The
Maranatha Community
by Mavis McMutrie
This
is a Community of love, prayer, truth, integrity and social action.
A work of God emerging in 1981 through the work of a Methodist layman,
Dennis Wrigley and a Roman Catholic Priest, Mgr. Michael Buckley.
‘Maranatha’,
an Aramaic word, is taken from the last verse of the Bible and means ‘Come,
Lord Jesus’.
Maranatha
isn’t a Church, but has scattered groups within the U.K., members retaining
their allegiance to their own Churches; it has strong international links. The
various traditions are represented throughout the Community.
The
Lord gave three words at its inception —
Healing,
Renewal and Unity and these have been the basis of its life. (We are called to
pray and work for wholeness: in ourselves, our society and the world. For new
life in our personal lives, our churches and our nation. For oneness with God,
ourselves, others in the Body). Three further words were given later -Simplicity,
Poverty, Urgency. (We are called to live and speak the simple Gospel and to be
little brothers and sisters of Jesus. To be poor in spirit, to relinquish
ownership, to be pilgrims and to travel light. To be watchmen and prophets and
to warn of today’s crisis in church and society and to give hope).
Large
gatherings are held throughout the U.K. where there is worship, teaching,
sharing and healing. Similar local groups meet on a regular basis.
Small
groups of people have been going to N.lreland regularly over the years to love,
to listen and to share. We are involved in helping and housing those expelled
from the Province.
Other
spheres of work are:
Mothers’
Prayers
- which is now international. Small groups of mothers (and
fathers) come together to pray for our children. This group came about after
Dennis wrote a prayer “What on earth are we doing to our children? This is a
charity in its own right. (Dennis attended the United Nations Summit on Children
earlier this year).
Trumpet
Call
—
a
bulletin is issued throughout the community and members write to their M.P.’s
/T.V. companies/various bodies about various social issues.
Seedcorn
- a training centre in Kenya where at Present 25 youngsters are Learning
skills.
Barnabus
- a double-decker bus which goes
onto the streets of Manchester at night taking a mobile medical unit and soup
kitchen reaching out to the needy including drug addicts and prostitutes.
Seedcorn and Barnabus are both now charities in their own right.
Taste
and See
- A café and bookshop serving the
local community, housed in Flixton Manchester (where the office is also based)
run by members of Maranatha.
An
extensive range of teaching material has been written including ‘Christian
Healing’; ‘Family and Marriage—A review of the current situation in the
United Kingdom; ‘Homosexuality (the medical, social and religious
implications); Christian folders have been written including ‘The Shalom
Prayer (a personal prayer for peace with God) which has helped thousands of
peopIe; C.D.s and tapes have also been produced. Maranatha is in touch with
Parliament on many current issues such as Persecuted Christians. Religious
Freedom, sex education of Children, Cannabis, Reiki. Maranatha has developed
important links and has opened many doors in Parliament.
The
Community hold weekend gatherings, Quiet days and Retreats throughout the
country. The ‘Light out of Darkness Retreat (based on a book written by Sister
Kathleen OSulIivan) has been a wonderful instrument under God for helping many
in their spiritual pilqrimaqe.
I
have been a member of Maranatha almost from the time of its inception and have
found Jesus very present in all that is done. Prayer underlines everything.
Prayer triplets function all over the country with a telephone prayer network
for urgent requests. Love is paramount and is shown to all. I co-ordinate the
group in Conwy (we actually meet in Llandudno) once a month. We have members
from different traditions. (Further info. tel. 01492 650169)
Further
information can be obtained from Maranatha Community. 102 Flixton Road
Manchester M41 6JT. Tel. 0161 748 4858.