Wednesday, 11th March found Third Space meeting at Designate@thegate in Matlock. Andy Botham came along to talk about his work as a Derbyshire County Councillor, and Cabinet member for Council Services. He explained how policies are debated at various stages and how decisions are then taken. With central government cutting funding to Derbyshire by £157 million, Andy stressed how difficult it is to implement cuts to services which impact so heavily on people’s lives. He told us that he found making cuts  very difficult because he had entered politics because he felt so strongly about fairness.

Andy is the Labour candidate for Derbyshire Dales in the May 2015 General Election. He spoke about how difficult it is to get into politics if one doesn’t have the “right” appearance, or doesn’t stick rigidly to the party line.

Several people in the group were very critical of politicians for not being willing to give straight answers to questions. He believes that politicians should be honest, real and straight talking. But stressed that it leads to hostile headlines in the media.

Third Space members were critical of “professional politicians” , who come straight from “Oxbridge” to work in parliament,  becoming  researchers, and then advisers to M.P’s, they are then selected as candidates for safe parliamentary seats so they have a smooth transition to becoming  M.P’s.

In contrast Andy along with several Third Space members said how much they admired Margaret Hodge, Chair of the Public Accounts Committee, when she interrogates the rich and powerful about tax avoidance. All credit to her, she most definitely speaks for me!

Andy would like more people both to register to vote, and to vote  – particularly young people. He said it was really important to “constantly encourage more and more people to be involved in the political process”.

Asked by one Third Space member how we could pray for him, Andy asked us to pray for “fairness”.

A most interesting, informative and insightful evening closed as our speaker thanked the group for inviting him, and commented that ” it was a pleasure to spend an evening having informed and intelligent discussion”.

We met in the Bandstand as usual at 9.30am, the day was cool and overcast, but dry.  It was the last day of Fairtrade Fortnight and so we considered how making ethical choices, like choosing Fairtrade products, was one way to be obedient to God’s command to “seek justice” in Isaiah Chapter 1.

Our worship began with a time of  reflection using the Lord’s Prayer.

Bible Reading: Isaiah 1:13-17

This is a very sobering passage in which God through the prophet Isaiah berates the Israelites for thinking that they can honour Him while mistreating other people. Sometimes even as  Christians we seem to be able to divorce our relationship with God from how we treat other people. That’s why I’m always very suspicious of people who make a big fuss about worship without showing concern for social justice.

The injustice which offends God in this passage is not only active exploitation and wrong doing, but also neglect and indifference. The people are told to “seek justice”. that means – Encourage. Defend. Plead the case. Take up the cause. We are all called to speak out and take action!  Seeking justice is not be an optional extra for us but should be part of our daily lives. Biblical justice is never impartial; it is partial towards the poor, the powerless and the vulnerable, it is also partial in demanding the common good and the welfare of every individual.

When society and our world is structured in such a way that people are impoverished and disempowered, sin is taking place even if no single individual can be blamed, it is what some people describe as structural sin, or corporate sin.   Examples: Slavery. Poverty. Neoliberal free-market economics – a system which makes the rich,  richer and the poor,  poorer. How women have been treated and still are treated in most societies as second class citizens. How international trade is conducted – the rich and powerful get the lion’s share and poor producers get the crumbs.

Although imperfect, the Fairtrade movement stands for justice and equity, it offers a very definite alternative model of international trade. It puts fair prices and fair wages, sustainable development, environmental protection and social justice at the heart of trading relationships with poor producers.

Through making an ethical choice to buy Fairtrade products we can ensure that Third World farmers are paid a fair price and workers a decent wage, and in our shopping at least, we can be obedient to God’s command to “seek justice”.

Amos 5:23-24 : “I’ve had all I can take of your noisy ego-centric worship. When was the last time your life reflected your worship? Do you know what I want? I want justice – oceans and oceans of it. I want fairness – huge rivers of it. That’s what I want.”

Next we used a reworking of the Beatitudes (with thanks to Brian McLaren and Rob Bell) as a creed:

The poor and those in solidarity with them – God is on your side.

Those who mourn and feel grief about the state of the world – God is on your side.

The non-violent, gentle and humble – God is on your side.

Those who hunger and thirst for the common good – God is on your side.

The merciful and compassionate – God is on your side.

Those characterised by sincerity, kindness and generosity – God is on your side.

Those who work for peace and reconciliation – God is on your side.

Those who keep seeking justice – God is on your side.

Those who stand for justice and truth as the prophets did, who refuse to be quiet even when

slandered,  misrepresented, threatened, imprisoned or harmed – God is on your side!

For our activity around the park we combined the fun of a treasure hunt (seeking Fairtrade chocolate bars hidden in the park) with considering how we could commit to “seek justice” more and more.

Now where can those chocolate bars be?

Have you found any here?

Ah there they are!

On returning to the Bandstand we shared bread and wine with the following liturgy inspired by Jonny Baker:

On the night before Jesus died, he gathered with his friends to share a meal. Over food and drink they shared stories of lament and longing.

They told stories of Lament for a world of injustice and powerlessness that before they met Jesus they hadn’t even noticed.

Lament over the people who were silenced, oppressed, exploited.

Lament over the people who were blind to the possibility that the world could be anything other than what it was.

They told stories of Longing that the new world they’d glimpsed might become reality;

Longing that the voiceless would be given a voice.

Longing that the powerful would be freed from their addiction.

Longing for the imagination to see that this world does not have to be as it is.

Then Jesus called for bread and wine.

The bread held in his hands … the words of blessing …the breaking of the bread, and then the shocking words, “this is my body… broken… for you…”

The cup of wine, an ancient memorial re-imagined… the blessing … and then the heart-breaking words, “this is my blood… poured out… for you and for many…”

May this bread be food for our journey as we “seek justice”.

May this wine be a sign that we are no longer in thrall to the old order whose power Christ has broken. 

May this place be where hopes and dreams are forged.

May this community be a reminder that we are not alone.

May we be able to throw off the old order and live the new life of Christ as we “seek justice”. Amen.

We then departed to Cool River for Fairtrade coffee and refreshments!

Steve led us today, continuing the Lenten theme with musings on evil, looking at the temptations of Christ in the wilderness. He spoke of the passages of Scripture which personify Satan and the alternative Augustinian approach in which evil is merely the absence of good. Both have potential weaknesses – of either off-loading responsibility for our actions onto the devil (and the C of E has recognised issues too of how few people truly believe in this depiction of Satan, with it editing out ‘the devil’ from the vows taken in the baptismal service) or demeaning the horrors of true evil.

He also defined fallen-ness as choosing what others choose for us as opposed to  what God intends us to be – the very temptation Jesus faced at the start of his ministry.

So at the start of Lent, we made a bid to reject “the Devil and all rebellion against God.”

We wrote on paper, words that the “world” presents to us of ultimate worth. The idols of our age. Here are some that we came up with

The we wrote that which God would have us be. The values, goals, things of ultimate worth. Here are some

We all had a bit of fun stamping on all that is evil, though held up as good before surrounding the values of the kingdom. Gathered there, we prayed by name for all those who need those values now, before turning to bread and wine, using these words:

Source of all Goodness and Light – our Father-Mother:

We confess our predilection and fascination with the less than good. Our chasing after our comforts and what would please us, our turning away from the true light, our obeisance to others and not to you, our idolising of the created order and our  neglect-ful-ness of our Creator.

We reject the darkness and turn to the LIGHT.

In our awakening to your gift of life to us, the breath you have YHWH-ed through us, the redemption price delivered in Jesus, we give you our thanks and our worship.

Help us we pray to orientate ourselves to you. Help us support each other in that repented direction. Help us to keep on keeping on in our journey to the LIGHT.

This bread represents your solidarity with us, your self-giving in Jesus, your incarnated commitment to our complete Shalom. We consume it for our corporate, bodily and total sustenance and with thanks!

RESPONSE: God’s mercy freely given!

This wine represents your inauguration of new relationship, the opening of new possibilities, the promise of a future resurrected life. We consume it for our corporate, bodily and total sustenance until Jesus returns!

RESPONSE: God’s mercy freely given!

Send us out, missioned together, to be children of the Kingdom, seeking Justice, loving Mercy and walking humbly with our Creator God.

RESPONSE: AMEN!

As usual we gathered at Holly House to mark the beginning of Lent.

We chatted over issues arising from Chapter 23 of our book – we all seemed to fall under the Pharisee banner than that of the multitudes!

We drew names from hats to match us up with prayer partners and took time to share briefly with one another in our pairs and then we had a short reflective prayer time, influenced by websites of Wellsprings and Faith and Worship. This is what we did:

Opening prayer:

Into your presence we come, Lord a few moments of quietness in a busy world that demands our attention. Breathe on us now that we might know your presence and your power as we pray, side by side, in solidarity with one another, and acknowledge our failings and need for God’s mercy an forgiveness for the journey ahead.

Readings: From the Message – Rev 2:2-3 & 3:15-17 followed by silent reflection

Confession:

I confess that I have forgotten the great love that my God and Creator has for me. I have lived as if I created myself; Forgetful of God’s great goodness to me; Forgetful that I am God’ beloved. I have embraced the feast and neglected the fast. I have lived as if there were no God and have chosen to ignore his call. I have allowed my first love to become luke-warm .

Reading: From the Message – Joel 2:12-20

Then ThirdSpace’s version of the Lord’s Prayer  (see previous blogs)

We then made the sign of the cross on each others’ foreheads or hands with the ashes naming each in turn and praying: Know yourself beloved of God. Receive his forgiveness and strength for the journey ahead.      

We shared bread and wine with these words:

We share a traditional Lenten bread, the pretzel, which is shaped in the form of arms crossed in prayer. It reminds us that we are called to stay prayerful but to draw strength from Jesus our companion on the journey.

JESUS OUR COMPANION IN PRAYER

We share in wine, the symbol of suffering, a reminder of Jesus in Gethsemane asking that his cup of suffering might be removed from him. We choose to drink, trusting in his strengthening, provision and victory as we embark on this next stage of our own journey.

JESUS OUR STRENGTH

We finished with the circular blessing – which is basically a group hug! – giving each other strength and support for these forty days and nights…

STRENGTH AND SUPPORT

Last Sunday Paul and Fi led us in a preparation for Lent. So this is what we are doing:

• We are supporting the 40 for 40 Trussell Trust campaign – 40p each day from each home for 40 days of Lent to support the huge numbers of families and individuals needing the help of food banks this Easter.
• We are using these words: Lent: serious, intentional, reflective.

We have chosen to fast

Not with ashes but with actions

Not with sackcloth but in sharing

Not in thoughts but in deeds.

We remember your resurrection promise

Of a new world breaking into ours

And we remember that you are over all,

around all and in all

Amen.

 (www.godspace.wordpress.com)

• We are using this reflection:

Fast from discontent                              Feast on gratitude

Fast from worry                                       Feast on Good’s providence

Fast from complaining                           Feast on appreciation

Fast from consumerism                         Feast on generosity

Fast from unrelenting pressure            Feast on ‘all will be well’

Fast from self-concern                           Feast on compassion for others

Fast from evasion                                    Feast on openness

Fast from avoidance                               Feast on participation

Fast from cynicism                                 Feast on hope and truth

Fast from problems that overwhelm  Feast on prayer that sustains

This is adapted from something written by William Arthur Ward. We always use a version of this at this time of year in ThirdSpace. I personally use a couplet each day to focus on – it’s very challenging!! Join me?