Two Parishes and the Sea

Sunday morning Jordan and I jumped in the car and drove (on the wrong side of the road) deeper into the peninsula past the hedges, sheep, castle towers and sea. His little red church building is the oldest continually functioning Methodist church in Ireland. I enjoyed greeting the people as they came in the door. After a hymn or two Jordan told the short version of daddy’s story up to his conversion using a powerpoint for pictures. It was artfully done. He is a gifted speaker. Then Jordan and I sang, “All in All” and I gave a 25 minute overview of Vine and Branch Connections including what has happened, what is happening now (trip) and what we hope to see happen. Some bought one of the few books I was able to cart over the pond in my suitcase. You can hardly get daddy’s books in Ireland. There was visitor from Washington state, married to girl from that town, that was deeply moved. I enjoyed some deep fellowship with them, then grabbed a quick cup of coffee for the after-service tea time and we flew out the door to catch the Glastry service.

The Glastry Service had a lively and anointed praise and worship team with guitar, piano and violin. Nathanial played the xylophone and then the box drums. He also did the scripture reading. Jordan again did a masterful job of presenting daddy’s story. After that He, Nathanial and I sang, “Show a Little Bit of Love and Kindness”. In those moments (and many others)  I miss Robert. I shared about Vine and Branch and the service ended up being 90 minutes which is not the acceptable norm, however, many people were coming up to me with their eyes dancing. They were fascinated and thrilled with the stories of God working. Several told me they could have listened all day. Jordan invited both congregations to Tuesday night meeting to hear more.

After church we walked down the country lane lined with hedges to Julie and Mark’s house for lunch. Nathanial and Anna Joy were kicking the soccer ball. I won’t soon forget her prowess and elegant maneuvers to try and get the back in her flowing pink skirt and Sunday shoes!  How delightful Mark and Julie are and how lovely the meal and the fellowship. When I walked into the kitchen Julie was finishing up a traditional Pavlova cake made mostly with eggs and sugar with light creamy frosting and topped with berries! Over the top delicious!  Lunch was roast, potatoes and beets and corn on the cob. The corn just had nubbins on it which was interesting. After lunch we had such sweet fellowship. Mark and Julie are true servants of the Lord and of people, sensitive to the Holy Spirit. Toward the end they had prayer with me for Robert and his current challenges with his memory which have been worsening rapidly after I left. Probably partly because of the disruption of the routine and the familiar. He stayed first with my sister’s family and then with our son’s family. I saw tears in Julie’s eyes as she held me and her husband prayed. This bit of warmth and compassion from friends across the sea was very needed and brought comfort.

Tuesday after lunch we went to swim in the cold Irish Sea. I layered up clothes under and over my swimsuit as I did not have a wet suit like the rest! The sea was unusually calm and almost like glass! There was a mysterious mistiness that made it difficult to distinguish between the sea and sky when looking far off. The water was brisk but better than I thought. And the floor was all sand with beautiful seaweed hear and there. And so clear – you could see the bottom easily. The top 6 inches was actually warm! Any deeper – well – it made me shout a bit as I went deeper and deeper but pretty soon I was fully in the sea swimming along Nathanial who was snorkeling and Anna Joy and Jordan who were paddle boarding. After a while I was invited to the paddle board (sitting lol) with Anna Joy being my captain. I suggested that we head to Scotland but she felt it might take too long…so we settled to paddling around the old harbor. Then the kids jumped off the harbor and I filmed them in slow motion. So fun. Naomi made a new friend on the beach and after while we joined in good fellowship. It felt very much like a divine connection for Jordan and Naomi.

Tuesday evening Jordan went over to the church and set up tea, coffee and biscuits (cookies) for the evening meeting at 7:30 pm. We prayed together that what was spoken that evening would be for the furtherance of the Kingdom – not just a bunch of stories to admire. He and I had no idea how many people would come and were pleasantly surprised as people starting coming through the door with eager faces and big smiles. It was a nice size group – including people that do not often come to church. Before I took the microphone I felt a moment of emptiness and dismay. What do I have to give to these hungry hearts? Where is my dad when I need him!

However, in only moments I felt the rush of the flow of the Spirit catch all of us up. The words flowed and I felt the power of the Holy Spirit guiding me to talk about things that I did not plan to say along with things that were on my mind to say. The Lord had me open with daddy’s disillusionment with the American churches when a young man and then again after becoming a pastor, but how the Lord told him, “Get your hands off my church and spend time with me. Five hours a day.” I spoke about the highest achievement being abiding in Christ. Success being just that, abiding in Him. It will never be more or less than that. So our focus is getting quiet with him and learning His voice. And to stop trying to do His work for Him – but letting Him do it through us. The faces were bright and some were nodding. I then spoke of the outflow of abiding through the years including CTO ministries around the world, the Amish, Coda etc. Jordan came up and capped it off. He said, “I just had a Eureka moment. The purpose of Vine and Branch Connections is to teach people to abide in Jesus…it is in our name…John 15…Vine and Branch!” We were at a high point and most seemed to know it. We opened for questions. One lady asked, “How do you hear the voice of God…is it audible?”  Several other meaningful questions or comments followed. Afterwards one gentlemen said, “After I heard you Sunday, I just KNEW we had to meet again and hear more.”  Another lady asked how she might financially support.  Mark came up and in his quiet deep way said, “During a prayer meeting recently I had a vision of you and Jordan in the church and the door was open. The door is open for you.”

Several bought one of daddy’s books and looked at the photo book we had made. When everyone had hugged and left, there were £490 in the offering plate. Part of the money was dropped off by the wife of the shepherd I met in the sheep field in 2019. They tried but couldn’t make it to the meeting, but she came at the end of dropped off an envelope with a gift.

A few days later we did some business at the post office. The post master had been at a Sunday service with us. When we were about ready to leave, she slipped an envelope under the glass. £100 to give to a needy person or to take people out for icecream/fellowship etc.  Then yesterday two delightful ladies from the crochet club showed up at the door. They were full of smiles and laughter. Their club had decided to donate £300 to Vine and Branch! We were so touched! Anna Joy and I played the harp and piano for them. I have SO fallen in love with Jordan’s church people. My heart is already missing them.