Preaching and school

I preached on Sunday to a small but wonderful congregation. I have to admit that I did cry a bit before I could begin the sermon. I was really overwhelmed standing where Thomas Sowter had stood - to preach to people who are also decedents of his faith - it was a moment I won't forget easily. The picture here was taken after the service and isn't in perfect focus but - it is a memory nevertheless.

I moved house on Sunday to the Sinclar's and I am well taken care of and even have fresh homemade cookies by my bed in case I get hungry in the middle of the night. That is highly unlikely as the lunch and tea are delightful. Tomorrow night will find lots of guest for a soup and stories night. Should be fun.

This week finds me in lots of different ministry settings - the local church here in Bury St. Edmunds, an Anglican/URC congregation in Wittlesford and in at a local school "Church Day" in Duxford. It continues to interest me to see the different way that school and church are connected. Today the children had 3 different workshops and a trip to the local redundant Anglican church that is on the historical registry but not used as a local house of worship. It was built in the year 1100 and there is graffiti from 1636! Some things sadly never change.

When Rev. Whitehead enquires with families about why they don't go to church the response she gets is that the children get the stories in school. Families do tend to go to church on Christmas Eve and her congregation swells from the normal 20 to 250! She was quite surprised the first year but looks at is a way to at least have some connection with the larger community.

Tomorrow I am off to the local hospital to spend the day with the Chaplin so again I will be learning something new. I am very thankful for all the work that the folks here have done to make my learning experience so diverse.

French Connection

Well, today is my last day at the French household and I have to say that moving house will be fine but sad too. I have really enjoyed my time and will miss the constant contact with such a vibrant and fun family. I have really felt right at home and when one is as far from home as I am, for as long as I am, this is a true blessing.

I spent this morning at a coffee morning in Long Melford - the village with the longest High Street in Europe - nearly 2 miles long. Thomas Sowter would have been at this church on occassion and so I had to take pictures after I had visited with a number of the current members of the congregation. At one moment I was on the threshold of the church with the sun on my back and the smells of an old church and fresh privitt wafting about me. I was in so many places in my personal history - connected three generations back to Thomas and to his grand daughter through the house she bought in Southampton NY where privitt blooms all year round in my mind.

This afternoon, after a wonderful picnic in the garden John and Ben French took me to Rattelsden Gliding Club. It is located on the airfield that my father flew from in 1944 with the 447 Bomb Group. I was able to visit the tower and see the book that had his picture, (bottom row second from the left) name and flight information in it. Needless to say this was another full day in Suffolk.

Off to finish my sermon preparation.....

show and tell

What a great week of learning and visiting. It is interesting for me that the church and school connections are significantly different than in the States. Here many pastors go to local state run schools ("public schools" here are private) and do assembly where they talk about God, Jesus and the Bible. I believe other faiths are also invited but I can't say that for sure. I went with Rev. Samantha White, my main host, to a school for the severely handicapped to do an assembly on the wonders of summer. It was interesting to hear from her how she has learned to make the assemblies very multi-sensory as there are children who cannot see and or relate to visual or auditory cues in a more traditional way. I was so privileged to be able to join her as we passed around fresh strawberries to taste, herbs to touch and smell, pine cones to touch and roses to see and smell. There were moments when the children were waiting patiently and there was an unusual hush across the room. Some children were not able to engage except with their sense of smell. It was wonderful to see their bodies relax ever so slightly when they breathed in the fragrance of a beautiful summer rose. God's miracles speak directly to the heart.

Tuesday I was show and tell at Rona's school. In the past she has brought many a pet as show and tell so the teacher wondered if I would show up in a cage. Thankfully I was able to walk to school and then shared where I was from as well as a Native American story. I always enjoy the opportunity to tell a story and I am thankful for the opportunity.

Around here, well throughout Suffolk, there are many houses that are painted pink - Suffolk Pink to be exact. The house I am staying in is Suffolk Pink both inside and out - I had fun painting Rona's room pink - only two walls though to balance all that color - She loves it and we will have all the details together by the time I leave on Sunday to move to another host family. The family has decided to seriously consider moving and so the push is on to prep the house for an estate agent. There is lots to do but significant energy and desire so I think it will happen. The challenge will be maintaining the preparation with three kids and two dogs in the house at the same time. I truly wish them the best of luck.

Today I spent the day in Sudbury so that I could get my picture taken for the local free paper. They wanted a picture of me with the photo of my great grandfather as the Church Secretary had provided a story about my family connection. I will be interested to see if it makes the paper at all and if so what the article actually says. How fun. Here are the doors of the church and the sign outside - pretty cool!

No Doubting Thomas

Here is the man responsible for my trip - Thomas Sowter. This is the picture from when he was in the Sudbury church, a young father but showing the signs of the stresses of ministry as it appears that his hair is white already (note to self - take stock in Loreal hair color). Throughout this trip I have been so blessed to be able to explore my family history and see how lives of faith have transformed not only their own generation, but generations after them. I have also had the opportunity to meet and learn from a wide variety of clergy and have gained what I can only believe will be valuable insights that will shape my ministry. Thomas did not doubt his faith and because of his witness, neither will I.

I saw the Tiptree church with one of its most recent pastors. It was an interesting place and I wish I had time to go to the Essex County Records Office to explore the congregational records but that will have to wait for another day. What I did learn was that during Thomas' pastorate they had prayer meetings that drew 200-300 people a week. They were praying for discernment and empowerment by the Holy Spirit. How amazing and inspirational. This challenges me then, to go back to the Suffolk County Records office and get the congregational minutes from the time Thomas was in Sudbury. It will be interesting to see if the issues the congergation was dealing with are similar or radically different than today. My guess at this point is that they will be very similar - economics, a rapidly changing world, family and community disagreements, how to help the poor (there were poorhouses in those days instead of any kind of welfare), education and transportation... it will be interesting.

Here is the Congregational Church (door) in Stansfield which I believe is was Thomas' second pastorate.

This is the Sudbury Church where I will preach - fortunately the raised pulpit was added after his time and I don't feel obligated to use it.

The final picture is the Tiptree Congregational Church where my great grandfather Eustace was born (he was born in the manse, not the church but you get the idea).

A Day in Bury St. Edmunds

I am having a great time here in Bury St. Edmunds. I have begun to realize that my family roots are quite strong here and have actually been spending time in the Suffolk County Records Office more than in the Abbey Gardens on a sunny day, which I think might be a sin but.... I am glad for forgiveness. I have discovered a few more layers of family and have even connected with a second-cousin once removed or something like that in Australia. This could be very interesting.

I also talked to people in a local antique store to discover a few little tidbits about the Bright family (yes they were bright - remember I am related but they were also named Bright). I also had an interesting conversation about the practice of many English people to attend church for christenings, weddings and funerals and nothing in between. I also learned that my great great grandfather had 4 churches, not 2. Back a the Records office for a second day I think I found another layer of my Sowter family so things are going well.

Yesterday was prayer service and coffee at the Whiting Street Church here in Bury and then a walk around town on market day. This is a great market town with markets on Wednesday and Saturday year round. I was amazed at what was on sale - free range eggs, local cheese, brooms and needles, batteries and undies and you name it. I really enjoyed looking around and picking up some eggs and rhubarb for the family I am staying with.

My church work today consisted of riding through the countryside of Suffolk to four churches with a local pastor who has responsibility for all at 75% time. Some of the congregations are only 3-4 members but they are still opened. It is interesting and was great to hear his call story and how he balances all the demands on his time and continues to serve the congregations. He will retire in a year and it will be interesting to see how the denomination works with these tiny congregations. He was also very kind and drove me past the church in Stansfield that Thomas Sowter pastored for a brief time.

Tomorrow I will go to Tiptree where my great grandfather Eustace Sowter was born and see the church Thomas worked in and hopefully the manse that Eustace was born in. The folks there have been warned I am coming and I believe they will share whatever they have that might be of interest to me. I also hope to get some wonderful jam.

Too Amazing!

This was an amazing day but first.... I finished up my first month in Oxford in a happy way - at Gay Pride. As I mentioned before the congregation in Oxford has a wonderful ministry to the LGBT community and on Saturday there was a parade and festival as the culmination of PrideFest. It was fun to see the table for FirstSunday proudly displayed and the congregation's ministry being recognized and consistently engaged with the community. The entertainment was fun and the weather fair. I ended the evening at the Reading Gay Choir's spring performance and have to say I think it was more enjoyable than watching the England vs. USA World Cup match - England is very much looking forward to Friday to have a little stronger showing and the flags are flying here in support.

Sunday I took the bus across the country to Cambridge and was deposited on Parkside Bus stop which was, low and behold, along side a park! There was a festival going on so I lugged my suitcase across the field and had an elderflower presse drink (Lovely and so much like in the books I am reading) and some Thai food amongst the families having fun. I was collected by the pastor I will be working with for this month, Samantha White. I am staying with John and Jo French and their three children and two dogs and two rabbits. It is fun but I am led to believe a bit quieter than normal as the boys are off the Devon coast sailing for the week. I am happy to have five year old Rona as my housemate. We get along smashingly.

Monday began with a trip to the North Sea in Brightlingsea for an ecumenical clergy meeting. The conversation focused on safe sanctuary issues and requirements for background checks for people in churches. I have dealt with this issue for a number of years and was able to share a little but their current frustration is in understanding the forms that have come from Church House so.... I was quiet. After meeting for a while we moved to the Scooby Snax fish 'n chips restaurant where I had, rather tried to eat a medium portion of plaike fish. My 88 year old seat mate devoured all of his! After returning to Bury St. Edmunds I walked around the town and took a few pictures -actually more than 100 but who is counting with a digital camera.

This morning was off to Sudbury where amazing things happened. We were there for a magazine (newsletter) meeting and in conversation after the meeting I mentioned that my great-great grandfather, Thomas Sowter had been a congregational minister in Sudbury in the 1860's. Low and behold I was in the very church that he served!!!! One of the members took me to the 'history' corner and there was his picture!!! It was taken off the wall and presented to me to keep. I will preach in Sudbury, in the very same pulpit on June 27! I get quite choked up thinking about it and realizing that when I got the contact with Bury St. Edmunds never in my wildest dreams did I think that I would have the opportunity to come, 149 years later, and preach in the same pulpit. I am beside myself. I will have the opportunity while I am here to explore his life and times and really get to know and share in the history of the church in Suffolk and, well.... I am overwhelmed at the grace of God!!! The picture here is of the Pulpit area in Christ Church in Sudbury! Imagine me there in a few short days.

Free Oxford!

Don't worry, Oxford has not been taken captive, it does not need to be free but does have a lot of things that are free - and being my father's daughter my favorite four letter word is "free." So, Monday was spent taking in the free things - the University Park and museums, the Natural History and Pitt Rivers Museums and the Museum of Oxford City. The University Parks are huge and I really only explored one but I enjoyed it as if it were two! Then I walked to the Natural History Museum and was pleased to find fossils from Lyme Regis like the ones I read about in Remarkable Creatures by Tracy Chevalier. Fun to see them and I was really quite surprised at the amazing amount of prehistoric life that abounded here in the Oxford area. I have to say though that the skeleton that amazed me most was the actual building of the museum. It has huge metalwork pillars and a large glass and metal roof that creates a wonderful and well lit space for the exhibits. Every surface, each pillar, each support beam, each wall is covered with natural history detail. The upper pillars are each of a different kind of stone and the capitals are carved with flora and fauna. Everywhere you look there is something to learn. The Pitt Rivers Museum is directly behind the Natural History Museum and is filled, and I mean filled with stuff from around the world. It started as an eccentric collection and is now quite amazing with display after display and drawer after drawer of stuff - shrunken heads, dolls, swords, jewelry, tattoo patterns, model boats, fabric, fans, toys.... you name it it is there. It would be an amazing place for a scavenger hunt on a rainy day. I also visited the City of Oxford Museum and saw the history of the city from Prehistoric times through current day. It was nice and I have to say I did not linger over the displays so will go back to be sure I get my money's worth.


Tuesday I joined a local clergy group for lunch and discussion and I was pleased and saddened to hear the same kind of conversations about small churches and the need to consider restructuring how to do church. It is an issue and I want to believe that these small congregations with the faithful few have the gifts already in place to have a faith-filled and transformational ministry. I will be working for the rest of my life to help realize that potential.

I spent this morning (the 9th) at Asylum Welcome, a refugee and asylum seekers support and resource center in Oxford. This organization is funded through a variety of sources and seeks to provide advice (non-legal), friendship, a warm place with a hot cup of tea, education resources and some food and clothing to people who are here going through the tedious process of registering and seeking asylum. I spoke to one man from Sudan who has been here 8 years going through the process. He cannot work, go to school or receive social services so life, needless to say is a struggle. There was another man from Russia who has been in the process for 14 years and now comes to Aslyum Welcome each day to use the kitchen. I don't know how he manages to keep his spirits up but I believe the folks and services of Aslyum Welcome are a big part of that. In one short morning there were people from around the globe, young and old, seeking support and providing support. It was a great way to spend the morning and challenges me to learn how the proces works in Milwaukee and what support or recourses are available to people. My country of birth was not in my control, how I use this situation is.

Tonight I can add "International Rose Judge!" to my resume. I went to a WI meeting (no it doesn't stand for Wisconsin) which is an organization that began in Canada to support rural women in their lives with information and intellectual stimulation. A member of the Cumnor URC was the speaker tonight so I went to her home and then to the meeting in North Moreton. It was there, at the end of the meeting, after Brioney's stimulating presentation that I was asked to judge the rose competition for the evening. I have to say I was as fair as possible selecting the best smelling rose, a rose photo and a rose needlepoint coaster so that there was something from different categories. I am so pleased to be able to add this to my resume! Sounds quite impressive I know. (The rose photo here is from the University Park not the women's meeting.)

Taking in Bath

Saturday dawned grey and overcast but... that is not to be a deterrent when traveling in England, just makes it more difficult for pretty pictures. Francis and Robert (my hosts) were off to their home in Cornwall and offered to drop me off in Bath for the day. We rode through beautiful countryside and places that Francis had never been so it was extra nice. I had them drop me off at the exit of the motorway as traffic was really backed up and I didn't want them to spend their driving day sitting in traffic. So I walked in and when taking a picture a confusing sign at the local pet shop I met Patrick who was surprised to find a tourist off the beaten path. He was local and on his way to work so we chatted and he showed me a quieter way to enter the city.

Once in the city I was overwhelmed by the number of tourists. I realize now that I have gotten spoiled by having access to Oxford at various times during the day so I can avoid some of the crowds. Bath is a beautiful city set on the side of a great hill along the river Avon. (What I learned on the bus tour I took was that Avon is the ancient word for river so when the Romans asked the locals what the name of the river was they said "Avon", hence several River Avon's in the country.) There are Roman baths here that might be enjoyable on a much quieter day. I did go up to the Royal Crescent to see the architecture but in my mind's eye the buildings were to be sparkling white and elegant. Against the grey sky they were dull and worn - just wait till I get home and have access to photoshop - I will be able to make it look just the way I imagined. I also saw the Circus which is a smaller circle of houses built about the same time (early 1800's I think) and because of the smaller radius of the circle the curvature of the buildings was much more apparent.

Then to visit one of Bath's most famous residents, Jane Austen. I went to the Jane Austen Center and took the tour. It was interesting particularly because I finished Persuasion that morning. The photo here is of her writing desk. I did she her traveling desk in the British Library last week. I enjoyed hearing about her life and her perspective on the society in Bath and was interested to learn that although she started life solidly middle class after her father's death the family had to move to smaller and smaller accommodations giving her new insight into the society.

I returned home to finish a sermon and spend a sleepless night in anticipation of preaching at St. Columba's. Carla (the pastor) told me that she is always really nervous about preaching there so the anxiety levels were ratcheted up a few notches. I prepared my best, resisted the temptation to put in every great line I could think of, resisted the desire to cover all the scriptures and stayed focused and in the end gave an adequate sermon. It will be interesting to come back here in mid-July/August and preach again. The afternoon activities at the church were to a workshop on Carbon footprints and FirstSunday, a worship services/community for LGBTQ folks and others. This week is Pride Week in Oxford and there was a special blessing liturgy. What was interesting to me was that a new man came and when Carla was describing the flow of the afternoon she used the word "liturgy" which is very common to those within the church. This man attended church but didn't know what liturgy meant. This highlighted for me the challenge to speak the vocabulary of faith without it becoming a barrier to understanding and participation. The desire of this group is to be open to all regardless of sexual orientation and yet they sort of forgot about the "regardless of church experience." It is a great group and I honor their ministry and it is believed to be the only such ministry in the UK.

So today, Monday a day off to explore all the free museums in Oxford and then to make travel arrangements to go off to Bury St. Edmunds on Sunday.

A beautiful day to see the Queen

I was so lucky to spend the day in London on Thursday. Carla and I went to the British Museum to see the exhibit of art from Ife in Africa. This was a trip sponsored by the Racial Justice Advocates in the URC. The idea was to expand our understanding of the wealth and depth of the cultures of Africa so as to dispel the notion that Africa was the "dark continent" and had no culture until the white Europeans arrived. I found the exhibit beautiful and the conversation afterward enlightening about the slave trade from a British perspective. It is different than the 300 year history of slavery in the United States but still an insidious dehumanizing history. I hope that as we continue to be in constructive conversations we can grow and live into the wonder of the creation of all humanity in the image of God.

After a quick, and I mean quick dash around the museum (I did see the Rosetta stone and some of the ancient Babylonian temple art along with the Parthenon sculptures), Carla and I headed to Trafalgar Square, Big Ben and the house of Parliament. Then, as two good UCC women who are and will be alum of a Methodist seminary, we had tea in the Central Methodist House. As with many inner city churches, those with any tourist traffic have diversified and offer hospitality that

also provides income to maintain the property. We then walked to see the Queen and although she was home she did not come out and invite me in for tea! I did see the guards march around but not the changing of the guard. You will have to turn your head because I don't know how to turn the video.

We also went to the British Library where I saw lots of beautiful books but unfortunately the Lindesfarne Gospel was not on display. I did see the Magna Carta though. It was a great day and my feet were sore but it was fun to see a bit of the city and I think that I will return and when I do I will take the bus tour to see all the important bits and then be able to wander a side street or two in search of a Fyffe banana. Here are a few images from my day. The first picture is Aphrodite from the British Museum, the second is a guard at 10 Downing Street, me at Big Ben and the window at St. Martin of the Field.

Morning in Oxford

I should have gotten up earlier today - it is a foggy day and by the time I got to town some of the fog had lifted. What was nice was the quiet in the city center at an early hour. One could almost imagine it in years gone by without the sound of buses and cars filling the air. I really enjoyed walking around and of course taking lots of pictures and just enjoying a different view of the city. By the time I got to the Botanic Gardens to view the roses in the morning the traffic was crazy but there were more bikes than cars so that is good for the carbon footprint. I was trying to take a picture of myself this morning and a woman came by and offered to take it noting that she had traveled alone and found it so difficult to get the "I was there" shot, so thanks to her you can see that I am here.

Today is a full day on my diary - what they call a daily schedule - When people kept mentioning that they would have to put "it" in their diary I thought "how boring to read that a hundred years hence." So I have learned and I now have a full diary too. Sermon prep between meetings with the lost, lonely and homeless and a meeting tonight. I am working on 1 Kings 17:8-24 which is the story of Elisha and the widow. I think it will be interesting to craft a message to a congregation that may in some ways see itself as the widow, picking up the last pieces and going to eat a final meal before dying. They simultaneously see themselves as having a prophetic voice for central Oxford in ministry with and for those who are on the margins - either a dissenter (not Anglican), LGBT, homeless, transient etc. The challenge is to hear the story from both sides life and death and consider what do we have to die to to live? What fears limit our vision (this text has a "fear not" in it) and how can we live into the faith in a God that will provide for all our needs and will breath life back into a people who would otherwise be dead? We will see how it goes. This congregation is a very intellectual one but they are human and have human needs and concerns just like the rest of us. I will do my best and share the word that God provides.

Cotswold's and Harris Manchester

After a quiet morning the Harris' took me for a quick driving tour of the Cotswolds which began nearby in Woodstock at the grave of Winston Churchill. The entire Churchill clan is burried there and it is not but a short distance from where he was born. A life so important but with a beginning and end that are only a half mile apart. We then drove to Birbury but got there through several other towns on back road that were narrow and harrowing due to the number of potholes that have yet to be repaired after the very severe winter. Poor Francis was relegated to the back seat and after two days of gardening and Roberts driving I think she was in much need of a cup of tea, aspirin and sleep.

I was dropped off at Harris Manchester college where I was to dine as the guest of the Principal, Rev. Ralph Walller, PhD. I met up with him as the chapel service ended and we went to the Senior Common room with other faculty and three other guests for a party of 10 in all. We had wine and sat at on the window seat and had introductory conversations which was quite nice once my nerves were settled a bit. We then went downstairs to the dinning room and a steward rapped on the door with a large spoon at which time all the students who were assembled stood and were quite as we processed in. I sat to the left of Rev. Waller and we had wine, salad (with herring which I didn't really like), bread, beef stew with carrots and potatoes, lemon pudding and cheese and grapes. The conversations went smoothly and I didn't feel too awkward. After dinner Rev. Waller gave me a copy of his book on John Wesley and a book about the college. It was a lovely evening and if I get far enough along on my paper I will ask permission to read in their library for an afternoon in July. So.... I haven't had tea with the Queen yet but I have had dinner with people who have!

Bank Holiday

Well yesterday (Monday) was a bank holiday - I am not quite sure what it is but I think it comes from the tradition of having a day off after Pentecost (Witsunday). Since the country is no longer very religious they just get the day off. It was a cold and overcast morning so I read and read and read and reflected on Sunday which was very nice.

I went to the Cumnor Church and because of a delightful Scottish woman Brioney, I went home with the Stops for lunch. Brian is a retired 2nd career URC minister and he and his wife were great last minute hosts. A glass of sweet sherry was a wonderful way to begin a Sunday afternoon. We had a pleasant conversation and Joan may be able to hook me up with the Refugee Ministry that has been happening in Oxford for the last 20 years or so.

The afternoon was spent on a long walk across the Hirst. The public walking paths go through farm fields and this is a picture of where I had jsut walked. I do not have a high comfort level with large farm animals and you can see the path that runs from top to bottom in the picutre- that's the path I had just walked down - the cows had just started to come in the field and I got out unharmed but with a bit of an accelerated heart beat. Cows are generally pretty dumb and these seem to be used to people walking through their fields but... I am not that kind of risk taker.

I walked through several fields and along the lane to see what I could seeI. The wild flowers are so similar to those in my childhood , clover and daiseys and vetch. I just didn't walk where there were sheep on the hills and famous ancient colleges in the distance.

I spent the evening watching Billy Elliot - I love BBC TV - no commercial breaks!!!! This movie highlighted what I have been noticing which is a stronger distinction between class here than in the States. I have noticed it in my walking around the city and traveling by bus as well. So far I have not noticed the racisim as much as classism here. More to discover so... you never know what I will find out as my journey continues.