tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49641986185235697382024-03-13T14:58:56.126+00:00A Country GirlJuliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02908101820966970219noreply@blogger.comBlogger423125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4964198618523569738.post-77648627096278153922021-12-13T10:40:00.001+00:002021-12-13T10:40:43.562+00:00Little Town <p><span style="color: #800180; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"> a reflection on Micah 5:2 </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Just a little town</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Not much more than a village really</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">A cluster of houses,</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">A merchant, and a baker</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Some shepherds and a wood worker</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">A wee synagogue where the Rabbi read the scriptures </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">and the people hung on his every word </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">just a little town, that no one really took notice of</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">A prophet wrote about it once you know</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">but that was generations back; </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">and nothing ever came of it</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">it was all a bit mysterious anyway</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">what could it mean?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">An ancient prophecy about a birth</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">It means nothing</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">It means something</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Who knows? </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">It’s been a long time since prophets and prophecies</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">And what good can come from a wee backwater anyway?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Just a little town,</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">One of the towns of David’s tribe</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">But that was long ago</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">And no one really remembers</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">And no one really believes anymore</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Do they?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">It’s poor and mean and lowly</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Just a collection of small houses, </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">with a merchant and a baker</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">not much room for anyone there</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">a tiny inn</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">and a small synagogue with a Rabbi</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">who reads the holy words</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">and tries his best to communicate the </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">mysteries of God </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">And you – O Ephrathah</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">you, O Bethlehem</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">that little town,</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">that noble city</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">you will be remembered</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">And you, O little one</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">will house the holy one of God</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">you will welcome, in your darkened streets,</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">the Light of the World </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">though you will not know it</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">and you may deny it, </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">but the little ones,</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">the forgotten ones</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">the ignored ones</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">they will know</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">they will hear</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Gloria! Gloria! Glory to God! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Sung from the heavens down to earth</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">To the little town</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">the cluster of houses,</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">a merchant, and a baker</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">some shepherds and a wood worker</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">The holy town</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">That the world will never forget </span></div><div><span style="color: #800180; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div></div><p><br /><br /></p>Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02908101820966970219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4964198618523569738.post-66762588744285964182021-03-05T12:11:00.000+00:002021-03-05T12:11:06.389+00:00Taking Care...<p> <span style="color: #073763; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Yesterday I recieved my first Covid vaccination.</span></p><p><span style="color: #073763; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="color: #073763; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">It was pretty much painless and straightforward. Arrive, check in, wait in line, called to a booth with a nurse. answer a few health questions. Then get your injection.</span></p><p><span style="color: #073763; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">The blue envelope had arrived last week, so we had a good 10 days notice, easy to make sure the diary was free; I cannot think of anything that would have prevented me from attending. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1W9I7Kjnr6I/YEIdk_jBtGI/AAAAAAAACFw/e-rUVWecEys-Rf5v0ZVIkcqYF-f380VGgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1920/IMG_0313.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="1080" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1W9I7Kjnr6I/YEIdk_jBtGI/AAAAAAAACFw/e-rUVWecEys-Rf5v0ZVIkcqYF-f380VGgCLcBGAsYHQ/w113-h200/IMG_0313.JPG" width="113" /></a></span></div><p></p><p><span style="color: #073763; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">When the envelope arrived I had tweeted a picture! It really was that big a deal; and almost immediatley I received a message from my contact in the church comms team: would I be willing to have my photo taken having my jag? Could it be used to help promote the notion of accepting the invitation to vaccination? </span></p><p><span style="color: #073763; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Naturally I agreed; it feels like the whole church has shared my Covid journey via the Fair Question interview I had, and a whole range of contacts that sprang from then.</span></p><p><span style="color: #073763; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">I have catalogued my Long Covid journey, so yesterday was really the final chapter - or at least the beginning of the final chapter, dose two comes in May.</span></p><p><span style="color: #073763; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">2021 has brought better health; my energy is back, my sleep pattern restored, I feel like myself again. I still have days when my phantosmia and parosmia are high... that's things smelling strange, or smelling things that are not there! phantom smoke is the strongest and coffee tasting strange. </span></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k8ITGtBbRK4/YEIdibH_GuI/AAAAAAAACFs/XVPBY0JyeAkUSq6ieWNydjHQUDquuhS8wCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_0257.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="233" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k8ITGtBbRK4/YEIdibH_GuI/AAAAAAAACFs/XVPBY0JyeAkUSq6ieWNydjHQUDquuhS8wCLcBGAsYHQ/w175-h233/IMG_0257.jpeg" width="175" /></a></div><p></p></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><p><span style="color: #073763; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">So, I asked the nurse if I could take a picture of the jag? She checked with her manager, who not only thought it was a good idea, she came and took the photos for me! </span></p><p><span style="color: #073763; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">I am amazed that there are people who are not taking up the invite. This vaccine is our hope for the future: people have used thier God-given gifts and talents to develop the vaccine so that we can be protected. It makes sense. It helps us, and it will in the long term help others. </span></p><p><span style="color: #073763; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Take care of yourself: keep safe and well. Take up the invitation for protection for you and those whom you love.</span></p><p><span style="color: #073763; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">I am looking forward now to better days; to being able to see the family and our frends, to getting out and about and enjoying God's creation. </span></p><p><span style="color: #073763; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">I am looking forward to throwing open the church doors and welcoming people back so that we can join together and sing praises to God. <br /><br /></span></p><p><span style="color: #073763; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p>Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02908101820966970219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4964198618523569738.post-3598332566403670962021-02-03T09:10:00.001+00:002021-02-03T09:10:34.084+00:00Healing Touch<p><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: georgia;"> It is a while since I published any of my sermons here; they are now available via my YouTube Channel as part of Larbert West's weekly worship service, and I simply haven't thought about it. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9LYeKZwdxXk/YBpoHX2cLzI/AAAAAAAACEc/ITcKynWt4WU01bICY19jRwoF4nCLfPP5gCLcBGAsYHQ/s1416/C91BE12E-534E-46A1-BA1D-78D8F2E10FC9.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="796" data-original-width="1416" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9LYeKZwdxXk/YBpoHX2cLzI/AAAAAAAACEc/ITcKynWt4WU01bICY19jRwoF4nCLfPP5gCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/C91BE12E-534E-46A1-BA1D-78D8F2E10FC9.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: georgia;">Until today. I have just finished the "sermonette" which will be posted and emailed out to those who cannot access YouTube, and somehow, I was minded to think about the sermon blog. So here I am! </span><p></p><p><br /><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: georgia;">This is the sermon for Sunday 7 February (the spoken version will be fuller) </span></p><p><i><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: helvetica;">Sermon – Healing Touch </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: helvetica;">We are approaching the days of anniversary; it is now 12 months since the threat of this foreign virus began to really impact what we did and where we went. But even then, we really did not comprehend just what would transpire over the following months.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: helvetica;">There are obvious things we missed; and there are some not so obvious, I don’t think it ever dawned on me that I would so miss just having the chance to sit and chat about nothing in particular.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: helvetica;">Our lexicon has adapted; we now have words that have become part of our every day – zoom, video chat, online worship; who knew that facemasks and hand sanitiser would become such vital everyday tools?! <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: helvetica;">There are other deeper things too. Missing the touch of loved ones - feeling outside of everything. Not going to concerts – live music – theatre. I know that you too will have things to add to the list.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: helvetica;">This year has made us realise the value of love and friendship more than ever – bringing truth to the old adage “you’ll miss me when I’m gone!”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: helvetica;">Jesus lived in a time when it was considered unwise to touch anyone who was unwell or diseased. There was no sanitation, no reliable antibiotics, no doctors and nurses with the skills and tools for healing and care. But Jesus knew also, that the power of a gentle touch could not be underestimated. Jesus took the time to care. To touch. To heal. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: helvetica;"> Jesus brought a new way of caring to the people (and love, and hope, and connection and value…) and the people responded. The need they had to be known and valued was quite probably unknown even to themselves. Until that moment when it was offered, and they suddenly realised what they had been missing. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: helvetica;">Jesus gave of himself in both word and action. It was physically, emotionally and spiritually draining. Jesus knew also the importance of taking time for refreshment; time with God; time to set up for the day ahead.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: helvetica;">And so we hear in today’s reading, “<i>In the morning, while it was still very dark, he got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed…”</i><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: helvetica;">We then hear that the disciples came and disturbed him, blustering in, where have you been? People are looking for you! In my mind I imagine Jesus stifling a sigh, offering a silent goodbye to his Father, and smiling to his friends. Maybe even knowing that before long they would observe that prayer seemed important to him, and then finally asking him to teach them how to pray. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: helvetica;">But for now, Jesus knows that it is time to move again, time to reach out to the next town, the next crowd, to share with them, something special, something beautiful, something precious. Love, acceptance and hope through time and prayer and a healing touch. So that everywhere he went, people would know that God’s love was there for everyone. Everyone included, without exception. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02908101820966970219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4964198618523569738.post-85727736480842527722020-10-19T09:13:00.000+01:002020-10-19T09:13:01.570+01:00Self Care in the Year of Covid<p> <span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Many of you who read my reflections, or listen in when I share thoughts know that I have Long Covid.</span></p><p><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">For the uninitiated this the the long-lasting after effect of the virus. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome; post viral fatigue - call it what you like, Long Covid is utterly debilitating. For the past several months I have been trying to manage my time more carefully; working out what the triggers are, trying to predict when a wave of exhaustion will hit, finding ways to protect myself and conserve what energy Have.</span></p><p><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">For short amounts of time I can act like a "normal" person; I can deliver a sermon, smile and chatter, maintain conversations, go about like life is normal. But I have discovered that the payback comes in a wave of overwhelming fatigue that will wash over me, threatening to drown me. As a result I may go to bed; or I may just sit, and basically do nothing. Not a thing. At its worst I struggle to climb the stairs to even get to my bed. </span></p><p><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4IDxGNKYjJ4/X41J57E-gqI/AAAAAAAACBA/zQdlRLCFpWoCfhfjohSAZiuHFUJ_0hgcgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/4C123D50-8213-4BDE-9ACC-1F5EDB523184.heic" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Dogs exercising selfcare" border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4IDxGNKYjJ4/X41J57E-gqI/AAAAAAAACBA/zQdlRLCFpWoCfhfjohSAZiuHFUJ_0hgcgCLcBGAsYHQ/w320-h240/4C123D50-8213-4BDE-9ACC-1F5EDB523184.heic" title="Dogs exercising selfcare." width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dogs exercising selfcare...</td></tr></tbody></table>Last week, in a checking in appointment my doctor extended the "Reduced Hours Note" to the end of the year. The End of the Year. He suggested it will be at least this long before I really get well - but, and here's the rub, he also admitted they have no clue. They are going on similar post viral illnesses, and for now simply collecting data from each person who is displaying these symptoms to work out exactly what Long Covid really does. </span></p><p><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">This morning I am beyond tired; yesterday we were in person for worship; it was great to see a few folks; the phones didn't record so well, so I did not have anything I could cut together to share more widely; I thought I might do a wee live reflection later - but an hour or so in bed, and preparing dinner was actually all I did yesterday <span style="caret-color: rgb(76, 17, 48);">afternoon. Today I am still tired. So I have decided it is time to exercise some self-care.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(76, 17, 48);"><br />I am supposed to be reducing my hours, so I am going to do that - intentionally now, not just piecemeal. I will block out days, and on a "work" day, be very strict about not more than two things - two is my absolute limit, when I go over I have discovered I lose another day in recovery. People are kind, and ask how I'm doing, am I getting better? My answer varies, some days I feel well, other days dreadful. truthfully, I don't know if I am improving, I am just keeping moving, looking after myself, trying to guard my time. </span></span></p><p><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(76, 17, 48);">The bonus is time for quiet reflection; time to talk with God; time to pause and simply be. I have discovered God is never far, I am aware of the Holy in everyday things, I am aware of God's presence, alongside me... waiting for me to regroup, no pressure, just love and presence. for me, for my time, this is my self care, God with me. </span></span></p>Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02908101820966970219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4964198618523569738.post-78686236191627581172020-10-03T08:02:00.006+01:002020-10-03T08:03:53.198+01:00Early in the Morning<p><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"> It is early on a Saturday morning in October.</span></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Last night I attending the General Assembly, which is running later than usual, over two days instead of seven, and online rather than in-person.</span></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Except I got to be there in person! </span></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">As a committee convener in fact, I was expected to be there in person. It was eery; the Assembly Hall is usually packed with around 800 bodies; seats are at a premium; to get your preferred space you need to arrive early. Yet, last night, I arrived early in order to be briefed on how to use the building. Seats were allocated; There were 21 people in the hall, including the behind the scenes tech team. </span></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">The final online briefing was introduced, live, from the hall about an hour before proceedings began, and immediately I realised I hadn't't muted my phones because they started pining as friends sent "I see you!" messages! Thank goodness it was just the final instructions!</span></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">I have blogged about General Assembly a number of times over the years, and I love it. I love the ceremony; the opportunities to catch up with friends I haven't seen for a while; I love the worship; and, strange to say, I love the business - the reports and the discussion about policy going forward. </span></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Last night was very different. In the hall, I felt detached. Because of the way things were set, I was unable to see who was online; though the technology allowed for pep to be "brought forward" to speak. It was fascinating. It was a very long evening. Scheduled to run from 7 - 9 pm, it soon became clear that it would take longer. Every point that would normally have gone through on a stamping of feet, had to be voted on. And voting took a few minutes each time. I was scheduled to speak last, no escaping for me! </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O_SimnPmlBA/T9NrEBNu2OI/AAAAAAAABZo/ibO-L7O5zK0ql2nTMSSrns3P1H7VCTu9wCPcBGAYYCw/s2592/IMG_0516.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="1936" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O_SimnPmlBA/T9NrEBNu2OI/AAAAAAAABZo/ibO-L7O5zK0ql2nTMSSrns3P1H7VCTu9wCPcBGAYYCw/s320/IMG_0516.JPG" /></span></a></div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br />It was a long night.</span><p></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">But it was also a privilege to be there, to reflect on our church; to witness our church getting to grips not just with the technology, but also with the need for the church to adapt to today, to be fit for life in the times of Covid, to respond to the needs of the people of God today. </span></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">I will not be there today, either online, or in-person. I have given my report, and I will not be needed today. I may not be there. But I will be praying. For the church. For those reporting. For those who see the need for change, and for those who will challenge that change. </span></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">It is early on an October morning.</span></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">The church is gathering, and the church is reflecting, the church is responding to the needs of all God's People, for today, and for the future. I pray that God will guide and bless every person for today and for our future. </span></p><p><br /></p>Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02908101820966970219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4964198618523569738.post-68748546385606739152020-09-29T10:45:00.000+01:002020-09-29T10:45:27.028+01:00Happy Ordiversary to me!<p> <span style="color: #351c75; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Today I have been ordained for 15 years. A statement I find pretty impossible to be fair.</span></p><p><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Where did those 15 years go?</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Qg1ooxupEFY/X3MBmn6JnPI/AAAAAAAACAI/qhDZxwVBo1kLhUk3t4D6XJ3N9ZkxiMvigCLcBGAsYHQ/s1334/25D9E351-87C5-4845-94C1-E36FFA10264D.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="751" data-original-width="1334" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Qg1ooxupEFY/X3MBmn6JnPI/AAAAAAAACAI/qhDZxwVBo1kLhUk3t4D6XJ3N9ZkxiMvigCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/25D9E351-87C5-4845-94C1-E36FFA10264D.jpeg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">And, if I were to give some advice to my younger self - I wonder what that would be?</span></p><p><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">First: nothing is really as bad as you think it is. Be true to yourself, accept each day as it comes. There will be pain along the way - but so much more joy and pleasure that those painful days will fade into insignificance.</span></p><p><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Second: don't be afraid to speak your mind! Being quiet when you see things that are wrong or unjust may feel safe, but you will regret not speaking up for the right. </span></p><p><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Third: the places you will go, and the people you will meet through your ministry are beyond your imagining; you will find support in the most unexpected places; you will make friends across the world; and you will have more opportunities through your ministries than you can ever imagine.</span></p><p><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Fourth: spend time with the people you love. Make the effort to see them, talk to them, share experiences together. Because life is short and you never know what is waiting round the next corner. You will lose friends, your heart will break for them. Knowing you had lunch, shared a fun experience, said what was on your heart, will ease the sorrow and bring hope into the darkest days.</span></p><p><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Fifth: you are not alone. In everything, in every difficulty, in every celebration, in every heartbreak, in every joy-filled moment: God is. And God will be with you every step of the way. God called you to this, God is with you through every step, breath, moment. God is. </span></p>Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02908101820966970219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4964198618523569738.post-88692329959487756232020-09-27T11:26:00.002+01:002020-09-27T11:27:29.959+01:001958 - 62 Years Ago...<p> <span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Today is my parent's wedding anniversary. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ADJN8DZf6k0/X3Bmc4wiCEI/AAAAAAAAB-8/HpDU7q8Zi2cBR77r-YaBXlY1bODm9QWqgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/2008_0928gold_anniversary0032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L7BoHYHzTdU/X3BnJC45v_I/AAAAAAAAB_s/XXIY3eFy0VoVgHAzMOQgHO3Am50Y8AoTACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Mum%2Band%2BDad%2Bwedding.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1466" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L7BoHYHzTdU/X3BnJC45v_I/AAAAAAAAB_s/XXIY3eFy0VoVgHAzMOQgHO3Am50Y8AoTACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Mum%2Band%2BDad%2Bwedding.jpg" /></span></a></div><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Neither is still alive, but that doesn't stop the date being significant and triggering memories. It's the same for my siblings, my brother sent a message to our family chat this morning, wishing them a Happy Anniversary.</span><p></p><p><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">I am minded of special celebrations we had for them over the years; for their Silver Wedding, they had a renewal of vows service and a big party. They loved big parties in those days. </span></p><p><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">For the Pearl - 30 years, I was about to relocate to Scotland, and it seemed to be such a distance. We bought them flowers and gifts; the next big party was 10 years later, their Ruby wedding, they had another party, and another blessing, I wasn't able to get to that one (don't remember why now) and 10 years after that, their Golden Wedding we had a family get together, lovely big meal, and cake in the garden at my sister's home.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aEsdH__CRYs/X3BnSyWHogI/AAAAAAAAB_w/qNxm2HU2y3UVQ87HApO3ROCP6wcn5VIngCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/2008_0928gold_anniversary0032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aEsdH__CRYs/X3BnSyWHogI/AAAAAAAAB_w/qNxm2HU2y3UVQ87HApO3ROCP6wcn5VIngCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/2008_0928gold_anniversary0032.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br />That was 12 years ago, and so much changed in those intervening years - not just their deaths, but marriage ended, marriages begun, babies born, new homes, new jobs - so much history, so many more chapters in our lives.</span><p></p><p><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Now that they are not in the little house by the sea, I do not visit so often, do not see my brother and sister as often as I used to. This year of course, none of us has travelled like we normally would, the hopes of gatherings this summer for wedding were dashed by lockdowns, and restriction on numbers who could gather. Life goes on. life is different.</span></p><p><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">One thing remains constant. Love abounds. We may not see each other often, but love ties us together, unites us even when we are apart.</span></p><p><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Happy Anniversary mum and dad - united again in eternity. </span></p><p><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-E22G7uVzW5o/X3BnegGLGrI/AAAAAAAAB_4/8n_DOLT_PkkKeboGuTtdux4qa-TSnkojACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/marginson%2Bclan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: georgia;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1479" data-original-width="2048" height="230" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-E22G7uVzW5o/X3BnegGLGrI/AAAAAAAAB_4/8n_DOLT_PkkKeboGuTtdux4qa-TSnkojACLcBGAsYHQ/w320-h230/marginson%2Bclan.jpg" title="The whole family gathered for Dad's 80th Birthday" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: georgia;">The whole family, gathered for Dad's 80th Birthday 2012</span></i></div><br /><p><br /></p>Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02908101820966970219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4964198618523569738.post-72065110172133785672020-09-26T14:55:00.014+01:002020-09-26T14:57:25.474+01:0024 Hour Rant Alert!<p> <span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: georgia;">What has happened to the news?</span></p><p><span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: georgia;">I ask this because again today I found myself shouting at the TV. </span></p><p><span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: georgia;">This happens on a more or less regular daily basis. The news, should be information about the world, the nation and the community. It should be facts. Accurate. True. Unbiased facts.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-l5algpP6DfY/X29HSg3Ap3I/AAAAAAAAB-o/irGO8JKNZHQOYIDEoqKhMvfxkXK3pC0OwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1440/Screenshot%2B2020-09-26%2Bat%2B14.48.30.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: georgia;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1440" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-l5algpP6DfY/X29HSg3Ap3I/AAAAAAAAB-o/irGO8JKNZHQOYIDEoqKhMvfxkXK3pC0OwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Screenshot%2B2020-09-26%2Bat%2B14.48.30.png" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: georgia;">Not speculation.</span></p><p><span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: georgia;">Not the same line in four different iterations.</span></p><p><span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: georgia;">Not inane drivel from the "location" - how does making a journalist stand on a rainy roadside add to the integrity or accuracy of a piece to camera?! </span></p><p><span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: georgia;">The news has become a 24 hour stream of inanities. There is not enough real news for 24 hour coverage, so it has become necessary to repeat the same story, again, and again, ad infinitum and it is driving me to distraction. </span></p><p><span style="color: #0c343d;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">And! Do not </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">get me started on the items that have become news. Nor the constant need for views of the man or woman in the street - Oh-my-gosh! There are too many stupid people in the world!</span></span></p><p><span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: georgia;">Don't ask their opinion, find someone who knows the topic and will give us an accurate fact based, scientific/ historic / politic answer. </span></p><p><span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: georgia;">Another thing!! When an announcement is to be made, wait for the announcement. Later today "x" is going to tell us blah, blah, blah... so wait until later. Do not leak the report. Do not guess, and second guess what is going to be in the announcement. </span></p><p><span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: georgia;">For my sanity. For my health. I have stopped watching the news. I'd rather watch repeats of Say Yes to the Dress, or Dr Pimple Popper* than listen to another TV journalist spew populist drivel as an approximation of real news. I get my news via the radio, in short 5 minute reports. It is enough. In these strange and terrible days we are living through, it is enough.</span></p><p><span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: georgia;">News must wait. My heart and mind cannot take any more of the 24 hour stream of drivel. So I give up. I am better without it! </span></p><p><span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: georgia;"><i>*can anyone explain why Dr Pimple Popper is oddly compulsive viewing??</i> </span></p>Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02908101820966970219noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4964198618523569738.post-90252915162870705222020-09-25T11:46:00.000+01:002020-09-25T11:46:30.485+01:00A Stitch in Time<p> <span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">One of the things that has kept me going these past months is sewing.</span></p><p><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">It has long been a productive pastime: I used to make clothes for me and for the boys when they were wee. Then I entered ministry and the sewing machine was confined to the back of a cupboard for a LONG TIME.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PMfAX2U7GDI/X23JiIPKN9I/AAAAAAAAB-E/DgPEqIwHgosVZnBaGmagvbq8TZVXnQonwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/5AE99453-7E56-4895-BE63-846377BA30E8.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PMfAX2U7GDI/X23JiIPKN9I/AAAAAAAAB-E/DgPEqIwHgosVZnBaGmagvbq8TZVXnQonwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/5AE99453-7E56-4895-BE63-846377BA30E8.jpeg" /></span></a></div><p><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">In my last call I started a banner group, and my sewing machine came out the cupboard, was dusted off and put to use. I rediscovered my love of stitching. taking pieces of cloth and snip, snip, stitch, stitch creating new and lovely things.</span></p><p><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">At the start of the Lockdown, back in March, I reclaimed sewing time. I had created a craft room when we moved to this new manse, but apart from hemming curtains, hadn't really used it much. I went through all the boxes I'd brought, sorted through the works in progress, the half finished projects, and began to work through them. I made masks and gave them away - around 80 all told. I finished a quilt started at least 20 years ago. I finished a sewing bag, and made a couple more; took a commission - it was such fun! </span></p><p><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">I have now bought a new sewing machine - it's amazing compared to the one I had which was at least 25 years old. Now I'm working on some new projects - but they are secret! Gifts for loved ones, I have photographed, but won't be going into details just yet! Here is the quilt... it sits on my chair in the study, and gives me such pleasure, knowing I have stitched myself. </span></p>Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02908101820966970219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4964198618523569738.post-1746983709384052352020-09-24T09:51:00.002+01:002020-09-24T09:52:14.197+01:00Time... where did it go?!<p><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"> I have a photo frame on my dressing table; it's one of those that's a kind of book fold, so you can have two pictures side by side.</span></p><p><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">In it, I have two pictures of my three sons, in the first, is the oldest and youngest, the one holding the other, they are about 9 & 2 in that shot. The other, my middle boy, is gazing towards them, he would be 7 I guess. There were taken on the same day, and they were either end of a sofa. A moment, captured in time. </span></p><p><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">I have many, many photographs of my boys over the years, they are now, 36, 34 and 29... I'm not entirely sure how that happened - because surely I'm still only in my 30s too?! </span></p><p><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GapfZG15xpI/X2xczqz3hoI/AAAAAAAAB94/NDE0FvfbJ84UADi9nizC7RHMXfLezQJ9wCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/4DB88810-0086-4A19-AC05-01D37AC69E72.heic" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GapfZG15xpI/X2xczqz3hoI/AAAAAAAAB94/NDE0FvfbJ84UADi9nizC7RHMXfLezQJ9wCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/4DB88810-0086-4A19-AC05-01D37AC69E72.heic" /></span></a><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">We have a couple things we do when taking pictures on the rare occasions I get them all together: we recreate previous photos, and I have a gallery of those, all framed and hanging on the upstairs landing... my boys, from babies to men. The other thing we do, which began when they were grumpy teens: is what we called catalogue poses. They didn't know how to stand, or felt awkward, or just messed about. One of them, (probably middle boy) came up with the idea of a catalogue pose, and they immediately struck a pose, SNAP! it was done, captured for all time. </span></p><p><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Photos of my boys; of my beloved; of my siblings; of my nieces and nephews; of my parents, of good friends and happy occasions are all hung and displayed around my home. Reminders of love, of connection, of ties that hold us all together. </span></p><p><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">They give me joy.</span></p><p><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">They remind me, we are never alone. We have each other. We are loved. </span></p><p><br /></p>Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02908101820966970219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4964198618523569738.post-77208360905918550682020-09-23T10:01:00.000+01:002020-09-23T10:01:17.743+01:00Life in the Year of Covid<p><span style="color: #800180; font-family: georgia;"> I am a little stunned to discover it is more than a year since I last wrote a piece or uploaded a sermon here.</span></p><p><span style="color: #800180; font-family: georgia;">Where has this past 12 months gone? There was the relocation of course; and the getting to know a new congregation, a new Presbytery, new ways of doing things, new people, new neighbourhood... the list goes on and on... and then, when 2020 was in its infancy, the world faced one of its biggest challenges: a global pandemic, the like of which we have not seen for more than a century.</span></p><p><span style="color: #800180; font-family: georgia;">In January I joined with dear friends and went (as is our want) to the Caribbean for a cruise. Whilst there we talked about this flu thing that seemed to be going around, and speculated how it might cause some challenges. Never dreaming what could have happened! A week home, and we heard of a cruise ship, quarantined, all the passengers confined to the ship, and gave thanks that it wasn't us. </span></p><p><span style="color: #800180; font-family: georgia;">Mid-February it became clear that this was no ordinary flu; this virus had some major complications, and news of deaths began to percolate through. News of infections in the UK rose, and bit by bit people began to be afraid. By early March we were avoiding shaking hands, we were using hand sanitiser - and the shops ran out of toilet roll. (It's a flu-like virus- why toilet roll?!!) </span></p><p><span style="color: #800180; font-family: georgia;">On March 15 we celebrated communion in church, and I felt the fear. The way we did things changed, and I was relieved to come out into the spring sunshine at the end of the service, saying goodbye to our congregants, hoping that all would be ok. Just two days later, churches were closed, and less than a week after that the whole country was confined to home. LOCKDOWN. </span></p><p><span style="color: #800180; font-family: georgia;">The last week of March I began to have an ache in my side when I breathed. I spent an anxious few hours trying to talk myself in and out of the virus; but then I began to get a raised temperature, by April 4th I had been diagnosed as Covid Symptomatic: no testing available unless you were needing to be admitted to hospital... it was the day before Palm Sunday, and I had already recorded the service for sharing online. Looking back at that service, it is possible to see my decline over the day. </span></p><p><span style="color: #800180; font-family: georgia;">The next two weeks were lost to me; fever; coughing that wracked my already aching body; pain in every single joint; exhaustion like I have never before experienced. The worst night; the night my fever went over 39 degrees, I wept because I hadn't written letters to my sons; I didn't know if I'd ever see them again, I wanted desperately to hold my husband, but he was in the next room, with his own fever, and his own wracking cough. </span></p><p><span style="color: #800180; font-family: georgia;">Fast Forward. It is now almost the end of September. I am still not 100% well. Exhaustion is my constant companion. I have to work really hard to pace each day, to not over commit, to make sure that nothing in my diary is so set in stone that I cannot find a sub or postpone an event. I give thanks every day for the support and love of my church. Their encouragement and care has kept me going. They are not afraid to tell me when I work too much, or look tired on the Facebook reflections; we now meet virtually, we have a new vocabulary, new ways of being church with each other.</span></p><p><span style="color: #800180; font-family: georgia;">This past Sunday, 20 September, I led worship back in the church building. It was six months and one week since we were last able to gather. How different it looked! Designated seating. Everyone in a mask; music but no singing; a phone camera recording the service for those who were unable to attend. Numbers were restricted, but we were not over subscribed because so many people are still unsure, feel unsafe, feel afraid. Life is very different.</span></p><p><span style="color: #800180; font-family: georgia;">The numbers of infections, which seems so well controlled after the restrictions of the spring, are now beginning to rise again. People have got used to the new normal and are beginning to relax, perhaps a little too much. Autumn is here. Flu season is round the corner and we wait with bated breath to discover if we will once again be confined to home. </span></p><p><span style="color: #800180; font-family: georgia;">I have learned many new skills this year. Things I never knew I would need to do. Things that seemed to be unnecessary for ministry. And yet... here we are.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NP9XG8mg3j0/X2sKwlpINRI/AAAAAAAAB9c/jdd7dnkBrmUWkvekN8oYLmZtT_DsjRcxACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/679EBD18-426C-4FEE-AE3B-5C7D42AA0A0E.heic" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: georgia;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1539" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NP9XG8mg3j0/X2sKwlpINRI/AAAAAAAAB9c/jdd7dnkBrmUWkvekN8oYLmZtT_DsjRcxACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/679EBD18-426C-4FEE-AE3B-5C7D42AA0A0E.heic" /></span></a></div><p></p><p><span style="color: #800180; font-family: georgia;">In all of this I have led worship, reflected, sought God in this new way of being.</span></p><p><span style="color: #800180; font-family: georgia;">In all of this, God has been an ever present comfort. In the depths of my despair the Psalms filled my heart with words of lament, and comfort, of fury and joy. Where I am, God is. And God is GOOD.</span></p><p><span style="color: #800180; font-family: georgia;">I hope, and pray, it will not be another year before I write another post! </span></p>Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02908101820966970219noreply@blogger.com0Falkirk, UK56.001877500000013 -3.783913127.691643663821168 -38.9401631 84.312111336178859 31.3723369tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4964198618523569738.post-12312509561087895622019-08-31T12:22:00.002+01:002019-08-31T12:22:55.023+01:00A Place at the Table <span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Sermon preached at Larbert West Church on Sunday 1st September at which service the congregaton votes for their new minister... </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Hebrews 13: 1-8; Luke 14:1, 7-14</i></span><br />
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<i><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>A Place at the Table</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I am sure we have all attended
weddings and big family events, where there are many guests.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The good thing about those
gatherings is looking around and seeing familiar faces, that you see rarely,
and enjoying the pleasure of catching up. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Of course, if it is a gathering
for a wedding, there will also be many faces that are not at all familiar: the
family of your loved one’s new spouse; the friends they have invited who will
be completely unfamiliar. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Now, normally at these occasions
there is a table plan.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Place settings with your name,
anchoring you in the right place. Next to people you know; or perhaps your host
mixes it all up a little and puts folks together who do not know each other?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Have you ever been to a wedding
where there is no seating plan? I have!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Just the once. And it was really
tricky – there was a kind of free for all as everyone went in to the marquee;
and it made me a little uncomfortable: where to sit? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Who to sit with? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">What if there’s no room for both
of us and we have to sit apart? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So many unknowns! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So this parable rings bells for
me. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Where shall I sit?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">How important am I? do I go close
to the family?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Do I wait it out? If I sit here,
will someone want me to move?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">What if they run out of seats?! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Oh my goodness!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Now, wedding stories aside, there
is a point to all of this. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Jesus was in the habit of quietly
observing people; he was invited to dinner by all sorts of people, for all
sorts of reasons. This particular dinner was a big affair; and he knew he was
under scrutiny. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">As he watched, people vied with
each other to get the place of honour; each trying to assume a greater status,
a greater level of importance. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Each guest was delighted to have
the opportunity to listen to the great new teacher.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Often in these times, as well as
the invited guests, there would also have been any number of hangers on. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">People who sat on the periphery,
watching, listening, taking stock… for these were not private secluded venues,
and many people followed Jesus. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So that, when Jesus gave the
advice to his host, to choose the poor and the outsiders to be his guests, those
very ones: the poor, the blind the lame, were very likely sitting at the side,
watching, waiting, listening in. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">What a message of hope that must
have been! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">They who sat on the sides,
watching everyone else feast, they were the ones for whom the feast would be
presented!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The instruction to the host to
welcome strangers – that stands the test of time.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We too are called to be
welcoming; to have open hearts and minds; to find space for those who have less
that we do. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">To put those who normally come
last at the top of the list.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">To be generous with whatever we
have. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">To give without any expectation
of receiving the same in return. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">To give without counting the
cost.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">For in doing so – as we heard in
the first reading, we may entertain angels unawares. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Jesus’ stories and parables
always had a deeper meaning too; a story for everyone, at every level…<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The deeper meaning of the feast
and the host – not that physical feast in the home of a Pharisee that Jesus was
attending; <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">not even the parable feast he
described; <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">instead the feast of heaven at
the invitation of God; <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">the hope of eternity for those
who are on the outside looking in; <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">for those who feel left out,
alone, marginalised, outcast – those are the ones for whom Jesus came.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">His message of hope did exactly
that. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It brought hope; a hope that was
steady and reliable.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">As I told the children; as we
heard in the reading from Hebrews: Jesus never changes.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Yesterday, today, tomorrow –
Jesus stays the same. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And so do Jesus’ promises.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">That invitation to the feast
continues now.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We are all welcome at the host’s
table.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We are all invited.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We will all have a seat at the
table.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">For in God’s house <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">All are welcome!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Amen </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<br />Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02908101820966970219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4964198618523569738.post-5275202228264044412019-08-03T07:38:00.002+01:002019-08-03T07:38:33.840+01:00Puppies, trauma and the wonder of creation <span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It's been a while!</span><br />
<span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">My beloved dog, Tabi gave birth to three very large healthy puppies last Thursday - 25th July.</span><br />
<span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">That's the short version - buckle up for the full story!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Wednesday morning she started nesting - pacing round, digging in her crate and in the whelping box next to the crate. This continued for most of the day, and by late evening she was clearly in labour. Panting and pacing; pacing and panting.</span><br />
<span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I set up a garden recliner in the kitchen, put the lights down low and settled in for a night delivery.</span><br />
<span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">She fell asleep around 1.30 am, so I decide I would take the opportunity for a short snooze in a real bed.</span><br />
<span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">She woke me around 4.00 with short sharp barks.</span><br />
<span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Back down to more pacing and panting - everything pretty textbook TBH!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Late morning the panting got deeper, the pacing and digging diminished and she began to try pushing... and then, at 1.20 pm, or thereabouts, out dropped the first puppy! Oh! I cried - well, it was so amazing to watch, and she proceeded to roll and lick the pup, freeing her from the membranes, encouraging her first breaths - and it was indeed a miracle - the wonder of creation, that instinctively she knew exactly what to do for her baby.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">She sat for a while; got up, licked and pushed the pup; lay back down following this routine for some time, and then the panting began again and it became clear number two must be on way...</span><br />
<span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But no! Eventually, at 4.00 pm, the placenta was delivered.</span><br />
<span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The pushing continued and still no more pups.</span><br />
<span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Meantime, regular calls to the vet with updates and monitoring.</span><br />
<span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">When her water broke for no. two, things got sticky - no pup and a very distressed mum; another call to the vet and instructions to get her into the car and over to the vet hospital!!</span><br />
<span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We got puppy wrapped in a towel and placed in a shoe box and Tabi onto a lead and into the car and then headed off.</span><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NH_hJ70u7ts/XUUrmsFqKfI/AAAAAAAABvc/7A4wgsPGspwwEdqfr8RSNC-_zf68BJo4QCLcBGAs/s1600/92994582-B4A6-4D8A-88CE-F4FC6B023619.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NH_hJ70u7ts/XUUrmsFqKfI/AAAAAAAABvc/7A4wgsPGspwwEdqfr8RSNC-_zf68BJo4QCLcBGAs/s320/92994582-B4A6-4D8A-88CE-F4FC6B023619.jpg" width="320" /></span></a><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Arriving at the vet at 6.30 pm, a quick assessment confirmed definitely puppies in there - so into the theatre, sedation and emergency caesarean!!</span><br />
<span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Meantime, puppy #1 now six hours old, is also distressed, cold and floppy! She was put into a warming box and we were sent to the pet store to get puppy milk formula.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Off we went; trying not to panic; assuring each other and praying hard.</span><br />
<span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">An hour later we returned - with a small box of supplies for puppy feeding.</span><br />
<span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">To discover two more pups - both huge! and a very sleepy but stable dog.</span><br />
<span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Thank God for the skills and technology, for the miracle of birth, for the relief after trauma... </span><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nLgn5Sae8ho/XUUrtsnYe5I/AAAAAAAABvg/bBVnk88P2_EVF9ozCxPIuTyyUV3rTJYhwCLcBGAs/s1600/T%252BGAh5NmSa%252BroMnFzY%2525vtg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nLgn5Sae8ho/XUUrtsnYe5I/AAAAAAAABvg/bBVnk88P2_EVF9ozCxPIuTyyUV3rTJYhwCLcBGAs/s320/T%252BGAh5NmSa%252BroMnFzY%2525vtg.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></div>
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<br />Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02908101820966970219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4964198618523569738.post-37244984661023632282019-06-15T16:23:00.001+01:002019-06-15T16:23:15.726+01:00Trinity Sermon: Star-maker, Storyteller, Breath of Life: Trinity of Love<br />
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Trinity Sunday…<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The weekend of heresies!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Back when I was studying theology one of my favourite
subjects was Church History. As part of that we got to study the various stages
the church went through trying to decide what we actually should believe about God
and Jesus and especially the Holy Spirit.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Those early Church Fathers really got themselves tied up in
knots!!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">How could they explain the relationship between God – our
creator, our Father. And God who was Jesus Christ. How and when did Jesus the
man become God? When did he come into existence? and what about the Spirit, the
helper, the counsellor? Was she a new, post-Jesus manifestation, or had she
been around from the beginning?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Once you’d tied down when; you get to the how. And that’s
when things really hotted up! Different philosophers came up with different
descriptions – and some lived, or died, by their understanding. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Of course, being a history buff; and really enjoying the ins
and outs of how they decided, I then witnessed every shade of heresy as, on
student placements, I heard different supervisors trying to explain it in
simple terms. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The Trinity is NOT like a clover leaf.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Nor is it like me being a daughter, mother and wife all at
the same time… God taking on different guises: Modalism. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The Trinity is not three separate gods either – that’s Tritheism,
God as three separate gods to make up the One. God is three persons of One God.
<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Jesus is, was, and continues to be, he wasn’t a man who became
God at his baptism – that one is Docetism!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The Trinity is not three sides of a triangle…<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Although – the image of a triangle does help a little.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In the order of service there are two illustrations.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">On the cover is a Celtic Knot, interlaced with a circle –
that knot is often used to show how the three persons interlock and work
together. It is one line, but it shows three separate points.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And inside the sheet is another triangle: each corner named
for Father Son and Spirit, the centre God, and the arms with the words “is” or
“is not” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Father is not Son is not Spirit is not Father<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Father is God<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Son is God<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Spirit is God <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Father, Son and Spirit all have very specific roles; they are
all one and the same, yet different.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And, basically that’s it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It is mystery<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It is incomprehensible<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It is a faith thing; we trust God, we trust Jesus, we trust
the Spirit. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">For me it is enough that I will know, one day; to truly get
it, right now, is less important. Because I do trust that God has this.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It is enough to know that when I pray, God hears me, the
Spirit guides me and Jesus intercedes.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It is enough to know, that God the Creator loved us all so
much that he sent his son to save us, and that his Son, Jesus left us this
special meal as a remembrance of that love, and promised to send a Helper – the
Spirit who would be our constant companion and guide.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Many cleverer people than me have tried over the years to
describe the phenomenon of Trinity; others have encapsulated the three-person
God in word and song; and others simply choose to believe, to know, to trust
God…<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Here is a poem describing God’s love story, the Creator, the
Saviour and the Sustainer united with us, for all of our days…<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<i><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In the beginning,</span></span><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">when all was not as it is now;</span></span><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">in the darkness,</span></span><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">when light was just a twinkle in the Creator’s eye;</span></span><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">in the past,</span></span><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">when history was waiting to be born;</span></span><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">a new day dawned.</span></span><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">A day when the Creator shaped the universe</span></span><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">by the power of his living Word,</span></span><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">and the breath of his live-giving Spirit.</span></span><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">He spoke and called forth life,</span></span><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">he breathed and his spirit hovered over the waters,</span></span><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">he took dust and formed the foundations.</span></span><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Creator, Word, Spirit.</span></span><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The Holy Community,</span></span><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">working, living, being as one,</span></span><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">harmonised in love and purpose,</span></span><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">shaping, forming, gifting light and life.</span></span><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Before time, throughout time, when time has run its course.</span></span><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Days without number, life without end.</span></span><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Love without limit.</span></span><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Three and one, above us, beyond us, beside us, within.</span></span><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Mysterious and majestic,</span></span><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">humble and holy,</span></span><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">creative and kind.</span></span><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Father, Son and Holy Spirit</span></span></i></blockquote>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>(Dave Hopwood: www.engageworship.org)</i><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_bkFih6Ak3I/Tf9wZqggjBI/AAAAAAAAAGc/_oGk9sGQTY41zx_4K4k61TRof-ePTdP6gCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/trinity-rublev.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1194" data-original-width="972" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_bkFih6Ak3I/Tf9wZqggjBI/AAAAAAAAAGc/_oGk9sGQTY41zx_4K4k61TRof-ePTdP6gCPcBGAYYCw/s320/trinity-rublev.jpg" width="260" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rublev's Icon of the Trinity</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<br />Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02908101820966970219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4964198618523569738.post-22830303342713207492019-06-09T07:45:00.002+01:002019-06-09T07:45:36.388+01:00To the Ends of the Earth Part 2<br />
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">Sermon for Pentecost 2019</span></i></div>
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<i>this sermon is unscripted; here are some of the bullet poins and thoughts that have gone into this sharing of God's Spirit.</i></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Happy Birthday!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-t0Z8RcEB6_g/Wvb32rIWnyI/AAAAAAAABiw/tzLDouj0-pk01P2JCY_QAsprb45AVrXmACPcBGAYYCw/s1600/01382199051c621a1484dba67c65539f068323b99c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-t0Z8RcEB6_g/Wvb32rIWnyI/AAAAAAAABiw/tzLDouj0-pk01P2JCY_QAsprb45AVrXmACPcBGAYYCw/s320/01382199051c621a1484dba67c65539f068323b99c.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pentecost Pulpit Fall in Earlston Ccchurch</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Young and old<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Male and female<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Rich and poor<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Slave and free<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">East and west<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>North and south <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Wherever, whoever, whenever… <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">God’s message of Hope is eternal, universal, unconditional<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The Spirit came – and no one was ever the same<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Everything changed<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And ever since – man has tried hard to define and confine<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">God<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The Sprit<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Jesus<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Redefining Jesus’ message to suit their own means<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Redefining God’s plan, to fit with their <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>understanding…<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And yet… as St Catherine of Sienna is quoted:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">“be who you were meant to be and you will set the world on
fire”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Another Pentecost – many, many years ago… <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">My story, my revelation - a conversation with my Father, on a Pentecost long ago, in which he reminded me - the Spirit came, and never leaves us. We just have to remember to look.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Last week I said we were ascension people <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Watching Jesus go up<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And waiting for the next thing<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This week<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We are Pentecost people<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The Spirit is here<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">No need to wait<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The waiting is over<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The Spirit comes<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And all is changed<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The new chapter beings<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">As people of faith we are asked to trust<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Trust God<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Trust God’s Spirit<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Trust God’s leading<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The Church of Scotland is doing a Big Thing<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And we, we can embrace the challenge<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Step out in faith on the journey<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We do not know what lies<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>ahead<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">But we do know, God is with us<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The new chapter is NOW! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02908101820966970219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4964198618523569738.post-52729873788249759742019-06-02T07:09:00.000+01:002019-06-02T07:09:28.336+01:00To the ends of the Earth Part 1<br />
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Psalm 47; Luke 24: 44-53</span> </span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Sermon for 2nd June: To the ends of the Earth Part
1<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We live in exciting days! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JqvSQm0psjE/XPNn0Yb8XAI/AAAAAAAABtc/ajDQchS7xR8KZf0XQrBVJpSs9aDRPPYRgCLcBGAs/s1600/8ac90e35-cbc3-488f-a567-81b2ec974041.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JqvSQm0psjE/XPNn0Yb8XAI/AAAAAAAABtc/ajDQchS7xR8KZf0XQrBVJpSs9aDRPPYRgCLcBGAs/s320/8ac90e35-cbc3-488f-a567-81b2ec974041.jpg" width="180" /></a><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">You may not know this. You may even be a bit surprised by
this! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But we live in exciting days.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The Church is moving; change is happening; and we are part of
the new chapter, the new version of church, fit for the times we live in.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">There is much to be done; yesterday, in Innerleithen around
60 people met from right across the Presbytery. We listened to each other and
we explored together what might be.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The news filtering down from the central church can be difficult
to hear: change is coming, and we must reduce our costs. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">That same news also contains things which are exciting to
hear: change is coming and in order to make the church fit for purpose new
funds are available, and new ways of being the local church are being proposed.
These changes will affect us here in the Leader Valley. There will be new ways
forward, and new ways ahead. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Nothing specific was decided yesterday – but ideas were
heard; and visions shared. The task of the Presbytery Planning Group now is to
collate those ideas; to bring them together and create something new. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It seems somehow appropriate, that as the new plans are
coming together, the church year is moving from the season of Easter and New
Life, to the season of Pentecost and New Energy! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Today we heard about Jesus’ final act on earth – reminding his
disciples, one last time, of the task ahead, blessing them, and then being
lifted up… Part Two comes next week – what happened next?! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But for today. What does the Ascension tell us?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">First: patience!! Jesus was lifted up; and they have to wait
some more. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Waiting is not easy… the days and hours stretch out; time
seems to slow down. As we wait for The Thing to happen.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And then, it happens and suddenly we really want things to
slow down for a moment so we can catch breath, take a moment. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The disciples are at the culmination of three years of
travelling with Jesus, hanging on his every word; followed by the three longest
darkest days of all when he was gone and hope and light gone with him.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Now, they are at the end of<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>fifty days of wonder. The resurrected Jesus, with them, teaching again,
showing again that God’s Love is paramount. Jesus’ teaching hinges on that one
premise: God Loves you, me, us. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">If we live by that, if we can live that out, then everything else
falls into place. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Now, what do you think they did after he was finally taken up
into heaven?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Clearly not yet fully ready; not yet equipped by the Spirit
to go into the world, they retreated.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Here is, what I think is the most important lesson about the
Ascension and the period between Jesus leaving and the Spirit arriving.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">They did not go home and hide in the privacy of their own
homes. They went to the temple and spent the days praising and blessing God.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“While he was blessing them, he withdrew from them and was carried up
into heaven. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And they worshipped him,
and returned to Jerusalem with great joy; and they were continually in the
temple blessing God”<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">They stayed together and they prayed.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I cannot emphasis enough the importance of prayer. Praying in
the peace of your own home; praying together with others; praying out loud;
praying in silent mutterings deep in your heart. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Prayer. In waiting.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Prayer. In hoping.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Prayer. In celebration<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Prayer. In anxiety<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Prayer. In pain. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Praying, worshipping, blessing, praising, naming our fear,
our requests, our joys, <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Praying and handing over to God, that which we cannot yet
name.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">As Jesus went up to heaven; to claim his place in God’s
kingdom, the disciples returned to Jerusalem and spent the next ten days in
prayer; singing psalms and praising God.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The psalmist describes the same:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 35.45pt;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><sup><span style="line-height: 150%;"> </span></sup></i></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="line-height: 150%;">God has gone up with a
shout,<br />
the Lord with the sound of a trumpet.<br />
<b><sup> </sup></b>Sing praises to God, sing praises;<br />
sing praises to our King, sing praises.<br />
For God is the king of all the earth;<br />
sing praises with a psalm. <o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We are in a season of waiting.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Waiting for the joy of Pentecost next week<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Waiting for the coming together of our neighbours to create a
new plan for our area. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Waiting for the start of something new.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We could wait and worry and fret.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Or, we could wait and pray and praise God, seeking God’s
vision, God’s plan for this community, and for our hope-filled future.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Remember: God is the king of all the earth; sing praises
with a psalm. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">God is king of all the earth; take that message to ends of
the earth. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And back again!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02908101820966970219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4964198618523569738.post-7541219194834436792019-06-01T15:12:00.000+01:002019-06-01T15:12:15.291+01:00Sermon for 26th May - A Whole New World<br />
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">S<span style="color: #20124d;">ermon: A Whole New World (or, The
End of the World as we Know it?!)<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></i></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><o:p><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;"> </span></o:p></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>Revelation 21:10, 21.22 – 22.5; John 5: 1-9</i></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Our readings today share themes of new beginnings; the ending
of old ways; and the vision of God’s perfect creation as it was meant to be in
the vision of New Jerusalem in all her glory. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">As we, mired as we are in political uncertainty and
uncertainty about our own future, contemplate old ways vs new ways, what can
these two readings tell us? Where is our hope? Where is God moving us? Pushing
us? Nudging us forward? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In these uncertain days there is still certainty. For God is
the constant in our lives. The theme which overarched this week’s General
assembly was Jesus’ call “Follow me”, and every day, as debates and discussions
took place, the Moderator, with gentle humour, reminded commissioners that all
that we do, we do remembering who it is we follow, who it is we serve. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Through the Radical Action Plan, and the Special Commission
investigation into the practises of the church, the Church of Scotland
undertook to commit to change. Big changes which will devolve some of the power
and influence away from Edinburgh, to the local and regional church. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">From reducing the number of presbyteries; to reducing the
number of staff in Edinburgh; to endorsing new ways of being church in our
communities; reaffirming the commitment to the people of Scotland – regardless
of faith or creed. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The church has confirmed that as the national church we want
to be in our communities, caring for those who look to the church for comfort
and support. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fenbmxLaAYE/XPKHWFj3sQI/AAAAAAAABtQ/t7XcyobszlgqpmjzvCN3Gyg4kr3sNxr8ACLcBGAs/s1600/211c4d2b-6ec8-4a30-81a4-55b4c5361438.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="688" data-original-width="1416" height="194" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fenbmxLaAYE/XPKHWFj3sQI/AAAAAAAABtQ/t7XcyobszlgqpmjzvCN3Gyg4kr3sNxr8ACLcBGAs/s400/211c4d2b-6ec8-4a30-81a4-55b4c5361438.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">What does that look like in reality? Finance; buildings;
personnel – all have been subject to decisions which will cast ripples far and
wide. And to assure you – it was not all about cut! There is a new “Growth
Fund” specifically for church planting; for developing local churches projects
and initiatives.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It is hard to say, right now, just how we, here in Earlston,
will be affected – though we know because of the discussions we have had over
the past six months, that there will be change in the whole Leaderdale area. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Next Saturday is an important day for our Presbytery; there
is a full day conference for representatives from every church in the
presbytery – the discussions we have had, alongside those of other groups will
be brought together to see if, working collaboratively, we may come up with a
new look for the Presbytery (and neighbouring Presbyteries too) – groups, hubs,
clusters – whatever we call it – we are exploring new ways of being and
creating church. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Change is nothing new: time and again Jesus moved people to
change: change of heart; change of status; change of life.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Jesus’ encounter with the man at the pool brought about huge
change in everything he knew. Jesus’ question to him: “do you want to be
healed?” was the very core of the issue. His life was not perfect, but it was
predictable, relatively comfortable, it had rhythm and familiarity.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">His answer, a stumbling excuse for not changing was not
enough. He acceptance of the command, “stand up!” moved him from life as a
crippled beggar, relying on others for<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>everything he needed, to (literally) standing on his own two feet –
making his own way in the world. The secondary command “lift up your mat”
ensured he did not simply lie back down, but rather HAD to engage with this new
thing. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It will not have been easy – he had never walked; never had
to work; never looked after himself. This is a whole new world for him. Scary
and overwhelming. I suspect that once the initial euphoria wore off he may have
wished to go back to those days of lying on his mat. Begging. Waiting. But.
Waiting around for someone else to act is not what Jesus requires: get up!
Walk! Do your own thing! Follow me… <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">St John’s vision of the end of the world offers a vision of New
Jerusalem and life as it could be: life with no darkness in it; no pain; no
death; no sin.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Life in all its goodness. Complete and whole – living in
God’s eternal light. Lion and lamb together. An abundance of fruit sustaining
us. Life as God intended… the end of this world marks a transition into a new
and perfect world. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We, both Earlston Church, and the Church of Scotland as a
whole are waiting beside the pool for a sign. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We have choices. We can continue to lie on the mat, waiting
for something to happen.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Or, we can listen to Jesus’ call “Follow me!”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Get up! Move! Step out!!” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Instead of passively waiting for someone else to tell us what
to do; we can move forward with others; it’s a whole new world out there! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"A whole new world,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">A new fantastic point of view,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">No one to tell us no,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Or where to go,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Or say we're only dreaming… <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">A whole new world." (Disney's Aladdin)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02908101820966970219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4964198618523569738.post-88966352891953114202019-04-28T17:04:00.005+01:002019-04-28T17:10:51.593+01:00Walking Together <br />
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<span class="s2" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;">Tripoli Lebanon 28 April 2019</span></div>
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<span class="s2" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;">Psalm 119: 97-106; Luke 24: 13-35</span></div>
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<span class="s2" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;">Dear Friends,</span></div>
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<span class="s2" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;">It gives me great joy to be able to speak to you today. </span></div>
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<span class="s2" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;">The people of Earlston, send their greetings, and are delighted that we are able to visit with you now. </span></div>
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<span class="s2" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;">Our bible readings tell us a little about one of Jesus conversations after the resurrection; the psalm is a beautiful song in praise of God’s laws. It summarised some of the good advice on how to live. It is like an instruction manual for living with God. </span></div>
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<span class="s2" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;">The disciples had been privileged enough to have </span><span class="s2" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;">Jesus as </span><span class="s2" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;">a guide to steer them through </span><span class="s2" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;">God’s</span><span class="s2" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"> manual: someone to explain when things happened why they were happening… so with all that knowledge you might be forgiven for wondering how they did not understand what had happened at Calvary and why they did not expect Jesus to come back again. </span></div>
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<span class="s2" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;">But they lived in difficult times, and even with Jesus to explain and guide them once he had been taken from their sight they felt that they were cut adrift no longer with anything to hold them safe </span></div>
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<span class="s2" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;">Psalm 119 is the longest psalm in the bible, it is also, amazingly, a song in praise of law – not because of what it prevents, but because of how it empowers </span></div>
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<span class="s2" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;">“Your commands make me wiser than my enemies”</span><span class="s2" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"> (vs 98)</span></div>
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<span class="s2" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;">“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path” </span><span class="s2" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;">(vs. 105)</span></div>
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<span class="s2" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;">You know, the thing about lights on the path, is that they shine forward: no point in looking back where you have been, the light guides you forward, on to the destination. </span></div>
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<span class="s2" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;">God’s word lights the way forward and the disciples simply needed to remember it – in amongst the anguish of raw grief and the pain of loss and the confusion of danger and the threat of further betrayal they had totally lost sight of the way forward, all the teaching, all the instructions, and all the love were invisible in their hearts and minds, and yet,</span></div>
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<span class="s2" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;">If they had turned to God’s word they would have seen answers to all their woes… </span></div>
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<span class="s2" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;">In fact, so deep is their despair that when the stranger asks them what is troubling them they cannot even bring themselves to refer to Jesus as anything other than a prophet powerful in word and deed… not the miracle worker, not the Son of God and certainly not the Messiah even though just a few days earlier they had been so certain of it. </span></div>
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<span class="s2" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;">Grief and fear are a potent mix and together they conspire to dull the senses and impede clear thinking </span></div>
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<span class="s2" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;">Jesus understood this and he knew that in his rising he would need to show himself and encourage and cajole… and he knew also that his resurrection appearances needed to be to as diverse a section of his followers as possible. He did not appear only to the chosen few; nor did he limit his visits, each took as long as it needed; the retelling of the encounter on the road to Emmaus should not be underestimated</span><span class="s2" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;">.</span></div>
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<span class="s2" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;">Jesus</span><span class="s2" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"> joined them on the road</span><span class="s2" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;">.</span><span class="s2" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"> </span><span class="s2" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;">T</span><span class="s2" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;">hey were going to Emmaus and clearly they arrived there, as he was invited to join them for supper; we are told the village is seven miles from Jerusalem, and they were walking… seven miles is not a five minute stroll! </span><span class="s2" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;">they probably walked and talked together for several hours</span><span class="s2" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;">, during that time </span><span class="s2" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;">Jesus allowed them to tell him about all that had happened, he listened and encouraged, and then, he explained the meaning of all the scriptural prophecies to them… </span></div>
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<span class="s2" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;">Have you ever wondered why they, like so many of the others were prevented from recognising him immediatel</span><span class="s2" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;">y?</span><span class="s2" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"></span></div>
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<span class="s2" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;">Excitement and overwhelming joy do many things to us – but making us pay attention and listen and understand is not in the list!! </span></div>
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<span class="s2" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;">If Cleopas and his companion had realised immediately who they were travelling with they would not have been able to absorb anything that was said to them, and above all else it was important that they gain understanding of the immensity of what had just happened. Instead of </span><span class="s2" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;">being distracted by his presence they simply listened to the stranger who had such a deep understanding of God’s Word… I have not departed from your laws, for you yourself have taught me… </span><span class="s2" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;">(vs 102)</span></div>
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<span class="s2" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;">As Jesus words sink in, </span><span class="s2" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;">and</span><span class="s2" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"> they begin to fill in the gaps</span><span class="s2" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;">.</span></div>
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<span class="s2" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;">T</span><span class="s2" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;">hey begin to realise that the stories that have filtered through from the others</span><span class="s2" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;">may be true</span><span class="s2" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;">, </span><span class="s2" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;">and they realise that</span><span class="s2" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"> the women weren’t hallucinating</span><span class="s2" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"> after all. Then</span><span class="s2" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"> they find themselves at their destination but this amazing stranger is leaving so naturally they press him to stay a while, </span><span class="s2" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;">for they want to hear more of his wisdom. </span></div>
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<span class="s2" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;">It is not until they are absolutely ready that</span><span class="s2" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"> </span><span class="s2" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;">Jesus acts. He</span><span class="s2" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"> takes bread and breaks it and in that moment the light shines out on the path and they can see exactly where they are going and who is taking them there</span><span class="s2" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;">.</span></div>
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<span class="s2" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;">Sometimes we are confused</span></div>
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<span class="s2" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;">Sometimes we are slow on the uptake</span></div>
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<span class="s2" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;">Sometimes we are impatient, disappointed and afraid </span></div>
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<span class="s2" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;">Sometimes we feel that we too are adrift and have lost sight of what it is that holds us fast </span></div>
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<span class="s2" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;">God’s word is a lamp to our feet and a light for the path </span></div>
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<span class="s2" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;">God’s words guides us into all truth and all knowledge </span></div>
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<span class="s2" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;">All we need do is listen,</span></div>
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<span class="s2" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;">As you walk out on life’s journey, you have a companion for the journey; you have a guide book and you have a light leading you ever onwards to the destination</span><span class="s2" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;">.</span><span class="s2" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"></span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a></div>
<div style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">
<span class="s2" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"></span><span class="s2" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;">We are all Easter people; we too walk with Jesus at our side. We are companions for each other, in Scotland, and here in Tripoli – travelling together, with Jesus to guide us. </span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> </span></div>
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Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02908101820966970219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4964198618523569738.post-55647683582302031512019-04-14T17:28:00.000+01:002019-04-14T17:28:09.094+01:00Living Dangerously - Sermon for Palm Sunday<br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>Luke 19: 28-40; Philippians 2: 5-11 </i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">These were
dangerous times in the days of first century Galilee… <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Today is Palm Sunday, the beginning of Holy Week – the week
of anticipation; the week of deep, deep meaning; symbolic action and<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>ultimate sacrifice. The week when loyalties
will be tested to their limits and most will be found lacking.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This is Palm Sunday<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>-
the day when Jesus’ mission is finally realised; once he enters the city wheels
are set in motion, which will be unstoppable. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Once it was all over; if we fast forward a few months when
Jesus’ earthly mission is complete, and those who were left begin the task of
sharing the news of the Kingdom – God’s Kingdom, there will be many more
dangerous times.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Paul, once known as Saul of Tarsus – is a Roman citizen; he
is not an uneducated fishermen; he is an educated Jewish man; a man of letters.
Thus he has authority. He writes to his churches from jail; with fervour, love,
passion and a desire to share everything he could, as quickly as he could – for
he too, was living in dangerous days.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">For, once Jesus had entered Jerusalem that fateful day, nothing
would stop the tide of God’s power.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">People would die for the cause; they would be imprisoned and
persecuted; this tide was unstoppable. For God’s love is unstoppable.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Paul, writing from Jail, has a sense of urgency; he wants
everyone who hears his letters to understand who Jesus was; what Jesus
stood for, and why Jesus was worth dying for. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The letter to the church in Philippi is full of
encouragement; and it tells the story of Jesus in plain language.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">According to William Barclay in this passage we have one of
the most important verses in the New Testament – not from the gospel, but from
the epistle. Barclay says, “<i>Verse 11 is one of the most important verses in the
New Testament. In it we read that the aim of God, the dream of God, the purpose
of God, is a day when every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.”</i><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The aim of God<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The dream of God<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The purpose of God… <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">To proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">You may not realise just how radical this is.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Remember the Pharisees ordering Jesus to tell the crowds to
stop calling him Lord?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Calling anyone Lord, other than Caesar was treason. People
were expected to declare “Caesar is Lord!!” and to declare anyone else as Lord was
subversion.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And here is Paul; a good Roman citizen, doing that exact
thing: Jesus is Lord!! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This passage in Romans is beautiful; it is passionate; it
sums up all that Jesus did: and for Paul, it explains to those who read, why he
is willing to be incarcerated; why he is willing to live dangerously.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The whole of the epistle to the Philippians reads like a love
letter between God and humanity; it is full of encouragement and enthusiasm for
faithful living; it is underpinned with love and bathed in prayer.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And this passage is its “raison d’etre” its purpose: to
outline what Jesus did. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">What Jesus did, was to enter Jerusalem; surrounded by crowds
of happy, excited people. People who were anticipating some wonder; some
marvel.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">They thought they were about to witness Jesus overthrowing
the ruler and re-establishing Israel to its rightful place. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Truth is they were right, it was indeed a conquest, but not as they expected it to… <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Jesus knew that the days remaining were few; and so he
allowed the very people who in just a few days’ time would be baying for blood,
to proclaim him God’s chosen one.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Jesus knew all that would happen in the week to come. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">He knew Judas would get impatient and take matters into his
own hands<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">He knew that Mary would realise something was about to happen
and would bathe him in tears and strong perfume.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">He knew that Peter would act impetuously; and then hide away;
that Peter would be so afraid he would deny even knowing him.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Jesus knew that his beloved friends; his closest followers,
would all run away; terrified; confused.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oZlmVtcLmHc/T34TtBAvtfI/AAAAAAAAAQk/vMNfuHSGhxYdHyL8cXokZ6jaYQpz4x54gCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/IMG_0247.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oZlmVtcLmHc/T34TtBAvtfI/AAAAAAAAAQk/vMNfuHSGhxYdHyL8cXokZ6jaYQpz4x54gCPcBGAYYCw/s320/IMG_0247.JPG" width="240" /></a><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">He knew that the scribes and the pharisees would call for his
death, and a weak and terrified governor would give in to their commands. And
that he would be put to death in the most horrible way.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Jesus knew all of these things. </span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And still, he moved forward.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Jesus was in the business of living dangerously.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Palm Sunday is the day it begins: they day that God’s plan;
God’s dream; God’s purpose; God’s Love would set in motion the greatest act of
love in all of history.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In a week from today we will be celebrating joyfully that
once again, death is conquered; heaven’s gates flung wide; Jesus is risen.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Today, we begin the journey to the tomb:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>in between there are opportunities to
come and remember what happened in between those two Sundays.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Betrayal and fear<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Anger and denial<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Anguish and death<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Today is hosanna in the highest…<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Tomorrow brings fear and anxiety.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Living dangerously<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Living faithfully<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Living with Jesus in our hearts<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Amen<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02908101820966970219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4964198618523569738.post-82696646951161225712019-03-17T04:01:00.000+00:002019-03-17T04:01:14.533+00:00Preaching from Afar<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>This week I am guest preacher in Southminster Church, Boise, Idaho.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Here is the sermon for Sunday 17th March</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Matthew 20 - the labourers in the vineyard</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JjDf-gJ6gLI/XI3GIr70OaI/AAAAAAAABqk/yyvoc_QWd7wgVpdQFKNy21Am3Ct_pg05wCLcBGAs/s1600/ZlSWx3X4QvW0f7P9SoMtmg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1203" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JjDf-gJ6gLI/XI3GIr70OaI/AAAAAAAABqk/yyvoc_QWd7wgVpdQFKNy21Am3Ct_pg05wCLcBGAs/s320/ZlSWx3X4QvW0f7P9SoMtmg.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me with a quizzical looking Jesus in Freak Alley, Boise, ID</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Work… work… work.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We go to work; we get home from work; we go to work; we get home from work and at the end of the month, God-willing, there’s a pay cheque.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We go to work; we get part way though the day, and hey, there’s a late arrival. Yeah, but he’s late clocking on so he will have to make up the time – right?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We go to work; we get back after lunch, and what? There’s a late arrival. She did what? Yeah, but she’ll need to make up the time – right?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Same scenario; different venue. Workers in a vineyard, sweating under the fierce sun.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">They work hard; they know at the end of the day there will be a pay-out. They will have earned their keep. The family will eat tonight. And all will be well.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Jesus knew people.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">He knew what a well-defined sense of right and wrong looked like.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">He knew what a well-defined sense of justice thought of the world.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Jesus was not into a well-defined sense of anything really<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Jesus was in the business of shake-up; of turning things on their head.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">You think you know what right and wrong is?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">You think you know truth?!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Think again.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Think again.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">God’s Kingdom. God’s Kin-dom is not what we think it will be.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">God’s Kin-dom will welcome in the people we do not necessarily consider are really worthy.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">If God chooses to be generous with the entry requirements – who are we to complain?! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The question we need to consider most when we hear again the story of the workers in the vineyard is: who will be taken on at the 11<sup>th</sup>hour?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">What if the people we struggle with most in our world are the ones who get the late pass?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">What if, the very people, who cause us the most grief are also welcome in the Kingdom? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Think of one person right now. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Think of the one person who causes you to pause; to pray; to shudder.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The one person who you really cannot imagine in the Kin-dom.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The person, who challenges your sensibilities – their attitude; their politics; their moral code; their work ethic… the way they choose to live their life. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Yeah.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">That person. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">That person is a beloved child of God<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Just as you are a beloved child of God<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">That person has as much right to a place in the kingdom as you or I.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Really.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Picture them. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And then, if you can, picture that person in God’s kingdom. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Alongside you. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">How does that feel?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Alongside you in the kingdom, living in God’s special place…<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Jesus’ stories do that. They make you pause<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">They make you see. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Jesus told stories that people could identify with for a reason.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Stories they could imagine, picture, relate to…</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">He told stories that resonated then, and can still resonate today.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Jesus’ stories told TRUTH. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Jesus’ stories still tell TRUTH today. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And sometimes that TRUTH can cause us to cry out… “but it’s not fair!!” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So, what do we do, if we who feel we labour hard, look across and see those we consider do not?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">What do we do, when they are rewarded, and we want to cry out: “It’s not fair!” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> How do we respond, when we see those whose work appears to our eyes, to be counter to the kingdom, invited, included in the Kin-dom too?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">How do we respond when we witness those whom we do not accept – being accepted.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">How do we feel knowing that THEY are invited to labour alongside US?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">If Jesus stories tell us a TRUTH, that is still relevant today, how are we to perceive it? Live with it? Work alongside it?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Am I going to shout at God?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Rail against God’s just decisions?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Question God?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Really?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Am I going to return to the childhood wail… “it’s not fair!!!”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And as I stamp my foot<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And as we complain bitterly at the unfairness of it all<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Jesus looks at us<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Jesus looks right at each one of us<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Right at the heart of each of us<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Right into our hearts and minds<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And reminds us (again) – all are welcome in the Kingdom.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">All have a chance <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Jesus reminds us, “friend, I do you no wrong. Take what is yours. If I choose to share it with these others it is not your concern. I may do what I choose with that which is mine to give.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">On Monday, in Seattle, at NEXT Church Gathering, I heard a phrase which has stayed with me.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We are all used to hearing the question “who is my neighbour”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The question was reframed: “to whom may I be a neighbour today?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">When Jesus calls the labourers to receive their pay<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">There will not be degrees of God’s kindom – for we are all kin.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">There will be no hierarchy<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">For God is fair and just and all are equal<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">All will be welcome<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">First and last<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Last and first<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Each equally welcomed<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Each equally rewarded<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Who is my co-worker in God’s Kin-dom?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">How may I work to accept that God’s grace and love and gifting is far greater than I may imagine possible?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">God. Our God of justice and fairness, turns the world upside down<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">God turns us upside down too.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 28px;">And that, my friends, can only be a good thing!<o:p></o:p></span> </span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Amen</span></div>
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Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02908101820966970219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4964198618523569738.post-81107717012410033892019-03-07T19:15:00.002+00:002019-03-07T19:22:52.906+00:00Lent Photo a Day - Fear<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">it is the second day of Lent... today's photo is yours truly, wrapped up, hidden, disguised even... </span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1xwe7C03JHg/XIFtrCGstXI/AAAAAAAABqY/L_5hUnQlFIgWIx_x3l_WipU_K9yslObhACK4BGAYYCw/s1600/IMG_1791.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1xwe7C03JHg/XIFtrCGstXI/AAAAAAAABqY/L_5hUnQlFIgWIx_x3l_WipU_K9yslObhACK4BGAYYCw/s320/IMG_1791.jpg" width="240" /></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Today's word for the Lent Photo is fear... </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">as I contemplated Fear, I wondered, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">what is it that I am fearful of?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">What do I wrap myself up in</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">to avoid fear?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">What do I hide behind in order to not face my fears? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br />
</span> <i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Precious Holy</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">as I hide from fear</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">make me bold, make me brave</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">if not today, then at least tomorrow</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Help me to open up and remove the comforts</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">To step out, knowing that I am never truly alone</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">but resting in your love and guidance</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Trusting that in all things,</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">you walk beside me,</span></i><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow<br />
I will fear no evil, for you are with me"</span></blockquote>
<br />
#lentphotoaday19 #lent19 #fear Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02908101820966970219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4964198618523569738.post-32902812944967491672019-03-06T07:37:00.001+00:002019-03-06T07:37:53.626+00:00Ash Wednesday - Pray Ashes<br />
Gritty, black, moist, staining, reminding...<br />
<br />
Ashes,<br />
Remember you are dust and ashes<br />
Remember you will return to ashes and dust<br />
Turn back to God<br />
Turn to God<br />
Dedicate and rededicate<br />
Your ashes<br />
Your life<br />
Your love<br />
Your very self....<br />
<br />
God, of ashes and dust and earth<br />
Breathe new life into us we pray<br />
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#pray </div>
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#lentphotoaday19 </div>
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#lent19 </div>
<br />Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02908101820966970219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4964198618523569738.post-48035450335896194702019-03-03T08:25:00.002+00:002019-03-03T08:25:46.543+00:00From Mountaintop to Valley Below – walking in God’s Footsteps<br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">Sermon</span></span><span style="color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;"> for Transfiguration 3 March 2019 E</span></span><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;">xodus 34: 29-35; Luke 9: 28-36</span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 11.25pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_Hlk2492009"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Some people come into our lives and quickly go.
Some people move our souls to dance. They awaken us to a new understanding with
the passing whisper of their wisdom. Some people make the sky more beautiful to
gaze upon. They stay in our lives for awhile, leave footprints on our hearts,
and we are never, ever the same.”</span></span></i></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #4c1130; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">― </span></span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #4c1130; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 150%;">Flavia Weedn</span></b></span></blockquote>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk2492009;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Traditionally the Sunday before Lent
begins is Transfiguration Sunday. Now, you may know exactly what this means;
you may have an image in your head right now of a person transfigured…<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk2492009;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But, before I ask you to picture
that, let’s explore a little.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk2492009;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">When I spoke earlier – we looked at
light and brightness; we looked at shiny happy people<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk2492009;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And I am sure when you heard the
story of Moses coming down the mountain, his face shining brighter than<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the people could bear, that some of you like
me, thought of Charlton Heston, coming down the mountain in the classic film
The Ten Commandments<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk2492009;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I watched a clip of it during the
week, and I was also able to imagine just how different that would be if they
made the film again now – the special effects would be far greater I am sure! <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk2492009;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Here we have two mountaintop
experiences; encounters with the Divine. Life changing moments, snatched,
glimpsed, stored away to be revisited time and again. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk2492009;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">For Moses the change was permanent,
the Exodus reading tells us that he had to speak to the people with a veil
covering his face, and he only uncovered it went he went in to the tent to
speak with God. Moses came down from the mountaintop, but even in the valley
below, God’s presence stayed with him.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk2492009;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Some of us will have had the
experience of being in the company of someone in whom we get a sense of the
heavenly, the otherworldly, come to earth. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk2492009;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It may be difficult to pin down
exactly what this person exudes that gives us this impression. But nonetheless
we sense the presence of a certain holiness, a certain lightness of being that
affects those with whom that person has contact. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk2492009;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">There can be little doubt that Jesus
had this affect on those who knew and followed him, but in this moment there is
no doubting, no uncertainty for Peter, James and John.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk2492009;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">They are assuredly in the company of
the saints and life suddenly takes on a whole new dimension. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk2492009;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Empowered by this experience, not
afraid any more the disciples must have felt they could do anything with Jesus.
<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk2492009;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But then they come back down to
earth. They cannot stay on the mountaintop forever; they cannot freeze the
moment in time. Life goes on, and they must descend. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk2492009;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Back down in the valley the disciples
are confronted by their inadequacy in being unable to heal a young lad of the
convulsions that were attributed to an evil spirit. They still have so much to
learn…<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk2492009;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Back down in the valley the
Israelites cannot stay on track either – even with God’s commandments to guide;
every time Moses went from them they lost faith, began to stray. The very
reason they spent forty years wandering in the desert is because of their
reluctance to follow and trust God, and God’s servant Moses. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk2492009;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And then, in full circle, as Jesus, on
the mountaintop is revealed in all his glory, he is joined by Moses and Elijah.
Moses, back on the mountaintop, encouraging and strengthening Jesus for the
task ahead.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk2492009;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Earlier this week, as I was doing
some preparatory reading. There was a suggestion made, that when Jesus went off
to pray alone, maybe he met Moses and Elijah every time – it was just that this
time he brought witnesses along.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk2492009;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It is an interesting thought. Jesus,
joining the prophets of old, for encouragement; for support; to be fortified for
the task at hand. For we cannot stay on the mountaintop – there is work to be
done in the valleys below. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk2492009;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This has been a long season of
Epiphany; the season of revelation, a time to reveal who Jesus is. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk2492009;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Week by week we have witnessed little
by little, the signs of Jesus divinity; the wonder of his power, the revelation
of his task.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk2492009;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Each of those moments were moments of
transfiguration along the way. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk2492009;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This contemporary reading takes us
back over the season and reminds us of those places where we have met and
learned something, and been signposted to who Jesus is. When we realise what
has been happening perhaps we see it not as a <u>revelation</u>, but more a <u>revolution</u>
in the way God reveals the love offered for us all.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 1.0cm;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk2492009;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #134f5c;">Not on a mountain-top but by the Jordan
we saw the glory of God.</span></span></span></i></span><span style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk2492009;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It was a revelation as the Messiah
showed himself not as being set apart from all of us but being baptised as one
of us.</span></span></i></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk2492009;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">God beside us, God one of us; this
everyday epiphany is revolution.</span></span></i></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk2492009;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Not on a mountain-top but in the synagogue
we saw the greatness of God.</span></span></i></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk2492009;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It was a revelation as his words
filled us and called us into a new hearing; a word moved from promise to
fulfilment; this everyday epiphany is revolution.</span></span></i></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk2492009;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Not on a mountain-top but in the
celebrations of life the truth of God is revealed.</span></span></i></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk2492009;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This is a revelation where the best
wine is kept till the very end, the fullness of flavour, the generosity of God,
the final revelation becomes a revolution.</span></span></i></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk2492009;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Not on a mountain-top but on the
roadways of the world glory is found.</span></span></i></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk2492009;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This is a revelation that Jesus has
been revealed not in mighty cathedrals but on the roadways of life amid all who
leave footprints in the dust and stoor of everyday epiphanies.</span></span></i></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk2492009;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This common revelation is heaven’s
revolution. (Spill the Beans Issue 6: 2013)</span></span></i></span></span></blockquote>
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<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk2492009;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This week Lent begins, the season of
preparation in the run up to Easter; we will once again climb to the
mountaintop: the hill of Calvary; the tomb of death and the mountaintop of
resurrection.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk2492009;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">For now, we must stay in the Valley:
there is work to be done; but we know, the journey to the cross will take us to
new heights, we can trust that God will walk with us, every step of the way –
we are not alone.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk2492009;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">As we go into our time of prayer,
read now, those words I read right at the beginning:<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #134f5c;">“Some people come into our lives and quickly go. Some people move our
souls to dance. They awaken us to a new understanding with the passing whisper
of their wisdom. Some people make the sky more beautiful to gaze upon. They
stay in our lives for awhile, leave footprints on our hearts, and we are never,
ever the same.”</span></span></i><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #134f5c;"> ― Flavia Weedn</span><span style="color: #4c1130;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></blockquote>
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<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk2492009;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">– from the mountaintop of love, God leaves footprints of Godly love in
our hearts and we are never the same again.</span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk2492009;"></span>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-a1sysHIuUVQ/UwzMTxExRbI/AAAAAAAAApw/wlcfQBtq4Q00JDt7zovhbOX8XIKNwxj-QCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/shining.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1097" data-original-width="840" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-a1sysHIuUVQ/UwzMTxExRbI/AAAAAAAAApw/wlcfQBtq4Q00JDt7zovhbOX8XIKNwxj-QCPcBGAYYCw/s320/shining.jpg" width="244" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02908101820966970219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4964198618523569738.post-74477481750116564762019-02-23T13:39:00.001+00:002019-02-23T13:39:20.491+00:00Love and Good Judgement – the world is still upside down. <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">Genesis 45: 3-11, 15 ;</span></i></span><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">Luke 6: 27- 38 </span></i></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 18.6667px;"> </span><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Sermon for 24 February </span></b></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Forgiveness; reconciliation; love; compassion; mercy;
generosity; they all sound so wonderful don’t they. Especially if we are on the
receiving end.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But the actual doing; giving; being of these is much, much
harder.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Jesus adds to the task by insisting that all of these
attitudes need to be applied, not to your friends and loved ones, but to those
who hate us, those who are our enemies, those who wish us harm!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">For goodness sake!!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Does he know what he is asking?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Of course he does. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The story of forgiveness in the bible is not a new concept, the
story of Joseph tells of astonishing forgiveness.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The reading we heard from Genesis is the culmination of an
event begun years before.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It is a tale full of jealousy, anger, betrayal and deception.
It is not the finest hour for Joseph’s brothers.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I wonder – did they regret their actions in those ensuing
years?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">When they saw their father’s grief, did they wish it was
different; did they replay it in their imagination, seeking a different
outcome?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Joseph remembered them; they did not recognise him for many
reasons. The most obvious of course being that they thought he was most
probably dead! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But also, he has been away from them for around ten years; he
had grown from a boy to a man, and he is living as an Egyptian.
There is little by way of clues for them to recognise a man they had assumed
lost. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Joseph had realised who they were; and had made them suffer
by over filling their bags; and putting some of the Pharaoh’s sliver in with
the grain so he had an excuse to call them back and confront them, his
anticipation and excitement at the big reveal must have been enormous.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">He knew, with the wisdom of hindsight, that the gift of dream
telling had placed him in the right place, at the right time; he knew that God
had been with him throughout, and because of that, God had blessed and
preserved him for this time.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">He also knew that forgiveness was his to give. Forgiveness to
his brothers, whom he loved, in spite of the fact that they had plotted to kill
him; had attacked him; and eventually sold him to slave traders… all that they
had done, and yet, his faith enabled him to let it go, to free his own pain and
offer forgiveness and love to these estranged brothers. And then, because God
had placed him exactly where he needed to be, was able to help his family in a
time of great need… <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_Hlk1820510"><span style="line-height: 150%;">Forgiveness; reconciliation; love;
compassion; mercy; generosity; all the elements that Jesus was talking about
are </span></a><span style="line-height: 150%;">found in the
story of Joseph and his brothers.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Jesus’ teaching hits home; the instruction is easy to
understand, but almost impossible to put into practice – unless we remember
that in all things, God’s grace abounds. Under our own power we are powerless;
with God’s grace we can achieve amazing and wonderful things. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The key point, the Golden Rule, is Love your Enemies. It is
not difficult to understand but it is very difficult to do! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I find I ask myself how? How can I make this work in my life?
There is responsibility, there are rules… <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> I do not have a
satisfactory answer yet, though I am working on it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Earlier this week I was at the annual Presbytery Clerk’s
conference; we received previews of some of the things that are going to be
coming up at General Assembly in May, including two far reaching pieces of work
that look into the administration of the church and the new revised radical
plan which looks at the future of the whole church.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Both will require hard, brave action.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Both are created with input from the whole church – not just
those admin people in Edinburgh, but ordinary people from the parishes; parish
ministers – like you and me, the people who are on the ground, being the church. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Forgiveness; reconciliation; love; compassion; mercy; generosity;
all the elements that Jesus was talking about are going to be needed by the
church as we move forward in the next months and years.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-U7jqavW7LK0/XHFMvPM5hyI/AAAAAAAABps/oOamZHfYOjc7NfOeLF0nn6cH4CaIjjDPACLcBGAs/s1600/162A4618-00A2-4BA3-BF32-47E39DB7E821.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="901" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-U7jqavW7LK0/XHFMvPM5hyI/AAAAAAAABps/oOamZHfYOjc7NfOeLF0nn6cH4CaIjjDPACLcBGAs/s320/162A4618-00A2-4BA3-BF32-47E39DB7E821.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #660000;"><i>Stepping out boldly!</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Change is coming. The world does not stand still, and neither
can the church as a whole stand still. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In our Presbytery, and in our area, talks continue,
prayerfully looking forward, seeking new and creative ways to sustain and
build. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Our challenge is to be open to what may be suggested; to
think beyond this building and our village; to be generous with those we do not
know well; to be encouraging, even if we are unsure ourselves. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I do not know what is coming; and I do not know how we will
be affected.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I do know, we can be like Joseph; trusting God’s plan, even
when it seems impossible.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I do know we can follow Jesus’ lead… for God’s kingdom, God’s
love, God’s family is ours too.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The future is hidden from our eyes; the world is still upside
down<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But we are reminded again: God’s love takes us into new ways,
new adventures as we follow.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">God blesses us with grace and love; the world may be upside
down, unpredictable, constantly changing… <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But we are equipped by God: forgiveness; reconciliation;
love; compassion; mercy; generosity; all ours through Jesus <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And with that hope – we can be strong. Amen </span></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span>Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02908101820966970219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4964198618523569738.post-55340170136511248382019-02-17T08:21:00.002+00:002019-02-17T08:21:35.100+00:00Turning the World Upside Down - sermon for 17 February <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>Jeremiah 17: 5-10; Luke 6:17-26</i></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">Blessings</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"> and Woes </span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">One of the advantages of a late
Easter is that we get to spend more time looking at Jesus’ early ministry. The
sermon on the mount is a familiar scene, Jesus, on the hillside, sharing his
wisdom. The version of this in Luke’s Gospel is a little different from the
Beatitudes in Matthew’s Gospel as the short list of blessings is mirrored by a
short list of woes. These blessings and woes are significant especially because
for those who hear these words, both two thousand years ago, and today, they
seem to be the wrong way round.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Blessed to be hungry?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Woe to be full?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Blessed to be poor?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Woe to be rich?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Blessed to weep…<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Woe to laugh.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It seems all wrong doesn’t it?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Turned upside down… wrong way up.
<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The prophet Jeremiah also has
warnings of who is cursed and who is blessed: these on first glance seem more
acceptable: cursed are those who trust in human things; blessed are those who
trust in God… and a warning too: God sees into the heart – God knows what it is
we really trust!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Those who heard this proclamation
first-hand struggled: their society believed in the rule of you reap what you
sow; that good things happened to show you were favoured by God, and if bad
things happened it must be because you had done something bad and God was
punishing you.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And we sometimes fall into that trap
too: we hear others saying, what have I done to deserve this? Or, we say, you
don’t deserve that; or, we ask, why didn’t God prevent this, or that from
happening. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Well, truth is, stuff happens.
Bad things happen to good people; good things happen to bad people, and vice
versa. Stuff happens.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Jesus was turning it round to
help us move beyond the ‘stuff’, and into a real God relationship.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">If terrible things do happen –
find the blessings – because those who suffer are blessed, known and loved by
God.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">These blessings. The Beatitudes
are not a list of conditions to aspire to; nor are they some weird contract
Jesus is setting out for us to strive after. There is no condition attached.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It is part of our human condition
to believe we are not worthy; that we are not special enough, good enough. Yet,
what Jesus is telling us is that we ARE worthy. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We ARE special. We ARE loved. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">If we find we are suffering, that
our spirit is hungry, that our lives do not feel worthy, we are blessed.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Not, we will be blessed at some
point in the future, once we’ve repented or apologised, or made good. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But we are blessed<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Right now<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Right here<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Right where we are.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Jesus' teaching was to show people
who were marginalised, who were constantly feeling unworthy and unacceptable,
that God loved them.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Jesus' teaching was aimed at those
who felt they did not have a place in God’s Kingdom. To tell them, that their
place was now. That they were indeed part of God’s kingdom; that they were
indeed part of God’s family.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">That teaching stands the test of
time; and we hear it again today: we are part of God’s story now. Today. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We are part of God’s kingdom.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Do you have things you are
unhappy about in your life?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Me too!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Do you have things that make you
feel unsure, uncomfortable, unacceptable? </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Me too!!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Does that exclude us from God’s
kingdom? Does that bring us woe?!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">NO!!!!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">That blesses us; that confirms
the blessings that God wants us to receive. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">When we hear the Good News of the
Gospel again, we are reminded we are part of God’s Story. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We are: beloved. Blessed. Known.
Loved. Forgiven.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">As we strive to live as well as
we can.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We live into our blessedness<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We take up the blessings God
bestows<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We accept that God loves and
blesses us<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The blessings – the beatitudes
are not a statement of intent; they are not even a promise.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">They are a statement of what IS.
Now.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The beatitudes tell us, without
condition<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Today, you and I, are blessed.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">If this seems all wrong and for
others but not for you… remember, Jesus turned everything upside down and wrong
way round.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">You are blessed<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Believe it<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Live it<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Know it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Amen </span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02908101820966970219noreply@blogger.com0