In Trouble and in Joy

It has been a sad and difficult week in the life of our church.

Within the space of 7 days 3 of our members have died. Although these people had experienced illness in recent months, it doesn’t make it any easier for their families and friends who have been plunged into grief.

We sometimes describe the church as a family, and most families I know go through a combination of good and sad times over the years. The main thing that’s important is that people are there for each other through those times.

Although this has been a sad time, there have also been wonderful moments. I was out for dinner with our choir one night last week and really enjoyed the fun and the company. Sometimes, it’s great to just celebrate being together and enjoying one anothers company.

As I have spent time with families living through some of the most difficult days of their lives, they have remarked about the way people have come alongside them in their grief. People have called around with food and to share stories and memories that are very precious. They have laughed and cried together during this difficult time. People have written and sent beautiful cards and flowers, sharing in different ways the simple truth that they are thinking of them.

As a family, we were invited to a 70th birthday party of a wonderful friend of ours at the weekend. As a farming family, there were some wonderful elements to the celebration. There was a quiz sheet inviting us to guess who the person was from the clues. There were some sheep roaming about in a pen, and we were asked to judge them in order of their merit as if it were an agricultural show. There was a table quiz and an afternoon tea, and some beautiful heartfelt speeches as family gathered to celebrate this wonderful person who means so much, not only to them, but to her community.

They are a family of faith and, at one point amidst all the hilarity and shenanigans and celebrations, they passed around a little card with a Celtic prayer from the Northumbrian Community and invited us to join them in speaking it out loud.

It was done in a really natural way. It didn’t feel at all embarrassing or strange, and just expressed very simply their approach to life.

As I write these words, our community has been plunged into tension after a horrific stabbing incident which took place in North Belfast last night.

As this terrible attack was carried out by someone from overseas, it has raised concerns and tensions over the government’s approach to immigration and the vetting process for refugees and asylum seekers. People from ethnic minorities who have lived here for many years are fearful of racially motivated attacks, and their homes and businesses have been targeted in recent times. It does not take much in the current climate to spark off riotous behaviour. As is often the case, the police are given the quite impossible and unenviable task of trying to protect the public and de-escalate the tensions.

As a person of faith, how should we respond? Should we be out on the streets trying to talk to the people wearing masks who are assembling in groups? Should we be reaching out in friendship to those from ethnic minorities who feel isolated and frightened at how they are all being tarred with the one brush and fearful for their personal safety? Should we be engaging in the debates on social media and trying to put forward a balanced analysis of the presenting issues? Is there a danger in doing so, that we think our perspective or view is so much more reasonable than anyone else’s and, therefore, we do not need to hear or be concerned with those whose views are different to our own?

As I try to process the sadness and complexity of the past 7 days, and give thanks for the joyful moments, I’m grateful for the constancy of God’s presence in all of it and the words of a hymn came to mind.

“Through all the changing scenes of life

In trouble and in Joy

The praises of My God shall still

My heart and tongue employ.”

I’m also keen to share the words of this beautiful prayer which was shared at the birthday party.

“May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you, wherever He may send you.

May He guide you through the wilderness, protect you through the storm.

May he bring you home rejoicing at the wonders He has shown you.

May he bring you home rejoicing once again into our doors.”

Could I ask you, please, to pray for peace in our land during these troubled times, and for the Heaney family, the Leonard family and the Holmes family, as they come to terms with their sad losses.

Look forward to speaking again soon.

Much love to everyone,

Jono.

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