abbotsford.org.uk

Play scheme

The playscheme is going well in terms of numbers with again around 55 there tonight. We went green tonight (we're always green, we just focused on it a little more). So we recycled a whole lot. We turned CDs into postcards. We made kites from newspaper, we made our own paper from beetroot and carrots and newsprint. It was great.

The whole week is an eco theme so more on Thursday. We'll have some of the work on the notice boards for Sunday which will brighten up the corridor a little more. Looking forward to it all.

The question is how do we get some of them to come along on Sundays too...

Holy Moses

We're moving on to the story of Moses for the month of August, away from the lectionary. Haven't done this for as long before, but hey, we can do what we want! So the story of Moses... we have four weeks (one of them is the Greenbelt weekend, so we've probably only got three. We're not going to get through the whole lot because there is a huge amount in it. it is one of the most important Jewish figures and stories. Exodus is immensly important. It's the crucial story. And for us too.

I could pick my favourite parts in terms of the theology, story, characters, events etc and design worship round my usual hobby horses (don't imagine it is all up to the inspiration of the Spirit!). But what bits are seminal to you? Burnng bushes, bull rushes, red sae, 10 commandmants, plagues, 40 years in the wilderness, manna, land of milk and honey, pillar of cloud and fire, golden calf, water from rock, everyone bitten by vipers, arc of the covenant (to name a few).

We could tell the story but pause only three or four times to unpack the story and hear it again for the first time listening once more to what is being said to us for out time and place.

So I can give you till Wednesday to make suggestions for at least Sunday. But let's not start at the end! Sunday's focus needs to be near the beginning of the story of Moses, so that would be bull rushes, killing the Egyptian, burning bush, I am what I am (is Gloria Gaynor really God?). Or is there a more creative way of doing Moses, retrospectively, from the end to the beginning and see how things shaped other things. I'm open to all suggestions.

I won't guarantee we'll necessarily use your suggestion but it will help shape the whole month, promise. nothing is disguarded. It's like a drop in the ocean, it all adds up.

Looking for Volunteers

We had a guest at the service on Sunday from Australia who was hoping that I may ask again for colunteers last week and she would be able to say' I'll help'. Next time!

I am wonderng if there may be a couple (literally that many) who may help out on Sunday arriving a wee bit earlier. There's no reading or stuff like that involved but a bit of oganising and then possibly, during the service, doing helping out with a wee practical matter during the service itself...

Applications can be sent to [email protected]

Play Scheme

CAOS Play Scheme got underway last night with about 60 children. We wrote to only those who came along last year but ended up with more in the first night that we had on our books last year! How did that happen?

It was a good night. Lots of beach crafts and fun and a good number of new faces. We'll keep you posted about what is going on. This week is a beach party. Sun and sand...

Christmas is nearly here

I had a brilliant day visiting the Dr Who Exhibition in Earls Court in London last week. There were real Daleks, Cybermen, the Face of Bow and the Empress of the Arachnos and a whole host of other stuff from Oods to the very real K9. It was brilliant.

That got me thinking about Christmas (as you do) and wondered about doing a Dr Who Nativity play. It's been in my head a while now but I think it is possible. Look, the TARDIS (that was there too and I touched it even though I shouldn't have so I might be in a parallel world and just not know it yet) can visit all times just like the story of Jesus birth - it is a story for every place and every time. So the TARDIS could be the stable. Davros could be Herod and his minions the Daleks.

But what else could we do? The Host could be the angels but what about the shepherds and travellers, what about the star and stuff like that? Who would Mary and Joseph be. Could K9 be the donkey? But why? There would have to be a reason why each would be a particular character.

So over to you. We've got to plan ahead. Any ideas gratefully received.

Maybe we should just stick with the story we've been given already...

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.

One sentence

It is both frightening and broadening what you find on the Internet. I found this this evening (after Saving Jesus of course) where life stories are summed up in one sentence. Now anthing like that gets me thinking and it got me thinking about asking all you wonderful people to write your favourite or doubtful, or any other reason for liking Bible story in just a sentence and post it here. We could perhaps find some sapce in the link corridor when the images change, to post them there too.

What about telling the story of Joseph in one sentence (hardly worth having a whole summer to do the story), or Jonah in a couple of words. Is it possible to write the story of jesus in a sentence? Go on prove it. Or Adam and Eve, Noah, Moses, or Abraham?

I know you won't let me down and we can come back rto this often but it seems a good thing to do because we can.

Here's mine on Genesis:

Just when the universe was getting used to being nothing, God came along and changed everything in just six days which was just enough time for God to put God's feet up on the Sabbath.

Not very good but a start. Go on and improve it.