abbotsford.org.uk

Jesus was from a bad family

Anyone know anything about Jesus' relations? Or does anyone know anything about any skeletons in the cupboards from his relatives down through history? Anyone know anything about Jesus blood line? Was he really a muggle and not a pure-blood, a mungrel rather than pedigree ? That's next weeks theme on Sunday and the diference it makes to the culture of God and the church.

Jesus' ideal summer holiday

So, from where would Jesus send a postcard? If he were on holiday where would he go?

Summer camp?
Package holiday?
Extreme sports holiday?
What's the pint of scuba diving if you can walk on water?

Just for fun. Thinking this way offers an insight into what we actually do believe about Jesus. For example, if he went to Butlins then we believe he was a saviour of the people. So, on you go: what would be Jesus ideal holiday?

Chocolate Teapots for July

There is no Chocolate Teapots (Lectionary discussion) for July as we are off lectionary but if you want some background go to Starters for Sunday on the Church of Scotland website. They are from the same author this month.

Chocolate Teapots came about because a friend who occassionally joined the discussion said when he didn't say anything was "as much use as a chocolate teapot". And so it began. Bet you really wanted to know that.

Sunday Taster

(Metronome ticking)

Not for the well known
but for the unknown
not for the famous
but the forgotten
not for the well named
but the unnamed

Jesus has time (Stop metronome)

Pause

(Start metronome again)

Not for the included
but the excluded
not for the religious
but for the hopeful
not for the inner circle
but for the outer circle

Jesus has time (Stop metronome)

those of us
seeking healing
seeking hope
seeking life
Jesus has time for us
even as the world doesn’t

(Start metronome again)

Not for those who do know
but those who need to know
the unbounded and unlimited
love and compassion
generosity and grace of God

Jesus has time…

(Let metronome tick for a short while then stop)

Workshops

Not done too well with the blogging this week. Apologies.

I'm going to suggest an experiment in how we can do church... but not yet. I want to get some details together and do a little consultation. I know what I ask here will be received by a narrow band of folk in the church but it's a start and only one of a few ongoing areas of consultation.

But I'm not going to tell you what it is about yet. But what kinds of topics would you like to do workshops on, or hear speakers about or have discussion on? That's pretty broad but that okay becasue we need a few.

I'm thinking in the general areas or Faith, Art and Culture and anything that crosses any of these, so as a starter for ten (and the idea of this is that you add your own) are:

Emerging Church
John Calvin/Knox and other reformers
Reading the bible
Saving Jesus from the church
Films that have messages
Songs of faith

Just go ahead and add your own. It will turn into someting fabulous if there are enough responses.