THE CAUSEWAY

One of the truly peculiar features of the place called “Holy Island” is the means by which visitors gain access to the island. Unlike most islands I have ever known, where people “connect” with the island from the mainland by means of a bridge, tunnel, or ferry, the way to get to Holy Island is by driving across a causeway that is open to traffic for only six or seven hours at a time.

The disruption is caused by the fact that the ebbing and the flowing of the tides which literally come across the causeway make it completely impassible. Every day people enter the island only during those periods when the tide is out. The rest of the time the island is cut off completely.

Day after day this phenomenon is repeated as the tides ebb and flow. Those who do not heed the tidal schedule, do so at their peril.

I can’t help but see this as a sort of parable that describes what faith is like for people who are followers of Jesus Christ. Faith, like the tides, ebbs and flows. Sometimes we feel strongly connected to God, unshakeable, and fully connected to the power of God. At other times, however, that connection seems to disappear completely, and it happens when we are not expecting it to happen.When our faith “ebbs,” we feel like we’ve become completely cut off from God and we wonder what has gone wrong.

How important it is for us to find out the tidal “schedule” that affects our lives of faith so we do not all of a sudden find ourselves cut off from the One who once seemed so close.

The tides of faith ebb and flow. It’s essential for us to know that. But it’s even more important that we know that, regardless of whether the tide is “in” or “out,” the causeway still remains in tact, keeping us connected with the One who loves us more than life itself. If we can remember that, then we will be able to live all day, every day, on the Holy Island where God has placed us, and that will always make the difference.

GRAVEYARDS OR GARDENS?

A common sight when visiting churches in the UK is the presence of graveyards that surround the parish churches. There’s nothing really strange or unusual about this. Churches are places where people have gathered together as communities of believers throughout their lives, and in many cases they include generations of believers who have lived in the parish for centuries.

It’s no wonder, then, that people might find their final repose in the same places.
It gives new meaning to the scripture in Hebrews that begins, “since we are surrounded by such a cloud of witnesses . . .” It is a testimony to the fact that in death, as in life, we are all bound together with one another.

Visiting such places like the Church of St. Mary’s on Holy Island (Lindisfarne), teaches us a lot about the nature of being a Christian. Each grave has a story, a story much longer than a single gravestone could express. But the mere fact that they are actually there, surrounding the parish church which was the center of their lives while they were living, tells us how powerful a force the gospel can be in a believer’s life. As Paul writes in Romans, “None of us lives to himself, and none of dies to himself. If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s.”

At home in Selden, our church, like most other Lutheran churches, is not surrounded by the graves of saints. Rather, it is surrounded by an equally powerful symbol that conveys a valuable lesson about who we are as a company of believers.

Hope is surrounded by gardens. There are beautiful flowers planted by “anonymous saints” who care about the message we have to proclaim to our members and the larger community. They want people to experience some of the beauty of God in the place where the saints gather together.

It’s true, of course, that there are seasons when the flowers are gone and the beauty seems to disappear completely. Even the waterfall and the pond we have sometimes freeze up when the winter temperatures are too cold.

But then again, the ice doesn’t last forever. When spring arrives, the trees revive and the flowers return, often more robustly than the year before. That too is a sign from God, like the graves in the graveyards, and it tells us that death does not and will not prevail over us. From beginning to end our lives are in God’s hands.

Graveyards and gardens, both tell a story, especially when they surround the places where God’s people gather. We should not take either of them for granted.

To be honest, however, I must admit that I like gardens better.

Whitby Abbey Medieval Ruins

HAIRCUTS AND HARD FACTS

It feels strange to be away from our homeland on the 4^th of July. But here we are, heading down to  Whitby Abbey, the place where a major event took place that changed the course of the development of the life of the Christian movement in England.

The event is called the “Synod of Whitby,” a conference of clergy gathered by the King of Northumbria who wanted to settle issues that caused conflict among Christians in his kingdom.

The issues they debated had to do with two subjects we would never spend a moment thinking about: how to determine the correct date for observing Easter and what form of tonsure (haircutting) should be required for those who lived in monasteries.

Underneath those issues was a much larger concern. Prior to the Synod, there was a collision between the missionaries sent to England by the Church of Rome from southern England and the Celtic missionaries who were moving into England from the north. Both missionary efforts were meeting with some success, but their approaches to “missionizing” the people of England were diametrically opposed to one another.

Rome wanted to be in control of what was going on, and Rome wanted everyone to give obedience to the Pope. The Celts, on the other hand, did not see the need to be under papal authority, and they were successful in converting pagans to Christianity because they were able to adapt their methods to the conditions they met along the way.

The issues that caused conflict in that day are not much different from the issues that we need to deal with as Christians today if we are going to have any impact on the non-Christian environment in which we live and serve. Do we need to be under the control of those who would require conformity and obedience to their norms and values? Or would we be more effective in carrying out God’s mission if we were willing to focus on the mission itself without having to be constantly looking back to patterns and practices that are no longer effective in reaching people who are apart from the church?

The Celtic form of evangelism was effective because what mattered most to them was getting God’s mission accomplished. In a time when the Church in the Western Hemisphere is in such serious decline, we could see a different future if we were willing to learn from those who went before us.

Views of Bamburgh Castle and North Sea

Today we visited a castle that was once a Castle for kings of Northumbria, the northern kingdom of England bordering Scotland. The castle goes back to Norman times, but a lot of reconstruction has taken place, especially during the Victorian era as seen in the photos.

The final photo is a sculpture of the priests who carried the body of Saint Cuthbert around Northern England prior to coming to its final resting place in Durham.

HAIRCUTS AND HARD FACTS

It feels strange to be away from our homeland on the 4^th of July. But here we are, heading down to Whitby Abbey, the place where a major event took place that changed the course of the development of the life of the Christian movement in England.

The event is called the "Synod of Whitby," a conference of clergy gathered by the King of Northumbria who wanted to settle issues that caused conflict among Christians in his kingdom.

The issues they debated had to do with two subjects we would never spend a moment thinking about: how to determine the correct date for observing Easter and what form of tonsure (haircutting) should be required for those who lived in monasteries.

Underneath those issues was a much larger concern. Prior to the Synod, there was a collision between the missionaries sent to England by the Church of Rome from southern England and the Celtic missionaries who were moving into England from the north. Both missionary efforts were meeting with some success, but their approaches to "missionizing" the people of England were diametrically opposed to one another.

Rome wanted to be in control of what was going on, and Rome wanted everyone to give obedience to the Pope. The Celts, on the other hand, did not see the need to be under papal authority, and they were successful in converting pagans to Christianity because they were able to adapt their methods to the conditions they met along the way.

The issues that caused conflict in that day are not much different from the issues that we need to deal with as Christians today if we are going to have any impact on the non-Christian environment in which we live and serve. Do we need to be under the control of those who would require conformity and obedience to their norms and values? Or would we be more effective in carrying out God's mission if we were willing to focus on the mission itself without having to be constantly looking back to patterns and practices that are no longer effective in reaching people who are apart from the church?

The Celtic form of evangelism was effective because what mattered most to them was getting God's mission accomplished. In a time when the Church in the Western Hemisphere is in such serious decline, we could see a different future if we were willing to learn from those who went before us.

STRATEGY FOR MISSION

The Island of Iona is a small, quiet, and very beautiful place. It is reached from the Scottish mainland by taking an hour-long ferry ride to the Island of Mull, then followed by another hour of driving to the far end of the Isle of Mull on a one-lane two-way road to a place called Fionnphort to another ten-minute "Shelter Island"-type ferry to Iona. A brief walk from the ferry slip and you are at the Abbey (just beyond the St. Columba hotel where we are lodging).

Back in the 6^th century an Irish Monk got into a dispute over a manuscript that eventually led to a bloody conflict between Christians. To make amends for the loss of life, he offered to go to Scotland to convert the pagan people there to Christianity. He had founded monasteries earlier, so he used that method as a strategy for carrying out his mission in the new land he was sent to.

On Iona he started a monastery where copying manuscripts became a major enterprise for the monks who came to live there. At the same time he taught the monks so they could become evangelists for the gospel, turning the monastery into a center for Christian learning and preparation for missionary work. Many people became Christians as a result of his work.

I have often commented on how important it is for pastors to be trained for the work of evangelization. On my "business card" I have the title "Pastor/Mission Developer" to describe how I see my job. I would love to see our synod take seriously the need to re-train our clergy so we can provide the leadership so desperately needed for the work of the gospel in the largely pagan mission field of Metropolitan New York. Saint Columba could be a source of inspiration for such a strategy for mission if we could find the courage to follow his example for ministry.

CROSSING OVER

Having missed a day because of an internet problem in Glasgow, I am getting ready for the journey to Iona.

It's a "journey" because getting to Iona is more of a challenge than going to other places. First, a cab. Then a ferry to Mull Island where we take a cab across the island (50 minutes) to another ferry that brings us to the island where we will be met by people who will assist us in getting our gear over to St. Columba's hotel.

But it's also a journey because of the spiritual character of the visit to this island which has been a Christian holy place since the 563 A.D. when St. Columba came from Ireland to establish a monastery there. It became a center for learning and a place where some highly important documents were produced including, possibly, the illuminated manuscript collection of the four gospels called the Book of Kells was started around 800 A.D.

I have been told that the journey is even more significant than its historic roots imply because it is also a place where the prayers of Christians have been lifted up continually for centuries, embracing and enfolding many who have come to spend time as part of the ecumenical community that lives there.

I am learning about Celtic Christianity, a way of living in communion with God and God's creation that joins them together rather than separating them as many Christians do.

Our visit to Glasgow included a visit to Glasgow Cathedral, a beautiful ancient building which was built based on the story of Saint Mungo. It survived the iconoclastic efforts of Scottish reformers of the 16^th century, and it includes features that characterize cathedrals of the early Middle Ages. It is no longer technically a "cathedral" because it is a Presbyterian Church, and Presbyterians do not have bishops.

SAINT ANDREW, I PRESUME

Today's journey brought us two hours away from Edinburgh to a beautiful coastal town called "Saint Andrews." To some of us the place is important because of the influence it had on Christian history in Scotland. To others it is best known as the "Home of Golf," where the sport took root and from which most of the rules of the sport are generated, and to still others it is known best as the place where Prince William and Princess Kate met.

A highlight of the visit is the ruins of the cathedral that was begun in 1160 and finally consecrated in 1318. It was the largest cathedral built in Scotland, located near an older church built by Saint Rule who brought what were believed to be the remains of Saint Andrew the Apostle to the town. We climbed the tower that still remains that was in the center of St. Rule's church building, a climb of at least 150 steps.

After visiting the Castle of St. Andrews, a place that played a role in the Scottish Reformation, we walked over to the St. Andrews Golf Course where we had High Tea together to celebrate the birthday of Pastor Kathleen Koran, an Assistant to our bishop.

As I think about the places we visited today, I can't help but see the contrast between the values that were once so important to people and the values people have today. Saint Andrew was never in Scotland, of course, but his remains were—a reminder to the Scottish people of the brother of Saint Peter. He played an essential role in the gospels by pointing his brother to Jesus. He was also included among the closest followers of Jesus. Ultimately, according to tradition, he was executed by crucifixion on an "X-shaped" cross, giving rise to the symbol which is on the Scottish flag.

By contrast we have the home of golf, a sport which is popular among many, even on Sunday mornings. It is a time-consuming sport, and it is not inexpensive. It takes real commitment to be a dedicated golfer.

I wonder what the church would be like if followers of Jesus showed the same level of commitment to Christ that golfers show to their sport. Would it make a difference in the way the church impacts society?

A visit to Saint Andrews raises some interesting thoughts for me.

BILINGUALISM

One of the key features of traveling to the UK is the "advantage" we have because we speak the same language as the people we are visiting. Of course, that is only a relative statement because, as anyone has discovered when visiting here, we are at times "two nations divided by a single language," as one street merchant once informed us.

A common language made worship at St. Mary's this morning much easier. St. Mary's is the "Mother Church" of the Scottish Episcopal Church, and while their worship bulleting was a bit challenging for me, it helped to be able to understand the liturgy.

After worship we visited the Royal Yacht Britannia, the yacht used by the Royal Family for traveling around the globe to places once ruled over by the British Empire and for four royal honeymooons. The audio narrator was helpful and somewhat easily understood also.

After lunch at the Elephant House, the "birthplace" of Harry Potter, we walked uphill to Edinburgh Castle led by a lovely guide named Patricia. We learned more about Scottish history and visited the Prisoner of War facilities used over the centuries for all sorts of prisoners including John Paul Jones who spent some time there during the American Revolution.

But the value of bilingualism came out most powerfully when we went to have some ale and wine at Deacon Brodies' Tavern. As we sat there enjoying some beverages someone commented that it was too bad we had nothing to munch on. "They don't serve food here," someone said, "we asked."

I asked, "What did you ask for?" "Chips," was the answer. "Ask them if they have any 'crisps,'" I suggested. Within two minutes we had five bags of what we call potato chips and a few bags of peanuts thrown in for good measure.

My fellow pilgrims thanked me profusely. "It pays to be bilingual," I replied.

ARE WE THERE YET?

On Friday Robin and Claire took me on a journey by car to a small coastal town for lunch. The restaurant was small, but we had reservations. I had "Smugglers Casserole" for lunch. Afterwards we visited a small village along the way back, and I took a few pictures.

The evening turned out to be the highlight of the day for me as Robin brought me to St. Mary's for a special evening program designed as one of the fundraising events for their church renovation program.

Following a format familiar to the people, they had a "program" called "Deserted Island Discs," broadcast on BBC for decades. The program featured the bishop of Newcastle, Bishop Martin, who was interviewed by one of the people from St. Mary's in the presence of an audience of about 80 people. As the interview progressed, the bishop would respond to questions, and then a song or a piece of music (from the discs) that he selected would be played for everyone to hear, and he would explain why he chose each selection.

Hearing him tell his personal story in this unique format turned out to be very inspiring for me. In all 12 musical selections were played in the 90 minute program which had a 20 minute intermission for having a glass of wine and some "nibbles." There was also a drawing which I was asked to take part in. I also had the privilege of sitting next to the bishop's wife during the program.

Early on Saturday morning we went over to the Metro station where we took the train to Central Station in Newcastle. While sitting there we watched a freight train pull through the station,but we didn't know whether it was coming in or leaving the area. Each of the cars was plainly marked, however, with the word "COAL." Who would have thunk it?

Arriving at the hotel, we learned where to go to take part in a "Vaults" tour. Unfortunately we were delayed by a military parade along the way. But we made it on time and toured the underground areas that were created by a bridge built across a valley. The history of the "vaults" was very enlightening, but the vaults themselves were filled with darkness.

This evening the group finally assembled for the first time as a whole group, and we had dinner together. We're expecting to have Compline soon, and then the others will be glad to get some sleep.

We're here now, finally, and the "pilgrimage" has begun.

TOUCHDOWN!

At home that title word means something quite different, just as the word "football" does. But I am glad that I've finally "touched down" here in England.

After starting out from home around 1:45 p.m. on Wednesday afternoon, we got to JFK in record time, and then boarded my flight on schedule around 5:40 p.m. Although weather delayed our departure about two hours, we made up time and arrived here only an hour late.

I had a connecting flight to Newcastle International which left late, but again, arrived almost on time. There I was met by Robin Greenwood who brought me to his home, by way of Durham where he picked up some items he needed after becoming a "fellow" at St. John's College in Durham. We lunched at the Cathedral restaurant and visited the gift shop where I picked up a small communion set we can use for our Tuesday evening summer services.

By the time we arrived at St. Mary's Vicarage it was around 5 p.m. My inner clock read that it was "32 hours" since I had slept normally.

From there, after a shower and a brief nap, we walked over to St. Edward's Church (R.C.) for a meeting of "Churches Together," a group of churches in the Whitley Bay-Monkseaton area. Robin chairs the group. About 20 leaders from a dozen or so churches were present for the Annual General Meeting.

They discussed a full agenda including some joint projects, special services, and invitations to individual events the churches were planning. For example, they are launching a "Street Pastors" ministry geared at sending trained people to minister to people who never go to churches. They are also starting to plan a "More than Gold" emphasis aimed at reaching people with the gospel while the 2012 Olympics is underway next July (yes, it is being held here in London).

Eventually, after we walked back to St. Mary's Vicarage, I got to bed around 11 p.m. here. (It had just become dark outside around 10 p.m.) Inner clock read: "38 hours."

It's cool here—today's high will be a breezy, seaside 59 degrees F, but now that we've had breakfast, I'm raring to go.

Celtic Pilgrimage

Getting Ready for the Celtic Pilgrimage

In just a few days I will be heading out on the beginning of a trip to the UK. I'm starting out by visiting Robin Greenwood in Monkseaton in the Diocese of Newcastle, but eventually we will head together to Edinburgh where we will meet up with nine Metro New York Synod pilgrims who are heading directly to Edinburgh on Friday night.

The trip is called a "Celtic Pilgrimage," and it will include visits to places in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Oban, and the Isle of Iona in Scotland. In England we will be centered in the old city of Durham and will visit areas in Northern England including Holy Island, where we will visit with Robin Greenwood's wife, Clare, for the day.

The goal of the trip is to experience some of the spirituality of the Celtic tradition and to visit places where people have sought a richer connection with God. As the journey continues, I hope I will be able to more fully explain what that all means, of course, but from a personal standpoint, I am hoping to grow spiritually during this two week trip.

My chief regret, however, is that I am leaving at a time when my family is going through a challenging time. My mother-in-law needs to move from her home where she has lived for 50 years into the Atria in South Setauket, an Assisted Living facility, and the weight of that transition falls on my wife Linda. Please keep her in your prayers.

I will be posting items on this blog in days ahead. I'm not sure how often or how long they postings will be, and I hope to include some photos, if possible. Feel free to follow along at www.hopespastor.blogspot.com.