Also available online to download in pdf form here:
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1siKLb0IJdwcGF8nv8BqJMEQsvYJcTnO7 Print the two pages, glue them back-to-back, then fold in three. The guide can be used in either A4 or A5 form.
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Paul writes that God speaks in creation. He writes not to us (as a teacher) but for us (as learners). We all need to learn this lesson, but we can only learn it by observing. Protestants read scripture, Catholics read doctrine and Orthodox read the fathers. But God speaks to everyone through nature. Yesterday I walked to Ninian's Point. It was a beautiful spring day, warm and buzzy. As ever there were few cars; mainly tractors. God spoke to me for a good two hours as I walked and observed. The hawthorn hedges were everywhere in blossom. One inch thorns were visible, embedded in cluster of white flowers. The thorns spoke of the crown Jesus wore to the Cross. The blossoms spoke of the saints clothed in white, protected by the thorn. A bee buzzed in front of me, gathering nectar to make this island truly a land of milk and honey. The bee gathered from the sweetness of the saints; our land can only be dripping with the promised honey when we too are sweet. In the roadside dirt a dandelion blossomed. Yellow gold reflecting the sun above. As Christ reflects the Father's likeness and blossomed from adamah (soil) in order to redeem the children of Adam. Nearby buttercups were also in glorious yellow gold, but smaller and lesser, like the angels were to Christ Jesus. Bluebells and other tiny blue flowers abounded, reminding me of the glory of God. A bullock, being fattened for autumn slaughter, sauntered up and stared. Its face exhibiting an alef - the long face, two horn and ears of the first letter of the Hebrew alef-bet. This letter stands for God and His power, but it is silent. As silent as Christ before His accusers. As silent as the Father at the Cross. A field of ewes and their lambs ate quietly nearby, reminding the walker that there is no longer any need for slaughtered bulls, for the Lamb has been slain. Later, an insect landed on the index finger of my left hand. I blew on him, but he only fluttered and settled down to warm himself in the full sun. I carefully ate my lunchtime roll, avoiding eating my new friend. Eventually he flew off. Was the insect he or she? I only knew that she wasn't an 'it'. She too was beautifully crafted and unique. The God who made the sun, who made me, also made this perfect insect and He did so with the same great and loving care. What drew me to Ninians?
I was baptised in the waters of St Ninians bay on the 14th of September 2014. From that day on there has been an invisible draw on me to be at Ninian's waters. I knew nothing of St Ninian until 4th of June 2017, Pentecost Sunday. I had developed a habit of going for a swim in Ninian's Bay on Pentecost; I first did this in 2015 as a reminder to myself of my commitment to God. My church had just got a new Pastor, Peter, so I invited him and his family to join me for a BBQ and swim. A few other members of our church joined us and a visitor from the nearby Isle of Arran. After my swim Peter asked if I’d been to the chapel on the Point. I hadn’t - but immediately had a burning desire to go and see. So the next day my Ninian adventure really began. I felt like I’d come home. I had done no research on the geography of the land, but I found the wells first - I didn’t even know they were wells. I knew nothing, although I did feel God’s presence. As you cross an invisible boundary onto the Point, everything changes, it is like any concern or worry leaves you. I began to go daily; I had never experienced this kind of peace. I feel all of nature worships God with me; if you have never worshipped outside you may not understand this. It’s like I can more truly connect with God the Father, my father. My prayer life has changed as a result of the visits. I began to hear God, often led to a scripture passage that was unknown to me. Having only walked in God’s light for three years I had not read all the Bible; it had been two and a half years without a pastor over me, no discipleship from my church, and no Bible study plan. Suddenly to be receiving clear instruction through his word, promptings, commands and visions, I was to say the least overwhelmed. I confided in Peter, who I didn’t know that well, after God spoke to me through a sermon he delivered when God asked me to tell Peter everything. I really had no idea of Peter's own Ninian experience; I had no idea whether hearing from God IS normal. Peter made me feel it’s okay. The initial vision was a of a pilgrimage. In many ways that’s what the last two years have been. So much has happened in a year, including signs and answers. Our first visitor came seeking healing and a word from God. Our first repeat visitor. Then John, another established Christian, became drawn to our movement and God has sent others: Janet and Paul. All diverse, all different, we all have very different giftings and we are each in our own way broken. What we all do do is we seek God with all our hearts. There is none of ourselves in Rúna Rìngan - God breathed life into it in the beginning. So is it not what but who drew me to Ninians point? It’s simple: it was God. Even if God is neither a who or a what! Ninian's has been for me the place where He has taught me that God is everything. We are delighted to share the good news that Rùna Ríngan has been accepted by the Scottish Charity Register (OSCR) as a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO), registered as SCO48914. This is a major step forwards for us to implement what we believe is God's plan for our community. We do not need man's approval, but we are called to work within the bounds of the secular legal authority, appointed by God, whenever conscience allows. This also ensures that third parties can see openly that our works are done properly and legally. The final word to our Lord Jesus Christ, And Jesus said to them, "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." Mark 12:17 John was invited by the Maybole Historic Society to give a detailed talk under the title of 'Early Christian Community in Maybole'. It turns out that Maybole - an ancient settlement in the north of Carrick, Ayrshire - is an excellent spot to consider Christianity from its earliest times in Scotland, up to the start of the second millennium. The talk covered: the problems of non-historic History (i.e., where there is few, if any, documentary evidence), the role of myth-making in our understandings, the Judaic and Eastern roots of Christianity, Christianity in Britannia from the first century, the Brythonic people of SW Scotland, Ninian's ground-breaking role, the different Celtic churches of Scoto-Ireland and Britannia, mysticism and Celtic Christianity, and the Synod of Whitby. The paper was well received and followed by some excellent discussions and further input from the knowledgeable audience. A copy of the paper can be viewed or downloaded at no charge from Scribd.com (www.scribd.com/document/394259552/Early-Christianity-in-Maybole) 16th September, 2018. We gathered at Ninian's chapel to celebrate the feast of Ninian, to share stories and songs, and to break bread and drink wine, in memory of Runa Ringan and Our Precious Saviour, Jesus Christ. Seven adults and four young, noisy children. The weather was glorious, even sunny on what had been up till 2pm a cold, wet and windy day. God smiled upon us through his elements. The children took turns at sounding the shofar, announcing our presence before the heavens, the earth, the sea, a large flock of starlings and a few early migratory geese in the bay. Nicky was dressed in a white robe. Two others had had a word (but less conviction!) of the need to dress in white. God was already blessing us. We are to be a sign of God's banner, offering prayer and healing. Peter knew what fabric we should wear, with a black cowl on the shoulders. (Nicky wore pink wellies, but these will be optional.) John brought a Word from God: love. The word came in a shout that woke him up in the middle of the night two days earlier. The love of God in Christ is everything from Him to us, and from us to His hurting world. Love. Peter told us of Brother Juniper, a follower of St Francis of Asissi. He kept coming home to the monastery naked as he insisted in giving his clothing to the poor. After consultation, Francis instructed Juniper not to give his clothing away again. The next evening Juniper again came home naked. "I didn't give it away", he said. "I said to the poor naked man, 'I can't give you my clothing, but if you ask me for it, I won't stop you.' Francis said, "I wish I had a forest of juniper trees!" We felt God moving us on in His project for Ninian's Point. It's still developing. Let us pray that God will open His will to us, and His plans for this special place which is steeped in His holy presence, "Surely the Sovereign LORD does nothing without revealing his plan to his servants the prophets." Amos 3:7 A story is like a French art movie: it doesn't start at the real start, and doesn't end right at the real end. It's just a short cutting from a bigger tale. I'll tell my story from one Saturday morning at the Ardbeg Baptist Church in Rothesay, on the Isle of Bute. I was helping make a Gideon's presentation to the church and met Peter (the pastor) and Nickie (a deacon). They began to tell about St Ninian's point / Bay / Chapel just a few miles west (nothing is far away on this island.). "Go there!", they encouraged. So I did. I walked down the almost car-free road, yomped across a shelly beach, over some cow-tramped hummocks, and reached the destination. There, just past some simple buildings, on the highest point, lay the stony ruins of an ancient chapel dedicated to Ninian. I sat down and listened. Peace suffused the place. The day was calm with views to Kintyre, Inchmarnock, Arran and beyond. The peace was tangible; like being caught in a net of calm and rest. I thought: this place is special. I had recently moved to a converted mansion house, which it turns out was built on what was probably a chapel dedicated to Ninian. Again, the peace and calm is amazing. I had only ever felt this once before, at Pluscarden Abbey near Elgin. The abbey had been refounded by four monks from Yorkshire in the mid twentieth century with the text: in this place I will give peace (Haggai 2:9). It also reminded me of the ancient Irish monastery I visited near Enniskillen where, in a howling gale, my wife and I had smelt the strong odour of attar of roses. There are places with a deposit from the saints of old. A deposit of sanctity, the presence of God and holiness. St Ninian's Chapel on Bute is one of these places. God has brought us here to build a community of being and doing for him and for others. I am excited, and awed, as God has begun to show and tell us the scope of his plans for here. But, we must start from where we are now. What do I bring? My brokenness from failing health and career ups and downs over the decades. My quiet repentance for a failed Christian ministry. My awe and respect for a God who loves so much he has never given up with me, or with you. The photo (above) is one of the astonishing things about the bay and the point. Strewn across the land are quartz stones with crosses in them; not on them, but in them. There is even one stuck fast in the beach with three crosses set on a round hill. Bees create honey in the chapel. The acoustics in this low-walled ruin, open to the elements for miles in every direction, are surprisingly noise-less and resonant. Close your eyes to pray and you seem to be in a complete chapel. Kneel to pray at the altar and ... I could go on, but, I don't need to. Come, yourself. God is waiting to welcome you with open arms. Bro' John. |
AuthorsPeter, Nickie and John. Archives
May 2019
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