|
Written by Diane Chaimberlain-Butt Report for trip to Belfast May 25th- 27th 2018. An invitation to attend the 10th Stormont Christian Initiative came in the middle of a busy period for us. Do we attend? Well, it seemed to us that this trip was in God's plan for us as we have a heart for supporting the saints in Northern Ireland and to see something move politically. It seemed from the beginning that it was not just about dances and presentations, but that this was yet another call to intercession. Friday: Many of us found difficulty (delays and travel problems) actually arriving in Belfast, but we did not allow our spirits to be dampened - joy was indeed our strength! As part of the weekend, a Shabbat meal and lovely fellowship with the believers in the evening was enjoyed. ‘It is like family’ someone remarked. Saturday: The Lord has spoken to us about ‘filling the big empty space’, so it was a joy to fill it giving honour to the God of Israel worshiping Him with songs, dance and procession. The burden for intercession continued throughout the Saturday as we waited. Sometimes the waiting is as significant as the event. Another word was about ‘untying knots’? and ‘ balloons’ symbolising some good things were being removed and everything being brought into the light. It mattered not that the whole afternoon was televised as we were caught up in the presence of our great King; a joy to flow with everyone present in the worship and the dance. There were balloons celebrating the 10th anniversary and a sense that what had been was coming to an end and something else would grow out of the seed that had been sown over the past 10 years. (Isaiah 6 came to mind). Virginia spoke about the significance of ten……. Surprisingly, there were ten of us in the Sh’ma group. Gate number 10 for our exit at the airport and Isaiah 6 refers to the tenth remaining…. It was also encouraging to listen to an Israeli believer speak about the reality of war in Israel today and how we need to continue the fight in the Spirit while others have to battle physically. The guests ministered in song and they were encouraged that their son had written a song that we used in the first dance. We knew we needed to go to Northern Ireland in complete unity and this was only achievable as we walked in the Spirit. It seemed that the attitude we carried with us was as important in affecting the atmosphere as much as songs and dances. The fellowship between all was sweet and uplifting and it was fun to celebrating Andy s birthday with a meal out.
Sunday: A glorious sunny morning and we danced in the park near the botanical gardens. Groups of young people accepted us and some interesting conversations followed. It was refreshing and life giving to be in this beautiful park. After we had danced, the atmosphere shifted from one of groups being self-absorbed to a sense of community, unity and joy. Interesting that.
0 Comments
"We found that attending this Wesley Play was a delightful experience. It was beautifully presented as a work of art and embellished with some interesting historic facts. The real strength of the presentation however was the underlying Christian message augmented by the testimonies of some of those who took part. These which were presented in a sincere and tasteful manner and were certainly not "in your face". We feel that the Wesley Play has something for everyone, whether they be Christian, agnostic or atheist, and would have no hesitation in recommending it to all." - Pete "We were treated to fine and thought-provoking drama, music, song and dance. If you get a chance to see a future performance then do so, you will not be disappointed." - Doug "I am John Wesley captivated an appreciative audience on a beautiful spring afternoon with a stirring invitation to share in the transforming experience that changed Britain and the world – a heart ‘strangely warmed’ by the Gospel, as the Methodist founder put it." - Charles And Best of all God was with us!
|
Sh'ma Kingdom Dancers Blog
Here you can find out snippets of what we've been up to and what our Lord has been showing us. Categories
All
Archives
June 2024
|
RSS Feed