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Looking at Church
Signs & Symbols: Flowers Christian love in action in the Holy Land The website for mission worldwide Church Army’s new boxes Fighting leprosy around the world
Signs & Symbols: Flowers
Have you ever visited a town for the first time, and been attracted by the really old church in the middle of it? You squeeze in through the huge old door and find a wonderful church – except there is something missing: there are no flowers.
Somehow their absence gives the church an empty unused feeling. Often it means that the church you’ve just discovered is no longer used for worship, and is now in the good care of the Churches Conservation Trust.
So what is it about flowers that make such a difference? Flowers are more than just ‘living’ things. They bring colour, shape, scents and memories with them, and that’s without any ‘meanings’ being given to each variety, such as ‘remembrance’ for ‘rosemary’.
When we visit people we often take cut flowers with us as a gift. We use them at times of celebration as well at times of illness and sorrow. They add the finishing touch to a dinner table, brighten up a dull corner and can attract attention to something near to where they are.
We use flowers to express our emotions, both in the choice of the flowers themselves and in the way they are arranged. Some speak of the informality of the country, while others are more sophisticated. Spiky flowers and sharp lines give a harshness, a crispness, perhaps a cleanness, while flowing shapes and pastel colours speak of gentleness and comfort. Yet others are used to tell visually a story or a sentiment that words alone struggle to express.
In one church this past Easter there was a formal arrangement placed on the lid of the baptismal font. It comprised three levels in decreasing circles but each with increasing height. All the flowers were placed almost vertically from a circular base of 35cm diameter (approx 14”). The lowest of daffodils was 30cm tall, then a second layer of taller yellow flowers came from within that ring to a height of 45cm. The final ring was made up of 1 metre tall (3 feet) white Easter lilies. The whole arrangement spoke of Christ rising from the tomb. Not just waking slowly but rushing from below, up and out, in a great triumphal explosion. Fantastic!
This month Have a look at the ways and the places that flowers are used in a church near you. What do they add to the experience? How would or could you use flowers to express your feelings to God?
Christian love in action in the Holy Land
People living on the very fringes of Palestinian society are set to benefit from a special appeal launched by BibleLands on 1 June.
The children and adults who live at the Four Homes of Mercy in Bethany have disabilities so severe that they have nowhere else to turn for support. Rejected by their communities and even sometimes by their families, they find an environment of unconditional acceptance at the Four Homes - where they receive respect, rehabilitation and the opportunity to develop the individual abilities that have always been ignored.
With 90 residents, 87 staff and a waiting list of 55 people, the Four Homes are constantly under financial pressure, and that is why their Director, Dr Ibrahim El-Ziq, has turned to BibleLands for help.
Dr El-Ziq dreams of updating the children’s ward and building a new rehabilitation unit, but his biggest concern is how to raise the £572 needed per patient per month simply to keep the Homes running. BibleLands hopes that the appeal will raise at least £70,000 to support this vital work, and is also encouraging churches and individuals to pray for the Four Homes of Mercy on BibleLands Sunday - 2 July 2006.
To find out more about BibleLands and the Four Homes Appeal, visit www.biblelands.org.uk, phone 01494 897950 or email info@biblelands.org.uk.
The website for mission worldwide
If you are interested in mission worldwide, then the website www.worldchristiandatabase.org is a must-visit. The website is a statistician’s paradise, and an essential tool for anyone looking strategically at world mission. It provides information on world religions, countries and regions, people groups, denominations and much more. Full access requires a subscription but a lot of valuable information can be found by signing up for the lowest level of access, which is free.
Church Army’s new boxes
Look out for the Church Army’s new style collection boxes. Around 4,000 of the boxes have been shipped to Church of England parishes across the UK and Ireland. Now more than 800 parish representatives of the 124 year old Anglican Society of Evangelists are introducing them in as many churches as possible.
The Church Army says that mission really does begin at home in a country where two-thirds believe the pub has more to offer the community than the church, and twice as many young people believe in horoscopes than the bible.
For a Church Army collection box, go to www.churcharmy.org.uk or call 020 8309 3519.
Fighting leprosy around the world
The Leprosy Mission (TLM) is a leading international Christian development agency active in 30 countries. We have served people affected by leprosy since 1874. Nowadays, our work covers education, detection, medical treatment, rehabilitation and the reintegration of people into their communities.
Leprosy is still a huge problem worldwide: we employ 2,000 national and international field staff and work in partnership with communities, churches, national governments and other NGOs. Our annual budget is over £10 million, and we rely on the contributions of individuals, churches, trusts and government agencies to support our work.
TLM is recognised in the countries where we operate for the quality of our work and our commitment to assist anybody affected by leprosy, without discrimination.
But what is leprosy, anyway?
Leprosy has been called ‘a disease apart’ because of the physical impairments, stigma and poverty associated with it.
Leprosy is caused by a mycobacterium. It is not highly infectious and symptoms can take 20 years to show. Since 1981, 14 million have been treated with multidrug therapy (MDT), a cocktail of dapsone, clofazimine and rifampicin. Left untreated, leprosy damages peripheral nerves in the hands, feet and face. The resulting anaesthesia leads to tissue damage and open ulcers. Medical and lifestyle interventions are essential to prevent disability and blindness. Despite a cure, ‘leprosy’ is still a synonym for ‘outcast’ in many societies.
1.5 to 2.5 million people worldwide have visible deformities. A similar number have anaesthetic limbs as a result of damaged nerves. Approximately 30% have irreversible disabilities.
Leprosy is still a disease of our time.
Every year more than 400,000 new patients are diagnosed and registered for treatment –almost one a minute. But because of the stigma associated with leprosy and consequent reluctance to seek medical care, it is estimated that many more cases go undetected.
Although leprosy is found in all sectors of society, it often traps the most vulnerable in a cycle of poverty. It is no coincidence that it is found in predominantly poor countries. Leprosy is still endemic in India, Brazil, Myanmar, Madagascar, Nepal and Mozambique. We focus on three areas: south Asia, South East Asia (including Bangladesh) and Africa.
Why we serve TLM is a faith-based charity. We are motivated by our belief in God’s concern for the poor and that our work is an integral part of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
As long as leprosy afflicts individuals and communities, we are committed to doing all we can to break its power and impact. This means not just curing, but also addressing the underlying causes, working to prevent disability and restore dignity and wholeness to affected communities.
Would you like to support The Leprosy Mission’s work in over 30 countries? Visit www.leprosymission.org.uk. For New Day, our free magazine, email post@tlmew.org.uk.
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