In preparation for a course of study which I am to attend on "The Myth of the Celtic Church" I have been re-reading a book entitled Celtic Gifts by Robert Van de Weyer which bears the sub-title Orders of Ministry in the Celtic Church.  It tells of an imaginary diocese, which seeks renewal by looking at the mission and ministry of the Church in Celtic times, and by seeking to reintroduce such a ministry in the Church of today.  It all sounds quite radical and full of many risks.  But God invites us to take risks on his behalf - He Himself took an enormous risk in sending His Son to earth for us and for our salvation.  In all, the book includes six diocesan Orders of Ministry - each with its own Celtic patron saint.
 
 
 

BISHOPS	The Order of St. Aidan
PASTORS	The Order of St. Cuthbert
PREACHERS	The Order of St. Patrick
HEALERS	The Order of St. Bridgid
ARTISTS	The Order of St. Columba
ADMINISTRATORS	The Order of St. Iltut

The conference I am going to attend in Durham will seek to weave together study of the great historic figures and sites and a serious engagement with today's issues in mission and spirituality.  There are great lessons to be learnt from the past, which are of value to the Church of the future.

Yet nothing of significance can be achieved without the enterprise be under girded with prayer.  As I write this article I sit in a book lined study tapping away at a computer keyboard.  Outside my study window I can see the well in the garden under a mighty oak tree.  I quite like to regard the well (which in structure is rather like a summer house - a pyramidal roof supported by 12 wooden pillars) as a place of prayer and meditation - I love to sit there when I can with time to read, to think and to contemplate upon the things that really matter.

 One of the most popular Irish saints is St. Bridgid.  Bridgid called her community Cill Dara, meaning "Cell of the Oak" - later Anglicized to Kildare.  I am very fortunate to have my own cell of the oak - which offers to me a very important holy place where I have space in an extremely busy ministry to think and to pray.  At the moment the fruit of the oak - the acorns, are dropping in great profusion from the tree.  We have a saying that "Great oaks from tiny acorns grow".  This is similar to one of Jesus' shorter parables about the mustard seed.  When we are faithful to him then mighty things do indeed happen.  But first we have to be in communion with God and seek his will through prayer and meditation upon his word.

 I am reminded of that great encounter which took place in Genesis (chapter 18) between the patriarch Abraham and the three angels under the oaks of Mamre (or could it have been the Lord Himself whom Abraham entertained and offered hospitality to on that auspicious day when he played host to a trinity of angels?).   The scene was depicted in one of Rublev's most famous icons which shows the three angelic visitors arranged in perfect symmetry around a table, under an oak tree.  On the table there is a bowl.  There is a space at the front of the table, which invites the onlooker to join the assembly.  There is an obvious connection with the Eucharist in the icon.  The invitation is still the same today - God invites us to share in communion with him and to join him at the table.

Prayer

 Almighty Creator, who has made all things,
The world cannot express all your glories,
Even though the grass and the trees should sing.

The Father has wrought so great a multitude of wonders
That they cannot be equalled.
No letters can contain them, no letters can express them.

 He who made the wonder of the world
Will save us, has saved us.
It is not too great toil to praise the Trinity.

Purely, humbly, in skilful verse
I should delight to give praise to the Trinity.
It is not too great toil to praise the Son of Mary.   Amen.

Ninth-century Welsh prayer - from the Juvencus manuscript, Cambridge.
 

With Every Blessing,

FATHER DAVID