Nathaniel and the Jamboree

 Nathaniel and the Jamboree

Who is my neighbour?

You might have missed Nathaniel slipping quietly by on August 24th. St John tells us he was called to be a fourth disciple by his friend Philip from Bethsaida. ‘Can anything good come out of Nazareth?’, said Nathaniel.’ Come and see’, said Philip.   Nathaniel lived in Cana, next door to Nazareth, and had a (not uncommon) view of the neighbours. Jesus liked his style and their friendship grew. Jesus came to the Wedding in Nathaniel’s own village at Cana. Nathaniel was one of the seven present on the seashore when Jesus brought his earthly ministry to an end.  Nathaniel (John’s Gospel) and Bartholomew (Acts and the other three Gospels) could be the same person.
On 9-16 August 2014, the fourteenth Norfolk Scout and Guide Jamboree - NORJAM – was held at the Costessey Showground. The first was in 1958 at Senowe Park (and Scouts only).  A Jamboree is ‘(1) a lavish or noisy celebration or party’, (2) ‘a large rally of scouts and guides’. Galilee and Costessey are far apart you might think, but what we were doing there, (and in ordinary lives before and after), could only happen because of what Jesus and his friend Nathaniel and the others had done 2000 years ago and after. There were over 5000 Scouts and Guide, over 2500 volunteer helpers (we can’t say thank you enough)… and 3000 Cub scouts and Brownies (100 years old this year) who came on their visiting day. Local Scouts and Guides were everywhere! The 7th Kings Lynn (who had welcomed me into Norfolk in 1954) were there, and beyond  our many brothers and sisters from the United Kingdom could be seen Israeli Druze Scouts alongside Egyptians (not a common sight), Russian and US Girl Scouts (ditto), Thai, Central African, east and west, Australia and New Zealand.  ‘Quite a Few’.
‘Come and See’ – you could see your neighbour face to face.  The Faith Tent was much used, but powerfully, alongside, were people who were visible and could be met without prior arrangement. Friends are often the best teachers of all. The line from Galilee 2000 years ago is direct and sustaining.

Time Out 2 - In the Beginning


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