Return to Rochester

On Thursday, 12th of June, some of us pilgrims made a return trip to Rochester. During the pilgrimage, we went to the cathedral and took part in a very meaningful communion service in a circle, and sharing the bread and cup with the person to the left of us. It was a memorable event for all of us. We had a tour of the cathedral scheduled, but we had decided to get on with the walk of the day instead. Therefore, it was good to make a return trip to Rochester and see the cathedral.

Luke found out about a concert of The Sixteen doing a 2014 Choral Pilgrimage, so it sounded perfect. The Choral Pilgrimage “aims to bring music back to the buildings for which it was written”, and the ensemble is singing choral works this year from the 15th-16th century. Sitting in that beautiful cathedral and listening to the voices that blended together wonderfully, it all seemed to have been acoustically perfect. We were taken back to the 1500’s, and reminded that worshippers 500 years ago probably heard the same songs in the same place. It was a glorious experience, and a reminder of the great cloud of witnesses that have gone before us. All of the songs, except for one, were sung in Latin – but the written programmes included the words in both Latin and English.  One of the songs (in Latin) by John Sheppard had simple words, but with the melody and the meaning of the words, it was heavenly. “Let us bless the Father and the Son with the Holy Spirit, so worthy of praise, so glorious and so high above all for ever.”  

It was good to spend a short time together in the cathedral, worshipping God with others in such wonderful surroundings, and encouraging one another on our spiritual pilgrimage with Jesus.

Reflections from the labyrinth

As a follow up to the pilgrimage, we set up a labyrinth at St Mary's.  This was an opportunity for anyone to have their own walk with God. 

 

Everyone coming to walk the labyrinth at St Mary’s seemed to get a different meaning from their walk with God.  Here are some of the reflections left in the book:

·         I was very aware of the light and shade as I walked

·         In the labyrinth everything meant something.  God really can speak through anything if I give him the space

·         My (surprisingly long) journey in the labyrinth allowed me to reflect on my journey through life: many twists and turns, some about turns.

·         The stones of the labyrinth remind me of all the different people God has brought into my life: they are all unique, each a different size, shape, colour, character, gifts and yet all are children of God

·         As I walked, the labyrinth took me to the outer edge and I thought of those who are on the edge of society and feel neglected or are lost. I prayed that I would have God’s eyes to seek and save the lost

·         The labyrinth showed me that what I see as a burden, God has given me as a gift – to use and embrace it

·         The path may be constantly changing but God always fills it with beauty, with joy, with his constant and unchanging love

 

 

Continuing the Pilgrimage - a Sunday afternoon walk - Monica

We all loved doing the pilgrimage and it seemed obvious that we should continue walking together and sharing this activity. So on the 1st of June 9 of us met at Reigate Heath car Park and set off towards the Windmill Church.

One of our more enterprising walkers knew how to get the key so we spent a while in the church praying and chatting, then set off across the Heath. I live a mile away but had never been inside. It is small but with massive beams holding up the mechanism.

Then we set off across the Heath. There was the same sense of space that we had experienced before: The views of the downs and Leith Hill and the space to chat and share for a while. All of us had been involved in the Pilgrimage which was a bit of a shame as it would have been good to welcome new pilgrims. But meant we could catch up and our conversations flowed around our lives, the church and the beauty of the landscape. Even a short walk like this is full of incident. After going over a wobbly stile we came to a field with two horses. One of the horses clearly did not want us there and nudged us until we went over the next stile a bit faster than we might have wanted!

But the rest of the walk was without danger. The woods and fields are very beautiful at this time of year with all the plants growing fast. It was greener than our pilgrimage in April but there were still a few flowers around. After a few miles we were nearly at the end of the walk but couldn't pass the 'Skimmington Castle' without stopping for a drink.

Of course we should have shared bread and wine but it was more like cider and crisps. Our conversations were mostly around more walking. I am planning a slightly more ambitious 'Dawn walk' from Reigate to Box Hill in July. Me and my daughter Lucy are thinking about doing the 40 miles 'Downs link' walk from Martha's Hill to Worthing and we considered if others would like to join us. Then we finished our drinks, walked back to the car park and home. A lovely afternoon.

 

Reflection from Julia

Coppiced tree trunks bronze and silver amid Banks of blue

A broad white path through a swathe of green

And flashes of bright colour along a woodland path

The colour, light and shade of life

Stories told, burdens shared

Pilgrims on an ancient route, side by side or single file

Through fallow fields and burgeoning blossom

In sharp sunlight or shady woodland we journey together

 
Make us know the way we should walk,
O Lord See that we follow not the wrong path
But lead us in the path of life eternal.

 

A pilgrim's tale by Wendy

Alight thee butterfly as I wander,
on this pathway of peace, rest your weary wings on bluebells, whose scent delights us all;
ask the trees the secrets of those who walked afore me in the distant years gone by;
clouds dance over green pastures as He watches from above;
I hear the sound of angels singing resounding in the breeze

The undulating hills unfold a new delight to see
lambs & flowers abundant..anew, alive and free..
A lovely experience..peaceful..simply living..
No television..no noise..
peacefully reflecting or discovering each others amazing stories ..
helping each other..
encouragement.

Being alone with God and only nature around me..
everything provided for us..food..bed..fellowship..
just keep on taking steps..

Highlights for me:

• Regularly reciting the Lord's Prayer..
• Praying for Gail's phone to be found & it was prayer answered.. I rang Gail's phone & prayed out loud that someone kind would maybe find it & dial the last number, i.e. mine & we would get it back.  God went beyond that & the finder even drove to the hotel to return it..
• It was lovely to sleep..eat..pray..walk..talk..pray..eat..pray..sleep..care for each other in amongst Gods beautiful still unspoilt creation..what a simple life..no wonder monks climb highest mountains or built beautiful remote abbeys to live that way..!
• Sitting on the serpent bench en route reminded me of the passage: rebuke the devil & he will leave you. We were all sitting and squashing him.
• Walking as so many on Holy Land..
• Being in the chapel in Canterbury cathedral taking communion with the sounds of a beautiful choir practising below with holy love deep in my heart for my brothers & sisters on the walk & for the Lord....i wondered if this was a taste of Heaven..with the peace..the choir sounding like angels..the love..the blood & body of Christ.
• The psalm which has accompanied me for the last traumatic year has been Psalm 23: The Lord is my Shepherd.  I recite it often & we prayed it one evening.

Link to Monica's pilgrimage posts

Here is a link to two posts on Monica's blog, where she has recorded her reflections on the pilgrimage.

http://monicasbooks.com/2014/04/24/pilgrimage-story/

http://monicasbooks.com/2014/04/26/pilgrimage-story-canterbury/

Chris' reflection on the pilgrimage

After a tragic event in my life about eighteen months ago, I prayed that some good would come out of all the pain and sadness, in changing me as a person, and in improving my relationship with God.  I had thought of many things which needed changing, but was moving ineffectively from one to another and back again. Taking part in this pilgrimage gave me a chance to spend time looking for the right way to progress. Slowly over the days of the pilgrimage a number of things fell into place for me.

The first day’s walking was hard – towards the end I could think only of putting one foot in front of the other, without taking any time to look at what was around me. During evening prayer I could think only of how uncomfortable I was sitting on the floor, and how much I wanted to be in bed, but even so something sank in. Hazel spoke of the difference between things in your head and things in your heart (what things I don’t remember!)

This notice, spotted in a field during the second day’s walk struck me as a parable placed there especially for me: That God decides what to grow in the field of me, and will do what is necessary to ensure that this crop grows well.

On the fourth day of the pilgrimage, I decided to take the short walk option during the afternoon, and went slowly, stopping to look at how beautiful and varied the trees and wild flowers were.  It was during this time that the pilgrimage reached its conclusion for me, as a number of things came together, and moved from my head to my heart.

Before the pilgrimage the verse from Isaiah 30:15 came to me:
This is what the Sovereign Lord,
    the Holy One of Israel, says:
“Only in returning to me
    and resting in me will you be saved.
In quietness and confidence is your strength.
    But you would have none of it. (New Living Translation)

I felt that this was what God had been saying was my problem during the preparation for the pilgrimage, and my parable was the next step.

So my pilgrimage did not result in my knowing the answer, but at least I now know the question: “What does God want to grow in the field of my life?”

It seems a long way to go to discover something which I have known in my head since I became a christian, but I feel much better about it now, and look forward to seeing God working on in my life.