An International
Mustard Seed Gathering
Each Term everyone who has completed Stepping Up is invited to gather in their deanery groups to share, pray and support each other. On Sunday 18th June we added an international flavour as the Hull and Bridlington groups gathered together at Bishop Eleanor’s House. We were joined by Bishop Justin and Jenni visiting from Wellington, New Zealand.
We shared stories from across Mustard Seed:
Reflecting on the potential of the smallest of seeds, and how people are growing in faith and mission beyond anything they could imagine.
We heard a beautiful story about ‘Being With’, and the flourishing of a young person, like a small bud blossoming into a beautiful flower. Just as Jesus journeys’ with us at our pace, we can learn to journey with others at their pace with Jesus alongside, allowing people to grow and flourish.
Our third story reminded us to look for the gifts and resources around us to develop mission, even if we are part of a small church with few resources we can offer what we have to God and he uses it.
Bishop Justin and Jenni shared with us from their work in New Zealand and affirmed where they could see God at work ‘on the edge’ through Mustard Seed. Bishop Justin spoke to us about the gospel account in Matthew 14, where Jesus learns that his cousin John has been brutally killed and he withdraws to seek a quiet place. Crowds follow him and they are fed with the offering of five loaves and two fish.
He reflected that for many people on Stepping Up – life has been tough, deeply painful events, like the brutal death of John, have taken place in our lives. Yet people have been willing to follow Jesus and recognise he can work through us, through the pain and trauma. He also reminded us that if we are willing to offer the little that we have, God will take it and multiply it and use it to feed many people with the bread of life.
We ended the day praying together, recognising that even though we live worlds apart the same God is at work on the edge in New Zealand and in York Diocese, working through us despite the pain and trauma, multiplying the little we have to offer. Amen