Paying Tribute ....

Baz had been involved at Zac's Place since our early gatherings as 'Zac's Place - Church In A Pub?' at Ellingtons around 12 years ago. Since being based at George Street, his fingerprints were all over the place as he helped with many practical jobs around the venue. Security guy, key holder and all round Mr Reliable, Baz leaves a big hole in the community of Zac's Place since his sudden death.


For Baz's family, the road looks like a hard one ahead at the moment - but together we continue to make a difference for those we love and for those we share the road with and those we pick up along the way - that's the way Baz lived, if you knew him, that's why you knew him  - don't let that fire go out folks. 


The following video was put together by another of us at Zac's Place, Liz.

Prayers for the hurting

‎.... Prayers for those, just a few short miles away, bereft of hope in these hours, for those whose wounds and scars will run as deep and dark as the very mines that swallowed their loved ones - when well meaning words and media lenses are hollow and invasive; may they have those who will just sit with them, walk with them, cry with them and carry them ......

News Item

It's when life is messy, confusing and questioning the 'God with us' of Christmas past, present and future rolls up his sleeves and puts his boots on.

Twenty years ago I could never have imagined just how many times I would have had to lead people through a long and difficult road to the point of 'goodbye' as departed loved ones are buried. I have learned that to be entrusted with that responsibility is indeed a significant place to be - they are places of immense pain and trauma, sometimes anger, conflict and guilt - and sometimes there are glimpses of hope and sense of peace that goes beyond explanation.

In the past few days I was asked to assist in leading people in a memorial event, for the local drugs project, for those who have died from overdoses, today something similar in the city centre, with many from the 'street community', as we planted a rose bush at his 'pitch' . Directly following that I met with the family of another from our community, who spent somewhere in the region of 25 years sleeping rough, who's funeral takes place in a few days.

To remember those we love and miss continues to be important, whatever the circumstances; to take people by the hand and lead them through the darkest of days is not only a responsibility and a duty, but can also be a very sacred time - sometimes even the most delicate of connections and the most fragile moments of faith are the most tangible and significant. It's when life is messy, confusing and questioning the 'God with us' of Christmas past, present and future rolls up his sleeves and puts his boots on.

Final Curtains

This past week has as usual been varied at Zac's Place. It has however been particularly marked by the final performances from JEMS Drama School here at Zac's - infact not just here, but anywhere as Jayne winds the school up after ten years of wonderful creativity. As usual the kids pulled all the stops out and last thursday's final night was not just a great performance but also very emotional; especially as some of the older kids have been involved for the whole ten years. Many of the folks that come through this building are tortured souls, so I shall miss the sound of laughter from the fifty or so drama school youngsters even more so.

As I write and prep for tonight's Tribal Gathering at Zac's - with the images of Michael Jackson's Memorial Service in the news, (but not much about the 7/7 victims), we'll ironically be looking at 'lament' and 'grief', (in the context of Old Testament geeza David in 2 Samuel 1); Lament and grief are two things I really don't think we're very good at in our culture. Tragedy is easier to deal with if it's a news story or a spectacle . . . lament is possibly what we should do with our questions and struggle when there aren't any obvious answers, but we cling to a bigger picture.

On a lighter note, it was good to welcome year ten students to Zac's this afternoon, from a local school, to come and hear some stories and look at the artwork - Doris continues to be a star attraction - based on, yup, 'Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted'!

Bushfires

Today as Australia mourns, I too remember dear friends and brothers and sisters in Australia going through dark days. Even within the family that is God's Squad and St. Martin's, (my ordaining church), there are those who have lost their loved ones and their homes. There are others too who fought the fires and others who in their capacity as chaplains and pastors have much to do. May God grant them strength and grace.