abbotsford.org.uk

Resurrection words

This is from Christine. A new game to play, started on Sunday in church with the word 'RESURRECTION'. What others words did you come up with (and were you thinking of them during the sermon?)

(I was)

what other words did people come up with during Sunday's 'Resurrection' quiz....

We managed:

1. Cruet (though not entirely sure how to spell it). I guess it could be argued that this would be on the table at the Last Supper?
2. Resource, and
2. Suction!

The latter we challenge anyone to find some spiritual relevance for!

Now there is a challenge... and I know a few who even now are picking it up.

Google plays catch-up or does it?

Did you see Google this morning, or was it just my computer?

Well, they've just stolen the design for our blog (the one that lasted less than 24 hours: the black minimalist one). So were we ahead of the game for a couple of hours this week? Did we manage to boldly step out where others would follow for a moment or two? Did we shape the future for a short while?

Were we being what the church ought to do and then did what the church prefers to do: peek our head out just so far from the crowd and then pull it back in and blend in again?

Thank you Google for pulling us up in your subtle way and offer us our own kingdom parable.

Of course there is a reason why Google has 'turned the lights out' and that's for Earth Hour tonight at 8pm here. It's a 24 hour dimming of the lights to make note of global warming and the huge amounts of excessive energy we use. So here Google has in fact led the way and we're playing catch up. So remember to turn your lights out at 8pm tonight. Watch TV in the dark (so much more romantic).

And remember the clocks go forward tonight. Don't be late tomorrow..

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...

Page Changes

I've changed the look of the page for no other reason than it is good to change the wallpaper in your house every so often. Comments welcome of course. I just thought it needed a less sweetie-like taste and a more questioning/ambiguous feel. We'll leave it for a while and get used to it and then decide whether it ought to go back or try something different.

Body Matters

Over the weekend there was lots of discussion about genetic research and I am wondering what people feel about it. Is it okay to have half human-half animal embryos? They last 14 days. They don't develop into anything.

Personally I'm not sure but I do go down on the side of the research at the moment. It's one of these things you 'get used to' and your principles/ethics expand as things become common place. For example women ministers, women getting the vote, children being allowed schooling, anti-slavery etc. Initially it is all abhorrent but eventually the idea becomes natural and obvious.

Not that I’m suggesting that we build our ethics on what we get used to but to a large extent that is what happens. It strikes me folk are imaging tiny wee human forms with animal heads floating in test tubes.

However, in my mind they aren’t ‘human’ and we take higher life-forms already to make things like vaccines, and other levels of life to test stuff from make-up to cigarettes (or used to). And I wonder if there is truly a great difference.

The other bit that gets me is that the RC church is asking for a free vote on this because all their members will vote against. Strikes me that is a bit of a three-line whip the other way around. Not all Christians think the same. It is just as legitimate for Christians to vote for the research as much as vote against it, based on principles of believing in a God who heals, of sustainability for the world, and so many other issues. Many Christians just don’t think the same way as the leadership and base their reasons on just as thorough deeply felt, theological, Christian principles.

But that's just what I think.

Chocolate Teapots for 30th March 08

John 20:19-31

I've been watching 'The Passion' online on the BBC iPlayer. At least I can pause it for a rest every so often. I haven't found it the most exciting retelling, not that it is meant to be exciting but atmospheric. I really don't think people ought to make the isolated and embellished memories of the Gospel into a seamless story. To me it just doesn't work. I haven't yet seen Sunday's episode. I don't know how the disciples react when Jesus appears alive again.

When Jesus appears in the Gospels and Thomas isn't there there is general acceptance. Okay, probably a bit stunned but it's all quite gentlemanly. Thomas of course doesn't believe a word of it. That's me. Totally.

It's not about the honourable 'honest doubt'. It's more the fact I just wouldn't believe it at all. Doubt implies there is belief there in the first place and it gets dented a little. What is the disciples just gave up at the crucifixion? What hope brings life again? What deep down conviction brings Jesus back from the dead? What trust enables you to put you hand in his hand and know he's back?

Thats what intrigues me in this story, that turns, not doubt but unbelief into trusting life again. Now that is resurrection.

Easter Day

So hey, happy Easter.

We had chocolate fountains which is never a bad thing. White chocolate because it's Easter. Baptism because no better day for Baptism than Easter Day. We had singing, a fair bit because what else can you say about the faith on Easter Day. We had fairly new songs among the old, because resurrection is always new on Easter Day. And we laughed which, I believe, is how God burst the tomb on that first Easter Day.

And we heard Jesus say that first word of love: 'Mary!' It takes a while to recognise it, but when you do, things start fitting together and falling in to place. Now we have a season to listen out for resurrection and begin to recognise it everywhere. Eyes pealed, which is probably spelled wrong. I don't know. I've given up worrying what's right or wrong. Which is maybe the best place to be on Resurrection Day. Who gets it right and who gets it wrong? Doesn't matter. It's Easter Day and everyone just get's it!

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!

Bread on the streets

For half-an-hour this afternoon, myself and a couple of colleagues stood at three queens square with bread and wine and offered it to passers by. I doubted anyone would take any, but I was wrong. In the half hour we were there we had more than half-a-dozen of all sorts. A couple were from churches and the rest were complete strangers. Two different folk were guys in late 20s perhaps, one who was with a friend who stopped and got rid of his chewing gum and took bread and wine while his friend looked on a bit skeptical. Another asked if this was catholic as he was wearing a celtic hat. We said it was no ones in particular and so he took both bread and wine. In many ways it was really meaningful to stand there and just call to passers by: "bread and wine since it is Good Friday?" That's all we said. And in my opinion it worked. Next year, the same?

Good Friday

Looking for a couple of readers for tonight's service if anyone is interested. It's right at the beginning and then it is all over. Some would say it goes downhill from there on in. email.