Eternal Echoes

Nativity at solstice....

 

The year turns again,

and while earth

lies silent 

layered in frost upon frost,

the sun calls us

to look to lengthening days,

reminding us that even

here, in the dark,

within the frozen ground

the world prepares

for spring,

plumbing the loamy

depths

for treasures

in the dark.

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The year turns again,

the earth

lies cold

and silent,

what treasures

will you discover

in the deep

and the dark?

 

  What came into existence was Life, 
      and the Life was Light to live by. 
   The Life-Light blazed out of the darkness; 
      the darkness couldn't put it out.

(John 1:5)

 

 

 

O Salutaris Hostia

Christmas frustrations...

Dear Church,

Yes I had noticed that this is the Christmas Season- well almost, actually it is still Advent, but it being December and therefore Christmas in so many people's minds I will celebrate Christmas... and I will even admit that I love Carols...

Well I love most Carols. OK I like some Carols...

BUT some drive me crazy!

Take Away in a Manger for example. Do we really believe that the baby Jesus never cried? Do we really see him as mild? And a quick reading of the New Testament might challenge our notion of obedience...

Moving on... The Holly and the Ivy... why do we sing that? Theologically it is right up (or should I say down ) there with Jerusalem...

Good King Wenceslas? I say no more...

As for the traditions we have built up around them. Let me just say that we will NOT be singing Away in a Manger because it is nonsense, sheer Victorian sugary moralistic nonsense! 

Next; Service Times... Actually it would have helped if you had told me last year that you meet at 10:00am on Christmas Day, instead you let me plan for 10:30am, and now you are complaining that I have done the same again. Is half an hour really important? Really important?

If so, you are welcome to meet at 10:00am, I will be finishing my breakfast,  and will see you at 10:30 am!

And no, I do not want to preach on Boxing Day, by that point I will have led 20 Services in December, ranging in length and input from me but still...

But here is the thing that really bothers me...

In a season where we should be looking back to look forward, when we should be reflecting and meditating on Jesus coming and coming again, we pay more attention to our own sense of  comfort and tradition that we do HIS mission.....

Our "turkey and trimmings" equivalent becomes candles and matches, we fuss so much about the small things that we miss the wonder...

We sing "God with us" yet fail to perceive, to acknowledge his presence, we fail to be quiet for long enough to discern the still small voice that whispers to us. We fail to hear the words of affirmation and love that s/he speaks to us. We fail to wonder, we loose our sense of awe because we can be so tied up in tradition that we forget...

God came to us, a muddled mystery, God came to us, not that we might create traditions and place HER/HIM in a box, but that we might be set free!

Dear Church... I love you... but you drive me crazy...

For I am  tired, worn out, burned out on religion?

I need to respond to his call to :

Come .  To get away, to recover my life.

I need him to show me how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with him—watch how he does it

I need to learn the unforced rhythms of grace, and in and through them, to live freely and lightly."

(paraphrasing Mtthw 11:28-30)

 

 

Ears to hear, eyes to see....

How should I preach tomorrow,

does God speak

through signs today?

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Does God speak?

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Does God speak today?

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I believe s/he does

and when we have ears to hear,

we hear,

and when we have eyes to see

we will see...

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Too often though

our eyes are blind,

our ears are stopped,

and our hearts are cold...

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We do not see, hear, or feel...

and yet God speaks,

and waits,

no more than that

God longs for us

to turn again,

to see,

to hear,

to love

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to love,

to respond...

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For love has come,

and love moves among us.

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God has come,

we call him Jesus...

Magnificat, by Jan Richardson

Times....

Light

This light

is not mine,

and yet

when, no,

if

I dare to emerge

from the shadows

it will

blaze

through me!

 

This light

is uncreated

and creative,

it

transforms

my whole being

with gentle

illuminating power…

 

…if I dare

to emerge

from the shadows

to walk

in the way

bathed

in it’s brilliance…

 

Image and inspiration by Dave Perry

The World is my Parish

An inspired challenge to the Methodist Church today. A challenge to re-discover it's connectedness, a challenge to move beyond retreat, beyond our walls and boundaries and to reconnect with our mission.

THE WORLD IS MY PARISH!!!- produced by Pete Brazier- a Presbyteral Ordinand at the Wesley Study Centre in Durham.

 

 

 

How do we do this?

First, we share the vision!

Second we talk about it! Together....

Then we dare to take steps out, beyond our walls, beyond our boundaries....

16 He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters. 17 He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from my foes, who were too strong for me. 18 They confronted me in the day of my disaster, but the LORD was my support. 19 He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me.

(Psalm 18)

Positive things this week:

1. I have swum every day so far!
2. I have bought all of my Christmas presents
3. I have wrapped most of them.
4. Carol Services- they have been great, and often followed by excellent conversations.
5. Meals out- 3 so far ( now you know why I have been swimming).
6. Meeting Church Members at the hospital and supporting them in supporting their friends...
7. Home communions with the help of pastoral visitors.
8. Snow- yes I said snow, I enjoy it!
9. Cats and Christmas decorations... together they are a source of endless amusement.
10. Time for prayer...
11. And finally this: ( though I am sure there are more)

 

Things I have said no to this week

1. Moving the Christmas Day Service forward half an hour from the advertised time just so somebody can set off on a journey half an hour earlier.... We are talking half an hour- get a grip!!!
2. Having Away in a Manger played at the end of the main Carol Service on Sunday evening. I do not like Away in a Manger. Sappy images of the babe in a manger- who apparently did not cry, should not be used to promote Victorian moral-isms!
3. Extra helpings at the District Christmas lunch!
4. Numerous ridiculous sales calls...
5. An invitation to preach on Boxing Day .... (really)...

 

muddled mystery....

promises,

dreams,

and angel visitations,

mix here

with earth, and straw,

sweat, blood and toil…

 

divinity

clothes itself

in humility

and cries for

mothers milk…

 

god suckles at

a virgins breast…

 

and she swaddles him

in rags

and lays him

in a feeding trough…

 

how should

we celebrate

such a muddled

mystery?

 

Picture from Clip art @ Lindisfarne Scriptorium