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encouraging, enabling, equipping
The power and the glory Drawn to icons Peace marches The exercise of power
www.magnetmag.co.uk ISSN 1 363-0245
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Editorial Office: Autumn 2007 magnet Magnet magazine Methodist Church House 25 Marylebone Road London NW1 5JR t: 0844 736 2524 e: editorial@magnetmag.co.uk Business Manager: Lynne Ling t: 0844 736 2524 e: lynne@magnetmag.co.uk Subscriptions: Magnet Subscriptions at Warners The Maltings West Street Bourne Lincolnshire PE10 9PH Tel: 01778 392031 E-mail: subscriptions@ warnersgroup.co.uk www.magnetmag.co.uk/subs.html Advertising: Please contact the Business Manager t: 0844 736 2524 e: lynne@magnetmag.co.uk Magnet magazine is a Christian resource produced by the Methodist Church for men and women. Each issue provides regular features including Bible study, a prayer focus, personal stories, worship material and a focus on world and justice issues. Talking Magnet is available on tape and is free of charge to those who are registered blind or partially sighted. For information, please contact the Business Manager.
magnet No. 85: Spring 2009
The power and the glory Features
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The power and glory of icons Celebrity power
Power of community: how the Cuban nation worked to survive The clay jar
Opinions given in articles may not always reflect the views of the team. Authors and photographers own the copyright for their contributions. The Editorial Office is happy to pass on any enquiries. Designed by Twenty-Five Educational Tel: 0151 632 1657 www.base25.com Printed by Warners Midlands plc www.warners.co.uk
Worship
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Good Friday dream
Easter morning
I ask God…to give you power Transformation
For the powerful and the powerless
A position of authority: a study on King Solomon’s choice, wisdom or power
Creative laughter
Building on the rock
Peace marches – the fall of the Berlin wall
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Debate
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If we believe that power corrupts and that the meek shall inherit the earth then Christians should not be working in positions of power
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Cover image: © Stephen B Whatley, a Christian artist living and working in London www.stephenbwhatley.com
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Glory to you, O God
Helleborus Niger (Christmas rose)
In touch
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Power and glory
Resources Think globally, act locally
Talking Justice
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For meditation
Bible study
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Silent Communion
Prayer focus The exercise of power
Magnet is produced by a team of volunteer editors. Editorial Group: Sue Bloomfield, Liz Chick, Tricia Creamer, David Coleman, Jane Dowell, Samantha Ferris, Jordanna Gargas, Patricia Goacher, Lynne Ling, Alaine Sheppard, Gail Sheppard, Jacqueline Shirtliff, Sheila Simpson, Hyacinth Sweeney-Dixon.
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Diary dates
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Talking points Looking forward We welcome Lynne Ling as Business Manager. She was a volunteer management group member between 1993 and 1999 and a volunteer editor from 1999 until 2002. Her role now is to follow through planned changes to involve new ecumenical partners and to promote and sell Magnet more widely. Any help you can give in making the magazine known to your friends, relatives and friends and in speaking about Magnet to local groups and churches will be most welcome. Contact Lynne on 0844 736 2524 or email lynne@magnetmag.co.uk
New website One of the changes being made to broaden the appeal and reach of Magnet is a new, content-driven website which will be more easily and regularly updated and will also allow users to share and comment on resources, including their own poems, prayers, hymns, meditations and photographs. Do register with the existing website www.magnetmag.co.uk to receive regular news of these and other exciting new developments.
Rt Revd Christopher Herbert Rt Revd Christopher Herbert has retired as Bishop of St Albans after 14 years. He and his wife now live in Farnham, Surrey. He was the vicar of Bourne in 1981 and so has now gone back to his roots. He last wrote for Magnet in 2006 when he gave us a thoughtful article on prayer. In this issue he leads us to think on the exercise of power by using a Dutch masterpiece from the fifteenth century. It is entitled ‘Descent of Christ from the Cross’ by Rogier van der Weyden.
Revd Fraser Smith Revd Fraser Smith is a Methodist Minister in Poole, Dorset, formerly from the United Church of Canada. Fraser’s background as a lecturer in the field of communications has led him to search for new ways of heightening the use of our senses in worship thereby raising levels of perception when we commune with God. He brings to our worship a fresh approach to the celebration of Communion as we are encouraged to be without given words and listen instead to our inner response.
Editorial Gail Sheppard, Tricia Creamer and Jordanna Gargas ‘Power and Glory’ – two words linked together at the end of the Lord’s Prayer. Why? ‘Power’ at its most basic level is the source of energy needed for any movement. ‘Glory’ could be described as moments when power reflects the goodness and love of God. In this issue we’ve tried to discover how power is used and when it might become a moment of glory, and to find places where people have recognised the power and glory of God in their lives. When artists portray a particular inspiration, who has the power of the painting? Christopher Herbert explores whether it belongs to the painter, those who commission, or those who admire it. We discover that Icons, created to draw worshippers through to a point of understanding, reveal the glory of God. Money can be corruptive but our two articles on Credit Unions and Corporate Business seek to highlight the more positive ways in which we can use money wisely. Success brings fame though not always glory. Peter Kessler tells us of famous people who turn their energies to become Goodwill Ambassadors in troubled areas across the world. Twenty years ago the Berlin Wall came down, initiated by peace marches, a story told by Kerstin and Bärbel, who were students at the time. Living without oil nearly ruined the lives of the Cuban people but through hard community action the Cubans survived to teach us all how we in turn can change to live sustainably without this raw material. Leadership wisdom is sought by Solomon in our Bible study, Liz Hudson’s meditation shows us the simplicity of being ourselves, and Chris Eyden encourages us to laugh.
Alison Judd Alison, a past president of Women’s Network has been living for some time now in the balmier climes of Barbados, as a mission partner with husband Revd Les Judd. The weather conditions at some times of the year – particularly the hurricane season – are very difficult to deal with; by contrast, at other times they are very delightful, being able to lead worship at 7am on a Wednesday morning followed by a walk on the shore and a dip in the ocean. They are due back in 2009 and will be glad to tell you much more about their visit. Alison has written the bible study for us this issue and it can be found on p23.
The beauty and majesty of God can be revealed when we approach God without reservation. Revd Fraser Smith offers a worship experience in which the power of words upon which we rely so much, is left behind. Apparently powerless as Jesus appeared to be on the cross, his death and resurrection is the most powerful event of all time. Now we see, reflected, the total energy and love of God – empowering, not controlling. On Easter Day, for you and for me stands power and glory. Alleluia!
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can be venerated (viewed with profound respect). In the act of meditation the true meaning of what the icon represents becomes apparent and enables prayer. On a visit to Cyprus in 1993 I first became aware of icons. I did not like them particularly but was disturbed, and at the same time fascinated by them. My curiosity made me begin to study them and when I learned to paint icons. I became aware of the impact that this had on my prayer life. Until recently some Christians have thought of them as ‘graven images’ but Paul talks about Jesus being ‘the face of the invisible God’ and therefore icons of Jesus may be used as a focus for prayer and enable a closer awareness of the glory of God.
power and the glory in icons
the
Derek Bird, iconographer (painter of icons), provides a deeper insight into the images we see
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CONS ARE INTENDED as aids to prayer and are often referred to as “Windows into the Kingdom” which immediately suggests that icons must have a hidden power and mystery. The original icons, some of which date back to the Sixth century, were painted, or ‘written’, by iconographers who
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believed that they were directly dictated to by the Holy Spirit. In the Orthodox Church icons are an integral part of the worship but Western Christians are also beginning to recognize just how evocative they can be, especially since they understand that icons are not to be worshipped but they
The rules of icon painting are very strict but strangely within the discipline there comes a sense of spiritual freedom and as one paints one enters into meditation. The basic canons that are used are as follows: eyes do not reflect the light. It passes through them into the kingdom of God; noses are long because they breathe in the Holy Spirit; mouths are closed and ears are rudimentary listening to the word of God; fingers are long, pointing the way to Jesus. The colours all have meaning. Red signifies the blood of humanity or the fire of the spirit; brown is the colour of the earth from which all things grow; green is new birth; orange represents revolution; blue is divinity; black is death; white is purity and gold is everlasting life. The law of perspective as we understand it is reversed, for all lines meet not at infinity but in the eye of the beholder and spread outwards into the kingdom of heaven. Using these symbols to read an icon helps us to a greater understanding of our faith. But initially it is only by choosing an icon and using it during
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In the act of meditation the true meaning of what the icon represents becomes apparent and enables prayer.
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prayer times that one becomes aware of the spiritual impact that it can have. For example in the Old Testament Trinity (A) we see three angels under the oak trees of Mamre. In the Genesis story they appeared to Abraham and Sarah. These figures represent Jesus in the centre, the Holy Spirit on the right and God the Father on the left. On the table is the cup. It is as if Jesus is asking his father to “let this cup pass from me”. When I saw the original icon in Russia I realised that the footstools make an incomplete triangle and from where I was standing I felt as though I was being drawn into communion with the Holy Trinity. The Mother of Tenderness (B) shows Mary gazing into the distance and ‘pondering all these things in her heart.’ Jesus is too large to be just a baby but this is to remind us of his strength and power. His left arm is out of proportion and circles his mother and suggests God’s love encircling the world. Mary offers God’s son to us as our Saviour. The love and tenderness shown here is not exclusive but is extended to us as well. In the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple (C) the Nunc Dimittis1 forms a good starting point for
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meditation. Simeon is a huge figure receiving the baby for blessing and suggesting not just an old priest but also a God-like figure. Anna stands in the background. Joseph presents two doves for sacrifice. On the altar cloth is a crucifix whilst behind we see a stairway leading to heaven and on the left a building, perhaps representing the Kingdom.
Opposite page: Jesus appearing to Mary Magdalene; Clockwise from top: Old Testament Trinity; The Mother of Tenderness; Presentation of Jesus in the Temple; The icon of Christ Pantocrator.
and mercy as well as judgement in His eyes that penetrate to our soul. Millions of Christians find that icons lead them to a closer understanding of the nature of God. Hopefully these insights will have given some idea of the power and the glory that icons can inspire. Nunc Dimittis is a canticle or song and means ‘glad to depart’. Simeon, an old man who lived in the temple in Jerusalem and had waited all his life to see the Messiah, saw the baby Jesus and was glad to depart. The verses containing the canticle can be found in Mark 2: 29 -32 1
The icon of Christ Pantocrator (D) shows Jesus as judge but at the same time He blesses us. There is a feeling of kindness, compassion
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UNHCR
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Celebrity power One of our newest editors Jordanna-May Gargas interviews Peter Kessler to find out why we need Goodwill Ambassadors and how they are chosen Why did the UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) enlist Goodwill Ambassadors? We are a UN Agency, with the broadest network of field offices, 330 in 110 countries. We are aware of the needs on the ground; it is a matter of translating that awareness into fundraising. UNHCR has done this outreach for a long time. We have a modest programme; we only bring on people who want to work with us willingly at their own
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expense. We require them to pay their own bills; aircraft tickets and accommodation, so they really have to be dedicated to the cause of refugees. They can’t join us if they’re a struggling celebrity looking to boost their visibility; they really have to participate too. Who have you enlisted recently? Khaled Hosseini (author of the ‘The Kite Runner’); the Spanish news broadcaster Jesus Vazquez Adele Imam, and Luol Deng, the British basketball player who is tipped to become captain of England’s 2012 Olympic team and who grew up in Sudan before he himself became a refugee. They want to help us as a voice of the voiceless. How did Angelina Jolie become involved with the programme? In 2000 Angelina Jolie was filming Tomb Raider in Cambodia and while she was there, she had a chance to learn more about the refugee situation and become familiar with the refugee groups. When she was back in America, she called up and asked if she
International film actor and director Ben Affleck using some leisure time whilst on a goodwill visit to DR Congo could come to our office for a briefing. Do you approach possible Ambassadors? They might approach us or we might approach them, but again, we can not offer to fly individuals and their entourages around the world. Once they get to Pakistan, for example, we can certainly organise a lift up to the refugee camps but at the end of the night, they are on their own. It’s not a posh programme, it’s one that gives people a real chance to see another side of the world and another side of life of others who are victims of persecution and whose stories are not told. Can they make direct representations to Government? We don’t own them; they are able to speak on their own, but the UNHCR guideline is: speak about your area of responsibility but
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Power and glory ‘Power’ is not oppression; with victims meekly bowing, or fleeing for their lives. Power is foot-washing, love enabling love, talents released and new life reaching upwards. The power is yours, eternal Christ. ‘Glory’ is not flamboyant show, jewels sparkling, processions of majesty and pomp, marble halls and kneeling multitudes. Glory is a child laid low in manger, a listening teacher and a shy healer, a criminal’s cross and borrowed grave and an unproved resurrection built alone on questing faith. The glory is yours, eternal Christ.
magnet • words: © Donald Hilton, from No Empty Phrases (1999) with permission of Christian Education; image: Angel of the North sculpture by Anthony Gormley. Photo by David Coleman
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Ben Affleck in his role as Goodwill Ambassador takes a break whilst filming ‘Gimme Shelter’ on behalf of the UNCHR; one of the refugee camps in DR Congo.
ZALMAI/UNHCR
Angelina was fabulous in 2001 in the wake of 9/11. She saw how there was a crisis building in the Pakistan/Afghanistan border and she helped kick start UNHCR preparations to assist any refugees that might flee and also to assist any refugees who might want to legally go back to Afghanistan. She gave a large donation and that spurred individuals to contribute to that particular programme themselves.
please, do not criticise governments. The UNHCR can, we have issued statements criticising Greece for their policy on not recognising refugees, the Ukraine for returning refugees to countries where their lives may be in danger and similarly Iran. We have also criticised America and Switzerland for their approach to asylum seekers and their discriminatory practices prompted by minority parties. We only ask that the Ambassadors speak about their awareness of the refugees they work with. What power do they have? In the national environment, the Goodwill Ambassador helps by giving us entrée. We have had numerous occasions in Washington; such as events with Colin Powell, Condoleezza Rice and
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Angelina Jolie on World Refugee Day. It is a good way of bringing UNHCR senior management, Government officials and Goodwill Ambassadors together. Because of that celebrity factor, it gives UNHCR a chance to project itself. We have been working recently with the American actor and director Ben Affleck, who does awareness raising around the Democratic Republic of Congo displacement conflict, so he has recently been in Goma and Uganda filming refugees. Do the Ambassadors give the UNHCR financial support? We are entirely funded by voluntary contributions. We have to get donors and the corporate sector to contribute to our work. The Goodwill Ambassador makes people react!
Would you like the Ambassador programme to develop? Essentially, the Ambassadors bring us tremendous access and outreach to a different level of readership and news outlets. The programme creates curiosity amongst people who may not normally follow foreign news and that’s vital. These are people who play an important role in their own chosen careers but not really knowing much about us. This brings them closer. I would love a bigger programme but then we would run the risk of having more people but less dedicated Ambassadors. We have a handful who take time out of their own schedules to spend time with the refugees, and us and that’s personal. Peter Kessler is Senior External Affairs Officer for UNHCR. He has worked in Bosnia, Africa, Kosovo, The Middle East and Timor. UNHCR is an impartial humanitarian organisation mandated by the United Nations to lead and coordinate international action for the world-wide protection of refugees and the resolution of refugee problems. Based in Switzerland, UNHCR has two basic and closely related aims: to protect refugees and to seek ways to help them restart their lives in a normal environment.
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Good Friday Dream I looked down the road and saw you dying. I heard your pain and felt you crying. I trembled inside, my footsteps faltering. I untied my life, found hidden bruising. I tested old wounds, exposed new suffering. I dared to draw near, the darkness beckoning. I whispered for help caught understanding. I gave you my story: You took it, enfolding. Gently, you blessed me, recklessly kneeling.
I took myself home to work at my healing.
magnet • words: Š Tricia Creamer. Used with permission; image: Copyright Mary Fleeson from 'Life Journey'. Published by Eagle Publishing Limited
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The power of community Harriet Stewart-Jones explains how the Cuban nation worked as one community to survive
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HEN THE SOVIET
UNION in the early 1990s, Cuba, losing 80% of both imports and exports, found itself out on a limb. Isolated and suddenly starved of economic aid and imports – not least their supply of Soviet oil – the Cubans had to rethink their way of life. COLLAPSED
At first it was tough time – the “Special Period”. Cuba had been heavily reliant on the Russians for decades, and American embargoes meant that the government could not pick up new trading partners. As oil supplies ran out, tractors and lorries ground to a halt, electricity blackouts became commonplace, food started to become scarce and Cuba became the first industrialised country to face a ‘Peak Oil’ crisis.
Food was the key to survival. Large state farms were split into smaller cooperatives – ‘service co-ops’ – where credit seeds and other items were exchanged. Small homes were built in rural areas and people encouraged to move to assist with food production for themselves to sell at local farmers markets. Organic growing methods were introduced; every scrap of available land, roof tops, patios, car parks, in towns and cities was transformed into productive urban gardens, supplying local markets, community centres and schools with fresh fruit and vegetables. Meat and dairy products, heavily dependent on fossil fuels, soon diminished. By necessity the Cuban people adopted high fibre diets, using fresh produce. Land used for the oil-for-sugar programme was used for growing fruit and vegetables. The soil, weak from pesticides was gradually ‘healed’ with compost. Bio-fertilizers and bio chemicals replaced most chemicals.
CAROLYN SMYTH
The remarkable story of how the Cuban people coped with this emergency is told in the film ‘The Power of Community: How Cuba Survived Peak Oil’ (2006). It charts their transition from a country using highly mechanized, intensive
farming methods, previously dependent on pesticides, to a much more localised, low-tech economy. The surprising conclusion is that although the changeover was hard work, the outcome was not at all bad.
The Power of Community: How Cuba Survived Peak Oil’ (2006) DVD cover
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Transportation, a secondary worry, was creative: • old US cars became taxis for 6-8 people, stopping as needed; • canopies and steps were added to trucks/open dump truck buses for protection • 1.2million bikes were purchased from China; half a million were also made in Cuba • ‘Camels’ – converted semi-truck flatbeds into bus-like vehicles holding 300 people • government vehicles picked people up as needed • horses and mules plus horse or bike drawn carriages were used • convenience for individuals was secondary to use of energy
CAROLYN SMYTH
Education was and still is, free; fifty new universities were created to avoid the need for transport. Cuba's focus on health earned them a world-wide reputation; teams of Cuban doctors have been sent throughout the world to train and assist. Each community has a doctor, 60% of whom are women. The transition involved much hardship as Castro’s leadership, although well meaning, was ruthless; and life in Cuba is still difficult. But today the average life span is higher and the infant mortality rate is only just lower than in the US. The focus of three ‘C’s : Community, Cooperation, Conservation has been the key to Cuba’s survival. Change and sacrifice was based on what was good for the community, not solely on the needs of individuals.
support, and train communities in exploring the transition from oil dependency to relocalised economies. All over the UK, in front rooms, church halls and meeting rooms, people are getting together to plan how their community will cope with less reliance on fossil fuels. It is an exciting challenge and a reason to rediscover community values that are much, much more precious than the empty promises of our current consumerist lifestyles. As the era of cheap oil ends, where will our food come from? How will we heat our houses? How will we get about? Do we have the skills we will need?
So what can we in Britain learn from the Cuban example as we face the twin challenges of Peak Oil and climate change? Although it is unlikely that our Peak Oil crisis will be as sudden and unexpected as Cuba’s there’s no doubt that it will arrive. And we have the great advantage that we can plan for it.
Different communities have come up with different solutions. In Lewes, Sussex, a group have set up their own currency to promote the local economy; in Totnes, Devon, there are workshops on how to grow fruit, bake bread and use wood fuel efficiently; in Bristol they are working on an Energy Descent Action Plan for the city.
Cuba underwent a huge transition. In Britain the ‘Transition Network’ is a new national organisation that aims to inspire,
Harriet Stewart-Jones is a freelance book editor and global poverty campaigner with the charity “RESULTS”
What is Peak Oil? “Peak Oil” refers to the point in time at which the maximum rate of global oil extraction is reached, after which the rate of production declines.
It is generally believed that we are now close to global Peak Oil. Although this doesn’t mean we’re running out of oil – approximately half of all oil that was laid down in the earth has been extracted – it does mean that we are running out of cheap oil. We have picked the low-hanging fruit. Inevitably a gap between supply and demand will emerge. There will be less to go around just as more and more countries want more and more to fuel an industrial and consumerist lifestyle. Our demand for unending economic growth becomes unsustainable.
For more information see www.transitiontowns.org Or: Rob Hopkins, the Transition Handbook: From Oil Dependency to Local Resilience. Green Books 2008. ISBN 978 1 900322 18 8
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“I am a clay jar: Unglazed, un-phased by the passing of the days while I stand in this house. I am just a clay jar; not elegant, graceful, ornamental, But functional, useful, made for a purpose – and here. I have stood in this house – it seems like forever, for here time is meaningless. I stand to be filled and refilled, week after week. Month after month. So that others may draw from my store And from my fullness take refreshment, comfort, strength. But I can only give as I am filled – For I am just a clay jar, for storing water in a small house in a small Galilean town. And the day is coming when I will be empty, with nothing left to give. It has all been taken from me and I am desert dry. Then there is shame and despair without; The hollow celebration of a party which is unknowingly close to its end. Then there is a vacuum within; I am poor in spirit, mourning what is no more, Full of need, my own and others. An empty clay jar. Till the hand of the Lord is upon me. Then miraculously, I am brim-full, bubbling over, Not just with the water of life But with the pure wine of Heaven Red, smooth, rich, Like blood…. I am full of wine that infuses the brain, Lifts the spirits, heightens awareness, Steadies the nerve, deadens the pain, Looses the tongue And sets the rafters ringing, and the bridegroom singing – With the guests inside, and the neighbours outside – Singing songs of joy with the very angels of the Lord. I am a clay jar. Unglazed, un-phased by the passing of the days. Not elegant, not graceful, But full of grace, full of treasure. A gift from God himself to share with those who are suffering and sad. Shalom.” Liz Hudson 2004/October 2008
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Rarely does a day go by when, amongst the joys and pleasures, we don’t encounter some piece of bureaucratic nonsense or gross injustice that leaves us bewildered, angry and eager for change. Then, we experience an over-riding urge to respond and to get involved, by painting a placard, signing a petition, or writing to The Times or a government department. But often, through inertia, distraction or the pace of life, the moment passes, and on that occasion at least, we don’t do anything. Fortunately, others do. So that everyday, in families, businesses and communities, there are colleagues, churches and friends working together in kindness and consideration to solve problems and change the immediate world in small ways for the better. All over the world, people campaign for great causes, or work in deprived places, or encourage individuals to take the first step, or the next step and to keep going, until a struggle is over and a victory is won. Everyone has a part to play somewhere in that activity; a cause, a day, a place, a time, to do something for the Kingdom of God.
The clay jar Liz Hudson explains the thinking behind her prayerful meditation ‘The Clay Jar’ which recognises the ability of us all to bring change to ourselves and others simply by being who we are.
And maybe I’ve had my moments too. Probably, they were mostly impetuous and unpremeditated, because if I stop and think too hard, I can usually find at least 10 rational reasons to do something else less challenging and unusual, more urgent or more personally relevant. But thankfully I can remember one or two occasions when I have risen to the challenge of God’s love for me, to help make things better for others; and by grace, there will have been other times when I have done so without realising it. But whether I was aware or not, I believe that the prompting and the response were signs of the Holy Spirit at work, albeit with a very simple tool.
Similarly, there is no limit to how God can change the future with, and for, others. What makes the difference between those who respond and those who don’t may simply be the awareness of God’s touch on our own lives, and being filled with the power of the Holy Spirit. *‘Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me’ hymn written by Daniel Iverson The article and the meditation can be read or used independently or together.
There is no limit to what a craftsman, (say a carpenter or potter) can create with the simplest tools.
MARK HOWARD
‘S
PIRIT OF THE LIVING GOD, fall afresh on me’.* This heart-felt cry will surely be recognised by anyone who has accepted Jesus’ call to love and serve him in the world, and then ended their day, either feeling irritable with colleagues and disappointed in their own behaviour after a bad day at the office, or overwhelmed from sitting alongside someone suffering in a personal nightmare. Our natural, first reaction to the ‘slings and arrows of outrageous fortune’ (life as expressed by Hamlet) is: “Help!” perhaps followed by, “Why is it my problem?” “What can I do about it?” or, “What comfort, encouragement, support can I offer?” or even: “If I say or do something clumsy, will it just make the situation worse?”
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USED WITH PERMISSION MUSEO NACIONAL DEL PRADO
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The exercise of power Rt Revd Christopher Herbert helps us to look at the exercise of power through the Dutch masterpiece ‘The Descent of Christ from the Cross’
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1435, one of the greatest paintings in the world came into existence. The artist was Rogier van der Weyden (c1400-1464) and he had been commissioned by the confraternity of the Archers of Louvain to create it (if you look carefully, you can see a small crossbow in each of the upper corners of the painting). The more you look at the painting, the more powerful it becomes. Look at the figure of Christ, being held by Joseph of Arimathaea and OME TIME AFTER THE YEAR
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Nicodemus. The body is anatomically correct, the blood beginning to congeal around the open wounds. Notice that Christ’s right arm, in the way it hangs down, is echoed by the right arm of Mary; Christ’s left arm is echoed by hers. She is, literally, ‘compassionate’. On the right of the painting, Mary Magdalene is contorted in grief; the alabaster jar of ointment being held close to her is her saintly symbol. On the left of the painting, John the Evangelist is helping to support the
Virgin Mary as she swoons in grief. By John’s feet and close to Mary’s right hand is a skull: the symbol of Adam, of death, of Golgotha – the ‘place of a skull’. There isn’t the time to go into more detail about the painting, but its power is remarkable. How is that power conveyed? It is partly the subject matter: Christ, the Son of God, in his death, is completely vulnerable: he has no control of his own body; he is in the hands of others; they can treat his corpse as they wish. The power of the painting is also conveyed by the range of human emotions displayed by each of the mourners, from the deathly faint of the Virgin Mary, to the quiet, downcast, solemnity of Joseph of Arimathaea. And the power is also conveyed by the extraordinary device that Rogier van der Weyden has used, of pushing the scene forward to the very edge of the stage. The figures are like a carved sculpture which has suddenly come alive. More than this, the power of the painting is created by Rogier van der Weyden’s extraordinary skill as an artist – look at the folds in the clothes, the brocade overcoat of Nicodemus, the detail in the headdresses. It is important to realise that this painting was created as an altarpiece, that it was designed to fit just behind the altar – so that when the Mass was being celebrated, the bread of the Mass (the ‘body of Christ’) was echoed by the dead and exposed body of the crucified Christ in the painting. At the Mass, the painting made a powerful theological statement. Now, this article is supposed to be about power – and how such power might or might not be exercised by Christians. But I want to continue to use the painting as a kind of meditative parable. When it was first commissioned by the members of the Louvain confraternity, we can be pretty certain that the members of that group would have been amongst the most wealthy and influential people of their city – people
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wielding real power. They would have been careful in their choice of painter, for his status would have reflected on them. The artist, Rogier van der Weyden, was himself in a position of some power – he could have refused their commission, though, like all artists, he would have had to weigh up the financial consequences of doing so. The painting now hangs in the Prado in Madrid because it was bought by Mary of Hungary (15051558) from the confraternity, and later the painting was acquired by Mary’s nephew, Philip II of Spain (1527-1598). He, in turn, displayed the painting in the Escorial, a kind of monastic palace near Madrid – and, eventually, it came to the Prado. In other words, some of the most powerful people in the world wanted to own the painting and, no doubt, if the Prado ever wished to sell it (heaven forbid), the wealthiest and most powerful collectors in the world would scramble over each other to get it. The painting, then, is an immensely powerful piece of art. It unashamedly draws our attention, as the viewers, to the truths of the Christian faith and to the truths of God’s love; and yet, at the same time, it cannot be entirely divorced from all the power that surrounded its making or its possession. It has, of course, been ripped from its original context – it was designed for an altar, for use in
worship – and now hangs on the walls of one of the greatest art galleries in the world. Is the power of the painting something to be despised? I think not, though we must never forget that, from time to time, in the history of the Church, image breaking has come into existence and has been applauded. Idolatry is always a danger to be guarded against. Is the power of the painting, then, to be applauded? I believe so; it takes us, through its virtuosity and beauty, closer to the heart of Christ’s life. Is the power of possession to be approved? Well, in my view, a painting of this greatness is such that it ought not to be kept for the eyes of the élite,
watched, not least by those of us who have leading positions in the Church. But at this point, we need to look at Jesus of Nazareth. There can be no denying that he exercised power: the power to
There can be no denying that he exercised power: the power to heal, the power of the storyteller, the power of the teacher. But what he did was to treat that power with immense care.
it is for all people. The questions concerning power roll on: Who had the most power? Those who commissioned it? Or the painter? Who has the power over the painting now? Whose interpretation of it will be most persuasive? There is much naive debate about power in Christian circles, as though power in itself is entirely bad. But what I have tried to illustrate, through this very brief study, is that power is a complex phenomenon. Without the exercise of power, this painting would not have come into existence. What is clear to me, however, is that it is the exercise of power which has to be
heal, the power of the storyteller, the power of the teacher. But what he did was to treat that power with immense care. He went into the hills to pray. He asked that people should not broadcast what he had done. His power, ultimately, was made manifest in his powerlessness on the cross – and that is the humbling paradox of God: love, the most powerful force in the world, is at its most potent when it is given away. Rogier van der Weyden, having spent huge amounts of time on the painting of the Deposition had, one day, to see it leave his workshop. It was no longer under his control. It had a power which was let loose in the world – a power to transform and challenge and remake those who simply gazed at it... © Christopher William Herbert, 2008
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Think globally, act locally Freda and Jim Hynes put their faith into action in a very practical and positive way
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HAT IS A CREDIT UNION?
It is a lifeline, a Godsend, “a very present help in trouble” for the members, the people who have come together to support each other financially. They do this through the deliberate practice of thrift; saving regularly and borrowing when in need. A very moderate rate of interest is charged; for example, if a member borrowed £100, agreeing pay back in modest instalments during one year, she would pay only £112.
love God and love your neighbour, it’s all there in the work of a credit union.
Although members of credit unions may come from a full range of income brackets, the encouragement and practice of thrift is especially useful to people in financial distress. Membership of a credit union empowers them by gradually giving them more control over their borrowing. We know families beleaguered by bills whose loans used to settle utility bills have taken great weights off their shoulders. The small regular amounts of repayment and continued small regular savings are hardly noticeable compared with the demands made by loan sharks from whom they had previously borrowed.
MARK HOWARD
Credit unions are safe, legal and supervised by the Financial Services Authority. Few have salaried staff, most are administered by lay volunteers within the protective framework of ABCUL, the Association of British Credit Unions Limited.
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One particularly successful model, founded and run by volunteers is to be found in North Wales. The Mold Credit Union was begun after community development officers appealed for volunteers. Most of the first volunteers were church and chapel goers who saw a way of helping those less fortunate than themselves. In our area banks were closing and those remaining demanded a deposit of £50 to open an account. The most needy were excluded from the banks but it would cost them only £1 to join a credit union. The good intentions have worked. We have seen a woman weeping before our collectors. Her loan from the credit union was slowly being repaid when a disaster struck. Then not only was she unable to continue repayments over the agreed term but also she actually needed more help. A new loan was negotiated. It would entail a much longer time in which to repay but the woman was once again in control. Over the ten years since the Mold Credit Union started it has flourished partly because founder members deposited more than they have borrowed in order to support the community in this worthwhile enterprise. From an initial £45 assets have grown to £850,000 as it teamed up with neighbouring unions to form the All Flintshire Credit Union within which membership has grown from 25 to 1,800. One of our greatest joys has been to see a collection point being set up in a troubled housing estate by people who actually live there. The other is the ongoing delight of knowing that we are loving our neighbours as ourselves. We see families thriving and we make new friends amongst like minded people who want to serve their communities. Think globally and act locally, love God and love your neighbour, it’s all there in work with a credit union.
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Easter Morning Do not cling ‌ Let me be bigger than your Heart can hold. Rise with me to a Larger vision.
magnet • words: Ann Lewin from Watching for the Kingfisher (2004) Inspire. Used with permission; image: David Coleman
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Revd Fraser Smith offers a short service of Holy Communion conducted in silence, empowering personal interaction.
Bible passage: Matthew 26: 26-29 (Read aloud.)
The table is set, the lights are dimmed, candles burn softly, soothing music plays in the background; the congregation gathers.
Oh Lord hear my pray’r. Oh Lord hear my pray’r: When I call answer me. Oh Lord hear my pray’r. Oh Lord hear my pray’r: Come and listen to me.
The minister/leader explains the nature of the communion service: By celebrating the communion service solely through actions, we are given an opportunity to explore the meaning of this most sacred Christian sacrament in a new and challenging way. In shifting our emphasis from the auditory to to the kinetic (movement), we are invited to feel at a very profound level both the sacrifice and the blessing that this meal represents. Sing together a simple Taizé song, (repeated) Example: ‘Bless the Lord my Soul’ Bless the Lord my soul, And bless his holy name. Bless the Lord my soul. Who leads me into light. Prayer of approach: Eternal God, we gather in this special place set apart for the worship of you. We bring our hopes and our fears, our joys and our sorrows. Open our hearts and our minds to the blessing of your compassionate and courageous spirit. Touch us, we pray, where we need to be touched through this blessed act as we commune with you and with one another. Amen
…we are invited to feel at a very profound level both the sacrifice and the blessing that this meal represents. 18
Sing: ‘Oh Lord hear my prayer’
suggested music during communion: ‘My Peace’ (Taizé) continuous repeat.
Silent Communion The presiding minister comes forward and with a slow and purposeful opening of arms draws attention first to the elements – the bread and the wine and then to the people who will share it. The bread (loaf) and the wine (chalice) are then brought into the midst of those who will receive them (eg carried round ) allowing time to reflect not only on the elements themselves but also on the significance of the act into which they are about to enter. Slowly and purposefully the loaf of bread is raised and broken before it is returned to the table; there is a time of personal prayer and reflection. In the same way the cup is then held up for all to see before it is replaced on the table. In each instance, the opportunity is being offered through times of silence for individuals to enter into the meaning of this gift and to relate to it in a very personal way.
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Sharing the elements: Following a silent prayer by the presiding minister, a gesture is made inviting people to come forward and to receive the elements. (it is helpful if it is arranged beforehand that the first people to partake will know to tear a piece of bread themselves from the loaf and to dip it into the chalice (intinction) before consuming it. Having done so the others will do likewise) The minister is served last, when all others have partaken. The silence is broken for the first time as the Lord’s Prayer is said by all. Sing: ‘Gloria’ ‘Gloria, Gloria in excelsis deo, Gloria, Gloria, Alleluia, Alleluia’ (Can be sung as a round if well known or practiced before the service.) Final Prayer and Blessing: Thank you God for this time of peace that we have shared with one another and with you, for the opportunity to listen again for your still small voice; for the silence necessary to feel the power of your presence both with us, and within us; You have blessed us with the presence and the power of your son coming into our world, into our lives. Now, Lord, send us forth to live as blessings to others in his name in your world.
Alternative version without a presiding minister: For small groups wanting to do this type of service without an ordained minister present the following is suggested: The Agape is a fellowship meal, one of the ancient traditions of the church, stretching back to the period of the early church community when there was no institutional church. Sometimes an Agape is a good way to express unity in Christ and the fellowship of faith community. It is sacramental in that every shared meal can be called sacramental; it is a celebration of the ministry of God’s people – all God’s people – and can be led by lay people. • Use all the above words and prayers or create your own. • Decide in advance what sort of meal you would like. Use oatcakes/biscuits/grape juice/water or something more special according to the occasion. • Follow the patterns of reflection and silence as above. • Pass and share to each other in community. This service has been used successfully as it is printed. The following variations could be used to vary or enrich the experience for the group known to you: • Prepare the people slightly in advance so that they are aware of their participation in a different type of worship eg: a few hours or the day before the service • write the short Bible passage on a scroll; pass it round to be read • choose music without words; keep the music almost imperceptible • people are sometimes unnerved by silence; if appropriate have a short period with no music • add any visual/physical aids; for example: pebbles, well chosen Powerpoint pictures, dance movements. • allow time/space afterwards for any expression of feelings/reactions
Amen Revd Fraser Smith
Suggested Music: From ‘Your Favourite Taizé Collection: St Thomas’ Music Group’ directed by Margaret Rizza © Ateliers et Presses de Taizé. Reprinted with permission of Calamus, Oak House, 70 High Street, Brandon, Suffolk, IP27 0AU
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I ask God from the wealth of his glory to give you power through his Spirit to be strong in your inner selves, and I pray that Christ will make his home in your hearts through faith.
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magnet • © Words: Ephesians 3: 16 – 17a. Scripture quoted is from the Good News Bible © 1994, 2004 published by the Bible Societies/HarperCollins Publishers Ltd., UK Good News Bible © American Bible Society 1966, 1971, 1976, 1992. Used with permission; image: In 2005 a set of Stations of the Cross was commissioned for St John's, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk. The series was completed three years later when the artist, Iain McKillop, was asked to add another painting, The Risen Christ, to the group. All the paintings are on view in St John's every day of the year between 9am and 5pm
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Powerful or powerless? ANDREW DUNN
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the Time magazine list of the world’s most powerful people of today, it was good to see amongst the all the many politicians and world leaders the Dalai Lama and the patriarch Bartholomew 1 of the Eastern Orthodox church. These are people who do not court wealth and power and yet are able to inspire and move many millions of people the world over. Do you remember the ‘class sketch’ from the Frost report of the 1960s? I remember being convulsed with laughter all those years ago and even today, looking at it again on an internet site, it is still just a funny. It makes a mockery of the class system in Britain but is equally as relevant to the caste system in India, the old money and nouveaux riche in America, in fact the rich and poor of almost any country in the world. For those who don’t remember (or are too young to remember) the sketch shows three men of various heights, tall, medium and short. They are discussing looking down on people and looking up to others. OOKING AT
Wealth, and position are all part of the package for where someone is in society. You are defined not by who you are but by what you have. Surprisingly some of the most powerful and inspirational people in the world have been those who have nothing. Jesus Christ came from a very humble background, having been born in a borrowed stable, and been brought up in an obscure village to the north of the country in which he lived. His young mother worked hard to care for her family, his father was a carpenter, a lowly but honest trade, and until he was thirty Jesus lived at home with all the family
Sculpture at Aldeburgh in Suffolk. The words read: ‘I hear the voices of those that will not be drowned’ – Peter Grimes, by Benjamin Britten Here was a man who seemingly had no power of any kind yet his words and deeds were known throughout his native land and are still talked about today. Here was a man who spoke up for the tax-collector, the prostitute, the mentally impaired, the sick, the downtrodden, children and those simply in need. Here was a man who could have had the world at his feet, but the temptations in the desert tell of his unwillingness to take the easy option. He could have had all the power in the world yet he chose to be powerless, he chose the way of the cross and broke the power over death. Jesus Christ, powerless yet powerful. For more information on the powerful people go to Time Magazine list of top 100 powerful people in the world today. www.time.com /time/time100
Prayer Almighty God, the father of all Give us the courage to follow the example set by your son Jesus Christ. Help us to see what is wrong in our society and be prepared to stand up and speak out against injustice to our fellow human beings. Help us to fight for all to enjoy good health care, have a living wage and the opportunity to fulfil their potential. Give the powerful the compassion and wisdom to help those whose power is small and build them up to a level place so that all may share the wonders of your world with equal measure
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A position of authority A bible study taken from 1 Kings 3: 5-12 by Alison Judd, a past president of Women’s Network, now working in Barbados as mission partner with her husband Revd Les Judd
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T IS SAID that when a person is put in a position of authority, he or she will soon be tested by their subordinates to see how far they can go before the new leader establishes control. This was Solomon’s experience when he first became king. His dying father, David, had advised him, ‘Be strong, be courageous, and keep the charge of the Lord your God.’ (1 Kings 2:2b-3a). He had also warned him about potential rivals, but reassured him with encouraging words: ‘Act… according to your wisdom (2:6) and ‘…you are a wise man; you will know what you ought to do.’ (2:9). Solomon’s half-brother Adonijah, who had already schemed unsuccessfully to claim the throne for himself, made a second rival bid for power, this time involving Bathsheba. Solomon dealt ruthlessly and decisively with this and other tests of his authority, but
it would seem that his confidence had been shaken. Did he even begin to doubt his mother’s trustworthiness? Solomon’s response Solomon turns to God. He offers sacrifices at his favourite altar at Gibeon. That night he has a dream in which God in effect offers to grant him his deepest wish. Solomon remembers his father, and perhaps recalls his encouraging words ‘you are a wise man.’ But he doesn’t feel very wise. He feels inadequate for the task of ruling over such a vast number of God’s people. He feels like a vulnerable child who doesn’t know which way to turn (3:7). He asks God for wisdom so that he will know how to govern and ‘discern between good and evil.’ God grants Solomon his request. 1 Kings 3:1628 records the dramatic evidence of this.
Read some of Solomon’s wise advice about life-style, money and relationships in the book of Proverbs: ‘The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.’ (Proverbs 1:7).
bible study
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Ponder • In your experience, does God help you with difficult decisions? • What one spiritual gift would you like God to give you? (1 Corinthians 12:4-11) • God gave Solomon a discerning mind and the riches and honour he did not ask for. How has God shown similar generosity to you? Pray for those in positions of leadership in your church, your community and the world, especially President Obama in his new role as president of the United States of America, that they might honour God and receive wisdom.
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MARK HOWARD
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Creative laughter Chris Eyden talks us through the ways in which laughter can enable a clearer understanding of ourselves
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e don’t very often think of God laughing. I have a drawing of Jesus laughing and some people find it hard to deal with. I don’t know why? I think laughter’s the most wonderful thing. It’s often the sign of such joy and pleasure. It can be a great antidote when we’re feeling a bit down. It can be a sign of relief and it can pull us from our pedestals when we take ourselves too seriously or get a bit pompous. Laughing at ourselves can make us easier people. I think when we can laugh at ourselves it means we can forgive ourselves for being the imperfect beings that we all are; this in turn helps us to be more forgiving of others. Laughter can help us to deal with life’s absurdities and even cruelties. Humour often comes out of adversity. They say that Jewish people even made jokes in the concentration camps. Laughter can be redeeming. It can help us to cope with the things that are done to us. The people who make us laugh can very often help us to get a perspective on things. They themselves often battle with anxiety and sometimes tragedy. They understand our worries and
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predicaments. Some of the greatest British Comedians of the twentieth century were often depressed and unhappy people and yet they could have us rolling in the aisles as they highlighted the absurdity of our lives. But laughter can easily turn into derision and derision can be cruel. The laughter which mocks and bullies isn’t real laughter. It’s the laughter of the pantomime villain which is always just a little mad. Laughter can also be a cover. It can be the nervous laughter which masks real fear and insecurity but that too is never funny. Laughter that tells the truth about things, which pricks the balloon of pomposity and power and lifts us up to delight in ourselves and each other is I believe, at the heart of God. I think Jesus did a lot of it. If he didn’t he’d never have been as popular as he was. What about this: ‘In the beginning God laughed and it cascaded down the ages and created all things on the way. And so can we ‘laugh with him’ as well as weep’? Revd Chris Eyden © Unique. Used with permission.
March 13th is Red Nose Day 2009 when people use comedy and laughter to raise money for Comic Relief. (registered charity 326568 (England / Wales); SC039730 (Scotland) • Comic Relief’s vision is to create a just world, free from poverty • Comic Relief spends all the money raised giving extremely poor and disadvantaged people in the UK and Africa a helping hand to turn their lives around. The Comic Relief promise Comic Relief is able to promise that for every pound the charity gets directly from the public a pound goes to helping transform the lives of people living with poverty and social injustice. If Red Nose Day raises £50 million, Comic Relief will spend at least £50 million doing just that. It can make this promise because its operating budget is covered in cash or in kind from all types of supporters like corporate sponsors and donors, suppliers, generous individuals and government (including Gift Aid) as well as from investment income and interest. Go on… do something funny for money…
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Resources… Books and resources reviewed here can be obtained from your local Christian bookshop unless otherwise stated. Methodist Publishing House stock Inspire and Epworth titles and can be reached on 01733 325002 or at www.mph.org.uk
Great Revivalists Stories of many of our heroes from 1700 to the present day John Peters CWR £9.99 ISBN 9781853454820 There are two ways to read this book. Firstly as a history of those who were the focus of revival over the last three hundred years throughout the United Kingdom and beyond. Many well known heroes and heroines are included; George Whitfield, Rees Howells, Dr Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Robert Murray McCheyne, the Wesleys to name but a few. Although their stories are interesting, the study of how God has impacted on certain places and at certain times is much more revealing. John Peters has highlighted five common denominators that include an intense presence of God, beginning in the church and spreading into society. He finds that revival is seasonal and has an ending, that it is refreshing and very surprising. Seemingly simplistic, the historical evidence shows the amazing powerful way in which people are changed. This book to me is like an antidote to those who claim that God is dead and would be of interest to those who look for change.
Could it be Dementia? Losing your mind doesn’t mean losing your soul Louise Morse and Roger Hitchings Monarch Books £7.99 ISBN 9781854248251 Dementia is not an easy subject to talk or write about. In fact the author compares it to cancer twenty years ago. This extremely well written and accessible book of practical help and reassurance comes from authors with a knowledge and experience of Pilgrim Homes, a 200 year old charity for elderly Christians. The tone is positive and hopeful. There are explanations of what is happening in the brain and suggestions on how to look after it, all gleaned from the latest scientific research. For me, this book stresses the need of company for everyone especially those who suddenly find themselves with impaired memory or confusion. There are examples of how people are already offering hospitality and care from within their church families. The value of the individual should not diminish according to their ability to cope and the strength of this book is its emphasis on inclusion and participation. I recommend this to all trying to come to terms with this hidden and misunderstood disease.
Messenger
Lentwise
Story for Teenagers Paul Kercal Darton Longman & Todd £7.95 ISBN 9780232527520
Spiritual essentials for real life Paula Gooder Church House Publishing £4.99 ISBN 9780715141656
Messenger is quite unlike anything I have ever read. It is written in text speak, the language of the computer chat room, into which people are invited to join in the conversations. Five school friends are in the midst of crises. Who can they trust? How can their best friends act so cowardly? Will one of them survive the family rows? This isn’t a world for adults. It seems like a foreign country and yet with the timely intervention of the mysterious Messenger, a feeling of calm settles on the group dispelling the angst. Teenagers would appreciate it for the story line as well as the style.
This is another resource to consider for your Lent study group. I like it because it is thought provoking without being too academic and exclusive. Paula Gooder looks at five necessities for the journey of faith using passages from John’s gospel with enough material for ninety minutes worth of discussion and worship. Each passage is given a slight makeover by the author directly from the Greek with an insightful explanation which adds to the themes of the discussions like finding direction, keeping going, gaining wisdom, finding security and enjoying refreshment. She writes of it as “stocking up the spiritual essentials”.
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Resources… The Weeping Redwood Tree
The Moon in the Mango Tree
Kevin Scott £3 ISBN 978095599017 Church Path Publishing, Church Cottage, Church Path, Rotherfield, East Sussex TN6 3FD or churchpathpublishing@hotmail.co.uk
Janet Clarke (2008) Church in the Market Place Publications ISBN 101899147659 £4-includes a contribution to Christian Aid Available from Janet Clarke, 36 Holmebank West, Chesterfield S40 4AS
Only twenty pages long and at its simplest, described as a conversation between an old tired preacher and an ancient revered redwood tree surrounded by the natural world. In essence it is a battle for the old man’s soul, peeling away the layers of all that he considered vital to his faith and discovering what is truly the creative nature of God. There is anger and confusion and finally tears. This little book may be for those who find the present bewildering. I needed to read it through more than once to first come to terms with its challenge to my own entrenched belief system and to perceive a little of what the author was intending. A rare thing!
How sweet the name (2008) CD Devon Brown and friends Christian Music Ministries £12.99 from 325 Bromford Road, Hodge Hill, Birmingham B36 8ET or www.cmm.org.uk This is a collection of songs which feature a number of solos from Roger Jones productions. A tenor voice of warmth and sincerity, Devon Brown is joined by the singers of the company. Many of the lyrics are familiar hymns like “O love that wilt not let me go” by George Matheson but set to Roger Jones music. Devon sings two of his own compositions about his caring and wonderful God accompanying himself on the piano. My favourites are “He who dwells in the shelter of the most high” based on Psalm 91 from the Psalm Collection, a wonderful arrangement slightly minor in key which Devon sings with such sweetness and “The Lord’s my shepherd” in a slow jazz idiom. I love the trumpet solos. If you are unfamiliar with the work of Roger Jones, Devon and his friends give a welcome taster.
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A West African story for everyone over 7! Two tenyear-old girls from contrasting cultures meet at the compound water tap. From then on their lives are intertwined. They have the kind of fun that only Africa can supply but also come up against big questions that even grownups can’t answer. The line drawing illustrations help to give atmosphere to this wellpresented book which, because it is seen through the eyes of ten year olds may seem naïve, but hints at the big issues beyond. Mary Jefferson
Hit the Ground Kneeling Seeing leadership differently (2008) Stephen Cottrell Church House Publishing £7.99 ISBN 9780715141625 Stephen Cottrell, Bishop of Reading, introduces the reader to the story of the trees from Judges 9 verse 8 to 15; a conversation amongst the trees as to who should be the leader. He refers back to it again towards the end of the book when the significance becomes clear. For Stephen, leadership can take place can take place anywhere, in the work place, in the church, on the sports field or in the family but what makes a good leader? Is the decisive macho, crisis management expert, open-to-all type of leader, the best for the company, the family, the church or the sports team? Using much of what he has learned over the years from his own experience and others, he thoughtfully drip feeds us with his own topsy-turvy brand. He suggests that sometimes it’s important to “state the obvious” and sometimes “too many cooks” are a good thing. Who would have thought that the contemplative visionary with a clear goal who doesn’t mind getting it wrong might be a good leader! It’s such a breath of fresh air in this so called highly efficient, highly technological age, written for all who have ambitions to lead.
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“W
ithout being invited by the company, it is unlikely I would have ever gone to the theatre”… These are the words of Oswald Hamilton, Injection Moulding Supervisor for Acme Whistles. Acme is located in inner city Birmingham, on the edge of Lozells – an area with a rich diversity of people - unfortunately made famous in recent decades not for whistles, but for riots and shootings. Acme’s Managing Director, Simon Topman, is keen to ensure that the workforce is representative of the surrounding communities. This means that the majority of employees are from black and ethnic minority communities and, in the past, few have had any links with the theatre. As an enthusiastic member of the Birmingham Repertory Theatre Board, Simon suggested that things could be different. Members of Acme’s staff were invited to attend three major productions at the Rep. They played an important part in marketing the programme and distributing information to local businesses and
places of worship. The result was a great success, with an audience survey indicating that 25% of attendees were first-time visitors. Today, Acme has its own internal box office and a theatre club set up in the factory rest area. Every year, people from the surrounding area come to the factory to see a performance put on by the staff. The founders of the John Lewis Partnership had the vision of “a successful company powered by its people and its principles”. Members of staff at John Lewis (and Waitrose) are partners and company profits are shared between them. Sports facilities, health and welfare benefits are offered by the company to
Corporate power is often seen as nothing more than greed and financial gain at all costs. Revd Stephen Willey, a workplace chaplain, explains that it isn’t always the case. Companies can, if they try, work with their employees and the community and not against them.
all partners. The company has high social responsibility targets and consistently scores over 95% on the Corporate Responsibility Index. Like John Lewis, the founder of Grundfos Pumps was committed to commercial activity with principles. With great foresight, he set up a foundation to take 85% of the profits and plough them back into research and development. Grundfos now operates 58 companies in 43 countries. Its mission statement says that the company exists to contribute to “a better quality of life and a healthy environment” through the development and sale of pumps. The annual Grundfos Prize is given for innovative and foresighted
The Northern Rock failure reflected an international failure to rein in greed and corporate ambition
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Building on the rock?
Corporate office block in Birmingham
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Corporate Responsibility (CR) index Business in the Community’s CR Index is the UK’s leading voluntary benchmark of responsible business. It helps companies to integrate and improve responsibility throughout their operations by providing a systematic approach to managing, measuring and reporting on the way business impacts in society and on the environment.
John Lewis store, London
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JOHNLEWIS PARTNERSHIP
engineering and scientific solutions which are useful to communities. Corporate business has the power to make a profound difference for good. With solid foundations small companies or large multinationals can enrich the lives of employees, communities
and the wider world. Whereas John Lewis and Grundfos are legally secured against attempts by others to profit from their share prices and attempts to sell John Lewis have come to nothing in the past, the story of Northern Rock, Halifax and Bradford and Bingley is very different. Once mutual societies, the mutuality was lost when members sold their ownership for one-off payments and shares. As banks with much more power to lend and borrow than mutual societies, they became vulnerable and they all fell, built on the sands of toxic credit. Northern Rock sponsored many charities and sports clubs, but it failed because of a systemic problem deep within international financial markets, where complex financial instruments and a lack of transparency made it very difficult to know how healthy a company was. The Northern Rock failure
reflected an international failure to rein in greed and corporate ambition. Perhaps this was linked to a belief that the market was allpowerful – like God! Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury, refers to such idolatry or unbridled capitalism as a dangerous form of fundamentalism. In the space of three months BP and Shell have been known to make a combined profit of £7.2 billion (that’s 3.3 million an hour). In 2008 Tesco’s annual profits were stated to have hit the £2 billion profit mark for the first time. What can we say? Is this unbridled capitalism? Do we want a part of those profits? Hugely profitable companies generally have clear statements of corporate responsibility, but unlike Grunfos or John Lewis, they are less focused on the power of investment and more focused on the power of consumerism and profit. Companies too focused on profit rather than investment are aggressive consumers. They see the potential for profit from the consuming of fertile lands, diverse rain forests, local facilities, human lives and the planet’s resources. It is possible for market fundamentalists (individuals, societies and corporations) to become bloated, sick and broken, yet still have an insatiable appetite driving them to consume ever more. These days, almost every large company has a corporate responsibility policy. No company is perfect – including the ones I’ve mentioned positively in this article. There are companies which invest much of their profit, time and energy in the communities they relate to, the staff they employ and in products designed to improve lives and the environment. Bearing in mind that financial returns are really not everything, if you and I invest in our families, our communities and in such companies, there is a possibility that when we are old and frail our world will be enriched, kinder and looking after us quite well!
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Transformation God’s inexplicable power transforms the crucified ‘defeated’ Jesus, the broken recipient of humanity’s worst hatred into the glorified risen Lord, beyond the scope of human evil, calling us into his realm of love. God’s inexplicable power transforms very ordinary powerless people, even those burdened with wrongs, inflicted by self or others into glorified wholeness if we come with open hearts.
magnet • words: © Ros Murphy. Used with permission; image: Resurrection Spiral by Zam Walker. Used with permission.
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talking justice
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Peace marches for
freedom East Germany 1989 Twenty years ago people in Leipzig prayed and marched for change: the Berlin Wall and all that it represented came tumbling down…
During the mid 80’s Bärbel lived in Leipzig, studying to become a professional violinist. Kerstin went to medical school in Dresden and is now a full time GP. Before talking together for this article they had not spoken much with other East Germans about this period of their history. Together they tell the story of the peace marches and the fall of the East German government. The Peace Prayers started in St Nicolai Church, Leipzig in 1982 because of the push from NATO to build more missiles. In 1989, every Monday evening, prayers formed the basis for peaceful political protests.
Lifestyle Bärbel: I was a music student. We had to take politics – Marxism and Leninism – and get a higher grade in this than in our main subject. I used to do my knitting during these seminars and ended up with a lower grade! But I was okay and began to play my violin professionally in 1987. I played many times in the Leipzig churches; sometimes peace prayers were said during the concert. Kerstin: In the late 80’s we became aware that people were meeting in Leipzig. Even before the demonstrations we knew that people met at St Nicolai’s on Monday nights at 5 o’clock, though nothing was happening in our area. Before I became a student I heard things like, ‘You should see what is all this about.’ But I was also told, ‘Oh no, you cannot go there because you would never get to university.’ That was the fear. To go to university you had to have all the right boxes ticked. If you did something they didn’t like, you were put on the List, a file was made about you. You had to be careful.
The turning point – May 1989 local elections Bärbel: The local elections were every four years. This was my second election. Many parties were on the election sheet and I knew that my friends voted for everything except the main party, but the main party still won; that was it for me. I was 23 by then. I was so frustrated, and I wasn’t alone. People tried to leave over the border. After 40
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years of the same, stagnating government, we wanted change. The thinking people were talking : musicians, writers, poets, Christian families, church leaders – all were using a hidden language behind their texts, but we knew what they were talking about. Both my parents were musicians and I was proud of their connection. Kerstin: Because the peace prayers were against the building of weapons, the church adopted the Weapons into Ploughshares logo from the sculpture outside the UN building in New York. I knew the logos were being worn, but it was an absolute no-no. Some people wore them on their jackets.
September 4th – November 9th Bärbel: On 4 September 1989, after the prayers, there was a small demonstration outside the church. About 100 people stood with protest posters saying: ‘STASI out!’ and ‘Travel Freedom.’ They were stopped, surrounded and taken away in police cars. Three weeks later 10,000 people demonstrated outside St Nicolai Church. Wonneberger and Christian Führer, founders of the Monday night peace prayers, called for peaceful demonstrations only.
On 2 October, the demonstration went round the ring road for the first time. It was stopped by barricades, water and helmeted police in black uniforms; 18 people were arrested and taken into custody. Later that week small demonstrations were beaten down. It was the week of the state’s 40th anniversary celebrations. By 9 October 70,000 people gathered in Leipzig. Three churches were opened for the prayers. This was my first demonstration. We marched peacefully along the whole ring road. It was so exciting because previously we had had to shout the communist slogans. Now everyone was shouting: ‘Wir sind das Volk! (We are the people!). We are the nation. Free elections for everybody.’ The sound echoed through the whole town of Leipzig. Everything else was quiet. We were surrounded by the army and the police. They had prison cars ready. It was the first time they didn’t do anything. I went to two more demonstrations. On 16 October 150,000 joined the march, and for the first time East German news broadcast the protest. My parents marched, too. Older people who had been frightened of the Stasi lost their fear. They gave up and went. That’s how the people changed it round.
A visit to the school class by two soldiers from the NVA: the National People’s Army (Nationale Volksarmee); Bärbel aged eight playing at the end of term concert. The scarf shows that she belongs to the ‘Young Pioneers’ organisation.
We did see pictures of government violence, people being beaten with black sticks. But they couldn’t crush it. Kerstin: Many towns now joined in and it got bigger and bigger. I joined the marches near the end of October. My family marched too. We marched right round the town in peaceful opposition. The cause was so big and the people were no longer afraid. Bärbel: I didn’t go to Berlin. We couldn’t believe it was happening. I didn’t know it was actually a false command. There was a document about free travel for everybody and it was simply announced. Everyone thought, ‘We can travel now. Let’s go to the wall!’ No one could stop them. There were not enough forces. That was 9 November. It all came down and the whole thing was free.
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Life after reunification
St Nicolai Church, Leipzig. The pillar was built as a replica of one from the inside of the church and is a memorial to those who were killed during the peaceful protests.
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Bärbel: The difference of thinking between the two countries was huge. They had been divided for 40 years. I liked the democracy, the freedom to think out loud, the availability of books from other countries and the freedom to travel. I liked the exchange of musicians and orchestras from other countries, which we’d never had before. Nevertheless, in the year 2000 the salaries of musicians from former Eastern Germany were still 15% less than the rest of the country.
expensive cars that they didn’t have before.
Kirsten: ‘After 10 years we forget the bad things and remember the good. Some people lost their jobs. There is a new generation but there are still differences, stigmas. Consumerism was very scary. You could buy more. We used to be able to buy all the same and we were all equal. Our standard of living had been okay. We knew how to get on together. We could talk to each other on the same level. It was easier than in a town today. Everything is now competitive and people have
Peace prayers continued at St Nicolai Church; years later Monday demonstrations were held in protest against the Iraq war and against social security changes.
Both agree: ‘Because we could travel we were very interested in everything about West Germany, but many were not interested in us at all. Sometimes we wish we could change it back: we had very good neighbours and a good community spirit. We stood together. There was not much to buy, but we had enough. We had a lucky childhood.
STASI: The Ministerium für Staatssicherheit (Ministry for State Security), commonly known as the Stasi (abbreviation German: Staatssicherheit, literally State Security), was the official secret police of East Germany.
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Glory to you, O God: Your love brought Christ to birth, Your love led Christ to the cross, Your love raised Christ from the tomb, And it was good!
magnet • words: Revd Dr Adrian Burdon © Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes. Used with permission; image: Jesus appears to his disciples © Andrea Jeavons. Used with permission.
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If we believe that power corrupts and that the meek shall inherit the earth then Christians should not be working in positions of power. DAVID COLEMAN
your debate
magnet Spring 2009
If we all, whether in positions of power or not, put the best of ourselves into whatever role we undertake, then we will have a powerful effect on people and society. We are called to be ‘salt and light’ if we are not in it, then we can’t win it. Or put another way, if Christians are not in every part of society then the values we hold, and the truths we believe will not be told. Preach the Gospel and if you have to – use words. Yes. Andy, Elizabeth, Lesley, Margaret, Marian, Marjorie, Neil, Peter, Ray, Rene.
T
HE FOLLOWING RESPONSE came from a Wednesday evening Fellowship Group, St Cuthbert’s Parish Church, Kirkcudbright, Dumfries and Galloway. The group comprises eleven folk from a variety of church backgrounds; including Church of Scotland, Church of England, Presbyterian, Congregationalist and Methodist. In recent weeks they have been discussing the Beatitudes and spent one evening debating the above motion. Brief results of their debate are as follows:
Do we believe power corrupts? The lust for power can corrupt, and power can tend towards corruption but corruption is not inherent in positions of power. Corruption occurs when power is abused.
If we all, whether in positions of power or not, put the best of ourselves into whatever role we undertake, then we will have a powerful effect on people and society. 34
Should Christians be working in positions of power? A good leader is one who leads with faith and integrity, rather than being out for what they can get. As accountability tempers power, and ultimately a Christian’s accountability is to God then there is no reason why they should exempt themselves from positions of power.
Jesus had tremendous power, but, though he was accused of many things, he wasn’t found to be corrupt. There are people in positions of power who are incorruptible just as there are those who are corrupt. We do not believe that power necessarily corrupts. Do we believe the meek shall inherit the earth? In many people’s eyes meekness and weakness are synonymous. True meekness requires great strength of character. We felt that Peterson’s interpretation of this beatitude in The Message, ‘You’re blessed when you’re content with just who you are – no more, no less. That’s the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can’t be bought,’ was a more helpful way of understanding this difficult Kingdom value, and therefore, though it is hard to understand, we do believe the meek will inherit the earth.
Footnote: Part of their discussion was around Initiatives of Change (formerly The Moral Re-Armament). It is an international network of people working for reconciliation, justice and the healing of history. It encourages individuals to live according to their highest secular and religious values. It has no membership, no subscription and minimal formal organisational structure. There is a role for everybody, everywhere. The editorial group have decided to publish the letter edited only slightly and feel it gratifying to see that such a diverse group with different doctrinal backgrounds can debate and discuss the issues posed in our magazine. This is after all what Magnet sets out to achieve: an open forum and thought provoking ideas, which can be discussed and debated and used in worship as the readership sees fit.
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But power can be freed from corruption by Christian influence. It would be wrong to believe that true Christians, working in positions of power could not stand out against corruption and make a difference. Gentleness, allied with intelligence and decisive action can earn respect and support, whereas corrupt practices are discerned and condemned. Submission can be a valuable asset when the powerful must negotiate with others. How else could right decisions be made?
position of power myself as Chairman of a district council. Jean Hanmer, Bristol Power certainly can corrupt, as history shows, but Christians who hold power should surely be expected to bring Christian influence to bear in all decisions, within the bounds of the way in which we have organised our society. Perhaps in the twenty first century Christians ought to strive to establish true democracy as practised in the early Greek cities. Our present representative democracy allows power to be used and abused by just a few.
For the sake of the world we need gifted Christians to use their talents in positions of power.
The logistics of creating true democracy, in which we can all play an equal part, would be tremendously difficult. It would however be a worthy challenge, not just for Christians but also for humankind.
Dorothy Woo, Sheffield
Don Cole, Leeds
‘Meek’ does not mean ‘feeble’ Power may corrupt but it may not – as the lives of innumerable Christian leaders show. We have to be alert to the danger.
‘For the good of our Lord, the Church was always on the side of the strong.’ These words are spoken by the priest in the film ‘Aguirre, the Wrath of God’, which was made in 1972 by Werner Herzog. The film tells the story of an expedition in Peru in the 16th century. The men in the expedition mutiny and injure the leader. The leader’s wife asks the priest to help her husband. The priest refuses and the quotation above is his explanation (justification?).
If we truly seek to obey God’s will, he may lead us into positions of power and sustain us in those positions. If we turn away from those positions then the devil will soon find someone else to take them on! So I would vote against the motion – having been in a
Perhaps in the twenty first century Christians ought to strive to establish true democracy as practised in the early Greek cities. Our present representative democracy allows power to be used and abused by just a few.
I feel common sense weighs against the motion as does the quotation from the film. However the quotation, by its extreme bluntness, sows doubts, encouraging us to feel uncomfortable with our common sense. Keith Austin, Sheffield
PERMISSION SOUGHT
Yes, power corrupts and a dictionary definition of meek is: “gentle of temper; submissive.” We find it difficult to imagine a person in power being submissive or even gentle.
have your say… Instead of a debate in the Summer 2009 (Saints and Heroes) issue, we are asking you to nominate a modern day or everyday saint and tell us why. What qualities make them so? Are the gospel saints still appropriate in the twenty first century? The deadline is Friday 27 March 2009 by post to the editorial office or via the website. Looking ahead to Debate for autumn issue ‘Visions’: God no longer speaks in dreams and visions.
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Happy slapping There’s nothing happy about these bullying tactics in the modern era. Can we help our young people to feel safe?
F
the introduction on a wide scale of mobile phones to young people has brought tension and divided loyalties. On one hand they feel comforted that contact could be made with their child in an emergency and to a certain extent keep tabs on them. Alternatively there is the worry that they will lose, or have stolen, that expensive piece of latest technology. Little did parents realise that this small, flashing, silver object would be the cause of the latest increase in bullying, known commonly as ‘happy slapping’. OR MOST PARENTS
intention is to follow up this ritual humiliation and ensure that any last remaining threads of self-respect disappear completely. Some of these images have been known to appear on internet based message systems used by many young people. Imagine your most humiliating, painful, embarrassing and potentially life-threatening moment, being used as young people’s entertainment, with recourse for further bullying. A survey completed by Action for Children (previously NCH) inconjunction with Tesco, showed that 97% of 12-16 year olds owned a mobile phone. Mobile Youth 2004 reported that four million young people own camera enabled mobile phones. W2F Mobile Youth, 2005, project that this figure will double by 2007.
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One young girl describes her ordeal: “It would always come through late at night when I was in bed. They said things like they were watching me, that they were watching the house. They said that they would hurt my little sister. They also made comments about my appearance, so I knew they could see me each day. I’d look around the classroom and try and work out who was doing it to me. I’d watch people on the bus, always looking over my shoulder. I couldn’t think who could have got hold of my mobile number, as I was careful who I gave it too. I didn’t tell my friends, in case it was one of them. I became paranoid, withdrawn and irritable with my family. Eventually I stopped eating. I just felt so alone and frightened.” Young people must not suffer in silence. Action for Children and Tesco Mobile have launched a website www.stoptextbully.com. Action for Children have a website for adults and children www.actionforchildren.org.uk. Childline and NSPCC have made recent announcements that they will combine to make one organisation in the New Year. The current web page for Childline is www.childline.org.uk. This site is full of helpful pages for young people with problems. There are pages where young people can ask for advice but most importantly they will realise that they are not alone.
‘Happy slapping’ takes the form of a group of young people waiting for their victim, then beating, slapping, punching and kicking the victim while bystanders take photos or video images on their phones using the camera facility. These images are then distributed round the school, community, club or group the victim attends. The
Education and awareness are the first steps in taking the ‘slapping’ out of ‘happy slapping’ and making young people feel safe. ISTOCK
“They said things like they were watching me, that they were watching the house. They said that they would hurt my little sister. They also made comments about my appearance, so I knew they could see me each day.”
While some young people are the victims of assault, many young people are the victims of bullying, without knowing who the perpetrator is. Abusive words and text messages arrive on their mobile phones, making threats that are frightening and disturbing.
Source: Magnet editorial office
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Helleborus Niger The Christmas rose never flowers at Christmas unless you cushion it with care, hype-up its promise, and bed it down with close-strewn hay as in a manger. Its pristine glory comes much later: March or April; Easter-time, and so belies its name. And so it was that only later; after the messy stable and the bloody cross, by resurrection hindsight we beheld his glory.
magnet • words: Š Donald Hilton, from No Empty Phrases (1999) with permission of Christian Education; image: istock
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Sharing Stories discovering faith in the contemporary world All Age Event Presidency:
Inderjit Bhogal Minister, Theologian, Race Equalities, Interfaith
Bible Studies:
Judith Rossall Minister, Director of Learning & Development Southern Theological Education & Training Scheme
Seminars & Workshops:
Linda Bandelier Minister & International Story Teller
Graham Ward Head of Arts, Histories and Cultures Manchester University & Professor of Contextual Theology and Ethics
Michael Symmons Roberts Poet
Doug Swanney Manager Discipleship & Ministry
Prayers & Reflection:
Michaela Youngson Minister, writer
The Hayes Conference Centre 25th July – 31st July 2009 An experience to support growth in discipleship, ministry and mission.
THE METHODIST SCHOOL OF FELLOWSHIP www.methodistschooloffellowship.org.uk joy@wadsworth.orangehome.co.uk Tel : 01676 533157
Image Jacques Iselin, The Elements of the Holy Communion from the Methodist Church Collection of Modern Christian Art Copyright: Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes, used by permission of Trustees of the Collection.
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Diary Dates March 1 17 6
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St David’s Day St Patrick’s Day International Women’s World Day of Prayer. Prepared this year by the women of Papua New Guinea Creative retreat – living reflectively. Time with God on a Lenten retreat. An opportunity to try something different, in the company of gentle and encouraging leaders. Leader: Maureen Stringer and team. £115 fully residential; £65 nonresident. Contact: Guy Chester Centre, Training and Spirituality Office, Chester House, Pages Lane, Muswell Hill, London N10 1PR. Tel: 020 8883 8204 e-mail: admin@chestercentre.org.uk International Women’s Day Red Nose Day 2009 when people use comedy and laughter to raise money for Comic Relief. Comic Relief’s vision is to create a just world, free from poverty. Comic Relief spends all the money raised giving extremely poor and disadvantaged people in the UK and Africa a helping hand to turn their lives around Listening well (B) communication skills for pastoral visiting. Learn how to set up and be involved in pastoral visiting groups. Speaker: Liz Gamble. £50. Contact: Guy Chester Centre (see 6-8 March) Palm Sunday Maundy Thursday Easter Sunday Easter Monday Women’s Network Conference. Venue: The Hayes conference centre, Swanwick, Derbyshire Theme: Think of a world… For more information contact Women’s Network office at Methodist Church House Returned Mission Partners Annual meeting. 11.45 start at Methodist Church House. Bring packed lunch, drinks provided. Speaker: Michael King (Team leader – World Church relationships) St Georges Day
British Red Cross appeal week Christian Aid Week World Federation of Methodist and Uniting Church Women European Methodist Women’s seminar. Theme: Be Salt Be Light; Venue: Erskine Bridge Hotel, Glasgow.
Talking Magnet Call Lynne Ling on 0844 736 2524 or email lynne@magnetmag.co.uk to request an application form for Talking Magnet on cassette tape. This service is free of charge to those who are registered blind or partially sighted. Talking Magnet is produced as a project by the Chester & Stoke-on-Trent District of the Methodist Church
Creatively reflecting powerful symbols You may have noticed the beautiful image used in the inside back cover of the Winter issue, ‘in your next issue’. The image is a small banner created by Anne Morecroft. She worked as a dressmaker for many years and has always been interested in the creative arts particularly using material and embroidery. She was given a craft DVD a few years ago which explained how to do ‘stained glass patchwork’. As she has arthritis in both hands small pieces are all she can cope with but she is furnishing the quiet room at her local church with small banners for each changing season. She has recently made a pulpit fall for a newly built church in her circuit.
In your next issue of magnet… The summer issue of Magnet is all about saints and heroes. Many of us have a hero, someone we look up to and admire, perhaps even try to emulate. Traditionally the saints fulfilled this role. How much do they do so today, and what qualities should we look for in a modern-day saint? Don’t forget to join our debate and nominate your saint for the twenty first century. And do you have a Bible hero? We ask a number of prominent Christians the same question. Who do they choose? We bring you inspirational stories of people who are heroes in their own communities, and Stella Bristow writes our worship for us, celebrating the heroes we all know who do so much to make the world a better place. All this, and more. We hope that this edition of Magnet will inspire and encourage you, so that at the end we can say, “Yes, we can all be heroes.”
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ing 22 ipp
uraging e co
ars of en ye
bling equ na
Way Please give generously to support the Fund for World Mission The Easter Offering Service is prepared by Women’s Network with the help of Mission Education. This act of worship enables the whole Church in Britain and Ireland to give to the work of the 61 Methodist Partner Churches overseas. © Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes 2008
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