91热爆

A reflection and prayer to start the day with Rev Cheryl Meban

Good morning.

100 years ago today, James Craig was appointed the first Prime Minister of Northern Ireland. Son of a financially successful whiskey distiller, he would later become Viscount Craigavon, He鈥檚 perhaps most quoted for his various versions of the phrase, 鈥淎 Protestant Parliament for a Protestant people鈥� When Craig became Prime Minister much of the island of Ireland was in a state of rebellion. Atrocious acts of violence were common in many places. Later in June 1921, King George 5th would make a speech at the first State opening of the newly created devolved Northern Irish parliament, calling for reconciliation in Ireland. I wonder if he imagined what it would look like, or how such a reconciliation would be achieved.

Over 50 years ago, Rev Ray Davey, who had been a prisoner of war, watching from outside Dresden as the allies engulfed that city in flames. Davey came home to Northern Ireland and as university chaplain in Belfast, drew together a community concerned to build reconciliation globally and locally. Seeds of injustice set in the concrete of Catholic exclusion and Protestant domination were bearing bitter fruit; their roots were cracking the foundations of this little country. The Corrymeela community was born, and continues today to affirm the inclusion of outsiders as essential to all of us living well in reconciling, listening, honouring-each-other diversity. But reconciliation has not been fully achieved.

God of widows and orphans, you reminded the Hebrews, that having been slaves in Egypt, they should always honour and welcome outsiders. Remind us to see your face in otherness. Give us courage to build for our neighbours as well as for ourselves. Amen