So I said I’d tell you all about the Servants With Jesus.
For short, they call it sJw – with Jesus in the middle and
keeping themselves small and lowly :0) ~ parvo et humilis !
This is their website, which tells you the basics.
They were founded back in the 1970s, with a vision for
creating a Christian presence on a portion of land in East Sussex that King
Offa gave ‘to serve the praise of God’ for ever, in 772 AD. A manor
house (now in ruins) stood on the land.
It had a Coach House that provided accommodation for carriages and for
servants. The sJw were able to obtain
the lease, renovated the building into living accommodation, and made it their
base and retreat house. In the
retreatants’ rooms is one they call the Prophet’s Room, because people who stay
their often hear especially clearly from God.
The vision of sJw is for an interdenominational group of
Christian women, called to be close to Jesus as Mary (of Bethany – Martha’s
sister) was. They are to share in the
fellowship of His sufferings as they minister to Him and to the world. So their calling is first just to be with
Him, then to minister to others.
The form this ministry takes is to work and pray for the
furtherance of the love and unity of all God’s people; and by praying, living
and speaking, lift Him up before the world.
Each sister must discern her own individual vocation, the
special path to which she is called, but all the sisters have this in common ~
they are to live in their own homes, making them places of praise, peace and
refuge until the Lord comes; and they are to live as the Good Wife in Proverbs
31.
The sisters meet for worship praise and intercession
whenever they can, and the strength and love for their ministry in their homes
and neighbourhoods arises from these times in the presence of Jesus together.
They play a full part in the lives of the churches to which
they belong, encouraging, helping and supporting.
They also feel a call to establishing centres and
opportunities for inter-denominational worship and evangelism, training people
of all ages in Christian discipleship and service, and distributing and
publishing Christian literature.
As a sign of their fellowship, each sister wears a gold
cross and chain, and dresses in purple (because of the verse about the Proverbs
Good Wife).
Jerusalem House (the name sJw received from God for the
Coach House) is open every day, with different sisters on hand to welcome and
talk with guests, and make them a cup of tea.
The vision for the Servants With Jesus, at its inception,
was part of a wider wave of renewal that swept through England, and in East
Sussex sJw played a part in a visionary movement of interdenominational
faithfulness to God, rediscovering the charisms of the Spirit and a sense of purpose
and direction in the pilgrimage of faith.
What I love love love about the sJw especially is that they
really believe. They pray with
expectation of outcome. They walk a
hidden way without advertising themselves, trusting God for the who and the
what. If they need money, they don’t fundraise,
they pray it in. And they believe in the
power of the Holy Spirit and are not embarrassed to speak about it.
To me, this feels like water on a thirsty land. I feel as though I’ve come upon a whole group
of Old Narnians – such a treasure, such a joy.
The odd thing is that I met them, and worked alongside them
for a little while, right back in the 1980s.
I sort of dimly knew they were there, but our paths hadn’t crossed again
since then. And now suddenly, after
searching and searching and searching, not finding what I was looking for, not
finding my community, my place to belong ~ here they are; right under my nose
but hidden from my view until now.
I have asked if I may join them. Please pray for me, dear friends. Their oversight committee meets to consider
my request on March 5th. My
heart so longs to be part of this community, and I have been trotting along
feral through the wild animal tracks of the desert such a long time, not
unhappy but never finding a place to belong, a faith community whose life and
ministry witnessed with my soul, struck the same chord as my own heart.
There is a probationary period to serve before full
acceptance, which I see as a good and necessary thing. But I long to begin.
33 comments:
Pen: I posted a comment on FB but I'm wondering if there is any idea that they might expand to include "sisters" across the pond and around the globe? Perhaps start member chapters or invite others to do so? I too, would welcome such a community and I know others would as well. I'll absolutely be praying for you as you enter this beautiful ministry and do pray for those of us still searching for a spiritual home and community such as you've found; peace and blessings to you.
Michelle, another friend has said this to me. I'm going to ask them.
Such a beautiful, wonderful thing! You have my prayers.
OoooooH!!!
My spirit lept for joy reading this.
Prayers certainly.
That looks like an interesting place. You have so much great church history over there.
Praying this will come right for you. It looks like a lovely fit to me x
Waiting patiently is a bit daunting...but know that it is now that you have come upon them - not by chance, never that...instead because it is now that your soul is ready for what they do.
Praying that if it is His Will...you will join. What a blessing this will be here across the pond...
Maria
I can only imagine your eagerness to hear the word of acceptance into sJw.
I enjoy occasional affiliation & visits to a couple of communities. My heart longs to live close enough to be actively/daily serving with such a group.
(Have I asked you if you've read any of Kathleen Norris' books?)
Prayers for you dear Pen, this place sounds so beautful and the ministry so needed in these times! I just love it that each member is called to live out the apostolate in their homes and communities, thus spreading the gospel message to an even wider audience. I so wish I had something like this on my doorstep!
Love to you
San xx
Ember: It's as though this is your St. Alcuin. Dear lady, I pray you receive what you hunger and desire for. And you stated it (in your fashion) beautifully and in a way I could "see" what you were describing. I loved how you referred to a sense of "Old Narnians". RICH. And how you have been feral and wandering. One can hear your spirit's longing. I recognize it. Do, please, keep us informed. I so anticipate (and long for) you to hear good news.
Blessings!
Thank you, friends! I am so grateful to know you are praying for me. I'll keep you posted how I get on . . .
I sowed the seed about possible overseas chapters. I'll keep the thought before their minds!
Praying concerning your application to sJw and that you would know God's mind in the matter. God's will be done.
This resonates with me as well--all but the dress. I don't understand the focus on luxurious dress.
:0) Thank you Jenna x
Hi Paula - I think if you saw the Servants you would not think them luxurious! They wear most ordinary and down-to-earth clothes - just like everyone else; the only difference is the colour purple. x
My prayers will be that you might become part of this wonderful ministry. It seems like a perfect fit.
heartfelt prayers that you might be granted the righteous desires of you heart!
:0) Thank you x
I pray that the outcome is successful in meeting the Lord's will, your wishes and the community needs. It sounds perfect.
:0) x
Oh dear darling Pen, as I'm quite feral myself and not satisfied with this state, I an Doubly delighted to hear your heart has found community akin to itself.
I shall pray my bestest praying from now till they welcome you in with open arms.
Truly I think Spirit has planted this desire in your heart!
Ah - that's the ticket! Amen and amen! Thank you x
Do they say 'that's the ticket' stateside? Means 'spot on!' (Do they say that either . . . ?)
Wow! I've just come over to your blog for the first time for ages. And there they are: the Servants with Jesus, also on my mind. (Well, they never really totally leave). You may know that I started on the path towards becoming a sister around the time of my mother's death and then let it go. I've been wondering, since I met you last year, whether there was some sort of connection between you and they. I was living in the Coach House myself for a couple of months in 1980.
It was lovely to read about them afresh, through your eyes.
:0) How interesting! Do you still feel drawn to join them, or just friends but feel it's not really your calling? x
I'm still undecided, considering that I'm going through late-onset adolescence. ;-)
Yes, we say "that's the ticket" here. Anglophiles say "spot on" as well, I assume we picked up from your side of the pond.
My dear childhood friend and I have put you on our prayer list. We've never prayed for a friend join a religious community before, but in the last few decades we've been blessed with a 100% rate on such things as house selling, house buying, moves from one state to another, conceptions, and the births of our total of seven children. We can't take the credit of course ;)
May I ask you a question? I read The Road of Blessings a while ago, and it gave me a new perspective on how to pray and ask God for the things I need (to pray with confidence and to believe in the outcome), but I still feel unsure of how often I should do this. Do I pray for a certain cause in Jesus' name one time, every night or whenever I feel like it?
Katrina ~ that sounds interesting! Keep in touch! x
Rapunzel ~ thank you so much. In praying, if He speaks to you, let me know what you hear or see. x
Heidi ~ hiya :0)
Jesus told a story about this (Luke 18:1-7), saying that we should keep on praying and never give up.
First we bring the matter into the presence of God, and sit with Him, and ask Him to show us the direction our prayer should take - because if we go on praying and never give up for something out of the flow of things it dams the river a bit, and can impede the journey of others - also if it isn't what the Father is doing it will prove disappointing and frustrating - though good always comes of prayer one way or another.
So we get as clear as we can about what to pray for, and then pray for exactly that - no more, no less. I have a friend I'm praying for at the moment with a serious illness. I *think* she's on her way home, but I'm not 100% sure; it could be He means to heal her. So, not clear of which to pray into, I'm praying for her to be filled with His light and love, kept steady in His purpose, rested and filled with peace, comforted and refreshed; that sets up the conditions for either healing or leaving, and until things become clearer to me I'll stay with that. What I won't pray is 'if it be Thy will, may she be healed' - because, well, is it or isn't it? We discern first, and we pray with confidence and authority into that.
As to how often - constantly. By which I mean, make a little altar in some peaceful corner of your home, write down your petition in clear and unambiguous terms and leave it on the altar, reminding Him of it whenever it comes to mind. Nag Him (He doesn't mind) incessantly! And declare it accomplished, praise Him for the sure outcome. See it done. Like a climber throwing an ice-pick thingy on a rope to secure a hold, then following the rope through the gap to the surehold, set your intention at the place of its outcome and follow the rope of your prayer through the space of time to its realisation.
Ask Him as often as you like.
This is why it's important to discern first, because what should be happening is you aligning your life with the flow of His will, turning your little boat to flow with the current of His love. Having thus set your course you keep rowing until you get there. xx
I was drawn back to your post - maybe to read your reply to Heidi here. What wise counsel. Thank you.
:0) x
This sound like a thoughtful, simple, humble, great spiritual adventure to be a part of, Ember. It sounds, from what I know, that this sort of service would suit you well.
:0) xx
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