Email: Elizabeth Cluff

Dear Friends and Family,

The holiday season is fast approaching and Belfast is alive with all the sights and sounds of the season. The massive Christmas tree at Belfast City Hall sparkles with blue, green, and red lights. Houses are festive with colored lights arranged in the shapes of Santas, snowflakes, and stars. This Sunday marks the first Sunday in Advent. The emphasis on the church liturgical year seems to be less important here than it is in the States. Advent usually only receives a passing mention in a sermon or two. However, as the first young adult volunteer (YAV) in my congregation here, my pastor is keen to incorporate some of these traditions into worship at Regent Street.

So this Sunday I will introduce the lighting of the Advent wreath, a tradition I hold close to my heart in the season (second only to children’s nativity plays). I have been reading PC(USA) resources as well as other resources online in hopes of giving clarity to the meaning of Advent. One of the resources that I came across talked about Advent being a time of waiting and preparing, not only of our homes but our hearts for the coming of Christ’s love. Advent is divided into four categories: a time for hope, a time for peace, a time of love, and a time of joy. As I began reflecting on these four themes, I realize how these four ideas correlate with my experience here.

Hope, as defined by Webster’s dictionary is, “to look forward to with confidence or expectation.” I like this definition. When I was in the early stages of preparing to come to Northern Ireland, many people asked me questions like, “Where will you live? What sort of work will you be doing? How will you get from one place to another? How will you buy food?” The only answer I could give was,“I have no idea, but I have hope that all will be well.” Setting out on this journey of uncertainties, I have had to simply look forward with confidence and trust in the One who brought me on this journey.

In Hebrew, peace or shalom, means “fullness,” having everything you need to be wholly and happily yourself. Part of our YAV year includes living a simple life. Now on the surface living simply and wholly might seem contradictory; however, I have found the opposite to be true. One of my contributions to living a simple life is using public transportation. I ride the bus almost everywhere I go. My stop is on a major thoroughfare from Belfast to Newtownards, and many days, when traffic is congested, the bus is late.

I have learned to be patient while waiting for the bus. One particular afternoon as I was waiting for the bus to come, a car stopped on the road 15 feet in front of me and started to back up towards me. My mind was racing, “What crazy person would stop on a four-lane road and back up?” and “If I scream, will anyone hear me?” Ever so carefully, from a safe distance, I peered into the car and the face was familiar. This was a member of my congregation. He saw me waiting for the bus and wanted to know if I wanted a lift into town. I felt a sense of “wholeness.” The first Sunday that I was at church, I was introduced to the congregation and they sang a hymn, “Welcome to the Family.” Even though I am many miles away from home, I have families here that are taking care of me, making me whole.

People, both from my congregation and from the Link, are so caring. It has been difficult to allow myself to accept the generosity of others. Throughout college, I was learning to become more and more independent, but here, many times, I am rendered helpless. Members of my congregation invite me home for lunch almost every single Sunday. Often it is impractical for me to go home to have dinner before returning to Newtownards for my next obligation. An offer to have tea (dinner) with families is extended, or a diet coke and candy bar might “magically” appear on my desk at work some afternoons. And of course, when there are extra buns (little sweets) leftover at an event, the ladies will hand me the box to take home with a stern look of insistence. One of the Greek words for love is “agape,” which means selfless love or love wide open. Agape is the type of love I see here, a love that has no other purpose than to serve another person. It is the love that is not spiteful, or under duress, it is love that is there, regardless of whether or not you ask for it. It can be difficult at times, but I am thankful that I am getting to experience this valuable lesson of agape.

Fredrick Buechner writes on joy: “Happiness turns up more or less where you’d expect it to—a good marriage, a rewarding job, a pleasant vacation. Joy, on the other hand, is as notoriously unpredictable as the one who bequeaths it.” My journey so far has been filled with such joy: the amount of support both at home and here through prayers, words of encouragement, and financially. This unpredictable joy energizes me and it is what keeps me looking forward to more discoveries on this journey.

Blessings to you all this season,

Elizabeth

For more about my life and work in Northern Ireland, see my Web site.