“Follow the Fool”.

 

Worth Abbey – Re – Visited!  Remember the Television Series?

 

This year the Annual U.K. Conference of The World Community for Christian Meditation was held at the Abbey in Sussex. Three people from our Church joined 230 mediators. The Conference was good – We joined the Monks in their lovely Chapel – joined in their worship and Eucharist it was beautiful. The Conference topic was” Follow the fool” led by the Christian writer Angela Ashwyn. We followed the lives of the many people down the ages who have been Fools for Christ “God chose what is foolish in the World to shame the wise – chose what is weak to shame the strong” St Paul writes in 1.Cor.  We followed the lives of people who had given their all.  From Christ -       - the Apostles – St Francis to more recent figures Mother Teresa – Nelson Mandela and others.

 

  Jim Cotter writes a -

Manifesto for fools

Let us be fools for Christ’s sake”

In facing the truth, may we be set free from illusion

In accepting our wounds, may we be healed

In embracing the outcast, may we be redeemed

In discovering our child, may we grow to maturity.

In seeking the true innocence, may we no longer harm.

In yielding to dying, may abundant life flow into us.

In vulnerable risk, may we know love’s pain and joy.

In the release of laughter, may we hear the chuckle of God.

In the folly of the Cross, may we see the Wisdom of God.”

 

Sunday morning – 7am the snow fell – and great was its fall! 4 inches by 11am. With trains to catch the three of us must have made a rather foolish sight as we fled from Monastery to Stations dragging our belongings – A tube line was not functioning so it was a dash to a Taxi then – why of course it was the Olympic Flame which hindered

our own marathon through the streets and pavements of London to Euston Station – where we jumped on our “Chariot of fire” (by courtesy of British Rail) - Rosie’s walking stick waving in the air!  To catch our Manchester train by the skin of our teeth!

 

Sheila Wrigley

 

Saturday 17 May 2008

 

10.00-12.00

in the Parish Hall

Silverwell Street

Bolton

 

Admission £1.00 including coffee & biscuit