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World's first interactive fairtrade Christmas Tree

It turned out to be a competition. I didn't know.

We won.

Everything is ruined

I wrote a sermon today. It's about the background music to your life. I chose a piece that is iconic, unique, earth shattering and stunning. But can you beleive it, X Factor have chosen it as the single for the winner of that sad little competition. I chose Jeff Buckley's version of 'Hallelujah'. You can't repeat it. You can't cover it unless you want to sound like Shrek. Everything is ruined.

But when we get to Sunday, let it be known I chose the piece long before I knew anything about X factor.

Does that mean I think in the same way as them? Please, No!!!!!!

The world's first interactive, fairtrade christmas tree

And here it is in all it's glory, almost. Still to put chocolate on it but the teabags and sugar are all there. It created a number of comments and we really need to find a way of provind hot water next time so any thoughts on that will be gratefully received.

Christmas Tree Festival

Dalmuir Barclay Church's Tree Festival begins tomorrow at 7pm when the great switch-on will happen. There will be carols and hot chocolate too, O and some Christmas Trees decorated by various groups from the community, including oursevles. We're going along tonight to decorate it. It's going to be great. We've a cool idea and we'll take some photos too. So watch this space. 

Chocolate Teapots for December 14th 2008

Luke 1:47-55

Oh boy!

Possibly because the church tends to be so conservative in its living and faith (I'm not trying to be  hard on people, just stating a fact among the personality and politics of western religious types) then we really can't hear Mary's words too well. Our ears aren't open to this kind of stuff.

In fact Advent is turning out to be a bit of a pest to Christmas celebrations and this week it's worse than ever. Please hear these words; hear them and hear them spoken by God; God as a woman who is anticipating not just a birth but a revolution. This is the hard core gospel we profess to believe. Hands up if you are still willing to be called a follower of Jesus.

Next year we'll do Christmas in January some time when we can hear the prophets and virgins words more clearly. The victoriana of Christmas with trees and nativities and tinsel and turkey really mists up this woman who dares to say these things and believes them to be coming true in Jesus. I want to have Christmas but I want to have Advent even more. These words of Mary are the antidote to many of our more popular carols  ("meek and mild and good as he", "Little Lord Jesus, no crying he makes"). Unfortunately we've make the carols the antidore to Mary's words of Advent.

So is that Christmas ruined again?

A busy wee church

It was a busy place tonight, the church. We had CAOS meeting, light bulbs changing, Craft daft decorating, Eco group holly-ing, The Dafties (Junior Craft Daft) partying. Fabulous. And at some point everyone was eating.

It's written in the stars

From the Sanctuary this season...

Craft Daft

Meant to say earlier that we've had some positive comments about this years Advent Art. I keep forgetting to take some photos and post them here but will tomorrow possibly. But a number of different groups who have used the church over the last week or so have all commented (positively) about it.

Advent 2

Be still
for our waiting God
is shuffling among the heavens
not with tinsel and starlight
but with the weight of justice

Be still
for the incarnation is anxious
labouring in the womb
impatient for the birth
of righteousness 

Be still
for there are cracks in the darkness
brief now
but with the breaking of bread
they  lengthen

This is advent
The preparing

Carols

Just a wee survey about carols to use over the season. Everyone has their favourites and those who ask generally get what they ask for because I'm generous that way, but only if they come to everything as there are a lot of carols to get through and you might only get one chance.

But given I'm in a gnerous mood I'm interested in hearing what favourites folk have and why.

There are two Christmases going on in my head. One is the sentimental, nice feeling, cosy, Christina Rosetti and Away in a manger no crying he makes sort of Christmas celebration. You can hear the snow falling outside the stable already and the angels making footprints.

The other is about the arrival of God's new time of justice. Good solid incarnation and revolution: Jesus meek and mild - as if! (as one Church of England campaign went a number of years ago). Clearly you can tell which camp I'm in. But there aren't enough of the incarnational carols to sing!

So please do let me know what you like and why and I'll try and include as many through the season. I may use your explanation but won't use your name, promise. I'll take all the credit myself.