A Good Word for the Church

Sometimes we come across words that have their words in another language, and it can be hard to find a good translation in English. The sense, however, behind the word, is a beautiful sentiment and, so, I wanted to think about such a word this week.

We often record a TV programme called, ‘The Great House Revival,’ from the Irish TV channel RTE. In this programme people have often bought a derelict house from somewhere in the Irish countryside or in a town, and they get involved in a restoration project. The work is overseen by a renowned architect called Hugh Wallace, who presents the programme. It’s remarkable to see the transformations that take place as people undertake these projects and lovingly restore old buildings, giving them a whole new lease of life.

A recent episode featured the restoration of a building that was once the post office and general store in a village in West Cork called Butlerstown. A young couple, who remembered the post office when it was operational, had bought the property which was falling apart. The man was a joiner by trade and determined to do much of the work himself.

It soon became obvious that the work involved was too much for one man and, as their rental costs were high while the restoration was being done, they called in some friends to help them.

The presenter referred to an old Irish word and tradition called ‘Meitheal.’ While the word is hard to translate, it refers to the way in which a community comes together to help a neighbour to complete essential work. It’s kind of like a work party and, so, plumbers and electricians and bricklayers and other professionals from the building trade came together over various days and weekends to offer their labour for free, to assist this couple in their project, thus keeping the labour costs down.

When the project was completed and the couple were in their beautifully restored home, they were visibly moved by the scale of the help and support they had received. The project could not have happened without the local community and these volunteers all coming together to make huge contributions to the massive amount of work that needed to be done. The man acknowledged how indebted they were to all the community and how he hoped to be able to use his skills to help others in the future, to pay it forward in that sense.

Every month in the church we have a work party on the last Saturday morning of the month from 9-11. The tasks range from cutting grass and hedges, to pruning trees and bushes, clearing drains, sweeping and tidying the grounds and halls, and maybe setting up for special events. There’s a good sense of community as people come together, people chat as they get on with their tasks and, in real terms, it saves the church a considerable amount of money.

I thought of ‘Meitheal’ again last weekend when a coffee morning was held to support one of our younger parishioners who has been selected to play for Ireland in ice hockey next month. He is travelling to play a number of games in Canada, and so funds needed to be raised for airfares and kit bags. The young man’s family and friends baked lots of tray bakes and scones, they approached businesses for raffle prizes and a really successful event took place. People were extremely generous with their donations and it was amazing to see people work so hard and bring people together.

It’s a beautiful and rather magical thing this ‘meitheal’ when we see the way it brings people together and enables people to achieve great outcomes that would never have been possible on their own.

When the church turns outwards towards the community and says we would love to invite you in; we want you to know about the God who loves you and who loves us, and invite you to consider His ways for your life. There’s a humility about ‘meitheal’ that recognises that we need each other, and this is true in the life of faith as in all other spheres of life.

Even if you have never been to church before, or you think your lifestyle somehow excludes you, Jesus reminds us that “God so loved the world that He gave his only Son, so that whoever believes in Him might not perish, but have everlasting life.’ Jesus is not just for the suited and booted, for the middle aged and the elderly. He is for all of us. The chances are that if you come along you will be able to invite people I don’t know and can’t invite and maybe that invitation might change someone’s life.

Please don’t hesitate to invite any children you may know to Messy Church on Friday 28th February from 3.30-5.00 pm in the church hall. There will be crafts and food and a drama group coming to share with us about the loaves and the fishes.

Please also consider inviting people to a few events coming up in our Mind Matters series of events about mental health.

On Thursday 27th February, Revd. Lucy Burden will speak on the topic of ‘Burnout’ at 7.30pm in the Huston Hall and on Tuesday 4th March we are invited to an event in Knockbreda Parish Church as Michael Tinker explores the challenging topic of ‘Grief’ in an evening of music and reflection at 7.30 pm. It’s called ‘Where there are no words.”

Looking forward to speaking again soon.

Much love to everyone,

Jono.

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