What a day!

This morning I was speaking at Holywood Parish Church – which felt like coming home.  Susan and I spent six very happy years at HPC, and standing up in front of all the familiar faces, after all that’s happened in this past year, was a strange, emotional mixture of joy, nostalgia and time travel.  Sharing the story of The Dock with our ‘extended family’, and sensing their support and excitement, was really powerful.

Then this afternoon, just when I think I can’t love the Dock Walk any more than I already do… it just keeps getting better!

Today the mix was: some Anglicans, some Presbyterians, some Catholics, some Dock members (yes! there are now people who officially belong to The Dock as their home church!) and a visitor from India (Freddy Martin from Asha)  The conversation ranged from the fatherhood of God, to the psychology of addictive behaviour, to the danger of focussing too much on buildings, to….   such an invigorating mix of perspectives, wise insights, lessons learnt from experience, new ways of thinking about old questions.  All springing (somehow!) from our Wordlive readings this week about King David – I’m not sure what the link was in some cases, but it all flowed logically at the time!  The mix of backgrounds adds a quality to the conversation which is just breathtaking.

As we sat in the Premier Inn debriefing over our coffees, it struck me that a wave is washing over the church in Northern Ireland at the moment – stories of churches and individuals living out the Shared Medley in all sorts of new, surprising ways.  One of our regular Dock Walkers from a Catholic background told the story of how he has found unexpected friendships at a Bible Study on the Shankill Road – he now prays with, and is prayed for, by people who were initially suspicious and even hostile towards him.  Other members of the group had watched the links grow between Clonard monastery and Fitzroy Presbyterian, with life-changing friendships and blessings experienced by both sides.  We heard about a group of pioneering ministers who celebrate communion in turn in Anglican, Methodist, Presbyterian and Catholic churches, with each one inviting the others to participate and share (as much as they are comfortable) in each others’ tradition.

Even during the week, on the news (link here) we heard about the Prince of Wales’ visit to St Malachy’s in Belfast – a royal visitor to a restored Catholic church – history in the making.  Things are changing in Belfast and old divisions are crumbling – what a fantastic time to be living through.

Which all gives me such excitement and hope for The Dock.  Friendships, trust, connections, relationships are building up between denominations at a phenomenal rate.  We’re living in a new era.  How vital that this new spirit, and not the old spirit of division and competitiveness, is the character of the Christian witness to the Titanic Quarter – and the province beyond.