I am writing to you from Osu which is in Accra, Ghana. As many of you already know, I am completing the last two weeks of my sabbatical programme, which was foiled last year. My focus is "Keeping faith in the face of trauma" and I am thinking particularly about the effects of generations of trauma. I will also seek to tie that into recent “trauma”. This journey to Ghana has been vital to my research. Some little things that may go unnoticed, have turned out to be of great value. One instance of this occurred last Sunday. On Sunday, I visited the Osu Eben-Ezer Presbyterian church, the congregation is usually 1000 on a Sunday morning and there are two services. The first is an English language service that begins at 7:00 am until 9:00 (but since the pandemic they have moved to 7:30 until 9:00). The second service which is all in the local language of Ga begins at 10:00 am. When I arrived, those in the courtyard acknowledged me with a respectful nod or bow. I washed my hands at one of the washbasins stationed in the courtyard of the church, as I saw others doing. I then proceeded to enter the church by the front doors, I was met by a welcomer, who sprayed sanitiser on my hands and asked me to follow her colleague. She called me "Osofo". The second person took me to a door around the side of the building. It was obvious to me that I had been ushered into the minister's vestry, and there was an open door that led directly to the Communion Table and the pulpit. "Am I expected to preach this morning?" I thought. I noted that she too called me "Osofo" Before the service the churches 2nd Minister Revd. Frederick Ashaley, assured me that today I would only observe. He led me to a seat where the ministers and church officials sit. The service on this day was led by the children and it was a wonderful expression of praise and thanksgiving to God. It was interesting to me that I was repeatedly called “Osofo” The name made me think of real honour, especially since I was treated with honour at the church. I was welcomed by the senior minister and invited to address the church. The next day, I was speaking with one of the ministers associated with the local Presbytery office and enquired about the word “Osofo” that I was being called. He explained that in both the Ga and Ashanti languages, many Reverend Ministers are called “Osofo” which means “Servant”.
What an important message and signal, to be regarded a servant and yet being treated with honour. In Luke 14:10 Jesus says “when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, ‘Friend, move up to a better place.” Jesus and in fact the Bible stresses the importance of serving others. On Wednesday 3rd March we begin observing the season of Lent, and one of the events we remember at this time is Jesus washing the feet of his disciples, a true act and demonstration of serving others; of being servant. Once when there was an argument among his disciples about who is greatest, Jesus told his disciples not to “lord it over” others (according to the NIV translation), like the officials exercise authority over them. “26 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first must be your servant— 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”. Being called “Osofo” was a real honour for me, my job is to live up to the title and do as Jesus commands, to be a servant of God, serving others.
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Home for most of us is a special place. There are many quotes that reflect its specialness. For example
‘There’s no place like home.’
‘Home is where the heart is.’
‘Home is a shelter from storms.’
‘Home is where you feel safe.’
Home is mentioned often in the Bible. Jesus was invited into people’s homes – Zacchaeus, Simon Peter, Mary and Martha to mention a few. He ate meals, healed and taught people in homes. He was surprised by a paralysed man on a mat in one home and a woman with an alabaster jar, full of perfume, in another. He broke bread in a home in Emmaus, showing that he is with us even now in our own homes, when we invite him in.
I came across ‘Jesus’ in Hoddesdon town centre recently, one evening, sitting by the entrance to Tesco’s store, a few carrier bags at hand, his only belongings I guess. He looked a little unkempt, sad and alone. It was quite unexpected, an unusual sighting as it seemed that the welfare state had looked after people like him during the pandemic and would continue to do so. But no, the latest estimate of the numbers of people living on the streets in London is 11,000 individuals.
Rightly or wrongly I fished in my pocket for a little money, tossed it to him with a ‘God bless’, aware that you need to be careful if you are not wearing a face mask and Jesus isn’t either. I returned to my own home, knowing that I have far too much and he has far too little. I thanked God for diverting my thoughts from my own comforts – I had no intention of going into the town centre when popping out to find some tea bags. Obviously God had something to show me.
Broxbourne winter night shelter is not going to run this year. The council are planning to support anyone that is homeless. We are asked instead to help with starter kits for those who are being housed in the local area. Obviously in the big cities it is a different story. The work of charities, such as Shelter and Crisis is very much in need. So do support them as you are able.
Thank God for your own home. Make use of your home whenever you can, not only to welcome Jesus, and others, but to help grow God’s church and God’s kingdom, to reach out to those who have far less than you. Ask God to show you how. Be imaginative and be creative. Be open to possibilities.
Jill Nugent
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Have you got a garden? Do you enjoy gardening? Perhaps you are having a go at it now because, in the present situation, you actually have extra time on your hands?
Being out in green spaces is good for our well-being but I actually like to think it’s good for God as well. Gardening can be on a large scale of course. There are many beautiful gardens that open to visitors and they can be inspirational as well as filling us with awe. In a garden I visited in Yorkshire recently I discovered that the incredible patterns and colours of the flower arrangements depend on the replanting, twice a year, of 8000 bulbs and 24000 young plants!
Our gardens are probably a lot less demanding but can be just as beautiful. Whatever their size, they are a part of God’s creation and we need to care for them just as much as we care for natural environments anywhere. I recently purchased a ‘garden quiz book’ which is full of facts about gardens and plants – lots to learn if you can’t answer the questions! But we don’t need to know a lot about gardens and plants in order to take care of our own patch. Caring for a garden tends to come naturally. After all we, too, are a part of God’s creation.
Gardens feature a lot in the Bible. There are the well known gardens, such as Eden and Gethsemane, but there are many smaller less well-known gardens too. In particular there are many references to gardens in the Old Testament, possibly because people cultivated small areas of land for fruit and vegetables. Sometimes they grew flowers as well. Significantly in that country they needed a supply of water. And often they needed a keeper, someone to watch over the produce at harvest times. Gardens were also used for family events, much as they are today, and for relaxation.
Gardens are mentioned in the New Testament too. Often these gardens are linked to the life of Jesus. In Jerusalem it is possible to visit a special garden - the Garden Tomb. It is a pretty garden, located near to the city walls. It contains an ancient tomb, thought by some to be the tomb used for the body of Jesus after his crucifixion and also the place of his resurrection. Many visitors find in the garden a sense of holiness and some, having heard the story of Jesus, find the living Christ.
The Quiet Garden Movement, a Christian initiative, encourages people to open up green spaces for contemplation and relaxation. Sometimes these are attached to churches, but also schools, homes and hospitals. Visitors enjoy somewhere quiet where they can rest in nature. They can be people of any faith or none – their common quest is to experience a little part of God’s creation. If you are able, visit the website. It not only lists the gardens but also has resources to promote well-being, such as meditative exercises, photographs and prayers.
How then do you come close to God in a garden? Perhaps in all ways – working in it, sitting in it, watching and listening to the wildlife in it. Someone said recently ‘I’ve actually seen things grow this spring!’. With extra time on our hands we can observe God’s creativity in action in our gardens. As we spend time tending our gardens and observing what is happening in our gardens we can quite easily come close to God. And God can come close to us too.
Jill Nugent
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Getting Creative with Scripture
St Paul in one of his letters in the New Testament writes to Timothy
‘All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness’ 2 Timothy 3 : 16
We should be connecting with scripture every day. When we do it’s most likely going to be through reading it or hearing it. Daily readers and reflections are helpful, either on-screen, in a book or via a podcast. They help us to think about scripture from different angles, to maybe realise a ‘truth’ that we hadn’t considered before.
Seeing and hearing are useful ways to learn but what about ‘doing’ scripture. Learning more through our hands. Have you ever tried Bible journaling? That is the ‘in’ name for getting creative with scripture. It can give you a whole new outlook on the Bible.
Here are a few ideas. Choose a verse or passage of scripture that you would like to spend a little time with, then consider which words really stand out for you. What might God be saying to you through those words? Be creative with the words you have chosen, using any type of tools that suit you. It can be pens, crayons, pastels, paints, sticky paper.
Use your imagination to explore different styles for writing the words, different ways of colouring or decorating them. Add a picture that visualises the message for you. Then leave it and come back to it as you think of additions or changes. Save your final scripture picture to reflect on at another time. It may become a useful memory verse. You can share your pictures with others too.
I should perhaps add that some people decorate their Bibles in this way, although many create word pictures on paper or in a scrapbook, finding that through art they discover a new way to worship God. You might like to give it a go! It’s yet another way to help grow your faith, another way of spending time with God - and hopefully coming away with new learning and encouragement.
If you wish you can actually buy a colouring Bible that already has illustrations in it for you to colour. You can add other notes, words and pictures too. It’s worth, when you look at words of scripture in this way, to take note of the different translations too. A passage from the King James Bible, for example, may be very different from the same passage in the Good News Bible or the Message. But that only adds interest to your exploration.
An extension of this idea, that I find useful, is to create small designs on cards which fit into pockets or handbags. They can be surprisingly uplifting when you find them in your bag or pocket when you are out and about. They are useful too for giving to another person or even leaving in a café or hotel. But then we’re getting into growing the kingdom as well as our faith!
Let me know if you do any Bible journaling. It would be good to share.
Jill
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