Burning, but not consumed

In the early morning hours of August 2, 2002 Whitehouse Presbyterian Church was completely destroyed by arson. The picture you see above is the rebuilt sanctuary of Whitehouse, reopened in 2005. The church sits in a "no man's land" area between Catholic and Protestant communities. After the fire, people from all surrounding communities poured out support for the church community. During the rebuilding time, worship was held in the main hall and church membership actually increased during that time of change and uncertainty. Rev.Liz Hughes is the minister at Whitehouse and the first Sunday after the fire she spoke on Chapter 4 of 2 Corinthians, "God in his mercy has given us this work to do and so we are not discouraged." That work Liz was speaking of was work to be agents of Christ's peace in the community. Not only has Whitehouse rebuilt itself physically, but spiritually there is a sense of renewal that I can feel since I have arrived. The worshipping community is a broad spectrum of ages and worship includes opportunites for all to worship in various styles, yet it is seamless in transition from praise music to traditional hymns, and scripture reading to modern book study. Whitehouse hosts programs throughout the week ministering to different ages, different communities, and different abilities. I am so excited to be a part of it and have been overwhelmed at ways I have seen Whitehouse challenged with God's purpose since I've arrived. Most of all, I have been touched by the congregation of Whitehouse. From my first Sunday here, I've been adopted by "new mums" and old men who kiss me on the cheek. They are a unified force of love, reaching out to everyone with renewed fervor each day. I've experienced it, because they've reached out to me and continue to, wrapping me closer with banter and conversation. I feel so genuinely blessed to be at Whitehouse and learning from this powerful group of God's people. They are living the motto of Presybterian Church in Ireland, arden virens sed, burning but not consumed.

This week has been full of clubs and groups starting activities. Monday night I went to Girls Brigade for the first time and got to see all 4 age groups. Girls Brigade does scripture study, arts and crafts, physical education, and solo routines for display later in the year. It was great for me to see some of the girls I had met in Contact Club (youth group) and other church activities. Tuesday I started at Whitehouse with the Seniors Coffee Hour and Healing service. There is something that is so nourishing to the spirit to be in the church during the week and be still to pray. Tuesday night I went to Youth PHAB club at 174, which is a part of the disability project. We made bagel pizzas, fruit kabobs, and nachos. Sitting around a table with fruit falling into yogurt is a great way to laugh and get to know one another. Wednesday was the Alpha dinner. Alpha is a 10 week course at Whitehouse where you have dinner, watch a video, and have discussion. It is meant to be an introduction to being a Christian and an open forum for people to question and discuss Christianity. Non-threatening is key and open discussion is encouraged. I look forward to how God will work in the small group of youth I may be leading there, because I have heard that last year (their first year doing Alpha) was a truly amazing experience. Many of the groups bond so tightly that they continue to meet through the year. Thursday morning was the Seniors Lunch Bunch where I enjoyed a stirring game of Beetle drive (you roll a dice and if you get a certain number you draw that part of the beetle, first person to have a whole beetle wins) and enjoyed a seriously large lunch. This group of seniors comes from many different communities. Now you all know that I have a soft heart for older folks, so this is one part of my job that I am very excited to do, get to know these people and their stories. I've already heard about one man who stole logs during a coal strike in the 1920's and how he was running from the police carrying huge logs. Quite good craic! :) (funny stuff) So today is Friday, which is the day I'll usually write my blogs, which I promise to do more often! I am going to the afterschool project in a bit, just like I do each day. I'm enjoying this group of young people, most of them are about 8-9 so they are filling a space in my heart that would normally be for about 24 third graders. I've taught them to play kickball, though I'm not nearly as good at it as Mrs.Hill!! Yesterday I helped some of them with their homework and it felt like water to my soul to be teaching, if only for a minute.


Above is a picture of the 174 Trust bus and a few of the kids from the afterschool project. In a staff meeting on Wednesday, someone requested that that signage, which we were taking pictures of to show the donor, be removed. Participants from Catholic/Nationalist areas who were being picked up for the disability project might be in danger of being stoned if the words "Presbyterian Church" were left on the bus. Even though 174 is known as a cross-community organization, it was sobering for me to be reminded in such a real way that we are here not to promote our own agenda or our own religion or set of beliefs. We are here to have genuine relationships with people so that we can learn from others. It feels so selfish sometimes that I will gain so much from them when I head back to the states, but what, I often wonder, will I have left in their hearts?

I'll leave you with these final thoughts. On Monday we went with Doug to a seminar to launch reserach on peace education in Northern Irish schools. A group of people were evaluating the existing peace education and making recommendations. I was fascinated and invigorated, remembering the fire that inspired me to apply to this program. There is so much to be learned in multicultural education all over the world. There is truly a kind of fight we are all missing, all too focused on other battles to see, the fight for the peace of the coming generations. Peace building is a global network, founded in respecting differences at a young age. My challenge this year, is not to forget that fire that burned brightly enough for me to fill out an application, quit my job, leave my family and loved ones, and cross an ocean. I'm here because I truly believe in children and I believe in respecting differences and I believe in peace and reconciliation. In the words of Neil Postman, "Children are the messages we send to a future which we ourselves cannot see."