Northern Lights MCC
  • Home
  • Who We Are
    • Mission Values
    • Who's Who
    • History
    • 5 Year Plan
  • What We Believe
    • Bedrock Beliefs
    • LGBT People and the Bible
    • Our Denomination
  • What We Do
    • Sunday Worship
    • House Group
    • Personal and Spiritual Development
    • Pastoral Care >
      • Suicide Prevention
    • Social Action >
      • Rainbow Home
    • Social Events
  • Catch Up
    • Ordinary Corner
    • Audio Recordings >
      • Catch Up Archive
    • Video Recordings
  • Support Us
  • Find Us
  • Job Vacancies
  • Returning to In Person Worship
  • Social Media Policy

Our Christian Heritage

10/9/2016

0 Comments

 
​I visited Durham earlier this week, and found myself with a bit of time to spare. I walked up to the Cathedral in time for pilgrimage prayers and evensong. I always find Durham Cathedral a profoundly peaceful place, even when it is very busy. The original Cathedral was dedicated in 993, so people have been worshipping God using prayers and traditions we would still recognise over 1,020 years ago. There's something very profound about kneeling in the shrine of St. Cuthbert and thinking of all the births, deaths, joy, pain, and doubt that has been brought before God in this place over that time. 

As you exit the shrine, it is possible to see the Cathedral's Millennium window, commissioned in 1993 for the 1,000th anniversary of its consecration. On this window, scenes of the life and miracles of St. Cuthbert are shown alongside images of coal mining, shipbuilding, and other industries that have underpinned everyday life in the North East in recent centuries. In the very bottom, Cuthbert in a bishop's mitre extends a hand to a miner in his helmet. There are many beautiful pieces of art in glass and textile throughout the Cathedral, but what is particularly profound about this spot between the shrine and the Millennium window for me is the way it signals a holistic approach to faith that I think is woven almost uniquely into the culture of Northumberland. 

The earliest Christian shrine known in the region was found at the Roman frontier fort of Vindolanda (one of the best-preserved and most studied forts on Hadrian's Wall), but it wasn't until the 7th century that a Northumbrian king (Edwin), under the influence of his wife who had studied with St. Augustine, converted to Christianity. Famous preachers, including Oswald, Adrian, and Cuthbert followed and began dedicated holy sites including Whitby and Holy Island at Lindisfarne. Their preaching eventually led to the spread of Christianity characterised by contemplative monasticism (especially following the Rule of St. Benedict, which had been Augustine's monastic order). When we gather in church to pray, we are holding some of their tradition in our hearts, and we owe our own faith in Christ to some extent to these early preachers.

The Rule of St. Benedict gave rise to a strong reflective tradition that emphasises regular prayer, and the use of silence in worship. As a church, we honour this tradition in a number of different ways, one of which is to gather together at St. Antony's Priory in Durham in the lead up to Advent each year to spend a quiet day in contemplation, study, and prayer. This year's quiet day is scheduled for the 29th October, and I hope that many of you will join us to risk opening to God in the quiet amongst our church family.

Blessings,
Kate
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Hope & Light Blog

    Follow the church on Twitter

    Archives

    December 2019
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

    Contact us

Submit

About us

Who We Are
What We Believe
What We Do
Whats On?


Follow, tweet and talk to us!

Worship with us Sunday 6.30pm GMT at
St. James's URC, NE1 8JF and our YouTube channel

Email: contact@northernlightsmcc.org.uk
Phone: 07770543407

Social Media Contribution Guidance

NLMCC Policies and Documents

Registered Charity Number 1093009
Website designed by Carly Steven 
Logo and branding designed by Naomi Neilson