This weekend was the United Reformed Church’s Synod of Scotland meeting. For the last few of years Youth Forum for 12-16 year-olds has met alongside Synod. This year, following FURY Assembly’s plea to highlight the plight of the Invisible Children of Uganda, Youth Forum spent the weekend considering how we could tell the story of children who are abducted and forced to fight.
Every night hundreds of children gather in towns because staying at home in the countryside at night is too dangerous. The Lord’s Resistance Army abduct children, kill their families and force them to become child soldiers.
The issue, highlighted by Invisible Children, is one which shocked and moved us. We were delighted that following the young people’s presentation Synod discussed and debated how they could help.
The Synod of Scotland resolves to encourage churches to investigate the issue of child soldiers, to raise awareness of their plight, campaign for an end to this inhuman practice and to pray regularly for these children, their families and their communities…. to make these invisible children visible.
We also heard a report that the project we highlighted last year, a leprosy colony in Malawi, has been successful in achieving some of it’s ambitions, a process kick-started by the Youth Forum highlighting the needs of the project to Synod.
It’s easy to think that the problems of the world are too big, too far away, and that we are too small to affect change.
This weekend has been a reminder that we can make change. It reminded us that we can shine light into dark places.
Who the Heck Are We? Exploring the Identity of the URC
The United Reformed Church are hosting their 1st Webinars – “Who the Heck Are We? Exploring the Identity of the URC” on:
Wednesday 24th March 2010, 12:30pm – 1:30pm:
This is an invitation to all our ecumenical and external partners who work with the United Reformed Church.
Saturday 27th March 2010:
This is an invitation to EVERY member or visitor of the United Reformed Church.
There are 4 time slots available between 9am – 2.30pm. More details can be found if you click on “Q&A re: The Webinar” below.
What is a Webinar?
A Webinar is a convenient way of hosting a meeting online for up to 1000 people to attend. All you need is connection to the internet to join in and a computer or laptop. For maximum participation, use your computer’s built-in audio (i.e. speakers and microphone or use a headset) to contribute. You can also participate in the meeting by “calling into the webinar” using an ordinary landline at a cost of a local telephone call. You can attend the meeting via your mobile, if your mobile supports internet connection.
But how does it work?
You will be sent an invitation by email and asked to register your details (i.e. your name, address and some questions e.g. which Synod or organisation you belong to etc). Once completed, a confirmation email will be sent to you confirming your place. The email will feature your direct link to the webinar. This link is UNIQUE TO YOU and enables you to securely gain access to the meeting. At the time that you have decided to attend the webinar, you must click on your direct link.
If you don’t have my email address already, how will I be invited?
To attend your exciting online event, please contact Denese Chikwendu, Campaign Co-ordinator at: denese [dot] chikwendu [at] urc [dot] org [dot] uk or call her on 020 7916 2020 or Lawrence Moore at: lawrence [dot] moore [at] urc [dot] org [dot] uk . Please be ready to give us your full name and correct email address. Denese Chikwendu can also send you hard copies of “Save the Date” cards for you to hand out to members, visitors and friends. (They are the size of business cards for convenience).
Help! I’m not convinced – I haven’t done a webinar before…
Don’t worry, we will be hosting test runs so that everyone can try out the application and feel more comfortable with it. We plan to host test runs from w/c 22nd February 2010 to w/c 15th March 2010; so that’s 4 weeks of practice! Each session will last approximately 30 – 45 minutes. There will be:
2 sessions per week for all URC members to join an informal webinar where we can discuss church related issues or general current affairs/ news etc. EACH TUESDAY AND THURSDAY between 2pm – 3pm.
1 session per week for all of our URC external partners to join an informal webinar. EACH WEDNESDAY between 2pm – 3pm.
More details will shortly be available on the topics below:
A full set of Q&A re: The Webinar, including time slots for 27th March 2010
I was leading worship at Hamilton URC this morning. Nothing unusual in that except that I was early. I usually follow the ‘the closer it is the later I’ll be’ rule but today I was early. Good job because it turned out it was communion today… and I didn’t know! At least I had time to nip home and collect a communion liturgy.
I was early because my friend Thomas was coming over to Hamilton to join us for our worship. Because of my missing communion liturgy he was left to fend for himself which probably gave him a more realistic insight into the congregation.
It’s funny how the unexpected or unprepared things often have more significance. I grabbed the only communion liturgy I could find this morning. But if was ideal. It fitted with the sermon. It fitted with the feel of the service.
The best bit was sharing the peace, greeting each other and wishing God’s blessing of each other. The congregation don’t normally do it. But today they did… with relish. People wandered around the church hugging and shaking hands for quite some time. It was brilliant. People were warm and genuine in their sharing. A real community.
Today I’m learning about VOLE. Apparently that’s something to do with Virtual and Online Learning Environments…
I’ll let you know what that means as the day progresses.
This morning we have been looking at MOODLE. We’re playing with forums, profiles, feedback, messages and stuff. Good fun.
The afternoon was spent doing more of the same. We each have our own little Moodle sandpit to build stuff. It looks like an interesting tool but I’m yet to be convinced that it would be worth investing in the hosting costs for us yet.
Lunchtime was an unexpected surprise. We went to the church next door to the London office. Lumen URC has been completely renovated and is now a stunning space.
It has meeting rooms, a multi faith prayer space, a sanctuary, a cloistered courtyard and a soon to be open vegetarian cafe. It is quite simply stunning. If you are passing Tavistock Place in London then go and have a look at what a falling down 50s building can be transformed into.
Perhaps that was a bit of a metaphor for the the day? Is VLE something that can transform learning in the church? Will it help to engage people? Will it bring new life to an old idea?
First there is packing and reflecting before a long goodbye.
Packing is easy. We have much less to take home than we brought. All the gifts and Sunday school materials and the sweets and toothbrushes have been replaced by Havana Club, cigars and Che Guevara t-shirts.
We’re joined by the moderator of the Presbyterian Reformed Church in Cuba’s youth organisation. I’m sorry, but I can’t for the life of me remember his name!
We talked a little about their youth work activities and presented him with a celtic cross, hand-made by a member of Angela’s church in Nairn. Our young people also collected their remaining spending money, more then 100cuc, and gifted it to be used to help in youth activities.
For the rest of the time we have a lazy morning. Some people went outside, topping up their tan, or in my case still trying desperately to get one. Others are inside playing cards or chatting quietly.
Lunch is a surprise, well not really… it’s rice and beans.
After lunch we are joined again by the moderator of the Synod and for the first time by the minister of Luyano Church for an evaluation.
There are few complaints but a few suggestions, mostly about planning. The response… this is Cuba. And they are right I suppose.
The things that frustrate about Cuba are the things that define it.
There seems never to be a plan… but that means that the people are relaxed and spontaneous.
It’s hot and humid… but that means that life is slow and never rushed.
The poverty is obvious… but that means that people concentrate on each other rather than their possessions.
The political situation is oppressive… but that makes Cuba the peculiarity that it is.
The group (left to right) Eilidh, Jen, Anaitza (our host), Matthew, Alison, Erik, the Moderator, Shona, Katie, Rob, Avril, Me and Dyana (our translator). Angela took the photo.
Going Home
Luis and our Cuban friends took us to the airport, one final ride in the bus along the potholed roads of Havana.
Check in took ages and wasn’t helped by the only impatient person we met on our whole trip, our check in person. And then it was time to say goodbye but I think we were glad to be heading home. The flight was the usual East-bound transatlantic overnight flight. The flight was full so there was no chance to spread out and get some sleep. Just a doze after watching Angels & Demons. Breakfast was the strangest breakfast ever… chicken, honey and mustard wrap. Seriously Virgin, a croissant and a coffee would be a whole lot better. Even the staff were embarrassed.
There is much about Cuba I like. I love the architecture, the sun, the vibrant colours and the people. But for me the highlight was something we brought with us. The group of seven young people we had the pleasure of travelling with were warm, open, friendly and funny, a credit to their church and to their country.
Monday started early, but no-one was complaining. We’re heading out onto the open, and as it turns out very bumpy, road in Luis’ bus heading for Varadero.
As usual it’s hot but as we start to wind our way along the coast the humidity seems to lessen a little and the trip becomes much more pleasant (less sweaty!) than most of our time on the bus has been.
The countryside is beautiful, apart from the oil wells that litter the coast and the occasional factory along the way which the Health And Safety Executive here would have a field day with. It’s not so much the sight of the oil production that invades the journey, but the noxious smell.
No road trip would be complete without a soundtrack and it’s my turn to provide a musical education for the ‘young ones’. The Beach Boys and The Beatles sit side by side with Foo Fighters and Bob Dylan. To be honest I’m only really entertaining Rob and Avril. Everyone else is asleep. That’s a shame because the landscape is stunning. The coast disappears as we climb a little and the mountains appear off to our left.
We pass through Matanzas, a town that sprawls across rivers and inlets of the bay. It has a very different character to Havana. It seems to be in a better state of repair and the buildings are less densely packed.
Eventually we arrive at Varadero. It’s a beach town. At least the part we see is.
The church at Varadero is the newest of all the Presbyterian churches in Cuba. It is a beautiful triangular building with red and yellow light streaming through the stained glass into the sanctuary.
Joel, the minister we met here in Scotland last year, welcomes us and is very laid back about our time with them. He tells us to go to the beach for a while before lunch before it gets too hot. No-one is going to argue with that so we walk the two blocks to the perfect strip of coral sand and turquoise sea.
Just for the record, the sea is warmer than our shower at Luyano. Much warmer. We all lie around for a while as someone in one of the houses by the beach blasts out ‘Now That’s What I Call Music Stewart Hates Vol 1′. We bake. We swim. We bake some more. Then it’s lunch time.
We return to the church which has showers at the door and a foot-wash to get rid of the sand. Lunch is served in the patio area next to the church under parasols and yes, you guessed it, we have rice and beans, but with battered fish and what looks like garlic banana. It is plantain, a variety of banana, and it tastes bad! The rest of the meal is beautiful.
After lunch Joel tells us some of the history of the church. During a government crackdown there was only one member. Now the church is thriving and serves the surrounding communities where there are no churches.
The church design is all very deliberate. The triangular shape is the same as the witch-doctor’s. Every detail was planned to remind people of their faith and their place in the world. The church sides open up so the church literally has no walls.
We visit a small market to buy some souvenirs then Katie, Alison, Avril and I head back to the beach while Jen and Angela catch up with Marta, another of last year’s visitors to Scotland. The rest of the gang have gone in search of liquid refreshment and some shade.
The journey back to Havana is much like the journey there. Most people sleep.
Rob provides the music. Avril and I try to take photos of the gathering clouds.
The evening is quiet and reflective.
Apart from the occasional ‘ouch’ when another patch of sunburn is discovered.
Sunday morning was the only time that the group would separate and experience something different. We had decided to split into three groups and worship with the three churches we have spent time with here in Havana.
Rob, Alison ad Katie would go back to Guanabacoa with Dyana. Matthew and Shona would stay at Luyano and Avril, Jen, Eilidh, Erik and I would return to First Havana with Anaitza.
Luis took us and dropped us off before taking the others out to Guanabacoa. We arrived to find the congregation gathering, all in yellow t-shirts.
We ended up sitting at the back on extra chairs as the church was completely full. The children from the holiday club were all there, swelling the congregation, but we were told that the church is often full. It was great to sit at the back… that’s where the fans were!
Worship was full of music; an amazing tenor sang the introit followed by a quartet, and octet, all 90 children and a group from the Korean Presbyterian church in Miami all sang.
The preacher was from the Korean-American group and Frank (conducting the children’s choir in the photo) came and translated the sermon for us. There was a funny moment when he and Jen (who speaks excellent Spanish) looked at each other… then Frank said ‘No, I don’t understand him either!’.
After worship we got a yellow taxi back to Luyano to find the rest of the group talking about their morning. Matthew had sung at Luyano, Rob, Katie and Alison had a fantastic rockin’ time at Guanabacoa and we had been treated to some brilliant music. All in all a great morning at church.
The rest of the day was free. It was our first real chance to sit down and just relax and I’m glad we had the space.
We decided that after dinner we would gather on our own as a group to share in some worship which I would lead.
I think tonight was probably my favourite moment. It seemed real and right and good in all its strangeness. A group of people sharing God and finding him in the ordinary and the strange.
Breakfast is the same as the previous two days; crepes, honey and fruit. I tried guava and mango this morning. It tuns out I like mango and don’t like guava. I’ve thought for years I didn’t like mango because I didn’t like things with mango in them, like Um Bongo. Well, Um Bongo and other ‘tropical flavoured’ stuff also have guava in them! Who knew?!?!
We opened our dorm window for the first time this morning. I know that sounds a bit silly after being here for a few days but the window has shutters on it and frosted glass so it didn’t occur to us that there would be anything out there. There was. The street was out there. Busy with people coming and going and some salsa music blaring from a radio in one of the brightly painted houses. I liked life from our window. It was open a lot from then on.
Our day today is filled with visits to two local churches.
1st Havana Reformed Presbyterian Church was our first stop.
We were met by Hector, the minister, who showed us into the sanctuary and explained that they believed that the church had been built to a Scottish design by the missionaries who had come fro Europe. It’s easy to see why they believe that. The building is very similar to post-Reformation churches at home. The design is simple with no iconography.
We were told that we wouldn’t be able to spend much time here because they were in the middle of a week-long holiday club with 86 children. That seemed to be a shame because we were ushered through the kids sessions and I’d have loved to spend some time finding our about their activities and how they organised their outreach to children. But they are busy and I know that if I was them I wouldn’t have time to show me around either. (that probably makes more sense in my head than in a sentence!)
Lunch was….. rice and beans and avocado and other stuff.
Guanabacoa
In the afternoon we headed of to the suburb of Guanabacoa to visit a little church there with a difference. Well with a few differences actually.
The first difference was the welcome. We were greeted at the door by a line of people who seemed genuinely delighted to meet us.
The second difference was the church. It was small and sparse… but it had a band PA set up.
In the land of salsa who knew that in this quiet little suburb hid a rockin rev who loves all things heavy rock.
After the gig we had a chance to talk to the people about their amazing HIV/aids project which has had to overcome both the barriers of the state and the cultural barriers against two of their biggest HIV positive groups, homosexual men and drug users. Their work is inspiring and made me reflect on how little our local congregations do to meet the needs of their communities.
As we drove home a massive thunderstorm rolled in and just as we arrived back at Luyano the heavens opened. It poured for a couple of hours with the most awesome thunder and lightening crashing around us.
Statues in the Dark and Hanging Out By the Sea
There is a thing called ‘reading by the sea’ which has something to do with university going back and happens by the shore. Obviously books and talks don’t mix well with thunderstorms so ‘reading by the sea’ was cancelled.
Instead we visited the ‘illuminated’ statue of Jesus which towers over Havana… but the lights were off. We did have a great view of Havana at night…
The disappointment of the dark statue was followed quickly by a minor altercation with the police for missing a sign… a sign any of us are yet to see!
We ended up at the Malecon, the sea front in Havana where hundreds of young people were gathered, just hanging out with their friends and dancing to the band playing along the shore somewhere.
It was kind of cool just to sit on the wall and watch the Cuban world go by and great to see that so many young people could gather with very little trouble or sense of threat. There was even a hotdog vendor!
The best thing about tonight was the tempreture. The storm had taken some of the heat away and one of our group was even overheard saying she was cold!
It was soon time to hop on to our retro bus and head home for another night of noisy, uncomfortable sleep… but I’m starting to get kind of used to this place.
I am Stewart Cutler, a Youth and Children's Work Trainer with over 15 years of experience working with volunteers, students and professionals in the Christian Church and in communities around Scotland.
In my breaks from Mario Kart and Guitar Hero I am a jesus following, coffee drinking, music listening, blogging, tweeting, talking, teaching, listening, leading, podcasting, creating, reflecting, motherwell supporting youth worker currently avoiding a Masters dissertation.
Welcome to my blog and website where I've been sharing thoughts about God, the church, youth ministry and life since 2006.
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The opinions expressed in this website are those of the author, Stewart Cutler. They do not necessarily represent the views of his employer, the United Reformed Church, or any of the agencies he works with.
The United Reformed Church are hosting their 1st Webinars – “Who the Heck Are We? Exploring the Identity of the URC” on:
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