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An Oasis of Healing

by Anne Linington⁽¹⁸⁰⁾ Red Star

http://Faithwriters.com

Carisbrooke Priory-

as an Oasis in which God's healing love can operate.

Introduction Psalm 84

Looking through a file I have of Priory literature, I found an old “Door-keepers” rota that April and I used to be on together, and it reminded me of a recent noon prayer time: we had been joined by a lady and her daughter-in-law from Scotland, who by her prayers was obviously a keen Christian. Towards the end she asked if she could share a word of encouragement for the leaders, and it came from Psalm 84:-

" Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere.

I would rather be a door-keeper in the house of the my God

than dwell in the tents of wicked...

No good thing will He withhold from those whose walk is blameless”

This word was a real encouragement on that day

I want to briefly consider three elements, which combine to produce an environment in which people, over time, may move towards wholeness, whether physical, spiritual or emotional, or an inter-related combination of all of these.

An Oasis of Prayer

Historically, the Priory has always been a place of Prayer, during the time of the Dominican Priory, from 1866, and has continued to be since it was purchased in 1989 by Christians of all denominations, for its present use as a Centre for Christian healing.

Sister Mary Albert

composed the following prayer, which she used daily over twenty-five years.

“Christ of Carisbrooke

Claim your Kingdom

and lead us together

to the Father

rejoicing

in your Spirit of Love.

Amen”

Much of the blessing we experience today, must be in answer to her prayers, and it is perhaps worth a mention that her own room looks out towards Whitecroft, and I can well imagine her praying for those “under the clock” the local euphemism for being in the Psychiatric Hospital. Today the Priory has a specific concern for people, patients and families who suffer through mental illness.

Mid-day Prayers , Monday to Friday

Prayer ministry following the service each Thursday

Priory Intercessors- a team of people associated with the Priory who pray for particularly longstanding or difficult problems for sufferers and their families. Some of those have been prayed for 10-12 years.

Obviously there is much prayer by individuals and churches that goes on in addition to these specific times.

An Oasis of Peace and Calm

Because of this atmosphere of prayer, the building and gardens offer a peaceful place which people find almost tangible.

Due to the hard work of the paid staff and numerous volunteers, the rooms are well-decorated and lovingly-furnished, and visitors often comment on this. The walled gardens offer a haven too, with a beautiful display of primroses, a crop of moon daisies and later the fruit such as pears and plums in the sheltered walled garden.

These are either sold or made into preserves or meals on Thursdays.

One other member who has his own ministry is the Priory cat, who only last week apparently gave some visitors a guided tour of the garden ! He is very discerning; some people who come in a fragile state, find that a cuddle with the cat helps in the first instance. My sister had a cat once who had a “ministry of laying on of paws”.

An Oasis of Friendship

The Priory is available for people of every denomination and none, and visiting speakers come from all the main Christian Churches on the Island, with communion on the first Thursday of the month.

Several years ago one speaker, I think it was Mervyn Banting from Newport, spoke about “loving people back into wholeness”, and this describes perfectly what the Priory is about. That's not to say that relationships are always ideal, in fact because we have so many hurting people, there are unavoidable clashes from time to time.

To give you an idea of how the Priory helps, I will share a little of my own story:-

I came to the Island in 1993 when I married Russell, and had been working full-time as a hospital receptionist in Exeter. Within eighteen months, I had a break-down following a miscarriage, . At the time,

I barely slept for seventeen days,

took the contents of my kitchen up to the Priory,

couldn't tell the Doctor the day of the week,

spent a lot of money- but this former accounts clerk managed to I keep all the receipts!-

and was sectioned under the mental health act for my own safety.

I wasn't fully discharged for four months.

How did the Priory help my recovery?

Most weeks I had prayer after the Thursday service, usually saying “It's me again!”

A monthly music group gave my first stirrings of recovered self-esteem.

Ten-month old Marnie didn't seem to know I was allergic to babies, and I found myself singing the choruses to her one week.

Lots of time spent telling and re-telling my story, particularly the effects of an earlier divorce, including chatting with April when we were on door duty.

Ten years on one mainland visitor for an Open Day was in tears telling me “I didn't recognise you”.

Today

I deliberately try to avoid being on rotas or having a fixed job, because I think God has a ministry for me in terms of being available to welcome, chat with, and listen to visitors and regulars alike;

Recently a lady arrived whose husband had been admitted to Sevenacres, and due to meetings I was the only one around. Despite being pretty tired, I had a strong impression that morning that I needed to be at the Priory.

This is how Christ's work of making people more whole, takes place. Prayers for physical healing are not always answered in the way we or the families would choose; in fact one of our much-loved trustees died, but his confidence in Christ was a shining example of not only living well, but dying well.

Fifteen years on

Last year I was licensed as a Reader (Lay minister) in the Church of England and now lead services and preach, write intercessions and poetry, and continue with pastoral ministry. An earlier prophecy from John Sentamu, now Archbishop of York continues to be fulfilled:

"Behold I make all things new".

Make me a well

Where the thirsty can draw water,

Make me a spring of bubbling clarity.

Make me a pool

Where the sick may come for healing,

Make me a stream

Of calm reflective mirroring.

Make me an ocean

In its fulsome power,

Make me a raindrop

A light refracting bow.

Make me a life-giving oasis

Amid the burning sand,

A place of rest and refreshment

In a dry and weary land.

Lord make me this day, as water

To all who long for life,

Make me a channel, a conduit

Of your peace in a world of strife

Anne Linington

This address was originally given in 2007

Article submitted Friday, March 26, 2010 & read 27 times.

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» left by Marijo Phelps⁽²⁰³⁾ (1 year 298 days ago.)

I love your oasis... Anne. Your poems and especially the one on friendship! You are a friend! Marijo
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