywoman I am
preacher/ pastor/ administrator/ visitor/ counsellor...
I am also mother to three adult sons
fiancee to my soulmate
and somewhere in that mix, I have my girlfriends - the girls (and boys, but mostly girls) who are there with me, in spirit even if not always in the flesh.
It is in these girls: the RevGals, the friends near and far; the women who are also called by God, that my strength lies, and I thank Him for them!!
Oh! How I thank Him for the way our paths have crossed, and the strength that comes from knowing I am not alone.
That there are other women out there, who also juggle the tasks, the roles, and the life lived in faith.

somedays, it feels like the world is conspiring.... then we get a glimpse of his love. A prayer; a hug; an encouragement. And we know - that's what you get, when you serve Him! Amazing strength in numbers!
Blessings to all my sisters

Brilliant

 

“Oh brilliant!”
“What?”
“No - I mean BRILLIANT!!”
“Yes. It was brilliant, wasn't it?”

“Yes.”
“Yes - but...
what do we do with it now?”
“Nothing!”
“Nothing?”
“Yes, nothing
that’s what he said”

“Aye. But eventually... what then?”
“Look. Listen.” “See. Hear. “
“We saw God’s Glory
“It was brilliant
“it isn’t nothing
“so we must tell of it
“let the Light Shine!”

Look. Listen. Act!

BRILLIANT!!

 

Time waits for no woman.....

A couple of days ago I was writing a piece for our church magazine and marvelling at how fast the days go by; how quickly time runs through the fingers.
In my head I was sure I had written a blogpost since Christmas, and certainly written something to greet this new year. Ha!
Six weeks into 2013 and I still haven't written!

So here I am, contemplating time.
Recognising that in a few days Lent will be upon us
Bye bye Christmas season - Epiphany is ending and the season of preparation and reconciliation approaches.
Time for me to take stock
Time for all of us to take stock?
January is the month of resolutions - kept and abandoned
February is the month of knuckling down
Getting on
Making progress

No promises
Just a willing heart
And a hope

All things are possible!
Time waits for no one. But this woman is facing the challenge!
Watch this space!