Rev Cynthia Park Retirement Service

The closing words from the last sermon of Cynthia at Dorset Gardens Mathodist Church: I saw a vision - it was last Thursday at 11 o'clock in the morning. I was standing at the top of the stairs, looking down over the city and the bright blue sky broke open over my head and the Spirit of God breathed on my eyes and my eyes were opened: I saw Brighton, the holy city, coming down out of heaven shining like a rare jewel, sparkling like clear water in the eye of the sun from Shoreham to Peacehaven, from Hangleton to Moulsecoomb, and all the sickness was gone from the city, and there were no more suburbs and squats, no difference between Hove and Whitehawk. I saw the sea running with the water of life, as bright as crystal, as clear as glass, the children of Brighton swimming in it. They had no more bruises to hide. And the Spirit showed me the tree of life growing on the Old Steine. I looked out and there were no more homeless people and crowding into our shelters. There were no more women working the streets of St James; there were no more drunks throwing up in London Road; HIV and AIDS were things of the past. There were no more crack pushers; there were no more racist attacks, no more attacks on gay people. No more rapists, no more stabbings, no more Nazi graffiti because there was no more hate. And I saw women walking safe at night and the men were full of passion and gentleness and none of the children were ever abused because the people's lives were full of justice and joy. I saw an old women throw back her head and laugh like a young girl. And when the sky closed back her laughter rang in my head for days and days and would not go away. That is what I saw, looking over the city, looking up from the place of sorrow, and I knew then that there would be a day when the kingdom will come. Yes, I know, God's kingdom will come.

Joseph Fletcher

Situational Ethics Christian moral judgements are decisions, not conclusions p12 Love and justice are the same, for justice is love distributed p17 If actions are right only because they are loving, then thy are only right WHEN they are loving p25 These quotes resonate with hearts and worlds crushed by moral pronouncements lacking in any love. The true description and demonstration of love is love measured in justice. I'll sign up to that.

The risen Christa

http://www.edwinasandys.com/
A female representation of the Christ from feminist theology

The Lake of Galilee

There are times when by the lake, you stop; no noise, no words, no nothing, just silence and peace. No rush, just stillness. And at that time, understand and reflect on this new way, this touch of love. Rush and you miss it; speak and you won't hear it. Love just waits for your response.

Further Reflections

Viewing and visiting the sites of Jerusalem I ponder that some add layers to protect the sacred while others seek to remove these layers in order to find the sacred, including the layers of religiosity.
...to be in-step with God or with religion, for one I must choose and with one be -out-of-step...

Reflections on Jerusalem

How strange that as I look over all the temples, churches, shrines and sites of man-achievement laying claim to God, to their version of God, to their God, fighting to lay claim to God and their religious heritage that it is actually God who is the one that fights for and over us and lays claim to us.
How strange that we compete against each other for His attention (with bells, calls to prayer and so on) when it is He who competes to get our attention and therefore has to compete with our distractions of bells and calls to prayer and so on.
In many ways Jerusalem is like a snow-globe, a microcosm of humanity; its passions and possessions, its fervour and ferocity. A city built on religious fault-lines; religion, identity and politics that can erupt into devastating destruction at any moment. Dividing walls separating communities and families, each claiming possession and heritage. All symbols of the best and worst of humanity. To pray for the peace of Jerusalem is not only about the literal city but also about the microcosm of humanity that it represents.