Start:Stop - prayer and religion rank high among the best stress busters

Bible reading

… while the promise of entering his rest is still open, let us take care that none of you should seem to have failed to reach it … a sabbath rest still remains for the people of God; for those who enter God’s rest also cease from their labours as God did from his. Let us therefore make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one may fall through such disobedience as theirs. (Hebrews 4. 1, 9 – 11)

Meditation

There is a growing body of research which suggests that prayer and religion rank high among the best stress busters. Use of a prayer/quiet room for meditation, reflection or prayer on a regular basis can assist greatly in the management of stress. “It is now widely accepted that those organisations which have a ‘spiritually-friendly’ culture, show universally lower than average rates of absenteeism, workplace stress and staff turnover” (Source: Spiritual Care Matters NHS Scotland, 2009).

This is significant because workers in the UK took an average of 5.3 days off work in 2012, according to the 2013 CBI/Pfizer Fit for Purpose survey, with stress, anxiety and depression given as the main causes of absence. Research undertaken by Roffey Park in the past, has indicated that nearly three-quarters of workers are interested in "learning to live the spiritual side of their values" and 53% are experiencing tensions between "the spiritual side of their values and their work".

By running Start:Stop once a week we are seeking to suggest that even a little rest or short breaks on a regular basis can be a life-saver in a frantic world where our endless tasks can easily consume us 24-7. Those of you who start your day by stopping for ten minutes of quiet reflection once a week tell us that these brief moments of reflection at the beginning of the day set you up for the busyness and business of the rest of your day. We all urgently need to learn to slow down and stop … and breathe. As Isaiah 30:15 says, ‘In return and rest you shall be saved.’ When we do slow down, stop and breathe for a moment, we are practising the fourth commandment in our contemporary age.

So, here, at St Stephen Walbrook, we want to take our experience of providing Start:Stop out of this church building and into the City’s workplaces to make a difference to the way people work here in the City by offering Start:Stop and other provision to businesses locally. For example, we recently hosted ‘Women in the City,’ an event which highlighted women’s involvement in the civic, cultural, charitable and social opportunities in the City of London and argued that gender balance on boards encourages better leadership and governance. We wish to work more fully with a range of organisations in the City to celebrate and encourage greater diversity. We wish to offer the best from our heritage of wisdom and spirituality in a way which can impact businesses through cultural understanding, diversity and openness, workplace spirituality, pastoral care and stress management. The leaflet entitled plus+ that we have given you today explains what we are offering and we would be grateful if you could consider whether it is something that could be shared with your organisation.

Roffey Park’s research indicated that 70% of managers are looking for more meaning in their work. Our lives are not simply about having enough to survive; the meeting of our basic needs. God wants us to see a deeper level of meaning, significance, shape and purpose to our lives. That includes sufficient rest and return. As the letter to the Hebrews reminds us, the promise of entering God’s rest is still open - a sabbath rest still remains for the people of God – so let us therefore make every effort to enter that rest.

Prayers

Lord God, we ask you to be our Pace Setter, enabling us not to rush. Make us stop and rest for quiet intervals and provide us with images of stillness which restore our serenity. Lead us in ways of efficiency, through calmness of mind; for your guidance is peace. Even though we have a great many things to accomplish each day, enable us not to fret for your presence is with us; your timelessness and all-importance will keep us in balance.

O Lord, you know how busy I must be this day. If I forget you, do not forget me.

Prepare refreshment and renewal in the midst of our activity, by anointing our heads with your oils of tranquillity. May our cup of joyous energy overflow, as harmony and effectiveness become the fruit of our hours, as we walk in the pace of our Lord and dwell in your house for ever.

O Lord, you know how busy I must be this day. If I forget you, do not forget me.

Reveal and bring meaning, purpose, shape and significance to our lives. Keep us alert to this deeper level of life and not solely focused on the meeting of our basic needs. Ensure that a focus of getting will not prevent us from seeing and receiving what you are already giving to us. Inspire us to seek meaning and shape within our lives. Help us recognise the significance and purpose that you bring.

O Lord, you know how busy I must be this day. If I forget you, do not forget me.

Blessing

The Spirit of truth lead you into all truth, give you grace to confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, and strengthen you to proclaim the word and works of God; and the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always. Amen.

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Riyad Nicolas - Paganini-Liszt Etude No. 6.

Niki Gorick: Religion in the City (3)

Niki Gorick's aim in her ‘Religion in The City’ photo-project is to capture as much as possible of the spiritual life of The City and the day-to-day work of its clergy

Niki is a UK fine art photographer specialising in black & white images of London. She wants to find out what’s going on with religion in The City of London? How do these historical beauties survive today? Are they still a spiritual force? How do they work as non-parish churches without resident congregations? And how do they relate to the financially-obsessed community surrounding them? What exactly is the contemporary clergy up to?

Niki says, "Already, in my new ‘Religion in The City’ photo-project, I’ve come across a diversity I never expected — pop-up art exhibitions, huge wet fish displays for Harvest Festival, a Chinese choir rehearsing, high-calibre debate about policing in Britain today, jazz bands leading congregations into hidden gardens to eat jerk chicken … all I can say is that modern-day ministering appears to be both thriving and full of surprises.

The latest photographs in the series which Niki has taken at St Stephen Walbrook were of the Service of Thanksgiving for the Lord Mayor of London and his work with the City Livery Companies and Ward Clubs which we hosted in July and the 'Women in the City' networking event organised by Sally Muggeridge. Niki said that both were very special and fascinating occasions to capture for the project. Here are a sample of her images:

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Charles Villiers Stanford - Te Deum in C.

Start:Stop - celebrating and encouraging greater diversity

Bible reading

Now as they went on their way, he entered a certain village, where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to what he was saying. But Martha was distracted by her many tasks; so she came to him and asked, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; there is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10. 38 – 42)

Meditation

Martha opened her home to Jesus and his disciples. Providing hospitality and welcome to strangers was of vital importance within Judaism and in Middle Eastern culture generally. The rabbis taught that Abraham left off a discussion with God and went to greet guests when they arrived at his camp. He ran to greet them during the hottest day on record and served them the best food he could put together. Based on that example, the rabbis said that taking care of guests is greater than receiving the divine presence.

When Jesus sent out his disciples to prepare the way for him to come to towns and villages on the way to Jerusalem, he told them to look out for and stay with those, like Martha, who would welcome them (Luke 10). So, Jesus’ words to Martha, while they can appear critical, were not intended as a denigration of the role she was fulfilling, which, as we have thought, has a vital place in Middle Eastern culture. Jesus had already affirmed Martha's hospitality by welcoming and receiving all she offered. However, he also wanted to affirm Mary’s action as well because Mary's action points to an alternative role for women which could only begin to be realised as a result of his affirmation.

Mary sat at Jesus’ feet listening to what he said. That was the usual posture of a disciple of any teacher in the ancient world. But disciples were usually male, so Mary would have been quietly breaking the rule that reserved study for males, not females. Martha was possibly not merely asking for help but demanding that Mary keep to the traditional way of behaving. Jesus, though, affirmed Mary in the place and role of a disciple: “Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."

Jesus refused to be sidetracked by issues of gender when faced with women in any kind of need and consistently put people before dogma. Luke’s Gospel not only reports that Jesus had female disciples, but specifically names them in Luke 8. 1-3. Throughout his Gospel, Luke pays particular and positive attention to the role of women; presenting women, not only as witnesses to the events surrounding the birth and resurrection of Jesus, but also as active participants in God's Messianic purposes. This counter-balance to the patriarchy of the time was necessary in order to signal the value of both women and men in God's plan of salvation and their equal importance in the new community that was the Church. Ultimately, this has led to the point that we have reached relatively recently in the Church of England of ordaining women as priests and bishops.

We know that within the Church and wider society, including the City of London, gender equality and full equality across the diversity agenda is still to be fully realised. Here at St Stephen Walbrook we have held two events recently regarding gender diversity; a meeting of Women and the Church regarding the ongoing campaign for gender justice in the Church of England and ‘Women in the City’ an event which highlighted women’s involvement in the civic, cultural, charitable and social opportunities in the City of London and argued that gender balance on boards encourages better leadership and governance. At St Stephen Walbrook, we wish to work more fully with a range of organisations in the City to celebrate and encourage greater diversity.

In Christ’s Church and kingdom there should be no gender divide in how we serve and follow him. So, like Martha, each of us (male and female) can practice and value the ministries of welcome, hospitality and service of all and, like Mary, each of us (female and male) can practice and value making Jesus the central focus of our lives and learning as his disciples.

Prayer

Fathering and mothering God, you have given all peoples one common origin. It is your will that they be gathered together as one family in yourself. Fill the hearts of humankind with the fire of your love and with the desire to ensure justice for all. By sharing the good things you give us, may we secure an equality for all our brothers and sisters throughout the world. May there be an end to division, strife and war. May there be a dawning of a truly human society built on love and peace.

May we choose the better part and sit at your feet as your disciple.

Loving God, you hold us in your hands for we are all made in your image. Help us to celebrate our differences. Help us to use our diversity to share with each other the richness of our many cultures, languages and backgrounds. Challenge us again lest we wither and perish, by holding to the familiar when it has lost its savour. Help us to dissolve the barriers of difference and work for a just society in which none are despised and discriminated against on the basis of false divisions and in which each is valued for their true humanity.

May we choose the better part and sit at your feet as your disciple.

Living God, we pray for your holy people and for the Church. We ask that every member may be freed to serve you in truth and grace. You have visited us through women who have been filled with your Spirit. You have blessed us all with dreams for a common future and gifts for a common life, in all things keep us faithful to the message of your gospel, that as women and men we may together bear witness to your love in Christ Jesus. As your daughters and sons, may we be brought nearer to a new vision of your love.

May we choose the better part and sit at your feet as your disciple.

Blessing

Sharing the good things you give us, dissolving barriers of difference, securing equality, working for a just society, serving you in truth and grace, sitting at your feet as your disciple. May all those blessing of Almighty God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always. Amen.

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Eric Whitacre - Five Hebrew Love Songs.

Women in the City

At tonight's 'Women in the City of London - More than just a place of work' event held at St Stephen Walbrook we heard Glen Moreno, Chairman of Virgin Money, as an advocate for the advancement of women to Board positions, unpack his belief that gender balance on boards not only encourages better leadership and governance, but diversity further contributes to better all-round board performance, and ultimately increased corporate performance for both companies and their shareholders.

Moreno has over 40 years’ experience in business and finance gained from senior positions in a wide range of industries. He combines deep financial services knowledge and experience, leadership qualities and standing with key stakeholders.

The evening which was organised by Revd Sally Muggeridge, together with Women in the City, also included guided tours of St Stephen Walbrook and highlighted civic, cultural, charitable and social opportunities in the City of London. The event was supported by the Sheriffs of the City of London.

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Corinne Bailey Rae - Been To The Moon.

Sally Muggeridge - Priesting

Sally Muggeridge, curate at St Stephen Walbrook who was profiled in Thursday's Financial Times, was priested at St James's Sussex Gardens this afternoon along with five other of her priestly colleagues. The Service was splendid with excellent music and was led by The Rt Revd Nigel Stock, Bishop at Lambeth.

The FT profile noted: "Throughout her career, Revd Muggeridge has been a vocal advocate of increasing the role of women in business and the church. At Pearson, she was head of diversity and in 2010 became the first woman to be appointed to the board of Total, the French energy group."

Accordingly, as part of her ministry at St Stephen Walbrook, Sally is currently organising our 'Women in the City of London - More than just a place of work' event on Tuesday 12th July from 6.30pm. This is an evening which will highlight the civic, cultural, charitable and social opportunities in the City of London, including networks as a route to fuller participation. We also look forward to welcoming WATCH (London) to St Stephen Walbrook for their At Home this Wednesday.  

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Joseph Haydn - Missa Sancti Nicolai.

Ministry to City folk: examples and encouragement

Sally Muggeridge, curate at St Stephen Walbrook, has been profiled in today's Financial Times:

'Her current workplace is the church of St Stephen Walbrook, in the heart of the City. Given its location, few of its congregation are local residents. Instead, its most frequent visitors are workers from nearby offices, and Revd Muggeridge believes her understanding of the pressures of life in the City helps her provide the support they need.

“My role is now one of pastoral care of stressed City workers,” she says. “So many seek chats, prayers, a quick discussion [about] a worry about family life and work. A prayer needed, a smile, a service — I can help with examples and encouragement.”'

As part of her ministry in the City, Sally is currently organising our 'Women in the City of London - More than just a place of work' event on Tuesday 12th July from 6.30pm. This is an evening which will highlight the civic, cultural, charitable and social opportunities in the City of London, including networks as a route to fuller participation.

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Bloc Party - Virtue.

The City – it’s more than just a place to work

Gwen Rhys, CEO Women in the City writes:

"I don’t know about you, but I’m usually dashing to or from a meeting or trying to arrive somewhere on time and although I pass one of the City’s 40-odd (yes, that many) Churches on a more-or-less daily basis, I rarely take the time to go in.

Last year, as Master of The Worshipful Company of Glass Sellers, one of the City’s Livery Companies, I signed up for a City Church Walk organised jointly by the Plumbers’ and the Constructors’ companies and since then I try to at least pop my head through the door of one or two City churches as I pass by.

Sometimes, they’re empty and, just for a moment, I’m somewhere peaceful and can forget what’s going on outside. Other times I’ve managed to catch part of an organ recital and at one church you can even grab a coffee and a cake in its cafe.

INVITATION: Tuesday 12 July, 6.30-8.30pm
So why not join me and discover more about the the Civic, Cultural, Charitable and Social opportunities available in the City at St Stephen, Walbrook, London EC4N 8BN. There’ll be refreshments and plenty of networking.

Looking up at the dome is pretty amazing, too!

I hope to see you there.

Gwen Rhys
CEO Women in the City

NOTE: This event is organised by St Stephen, Walbrook, 39 Walbrook, London EC4N 8BN. For more information please contact Revd Sally Muggeridge by email."

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All People That On Earth Do Dwell - The Old Hundredth.