Faith Goes Walkabout

Thoughts and reflections

Category: community Page 4 of 6

Sponsored Cycle Ride – 18 miles!

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On September 9, 2012

In church seasons, community, pastoral

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Sponsored Cycle Ride.

What a fantastic day! With the sun shining all day and the hills(there really are hills in Norfolk!), it felt more like rural France.

 

£107 was raised to be shared between All Saint’s Church, Ashwicken and The Norfolk Churches Trust. A real fun way to support one of our local churches and the Norfolk Churches Trust.

All Saint’s Ashwicken, is our church in the fields, and at a high point where you can gaze out towards the coast. There is always a place to sit and rest, outside and inside. A special place indeed.

The Norfolk Churches Trust makes grants to churches and chapels towards repair and restoration costs. Since it’s inception in 1976, it has given over £3.8 million.

Image 2In total, we cycled 18 miles and visited seven churches, Grimston,Congham, Little and Great Massingham, Gayton Thorpe,East Walton and Gayton.

Look forward to next year but hope to do more cycling in the next few months, as summer turns to autumn.

 

Rev’d Sue Martin

Faith Goes Walkabout

Curate at the Gayton Group of parishes

Thought for the Day

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On July 27, 2012

In church seasons, community, Uncategorized

Oly 2The Olympics starts today! The opening ceremony is to be held at the stadium in Stratford, East London and promises to be the best one yet!

Listening to Radio 4’s Thought for the Day this morning, Canon Duncan Green, the head of multi-fatih chaplaincy for the London Organising Committee, talked about the excitement, the anticipation- the ‘are we there yet’ feeling!

It’s a great chance to listen to how this enormously mammoth event, through all it’s troubles and commercialisation still brings people from all over the world to celebrate and be together in harmony with a common purpose.

Thought for the Day is also a really good opportunity to listen to a number of speakers from many different faith backgrounds talking about current issues and happenings. It’s only on for a few moments at about 7.45 am every week day morning.

But you can always listen to it again, follow the link on Faith Goes Walkabout or direct from the BBC.You can also find your favourite speakers and listen to their broadcasts again or read the whole script.

Make it a favourite then you can always access the broadcasts.

So in between the events and when you have some space for reflection it’s well worth a second chance.

Rev’d Sue Martin

Curate at Gayton Group of Parishes

Passing People By

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On July 16, 2012

In church seasons, community, Faith and business, pastoral, theological

Walking pastPassing people by, walking on the other side of the street, not sharing a glance…an every day happening on most city streets. The Big Issue seller, with his back pack resting by the side has a struggle to make contact with those walking past.

What does it cost to be civil or smile or show some support, it doesn’t always mean parting with money.

A lack of care or an indifference seems to happen more in a wealthy society. And however many laws and regulations we have, a system built on increasing individual’s or an organisational wealth then maybe that inner morality is hard to maintain.

The Chief Rabbi, Dr Jonathan Sacks says in article for the Times,

‘Morality matters. Not just laws, regulations, supervisory authorities, committees of enquiry, courts, fines and punishments, but morality, the inner voice of self restraint that tells us not to do something even when it is to our advantage, even though it may be legal and even if there is fair chance that it won’t be found out.

Because it’s wrong. Because it’s dishonourable. Because it’s a breach of trust.’

The book of Amos, from the Old Testament, is also a book about society around the 700’s BC. A central plank to Amos is about social justice, and he wrote as a prophet about a society, where people were greedy and had stopped adhering to values, the wealthy elite had become rich at the expense of others. They had also reached a low point in their relationship with God.

They were passing people by, walking on the other side of the street and caring for themselves.

There is more about this under Trinity, in Faithgoeswalkabout.org for the Sixth Sunday after Trinity.

Rev’d Sue Martin

Aung Sang Suu Kyi

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On June 27, 2012

In community, pastoral, theological

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A person who I have enormous respect for and who is in the news at the moment is Aung San Suu Kyi, back in England after 24 years in Burma, leader of the pro democracy party in Burma.

Her father was the leader of the Burmese Democratic Party and was killed by the military when she was very young. Her mother remained in Burma and Suu Kyi came to England and was educated at Oxford and married Michael Aris and they have two sons.

24 years ago, they all went to Burma for a visit to her mother who was not well. Whilst she was there she was asked by members of the democratic party to become their leader. She had no intentions or ambitions to become leader but over time felt that she should do this.
Michael took the boys back to the UK and it was expected that before long suu Kyi would follow. It took 24 years.

In that time, she was threatened, her home was destroyed, her followers were treated abysmally in dreadful conditions and the military were convinced that at some stage she would leave to retrun to England.

Her mother died, her husband died, her boys grew up. There were times when they were allowed into the country and the military always thought that she would go back with them.Then they would not allow her to return.

An amazing story full of courage, full of quiet resolve in the face of fear, full of life’s terrible moments. She was not a woman with wealth, domination or anything else that would give her power. She was awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace in 1991 whilst still held in Burma.

But what she did have and I’m sure still does, is inner strength a quiet resolve and an ability to dissolve fear, which is the greatest weapon that her enemies had against her.

Portrayed so well in the film The Lady, directed by Luc Besson.

Rev’d Sue Martin, Curate in Gayton group of parishes

Singapore and Spirituality

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On June 12, 2012

In church seasons, community, Faith goes walkabout, pastoral

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On my way home from Australia I stopped over in Singapore for one night to break the long journey home in the hope of preventing some of the jet lag.

Singapore is an amazing place. Full of the most impressive buildings, hugely tall and wonderfully architect designed. Blue glass surrounds with flashing steel girders over 60 stories high.

The Marina Bay Sands, over 56 stories high, 220 metres and with a garden, restaurant and observation platform.

I paid the 20 Singapore dollars to look at the view.

The view was spectacular, the waterfront with the container ships moored into the sea in a real South Asian feel, the huge high rise buildings that seemed to go on forever and the Boat Quay a real haven for tourists, especially in the evening.

But it was somehow, surreal. An air conditioned walkway for people to spend and then spend again, drawn into the shining shops with wonderful goods.

No where did I feel anything spiritual at all. I wondered if it was the fact that it was all ‘man made’ or was it just me being spaced out with travelling!
Maybe this is what happens when life becomes over designed with no spaces for real life to be found.
Amazing but not for me!

Rev’d Sue Martin

Octavia Hill

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On April 21, 2012

In community, pastoral

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Social reformer and co-founder of the National Trust.Octavia had a vision and a belief, alongside energy, commitment and resolve; a socially inclusive society for ever for everyone. Good housing, recreational open spaces and education for all.

Remembered mostly for the National Trust, her real vision was as a campaigner for improvements to people’s lives and to broaden horizons through enabling all to have access to open spaces and a better quality of life.

Born in December 1838 in Wisbech, to a family where her mother was very instrumental in the formation of Octavia’s beliefs, she was part of a large family, five sisters from her mother and father, and six children from her father’s previous marriage.

Her father owned a bank which in 1825 was closed and her father became bankrupt, It was during a time of a national banking crisis.

Memories of Mary Poppins!

Her maternal grandfather Dr Thomas Southwood Smith was a champion of rights for the poor and involved in preventing the unsanitary conditions in the slums of London.

In 1848 The Christian Socialists developed and Octavia became involved and was confirmed in 1857. Her faith was profound and enduring, action not words were her expression of her belief.

She became involved with John Ruskin, a social and education reformer, between them they worked to ensure that ‘the poor’ had access to housing, food and sanitation. This was the time of the Poor Laws, the workhouses and soup kitchens.

There are a number of parallels between life then and now, and there is much evidence of the work of Octavia Hill especially in London.

To read more, go to Easter 3rd Sunday on faithgoeswalkabout or through the Octavia Hill website.

Rev’d Sue Martin

Curate in Gayton Group of parishes

The Rockingham Centre

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On March 31, 2012

In community, Faith and business, pastoral

Rock ctr

 

The picture is from a mural at the Rockingham Centre near the Elephant and Castle. I visited it many times whilst at my placement, based at St Peter’s church.
The mural is separate from St Peter’s but a great picture.

The placement is through an organisation called Near Neighbours who work in the area as part of the Anglican Church funding and developing local projects.

I have been looking specifically at activities for children in churches and other faith groups and some non faith groups and how those activities ensure the safety of the children and young people

There was much walking around Walworth Road and the areas nearby. It has been excellent and I have loved the many different groups that find ways to deliver projects, some great ideas turned into action, wonderful. At St Peter’s the crypt below and Inspire, offering activities and space and a wonderful cafe.

In the area, there are many different faith groups and activities for children and in time I will write about how these are working towards a better future for children.
But in the short term this has been a really great experience.
Thanks to all at St Peter’s and God Bless.

Rev’d Sue Martin

Country to City

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On March 24, 2012

In church seasons, community, theological

st PetersFrom country to city, different places, 100 miles apart, but time to spend in both and reflect on what life may hold.

Do you ever wonder what it is that makes you want to get up in the morning? What will you do today that will make you smile at the least and jump for joy at the best?

Is it the thought of sorting another load of washing?

Is it the thought of getting on the bus and going to work? The early waking up by the children as they put the TV on again far too early?

When I wake up in the morning, after a cup of tea….I look forward to what I’m going to do and every day is different.

Working with people and developing plans for projects that will enable people to find that energy, that light, that spark which will help them to see that God does care about them.
For me my work and my faith are entwined together.

lambs 2012

 

Living and serving in the country, I work in the city and it has been a great priviledge to be at St Peter’s Walworth for the last month, in the middle of a city community.

 

On Sunday 26th March I preach at St Peter’s. You can find it under Lent on Faith Goes Walkabout.

Rev’d Sue Martin

Ash Wednesday at St Peter’s

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On February 24, 2012

In church seasons, community, theological

asPrayfulness, forgiveness and ready to listen to God. What a start for Lent!

Something very moving about the first Eucharist of the Lent season. A real change in mode,the quietness, simplicity of the church and that time ahead, the 40 days in preparation.

And then the school arrived! 200 or so children from the primary school, music and voices filled the church. How wonderful to be part of that celebration.

The children had written down things they wanted to say sorry for and these were brought to Father Andrew, who set light to them and turned them to ash. All the children were then signed with a cross using the ashes of their words…. something both myself and they will remember.

And so Lent starts, what will you do to mark it as special?

Rev’d Sue Martin

Walworth in Southwark

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On February 19, 2012

In community, Faith and business, Faith goes walkabout, pastoral

ecWhat a contrast! Walking down from the Elephant and Castle on the Walworth Rd, and finding my way to the Electric Elephant cafe on Tuesday morning.

A very welcome coffee and start to my placement with Near Neighbours project from the Church Urban Fund.

The next four weeks will be a real mix of places to go and people to see, a real ‘walkabout’.

Already I have explored the East St Market, running at right angles to Walworth Rd, found my way through the side streets to St Peter’s Church, walked into the Caribbean bakery and then back to the Rockingham estate community centre to meet with the Bengali Women’s group.

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A real adventure and beyond that I will be going to activities for children and families and find out how they work and what opportunities are available.

Rev’d Sue Martin

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