First Sunday Evening on the Nomadic - Our last one for a while

This post got lost in the DRAFTS box from 6 April 2014.

We said our farewell on the SS Nomadic. Ward recited the Call To Worship from the beginning of his book, Plain Drink Tea.  Marda thanked Chris and Susan, and said our goodbyes to all those who welcomed us and provided a Spirit filled prayer walking venue for Sunday afternoons.

This "fresh expression of church" needs support from the traditional denominations as well as from those who seek true spirituality without the trappings of institutional religion.  Patronize the Dock Cafe and pay forward.  Support Chris Bennett as a chaplain to the Titanic Quarter and give generously.  This is Christ's body and the church in action.

April is here

This Friday, Ward Stothers, with author Bill McKnight to moderate, Rev Jack lamb to bless us and the librarian Mark Knowles to host us; Ward will officially launch his book.   

Plain Drink Tea  is available on Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk.  The book can also be downloaded from Kindle.

With three sections, peace, prayers, and a cuppa, there is diversity you can use to warm your soul and encourage your actions.  An introduction and a postscript completes the story.  We do make a difference each one of us. 

Our Irish journey is taking a turn and we return home to California in two weeks for at least six months.  At this point it seems our base will return to Berkeley. Forays back to Northern Ireland will happen as projects warrant.  We are already talking about next year's Passion Walk in Belfast.  Ward and Bill have a concept for another book and some friends never made the pilgrimage to Ireland.

Blame it on the ipad

I had resolved to post monthly but since buying an ipad the use of my computer has diminished and posting a blog requires photos to keep it interesting and I don't often take photos with the ipad.

However this is a season of change and I want to post the observations.  This photo is of the snowdrops on Lime Tree Walk at The Argory.  Ethel called for us on a Saturday and we rode down to this National Trust property to observe the first flowers of Spring, much like crocuses I suppose but what do I know about flowers?

It was a typical Northern Ireland winter into spring day with storm showers making you wonder what you were doing trying to take a walk in a park?  The property is built on a river and the water was quite high.  The house itself was closed so the visitors are there only to walk and enjoy the grounds of this old estate now maintained and managed by the National Trust.

The difference between days with temperatures between 0 and 5 C and 5  to 9 C is tremendous.  We have smiles again as the weather is warming up.  It looks like we have escaped a winter of snow and ice.  This winter was cold for a long time but no snow nor ice to worry about and we also escaped the flooding that England suffered.

On another topic we have marveled at the quality and increase of art in many places from the cartoonist at the networking gathering that the Mayor hosted for the 4CornersFestival to the Peace Paper making event this week.

This is the finished art of our friend Helen Sanlon commissioned for the Drumalis Retreat Centre.  It's inspiration is an aerial view of the property and it is very beautiful.

Next month I will be able to share my delight at discovering this completed work (I saw it in Helen's studio in bits) with my other artist friend, McCall Gilfillan, as we participate in a Tres Dias weekend cloistered at Drumalis Retreat Centre.  McCall will bring her sketchbook.  Me I want to bring my Bible, listen and hear God.

Joyous Christmas

We discovered this poem and poet this year.  Today is the day we celebrate Christ is born! Love to all, Marda and Ward Advent 1955 by John Betjeman

The Advent wind begins to stir
With sea-like sounds in our Scotch fir,
It's dark at breakfast, dark at tea,
And in between we only see
Clouds hurrying across the sky
And rain-wet roads the wind blows dry
And branches bending to the gale
Against great skies all silver pale
The world seems travelling into space,
And travelling at a faster pace
Than in the leisured summer weather
When we and it sit out together,
For now we feel the world spin round
On some momentous journey bound -
Journey to what? to whom? to where?
The Advent bells call out 'Prepare,
Your world is journeying to the birth
Of God made Man for us on earth.'

And how, in fact, do we prepare
The great day that waits us there -
For the twenty-fifth day of December,
The birth of Christ? For some it means
An interchange of hunting scenes
On coloured cards, And I remember
Last year I sent out twenty yards,
Laid end to end, of Christmas cards
To people that I scarcely know -
They'd sent a card to me, and so
I had to send one back. Oh dear!
Is this a form of Christmas cheer?
Or is it, which is less surprising,
My pride gone in for advertising?
The only cards that really count
Are that extremely small amount
From real friends who keep in touch
And are not rich but love us much
Some ways indeed are very odd
By which we hail the birth of God.

We raise the price of things in shops,
We give plain boxes fancy tops
And lines which traders cannot sell
Thus parcell'd go extremely well
We dole out bribes we call a present
To those to whom we must be pleasant
For business reasons. Our defence is
These bribes are charged against expenses
And bring relief in Income Tax
Enough of these unworthy cracks!
'The time draws near the birth of Christ'.
A present that cannot be priced
Given two thousand years ago
Yet if God had not given so
He still would be a distant stranger
And not the Baby in the manger.

A remarkable month

We are thank full.  Our month has been very full of serendipity and fun.  Last night we greeted Os Guinness at The Hub, a gathering place near Queen's University, where he delivered a public lecture and said this was his first visit to Northern Ireland since 1981.  We last saw him in St Louis when he said we were crazy to move to Ireland but provided a nice contact.

The day before we addressed 35 social workers on how the disease affects the person and the carer.  Next week Ward will be part of the Parkinson's UK media campaign.

Several weeks ago the highlight posted on our Facebook page. We met the Republic of Ireland President Michael Higgins, himself a poet.  Our minister Jack Lamb called Marda the night before and asked do you know who the president of Ireland is?  A person named Higgins?  Yes and do you know what he did before he became president?  I have no clue.  He was a poet and you and Ward are going to meet him as my representative.  Oh happy day!  Make sure we don't get turned away at the door.  (this isn't China where we had equal access to the Chan Family Academy along with Bertie Ahern then Prime Minister of Ireland).  Ward intended to give him the poem he wrote entitled Armagh and Mr. Higgins asked him to read it, and when he couldn't because he couldn't properly see it in 12 pt type, the President offered to finish it for him.  Such grace!  You can see the video on Youtube.  Ward's recitation is 10 minutes in.

Twelfth Survived

The good news is there were no fatalities or serious injuries during the protests on the twelfth. 

This is taken from our third floor dormer in the front of our house.  Up the street is Crumlin Road Presbyterian church and the Edenderry Mill which was converted to condos.  Up beyond that about two blocks is Holy Cross Catholic church and beyond it 100 feet is the Ardoyne roundabout and then the Ardoyne shops, all less than a half mile away.

Since even the local news seemed to confuse the labels I want to clarify that the nationalists and the unionists are political identities having to do with the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, separated into two countries in 1922.  The nationalists and republicans (those wanting to be a part of the Republic of Ireland) and the unionists and loyalists (those wanting to stay with the United Kingdom) are the parallel political identities the latter feel stronger and were willing to take up arms to defend or change the outcomes.  The republican paramilitaries were the IRA and the loyalists paramilitaries were the UVF and the UDA.  The Orange Order is a fraternal organization and they hold parades from April to August with the biggest ones on the Twelfth of July commemorating King William III of Orange defeat of King James II at the Battle of the Boyne in 1690 becoming King and keeping a protestant rule since James had converted to Catholicism.  The vast majority of the people do not want to go back to "the bad old days" of The Troubles but they still hold tight to these identities which separate them.

We continue to help people embrace identities that cross over these old identities like Artist, Irish, Christian, Celtic, European, Men or Women, Human Being and Friends.

OMG May already!

Rhodies are out.  Trees are full.  Everything is green.  This week is warm.  Days are long and I'm wanting to go to a garden. 
Ward is a homebody and I have to pry him out.  He will come along mostly willingly but he would NEVER initiate a trip anywhere to anyplace.
That's how we know that this "call" to Ireland was not his own idea but inspired by divine means.
We are basking in the optimism of a new era

here and we are hopeful that the tipping point of
people will get behind a revival of soul, heart, and mind.
I did get to two gardens this week.  We went to Greenmount walled garden which is on the grounds of the Agricultural College.  I also went to Rowallane where we went with the Eastons to view the handkerchief tree.  In bloom here to the right. The tree is from 1904 and was brought from China.  Amazing!
You all must look at the write up of the first vertical garden in Northern Ireland.  Hint it is on the Skainos Building.  I am finally excited about what I'm seeing building and environment wise in Belfast.  Come and visit.

Not freezing yet!

High cross replica in Ulster Museum. 
Can anyone identify it?

The temperatures have stayed around 10 degrees centigrade but today the car told us 3 degrees.  At 3 degrees the temperature is blinking advising me to drive carefully.  Now is that amazing?  Do all newer cars do that?  We are staying well and warm.

Last night Marda presented her slides from her trip to China to the Cornerstone Community members.  Tonight she will go to a lecture hosted by Contemporary Christianity Ireland. Bob Goudzwaard will speak on 'Money, Magic, Greed and the Power of Illusions: A Christian Critique of Our Time.'  She will hope to understand economics, sure she will!  Ward will attend the church midweek meeting where Jack is teaching about Gospel in Conflict. 

A trip to the neurologist today yielded a nod of approval and "keep it up and see you in six months".  What can we do with chronic illnesses?  You live with them.  Ward confirmed the meds don't affect the kidneys or liver and is doing his exercise routine right now.

40 years later

Well it's true that one can't post photos so blogging is not the same. Soon all those smart ones will solve the problem and this old lady can continue to try and keep up with media venues for comms. I don't think anyone reads my blogspot anyways.


What I was going to post was a sweet picture of us. Aw!!!

Marda Quon wed Ward Stothers, October 10, 1971

Long days out and about

missed a posting in June. With the long days we were out a lot and tired when we got in. With long days and regular watering plants flourish. These Chinese lanterns are twice the size of the ones in my Berkeley garden!

What a glorious month of feeding we have had too. We were reminded of Mount Stewart and Portaferry, by the Presbyterian Women bus run. Mount Stewart was the place where we were hosted by an English couple who were Buddhist back in 2005. Now we learn the Rollinsons have moved to the Zen Garden that is part of the National Trust. That is good karma for them. In hindsight they were people placed along the way to point us to where we would go. Claire said we are lonely here but you will have an easier time moving to Northern Ireland because you will be a part of a church community. She was also one who welcomed us to stay with them when a devout Christian turned us away with a Bible quote. Because we stayed at Mt Stewart we were able to meet Maureen and Doug Edmundson who also encouraged us by many kindnesses. So bringing us to this week's outing we went back to Portaferry to visit Hugh and Anne, friends of the Edmondsons,. God washed us with blessings as we shared time and stories with this precious couple. Hugh has lived with Motor Neuron Disease (ALS) for 10 years and is still enjoying a full life.

Break from Dinner Party prep

Today is a Saturday and I'm ahead of time in prep for our small dinner party. Other than Thanksgiving this is the first dinner party we have hosted.

This photo is from December. Right now the snow is gone but there is a fog in the yard and the temps are down to freezing.

Our tickets are purchased and we head for California on 9 February. Renew our visas and return for a year or more. We like it here. Why Belfast? Because we can, because there is community, because we have a place to be here.

When we return we will pray, do poetry and pottery, resume visitations, assist the minister, weave relationships and welcome guests. Spring is coming!

Final few thoughts

The red door is ours. Now we have a doorbell too. People do drop over and we are blessed by their visits.

We have prayer time on Monday and Wednesday mornings at 7 a.m. and quiet meditation at 5 p.m. on Wednesdays. An evening visit from the Belfast L'Arche community to inaugurate the prayer room was also held this month.

We had eight days of frozen heater pipes but thankfully none burst and three people came to our rescue with space heaters. This started while Marda was away for a short jaunt to Lebanon while she got delayed in London's Heathrow airport both ways. Ward was worst for the wear and Marda returned with our friend Mui who good naturally suffered with the cold as we did.

We are enjoying the last few days of the millennium's first decade. God's blessings to all of you for 2011.

MOMA Project at Ulster Museum

My brain!! I know I posted the info on our debut at the Ulster Museum. www.wea-ni.com. I don't see it, so here it is again and here is more. Click the link: http://weabelfast.weebly.com and enjoy. Links to the two videos the WEA made of our work for the MOMA project at the Ulster Museum. This was a fantastic project and we felt like celebrities.

September 2010 - Fame with God

Eliot Engel is my sister’s Congressional Representative in America. He represents her and a districtfull of voting others in his high political office. He telephoned me recently and asked if I were the same Ward Stothers who drove around America camping out with him for twelve weeks in 1967.

I was and am. He came over to my house in California and shared warm, memoried stories of our trip. For this time period of discussion I acquired his fame, notoriety, and distinction, getting to know him again. I became a friend and a link to his importance and voice.

Our God has made it easier for us to know Him and His glory, with the talkfull thought of prayer, and a songfull praise of voice. Friends, do we meet God every day in response to His call, or do we set Him aside in history, skipping His leading, forgetting His name.

Now is God’s Call for Our Worship.

OMG time is flying by!

This photo is of a portion of a glass window in the renovated Belfast City Hall. When we have visitors we get out and see things. Thank you visitors!

We hope the sentiment behind this window is not WORKERS OR MANAGEMENT but one of all of us as workers laboring for peace. Someone designed it, someone paid for it, someone installed it, someone made it, and someone conceived the sentiment. Together we transform.

I am taking five minutes to post before I go into manic worker mode to complete all that needs completing. Posting some snail mail. Completing some children's crafts for our Summer outreach. Switching my mobile phone number to my new phone. Signing the lease. Getting our passports. Coordinating the move with our housemate. Closing our gas and electric accounts. Moving the landline. Informing the neighbors. Pack and move. Somehow it feels good to tell the world. Will you pray with us and for us?

Halfway thru January!

The snow/ice is finally gone. With short days sunrise at 8:30 am and sundown at 4:30 pm we feel like hybernating. Our car survived a drive up to the North coast thru the snow and started sputtering two days after our trip. Thank God, it didn't happen on the trip north. Diagnosis: engine running on two cylinders, so coil packs and spark plugs replaced. Runs fine now but what are coil packs?

Our trip included an overnight at Corrymeela, a visit to Portrush Presbyterian, lunch in Portrush, coffee with the Gilfillans at Downhill Hostel, and little hikes at the Giant's Causeway, Carrick a Rede, and Lion's Gate where I almost got stuck in the snow. The National Trust shop at the Giant's Causeway yielded many gifts for our houseguest to take home. Why else are we driving up to the North coast in the snow. God is gracious and everything was beautiful.

What's on your mind?

The title question "What's on your mind" has replaced "you've got
mail"; well not replaced for some of us slow changers who still use
AOL. It is a unique concept on whichFacebook is premised, that your
friends want to know the answer to this question. So as some people
have 600 friends it is hard to believe all or even many of them would
be interested to read the dribble (Ward calls it popular culture; don't be offended) that mostly get posted to this question.

Alas we have also joined the crowd and try to keep something active on Facebook, as well as posting longer thoughts on our blog. We are feeling pressed to use our landline and mobile phones with live voices to friends near and far, keep our five email accounts answered, write a few letters, notes, cards and postcards, issue a monthly newsletter, update our website, see people, attend weekly commitments and events. This is all "comms" or communications.

Spiritually we talk to God personally, together, and with others. We listen to God by reading the Bible, and during prayer and meditation. Sometimes we hear God through the writing of others. At this time Marda is reading Dance of the Dissident Daughter by Sue Monk Kidd. It's a wonderful exploration of the Sacred Feminine. We've only recently been made aware of the feminine attributed to the Holy Spirit, the third person in the Christian trinity.