A Prayer for the Suffering

In Sunday school today, the kids were asked to write prayers for the suffering. Zoe, age 15, offered the following:

Loving Lord, let, please, thy love be as the water. Let it cleanse our very souls. Let it reach the deepest depths and darkest shores. Let it spring from barren hearts. Let it flow and banish hate. Let it heal and bless Lord, in all your eternal tenderness, for we are the thirsty and you are our saving drink. Amen.

Happy Sunday, everyone!!

December News From Beckah At Bath Abbey

Happy Christmas! That is the standard greeting in the United Kingdom at this time of year. I thought we loved Christmas in the States. I used to be bewildered when I saw Christmas stock creeping up on the store shelves just after Halloween, but in this country merchandise adorned with candy canes, snowflakes, and of course, a familiar man in a red suit appear in September.
As it would be expected, I experienced Christmas in a whole new way this year. I participated in a number of new traditions including: Christingle, mulled wine, Christmas pudding, Shoppers’ Carols, a donkey service, and mince pies. I have a feeling that I will be incorporating some of these practices into my Christmases for years to come, but whatever may come I will always remember my December in Bath, England.

December brought an extremely busy Advent season for Bath Abbey. The Christmas Market that went up in November continued on into early December. Bath is a bustling city on its own, but the Christmas Market added to that tenfold. Every Saturday the Abbey held four ‘Shoppers’ Carol Services.’ Each service lasted for about twenty minutes and was given to a congregation of approximately 1000 people. It was really amazing to see that many people all gathering together to sing Christmas Carols, but the thing I appreciated most about the Shoppers’ Carol Services was that so many people took the time out of their Christmas shopping for a time of reflection and celebration for the birth of Jesus Christ.

Now here is a question for everyone: What do you get when you cross an orange, a birthday candle, toothpicks, ribbon, and a load of sweets? I was asking myself the same thing when I saw my shopping list for one of my mid-December Sunday school lessons. The answer: Christingle. The custom of Christingle was started in 1747 in Germany. The idea was to give children a simple symbol of what the season of Christmas was really about. Children were given candles wrapped in ribbon and a prayer-“Lord Jesus, kindle a flame in these dear children’s hearts.” The tradition was adapted for the Anglican Church in the 20th century. An orange is used to represent the world; a red ribbon tied around the orange represents the blood that Jesus shed; sweets stuck on four toothpicks represent the fruits of the earth and the four seasons; and finally, the candle represents Jesus as the light of the world.

On Sunday, December 20th, no doubt churches everywhere were excited for the annual Christmas pageant. The Abbey was no different…well, maybe a little different. Like many other churches on the day, people at Bath Abbey were gluing glitter on cardboard angel wings and fastening old bathrobes around tiny children whose heads were adorned with tea towels. As Derek, who played our inn keeper, was practicing his lines one final time I was beginning to think that this was just another pageant like any pageant I had seen before, and then the donkey arrived. That’s right, an actual donkey. This was not a pageant like any I’d seen before. Sure there were pipe cleaner halos and the gifts of the Magi were made out of painted shoeboxes, but there was a twist. Instead of enlisting a handful of parish kids to play the roles in the Nativity story, the Abbey invited everyone. There were over one hundred children dressed as angels, and Wiseman, and shepherds that vaguely resembled pirates all of whom were brought to the stage in order to surround Mary and Joseph and a Fisher Price baby Jesus. Mary and Joseph were delivered to the ‘stable’ by Frosty, the very patient donkey (I have been told that Frosty is a very old donkey and has been the donkey at Bath Abbey for many years. In fact he possibly could have been the donkey at the first Nativity as this has never been proven or refuted.) Stay tuned to ‘News from Beckah at Bath Abbey,’ because Frosty will make another appearance on Palm Sunday.

Finally, ‘twas the night before Christmas and all through the house not a creature was stirring not even a mouse. The stockings were hung by the chimney with care in hopes that Saint Nicholas soon would be there. The children were nestled all snug…wait, I think I’ve heard that somewhere. Let me try again. Well, it was the night before Christmas and all through the house not a creature was stirring, unless you count Toby, my supervisor’s epileptic Labrador. I guess the children were nestled all snug on the floor. (You see, Juyeon and I took two of the bedrooms so the three boys had to bunk up together.) Sarah, my supervisor’s wife, hand made stockings for Juyeon and me and we had many presents under the tree. I went to sleep on Christmas Eve feeling like I was home, maybe not my actual home with my own family, but home none the less. I have to admit that when I set out to leave for this year abroad, I was worried about being away over the holidays, but I more than survived. I came out the other side feeling more bonded and welcome by my new ‘family’ in Bath.

So, here I am ready to take on 2010. I have accomplished more in 2009 than I thought I was capable of doing and I am ready to see what this next year will bring.

Bring on 2010!

God’s blessings and peace!



The throng of angels at the donkey service.


Joseph and Mary with Frosty, the donkey.


Dewi, Jonty, and Caolan at Christmas Dinner.


Girls’ Choir at Wagamama for their Christmas Party.

November News From Beckah At Bath Abbey

Happy Thanksgiving! I have been quizzed constantly about the significance of this American holiday and to be perfectly honest, I don’t know much about it. I have found that it is an uncomfortable conversation to have with people outside of my own culture because it forces a reflection on the ill-treatment of Native Americans. I may not know the historical events too accurately, but what I do know is that I will miss being with my friends and family and I will especially miss pumpkin pie. All is not lost though; I will be traveling to London at the end of the month to celebrate with fellow Americans who also find themselves on this side of the pond at this time of year.

I am continuing to have a great time in Bath. I am amazed at how quickly I have been able to form a life here. I have formed friendships with people I work and worship with. I have fallen in love with the children in the Abbey choirs, and most importantly I have learned the value of a routine. Nothing makes one feel more at home than having a busy schedule week after week. It truly is a sign of belonging.

While November in America is the month of Thanksgiving, and Black Friday; November in Great Britain is a month for remembering. On November 5th, the British people celebrate Guy Fawkes Night. In 1605 Guy Fawkes attempted an attack on the House of Parliament, but he was unsuccessful. In result, after capture, he was sentenced to be drawn and quartered. If you don’t know what that is, I will spare you the gruesome details*, but let’s just say it makes me feel a little better about skirting around the story of Thanksgiving. (*The punishment of being drawn and quartered is depicted at the end of the movie, Braveheart.) The actual celebration of this holiday is a lot like our Fourth of July. Only instead of enjoying the warmth of sunshine and outdoor picnics before watching the fireworks, people here enjoy the warmth of bonfires and bundling up in layers of ‘jumpers’ and jackets before watching, well… fireworks. I was lucky enough to watch fireworks from the top of the Abbey tower, 49 meters above the ground.

On the eleventh day, at the eleventh hour, in this, the eleventh month, people across the country stood still, in silence, to remember. In the weeks before, poppies began to appear on every lapel, and small wooden crosses were decorated and displayed for fallen soldiers. It was a beautiful event and one that lasted for weeks, with ceremonies and church services, monuments and memorials. In the Abbey square a cross was assembled and turned into a small garden. People placed memorials to loved ones that they had lost in any of the wars of this century and the last. The country was proud and solemn on Remembrance Day. It was an exercise in looking back into the past.

About a week after the cross memorial was taken down; a Christmas tree was put in its place. Little stalls began to sprout up all around. And the Abbey itself became consumed, not with remembrance, but with preparation. Advent is upon us. It is hard to believe that Christmas is less than a month away. I still feel as though I left Cleveland Hopkins Airport last week. Advent is a season of preparation, of looking to what is coming in the times ahead. I thought that it was quite a shift in direction going so quickly from Remembrance Day to Advent, but right in the middle of that transition lands Christ the King Sunday.

I might have found it hard to make such a sudden switch from looking at the past to looking at the future, but then we hear of this image of God as the Alpha and the Omega; the beginning and the end and all that is in between. Through our remembrance and our preparations, God is there. He was there with those whom we remember, He will be with us in what is to come, and as we move from remembering to preparing, He is here with us now.

God’s blessings and peace as we move into the season of Advent and soon enough, Christmas!



The Christmas Market


Kris, Edwin, Joe, Becca, and Marta on Thanksgiving.



St. Lawrence Church, London; our hosts for Thanksgiving.

October News from Beckah at Bath Abbey

Hello everyone! I hope that this newsletter finds you well. October has proven to be just as busy as September. I have really settled into life here. I can’t believe that I have been here for nearly two months.

On October 6th, my roommate arrived. Her name is Juyeon Han and she is from Seoul, South Korea. She lived and served last year, in Nottingham, England through the Time for God program. Time for God or TFG is a partner program that the ELCA coordinates with, here, in the United Kingdom. Juyeon is really great and it is nice to have some company in my flat.

In mid-October, I travelled to London for a Time for God conference. I was so happy to see all of my fellow UK YAGMs as well as meet new volunteers from Germany, Scotland, and South Korea. This conference was a time to meet with the TFG administrators and reflect on our service so far and start to look to the future. The theme was vocation so we explored different ideas of ‘call,’ ‘journey,’ and ‘service.’ We took time to look at the path our lives have taken so far and where they may be headed in the future. An image of life that really struck me was an image of my life as a tapestry. The back of a tapestry is not beautiful, it makes no picture and can look messy and disorganized, but you can see where and how the fibers connect. However, all of these fibers on the back, as messy as they may seem, make a big, complete, and beautiful picture on the front.

Here in Bath, I am surrounded by history. The Abbey is full of memorials of those who have gone before. The city itself is a testament to time and how we, as people, leave our mark. I am already very aware of the fact that I will be coming home after a year. I can’t help but think of what I might leave behind or what I might take away. I don’t think that they will be resurrecting any great monuments to my name or claiming any day to be a holiday in my honor. But I still wonder if I will be missed when I leave. What can I do to leave my impression?
Sometimes leaving a mark is in the little things and it doesn’t always come from where you expect. When we were at the conference in London we were given the opportunity to plan worship. For our worship service, we had a passing of the peace. It was a small group and most of us knew each other. We gave hugs-we’re not too afraid of H1N1. I didn’t think much of this, hugging is something we do in the culture I know. One of the other volunteers, Darren, grew up in Scotland. He said to me after the service that he really liked that we did that. Hugging was something new to him. He said that even as a boy he very rarely had hugs.

So again, no monuments or holidays, but in being with each other and being ourselves we must remember that we impact all whom we cross paths with. Furthermore, we must remember to look at and listen to those whom we meet. Even over a meal, in a brief conversation, or just in a hug we might catch a glimpse of someone else’s perspective and experience in this world.

Pictures from Bath:

Victoria Park

Pictures from the TFG Conference in London:

O-H-I-O in London!

Out on the town.

September News from Beckah at Bath Abbey

Hello everyone! I have survived almost a month here in Bath, England. It has been a long process to get here and the journey has just started. In March, I was accepted to the Young Adults in Global Mission program through the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. In April I attended a discernment, interview, and placement event at Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. At this event my world was turned upside down. It was four of the best and most challenging days of my life. At the end of those four days I knew that I was headed to serve for a year in the United Kingdom. It wasn’t until June that I found out that I had been placed at Bath Abbey. On August 19, I flew to meet my 50 fellow YAGM’s and a team of YAGM alum and Global Mission’s staff for a week of orientation in Chicago.

Orientation was an amazing experience. We engaged in learning and fellowship. We spent time each day in devotions and lectures, building our strength and faith for the year that lay ahead. We focused on the ELCA’s mission model:

ELCA Mission Model (adopted from Latin American Liberation Theology):

Accompaniment- walking together in solidarity that practices interdependence and mutuality. In this walk, gifts, resources, and experiences are shared with mutual advice and admonition to deepen and expand our work within God’s mission.
· Not to change the world, but believing that the world will change you.
· Not standing for people, but with them.
· Peace is not a gift God gives us, but a gift we give to each other.

At chapel, on the last night of orientation, we celebrated our baptism and had our hands anointed as we heard the words, “Each of you has been called by God and sent by the church to serve the world God loves. The discipleship to which you have been called is a manifestation of the new life you were given in the waters of Holy Baptism. Sometimes, the call will seem impossible. But through Christ, the one who has set you free from bondage to sin and death, all things are possible.”

I arrived at the Abbey on the 1st of September. I dove into my work here right away. The Abbey is a busy place, receiving over half a million visitors each year while continuing to be a living, parish church. I am involved in many aspects of Abbey life. I am working with the youth and children’s programs, acting as a chaperone for the boys’ and girls’ choirs. I am also working with my supervisor to help the Abbey develop a new Sunday school curriculum. I am also in the process of training to work with the Abbey’s homeless outreach organizations. During the week I lead Tower Tours.

I would say that Tower Tours were the least expected part of my year of service. I had known that I would be spending sometime as a tour guide. I assumed that this meant showing people around the beautiful, ground floor, of the Abbey. Well, you know what they say about assuming things… I have been afraid of heights all of my life, at least that’s what I thought. I now lead tourists up 212 steps to the top of the Abbey tower where you can see a bird’s eye view of all of Bath. I do this up to six times a day. I’m no longer afraid of heights; in fact it is one of the best parts of my work here.

Bath is a beautiful city. It is situated in the Southwest part of England. September has brought warm, sunny days. On my first day off I wandered around the city aimlessly just taking in the sights and the people. I went from shop to shop looking through the windows at all of the wonderful treasures. I walked along the river where boats lined up bringing more people to add to the energy of the city. It was a beautiful place, on a beautiful day. It was really like a fairy tale or a movie set. It was so easy to get lost in the perfection of the day. In fact, the streets seemed to be filled with music. Not just the music of bells jingling on shop doors or ringing out from the Abbey tower. Not the rhythm of people shuffling about either, but actual music. On every street among the tourists and school children, the shop keepers and construction workers were street performers. Some with elaborate acts and instruments, some with an audience, some with dogs, and all with an upturned hat or open instrument case, or a small tin collecting change from passersby. The music added to the joyous atmosphere, but the players brought a new mood. The smiles could not cover the worn tired features on their faces and the music could not mask the tattered clothing. I walked down a small side street and there at the end was a man sitting on a milk crate with a small dog. He was playing the penny whistle- a hollow, sad sound all by itself. I watched people pass him by as if he were a part of the concrete sidewalk he sat on and they could just walk over him. The dog curled up to sit under the shelter created by the man’s legs. I stopped and placed a pound in the man’s overturned beaver skin hat. He thanked me and the dog moved out to sniff my hand. I asked if I could pet his dog. The dog was sweet and the man was kind. It is really easy to close our eyes and ignore the problems of this world. There are so many problems it is daunting to think about solving any of them. But people on the other hand are harder to ignore. Here was a man and his dog. He is not a statistic or an economic issue. He is a man, a person; just like I am a person and you are a person. That is what I am going to try and carry with me this year. The idea of people and we are in this together.

I hope all is well with everyone at home. I keep you all in my prayers!

God’s blessings and peace!

Pictures from Orientation:

Some of the YAGM Ladies.

Some of the YAGM Men.

Pictures from Bath:

The view of the Abbey from my bedroom window.

A street performer in the Abbey square.

Beckah's Contact Information:

Mailing Address:
9 Kingston Buildings
Bath
Avon
BA1 1LT
United Kingdom

E-mail Address:
beckahselnick@gmail.com

Technical Difficulties (Liz Eaton is my mother after all.)

When I began my year of service I was bright eyed and full of ambition. I had this wild notion that I would keep both a blog and a newsletter. This lasted for a few months before my blog fell by the wayside. However, I have had some trouble sending out my monthly newsletters and it has only taken me about six months to realize I should post them on my blog. With any luck this should bring everyone up to speed on my life here in England. I will be posting news from September through March. Enjoy!

Welcome Home

Every day here, at the Abbey, begins with Morning Prayer. This morning we discussed the essence of the Gospel. It was said that the essential message of the Gospel is ‘Welcome Home’ and home is where someone will always let you in. This is such an important message to me, especially feeling so far from home. I’m not far from home though; I was let in here in Bath, England. It is so significant to remember to carry this message around with us as we meet others. You never know when someone might be a little bit lost and looking for their way home. Love your neighbor as yourself and show them that they are at home, that we are all at home together.

A prayer from the Service of Holy Communion at Bath Abbey:

Father of All,

we give you thanks and praise,

that when we were still far off

you met us in your Son and brought us home.

Dying and living, He declared your love, gave us grace, and opened the gate of glory

May we who share Christ's body live his risen life;

we who drink His cup bring life to others;

we whom the Spirit lights give light to the world.

Keep us firm in the hope you have set before us,

so we and all your children shall be free,

and the whole earth live to praise Your name;

through Christ our Lord.

Amen.