My dear Friends
Here is an account of yesterday's lecture, which went well.
Jewish Christian Reconciliation in the post-war period
A lecture was held on the above topic in the Old Library, Darwin College, Cambridge, on Sunday 26th July. The speaker was Jonathan Gorsky, lecturer in Heythrop College, University of London, who has helped to devise a unique undergraduate degree in the 3 Abrahamic faiths of Judaism, Christianity and Islam.
The lecture was both a brief historical account of the difficult and conflictual relations between Jews and Christians over the centuries and an overview of the very real progress in Jewish Christian relations since the Second World War.
While, for example, collective guilt for the Crucifixion has been attributed to the Jews over the centuries, Nostra Aetate (In our Age)and other documents of the Church during the reforms of Vatican II in the 1960's refuted this position. It also laid down guidelines for a proper relationship with the Jewish people and recognised officially that the Old Testament is the matrix of the New.
Encounters between Jews and Christians through organisations such as the Council for Christians and Jews and a move, especially among young people to get to know the 'other' as fellow human beings through dicussion and Friendship have also been ways of breaking down barriers.
The lecture was hosted by The Little Sisters of Joy, an ecumenical foundation of Prayer, Peace and Reconciliation and was well attended by a variety of people from diverse backgrounds. A lively question and answer session followed this thought-provoking and moving lecture.
Shalom from
Sister Gila
Monday, 27 July 2009
Thursday, 23 July 2009
Carmel
My dear Friends
I really had fun yesterday. I went to see my friends in a Carmelite monastery about 25 miles from here and I decided to hire a car. Fortunately I have done this before and know where to get the cheapest option, so I bowled along in a Nissan Micra, with the radio blaring at Radio 3, the classical music programme.There wasn't too much sun but it was very sticky and I was glad I had dressed lightly.
Arriving at the monastery on the hill just before 10, I was greeted very warmly by one of the Sisters who is actually the Prioress. I had an hour before the Mass, so I went for a lovely walk in the surrounding countryside, where I saw fields of sheep and horses. I reflected on how little exercise I get these days so it was good to stretch my legs and just take in the scenery.
I got back just before 11am and went into the chapel, where a nice man recognised me from the last time and the previous times I had been to that lovely holy place. The elderly priest was just robing up for the Mass and he too greeted me very warmly: I felt like an old friend. It was the Feast of St Mary Magdalen and in the sermon he reflected whether she was the same woman who had poured oil over the feet of Jesus and wiped them with her hair. And was she the prostitute? She was certainly a woman Jesus loved, as he entrusted to her the message at His resurrection that He had risen.
After the Mass I was given a lovely 3 course lunch in a private room overlooking the front of the monastery.I think there was going to be wine, but when I said I had driven there it was mysteriously removed!But the food was delicious, chicken soup, nut roast and raspberries from the garden.
For the next two and a half hours I talked to my special friend, one of the other Sisters. We had a lot of catching up to do, but catch up we did and she gave me some good advice about how to approach the retreat I will be making in Ireland on 9th September.
I drove home, feeling very refreshed in mind and body. And woke up a litle depressed this morning, as I had had such a good day!
Shalom from
Sister Gila
I really had fun yesterday. I went to see my friends in a Carmelite monastery about 25 miles from here and I decided to hire a car. Fortunately I have done this before and know where to get the cheapest option, so I bowled along in a Nissan Micra, with the radio blaring at Radio 3, the classical music programme.There wasn't too much sun but it was very sticky and I was glad I had dressed lightly.
Arriving at the monastery on the hill just before 10, I was greeted very warmly by one of the Sisters who is actually the Prioress. I had an hour before the Mass, so I went for a lovely walk in the surrounding countryside, where I saw fields of sheep and horses. I reflected on how little exercise I get these days so it was good to stretch my legs and just take in the scenery.
I got back just before 11am and went into the chapel, where a nice man recognised me from the last time and the previous times I had been to that lovely holy place. The elderly priest was just robing up for the Mass and he too greeted me very warmly: I felt like an old friend. It was the Feast of St Mary Magdalen and in the sermon he reflected whether she was the same woman who had poured oil over the feet of Jesus and wiped them with her hair. And was she the prostitute? She was certainly a woman Jesus loved, as he entrusted to her the message at His resurrection that He had risen.
After the Mass I was given a lovely 3 course lunch in a private room overlooking the front of the monastery.I think there was going to be wine, but when I said I had driven there it was mysteriously removed!But the food was delicious, chicken soup, nut roast and raspberries from the garden.
For the next two and a half hours I talked to my special friend, one of the other Sisters. We had a lot of catching up to do, but catch up we did and she gave me some good advice about how to approach the retreat I will be making in Ireland on 9th September.
I drove home, feeling very refreshed in mind and body. And woke up a litle depressed this morning, as I had had such a good day!
Shalom from
Sister Gila
Monday, 13 July 2009
Busking
My dear Friends
I hadn't exercised my vocal chords for a while, so I thought I would take my guitar and go busking in the town. I also took a little stool to sit on and the African bowl someone had given me for my 50th birthday for the punters to put money in.
And quite a few punters there were! It was Saturday and I chose a good spot, just in the shadow of a wall of one of the market churches, so the sound was good. I kept my coat on initially as there were a few spots of rain, but mercifully it didn't get any heavier.
I launched into Blowing in the Wind and immediately a lady on my left tipped a whole bunch of change into my bowl. A good start! I'd no sooner finished singing when a couple of friends from church appeared and gave me much encouragment. And some loose change! I didn't want to be greedy but I had decided to keep anything I earned as pocket money. In the end I earned about £7 in less than an hour.
I continued my repertoire with The Carnival is Over, The Water is Wide, Yesterday and Oh what a morning, a song about the end of days based on some verses from the Book of Revelation. One or two kind people gave me 50p each, but I think they just enjoyed the music. I also got some bemused looks from some of the passers by, but there is no doubt that I would do it again. OLA!
Shalom from
Sister Gila
I hadn't exercised my vocal chords for a while, so I thought I would take my guitar and go busking in the town. I also took a little stool to sit on and the African bowl someone had given me for my 50th birthday for the punters to put money in.
And quite a few punters there were! It was Saturday and I chose a good spot, just in the shadow of a wall of one of the market churches, so the sound was good. I kept my coat on initially as there were a few spots of rain, but mercifully it didn't get any heavier.
I launched into Blowing in the Wind and immediately a lady on my left tipped a whole bunch of change into my bowl. A good start! I'd no sooner finished singing when a couple of friends from church appeared and gave me much encouragment. And some loose change! I didn't want to be greedy but I had decided to keep anything I earned as pocket money. In the end I earned about £7 in less than an hour.
I continued my repertoire with The Carnival is Over, The Water is Wide, Yesterday and Oh what a morning, a song about the end of days based on some verses from the Book of Revelation. One or two kind people gave me 50p each, but I think they just enjoyed the music. I also got some bemused looks from some of the passers by, but there is no doubt that I would do it again. OLA!
Shalom from
Sister Gila
Saturday, 4 July 2009
Women at prayer
My dear Friends
The Women's World Day of Prayer has now been going for over a humdred years. Every year, around March, women all over the world gather to hold a special service of prayer, centred round a particular country. This year it was Papua New Guinea and a few years ago I was invited to speak at the one for Poland.I talked about my Jewish and Catholic experiences there, with a little about Auschwitz and how we must be positive for the future.
It is great to gather for these services and feel in solidarity with women round the world. The services are often very musical with sometimes music from the country and this is great too.
Yesterday we had another service and meeting in Cambridge, all part of The Women's World Day of Prayer but held at a later date, called the 'summer meeting.' About 30 of us gathered in Westminster College, the United Reformed College in Cambridge, where they train people for ministry. After a brief business meeting, we went to the chapel where our theme was 'blessing.'
Our speaker took as her Bible readings the blessing of Abram in Genesis as he left his home to journey to a country he knew not, blessed to be a great nation, and the reading in Luke which are like the Beatitudes in Matthew 5 'Blessed are you who mourn, you shall be comforted' and 'Blessed are those who are persecuted for the cause of right, for great is your reward in Heaven.'
This last demonsrates a 'mixed blessing' - how it is not always through the good things that we are blessed. We sang several hymns about blessing and then went in for tea. This gave us all a chance to chat and get to know each other. A lovely way to spend a summer afternoon!
Shalom from
Sister Gila
The Women's World Day of Prayer has now been going for over a humdred years. Every year, around March, women all over the world gather to hold a special service of prayer, centred round a particular country. This year it was Papua New Guinea and a few years ago I was invited to speak at the one for Poland.I talked about my Jewish and Catholic experiences there, with a little about Auschwitz and how we must be positive for the future.
It is great to gather for these services and feel in solidarity with women round the world. The services are often very musical with sometimes music from the country and this is great too.
Yesterday we had another service and meeting in Cambridge, all part of The Women's World Day of Prayer but held at a later date, called the 'summer meeting.' About 30 of us gathered in Westminster College, the United Reformed College in Cambridge, where they train people for ministry. After a brief business meeting, we went to the chapel where our theme was 'blessing.'
Our speaker took as her Bible readings the blessing of Abram in Genesis as he left his home to journey to a country he knew not, blessed to be a great nation, and the reading in Luke which are like the Beatitudes in Matthew 5 'Blessed are you who mourn, you shall be comforted' and 'Blessed are those who are persecuted for the cause of right, for great is your reward in Heaven.'
This last demonsrates a 'mixed blessing' - how it is not always through the good things that we are blessed. We sang several hymns about blessing and then went in for tea. This gave us all a chance to chat and get to know each other. A lovely way to spend a summer afternoon!
Shalom from
Sister Gila
Friday, 26 June 2009
Clare Priory (second part)
My dear Friends
During the afternoon I popped into the Church in the grounds. Although the Priory has an oratory, this Church serves the local Parish. It is austere and very still, with a rich atmosphere of Christ. I sat near the tabernacle in the utter silence, just reciting within over and over again 'Amo te, Domine,' 'I love you, Lord!'
Out into the blazing sushine again and down into Clare Country Park, where I came across my friend Michael. I invited him to sit by the river with and we watched some ducks with a brood of 8 ducklings, the most I had ever seen.
'Now it is evening, time to cease from labour.'
It was a beautiful evening, the birds were flying everywhere and the rose garden looked particularly attractive. Supper was very congenial and I went into the oratory afterwards to find a small group discussing Sunday's Gospel so I joined them in prayer.This little chapel means a great deal to me, as I came here twenty years ago a week before I was baptised in Newmarket.One of the priests then, Fr Billy Baldwin, showed me how to just contemplate and be still in an atmosphere of love and silence.
For my last morning I went to the Anglican Church, very spacious and lovely and an old lady doing the flowers called me Sister Delia.(She couldn't pronounce the G.) At noon I went to the Swan Inn and drank a half of guiness, which I have just discovered.
Back for prayers and lunch and saying goodbyes - it's been a good visit!
Shalom from
Sister Gila
During the afternoon I popped into the Church in the grounds. Although the Priory has an oratory, this Church serves the local Parish. It is austere and very still, with a rich atmosphere of Christ. I sat near the tabernacle in the utter silence, just reciting within over and over again 'Amo te, Domine,' 'I love you, Lord!'
Out into the blazing sushine again and down into Clare Country Park, where I came across my friend Michael. I invited him to sit by the river with and we watched some ducks with a brood of 8 ducklings, the most I had ever seen.
'Now it is evening, time to cease from labour.'
It was a beautiful evening, the birds were flying everywhere and the rose garden looked particularly attractive. Supper was very congenial and I went into the oratory afterwards to find a small group discussing Sunday's Gospel so I joined them in prayer.This little chapel means a great deal to me, as I came here twenty years ago a week before I was baptised in Newmarket.One of the priests then, Fr Billy Baldwin, showed me how to just contemplate and be still in an atmosphere of love and silence.
For my last morning I went to the Anglican Church, very spacious and lovely and an old lady doing the flowers called me Sister Delia.(She couldn't pronounce the G.) At noon I went to the Swan Inn and drank a half of guiness, which I have just discovered.
Back for prayers and lunch and saying goodbyes - it's been a good visit!
Shalom from
Sister Gila
Thursday, 25 June 2009
Visit to Clare Priory
My dear Friends
It was with great delight and pleasure that I made my way down to Suffolk on Tuesday. Waiting at the other end for me was one of my favourite places: Clare Priory, an Augustinian foundation going back some 750 years.
Going on 2 buses was a bit of an adventure, but I no longer have the luxury of a car. But yes, there was a bus to Clare from Haverhill and that part of the journey only took me 20 minutes.
Clare is a lovely long village with quaint houses and shops, and a huge Anglican church (I met a lovely elderly lady doing the flowers there), high and spacious with a tremendous feeling of light.But my main objective was the Priory, where I was to spend one night. On the second bus I had met a fellow pilgrim, Michael, who was heading for the Priory too and on the way we stopped at the local hostelrie and had a drink and a chat.
Finally at the Priory we were made to feel very welcome and I felt especially privileged as they had given me a room in the Priory itself rather than in the guesthouse. My room, which had 3 beds in it(!) overlooked the front lawn with its beautiful trees all round with a short walk up to the river.The river is very special at this time of year, as 2 swans had just had a family of 6 grey fluffy cygnets and the ducklings were out in abundance too.
More tomorrow!
Shalom from
Sister Gila
It was with great delight and pleasure that I made my way down to Suffolk on Tuesday. Waiting at the other end for me was one of my favourite places: Clare Priory, an Augustinian foundation going back some 750 years.
Going on 2 buses was a bit of an adventure, but I no longer have the luxury of a car. But yes, there was a bus to Clare from Haverhill and that part of the journey only took me 20 minutes.
Clare is a lovely long village with quaint houses and shops, and a huge Anglican church (I met a lovely elderly lady doing the flowers there), high and spacious with a tremendous feeling of light.But my main objective was the Priory, where I was to spend one night. On the second bus I had met a fellow pilgrim, Michael, who was heading for the Priory too and on the way we stopped at the local hostelrie and had a drink and a chat.
Finally at the Priory we were made to feel very welcome and I felt especially privileged as they had given me a room in the Priory itself rather than in the guesthouse. My room, which had 3 beds in it(!) overlooked the front lawn with its beautiful trees all round with a short walk up to the river.The river is very special at this time of year, as 2 swans had just had a family of 6 grey fluffy cygnets and the ducklings were out in abundance too.
More tomorrow!
Shalom from
Sister Gila
Friday, 19 June 2009
Carnivals
My dear Friends
Do you like carnivals? We had the Arbury carnival last Saturday, Arbury being the neighbourhood in which I live. The carnival was set up very close to where I live.
There were plenty of stands, one of them being Cam-Mind, a mental health charity. I bought myself some summer clothes from this stand and took one of their leaflets on the very good work they are doing. We agreed that we still need to heighten awareness of people with mental health problems, about 1 in 4 in this country.
But carnivals are really about food and fun, and I ate myself silly with French crepes, crisps and the like. I am too old to go on any of the rides but the children were having a ball. And this particular carnival was about community spirit, as I am sure that most of those who attended were locals.
The very next day I wandered down to Parkers Piece, a beautiful green space in the heart of Cambridge and there was another carnival! This time an Australian was exercising his ducks and dogs in the middle of a field and he showed how well trained they were by putting them through their paces. It was quite amusing and I spent a good hour there before leaving for Church at 5pm and the folk Mass.
Have you been to any good carnivals lately?
Shalom from
Sister Gila
All the fun of the fair! And lots of tombolas
Do you like carnivals? We had the Arbury carnival last Saturday, Arbury being the neighbourhood in which I live. The carnival was set up very close to where I live.
There were plenty of stands, one of them being Cam-Mind, a mental health charity. I bought myself some summer clothes from this stand and took one of their leaflets on the very good work they are doing. We agreed that we still need to heighten awareness of people with mental health problems, about 1 in 4 in this country.
But carnivals are really about food and fun, and I ate myself silly with French crepes, crisps and the like. I am too old to go on any of the rides but the children were having a ball. And this particular carnival was about community spirit, as I am sure that most of those who attended were locals.
The very next day I wandered down to Parkers Piece, a beautiful green space in the heart of Cambridge and there was another carnival! This time an Australian was exercising his ducks and dogs in the middle of a field and he showed how well trained they were by putting them through their paces. It was quite amusing and I spent a good hour there before leaving for Church at 5pm and the folk Mass.
Have you been to any good carnivals lately?
Shalom from
Sister Gila
All the fun of the fair! And lots of tombolas
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