The next meet the neighbours is on Saturday 1st October from 10.30 at the base of the Arc apartments. Free coffee and freshly baked goodies will be available as usual!

It would be great to see you there!

That also means we need to deliver some leaflets so if you are up for a bit of exercise, up and down lots of stairs, why not meet at the Kit sculpture at the base of the Arc apartments on Thursday @ 4pm

Karen

Walking is good for you, we all know that, we may not do it but we know it’s good for us! It’s good at many levels; it keeps us fit, it gives us energy, gets us out in the fresh air, wind, rain, snow, hail or whatever! Walking is also good because we notice more on foot than we would if we were driving! Here’s an example or two from todays Dock Walk….

Recycling bins have appeared! As we were doing the Dock walk a few weeks ago we noticed a lack of bins and today we noticed two recycling bins outside the Belfast Met….. a really positive addition and encouraging us to keep the area tidy!!

The second new addition is that the car park opposite the Drawing Office in now a ‘pay and display’ car park! Given the costs that should also encourage us to get walking or cycling! It also indicates how busy this new area of Belfast now is!

We were led on our Dock walk today by another team member, that’s four in four weeks. We continue to follow the  Wordlive readings, which you can download and listen to as you walk…….it’s good to walk! Why not join us some Sunday afternoon?

Karen

Fantastic, below is another team member’s reflection on the Dock Walk….. Thank you Lyn!

‘We now enjoy an outdoor gathering on a Sunday afternoon, DOCK WALKING as our fellowship time in the Dock Church. We love the variety of questions, applications and conversations that happen. During the week, we try to follow the online daily scripture meditation produced by Scripture Union, called WordLive Then on a Sunday, one day’s readings are chosen to be read out twice, with lively conversations in between, as we walk further, for sharing our thoughts and responses to what we hear. We have had lots of wonderful insights and  I have found it to be a really refreshing way of ‘chewing on the Word’. Lots of challenges and provoking to action have ensued.
The whole thrust of the Dock Church, being a Body of people from a variety of the streams of Christ’s Church, has been a draw to us, to become a part of this exciting ‘fresh expression’ of church. Having lived through the ‘troubles’ during our years of married life, we, as a couple have grown to have the desire to be part of the ‘answer’ to the society in which we live, particularly in our calling as followers of Jesus, rather than remaining a part of the ‘problem’ in that society. We see the problem as being one of division, where people choose to remain in their familiar, ‘different camps’, rather than learning to live together in celebration of what we share in common.

The Dock Church vision to operate a chaplaincy centre from a shared space on a boat, for all streams of Christ’s Church, fulfils our desire to seek to be part of that ‘answer’ for the future. The vision includes the common goal of serving the local community for Christ’s sake, and we have found it to be a lot of fun doing what we do thus far!

Last Sunday, I was asked to lead the walk, and the passage chosen from Wordlive, the week before, was Luke 14 verses 1-11. The themes of the preceding week’s Wordlive readings included gratitude, weddings, feasting, serving the poor and marginilised, and with humility. Having just been to our son’s wedding, and having also considered the ultimate wedding as described in the book of Revelation, for the uniting of Christ, the Lamb of God and His Bride, the Church, there was a lot of relevant content to bring out our thankfulness in our prayer time, and a great deal of challenge to think about! We concluded together that we members of the Dock Church are indeed seeking to be about the building of the Kingdom of God, which Jesus constantly taught on. His parables as in our passage of the day, show this Kingdom to be quite opposite to the way things are viewed by the systems of this world – this is where the challenges arise! Our final verse in the passage chosen states “for all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” We are choosing to humble ourselves under the mighty Hand of God, and look forward to the celebration that He has planned for us when we seek to follow His Kingdom plans in Titanic Quarter!’

Lyn

Dock walkers, led by Ronnie & Lyn, were encouraged to give thanks as we began our walk yesterday around Titanic Quarter.

I had taken a wee drive through TQ on Thursday on my way back from a pastoral call and was delighted to see lots of students walking to and from the college and not only that, but there were lots of bicycles chained up too. So it was great to give thanks for the transformation that has taken place during recent weeks. Driving further on I noticed again the ‘Legacy Building’ and began to think of what sort of legacy us Dock walkers are leaving? I suppose we have no idea at the moment but we still have plenty to give thanks for! September, because the ‘boss’ is on holiday, has meant that others have led the our worship each Sunday, with another new face next week….. team has certainly worked, so we give thanks! We might even have some new blog contributors soon,  sharing their thoughts on the Dock (won’t we……) and that is something else to give thanks for…

Why not take a moment today to think about what you can give thanks to God for….

Karen

Around the world on Sunday many gathered to remember the 10th anniversary of 9/11.

Those who braved the winds (and thankfully no rain) to join the Dock walk were ably led by another team member, Paul,  as he shared some thoughts on the eve of the 35th anniversary of his ordination. It is claimed that 9/11 was one of the darkest days in history yet we remembered Good Friday was the darkest day as Christ hung on the cross but that was not the end as he rose again for us.

As Paul led us we prayed for people living, studying, working and visiting the TQ.  As it was European Heritage day the drawing office was opened and we entered to shelter from the wind and gaze again at the displays on show. We noted how busy the road was with pedestrians and cars and reckoned that was a taste of what’s to come. Aptly, given it was 9/11, Paul led our reflection on forgiveness. The Dock walkers also got to sing, another first!

So if you are free this Sunday come along and join the Dock walk meeting at 3.33pm outside Streat Cafe in the Odyssey when more of  ‘the team’ will lead us!

Karen