On the road and home again

There is something deeply satisfying about coming home after a trip or time away. Menial tasks like doing the laundry and hanging it on the line, cleaning my room, making sure everything is in its place, and putting clean sheets on my bed, make me feel whole and comforted. One of the best things is the coming home, and without sounding too possessive, having MY space to be in.

The last two weeks of travel have been lovely but I am glad to be back in my home. One week away was spent at a wilderness camp that Scripture Union runs. I had gone to this camp when I lived here before and it was wonderful to see new leaders stepping forward. Being out of my normal realm helped me to reflect on my life and work and my growing edges in ministry and internally. It was fun to sit by the fire, raft down the river, challenge myself to mountain biking, get lost in gazing at the uncountable stars, and remember my passion for working with both youth and young leaders. The camp was extremely windy and the tents all blew down. I had a lesson in patience as we put all the tents back up with 60 campers. Perfectionism and patience are two things I must work on.

After camp I flew down to Melbourne for a few days for a wedding, a birthday party, some networking, and a bit of much needed down time with friends. I came back through Canberra and then headed to Sydney for a rally/protest with a few young adults from my church. We went to be part of the Rescue, and event planed by the Invisible Children movement. Have a look at: www.invisiblechildren.com
Invisible Children are trying to raise awareness of the child soldiers in Uganda and wanting to encourage international support for ending that conflict.

Both the camp and the Rescue made me realise that I need to get a warmer sleeping bag because I slept outside for both events and did very little sleeping because I was so cold.

On Sunday I ended up at my parents and turned off my phone and rested for 3 days. I took lots of naps, read my book and enjoyed my parents company.

Now I am back in Canberra and I spent my first day wading through e-mails.
This week is the first week of a new term. This term our new youth council steps into leadership of our Friday night youth group. On Sunday we kick off our new mentoring program and start baptism classes. Our youth group Frisbee team goes to youth regionals in 4 weeks. I am hopeful that this term I will continue to work toward a better balance – between work and social life, between church work and Irene’s Place, between productivity and restful, fulfilled living. I am glad to be home and have renewed energy for this next term.

This past Sunday we had a blessing for Irene's Place. Over 55 people came along, representing 5 denominations and 15 congregations. I was overjoyed! Here is a copy of the blessing along with pictures from the blessing. My house was full of people and felt fully blessed.

Welcome – Peter (Chair of Board)

Acknowledge Aboriginal caretakers of the land

Named the groups involved

Scripture – Is 32:17-18

Doorway – Entrance/house Jim Barr (minister)

God, you have been our dwelling place for all generations.

May this house be a place for your Holy Spirit of Peace to dwell.

Bless this house from roof to floor,

from wall to wall,

from end to end,

God enter every part of life in this house.

God we ask that this house is a home,

a safe shelter in this broken world.

A healing place to find respite from the stress of daily life.

May this home become a place where faithful discipleship is nurtured

And knowledge of your abiding presence fostered.

Help each resident to see that a home is not so much a place as a way of living with one another,

Anchored in your steadfast love

Turn toward the door:

Bless this doorway

May all who come to it

be treated with respect and kindness

May all our comings and goings be under the seal of God’s loving care

May this door be always open to those in need,

Open to the neighbour or the stranger

May many friends who come to this door in times of trouble and sorrow,

find an open door to them and to their needs

We give this welcome mat as a blessing that this door will be a threshold of God’s peace and wholeness

Jim places mat at entrance

Leader: Bless this ministry

People: Bless this House

Kitchen – Doug for AAANZ (member of board)

God bless this kitchen.

Bless the preparation of meals that happens in this place

As Christ invites us to the table

So may this space offer friendship and welcome every visitor;

the stranger, the poor, the sick and embrace them with patience and peace

Bless the herbs and spices that flavour our cooking and our lives

Bless the pots and pan used to prepare the food

May the ill-seasoning of anger and bitterness never poison the meals prepared here

Help us to remember that you are the creator of all that we eat, you have provided for us and we name the privilege of eating good food each day.

You, God are the water of life

May this water jug help the residence to warmly welcome all that enter this kitchen

Doug gives a water jug

Leader: Bless this ministry

People: Bless this House

Lounge / Dining Room – Yvette (member of board)

God bless this room where work and life together are centred

May it be filled prayer and playfulness.

May the walls encompass a home that is filled with unending love and laughter.

Let it be a teaching place where the lessons of faith are taught and lived

A loving place where forgiveness and grace permeate the relationships of those living together

May anger dissipate quickly and joy and laughter abide generously.

May those who enter here find fellowship with God and each other.

Christ is our light in this world may this house and ministry be a light in this community and city

By giving this candle we ask God to give you clear vision and that the warmth of God’s presence will enter each place touched by this light

Yvette gives a candle

Leader: Bless this ministry

People: Bless this House

Bathroom – Merilyn (minister)

God bless these rooms where our bodies are cleansed

May they be places of wholeness in body, mind and spirit.

May each member of this house be fully embodied, honouring and loving their body.

You continue to create us as new and whole people

Help us to gently care for ourselves

This soap is given as a symbol of health and healing in these rooms

Merilyn gives soap and soap holder

Leader: Bless this ministry

People: Bless this House

Bedrooms – Peter

God bless each of these rooms with refreshment

Rest us and rest in us, O God

we ask for peaceful rest to be given for daily renewal

May the spirit be the comforter of our tears; all loneliness be banished,

and that fear may never enter this place.

Shield and surround these rooms this night and every night

So that every resident may sleep in peace

Give dreams of your renewal for the world

May the fragrance of this lavender filter through these rooms as the spirit seeps into each one

Peter gives Lavender

Leader: Bless this ministry

People: Bless this House

Garden/house – in front yard Words from Sheldon/Mennonite Mission Network – Clair

Words from SheldonOn behalf of Mennonite Mission Network - I congratulate you on the opening of Irene's Place in Canberra. May God grant blessings of peace and joy as the ministry of Irene's Place is inaugurated. May the Lord lead in bringing young people to participate in this program of peace and reconciliation, and may this new ministry initiative be an agent of transformation in Canberra and beyond.

May the door of this home always be open to others.

Alert to you presence

Peace between people

Peace between all who live here

The Peace of Christ above all peace

Peace between friends each day and every day

Our going out and our coming inChrist, in our coming and in our leaving

The Door and the Keeper; For us and our dear ones, this day and every day

Clair gives a fruit tree
Moriah leads the singing of Shalom and thanks everyone for coming and being part of this special day.

Moving Day

So I have moved! I am in Irene’s Place!!!!













I had lots of help as we gathered donations of furniture from around the city.

We had to get some big pieces of furniture through some tight spots.

At one point we had three trailers hauling furniture to the house.

I was welcomed by some beautiful flowers.













This is the view up my street from out front of my house.


















I think I have my kitchen organized now but it took a few days of sorting and cleaning.















I am glad to be in and still trying to round up the last bits of furniture that we need.

Church Camp at the Coast

This past weekend we wound our way out of Canberra toward the coast. A few of the trees along the way had teddy bears tied to them, somebody’s idea of fun. I noted the dryness of the fields as the city opened into farm land. We drove through a few small towns stopping for fuel, coffee and of course there is the bakery with many things to temp your taste buds. The closer we got the greener the scenery around us became. Our driving slowed as we went over the mountain and were met with foggy mist. Then one more stop at a coastal town for ice-cream, bathrooms and chips, then on to camp.
The church has been going to this particular camp site for longer than I have been alive. Some people camp while others cram into the rooms with bunk beds. Little is planned for the weekend beyond the food, and there is plenty to eat. Days are spent lounging around chatting with whoever you might be sitting next too, swimming, playing games with the kids and putting together puzzles, and of course eating. Saturday night there is a program which normally involves several people making a fool of themselves and much laughter. Sunday morning we gather for a family friendly worship service before we all head down to the beach for a bit more surf and sun.
Hanging out at camp gave me possibilities of entering to conversations that I rarely have time for on a Sunday morning. I loved going down to the beach after dark with the youth group and playing a spot-light kind of game. It was great to see all ages looking after each other and sharing the work. I came back slightly sandy and tired but glad we had a weekend away.

Sad Cloud

It has been a few days of intensity. The weekend was spent in workshops with AVP (alternative to violence program). I have been part of this workshop before and my parents are both trained in this area so the info was not that new to me. What was new was how I reacted to the material and the intensity of the workshop. I came out of the weekend feeling drained and slightly disillusioned. An added strain on the weekend and over the last two days has been the news of a young woman in the social justice networks here going into hospital on Friday and passing away yesterday. A layer of grief for her, for her family, friends and community hangs over me like a fog. There are questions of why did this happen and what does it mean. All of a sudden the kind of pain that people who lost loved ones in the bush fires in Victoria, becomes so much more real.
I would appreciate prayers the community of this young woman – and for all that are grieving.

The heat has decided to give us a break and I feel able to think and function again. The temperatures have not helped the situation with the fires, as many of you might have heard. In the office we have taken to reminding each other when we complain about the heat that at least we have our homes and are not under threat of losing our homes and families.
Last week I started out by celebrating my 28th birthday. I was delighted to receive greetings from people all over the world. Thanks everyone! The day itself was spent in meetings, which is not my favourite pastime, but they went well. There were little celebrations throughout the day. The rest of the week saw me rushing around trying to get things in place for the beginning of a new term and a new year. This year we are going to start trying some different things in the youth ministry of our church which is exciting and fairly daunting at the same time. I think that change is healthy and I see some very positive ways forward – but a lot of work will be required as well.
Two weeks ago I was down in Melbourne. My parents drove through Canberra and picked me up on the way to Melbourne. It’s nice to get to spend time with Mum and Dad and I also loved not having to drive! All three of us took part in the AAANZ (Anabaptist Association of Australia and New Zealand) conference that happened in an outer area of Melbourne (we were close to where the fires are now). The weekend was inspiring. There were people there that I know and love and who love me and also new people to meet and to hear some of their stories. The conference focused on New Monasticism and I drank in all of the communities telling us about their lives together. There was a deep honesty in the weekend as we named the need for community but also acknowledge the hard side of living together as broken humans. I left the camp with more ideas for Irene’s Place and a stronger conviction that this sort of work and community is needed in Canberra.
While I was studying for my undergrad I came to Melbourne for an internship with Collins Street Baptist Church and the Urban Seed program. Many of the people that I became close to over those few months of work are still around Melbourne. I spend a few days after the conference catching up with friends, hearing what is happening at the church and Urban Seed and seeing how we can support each other in our work. Overall I felt like the week had been a much needed gift of time with people who know me well.
The last full week in January we had our Kids Holiday program at church (this is the equivalent of Vacation Bible School). I was the speaker and we looked at a few parables. Little people are so much fun; they exude enthusiasm and enter life without the hidden emotion that most adults attempt. I had not worked with children for a while and appreciated a change just for a bit. I had to think of how to get ideas across to a group ranging from ages 6-12 instead of the 13-21 year olds I normally work with. It was good to see some of the youth step forward as leaders as well and to play off of this shared energy.
Back in Canberra I’ve taken time for some community events like the multicultural festival and a gardening day.

Video intros

Take a look at these videos introducing my life here in Canberra:
http://www.youtube.com/user/MoriahDownUnder