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.

THIS PEACE STUFF IS SO MUCH FUN

This is a drawing that was done at the Mayor's Reception in the Belfast City Hall for faith based groups working for peace in North and West Belfast.  This drawing was made in response to my introduction of our house being called The Loom where relationships are woven.

The event was held as part of the Four Corners Project which was initiated last year by Fr Martin Magill and Rev Steve Stockman to bring the four corners of Belfast together in faith.

It was a year ago that Profs Vicki and Jennifer came to check out whether a Spring Break Study Trip was feasible and they participated in the last event of the Four Corner Project.  They brought students in April 2013.

This year in the first week of March they will return with 12 students for eight days who will put their young minds to observe new and old activities and weave their own thoughts into the peace and reconciliation mix.

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.

September all systems go

Ward, Marda and Bill McKnight displayed their work in the Cathedral Quarter for Belfast Culture Night the evening of September 21st.  It was a clear day and the buzz and attendance was good.

Most of the Faith and Arts Group are painters.  There was a lot of fine work displayed.  The Calvary Centre is a wee church in a wee street next to the University of Ulster Art College.  It use to be a Salvation Army centre so you can imagine what it looked like.  However it was transformed for the evening as you can see below.

Other churches have asked about sponsoring a show for the group.  As we continue to show perhaps we will also sell.  We were in a lecture
in the Centre for Psychotherapy at Knockbraken and the room had a large three paneled painting which made the space quite arty and warm.  This inspired Marda to think about space planning and decor.

At this point she is contemplating seeking funding for a vision and change management project so first things first.

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.

Replica Identified

A few months ago I posted my photo of the high cross replica in the Ulster Museum, a casting that was made over 100 years ago. Jan and Byron Brown immediately identified the cross as Monasterboice. They had just come from the site the day before. Here are some details: www.bluffton.edu/~sullivanm/muiredach/muiredach.html

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.

Call to worship for the children

Omnipotent Christ

Help us help you

Care for the children

In this lifetime above the ground.

Loose their laughter flow their tears

like a sedative

Sleeping war, stilling violence

Imparting giggles of blasting innocence,

Elevating life to shining redeemed levels

Of truce in neighboring, world sandboxes—

Protesting their own savage extinctions

Sighted in too many adult crosshairs

Recognizing only shadows and stopping their age.

Don’t let nations swirl in preoccupation over

‘Who’s the greatest’,

Making idols, grabbing your essence, Lord

That we fail to hear their voices in song

Or fail to see with their eyes

Of no grid, no agenda reality.

This day your day, God

Wheel them safely around injury,

Far from the clutch and choke of illnesses

Free from the butt end of injustice,

To grow up in Christ

Everywhere in the world

Digging in the dirt of a peaceful front yard

Playing hours of hosted games on backyard concrete

Welcoming the chant of your applauding Trinity,

Caressed in the long arms of God - announcing

“Whoever welcomes this little child

In my name

Welcomes me.

And whoever welcomes me,

Welcomes the One who sent me.

For he who is least among you all—

He is the greatest.

EASTER SUNDAY

College Avenue Presbyterian Church has combined the new with the old creating a wonderful worship service of celebration and praise. The old is our suspended cross brought in from the garden and raised in the sanctuary worship space and then the invitation to those bereaved to come to the cross and be comforted by the gathered and by Christ. The new is Monte McClain our new pastor, his guitar, and the children. He leads a time of learning with the children via the secret box to "stump the pastor." Today the Beatty grandchildren joined to make a big group of little ones.

As we head back to Belfast we are encouraged to know our home church is strong and uplifted as they send us back to represent them to the people of Belfast.

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.

Father Damien is being canonized this very Sunday, 11 October 2009 by the Vatican. What a privilege to visit the leper colony on Kalaupapa with Kawika, Makana, Moani, and Brenda in 2006. I'm glad to share this "rest of the story" for recognition of this humble servant.
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/episodes/january-23-2009/father-damiens-legacy/2030/ http://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/episodes/january-23-2009/father-damiens-legacy/2030/

Putting feet to our faith

We were inspired this week by Pastor Jack Mckee. Ward met him in San Francisco several years ago before we knew we were coming to Belfast. Our organist Danny Halford informed Ward about that meeting. When we got here to Belfast we found that Jack was one of the ministers in our area and have attended his church a few times.
He is currently conducting a Cross Vigil with all due credit to Arthur Blessitt. And if you go by to encourage him you might end up on his Blog as we did. I finished his book, The Cross and The Gun. Check this out, we are noted on day 18, 22 and 24. www.newlifeministriesireland.co.uk/cross_vigil.html