It is fascinating to me that tiny gestures can carry such huge significance. Do you remember the image of a woman who held a man’s hand when she visited him in hospital? Nothing unusual about that image – except that the man had AIDS and the woman was Princess Diana. This image went worldwide, as the Perfect Princess reached out and touched the untouchable. Recently, we saw the image of three men praying together. Nothing too remarkable about that, unless you know that there was a Jew, a Muslim and a Christian – the leader of the Israel, the leader of the Palestinians and the Pope. They weren’t talking politics, they were praying together to the same God. Once again, this image went around the world, conveying so much more than just three men praying together. Small gestures carrying a huge message.

To my delight, we are having two weddings this year of NLMCC couples. We do not know if we will be able to perform legal marriages in the church building until the United Reformed Church (who host us and several MCC congregations in the UK) have formalised their stance on equal marriage later this year. However, we will continue to offer a church service to same sex couples who wish to formally and publicly affirm their love and commitment to each other before God. It is a real privilege to guide couples towards what will be one of the most important days of their life. Each ceremony is unique and it is wonderful to hear how people met and fell in love. Getting married is not a simple gesture, but it is a ritual that is taken for granted by the majority of the population. Most people are brought up expecting that they will marry one day. Until recently, if they came out as LGBT, the prospect of marriage, and certainly any kind of legal recognition of their relationship seemed almost impossible.

The giving and receiving of a ring, even kissing publicly in front of family and friends are gestures which may be quite commonplace for many people and yet assume added significance for our community, because we have fought so hard for so long to be able to do these things. We are fortunate in this country that we have these rights and possibilities. Most same sex couples do not see themselves as pioneers or activists when they come to see me about getting married. However, each time the wedding invitations go out, one more brick in the wall of prejudice and ignorance is knocked to the ground. Another group of family and friends gather to publicly show their support for all that is good and whole about love and commitment, regardless of the gender of those making their vows. Small gestures can change the world.

God bless

Cecilia

Some worship services are just extraordinary. Everything comes together and the presence of the Holy Spirit is palpable. Our Re-Naming service was one of those services. People had been in the church from 4pm on Sunday. Much preparation had been done during the previous weeks. Everyone was working so hard up until the last minute – Catering crew and exhibition folk in the hall, musicians, AV and Welcome team in the church. Me running around like a headless chicken, trying to remember all the things that I was sure I had forgotten. Then finally there is that moment when you can do no more, when you stop…… and hand everything over to God. It was wonderful to welcome guests to the service from St James’s URC, Newcastle City Centre Churches Together, Northern Pride and the West End Refugee Service. MESMAC put our invitation to our service on their website, Northern Pride and Pride Radio and MESMAC all sent out our invitation on Twitter. I received emails from folk who couldn’t attend and sent their apologies. We are known and valued in the communities where we serve. People like our new name, they love the logo and they enjoy working with us. What was fantastic on Sunday was that they experienced who we are when we are doing the thing that feeds and motivates everything else that we do – our guests experienced our worship. Whether they felt the presence of the Holy Spirit or not, I do not know. What they did feel was our rich and vibrant passion for what we do, our warm and inclusive welcome and our joyful expression of our faith. 

Many of you know that I am passionate about making a difference in the world. In my own personal faith, I believe that being a follower of Jesus requires us to try and make the world a better place. For me, it is a vital part of what it means to be a Christian. I am also clear that doing God’s work without spending any time being with God, listening to God and going deeper with God, takes me away from the faith I hold so dear. It is therefore a challenge sometimes to get the balance right between action and stillness. As Northern Lights MCC, we have a vision of bringing hope and light to those who need it. I am excited to see what opportunities open up for us, as we continue to live into this vision. However, whatever unfolds, it is vital that we always remember our primary function as a church – to gather and worship the One who called us into being and calls us to be the people of God. Our worship together each Sunday gives us a chance to celebrate all that God has blessed us with, and renews us for the week ahead, as hope-giving Northern Lights. 

God bless

Cecilia

Alison Kay was in her 70’s when she read in the local paper about a homeless man whose lifeless body was found under bushes on wasteland in Newcastle. She was so moved and distressed by this story that she decided to do something about it. After months of research and working patiently to build the trust of the homeless people she sought out, she and some friends offered the first People’s Kitchen, under a railway arch – food and a warm fire. Although these were great things to offer, the main need, that the people who came had, was for friendship. That was 1986. The People’s Kitchen now provides meals for hundreds of people and provides many more services besides. All this because one woman turned her compassion into action.

This week I attended the ceremony where the City of Newcastle was formally awarded ‘City of Sanctuary’ status. MCC Newcastle pledged its support for the application and our joint project with MESMAC, Rainbow Home, was listed on the display as one of the agencies contributing to providing sanctuary in the city, as we work with LGBT people seeking asylum in the UK. The idea of City of Sanctuary was started in Sheffield by a man called Inderjit Bhogal. He could see different organisations all working with refugees and wanted to link them together, so that Sheffield could truly say it was a City of Sanctuary. This idea caught on and there are now 30 towns and cities across the UK and beyond who pledge to actively welcome and support those seeking sanctuary. All of this because one man turned his compassion into action.

To feel safe, to feel welcome, to have someone to talk to, to have people around who want to help you and not judge you – these are really basic human needs. Many of us will have felt unsafe, or not welcome or lonely or judged at some points in our lives. Alison and Inderjit both just wanted to make a difference. At the time, neither of them was thinking about developing a whole organisation or a network of cities. They just wanted bring light and hope into the lives of the people whose stories they heard. Throughout our history as MCC Newcastle, we have done the same. We have responded to the stories that we have heard, both within and beyond our congregation. We have offered a safe, warm, welcoming home and a place to just be. This weekend we are re-naming our church. As Northern Lights MCC, we are just proclaiming in our name what we do in reality – we offer light and hope to those who need it. Our new name signifies a public commitment to do this and to continue to turn our compassion into action.

God bless Cecilia