abbotsford.org.uk

Safely gathered in...?

And so Harvest is completed and everyone seemed very happy this morning. lots of great comments, unexpected joy broke out in places least expected, some folk who never say anything said good things. And we filled the time and then some quite the thing. I looked at my watch at 12 noon and thought, 'how did we get here so quickly'.

I thought the band was excellent this morning. Good songs to sing and everyone joined in quite the thing.

The words from Job really were straight from Job (chapter 38) without any poetic licence. Aren't they just fantastic. One of my top five favourite passages in the Bible. Here they are again:

Were you there when I made the world?
Who decided how large it should be?
Who laid the cornerstone of the world?
In the dawn of that day the stars sang together
Who closed the gates to hold back the sea?
Have you ever ordered the dawn to seize the day
Who dug a channel for the pouring rain?
Who is the mother of ice and frost?
Who is wise enough to count the clouds and tilt them over and pour out the rain?

A good balance of actions in the statement of faith and songs along with visuals (Do you like my new projector. It's the size of your hand and not much more).

Even the Gap liked the service and indeed sang some of the songs.

It's a songs of praise next week so not quite back to normal and then its the rest of eco-month. So chocolate Teapots will appear next week sometime. For the moment we can just relish the harvest and know it isn't safely gathered in until justice is established. So that won't be soon then.

The blessing from today:

May we find heaven in the wildness of creation;
may we seek justice in bread for the world;
may we know resurrection in the sunsets of autumn;
and may we find God in the sharing of it all.

Harvest

Harvest is coming up and I haven't had a single thought about it until tonight. This is unusual. We were just talking at Craft Daft tonight (brilliant banners by the way) that this time last year we were hanging all those fabulous photos of people's favourite scene. 360 of them.

But I haven't been anywhere near being so organised. CAOS has been busy with grant applications. It's taken it's toll but it will be utterly fantastic if it is succesful.

Anyway, I digress. I'm needing some help with harvest:

Colours of the season...?
Sounds...?
Words...?
Textures...?
Smells...?
Music...?

Please feel free to be imaginative, creative, unusual, silly, daft, foolish in answering any of the above. And also please feel equally as free to answer them without being too clever, spending a lot of time trying to think of stuff, just the first things that come into your mind.

Lots of answers too would be good. Saves me having to think them up. So answer any as much as you like. Looking forward to a busy week because I'm sure there will be other things we'll need to invent togetehr as the weekend gets closer...

A (bad) taste of Sunday

Here's what will be the contemporary reading for Sunday. Needs a little more work and so I look to you. Any editing will be very welcome indeed. I've tried to put our present times into apocalyptic style. It has sort of worked but anyone who can attempt to make it better please jump in.

the idea is to give a flavous of apocalyptic style to show what it can do to people who are uncertain of the times. Three readers, one for each stanza plus a wee chant sung every three verses (itself symbolic). So see what you can do. Oh, and three readers would be helpful too if there are any other there... Looking for some images to go with it too...

When everything that was thought secure
now reveals it’s insecurity
Behold, God will keep you forever and ever

When the great riches of beast
are swallowed by it’s own greed
Behold, God will keep you forever and ever

When the leaders of the time
hide their uncertainty with false confidence
Behold, God will keep you forever and ever

Chant

When black gold rises in the desert
and the mighty beast of many readies for battle
Behold, God will keep you forever and ever

When it’s terrible pride is dented
and its claws tighten round it’s prey
Behold, God will keep you forever and ever

When the sound of weeping fills the land
and nothing can silence it’s power
Behold, God will keep you forever and ever

Chant

When humanity goes back
on it’s contract with creation
Behold, God will keep you forever and ever

When the northern lands retract
and the oceans starve
Behold, God will keep you forever and ever

When the skies turn dark
and the air grows heavy with the dust of humanity
Behold, God will keep you forever and ever

Chant

Step for a hint

As the money markets rise and fall
and Banks come and go
credit crunches crunch
and governments play at monopoly
it’s just another day at the office for the people of God
we’re called to do fiery furnaces and lion’s dens
every day of the week

You don’t need to bring anything here
success or excuses
just yourself and this week’s living
and dedicate it to the one
who risks everything
on the future
and calls it resurrection

Sunday's taster

I've forgotten to organise folk to do this. We'll see what happens when I arrive at church.

There's a word in Ruth that keeps recurring: Redeem. We've hijacked it to talk solely of what Jesus does on the cross. But there is more to it...

A    Redemption
B    A big word, used often, about salvation
A    Which is another big word, used often about redemption
B    And neither help us understand either of them
A    Redemption
B    A word used 20 times in the 85 verses of the  book of Ruth
A    Redemption
B    A Hebrew word that has been given an English meaning
A    Redemption
B    But translates "next of kin".
A    But we know what next of kin means
B    But we don’t know what a Hebrew understood by next of kin
A & B    Let us explain
A    Redemption
B    We automatically think of Jesus on the cross that brought about our salvation
A    But that is an adaptation of the original word.
B    Redemption
A    Actually means “to buy back” or “to repossess”
B    And in this time of economic crunches and bad loans the word "repossess" has new familiarity
A    It means to free someone from a legal or financial obligation
B    It means a way of looking after those who have defaulted
A    It means caring for the widow and the poor
B    It means saving the economically dispossessed
B    It means salvation
A    It means bread on the table
B    It means being a neighbour
A    It means looking after each other
B    Redemption
A    It's not a theological term
B    That no one understands
A    Redemption
B    Is a way of living
A    Of balancing
B    Of caring
A    Of a person bringing back their neighbour into the community
B    Of making sure no one is left to scavenge on the sidelines unfed, homeless, in debt, poor
A    Redemption
B    Is a big word, not used enough as a way of caring for people
A    Redemption
B    What we can do for others and what others can do for us
A    Redemption
B    A word about what God does?
A    Or a word about what we can do for God?   

Standing tip toe on Mount Nebo

Points are available if anyone can tell me where Mount Nebo is and why it is significant.

Here's Sunday's taster and if anyone would like to volunteer to read some of it then you'd get even more points. I think I'm going to start the Abbotsford Reward Card so people can get points every time they volunteer or answer questions correctly. Did I ever tell you about Nectar points from Sainsbury's and how they have changed the way they are calculating them which to my mind is a twisted injustice?

Anyway, about Sunday... I'm not telling you it is going to work. you'll need to subscribe to Mucky Paws for that or come to church on Sunday. It doesn't make all that much sense without the context so see you at the weekend!

Standing tip toe on Mount Nebo

Look I can see for miles
I can see a man
feeding a crowd
from a single basket
I can see for miles

I can see for miles
I can see a low table
and a band of followers
eating and drinking
bread and wine
in silence
I can see for miles

Look, I can see for miles
I can see a man head hanging
arms stretched
body broken
on a cross
I can see for miles

Look, I can see for miles
I can see a garden in the dawn
and a small crowd of women
round the cave-side
running
I can see for miles

Look, I can see for miles
a sea shore
a fire
fish cooking on a spit
and a savour
resurrection
I can see for miles

Look, I can see for miles
a gathering of people
in a building far away
generations removed from here
still following
trusting and believing
I can see for miles

Sunday's Hint

I looking for 5 volunteers is there are any out there...

The bible tells a number of water stories that call people onto the way. In these moment by the water people find a new direction, stories from the margins of sea and land, where one journey simply moves into another. This place becomes a marginal place, a crossover place where we will watch land and sea meet. And you are invited, immediately following the five stories during the hymn, or following the blessing at the end, to come forward and leave a footprint, on the waters edge, symbolising that our faith is always calling us to new journeys, new truths, new insights with a God who frees us to travel.

Voice 1   
I met him on the water’s edge,
knee deep in the river,
facing the Baptizer,
whose hands were upon his head
pushing him down into the water
as it gurgled over him.

I met him on the water’s edge
this God of freedom,
liberator of my soul,
and called me to walk his way.

(pour water over font bowl onto the sand)

Voice 2    I met in the desert,
A wilderness dry as dust,
hand on rock,
looking beyond himself,
willing with all the faith he could muster,
for the water to explore from the stone,
and it did.

I met him in the desert,
this God of exodus,
who watered my soul,
and said, “Follow and believe.”

(pour water over font bowl into the sand)

Voice 3   
I met him on the shore,
hungry for breakfast,
sitting by the fire roasting the fish,
we couldn’t catch.
“It was the wrong side,” he said.
I jumped waist high into the waves
and pulled myself onto the beach
to sit with him.

I met him on the shore,
this God of resurrection,
who spoke in my soul,
and called me once more.

(pour water over font bowl into sand)

Voice 4   
I met her at the well,
preparing a drink for the stranger,
hot in the noonday sun,
carrying a history she wanted to hide,
head covered,
shy under the sun,
yet thirsty for renewal.

I met her at the well,
this God of living water,
who quenched my soul,
and set me free to live.

(pour water over font bowl into sand)

Voice 5   
I met him by the sea,
calling the runaway
to proclaim the Good News
to a different town,
watching as the messenger,
struggle to hide amid the storm,
the waves,
and that giant fish.

I met him by the sea,
this God of universal salvation,
who stirred my soul,
to spread the message to other shores.

(pour water over font bowl into sand)

Taster

The contemporary reading for tomorrow for what it's worth. See if it makes sense.

Freedom is a very big word. It is not just a setting free from oppression and bondage. The consequences of freedom mean living in a very broadminded community. It means giving life to things we do not necessarily agree with or feel comfortable. It’s takes a confidence and a sense of faith to live fully in freedom. This contemporary reading explores that a bit.

1    How many ways can you say ‘freedom’?
2    Exodus
3    Get out
2    Let my people go
3    Liberation
2    Emancipation
3    The road out

1    How many ways can you say ‘freedom’?
2    Live and let live
3    A welcome to the stranger
2    Make room
3    Come in
2    Tell us your story
3    Sit here with me

1    How many ways can you say ‘freedom’?
2    I don’t like him
3    She shouldn’t be allowed to do that
2    I’m allowed to hold my own views
3    They should be sent back
2    I can do what I like in my own home
3    I don’t have to sit with them

1    How many ways can you say ‘freedom’?
2    Gender equality
3    Equal rights
2    Fair trade
3    Olympics
2    Sovereignty
3    Equality

1    How many ways can you say ‘freedom’?
2    I work hard for what I’ve got
3    You can think what you like
2    That shouldn’t be allowed
3    That’s just prejudice
2    I will defend your right to hold your views
3    But I do not agree with them one bit

1    How many ways can you say ‘freedom’?
2    Exodus
3    Promised Land
2    Covenant
3    Forgiveness
2    Cross
3    Jesus Christ

The long arm of Abbotsford

One of the great and surprising things about summer are the visitors. While a number of us all go away on holiday (remember the postcards, it's always great to get them) a number holiday here. Over the last few weeks we've had a steady stream of visitors from Australia. But they aren't strangers because they already all get Mucky Paws which is our monthly e-mailing of liturgical what-nots and bletherings offering some of the creative stuff we do (what creative stuff? Is that not what everyone does?) and contemporary readings and alternative settings of worship. There are about 225 folk around the world who receive Mucky Paws which is  fabulous so when folk who receive it, turn up on your door step the world suddenly feels very small and we know each other already.

There is something  about being one community, sharing together, and indeed worshipping together, sometimes using the very same words. That's a good place to be for the church - not always using the same words all the time but that we can start a journey together.

But it's not just the entire nation of Australia who are coming to our door but various friends from other places too. These are folk who have just popped in or others who have asked others for a place to go and been directed to us. The question is: how do we welcome folk, what do we do to step out and include folk who are strangers? This is the real gospel for gospel as Jesus read it was about including and welcoming all the time. It's easy to broadcast who you are through Mucky Paws and CAOS and eco-congregation and stuff like that, but much more difficult to include those who take up the invitation to arrive on our doorstep. That's the place where gospel is given a face and I saw a few folk doing that today.

O, and by the way, some folk from Australia this morning were looking for Christine, Tom and Sandra. I think this was the only week all three of you were elsewhere!  I hope you were welcomed wherever you were. There is always something we can learn in the work of welcoming.

Contemporary Reading for Sunday

Needing a little help with this one: reading through and editing it so it makes sense, and rewriting it if necessary. Happy for this to be a living work so please do add ideas, suggestions, thoughts etc.

And if you'd like to be part of reading it...

A: I believe…

B: I believe…

A: I believe in the unerring word of God

B: I believe in the living word of God

A: I believe it was written by the hand of God himself

B: I believe it was inspired by the community of faith

A: I believe God is good to all and God’s tender mercies are over all God’s works.  Psalm 145

B: I will dash them one against another, saith the LORD: I will not pity, nor spare, nor have mercy, but destroy them all. Jeremiah 13

A: I believe the animals went in two by two. Genesis 7

B: Clean or unclean? Take with you seven pairs of clean animals. Genesis 7 also.

A: I believe Mary rode to Bethlehem on a donkey. Matthew 1

B: It doesn’t mention a donkey… nor an innkeeper for that matter. Matthew 2 and Luke 2

A: I believe Jesus cleansed the temple straight after he rode into town on a donkey according to Matthew 21

B: He cleansed the temple right at the beginning of his ministry, according to John 2

A: I believe God created human beings on the 6th day after everything else, the pinnacle of all that was made and that was the end of creation. Genesis 1

B: God made MAN from dust and then made the rest of creation in an unsuccessful attempt to keep him happy. It didn’t work until God created WOMAN. And that was the end. Genesis 2

A: I believe you can’t trust everything you read

B: I believe you can’t trust those who write theology for their own means

A: I believe the Bible is full of contradictions

B: I believe the Bible proves the word became flesh, not print

A: I believe in the Bible is a conundrum

B: I believe the Bible is a relationship with a whole lot of imperfect people

A: I believe the Bible is not an end in itself

B: I believe the Bible is just the start

A: I believe

B: I believe

Contemporary Reading for Sunday

This took a bit of work and you'll all be asking exactly where the work was put in. It's not what I was expecting to have done for Sunday but it will probably do. Perhaps.

Some upbeat chart music is playing in the background...

Voice 1 Ladies and Gentlemen… welcome to this years GQ Magazine best and worst dressed awards 2008… where at No. 16 we have future king… Prince William… that No. 16 on the worst dressed chart… Not so good for the next in line but other British Princes made a better attempt in the best dressed list… where Harry… Charles and Philip… all feature in the top 50 of this years chart…

Voice 2 Has anyone by fussing in front of the mirror ever got taller by so much as an inch? All this time and money wasted on fashion—do you think it makes that much difference?

Voice 1 As for the women… Kate Moss has been voted top of the pops in glamour clothing… taking back her top place from Kylie Minogue… Experts believe it was that shocking cat-suit Kylie wore on X-factor… that was her undoing… Close to the top of the worst dressed men chart we find Prime Minister Gordon Brown shooting into number three… but opposition leader David Cameron can take comfort in the fact that he didn’t only get to No 1 in the bi-election this week… but he’s also in at number 8 in the best dressed awards… his third consecutive year in the top ten…

Voice 2 Instead of looking at the fashions, walk out into the fields and look at the wildflowers. They never primp or shop, but have you ever seen color and design quite like it? The ten best-dressed men and women in the country look shabby alongside them.

Voice 1 Back at the women’s chart Madonna… Paris Hilton and Britney Spears all rub shoulders at the top of the worst positions… Interestingly David Beckham has once more figured in both lists of best and worst… being named 6th best and 9th worst dressed male… But who has made it to the top of the best dressed list… For second year running… Daniel Craig… the first blond James Bond… makes it to the top for the men… and for the women it’s Kate Moss… winning back her top place… But how many hours and fussing and dollars of grooming will they both have to take to keep themselves there…?

Voice 2 If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers—most of which are never even seen—don't you think he'll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? What I'm trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God's giving.

Hint for Sunday

Here's the contemporary reading for Sunday. It's not quite honed down yet and I'm not sure folk will necessarily 'get it'. Interested if anyone wants to edit it a bit and indeed be one of the readers on Sunday. It could be good. But then, everything could be good if it was written well.

Three people read this: a Creator who is sculpting modelling clay; a Sustainer who is writing with a feather quill; a Renewer who is repairing some material with needle and thread.

Creator
I have sculpted mountain ranges,
and I gasp in wonder at the beauty
that this act of love always reveals.
I am the Creator.

Sustainer
In the past you were told, ‘an eye for and eye.’
No longer, now ‘love your enemy.’
Only this is sustainable living
I am the Sustainer.

Renewer
Whoever believes creation is finished,
completed and done for all time?
Then it would only degrade and become corrupted.
But I am the Renewer.

Creator
I have cast the sand across the desert,
and thrilled as the sun caught it
and filled it with the light of supernovas.
I am the Creator.

Sustainer
Clothing the lily of the field,
going the extra mile,
blessing the peacemakers,
this is how the life of the world is sustained
and I am the Sustainer.

Renewer
Creation is not a museum piece
but like a field that live,
as a body, it can renew itself.
I am the Renewer.

Creator
I have loved creation
out from primordial chaos
into the dance of cosmos.
I have balanced it all
and let it loose to live
but when human greed pulls it in one direction
the loss is great
twisting it out of sync.
I balanced the world
but when conceit unbalances it
snowcaps slide, deserts groan, forests struggle, life bends
and I bear the pain.
I am the creator.

Sustainer
Taking only what you need for today
this is the sustainable way
living in balance and in love with the world,
this will allow life to continue.
But hatred of enemy is not sustainable;
storing up treasures is not sustainable;
giving fish when bread is needed is not sustainable;
this is not the way.
I am the way.
I am the sustainer.

Renewer
The world has a life force
and I am that life force
that brings buds to flower every year
and persuades grass to grow
ice-caps to shrink and grow again
winds to change and seasons to arrive,
but when the balance is out
and humanity lives for the now rather than the always
there is no hope
for hope lives into the future.
When there is no future
then renewal is harder.
I am the renewer.

Creator
Listen to creation.
Live in love with the creator.
I am the Creator

Sustainer
Live with me
Live in balance with my brothers and sisters.
I am the Sustainer

Renewer
The world longs to be renewed
it is it’s genetic purpose
give me the chance to renew it.
I am the Renewer.

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.

Step for a hint

I'm putting together the liturgy for Sunday at the moment. Way behind. This is going to be the call to worship.

If you really love me
you’ll buy me a great big ice cream

If you really love me
you’ll take my turn at the dishes

If you really love me
you’ll let me off with that wee loan I owe you

If you really love me
show it by living rightly, justly, lovingly

You know when you say that to folk: 'If you really love me..." What other things have you heard asked for with that as the introduction?

Blogging for Sunday

Here's a wee hint of what may happen on Sunday. This is part of the contemporary reading and by the end of it we'll all have learned a new hymn, maybe... You know how we always think Easter Day is in spring sometime? Ah! It's everyday:

Every day is Easter

When Thomas touched the wounds
and set himself free
it was Easter day

When Peter’s three “yes’s” to Jesus
finished his three denials
it was Easter day

When Mary ready to embalm the dead
ran in fear from the empty tomb
it was Easter day

When the disciples looked from afar
at a breakfast of fish on the beach
it was Easter day

When Emmaus became synonymous with welcome
and the breaking of bread with strangers
it was Easter day

When Paul was blinded by the light
and recognised the voice niggling in his head
it was Easter day

Start playing 420 in the background…

When the hungry are fed at the table
the same table as the rich
it is Easter day

When weapons are beaten to ploughshares
and peace is a word to be shouted
it is Easter day

When the stranger is welcomed in community
and the lonely are restored to relationship
it is Easter day...

Hint for Sunday

God
source of all life
has just burst open the tomb with laughter

Resurrection
silent as dawn
has set loose random explosions of alleluia’s

Jesus
crucified one
has given breath to his first resurrected word, a word filled with love: ‘Mary!’

Mary
valueless woman
is the first to proclaim, before any religion catches on, ‘Jesus is Risen!’

May we not dither
with the alleluias

Christ is risen!

Creative Liturgy

I've to do a talk to the probationers of the church on Saturday night on creative worship that doesn't use powerpoint and multi-media. I've done this a few times now but I usually always write it fresh each time mainly because I can't find the script for the last time on my computer.

I wonder if there have been any creative moments that have hit home for you? For me it was the tree for a year. That really was a wonderful moment. But what about contemporary reading, worship space, gathering rites (setting the table at the beginning with symbols), creative communion, remembrance things, edible liturgy, balloons at Easter, different voices, making stuff at harvest from big flowers to whatever else we've done as dedication.

Any thought that could maybe focus the talk on real people's real thoughts.

Hint

God:
meet us at the wells
where we are lonely
where we are forgotten
where we are hurt by others
and give us to drink
of the grace that brings life again

God:
speak to us in the trysting places
where the sinners gather
where the prejudices are made known
where our histories are broadcast
and give us to drink
of the forgiveness that brings peace again

God:
Renew all that we are and have been
fill us with a new future
inspire us with recreation
pull us into resurrection
and give us to drink
from the promise of heaven

wee taster

Voice 1:
God loved the world so much
that God sent Jesus the son
so that all who believed in him
would have eternal life

Voice 2:
God loved the world so much
love gave everything it had
that anyone who grasped the story of love
would be grasped by love’s story
and find what is eternal

Voice 1:
God loved the world so much
heaven opened up itself completely
so that whoever welcomed the kingdom in
through works of love and justice
would find the lasting wholeness of life

Voice 2:
God loved the world so much
Jesus put on flesh and lived among us
so that the face of God would be clear to humanity
and the word of God would be clearly heard
that no life is cheap enough to destroy

Voice 1:
God loved the world so much
God went there Gods-self
so that anyone who banked on love
would discover life’s ultimate value
and in so doing live in its fullness

Voice 2:
God loved the world so much
God let Jesus gamble everything on love
through to crucifixion and death
so that all who ventured to love in that way
would know what had been distilled in eternity

Voice 1:
God loved the world so much
that God sent Jesus the son
so that all who believed in him
would have eternal life

Hint

Tempted God
O how good it is to say that
Tempted God
not so different from us
Tempted God
in the wilderness

Entrapped God
caught between the theology and the reality
Entrapped God
caught between the devil and the deep blue sea
Entrapped God
caught up in the wilderness

Inveigled God
facing choices to decide the kingdom way
Inveigled God
facing the lure of the world or the passion of heaven
Inveigled God
facing wilderness...

Text Images

This idea has just been fabulous. Each week we get more and more images as folk really do engage with the texts and see symbolism and windows into the story all around us. Brilliant.

The album could become quite unmanagable so I think we'll start a new album each season so that after next Sunday, we'll begin again with Lent but filing away the previous season.

Wee taster for Sunday

Voice 1:
“Where do you live Rabbi?”
“Come and see.”

Voice 2:
I watched him draw a line in the sand
listening to the bickering of the Pharisees
about who shall throw the first stone,
and without looking up,
and without stopping his drawing,
he simply spoke,
“Why not the one without sin throw it.”
And after a pause,
a scuffling of feet,
an angry murmur,
it was only him and I who were left.
Then he looked and spoke…

Voice 1:
In the calling of people to new life,
found in the forgiveness and grace of heaven,
this is where Jesus lives.
Come follow.

“Where do you live, Rabbi?”
“Come and see.”

Text Images

A few words to inspire images for the Text Image Album

sand then, corridors of parliament now,
this is where we are called;
fisherfolk then to neighbours now,
these are the folk called to follow;
a change of life then to a life-change now,
this is the consequence of following;
the shadow of the cross then resurrection now,
this is the way of following...

into the church or into life;
into the tradition or into the adventure;
into the denomination or into the protest;
into membership or into tents;
these are the ways following changes us,

but in which direction?

Step for a hint

Possibly something to be used (and edited) for Sunday. Bit long. Needs to be a bit more economical with the words. Working on that. But if anyone has any images to help... along with the few in the text image album.

Every handful of water
contains the story of salvation
cupped and held for a moment
before set free over the head
of God’s newest followers

In that water
has been breathed the word of salvation
spoken by folk who have found
the way of justice and truth
breaks open the world to live fully

From that water
comes our names first called by God
breathed upon us in the moment of life
our own names
as only God can call them

Beside this water
we stand and know
the one who stands beside and knows us
who too has held it, breathed into it and been called from it
into every place
and this one.
Welcome

Step for a hint

For Epiphany

Left in the dust of stars,
we find footprints
shaping the stories
of travellers,
who encouraged an epiphany
they never knew they held,
as they journeyed,
past stables and bitter kings,
and urged towards the world,
in search of a light
they never guessed could be so bright.

When it is darkest

Maybe the darkest time is just after birth when you still don't quite believe it and other have already forgotten.

It is a blue time of year

O God

A time between time

O God

Christmas seems to be over

The new year nearly upon us

It is a blue time of year

Talk now of incarnation

Proclaim now your promise being fulfilled

When we feel like it least

But need it most

Of Christ among us

It is a thin time of year

O God

The light, the hope, the energy

O God

We’re waiting for the new start

While tired from this year’s ending

It is a thin time of year

Live now as God one of us

Walk into the thinness of the time

And proclaim your riches of justice

When our belief is tired

Used up in the birthing of light

Reclaim incarnation

For the sake of the poor

Reclaim Emmanuel

For the sake of the lonely

Reclaim Christmas

For the sake of the hopeful

Reclaim the stable

For the sake of homeless

Reclaim the promise

For the marginalised

Reclaim the truth

For the believer

It is a bare time of year

O God

The promise, the light, the birth

O God

For those who are left on this side of Incarnation

Who have proclaimed its truth

but are called now to believe it

In a world that seems not to have changed

Except inside

Be born

in us

So be it

Hint for Sunday

Based on Isaiah 35:1-10

The desert will rejoice
and we long for that day

flowers will bloom in the wilderness
and we believe one day they shall

burning sand will become a lake
and we say ‘Amen’ to that

and dry land will be filled with springs
we trust that it shall be

Advent longs for a new world
for the birth of God to save us

We gather in the hopes of the prophets
and the good news of God
and as God’s people
our faith has too long been in the wilderness

this is what we are waiting for
in Bali where climate change is negotiated
in occupied Bethlehem where Jesus was born
in our belief that makes a new world possible

Hint for Sunday

A gathering rite based on Isaiah 11:1-10.

From the bulb there comes a flower
from the desert rock a flow of water
from the rainbow there come the hope of life
from the bible there comes the word of truth
from the cross there comes the love of God
from the tomb there comes the resurrection
from the prophet comes the vision of new earth

but from the stump
from this dried out log
from a family tree that has lost all integrity…

…there comes the shoot of David
the lifeline of salvation
the promise of justice
the longing for transformation
the word of life
the expectation of Messiah

from the stump of Jesse
comes a covenant
reborn

Hint for Sunday

An Advent Reflection on Isaiah 2:1-5

If there is a hint of hope,
it is now,
for wrapped up in time
(this time)
is a word that takes up the worries of the nations
and breathes through them;
a pulse beat,
a hope beat,
a heart beat,
that speaks of the future,
with heaven’s life-beat.

It’s a beat to which tables are set,
hope is proclaimed,
and justice is sung;
a beat to which swords are refashioned ;
war-tools transformed,
and futures proclaimed;
a beat through which prophecies are set free,
communities gather,
bread is broken.

And if we are astute,
in our brokenness,
in our longing,
in our gathering,
in our believing,
we will hear it,
recognise its familiarity,
and live by its beat.

Advent gives us ears to hear
this eternal rhythm of holy incarnation.

Hint for Sunday

The hymns are a bit bigger this week. The theology is big too. It's every day stuff which doesn't make it any less big. Possibly bigger. It's a week of proclaiming belief rather than trying to unpack it and explain it. Just believe.

Create a throne room for yourself here, O Christ,
but let it be the empty seat beside the anxious
the lonely chair next to the confused
the vacant pew next to the hungry
and reign, O Jesus,
as sovereign over the forgotten

May your reign be a mockery to the world
but good news to those who seek out truth
and may we join them in the search
finding you walking the streets
or breaking bread
or sitting by bedsides

May we find you in border areas
on the edge of things
crossing over with the foreigner

May we find you among children
learning to finger paint
as teachers to those who long to enjoy life again

May we find you with the worried
silenced with nothing to say
and space enough to keep it

May we find you on the wrong side of the tracks
going where you should not
and finding a place to lay your head among the lost

May we find you singing our songs
of justice and peace
and removing your crown to do so

May we find you with a word that lives
in the hopes of the afraid
and a comforting peace for those who are broken

May we find you laughing at the powerful
unnerving what folk think so secure
while welcoming those who have nothing into your throne room

O Jesus, reigning in the world
with your upside down kingdom
may we find the faith to stand with you
sovereign of life
and servant of all

Taster for Sunday

Part of the contemporary reading for Sunday. Still a wee bit rough and please do add to it if you wish... Isaiah 65:17-25 had a vision, a dream for the community when they returned from Babylon. The dream is still the same but maybe we would use new words.

I have a dream for the church
where communion becomes a moment heaven breaks in
where the conversation is not how good the wine tastes
but how good God tastes
and bread leaves crumbs like it exploded with heaven
because it just couldn’t contain the celebration
communion where Jesus is met
and choices are made
that are allowed to shape our living
where Mass and Eucharist and Lords Supper all mean one thing
a feast of heaven
and all are welcome
and all participate
because there is always enough for everyone
and a place is kept for them all
I have a dream for the church

Taster for Remembrance Sunday

there is a deeper hush
than the hush of silence

the deeper silence is one big enough
to contain all the stories and memories
yet too painful to be spoken
of every human conflict
that imagines we are simply flesh and blood
to be swept aside in another one’s war

we are not

the silence behind the silence
is the astonishment that there are some who believe
human conflict can take on the soul of humanity
that war and fear can win against the spirit of life
the dream of peace
the belief that will sacrifice
the love that conquers
and the truth of truth

some fool will say
silence is but the terror that humanity believes
it can take on these things
and win

the wise and the battle weary
know it is the knowledge that we cannot

and as long as we find space for silence
then that truth is forever true

that we hold all conflict
and move against it
with these greater depths of humanity
in our soul
by our faith
and with silence

A taste of Sunday

The italic line is said by someone else or a small chorus

Not just the small
Like Zacchaeus
But also those who have long forgotten how to climb trees

Not just the old
Like Abraham
But also those who think grandparents are living fossils

Not just the doubter
Like Thomas
But also those who are weary with the question ‘Why?’

Not just the giggler
Like Sarah
But also those left laughing on the other side of their face

Not just those who say ‘Yes!’
Like Mary
But also those who find they need to say ‘No!’

Not just those who seek water for baptism
Like us
But also those who seek water for life

The good news is
Today, says the Saviour, is a new-life day
may we live it in celebration.

Cliff-hanger for Sunday

With apologies to Trainspotting:

Choose a planet.
Choose a table.
Choose a meal with friends and a time to share it.

Choose an environment.
Choose a way of living.
Choose a word to speak until you can live it fully, for others.

Choose a world.
Choose a God.
Choose a means of understanding what’s going on and believe in it.

Choose a colour.
Choose green. Choose blue. Choose rainbows.
Choose a shade that reflects hope in the giving to others.

Choose a loaf.
Choose a wine.
Choose a sacrament. Don’t speak about it. Just do it.

Choose a community.
Choose a faith.
Choose a place to be completely, fully, totally in love.

Choose life.
Choose God.
Choose Jesus.
Choose today.
Choose here.
Choose now.
Choose to choose.

A hint

Voice 1
I light a candle
not for the world
but for my living for this world

Voice 2
I light a candle
not for the world
but for the transformation of this world

Voice 3
I light a candle
not for the world
but the paths we travel in this world

Voice 1
It is a candle lit
by the choices I make
that sets free the world

Voice 2
It is a candle lit
by the hope I cradle
that offers a future for the world

Voice 3
It is a candle lit
by those lives
that are pathways towards transformation

Voice 1
a light that draws strength
from the living I do

Voice 2
a light the draws body
from the hope I bring

Voice 3
a light that draws courage
from the path I journey

Voice 1
a candle
a prayer
the way I live
they are the same

Voice 2
a candle
a prayer
the hope I choose to live in
they are the same

Voice 3
a candle
a prayer
the journey where I share life
they are the same

Voice 1
this is prayer

Voice 2
this is our prayer

Voice 3
this is our prayer for the world

Hint for Sunday

Was Jesus ever surprised by what faith could do?

Did Jesus know or was it by faith
by faith sat with a woman excluded by race
hiding under the noonday sun
and offered a cup of living water
sharing her own shadowy history
and saw transformation

Did Jesus know or was it by faith
by faith turned to a woman
bleeding for so long who touched his hem
and felt the need in her that had reached out
and witnessed the healing her longing brought
the transformation

Did Jesus know or was it by faith
by faith spoke to the cripple
bedridden for so long being lowered from the roof
and said sin no longer binds you
and watched him believe him and rise before him
and saw the transformation

Did Jesus know or was it by faith
by faith took the cross
whose shadow he had lived in for so long
and bore it’s weight and knew it’s truth
and saw the darkness and reached the end
following love right through

Did Jesus know or was it by faith
by faith stood before sunrise
expelled from the grave
as dawn began to break
and found himself saying the words he thought he’d never say again
‘Mary!’

Hint for Sunday

To possibly whet your appetite. Alternatively make you decide you'd rather just stay in your bed on Sunday. Any guesses as to the theme?!

Voice 1: Faith is…
Voice 2: believing 12 impossible things before breakfast.

Voice 1: Faith is…
Voice 3: stepping out the boat and walking on water.

Voice 1: Faith is…
Voice 4: watching bees, who don’t know they can’t fly, fly.

Voice 1: Faith is…
Voice 2: looking at an atom and hoping that’s not all there is.

Voice 1: Faith is…
Voice 3: playing in a child’s latest fairy adventure.

Voice 1: Faith is…
Voice 4: being here when the world isn’t.

Voice 1: Faith is the waiting, the possibility, the maybe and the perhaps
It is the being in God and wondering what God is up to
It is not the certainty but the expectancy of God

Voice 1: Faith is…

Taster for tomorrow

How big are your footprints, God,
and how long is your journey?

How many stars did you make, O God,
and which ones have our names?

How many others did you call to travel, O God,
before Abraham said ‘Yes!’?

How long could you wait, O God,
before Sarah would have a baby?

How enduring is faith, O God,
and how far-reaching it’s promises?

Help us count stars, O God,
and help us hear their names.
Help us number the sand-grains,
and hear old women laugh and babies cry,
and then we’ll know,
just how far-reaching,
long-enduring,
and full of grace,
your promises are.

So be it

A wee hint...

THis is part of the contemporary reading. You'll just have to b there to see how it finishes. (don't worry, it's not that exciting and will probably be in Mucky Paws at the end of the month. Two people back to back turning to face the congregation to speak and turns away as the other turns towards during the bridges bit. One persons last words and the other's first.

Voice 1
I saw him enter the house so I had to follow.
Don’t ask me why,
I just did.
It was one of those moments
when everything came into sharp reality,
and you saw it all,
just one moment,
but I had to follow him,
follow him…

Both
Follow him… (one turns away as another turns towards the congregation)

Voice 2
Follow him is what I had chosen to do.
I am a Pharisee and I saw in him
a lifestyle and a teaching that was fresh,
and broke open heaven,
and made God seem possible,
and so I invited him,
invited him…

Both
Invited him… (one turns away as another turns towards the congregation)

Voice 1
Invited him to rest after is journey
and relax,
just sitting there by his feet,
and I found myself crying:
the way he looked through me
and saw everything,
knew everything,
and I cried,
I cried…

Both
I cried… (one turns away as another turns towards the congregation)

Voice 2
I cried to the servants to bring in the feast.
He was such an important guest in my house,
everyone would know he was here,
and I was impatient for him to begin the teaching,
for him to speak,
to hear him,
Hear him…

Both
Hear him… (one turns away as another turns towards the congregation)

Voice 1
Hear him talk to all the others
when I knew this moment was mine,
and so I dried his feet with my hair,
wiped them clean,
and the bottle of perfume
that had been hanging round my neck for years,
and I had forgotten when it came from,
I broke open,
Broke open…

Both
Broke open… (one turns away as another turns towards the congregation)

Voice 2
Broke open the Realm of God in word and deed.
But somehow I knew he was speaking to that woman
who had come into my house
and ruined the evening,
comparing her hospitality with mine,
comparing her worldly ways,
with the generosity of the feast I had prepared,
and Jesus turned to me,
turned to me…

Both
Turned to me… (one turns away as another turns towards the congregation)

Hint for Sunday

How do you make bread?
Not this way
with a dribble of oil
and a handful of flour

How do you hide a prophet?
Not this way
creating a rumour of resurrection
and waking the dead

How do you flee from your adversary?
Not this way
into your enemy’s land
and a foreign widow’s home

Yet in just this way
in the wild story of God
God works miracles
and revises our expectations

How do you transform the world
In this way
with doubting followers
and a crucified saviour

Hint for Pentecost

Here's the affirmation for Sunday, written on the bus down from Oban this afternoon. Not quite complete I think but on it's way. Maybe trying to hard with it but the idea is that the italics are sing (if you know a good tune then let me know, or if you'd like to write one...) and chidlren will lead some actions during the singing each time (not the same words are used at the beginning of each for that purpose. Theoretically it ought to allow everyone to engage at some level.
Additions, suggestions, tunes and edits all welcome.

Holy Spirit:
creation’s colour palette
and chaos’ mistress,
luscious and abundant energy of heaven,
enlivening dry bones to dance,
with the vibrancy of life,
in God’s own dance of resurrection.

As flame she clears the wasteland,
as water she runs in the earth
as wind she blows through the desert
the Spirit makes God a new day

Holy Spirit:
disturber of the world
and catalyst of change
filling us with the energy of heaven
with a call to renew the world
with songs of justice and words of peace
God’s own word, of resurrection

With flame she lights a passion
with water she soaks our birth
with wind she blows a new order
the Spirit makes God a new day

Holy Spirit:
shaper of the future
interrupting our now
burning through all that is corrupt
with a revelation of justice
filling the old and young with new vision and dreams
God’s own dream, of resurrection

With flame she burns a candle
with water she quenches our thirst
with wind she shakes out our dryness
the Spirit makes God a new day

Contemporary Communion

I don't know what others thought but I thought it was okay tonight. Lots of space to reflect on images. Here the service for Mucky Pawers who like these sorts of things. I'll post some images tomorrow.

Purple Cloth Communion

Tell the story of the outsiders

Setting

Four stations set out on tables with purple rather than white cloth. This is the communion for the people of the purple cloth. Each station is set out representing one of the four outsiders. On each table other than the objects there is bread and wine plus a red paper cross over the bread and wine as if not letting people touch.

The bible passages are printed out in large lettering and artistically stuck to board which is placed at the appropriate station.

The Four Stations

1. Tabatha: some clothes along with the bread and wine and a red cross over the elements
2. Cornelius: a sword or toga along with the bread and wine and red cross
3. Lydia: A pile of purple cloth along with the bread, wine and red cross
4. Syro-Phoenician Woman: the bread is simply a pile of crombs and a goblet of wine

Gathering

There is a verbal reminder of the stories and a prayer recognising those folk on the edge

Eucharistic prayer

The prayer of thanksgiving is said even though there is no bread directly in front of people, but at each other stations. the story of Jesus is told but in the contect of it being an open covenant, for the whole world and all people. Salvation is Universal.

Fraction

There is just a spoken fraction rather than also a visual one. The bread is already broken at each station

Communion

People are invited to got to each station in turn and read the stories and remove the red cross. Then they partake of bread and wine and replace the red cross before the next person. Each is invited to reflect on the people they share communion with at each station: those marginalised, those who are banned, those who are the underdog etc.

Intercession

Once everyone has taken communion, the four red crosses are removed and then by the light of a candle in the original gathering space, each is burned in turn as prayers are said for those who live on the other side of the track, whose face doesn’t fit etc

Blessing

A Hint

May we resize our door, O God.

Hear us
that we may find the door opens wider than we thought
that we may find the family of God far broader than we would like
that we may find the faith less comfortable than we imagined

May we resize the door, O God
and live an inclusive faith
a welcoming community
a just way of living
based on your story

and when we feel uncomfortable with your ambition for heaven
angry at your broad-minded, border-bursting grace
skeptical at your all-encompassing, all-comers welcome
May you resize our door

Hint

When it takes hold, resurrection doesn’t let go,
it shakes the dead awake,
it shakes the darkness from the light,
it shakes the silence from our throats
and it wrestles death from all that is dying

Let us go out into the world
and in the upheaval of resurrection
seek out the life

Sunday's hint

You break in, O God,
on the road
you break in, O God,
exactly the way we don’t believe
you break in, O God,
and change everything
---
You break in, O God
with a call
you break in, O God
with an invitation
you break in, O God
with the truth
---
You break in, O God
with a new realm
You break in, O God
with a new world
You break in, O God
with your intent for the future
---
God, break in again
and call us to be your workers
God, break in again
and use the gifts we are to build your realm
God, break in again
and change our world once more.

Sunday Morning

i never heard it
i never saw it
i was busy sleeping
like the rest of the world

it never made a sound
there was no flash of light
no great roar from heaven
(is that not how it always happens?)

no great halleluias
no angelic chorus
no chariots of fire
or might army marching

nothing

yet everything

the stone rolled
the grave clothes were folded
and jesus walked free

and no one noticed

Saturday Evening

how long is this night?

if you believe in morning
then this is the night to believe it.
if you believe the dawn will break
then of all nights believe it of this night
the darknest moment if the nighrt
is just before the sun rises
and has it ever been darker than this?

Friday Evening

and so it is done
love is crushed
and the world has got away with it

the light seems paler
the air thinner
the birds quieter
the shadows longer
the wine more bitter
the bread dry

and the path doesn't seem to go anywhere now

Thursday Evening

the gathering of the dark
the breaking of the bread
the pouring of the wine
the telling of the story

the preparing of the lies
the beating of the heart
the making of the covenant
the turning towards the cross
the rumours of death
the whisper of night
the shimmer of grace
the snap of twigs
the flash of eyes
the moment of turning
and the kiss

Wednesday Evening

the greatest sin
is despair,
believing there is no forgiveness

and peter broke down and wept
as if there was no going back
he had moved beyond the patience
love
and grace of jesus

but he hadn't
he couldn't do that
there is no line to cross
where forgiveness never comes

no matter how much we deny god
and look for an easy life from this faith
there is no line we cross

and in that truth
and grace
what can we do
but weep.

Tuesday Evening

you are cheap at the price, jesus:
thirty pieces of silver for a kingdom.

i bet judas and you had conversations galore about this
for three years nearly,
that this was no surprise to you.

i can imagine him taking you aside saying, 'now, lord. now!
the people will listen and they'll rally round you.
this is the kairos.'

and what was your reply?

did you have one
or was it a silent acceptance of what people cannot accept
that love is a different way
it is never by force
never by conflict
never by violence

that they saw the wrong conflict

this one was much bigger

Monday Evening

in slow motion the realm of god flickers
across the balastraids of the temple

coins crash as the reign of god breaks in
for everything
up to now
has just been introduction

this violence is the real thing
and the blur of images:
tables hurled
and a saviour spitting
doves flapping
and a redeemer shouting
money flashing
and the prince of peace reigning
is the thin wedge
that opens the door

a door too big
to keep things in

and it all comes spilling out
and it won't fit back in
ever

Palm Sunday Evening

he has left

it was just a short moment he was here
a glimpse only
of the messiah
a shadow of what we had expected

he has left

and the few palm branches
an discarded sandal
is all that's left
of the messianic parade

he has left

and there is only disappointment to fill the space
for nothing happened
heaven didn't open
angelic armies didn't descend
the kingdom of God did not arrive

he has left
and all hope with him
the crowd thought their moment had come
but it hadn't
they'll turn on him
for he led them on
with no where to go

he has left
and for his own safety
and that of his disciples
that is no bad thing

Mucky Paws (March)

Just to let you know the latest edition of Mucky Paws is out. This is a small collection of liturgy and creative moments from our worship here. Don't build your hopes up but because a number of people keep asking for bits and pieces each month, a small collection of prayers and rituals and dialogues etc is put together that is probably less use than you imagine and goes into peoples files and lie there forgotten, but they are posted out electronically to whoever would like to have a laugh at what we do or maybe even use it as a bases for ideas themselves.

Ultimately, but it doesn't happen that often, the idea is for folk to send back ideas which go into the next edition of Mucky Paws. It's called Mucky Paws because while the material is copyright by Abbotsford, like good old Apple Mac systems, is open source so people get their own mucky paws all over the liturgy and adapt it for their own places and cultures. It's great when it comes back all messed up. Or would be if someone did that. However, what really is great is that a few people post back their own original stuff. Brilliant.

You can subscribe to it by emailing me and you'll get copies monthly but after the date they were written because as it is all lectionary based and nothing is thought up in my tiny brain more than two days before it is needed, it's always late for everyone, but useful for the next year perhaps. Pressure and deadlines really focus the mind!

We've people subscribing from all over the UK and Ireland, Canada and the US, Australia, NZ, South Africa, Norway, Switzerland and I think one even from Hong Kong. So it's a great feeling that the church is a bit global, and a bit desperate at the same time, just like us at home here!