Maundy Thursday we thought about Jesus' physical, emotional and spiritual trauma on that day - at the Last Supper, praying under the crushing weight of what was to come, betrayal by his friends, then tried and mocked and sentenced to death.“My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death “Abba Father … everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.” – Mark 14:34, 36Rather than leave us wrung out, Pete, Gemma and guest TV presenter Simon Thomas gave us great theological insight into processing our own pain and trauma: Jesus died for us on the cross, but also he suffered with us and God draws close to us in our human weaknesses at our greatest time of need. We were also encouraged with practical tools to navigate times of distress:find a safe space; find trusted friends; find a way to pray (lament, anger, trust); find purpose in spite of our circumstancesGood Friday we focused on the agony of feeling abandoned by God"And at three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, 'Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?' (which means 'My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?)" Mark 15:34We considered unanswered prayer against 3 frames:God's world - the laws of nature that determine life for the majority of people, the majority of timeGod's will - we learn what God wants in spending time with Jesus. Sometimes God's will is not ours and we learn to trust God's ways by leaning into his love.God's war - Prayer pulls together our will, God's will, the will of the person we are praying for and the will of the one opposed to God's truth and righteousness. Rather than war against God we can stand in prayer with God against the works of the devil.We were all encouraged with raw wisdom that silence doesn't mean absence. God is always with us.Holy Saturday allowed us to consider the silence of God. Again the presenters gave us practical means to navigate our disorientation when it feels as if God isn't there. We are encouraged to lean into the support of Christian friends, keep doing the basics of faith and to believe our beliefs and doubt our doubts.I was really taken with the truth that travellers of old would use a sextant to navigate by the stars. Stars are flung some 10,000 light years away and so some may have died, even though we still see their light. This was especially helpful in holding firm to the light of Christ, even in dark times of difficulty, when God seems to be absent.Easter Sunday gave us space to celebrate wonderful truths about suffering:God makes beauty out of our brokenness (like the art of Kintsugi) / Our deepest suffering can become our greatest gift to the world / Our ultimate hope as Christians is eternal.We discussed how Jesus' suffering gives us all the greatest gift of new life in him and hope that in resurrection we are made alive and renewed and our scars are redeemed but not removed. Our prayers will be answered in their fullness when Jesus comes again
Throughout Tuesday 10th October all pupils from Appleton Primary school came, class by class, to the Methodist chapel in Appleton. They brought beautiful gifts from home and as a class they had lots of fun packing 48 separate boxes for vulnerable babies, children and elderly people in Romania. Over a biscuit and some juice we talked about how deep generosity is giving when you know you won't be repaid - mirroring the love that we know from God.
