'The gentle reciprocity of learning' is what struck our key guest, Bishop Christopher Herbert, spending a special day with 75 members of the Anna Chaplaincy network online (on Wednesday, October 23) to celebrate our tenth anniversary as part of BRF Ministries.
Former Bishop of St Albans, Christopher Herbert has been linked with us since the earliest days; chairing our Advisory Group, and a guest at our very first Gathering in 2015 near Farnham, Surrey.
The overall theme for the day was 'The Gift: celebrating 10 years of Anna Chaplaincy as a national movement' and it was a great pleasure to be able to announce a new landmark - reaching 400 in the Anna Chaplaincy network - within the last few days!
It was an opportunity for many from up and down the country to share news and views. We heard from one of the newest recruits - Sally Ducellier, Anna Chaplain in the Southampton team- as well as from Anna Chaplains who have joined since 2014 when Anna Chaplaincy became part of BRF.
Participants were also delighted to learn that former coordinator Alex Burn is back in a new role as Chaplain to the Network; it is a pilot scheme to offer support to those who might be feeling most challenged in their ministry; one off, time-limited, chaplaincy to those who might be 'having a wobble' or need extra guidance with the issues they are facing.
Goodie bags had been dispatched by post to all those attending and in a smart black BRF canvas bag they found among the chocolates, snowdrop bulbs and assorted information leaflets some other prized items, such as a brand new CD of hymns, originating from Orkney's Joyful Noise' choir, 'A Guide to Positive Thinking' published by the Southampton-based charity Caraway - part of their Positivity Toolkit- plus the latest edition of BRF's Bible Reflections for Older People.
From Cheltenham, the Revd Brian Dunlop, gave us food for thought on Grace, exemplified by the widow Anna (whose name means gift or grace). There were craft activities led by coordinator Marian Muskett, with chaplains adding in all sorts of creative ideas for small gifts that can be sewn, knitted, crocheted or glued together!
Plenty of time was made for swapping stories of what makes Anna Chaplaincy such a gift to older generations as well as to the chaplains engaged in the ministry themselves- a two way process, indeed.
The theme of gift exchange was highlighted by Bishop Christopher's admiration for what he called, 'the gentle reciprocity of learning' on display throughout the day as people talked about both the 'cost' and the 'privilege' of their work. One Anna Chaplain in Wales said:
'I try to give it all to God, to make space to go out the next day and do it all again!'
Ministry Lead, Debbie Ducille, recalled that the traditional gift to married couple on their tenth wedding anniversary is something made of tin! So we had fun with tin foil - punching holes- and with lighted tea-lights... before piling in to pieces of cake topped with candles, and singing 'Happy Birthday' to Anna Chaplaincy as we went on to enjoy worshipping together.
Pioneer of Anna Chaplaincy, Debbie Thrower had opened the main morning session looking back on some of the highlights of the past decade. She talked of how seeds for Anna Chaplaincy may have been sown when she was a child visiting elderly 'surrogate grandparents' ; Richard Fisher, Chief Executive of BRF Ministries praised the 'spirit of generosity' which characterises Anna Chaplains whenever they meet (he hasn't missed a single Gathering in all the years); and Bishop Christopher summed up movingly at the end of the day, paying tribute to everyone who is part of offering such 'exhausting and enriching' spiritual care to older people.
He said that Anna Chaplains were people who 'perceive God's Kingdom and embody the hope', witnessing to it for others, reminding us of what John V. Taylor once wrote: 'Since God's reign, in the teaching of Jesus, is an eschatological hope, the Kingdom is not something Christians have to 'extend', but something they have to announce. They are not asked to be the Kingdom, but to receive it. They are no more called to build the Kingdom than the wedding guests were invited to prepare the feast.' (John V Taylor: Kingdom Come, SCM Press.) He added:
'Anna Chaplains are truly people who are announcing, and have received, the Kingdom. What a blessing.'
Network members were on Zoom throughout the day, online from Orkney to Cornwall, and from Kent to Cumbria, and many points - urban, suburban and rural - in between. A great many 'thank yous' have been received since Wednesday, for which the team at BRF are so grateful. This one, from the chat section of Zoom on the day, perhaps, though says it all:
'It feels like a vibrant Anna Chaplaincy family, all working together. Praise God and Happy Birthday!'
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