Blending

 

Last week, whilst on a half term holiday visit to Spain, we visited the beautiful ancient city of Cordoba, famous for its original Mosque which now houses a Cathedral.

Cordoba’s Mosque Cathedral is a real collision of architectural styles and theologies.

Early one morning we attended a service in the Cathedral section and later that day had a tour of the, one time, immense Muslim Prayer Hall surrounding it.

I found myself thinking how great it would be if, today, both Christians and Muslims could co-exist in this holy space, using designated areas in which to worship and pray, and shared ones in which to dialogue.

The three, so called, Abrahamic faiths of Judaism, Christianity and Islam share many facets of faith. Characters such as Abraham, Moses and Elijah are present in all our scriptures, as is the notion of One God calling us to live lives of peace and compassion.

Of course, all three religions have fundamentalists who preach a depressing extremism. 

This blending of traditions will soon become apparent in our Lenten journey.  The Christian story of Jesus in the Wilderness clearly draws on the imagery of the Jewish one of a People journeying forty years through the Wilderness.

By the time we get to Maundy Thursday this blending of traditions moves up a gear as we celebrate Holy Communion, as religious observance which has its origins in the Seder Meal observed by our Jewish friends at Passover.  Indeed, this year at AFC, on Maundy Thursday, in our church hall the South Bucks Liberal Jewish Congregation will be holding a Passover Meal, whilst AFC’s congregation will be holding a Communion Service further down the corridor!

Whenever I meet Christians from other Churches, Seekers after Truth from other Faiths or, indeed, friends of no faith in particular who want to talk about the meaning of life, I sense a reassuring commonality.  I hope such an understanding has at its centre, the idea of seeing the image of God in the face of another, whatever their tradition – and in whatever room at both ends of church corridor they will be spending Passover/Maundy Thursday in just a few weeks time.

It is in giving that we receive

 

This week I was talking with a friend over a cup of tea and she told me the lovely story of how a grandson responded to her offer of a Christmas present.  When she asked him what he wanted, he said A visit to the Natural History Museum WITH YOU!

She was, understandably, delighted!  Delighted by his desire to have a day out with his grandmother as a way of sharing his Christmas present. She also confessed some amusement; remembering occasions in his younger years when his response was Not another museum Nana!  How we change.

There is a certain ‘mutuality’ in giving that, at times, brings us much joy.  Or as the book of Proverbs puts it: One gives freely yet grows all the richer (11.24). 

Our hope is that by offering service at church, folk will find a blessing in tasks undertaken.  That love shared in service to family and neighbour will enhance everyone’s life.  And that in international affairs, service offered by one country to another will lead to a safer world.

Although there is always the idea that we serve not hoping for any reward, there are instances when Proverbs is right and a mutual blessing is experienced.

Or, as St Francis of Assisi is reported to have said, It is in giving that we receive.

(Blog Holiday next week)

Being Together

 

Every Tuesday we have LunchBreak at AFC; a light lunch followed by a concert, talk or service.  Before Covid we had high numbers and there was a real buzz every Tuesday in the church hall.  Then came the great shutdown.

Since re-starting LunchBreak it’s all been a bit different.  Not so many join us now.  Some have passed away, others may have become housebound and maybe others have simply changed their routine.  Yet we have re-started, and that’s taken lots of thought and effort by a very committed group of volunteers.

A few weeks ago it became noticeable that on some Tuesdays the numbers are picking up and the noise level in the church hall is increasing, all giving us the sense that the ‘buzz’ is slowly returning!  Of course, nothing stays the same forever and we’ll have to monitor LunchBreak pretty regularly in the future to gauge the way it runs, as indeed we do all church organisations.

It was, therefore, a very heart warming moment the other week when a LunchBreak attendee from the community came over to our table, sat down with no other intention than simply to express his thanks to all the volunteers who make LunchBreak happen.  He said it with such quiet and genuine sincerity that it became a truly moving moment.

We thank God for such encouragements which help us ‘press on’.

In The Book of Joy, which chronicled a weeklong visit by Desmond Tutu to the Dalai Lama, Bishop Tutu said: We are wired to be compassionate and we shrivel when we are not able to interact.

Well, we thank God for all the interaction and compassion found at LunchBreak week by week.