This morning, I got to read scripture on the BBC. The service was part of the on-going Diamond Jubilee celebrations and went out live on BBC Radio 4 long wave. I’m currently working in Scotland at Canongate Kirk, the Queen’s parish church in Edinburgh, and though I can’t say broadcasting was part of my job description, I’m glad to be let in on the fun and history marking.
Our minister, Neil Gardner, took as his theme “a faithful servant” in honour of the Queen’s sixty years of service. He shared words from her first Christmas broadcast, delivered prior to her coronation, in which she asked those listening to “pray that God may give me the wisdom and strength to carry out the solemn promises I shall be making, and that I may faithfully serve Him and you, all the days of my life.”
I’ve been learning at Canongate that no prayers of intercession spoken there are complete without a prayer for the Queen and her household (or so some members of the congregation have told me), so it did me good to hear her own prayer request that she might be strong enough for the tasks she faces. A good prayer of dedication for us all, I think.
Yesterday, we saw the image of that dedication during the extravagant Thames pageant and the Queen who did not sit down. Throughout the long procession of that vast crowd of boats, through the cheers, and the spectacle and the rain, she stood. Strong and resilient. I think I might have waned a little at least and more likely dissolved. I’m glad the Queen is made of sterner stuff.
The scripture I read into the microphone this morning was from Mark 10: 42-45 – the words of Christ, calling his disciples to follow to challenging path of service.
So Jesus called them and said to them, ‘You know that among the Gentiles those whom they recognize as their rulers lord it over them, and their great ones let their authority be felt. But it is not so among you; but whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant…
His disciples and then, by extension, all those who came after. Servant Leadership has become a bit of a buzzy term, but it pays to slow down a moment and think it through. Leadership is for others. Authority isn’t for glory or pride but to build up others. We stand up to help others up. That shouldn’t be radical or counter-cultural. It should be common sense.
I suppose it is a good week to talk about these things. In our own little denomination, we have our own week of service and celebrations. It’s General Assembly for this Presbyterian Church of ours, and the commissionaires and representatives are assembled in Oshawa, Ontario. They have travelled from all over the country (and in the Spouse’s case, from the other side of the pond) to gather together.
That travel alone is a burden sometimes. It’s a vast country. And then, we all like to grumble about committee work. But this get-together is also a way in which we serve. And it is a blessing that our church is organized in this way. I mean that. We get to meet, discuss and decide. We get to listen and ask questions and puzzle things through. We can change things. Isn’t that wonderful? To be able to talk together and then to step in a new direction or towards a different goal. I am by no means being political here – there are no specific changes I’m advocating. But just the fact that we can meet and talk is wonderful. I’m convinced that God works through our opinions, our convictions, and our decisions together. And God births change. That is the blessing of serving.
Families and churches at home are part of the serving as well. Congregations and presbyteries sending ministers off to be a part of that together-work. Dads and Mums like me playing the single parent game as spouses meet with the masses in Oshawa. Here, we’re muddling through as best we can without Daddy this week. I have friends who (very quietly) say that it’s actually easier when their partner is away, but they are daft. It isn’t. At least not for me. We miss him. But we’re filling the days as we can, serving in the ways we’re called each day, and celebrating, too.
Yesterday, we went down to the Palace of Holyroodhouse for a community picnic – wet and windy with bright sun breaking through. Typical Edinburgh weather. There were long tables set up in the Palace Mews, and miles of bunting. I think that the Brits must love bunting so much because it looks jolly no matter how hard the wind blows. We made paper crowns which did get rather wind-blown, and ate cheese and jam sandwiches, Canadian apples, meringues, and chocolate buttons, all in honour of the Queen.
And then, of course, some small people had to do their bit…
They might be a little daft, too.
