Categories: practical-theology
Date: 17 December 2012 17:16:56
In the short time I've been a local preacher I've been planned in twice for evening services which have taken place on the weekend after major news events which have left people wondering 'why?'. The first was after the Japanese earthquake last year and the most recent was this weekend. Each time I've had the decision to make, do I mention it or not, do I mark it or not. My own instinct is not to major on it, but that it would be wrong not to acknowledge the event and the feelings that the congregation are bringing to worship concerning it as well as giving space to remember the victims.
On the first occasion I marked it by having some tea lights which people came and lit at the beginning of the service to remember those who had died. It enabled us, as a congregation, to bring our acknowledgement of what had happened and confusion about it.
Last night I was in a different smaller space, leading a service together with Karl. We decided that we would have a period of silence as the main part of the intercessory prayer and allow people to have time taking their own thoughts about it all to God before I summed up.
I did mention it briefly within my reflection. We were talking about the way Advent is a time of hope in the apparent darkness and so it seemed appropriate to reflect that at the moment with events like those we've seen in Conneticut it can be difficult to see the hope in the darkness but God is still there somewhere.
I have to be honest I didn't really know what to say, I prayed about it, but it's difficult. What do we say? Why does God allow the slaughter of the innocents now or back in the past. It's one of the most difficult things I have with the whole Christmas story, we gloss over the murder of innocent children.
I was glad today to be able to listen to John Bell's Radio 4 Thought For the Day reflection in which he talked about the way the bible which raises those questions is a book for pain rather than piety.
John Bell ends his reflection by saying "and only love can make it better". And that's true.
I personally find it useful to reflect through music as much as anything else, as I've said in the past. Particularly in my personal spirituality it somehow allows me emotionally connect in a way I can't using my own words. Two clips which we'd planned in before the shootings became really important to me as I sat worshipping, dealing with my conflicting emotions about it all. The first was Simon and Garfunkels 7 O'Clock News/ Silent Night and the other was Jars of Clay Love Came Down at Christmas.
As I think I've indicated I still don't really know what to do when I find myself preaching after those events. So any advice would be more than welcome.