Watcha Spirit

Those questions about the spirit I invited folk to reflect on have lead to some fabulous answers. It is the main theological bit of the service and has become a statement of faith. They really are fabulous and creative. I'm just trying to work out in my mind how best to do it. I think I need 6 readers who are willing to lead this. I wonder about some music in the background and also a rehearsal because we need to get the pauses right. So if anyone is up for it that would be fabulous. Just let me know.

Here's what folk have said. Just brilliant.

In many ways it is difficult to talk about the Spirit of God. We don’t do it very often and when we come to Pentecost, the day we remember and celebrate the energy of God, then we are left with a whole lot of language we can’t quite get to grips with. So instead of asking everyone to repeat what no one fully understands, listen to this statement of faith, which is a way of telling the world what we believe, but the images have come from people in this congregation and others, in response to a few questions. A great variety of folk who all have different pictures of the Spirit, to can be added to our own thoughts of the Spirit.

If the Spirit was a colour what colour would it be?...

1 a light peaty gold
6 purple, of course
2 blinding white light

5 colourless
3 the colour of laughter
4 Sometimes she is yellow illuminating what we couldn't see before. Sometimes she is green and weaves in and out of the trees. Sometimes she is blue and dances around me, until my feet and my body moves and I feel part of her. Sometimes she is purple and commands my awe, then I just sit at her feet.

If she made a sound what sound would that be?...

3 so silent she can't be heard, so loud I can't make out the words, so gentle it's like singing a lullaby, so rousing I have to get up and move, so inspiring I have to tell people
4 the noisiest form of silence ever
2 the gurgle of pouring liquid
5 silent as night
1 the sound of spring
6 the Blackbird preparing for the new day - while it is still dark

If the Spirit was a famous person she would be...

1 not nearly as mystical and alluring
6 Dawn French
2 Robin Hood
5 Richard Branson (with NO money)
3 Martin Luther King - stirred up to change the world
4 the spirit does not believe in the cult of personality

If I was to woo the Spirit I know she'd like me to sing...

3 at the top of my voice

4 'You're the inspiration' by Chicago
2 The Lord is my shepherd (Vicar of Dibley tune)
5 Blister in the Sun by Bruce Lash
1 she’d like me to make sure that everyone else has reason to sing
6 she’d like me to sing to her all the time

Her favourite band is...

1 Take That
6 the Abbotsford Band (!)

2 the Byrds
5 U2
3 African drummers
4 the one which arcs across the sky to say "THANK YOU!" for sun and rain

The bit of the Bible that really gets her going is...

3 the Sermon on the Mount

4 Jesus tearing up the Temple
2 Luke warm churches
5 Genesis...then Exodus and so on
1 Easter Saturday, when all is quiet and sad. Excited at what is changing. Thrilled from what is yet to come.
6 Ecclesiastes 3:1- There is a time for everything

She gets angry and restless and a wee bit dangerous when...

1 people use their voices to block her path, building fear around the invitation to party
6 Men subverting women in the church - or anywhere else
2 She gets angry and restless and a wee bit dangerous when… you least expect it
5 when I say I can't afford it
3 when we’re not
4 when lips move but hearts don’t

This is the spirit and we…

3 love her
4 praise her
2 are disturbed by her
5 questions her
1 know her
6 follow her

not here, but into all the world.

Comments

[Tom]

For music, how about,the instrumental, Albatross by Fleetwood Mac

[Christine]

Re whoever wrote Abbotsford Band...

Gosh - I didn't know we had fans! I fear this may change after Sunday....although hopefully Bob will keep things going on the piano whatever we amateurs do.

Re Albatross...

Great choice, Tom. I used to love playing that but sadly don't have an electric guitar any more.

Also, and obviously only if it's ok with Roddy, might I invite anyone who wishes to bring along things to shake, hit or otherwise "percuss" ? The more people that joint in the general racket, the less anyone will notice when I hit the wrong thing.

I'll bring what kit I have for people to borrow - but you don't really need a proper instrument to play percussion. For example, a box of dried peas makes a fine set of maracas!

Clapping is also good...but obviously difficult whilst trying to support the, not-inconsiderable, weight of CH4!

[Roddy]

Thanks for reminding me about the shakers. I was going to make some but if folk can bring them too that would be fabulous. It's approaching a holy riot. God'll love it.

[Tom]

Another suggestion - "Happiness"
OK, Ken Dodd DID sing it but this is just instrumental ...... unless the choir start to sing it....!!!!!

[Tom]

The spirit must get REALLY angry and dangerous when reading this...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7389351.stm

[Barbara]

About time we too became angry and dangerous.
Follow her lead. One thing the spirit isn't is passive.
Our self serving behaviour must make her spit nails!

[robert]

The spirit must be angry and dangerous as tom said when we waste so much food.it is not as weak as some christians would like us to think and not as passive so let us celebrate with all our might.

[Sandra]

food we certainly waste but we also have surplus supplies to send in aid convoys to where it is needed; if only the Spirit was speaking now for the people of Burma;

what kind of people deny human beings food and shelter in the face of so much tragedy ?