No sermon today
A time of prayer and reflection,
and lighting candles for whatever touches the heart...
& communion
Showing posts with label #NaBloPoMo. Show all posts
Showing posts with label #NaBloPoMo. Show all posts
Sunday, 15 November 2015
Saturday, 14 November 2015
A Prayer for Paris #NaBloPoMo
Ah Paris!
City of history and culture
maze of streets and steps
How often I walked within your bounds...
Today I weep for you
as you take stock
as you stand, bewildered by the force of terror
Oh Paris! What can we say?
Holy God - be with those who weep
and those who fear
Counsel those who react
Encourage those who help, and pray, and listen, and talk...
Comfort those who survived against the odds
Quell feelings of guilt and wonderment
Why did I survive? How was I saved?
Walk, O Holy One with your little ones
Your broken ones
Your hurting ones
Walk and walk, until the pain eases and tomorrow comes
We pray
in words and silence
Amen
 |
| Paris - autumn 2008 |
Saturday, 7 November 2015
NaBloPoMo #7 - the greatest of these
Ahh... it's a wedding today!
Sweet couple with two little ones
the younger is two and a half - and I fully expect him to run riot this afternoon - just as he did last night at the rehearsal....
This is my third wedding this year - church weddings are getting fewer and fewer as more folks go for a "Package Deal" with venue providing a celebrant who will do whatever the couple want.... choice is what it's all about now; the upside of this being that generally those who choose to have a minister and a church also really want their union to be blessed - God is welcome!
The first years I was in ministry the packages were only just beginning to come into the equation, so I got all sorts of requests, and suggestions. More weddings, but not necessarily more blessings...
It is sad that the numbers have gone down
but good that those who come, really do seek to invite God to bless their union.
Sweet couple with two little ones
the younger is two and a half - and I fully expect him to run riot this afternoon - just as he did last night at the rehearsal....
This is my third wedding this year - church weddings are getting fewer and fewer as more folks go for a "Package Deal" with venue providing a celebrant who will do whatever the couple want.... choice is what it's all about now; the upside of this being that generally those who choose to have a minister and a church also really want their union to be blessed - God is welcome!
The first years I was in ministry the packages were only just beginning to come into the equation, so I got all sorts of requests, and suggestions. More weddings, but not necessarily more blessings...
It is sad that the numbers have gone down
but good that those who come, really do seek to invite God to bless their union.
 |
| New wedding banner at Earlston |
Friday, 6 November 2015
NaBloPoMo #6 - Friday random
It's Friday - so that means Friday Five over at RevGals... plus there's today's NaBloPoMo prompt, so I'm going to do a wee combo....
On the blog, 3dogmom asks: random Friday Five out of the hat today.
What is your “gotta go!” breakfast that you can grab and take with you in the morning when you’re in a rush?
Oh my! Breakfast is the one meal I never rush! I don't eat bread or dairy due to food allergies; so my daily breakfast is eggs and bacon with mushrooms and tomatoes and spinach - the meal I would rush or skip is lunch - easy when you have a decent breakfast.
When was the last time you had a fun evening out, and what did you do?
Wednesday was my birthday, and my beloved took me out for a lovely meal in a very special restaurant, very fine fare, and we had a sweet time.
Last real 'fun' night was with good friends, eating, playing silly games and laughing lots.
Favorite poet or poem?
Oh - a tie between George Herbert and Christina Rossetti: GH - Come my way - simply wondrous; Rossetti - Remember me when I am gone away - sublime.
Who makes you laugh?
Lots of people! My boys; my sweetheart; Peter Kaye; Michael Macintyre... I don't like the ones who do swearing or bad taste - there is so much funny out there without resorting to that.
Where do you like to go for some “time apart,” in the way that Jesus took time apart?
The sea!! Oh yes the sea, or if I can't get to the sea then a river or a loch will do
And Julia asked us for today's prompt - when you were about 8 what did you want to be when you grew up?
For the longest time I wanted to be a scientist - I can't remember when I first got the notion, but my whole senior school choices were geared to me working in a lab, doing research - I wanted to find a cure, or discover a new treatment - I never wanted to be a doctor - just the scientist in the background.
It all fell apart, when after school I applied to work for ICI - passed the interview failed the medical - too many allergies which would bar me from laboratory work.
But for those childhood years, I'd wear my little white coat (one of Dad's old shirts!), and play experiments with bottles and jars, water and plants from the garden...
On the blog, 3dogmom asks: random Friday Five out of the hat today.
What is your “gotta go!” breakfast that you can grab and take with you in the morning when you’re in a rush?
Oh my! Breakfast is the one meal I never rush! I don't eat bread or dairy due to food allergies; so my daily breakfast is eggs and bacon with mushrooms and tomatoes and spinach - the meal I would rush or skip is lunch - easy when you have a decent breakfast.
When was the last time you had a fun evening out, and what did you do?
Wednesday was my birthday, and my beloved took me out for a lovely meal in a very special restaurant, very fine fare, and we had a sweet time.
Last real 'fun' night was with good friends, eating, playing silly games and laughing lots.
Favorite poet or poem?
Oh - a tie between George Herbert and Christina Rossetti: GH - Come my way - simply wondrous; Rossetti - Remember me when I am gone away - sublime.
Who makes you laugh?
Lots of people! My boys; my sweetheart; Peter Kaye; Michael Macintyre... I don't like the ones who do swearing or bad taste - there is so much funny out there without resorting to that.
Where do you like to go for some “time apart,” in the way that Jesus took time apart?
The sea!! Oh yes the sea, or if I can't get to the sea then a river or a loch will do
And Julia asked us for today's prompt - when you were about 8 what did you want to be when you grew up?
For the longest time I wanted to be a scientist - I can't remember when I first got the notion, but my whole senior school choices were geared to me working in a lab, doing research - I wanted to find a cure, or discover a new treatment - I never wanted to be a doctor - just the scientist in the background.
It all fell apart, when after school I applied to work for ICI - passed the interview failed the medical - too many allergies which would bar me from laboratory work.
But for those childhood years, I'd wear my little white coat (one of Dad's old shirts!), and play experiments with bottles and jars, water and plants from the garden...
Thursday, 5 November 2015
NaBloPoMo #5
Over at RevGals today's prompt questions what have we done that's not in the job description?
Which gave me reason to smile, as I'm not sure I ever saw a job description for Church of Scotland minister...
However...
Today I've been thinking about time, years and their passing.
Yesterday I turned 56 (I KNOW! AMAZING! RIGHT!?)
Today would have been my grandma's birthday... She was born in 1904 so she's been gone awhile, but I still think of her, and our shared days. We did stuff together. She lived close by us after my grandpa died, so from the age of around 7 until her death in 1986 when I was 27 she was a constant part of my life.
She was as Irish as she could be, and was wise and kind, but with an honest, sharp wit!
She was also a devout Roman Catholic her rosary was never far from reach and her simple faith was expressed in all sorts of "grandma-isms" PG, GW, TBTG, sweet Mary pray for us....
She lived life
She loved life and she did whatever she could for us, for as long as she was able
She showed what real ministry is. Faithful prayer, compassion and kindness, holding your hair back when you were sick, a cool cloth when you were hot, a full bodied laugh when you were taking yourself too seriously, and sympathetic tears when life did not go as you had hoped and prayed.
I often wonder what she'd have thought about how my life turned out.
Would she be proud? Happy? Shocked?
I know one thing for sure - she wouldn't have been worried about telling me!
Happy birthday Grandma, I hope you're having cake and tea!
Which gave me reason to smile, as I'm not sure I ever saw a job description for Church of Scotland minister...
However...
Today I've been thinking about time, years and their passing.
Yesterday I turned 56 (I KNOW! AMAZING! RIGHT!?)
Today would have been my grandma's birthday... She was born in 1904 so she's been gone awhile, but I still think of her, and our shared days. We did stuff together. She lived close by us after my grandpa died, so from the age of around 7 until her death in 1986 when I was 27 she was a constant part of my life.
She was as Irish as she could be, and was wise and kind, but with an honest, sharp wit!
She was also a devout Roman Catholic her rosary was never far from reach and her simple faith was expressed in all sorts of "grandma-isms" PG, GW, TBTG, sweet Mary pray for us....
She lived life
She loved life and she did whatever she could for us, for as long as she was able
She showed what real ministry is. Faithful prayer, compassion and kindness, holding your hair back when you were sick, a cool cloth when you were hot, a full bodied laugh when you were taking yourself too seriously, and sympathetic tears when life did not go as you had hoped and prayed.
I often wonder what she'd have thought about how my life turned out.
Would she be proud? Happy? Shocked?
I know one thing for sure - she wouldn't have been worried about telling me!
Happy birthday Grandma, I hope you're having cake and tea!
 |
| This is me, my mum, my grandma and the first two of my three boys, summer 1986 |
Tuesday, 18 November 2014
Singing we gladly worship the Lord!
Today's prompt over at the RGBP blog...
What's your go-to shower song? (Or other serenade scenario music) Why do you belt this song?
Well... in the shower I sing along to the radio - so whatever is on, I'll sing. This may mean that funny two second delay sing-along when you don't really know the words, so you repeat after you hear them... fine for you, and just terrible for anyone who happens to overhear!
At other times I sing... well I sing constantly
very often I do not even know I'm doing it, until the check out operator makes a comment about me being cheery; or someone at the bus stop looks over with a grin... in my head I'm singing under my breath!
Around the house I'll sing my favourite hymns and psalms - as the title of this post implies!
or I'll sing my go to favourites from all sorts of artists, collected together in a book of music I just love!
Every time we Say Goodbye...what a Wonderful WorldThey can't take that away from meThe way you look tonight...
.JPG)
What's your go-to shower song? (Or other serenade scenario music) Why do you belt this song?
Well... in the shower I sing along to the radio - so whatever is on, I'll sing. This may mean that funny two second delay sing-along when you don't really know the words, so you repeat after you hear them... fine for you, and just terrible for anyone who happens to overhear!
At other times I sing... well I sing constantly
very often I do not even know I'm doing it, until the check out operator makes a comment about me being cheery; or someone at the bus stop looks over with a grin... in my head I'm singing under my breath!
Around the house I'll sing my favourite hymns and psalms - as the title of this post implies!
or I'll sing my go to favourites from all sorts of artists, collected together in a book of music I just love!
Every time we Say Goodbye...what a Wonderful WorldThey can't take that away from meThe way you look tonight...
Tuesday, 11 November 2014
November 11
Remembering
this day was a day for solemnity
a day to be with the young at school
and to walk with them
tracing steps
from school to square
It was a day - not to glorify war
but to remember its true cost
It was a day for the next generation
to realise their role
as the next generation
It was a day for respect
and honour, and quiet
It was a day to remember that
there are always two sides
that history is written by the victor
and that pain and loss is indiscriminate
It was a day to remember
because if we forget
Who will speak out?
Who will hold up their hands
and raise the shout, "Stop!!"?
It was a day, today
and yesterday
and Sunday
when we remember the yesterdays
in order to secure the tomorrows
we will remember
Wednesday, 5 November 2014
Road trip
So much for writing a little every day... But I have an excuse!
Spending time on the road precludes having time to sit and write anything more than fb updates....
So:
Following the lovely "Fake Christmas" with the whole family we set off on our mini road trip.
Just me and my Canada Boy.
Quality time.
Chatting about the deep and meaningful stuff.
The road trip took us out of Scotland, into England to my sister.
Then, next morning, on to Wales to my parents
There followed an emotional reunion, and lots of chat.
And another lovely family time....
Families:
Those we love
Those who are connected, by blood, for sure. But also by strong ties of shared experiences, bonds that are nothing to do with the blood tie, and everything to do with, love and care and trust and hope and laughter and tears and history.
And when the bond is passed from generation to generation then it is a wondrous thing to observe.
For me, listening to my boy chat to his granddad, enthusing about his new life across the world in a new country. Hearing them share hopes and dreams, watching as he showed them pictures of his place, his work, his girl.... I thought my heart would burst!
Joy and love so deep they hurt
But I wouldn't change it for all the world.
 |
| family selfie! |
I have just returned from taking him to the train....
And I shed a tear as I waved him off.
Next year
Next year....
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