Hands of 500 Offering

By David Kitchingman in Articles

David describes the contributions to worship by members of the Mornington congregation.

Hi Jo

After my piece last month on the Offering as "all part of the service", let me tell you this time about another offering we sometimes have at Mornington. We call it "Hands of 500", because it's in the hands of individuals to offer something of themselves up to a limit of 500 words. So far 18 of us, a fair cross section of the congregation, have had a go. Here are some of the things people have said, grouped under themes that seem to have emerged.

THE PRESENCE OF THE PAST:
One member's contribution was entirely about the "legacies left by members who are no longer with us." She gave three examples of "many riches that have become part of us".

All but two of the other contributors touched on their early life to at least set the scene for their reflection.

PARISH SUPPORT:
Half of the contributors chose to acknowledge the importance of the congregation to them:
"I must thank this Church family for allowing me to be who I am in a way I've never experienced anywhere else. This is a safe place, intellectually and spiritually robust but inclusive and supportive".

"I perhaps would not be anywhere else if not here".

"Here both strands of a healthy church community exist - the mutually supportive society and the range of theological thought".

"The comfort I got when I came on a Sunday and could quietly reflect and put things into perspective was invaluable to my sanity".

THE POWER OF MUSIC:
One member talked solely of "my musical journey through singing. My first effort in singing was aged three, standing alongside my father on the pew".

"For me - as for so many others - music is the Divine - God. 'The voice of the pipes is the song of God'".

Over half the speakers named at least one piece of influential sacred music, including early childhood hymns.

Three of the speakers became singers or performers at the end of their offering.

PERSONAL PRAYER:
A third made reference to prayer. One contribution was titled, "a simple statement of faith and prayer, and the women who have influenced me, leading to communing with God naturally".

"My first response to most situations is prayer - it is my dialogue with God".

"Prayer? Yes - as centering, quietness, no guilt, embracing all of my selves".

"'Namaste' or 'Praying hands' in association with the experiences of the senses is my story".

Two speakers noted their own recoil at times in their lives when others had proffered them healing prayer.

THE PLANET:
One speaker broke any imaginary mould by speaking of Australia through the eyes of a New Zealander, including the large-scale works of art matching the size of the country. "When you return home, you realise that...it's not the red earth that moves us, but the green fields, maybe, our lakes, and the snowy Alps. But our countries are neighbours. We are family".

"Where is the better world?... Taking care of this earth. A world for all... Simple, yet so hard to achieve".

"The life force of creation/Is there in earth and stone.../Flesh and bone".

PLAIN AND PRACTICAL:
"Dad taught me that there is a loving way to shut a door".

"Choosing and posting a birthday card to each child for his/her special day is both a privilege and a pleasure".

"My faith strong, uncluttered and simple, and my answer to 'How do I know?' is that of a five-year-old pupil of mine who, when asked how she knew 3 + 2 = 5, replied firmly 'I just know'".

"I live my faith quietly and everyday, I don't shout it from the rooftops or try to bring it into conversations."

PILGRIMAGE AND PERPLEXITIES:
"During my Bible Class years I rebelled and 14 years later it was a drunk woman who showed me the way back".

"I no longer believe some of the teachings about Christ. I no longer believe that Christianity has an exclusive grasp of the truth".

"I am in the process of still trying to work out for myself whether I am a Christian or not as Easter has always been a problem to me".

"God might be our human subjective creation, maybe an impersonal ground rather than a Divine person intervening in our lives".

POSITIVE POINTERS:
"That which is 'more than I am myself' is my experience of Church".

"Society needs...a strong and respected voice to espouse all that is fair and reasonable, and...a more progressive theological element may contribute to that outcome".

"The essential awareness of God, energy, life force, spirit, within and without, indescribable, bounteous and beautiful, has always been there for me".

"All humans seek God; just different cultures might have different names for him".

"An important taonga for me is our Maori language. I have friends from several faith traditions. Now I believe there is one Great Spirit".

"It seems that, in some part of my being, there is a God space...maybe a 'Soul space'. For me, the mystery that is "soul", like the mystery of God, continues. It's my prayer that when my time comes...I will be able to say 'It is WELL, It IS well with my soul'".

"It suddenly occurred to me what resurrection meant for me - that we had been through deep dark harrowing times but in the end we had come through it, perhaps not the way I had envisaged but I had survived, reasonably intact".

"I believe the Christian life has a key which provides spiritual uplift without which our lives have little meaning".

"My faith, such as it is, helps me to live as well as I can, and motivates me to do what I can to help others".

-- By David Kitchingman, with thanks to Bev, Rachael, John, Nigel, Robyn, Dale, David P, Joan R, Joan W, George, Liz, Hilda, Alan, Neil, Jeanette, Aelred, and Trish.

November 2009.