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| The importance of Ireland in the Community's life... | ||||||||||
| Ireland is close to the Community’s history and heart. From the early pioneering days - which saw Andy Raine, John and Linda Skinner and others journeying across to Ireland to be at Clonfert with Michael and Annette Cullen and their family; the Celtic arc journey from Ireland to Turkey; praying and supporting Roddy and Berni and their family and their vision for Christ’s House in Athy; the Shannon Boat pilgrimage which saw two crews journey and pray down the heart of Ireland - to today’s Companions and Friends journeying for the love of God and Ireland. |
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| After many years of praying, taking pilgrimages and visiting, together with welcoming folks from Ireland we have begun to discern the emergence and development of the Northumbria Community in Ireland. | ||||||||||
| This following account of one of the recent journeys gives an insight into the significance of Ireland to individual Companions, and the Community as a whole. |  |
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| The account which follows was written by Roy Searle, following a journey by several Community Companions in January 2003. It conveys something of the significance which this place holds in the life and consciousness of Community. It's a very long acccount, which one of us will try to edit and abridge - eventually! For now, here it is in its entirety... | ||||||||||
| To all who supported us in prayer and
intercession last week a huge thank you. There are a number of occasions
when I have felt carried and upheld by people praying for me and this has
to have been one of them. The whole experience was amazing and very significant for my own and, I believe, the Community’s journey and connections with Ireland. Chronicling the happenings of last week and their significance is not easy and more time is needed to process and pray through the experience. Yet in the interest of relaying some things and expressing thanks for your support here’s an attempt: |
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| The arrival by ferry into Belfast
witnessed a stunning sunset over the harbour with a silhouetted crane on
the dockyard resembling that of a cross towering over the city, a symbol
that was to remain in the consciousness throughout the week of prayer. Stephen, my good mate and a Friend of the Community laid on a wonderful meal for us at his home in Stormont and it was good to be together for a few hours with him, Ken & Claire and their children, Danny and Sian before we were taxied around East Belfast to stay with our church hosts. Unusually we went at their invitation to
one of the largest churches in Northern Ireland, let alone Britain and
the fellowship’s vibrancy, passion, enthusiasm and love for God
was heartening. Formed and developed by many people who had come from
strict and oppressive religious church backgrounds it was not hard to
see how charismatic renewal had brought life and freedom to the hundreds
who are part of the church. It was a privilege to be part of a church
that continued to take risks, make mistakes and be open about them; a
fellowship that is committed to reaching out to people beyond the walls
of the church, those who are outside of the faith. Equally they are serious
in their desire to see the Kingdom of God realised in fuller measure throughout
the city, nation and beyond. Their generosity in supporting all kinds
of people and initiatives across the globe was heartening. Rare too was
a Protestant, charismatic, evangelical church that took seriously relationships
with other believers, reaching out and working across the ecclesiastical
divides and embracing Catholics. |
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Inevitably there were the usual
questions, fears and concerns as to who I was, what is the Northumbria Community?
What I was doing? What’s all this different way of praying, leading
worship, teaching and communicating all about given that it was certainly
not a part of the church’s normal way of doing things. However, I
believe that it is a healthy sign and one that is counter to the culture
of many churches, organisations and communities to be prepared to, “think
outside the box” and yet this is what the church did in welcoming,
receiving and responding to all that I was able to give and share in my
four days with them. It was amazing to see how the ethos of our Community made a telling contribution to the week, opening people’s consciousness to a new, or rather different way of relating to God, one another, the church and the world. |
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| Ireland is a land of stories and
it was a fascinating dynamic of my time there that it was I, a Northumbrian
who was reintroducing many of the people to stories and the power of narrative
to change and transform lives and situations. The Word of God is held in high esteem in many of the churches throughout the land but it’s story and power remains caged in the prisons of many peoples’ religious and sacred mindsets. For me personally it was a profoundly affirming experience as to my, and I use the term guardedly ‘apostolic’ calling, imparting life and hope into the lives of individuals and the church. Not that it was a one way giving experience for I return from Ireland enriched by all that I learnt and experienced through the people, the place and the situations encountered. |
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| Whilst under no obligations from
my hosts or the church to fast I felt that integrity demanded it and the
experience of fasting did heighten my hunger for God and an awareness of
issues both within my own, others lives and situations. I am a ‘morning person’ so the discipline of waking early to lead the Prayer Meeting at 7.00 is not as impressive had some other folks on the team been required to do so! The greater challenge for me came in leading the late lunchtime / early afternoon meeting, where together with the evening meetings several hundred folk gathered, some to every meeting to pray, worship and seek the Lord. The Holy Spirit moved both gently and at times powerfully in the gatherings and it was a privilege to be part of what at times felt very prophetic. e.g. on the Tuesday evening when we were praying for Northern Ireland and the church I held a beautiful green vase in my hand as I told the passage in John 17 where Jesus prays for the unity of his people. As I concluded the text I smashed the vase that shattered into many pieces across the floor. As we cried out to God for his forgiveness for the tribalism, sectarianism, fear, prejudice, unforgiveness, ignorance, misunderstanding, injustice, bitterness and bigotry there was, I believe, a real work of mercy and grace sown in the hearts of a penitent and renewed people. Certainly the sight of people coming forward unbidden and picking up the pieces, praying and weeping before the Lord has left a deep mark on my own heart and mind. |
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| I met several victims of the violence
that has so dogged and wounded the people of Northern Ireland in what seems
so long a history of “troubles”. Widows, parents and children
who had lost their loved ones, others who carried the scars in their bodies
and minds as a result of terrorism and “punishment” beatings.
I also met entrepreneurs seeking to make a difference to the culture of their country through initiatives and developments that carried with them the hallmarks of God and the writing of his new story in Ireland’s history. I met young people, so many of them, who have both the values and vision to contribute to a better future and help shape the renewal of the church in the land. Much of my time, outside of the gatherings for prayer was spent alone and on several occasions I went on a walkabout around the streets of Belfast, engaging in conversation with those whom God brought across my path and remaining silent at other times. I found it moving to walk freely and unperturbed around the city centre where once there were turnstiles and checkpoints at every turn. The Peace Process is fragile but its fruits are tangibly evident in a city that’s warmth and hospitality combats the threat of violence and unrest. It was a good to spend time meeting up with Ken and Claire in their Lower Ormeau home and share with David in his home by the university and hear of his experiences on sabbatical in Nepal and Prague. I met two women who had been at Nether Springs several years ago on the weekend when Michael Cullen first visited our motherhouse. Their time with us in Northumbria had been a turning point in their spiritual journeys as had Freddie’s time with Trevor and I at Mainstream last year. It was great to hear his, “do you remember me?”. If you have ever met Freddie you don’t forget him! |
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| One of the joys, as well as at times, the pressures of travelling is the perspective it gives on your own life and situation and I am deeply grateful to God for the insights gleaned through prayer and travel, conversation and reflection that is illuminating my own and the Community’s path in these days of transition. | ||||||||||
| On Wednesday I journeyed out of the city
/ market place culture of the church and Belfast to the more desert / quiet
place ethos of Downpatrick where I met up again with Henry, whom we had
first come across at Spring Harvest and who invited us last May to share
with folks at Saul, the site of Patrick’s first church in Ireland. There was a real meeting of hearts as we talked and shared together, both with Pat his curate and then with his family around the meal table. To break my fast in their company was a great joy! Henry shared with me a verse that he had received as he prayed and pondered the situation in his pastoral charge which includes, Saul, Downpatrick and Inch parishes. Was I familiar with Isaiah 58? I couldn’t help but both chuckle and then tremble as he spoke out the so familiar words of verse 12, “ Your ancient ruins will be rebuilt, you shall raise the foundations of many generations, you will be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to live in.” It was then in a spirit of anticipation that we journeyed onto Saul, an out of the way place, to meet up with the rest of the Community team and others whom Henry had invited from the area to meet with us. Evening Office, intercession and conversation flowed as we shared around the open fire in the relaxed and informal setting of the hall that lies within the grounds of the ancient and sacred site. Meeting acquaintances again and there was a sense that some were to become friends and partners in what we were being led to pray for and see realised under God – a broken altar of prayer and mission in Ireland to which we as a Community are being asked to input and contribute to. |
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| After the gathering as I journeyed south to Kilkeel I listened to Rosie’s experiences over the last year, ones that have been characterised by so much pain, conflict and pressure. Wearied by carrying a prophetic heart and the call to make a difference she is exhausted and seriously contemplating what the future holds for her and her work. I realised again the vital part we do play in these people’s lives by the prayers we offer for them and their land and people. As was my experience throughout the week both in Belfast and County Down, so too was the experience of the rest of the Community team who were to be a praying group and a listening ear to those whom God brought across their paths and to Fathom Cottage at Cranfield, believer and unbeliever alike. Providing a “safe place” relationally, a supportive, unassuming and listening ear and heart for people is a calling that we can as a Community respond to. | ||||||||||
| We returned home arriving in time for
a quick orientation tour for those who had not been in the troubled quarters
of Belfast before. Driving down through parts of East and West Belfast,
the Falls and Shankhill Road areas we prayed and asked for God’s blessing,
not as tourists but as pilgrims on a mission of prayer. With the sense that we had been privileged to be involved in praying with and for the people and land of Ireland we returned by ferry to Scotland and the journey home. Tired but not weary, exhausted but encouraged it had been a significant experience. |
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| One final memento that intrigued me. I am sometimes referred to as one of the public faces of the Community, [we are an ugly Community!]. My life and work certainly gives me the opportunity to be at times a communicator of the Community’s life and work. Last summer when I was teaching a series of studies at a conference I rather reluctantly did an interview for a radio station. It was brought to our attention at Saul on the eve of our departure for home that the broadcast of that interview was going out throughout the week that we were in Ireland. The final bit of the broadcast was going out as we sailed out of Belfast harbour. It just seemed significant and the timing of its broadcast totally directed by God. | ||||||||||
| Ireland, both North and South is dear
to my own heart and that of Shirley’s. So too for folks like Gordon
and Margaret and others, this place has become a telling place to which
we must return. It has held a special place in the Community’s past
and is a part of its future. As I write the diary is being amended as more
space is being made to return. You will be posted as to the next time.. There is a growing a sense of deepening commitment and the need to be more available to its challenges, opportunities and potential. Pray for us in this, amidst all the other calls and responsibilities we carry that we may be responsive to the will of God in these matters. |
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| Do continue to pray for Ireland. In the
words of Mary McAleese, former President of Ireland: Today as we nourish anew the deep roots in the ethic of generosity, forgiveness and love and we look forward to a redemption of the name of Ireland. When the past speaks to us we dare to hope it will be the voice of that other past we hear – the one before the smothering blanket of hate-filled conflict hardened hearts. Once, a millennium and a half ago, a young foreigner came to Ireland as a slave bringing with him a strange new religion. Today he is better known as St. Patrick, Ireland’s revered saint. He taught us how to pray but his greatest wish for Ireland was that we would simply learn to love one another. Some day soon we hope the world will know us for our love. |
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| And in the words of our Evening
Office, from another Irish saint, Columba, “See that you be at peace
among yourselves my children and love one another..” Thank you again for your support; it is much appreciated. Roy, on behalf of all on the Northumbria Community Team to Northern Ireland, January 2003 |
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