Spring Weekend Report: Opening Unseeing Eyes and Unhearing Ears
Opening Unseeing Eyes and Unhearing Ears - A Weekend CPW Held on Zoom 12-14 March 2021
Report by Ted Monks
Chair: Teresa Saunders
Organiser: Tom Dawkes
Chaplain: Nicholas Postlethwaite
This weekend on Prophecy from Old Testament times to the present day was originally planned to take place at Noddfa, Penmaenmawr a year before, but was cancelled at the last moment as COVID-19 struck. Teresa and Nicholas then put a lot of effort into refining the programme to concentrate on the nature of prophecy, some Old Testament prophets, the prophecy of Christ and prophecy in our own time.
Prophecy is commonly thought to be foretelling the future, but it is far more than that. It can also be speaking out about injustice, warning of consequences of actions and policies, calling to change ways, speaking truth to power. It can be for individuals, as to Abraham that Sarah would have a son, or Nathan's to David about the killing of Uriah. Sometimes for all, sometimes for particular groups. Sometimes conditional - if this, then that, sometimes a call to repentance. It can take many forms, using mimes, symbols, visions, actions as well as speech. Some prophets were inspired teachers, some called to speak for God, some said to speak with God and see his glory.
We had been asked to read Jonah to prepare for the weekend. In the first small group session, we were asked why we had signed up, and what we had learned about Jonah. Teresa then asked us to look at, in our groups, readings from two prophets from the time of the Babylonian exile – Jeremiah and Ezekiel. The scriptural accounts tell of their calling by God to speak for Him to a people to repent of their idolatry because they who had lost their way, a people blind to the signs of the times and deaf to His words. For the prophets, there were times to speak, times to be silent and times to suffer.
The Healing of the Man Born Blind, Duccio, 14th Century
As examples of the prophecy of Christ, Teresa chose not warnings and predictions but restoration of sight in two ways - speaking with a symbolic action-rubbing a paste of soil and spittle on the man's eyes, then healing another with words only.
The groups were asked to consider Christ's prophecies in the Gospels in relation to the OT prophets, what types of prophecy did Jesus use and how they were received, and what do we learn ourselves.
In the early Christian era, Paul and others used prophesies to encourage people and build up communities. The hardest message that prophets had to deliver was the place of suffering in God's plan. As time went on, itinerant preachers acted as prophets, with the problem of authenticity.
Five modern day prophets were chosen by people taking part in the weekend:
Franz Jagerstatter, an Austrian farmer executed by the Nazis for his principled refusal to be called up for military service.
E.F Shumancher, author of Small is Beautiful as a prophet for sustainable development.
Mark Carney, former Governor of the Bank of England, for calling into question the values of the financial world and money as an end in itself, and affirming that life is more important than money.
Greta Thunberg, an inspirational campaigner against climate change.
Pope Francis, for interpreting the signs of the times in the light of the Gospels and calling the people of God into right relationship.
The proposals were well prepared and presented, and showed the need for prophets today. Teresa asked what we have learned this weekend about prophetic action, what might help us distinguish between true and false prophets, are we likely to project our views on times past, what role do we have as individuals, Church, CPW?
Discussions in groups followed by feedback and discussion in plenary session brought out many examples of prophetic activity in our own time, including the everyday, like the woman keeping so many things going to support her family, struggling to cope, as well as those who speak out.
The team were excellent. Teresa, with guidance from our chaplain Nicholas, had brought the subject to manageable size and provided questions to get us to think and reflect deeply. Nicholas led prayer and celebration with wisdom, calmness and clarity. Our host, Tom Dawkes, mastered the technology to enable the team, set up the chat rooms for the groups and minimise problems for everybody as well as providing support to the team and participants throughout the weekend.
Greg Ryan made some very helpful contributions to clarify or illuminate over the course of the weekend. Greg, whose wife Diane is an ordained priest in the Church of England, will be chairing a CPW weekend on Prophetic Voices in a Learning Church on Zoom on 20-22 August.
I found the experience of a CPW weekend on Zoom to be very positive. Of course it was different from being together in a centre with all the opportunities that provides. For this weekend, in the plenary sessions all could have a clear view of the speaker, and those with hearing problems were able to adjust the volume. Talks and discussions worked well both in plenary sessions and in chat rooms, and in the evenings there was the chance to share thoughts and memories and to catch up with friends.
The two hour breaks between morning, afternoon and evening sessions allowed time to prepare and eat meals and for other tasks or relaxation.
Looking to the future, on-line events would provide a means of getting together without travelling, saving time, money and carbon emissions, and be available to those unable to travel.