Darlington minister Tjarda Murray gives an account of the pilgrimage whose preparations were reported on this site.
Just over a year ago, our Mission Partnership agreed that we would spend time studying Jane Leach’s book, `Walking the Story’, in order to discern how best we can journey together as a Mission Partnership into the future.
We were aware that not all members of the Mission Partnership could, or would be able join us either for the studies or on the pilgrimage from Melrose to Holy Island (the St Cuthbert’s Way). We agreed to produce a Labyrinth as a tangible alternative for those unable to join us for the walk. The labyrinth was used on Holy Island and attracted quite a few people. We thank the Rev Linda Elliott for providing a guided meditation.
On July 22nd three walkers from our Mission Partnership set off on the St Cuthbert’s Way from Melrose to Holy Island. As keen hikers, Peter and I have recently walked the `West Highland Way’, and the `Great Glen Way’.
But this was not a long distance hike, this was a pilgrimage for all five of us, a journey of a closer encounter with God as we opened ourselves up to the sounds of the natural world, the changing weather, birds in flight, and farm animals grazing.
On our journey together, we were reminded that, in the words of Psalm 118:24, `This is the day that the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it’, we are not a future tense people but that we live in the moment of possibility now.
Pilgrimage for me was a sound reminder that – yes, we should be focused on our ultimate destination, but, at the same time we need to be aware of the needs and strengths and gifts of our fellow pilgrims, and that we should be thankful for their humour, encouragement and imagination in making our journey, our pilgrimage, a journey of faith to wherever God leads us into the future.
On our pilgrimage we had an `Old Hag’, who chided, abused and challenged us on our way; we were blessed by the strength of faith of a pilgrim suffering from terrible blisters; we were blessed by the trust of a fellow pilgrim who realised that banks were never too high to climb in the company of fellow pilgrims; we were blessed by the strength of conviction and imagination of fellow pilgrims, but most of all we were blessed by the gentle guidance and encouragement of the Holy Spirit who encouraged us to pick up two stones and to throw one away as something we need to leave behind, and to keep the other one as a sign of repentance and commitment to follow Christ wherever he may lead us.
A meditation – as we reached the Causeway
Causeways open up pathways to places that have been inaccessible. Geographically, causeways often provide the means of travelling to tidal islands.
On our inner pilgrimage there might be invitations to move forward towards what is new and unknown.
They expose the bedrock of a deeper security than the provisioned safe places we have to leave behind.Bedrock is revealed below the turbulence and flux giving us safe passage to the next stage of our journey.
Pause for reflection
On Christ the solid rock I stand
All other ground is sinking sand.(Praying the Keills)
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The St Cuthbert's Way runs from Melrose to Holy Island, a total distance of over sixty miles, linking the he location of St Cuthbert's early monastic life with the site of his later ministry and death.
The latter part of the walk is within our synod area, and the St Cuthbert's Centre on Holy Island even provides a rubber stamp for walkers as they come to the end of their journey.
And walkers on the St Cuthbert's Way are included in a research project being undertaken by our Belford & North Sunderland minister Dave Herbert, part of whose ministry consists of research into rural church life. His current project, undertaken with Dr Leslie Francis of the University of Wales, invites walkers past and present to complete an online questionnaire about their experience.
Synod Moderator Rowena Francis is looking ahead to next summer, when she hopes to lead a pilgrimage of synod members along the St Cuthbert's Way.
More information will become available closer to the time, but the dates have been fixed: July 20 - 25.