“What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them?…Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” 

Reflection 

When we speak without acting, we risk our words being empty. And so our listening, learning, praying, and speaking must be followed through in our actions. 

When I arrive to volunteer at my church’s after-school group, the perennial first thought is: where’s the key holder?! As necessary as it is, it seems ironic that churches that should be all about openness and welcome have to worry about security and who can be allowed access.  

These practical concerns can spill into our visioning of what Church is, and who it is for.  In worrying about the ‘internals’ of church life, from finances to buildings to compliance, we run the risk of sacrificing ‘external’ outreach and mission. We must take care not to let this diminish our outward-facing calling and must, instead, be like the early Church in spreading good news far and wide.  

In the way the apostles used their rootlessness, we can use our rootedness in our communities to do mission, community, justice and civic work as one.  JPIT’s Constituency Action Network (CAN) is building a network of churches with positive and purposeful relationships with their MPs. This leads to important advocacy work, and emphasises the community-focused nature of the local church, who throws its doors open to so many.  

Churches have rich insight into the needs of their communities – local, national and global – and are well placed to mutually enhance the relationship of community and MP via the church as meeting space. Social action and social justice are not just ‘one more task’. A deep working relationship with a local MP can centre a church as a civic partner, bridging divides, voicing concerns and sharing life together with our communities in the day to day. 

How well is your church managing to balance the ‘internals’ and the ‘externals’ of its mission? 

Prayer 

God of everywhere and everyone, 
throw open the doors of our hearts and our churches. 
Let us heed your calling to action, 
to respite and to connection. 
May our churches and their MPs 
deepen their understanding of the local area, 
so communities feel voiced and confident 
in their lived experience, 
with care and compassion for all. 
Bless the work of our CAN congregations; 
grow us in the same boldness as the early Church. Amen 

St Matthew 6.10 

Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 
 
Reflection 

Our listening and learning must be rooted in prayerful dialogue with God.  As an ecumenist, I value praying in many different spaces and ways.  Being part of JPIT has many joys, and one I often take comfort in is the success of ecumenism embodied in JPIT’s work.  There is diversity in all elements of Christian life represented within our churches, and this strengthens our missional work for social justice.  This is true within as well as between denominations, and it’s a privilege to be prayerfully enriched from these different traditions.  

Each of our denominations lives out that unity in diversity differently.  We are united in the diversity of our ways of praying, in our justice seeking, and in the connections between the two. 

The prayer life of JPIT members denominations is critical to our work at all levels.  The Baptist Union (BU) is currently prayerfully considering a shared understanding of mission, that resolves to “Passionately share the reason for the hope that we have in Jesus Christ with gentleness and respect.” and to “Commit ourselves to compassionate service, pursuing justice and caring for creation.” (Mission Forum Resolution).  In connecting prayer, action, and kin(g)dom values, BU’s Mission Forum has worked across the spectrum of Baptist tradition to recognise and encourage social justice work as part of the prayerful mission of the Church.  

This means that prayer is both rooted in and used in the service of justice seeking. From the liturgy of the Northumbria Community to extempore prayer, the missional focus of the BU brings the power of prayerful discernment into social justice mission. 

Prayer 

In the shadow of Your wings 
I will sing Your praises, O Lord. 
The Lord is my light, my salvation; 
whom shall I fear?  
The Lord is the refuge of my life; 
of whom shall I be afraid? 

Lord God, we pray: 
peace, truth and justice reigning everywhere, 
be present with us in the public square. 
Fill all who lead with your integrity. 
Transform, revive and heal society.  
Amen.

Philippians 4:9 

Keep on doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.  

Reflection

Similarly to listening, learning is rooted in lived experience. 

Paul’s letters ask his readers to do two things captured in this verse – to learn from his lived experience, and to put his lessons into practice. JPIT centres listening and learning from those with lived experience of societal injustices. As a Christian convert, Paul illustrates how the experience of God’s presence can be shared through mission and discipleship.  Similarly, we can learn from those with lived experience of the material world and its injustices, to share their stories with leaders and advocate for a reordered society reflective of God’s heart for justice. 

The Methodist Church exemplified both this learning and ‘put[ting] into practice’ as the lead funder of the Let’s End Poverty campaign. By spotlighting those who have experienced poverty through letters to the Prime Minister, the campaign sought to educate our political leaders and emphasised the issues experienced by those living in poverty in the run-up to the General Election.   

JPIT more widely helps churches and individuals understand complex political and justice issues, to be better informed and empowered to make change happen. For example, our Just Economics course explores how money relates to power, inequality, and justice. Our team members also delivered the Iona Community Lecture, ‘Turning the Tables’ in 2024, highlighting why and how we can challenge current economic models as Christians.  

From the voices of those with lived experience and expertise, we can learn to provide justice-centred opportunities for mission. A theology or politics degree isn’t necessary to understand God’s passion for justice. As disciples of Jesus, we are committed to a lifelong journey of learning about faith and justice. Learning is not passive, but it is the key to unlocking the practice of justice. We are called to continuously implement our learning and contribute to a better world. 

Prayer 

Lord Jesus, 
help us to be humble and willing 
to learn from others, 
whatever our age or background. 

Build us up with compassion 
to listen to those with lived experience of injustice. 

Give us the tools to put our learning into practice 
by working together for justice and peace. 
As informed Christians, 
enable us to be active in our mission 
for a better Earthly world. 
Amen. 

Psalm 116:1-2 

I love the LORD, because he has heard 
my voice and my supplications. 
Because he inclined his ear to me, 
therefore I will call on him as long as I live. :

Reflection 

I often find myself wishing I could listen to someone and respond to them all at the same time, without having to wait for them to stop talking! Justice-seekers are particularly prone to this, as we tend to have strong opinions on a variety of topics and enjoy lively debate. However, there is always ‘a time to be silent and a time to speak’ (Ecclesiastes 3:7b). In other words, ears open and mouths quiet.  As the Church addresses rising political extremism and racism, are we listening to, empowering, and working alongside those with lived experience? 

The responsibility to adopt a model of contemplative listening, demonstrating the openness of our ears and the quiet of our mouths, falls on all our shoulders. To be a church with, of and for the marginalised, those who suffer must trust the church in order to be the Church.  

This step requires a discipline of listening. The URC’s Apology and Confession for the Transatlantic Slave Trade places much emphasis on hearing the pain of siblings hurt in the past and present and looks to God’s call in this Kairos moment – this moment of God breaking through –- to recognise harm.  The Legacies of Slavery process modelled listening through pilgrimage to the Caribbean church. Let’s learn from this vital example to embed the discipline of genuine listening. That way, we can build real relationships that unlock pathways to futures of justice and peace. 

Prayer 

God, Lord and servant of all, 
thank you for turning your ear to listen to us. 
Help us follow your example 
of compassionate listening. 
May we be a Church enriched by those 
with lived experience of marginalisation. 
May we be patient in listening, 
with hearts open to new perspectives. 
Disturb us from our preconceptions 
and keep us on our toes 
as we dialogue authentically with one another, 
recognising the face of Christ in all. Amen 

Seeking Justice Introduction 

Dear Friends,

I hope you enjoyed Neil Thorogood’s reflections over the last week informed by art, scripture and faith.  We turn now to a new series.

The Joint Public Issues Team (JPIT) is part of the Baptist Union, Methodist Church and United Reformed Churches.  It works and prays in, and with, those denominations and our friends in the Church of Scotland.  It works for peace and justice. This week, we are sharing reflections on what it means to seek justice, based on examples in our denominations of five justice- seeking acts which JPIT endeavours to live out: listening, learning, praying, speaking, acting and being justice seekers. We start, as we always should, with a reflection, tomorrow, on listening. 

With every good wish

Andy

The Rev’d Andy Braunston
Minister for Digital Worship
 

Reflection

It wasn’t unusual for the refectory of a convent or monastery to be adorned with a depiction of Christ eating with his disciples. But the one created for the Dominican nuns at Santa Caterina di Cafaggio in Florence was unique. Theirs was created by a self-taught nun. Which makes it the first known large-scale Last Supper painted by a woman.

Pulisena Margherita Nelli was born into a rich Florentine family. Aged 14, she became a Dominican nun, taking the name Suor (Sister) Plautilla. Encouraged to paint as an act of devotion, Plautilla’s skill quickly saw her work recognised for the emotion and personality of her figures. Since fresco was seen as only suitable for male artists, she responded to the commission at Santa Caterina as she knew best; oils on a vast wall of canvas 23 feet long. She was aided by other nuns with whom she had created a school of painting.

“And when they had taken their places and were eating, Jesus said, ‘Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me, one who is eating with me.’ They began to be distressed and to say to him one after another, ‘Surely, not I?” (Mark 14: 18-19).

Plautilla created a tableau for the community to dwell upon as they shared their own meals. We are in the aftermath of Christ’s words. Silent shock ripples around the table and across faces. One disciple, eyes closed, leans in as Jesus cradles his head. Another, the only one without a halo, sits alone on our side of the table. Judas reaches for the bread Jesus offers whilst, out of sight, he clutches his reward of thirty silver pieces.

The events of the gospel are brought forward into the daily routine of the nuns. Three Chinese bowls are on the table, a rare luxury in Florence at the time. They may well have been donated to the convent by wealthy patrons. This art seeks to bridge time and place; Jerusalem’s long-gone upper room infiltrating a Florentine convent dinner. And today, in this art as in our worship, similar things unfold.

Prayer

Jesus, hear my confession.
In sadness, I remember ways
I may have placed myself
on the wrong side of your table:
clutching what little power I have
such that your power is challenged,
sharing with you
and yet stubbornly holding back
some measure of devotion,
being part of your community whilst judging others,
taking your love and grace for granted.
Jesus, forgive me.
Let me start again.
Amen.

Reflection

Amy Lyon was often controlled and abused by powerful men. A housemaid at 12, Amy became an actor, model and dancer in London. Sir Harry Fetherstonhaugh, followed by the Honourable Charles Francis Greville, took Amy as a mistress, the latter getting her to change her name to “Mrs Emma Hart.” Greville was everything but honourable. Moving on to marry an 18-year-old heiress, he tricked Emma into going to Naples to become mistress to his uncle, Sir William Hamilton, the British Envoy. They fell in love and this sketch dates to the year they married and she became Lady Hamilton. Emma described him as “the best husband and friend.” They would welcome Horatio Nelson to their Naples home; Lady Hamilton and Nelson beginning an affair seven years after this sketch.

Her beauty, not to mention all the gossip, ensured many portraits of Lady Hamilton. Kauffmann, one of only two women founding members of the Royal Academy of Art, turned this drawing into one of the full-length oil paintings for which she was famous.

What do we see in a face?

A young woman, head slightly turned, watches us from the corner of her eyes. There is simplicity here; no jewellery and only a vague hint of a neckline. We are staring intently at one who stares intently back. If we didn’t know anything of her story, what would we see? How does knowing a little of her story change what we see as we gaze upon Lady Hamilton?

Scripture speaks to us of the God who sees us completely, knows us fully, and treasures us utterly: “O Lord, you have searched me and known me. You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from far away. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, O Lord, you know it completely. You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me.” (Psalm 139: 1-5).

Prayer

God, the psalmist says there is nowhere we can ever go where you cannot find us.
Nothing within us is hidden from you.
Fame is a feature of our culture;
some try hard to achieve it,
some have it forced upon them,
some find it destroying their lives.
We thank you that our fame is real for you;
each and every one of us,
unique,
beautiful,
dignified,
honoured,
blessed.
Amen.

Dear Friends,

Sarah Hall wrote this prayer for Sunday’s digital service which focuses on the Ascension which falls today.  We hope you find it useful

God, greater than all our ideas of you, we praise you.
We know of kings and presidents, we know bosses and bossy people,
but you are greater than any of them.
The universe is your realm,
the human heart is your throne, and we praise you.

Jesus, crucified, risen and ascended, we praise you.
We walked alongside you. We saw you die. We found your empty tomb.
Now we know God has welcomed you home, and we praise you.

Spirit of God, go-between God, we praise you.
You show us God’s wisdom. You show us God’s will.
You give us hope of God’s kingdom here on earth, and we praise you.
God, greater than we can imagine,
Holy dance of new life, of transformation,
Lifting humanity into heaven, we praise you.
 
We praise you, yet your ascension seems
so far removed from anything we know,
that it’s easy to put it, to put you, to one side.
The world we know is one of struggle and hardship,
of error and failure, of sickness and death.
What has your heaven to do with that?
What have you to do with the hopelessness we find in human life?
 
We are tempted to put you into a box marked ‘heaven’,
and to take you out on Sundays for an hour.
We are tempted to forget the way you always work:
bringing light out of darkness; joy out of sorrow; life out of death. Amen

With every good wish

Andy

The Rev’d Andy Braunston
Minister for Digital Worship
 

Reflection

We are in the Book of Judges, chapter 12.

“The Gileadites captured the fords of the Jordan leading to Ephraim, and whenever a survivor of Ephraim said, ‘Let me cross over,’ the men of Gilead asked him, ‘Are you an Ephraimite?’ If he replied, ‘No,’ they said, ‘All right, say “Shibboleth”. If he said, ‘Sibboleth’, because he could not pronounce the word correctly, they seized him and killed him at the fords of the Jordan. Forty-two thousand Ephraimites were killed at that time.” (verses 5-6).

“Shibboleth” means ‘an ear of corn’ or ‘flood.’ Correct pronunciation became life and death. It is one of the Bible’s horror stories. The word has lived on, being applied to words and phrases used as passwords and ways to identify loyalties and belonging amongst people. Its horror lives on as history fills with times when one group has tested the identity of another in order to defame, abuse, limit, control and destroy. Think of the Nazis getting Jews to wear the star of David, Rwandan genocide growing from the test of being Hutu or Tutsi, a child in school having to know the latest in thing to avoid bullying.

Colombian artist, Doris Salcedo, often creates work focussed upon mourning growing out of trauma and loss. Some of her family disappeared during Colombia’s brutal recent past. She hopes that her work invites contemplation and empathy.

Shibboleth was a 548-foot crack up to two feet deep running down the entrance hall of London’s Tate Modern for six months. It was created by casting Colombian rocks in fresh concrete across Tate’s floor. A visible scar remains there to this day. Of this piece, Salcedo said: “It represents borders, the experience of immigrants, the experience of segregation, the experience of racial hatred. It is the experience of a Third World person coming into the heart of Europe.”

Prayer

How we love to police the categories that we create;
the insiders and the outsiders,
the accepted and the unacceptable,
the good and the bad.
Then, to confound our thinking and undo our divisiveness,
you walk along arm in arm with untouchables,
party with notorious sinners,
promise paradise to convicts.
Jesus, be relentless with us;
unpick our partisan ways.
Teach us the hospitality you embody.
Amen.

Reflection

2015 was the 800th anniversary of Magna Carta (the ‘Great Charter’), King John’s response to rebellion. It recognised that neither monarch nor government were above the law and introduced concepts around individual freedoms that have remained central in the laws of many nations. It is a text that has shaped history. The British Library, Ruskin School of Art and University of Oxford wanted to commemorate the moment. Parker’s idea was chosen.

Parker is known for sculptures and installations in public spaces as well as art galleries. She is fascinated by the stuff from which the world around us is made, “My work is all about the potential of materials…”

Parker’s first materials were the pixels of her computer’s screen. She took a screenshot of the English Wikipedia article about the document on 15th June, 2014. Her “snapshot” was printed onto fabric 4.9 feet wide and 43 feet long. She then arranged for 200 people to hand-stitch every letter, line and image. The digital became the physicality of needles and thread and many fingers.

Most of the text was sewn by those who had lost their liberty; 36 prisoners in 13 English prisons. They were supervised by the charity Fine Cell Work which teaches needlework to enable offenders to earn a living creating beautiful things. The Embroiderer’s Guild and others did the images. Many individuals contributed. Julian Assange stitched the word ‘freedom,’ Edward Snowden ‘liberty,’ Doreen Lawrence (Baroness Lawrence of Clarendon) ‘justice,’ ‘denial,’ and ‘delay,’ Shami Chakrabarti ‘Charter of Liberties.’        

This is a phenomenal exercise in the power not only of materials (old and new) but of ideas. Parker’s concept has been made real through the skills and commitment of hundreds. Magna Carta’s possibilities are made real only as people enshrine them in systems, laws, attitudes and choices.

Jesus calls us to such wonders too. “What shall we say the kingdom of God is like… It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest of all seeds on earth. Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds can perch in its shade.” (Mark 4: 30-32)

Prayer

In the midst of all the words,
all the philosophies and posts,
all claims of truth and falsehood,
Jesus, let us listen.
Let us truly hear you amidst the noise
of all that claims our time, attention and affection.
Take us to the Bible today.
Take us to prayer.
Take us to praise, confession, intercession, action.
Dwell powerfully with us wherever we find ourselves.
Show us your way.
Amen.