Lambeth Blog 9

 

There is a feeling of urgency in the air as we all plan the happenings of this our last week together. So many people want to talk together and there are new people arriving.

 

I so enjoyed my time at home on Saturday and Sunday. It was good to be in church and with my family. In fact I had an overwhelming feeling of being blessed as I sat in the Service on Sunday morning. So blessed to be in this new place. I am glad I came!

 

Over the weekend here in Canterbury the official photos have been taken. They cost £22 to buy. Will anyone buy them? yes, I think they will. In many homes I have stayed in the two photos, one of Bishops, one of spouses from the Lambeth Conference 1998 have held pride of place on walls around our communion. Some were invited to important gatherings, others took time to go to the seaside or simply to rest......or do their laundry!

 

In the Spices Hall we are in to PEACE as part of our theme My Place in God's World. The lovely Mary Good (an American married to a lad from Cork now resident in the Bishop's Palace in Derry and Raphoe) introduced the session by speaking of the Troubles in Ireland and the difficulties experienced in a cross-border Diocese. She introduced the Melanesian Brothers and Sisters as well as Fransiscan Brothers who led our worship and then gave a very moving and emotional account of their work in the Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea. The story of the war there at the beginning of this Century and the part the Brothers, Sisters and the Mothers' Union played in the peace process and the eventual torture and death of 7 brothers is well known......I thought. BUT many had not heard it before and hankies came out as Brother Richard Carter brought the session to conclusion. I have bought the book if anyone is interested.

Melanesia Brothers playing the Pan Pipes

 

The Riding Lights Theatre Group followed, after quiet prayer, with a drama illustrating the call of Matthew the Tax collector and Simon the Zealot. "Who is my neighbour" Simon asks, you know what Jesus said.

 

Playing the Pan Pipes

So who is my neighbour in the Anglican Communion? She is a Melanesian Sister working in Guadal Canal with abused families, she is a Burundian woman sitting at my table and relating the story of how her family escaped the war in her country, she is the Canadian who had never heard of the Martyred Brothers until today, she is the Lesbian priest working in the slums of New York, she is the Irish woman here to tell the story of the Corrymeelan Community in Belfast and how they work for reconcilliation.

 

Did you here Jane Williams speaking on Radio 4 on Sunday morning? What a woman, such control, such diplomacy.

 

Jesus said: "You are not choosing me, I am choosing you."

 

Trish xx