St. Mark's Dublin
Hey
We have just returned from spending the weekend with the community at St. Mark's in Dublin where we were leading worship at their 3 services on Sunday. It was an honour to be a part of this family and to see what God is doing with them...they are passionate and hungry for the Kingdom.
There was a great moment for us during the second service when we played the song 'The Troubles Are Over'. It is a song of deep thanks, expressing gratitude for the work of God now that the political/religious conflict is in it's last days in Ireland. We explained the song to the people in Dublin and played it, not knowing what the response would be (the Troubles is generally viewed as as 'Northern Irish' problem). So it was inspiring and encouraging to hear the spontaneous applause and cheering at the end of the song....in fact, to be honest, I was a little surprised by it. I thought people might like the song and empathise with the lyrical content but I didn't expect them to respond with such a sense of brotherhood and understanding. It surprised me.
It felt important to take this song out of a Northern Irish context and sing it in Dublin...it is important to us simply because we want to acknowledge Gods good work but also because we want to share the news...the good news...that life in our country has changed (and still is changing) for the better. God has moved here and we want to let people know about that. How God can respond to years of prayer, the diligent works of our hands, how He continues to move in ways and at times that we do not understand. It is greatly encouraging (if that makes sense!)
And I think that is partly why the song got so much support and applause on Sunday. Because people recognise the same God in this song that they hope for in their own communities, families, lives and nations. They recognise the story and they hear about one chapter of it in Northern Ireland and they long for a chapter in their own lives. They believe in the good news...of how the Kingdom of God is a Kingdom of transformation. People catch a hold of the story...'if God can do that in Northern Ireland, then there continues to be hope for us here.'
God is bigger than us. His ways are higher and higher. He is the Prince of Peace...and the story is still unfolding.
JP
posted by Johnny Parks at 9:15:00 a.m.
2 Comments:
Yeah JP I was up at Stormont at the Global Day Of Prayer and they played the song to a video. It was really moving, and summed up so much of this countries recent history.
The song is a declaration to everyone who hears it of just how good God is and what He has done here in Northen Ireland.(Revelation Ch 12 vs 11) I pray that you will have the opportunity to take it and declare as a 'testimony' ( a real christian word but meant in that court room sense)to wherever in the world God takes you and the band.
I can't wait to see the fulfilment of 'Walls' and see all those so called 'peace walls' come down too.
You have a prophetic annointing in your songs Jonny, to speak into situations and announce the coming of God's Spirit. It's no wonder the band comes under so much attack by the enemy. I want to reassure you of the prayers of Gods people for the work you and the band do for Him.
Your passion and enjoyment come across powerfully.
Thanks for all you and the band does in enabling us worshippers to express ourselves in worship and hear what is on His heart too
Pete
Cheers Pete you legend. Really appreciate your words...thanks so much for the encouragement.
take care
Johnny
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