Sunday 31 May 2015

Things I Have Noticed

There's been a bit of a gap since last blog, as Les and I have tried to complete the settling in process. I think we're pretty much 'there', with all the packing cases finally empty, most things put away, pictures on the walls etc. However, there is a garage full of stuff we have not been able to find room for and we have to dispose of that over the next week or two. It already feels pretty much like home, and it's hard to believe we have only been here just over 3 weeks.

There has also been a settling in process at work, in the churches. The two Sundays since licensing have not been typical. Last Sunday, Les and I (with Adrian, my colleague) worshipped at 3 of our churches, having been licensed at the 4th the previous week. It was Pentecost, so we had a special Eucharist at each one. Poor Les and Adrian had to hear the same sermon 3 times! It was good to meet so many new friends, though quite a few were away, being a Bank Holiday weekend. I was told afterwards I could stay!

Today, being a 5th Sunday in the month, it was a 'Parish' service i.e. all 4 churches coming together in one place. Today it was the turn of Christ Church, in Cockermouth, so basically back where we started. Adrian has been away this week, so I co-led with one of our lay worship leaders, and this seemed to go very well. (You will be able to hear the sermon on the Team website later - www.cockermouthareachurches.org.uk/) Once again, we were warmly welcomed.

Living in Little Broughton, I have committed myself to taking their midweek communion every Thursday. Coincidentally, this happens at the same time as St Barnabas, Penny Lane so it's good to have that connection. I have also taken a funeral there and in July will take the wedding of the grand-daughter of the man who had died. My first wedding, however, will be at All Saints next Saturday. I am looking forward to that.

There are a number of things I have noticed here:

  • Birdsong. It is loud and tuneful, especially early in the morning. On our first morning here, I was wakened before 5am. I wish I could recognise all the different tunes. That is something to work on: I like to think they are all joining in creation's chorus of praise.
  • Hills. Stating the obvious, I know, but it's not just the landscape. It is the way it is constantly changing according to the time of day, weather features etc: sometimes dappled in sunlight, sometimes dark and brooding behind the clouds.
  • Accent. The Cumbrian accent is taking some getting used to after 40 years of Scouse! At the funeral reception, one elderly man spoke to me in an accent so thick I couldn't make out a word he was saying. I think that he was being mischievous, on hearing where I was from! There are some new words to learn and I'm interested by the way 'eh' comes into speech, and a soft 'r'.
  • People. Without exception, people are amazingly friendly. But a local told me I would need to make an effort to smile and speak to everyone, otherwise they might think I was stand-offish. Consequently, Les and I greet everyone, whether we know them or not. Trouble is, most people seem to know us even if we don't know them.
  • Village life. We have been warned that everyone will know our business! When we go out, when we get home, when we do our washing, who we have spoken to etc. And 'be careful what you say - everyone is related, or was at school with so-and-so, so word will get back!' This was illustrated last week: I was in the local bookshop. One of the staff introduced herself to me as a neighbour up the road, whom I had greeted in her garden a few days previously. I couldn't remember, I must admit. She gave me her name; I said, 'I'm Godfrey'. 'I know,' she said.
  • Singing. The singing at worship is excellent. None of the churches has a choir, but the congregations more than make up for this. One church doesn't even have an organist, but manages with CDs - a mixed blessing! Last week, I asked Les to come out of retirement and play her guitar for one song. That was appreciated.
  • Mobility between churches. There are quite a number of different churches in a relatively small area. It is noticeable how people migrate from one church to another, for a variety of different reasons, and they bring with them something of the style and culture of their previous church. Christ Church, where we were this morning, has a particularly mixed membership.
It's all very different. Smaller scale, slower pace, more travelling - the funeral last week involved a trip to Carlisle Crematorium, 40 minutes away. And several of our church members live some way away, though not in our village where many are lifelong residents.

And speaking of migration, it is desperate to see and hear of the plight of those fleeing from war-torn and poverty-stricken countries in North Africa and Eastern Europe. I suppose you could say I am a migrant myself (originally from the South of England!) - as many of us are, in this sense - and there is nothing new about mass migration as a result of war and poverty. What seems to be different about the current situation is the scale of it, which threatens to overwhelm countries like Italy. I guess this has something to do with global news media which makes even the poorest people aware of a possible better life elsewhere.Somehow, in our wealthier countries we surely have to change our attitude: recognise the desperate need of these fellow human beings, and unite to help them. Who can say we would behave any differently if we were in their situation? It is part of our human nature to seek a better life.

Sunday 10 May 2015

The Move

So here we are. Cockermouth. Or, to be more precise - Little Broughton. A village, next to Great Broughton, set on raised ground above the River Derwent, about 3 miles outside the town, a mile or so off the A66. We have had a marvellous welcome, and so many people seem pleased to see us. The villages have had a difficult time, without a resident vicar for about 5 years, so we can understand why we are greeted so warmly. The surrounding landscape is beautiful, best appreciated when driving away from the village, back to the main road. I'll send publish some photos when I get round to it!

The move itself went as smoothly as it possibly could, and for that too we are very thankful. There is still much to do, with several cartons to unpack, furniture to arrange and the study to organize, but we are making good progress. We are actually enjoying it! The vicarage is about 30 years old, and is best described as 'quirky'- a most unusual design with sloping roof and skylight windows in every bedroom! The landing acts as a kind of bridge across the hall, with two bedrooms at either end, one of them with a new en suite bathroom (which we'll use for guests). We are especially grateful for the way the diocese have provided for us, investing much in the vicarage to bring it up to modern standards, with a view to the longer term,beyond our stay here.

Today we are going to worship at the King's Church - part of the New Frontiers network, with whom, I gather, there are friendly relationships across the churches. Last night, we had a really lively and enjoyable evening with my new colleague, Adrian, his wife Lucy and children Eleanor and William. A very special, talented family, with whom I know we will get on well.

In other news (!) - our moving day was also Election Day. Not to boast, but I did actually share with a few people that I thought the Tories might emerge with a clear majority. So I wasn't shocked. Just a feeling I had. To quote from Bill Clinton's 1992 election campaign, 'It's the economy, stupid!' Like it or not, the Tories managed to get across a message that the economy is safer in their hands (and, to be fair, Labour's track record in this respect isn't great, even allowing for the crash of 2008), and they coupled this with a 'fear factor' of possible Labour/SNP partnership. In the end, I think a lot of people were swayed by this, and felt safer, more secure with a Tory government - overlooking, sadly, the all too obvious consequences in terms of those who would suffer most. It is, after all, human nature to look after one's own interests and the Tory propaganda really appealed to this. As I said in my previous blog, there was little to inspire us in the whole campaign with a vision of the kind of nation we could become as one that sought the 'common good', and illuminated the world as a beacon for justice, righteousness, peace; goodness, truth and beauty.

Many people are angry with the result, as is clear from social media. My immediate response is to say 'Our God reigns'. This is not pious talk: it's a reminder that any government, of any colour, has to be accountable first and foremost not to the electorate but to God, so we are not to be the judges. It's also a reminder that our task as Christians is to act with the authority of Jesus to alleviate suffering, to live compassionately, to bless our neighbours rather than expend our energies in furious political attacks. I like what Bishop Paul of Liverpool wrote before the election: '...we need people who can see that the church is part of the solution...My responsibility is not to moan, but to vote. To vote, and to work for the common good. My responsibility is to vote for, and work with, those with the moral vision and courage to work for a better society.'

One of the first things I did on May 8 was to discover who is our new MP in the Workington constituency, to write to her, congratulate her, and express the wish that we might meet up sometime. I hope we might
discern what the priorities round here might be and how we, with others (Christians or not) can work for the common good. I have also invited her to my licensing service next Sunday: please remember us all in prayer that day.




Monday 4 May 2015

Nearly there

Another 48 hours and we will have left Liverpool. The moment I am really not looking forward to. There have been many farewell occasions in the past two or three weeks, all of them bitter-sweet. We have so much appreciated people's warmth and friendliness towards us, their well-wishing and expressions of appreciation for the last 20 (and in some cases, 40) years. It is true, you don't realise just how much impact you have had on a person's life until the time comes to leave them. I have been really humbled by things people have said, and memories recalled which I had not even noted in the first place. I guess that's one of the joys and blessings of ministry. It will be so sad to leave, but we do so believing that this is God's will for us,who has surprised us with this little adventure before I retire.

We are delighted - and amazed - at the number of people who have said they want to come to the licensing service on the 17th. It's a long way to come, and we really appreciate the support that is being shown us. Maybe others sense, like us, that it's something of an adventure?

We've had a couple of 'final' visits to the City. Last Thursday, something which we had booked months ago, before we knew we were leaving: a performance of Mahler's 2nd ('Resurrection') Symphony at the Phil. It really is the most astonishing piece of music, and something of a signature tune (if a symphony can be just a 'tune'!) for my life. Written when the composer was only in his late 20s, he had suffered several recent bereavements, which led him to reflect on his own mortality. Mahler was not a Christian himself (though he converted in order to obtain a top conducting job later in life), but he wrote a piece which defiantly proclaimed the defeat of death - perhaps more for this life than the next. As our pre-concert lecturer said, Mahler was about life after life rather than life after death. Nevertheless.allowing this marvellous music, sorrowful, lyrical, triumphant, glorious, to wash over you for 1 1/2 hours - especially as a Christian, who does believe in life after death - is to enjoy a heavenly experience. I am moved to tears every time I hear it.

The other City visit was to the Cathedral yesterday, for the morning eucharist.  It seemed appropriate somehow, as that building has had a special place in my life these 40 years. What I will miss, I reflected after both these visits, was the sheer size and scale of Liverpool's buildings. Their grandeur is so impressive and by contrast Cockermouth is miniature - but of course has many other delights to offer both resident and visitor. We look forward to more exploring.

I took a couple of days last week to have some quiet, engaging heart and mind for the new challenges. I read a lot of Cockermouth's history, which goes back possibly even further than Liverpool's. Some of it quite controversial too, especially with the historical rivalry between 'church' and 'chapel'. I wonder how much of that remains, however vestigially.

While I was away, I meet a fiery black Pentecostal. He wanted to know what I thought of gay priests. I said, 'Well, it's a fact - there are gay people and there are gay priests'. Then - as I half expected - he launched into a tirade. He seemed less interested in what I thought; more concerned to tell me what he thought. It was a bit embarrassing at the meal table, but I decided to engage in the debate. 'It's an abomination to the Lord', he said, quoting various OT scriptures. I asked him what Jesus had to say on the matter. He couldn't think of anything (that's because there isn't!), and I asked whether that was not significant given it is Jesus we follow and not OT law. Not the point, he said.  I then asked if he if knew a) any gay people and b) any gay Christians. 'No' to both. I suggested maybe it would be a good idea if he did, then he could hear their story and understand a bit better the kind of issues gay people have to face - including others' prejudice.

He then shared something of his story: a converted drugs dealer and gangster. So...if he could be 'delivered' from that kind of life, so could a gay person from theirs. I pointed out that there must have been a time when he wasn't into that lifestyle; a gay person would say that they had no choice. However, I did make clear that I believed a gay Christian must be just as chaste and faithful as a straight one, if they were to fulfil the law of Christ.

My companion then told me (us) about his training as a preacher, and how he wanted the 'pow-er' (emphasis on the first syllable), believing that God really could and did totally transform people's lives. Difficult one that: because I believe the same. But I think that has much more to do with where one's life is centred, and the fruitfulness that flows from that centre (Christ) rather than fixing on one particular aspect of a person's identity. I asked him why he felt so strongly about this one particular issue.  I might just have well said to my friend that God wanted to deliver him from his blackness.

I mention all this, because I am aware this man was expressing a view which he had learned from his own particular culture. Knowing how, historically, black people have been enslaved and abused, could this be a reason why they feel so strongly about another persecuted minority - as if, somehow, to alleviate their own sense of despair and anger. In fact, is it human nature to construct a values system around a perceived 'enemy' when one has been a victim oneself?  Might this be a factor in helping us understand Islamization?

The day is nearly over. Les and I have been so grateful for the help of family over this Bank Holiday weekend, and we have just enjoyed a final takeaway meal with them. The next two days will be long ones. Next time in Cockermouth. By the way, should I name-change from 'Harthill musings'? Any suggestions?