"Where were you in the days that followed? I was searching and hoping. Burying the dead. Seeking shelter, food and comfort."
Help from a distance by giving money on 0870 60 60 900. Give online at www.dec.org.uk. Or donate through a charity of your choice: World Vision, Tearfund, Oxfam, Christian Aid...
...Pray, write a song, shake your head in disbelief, but above all donate a bit of cash - and do it now because it's needed now.
Where are you in the Tsunami?
Where were you God?
Where were you when the ocean broke the shore?
I was playing on the beach.
Fishing in my boat.
Eating breakfast with my family.
Where were you when the sea sucked lives away?
I was holding on tight until I couldn't.
Afraid and running.
Caught in the swirling chaos.
Where were you when all those people died?
I was struggling to breathe.
Letting go.
Counting the lights entering eternity.
Where were you when the waters receded?
I was standing on the shore.
Weeping with grief.
Aching to hold my lost people.
Where were you in the days that followed?
I was searching and hoping.
Burying the dead.
Seeking shelter, food and comfort.
Where are you now God, where are you now?
I am where you are.
Always.
Rev Jennie Gordon
Preston Parish UCA, Vic.
Where were you when the ocean broke the shore?
I was playing on the beach.
Fishing in my boat.
Eating breakfast with my family.
Where were you when the sea sucked lives away?
I was holding on tight until I couldn't.
Afraid and running.
Caught in the swirling chaos.
Where were you when all those people died?
I was struggling to breathe.
Letting go.
Counting the lights entering eternity.
Where were you when the waters receded?
I was standing on the shore.
Weeping with grief.
Aching to hold my lost people.
Where were you in the days that followed?
I was searching and hoping.
Burying the dead.
Seeking shelter, food and comfort.
Where are you now God, where are you now?
I am where you are.
Always.
Rev Jennie Gordon
Preston Parish UCA, Vic.
you can tell that no-one has anything better to do...
...because my inbox is bulging with emails from people who I'm sure should be working. At least that's what their bosses think.
As a result, a cracking article just in, this time from The Herald (Scotland), about why Ron Ferguson doesn't like being asked if he's a Christian, or admitting that he might be. All I can think to say in response to his arguments right now is, ditto.
http://www.theherald.co.uk/features/30314.html
As a result, a cracking article just in, this time from The Herald (Scotland), about why Ron Ferguson doesn't like being asked if he's a Christian, or admitting that he might be. All I can think to say in response to his arguments right now is, ditto.
http://www.theherald.co.uk/features/30314.html
the Word
the Word
The Word became flesh and blood
and moved into the neighbourhood.
The word is, God became a baby:
depended on others for food and water,
and maybe, even, love.
The word is, God learned to crawl,
Just like any other normal child.
The word is, God took his first steps,
Literally: as a toddler,
He set out on a journey.
The word is, God set out on the journey
Of life itself. He learned to live.
And the word is that God has gone before us
Once again, to prepare the Way,
To make it straight.
As one journey ends, another begins,
And though we can’t touch him,
The word is that he’s with us in Spirit,
Reaching out to touch us,
And teaching us to walk.
(By Brian Draper. This reflection was taken from Way to Go - Thirty Readings on a Journey with Jesus, written by Eddie Gibbs with meditations by Brian Draper (IVP, 2003), via LICC - www.licc.org.uk)
The Word became flesh and blood
and moved into the neighbourhood.
The word is, God became a baby:
depended on others for food and water,
and maybe, even, love.
The word is, God learned to crawl,
Just like any other normal child.
The word is, God took his first steps,
Literally: as a toddler,
He set out on a journey.
The word is, God set out on the journey
Of life itself. He learned to live.
And the word is that God has gone before us
Once again, to prepare the Way,
To make it straight.
As one journey ends, another begins,
And though we can’t touch him,
The word is that he’s with us in Spirit,
Reaching out to touch us,
And teaching us to walk.
(By Brian Draper. This reflection was taken from Way to Go - Thirty Readings on a Journey with Jesus, written by Eddie Gibbs with meditations by Brian Draper (IVP, 2003), via LICC - www.licc.org.uk)
Advent calendar
Having known about this lot since post-Greenbelt this year - http://www.wearewhatwedo.org - I found this lovely advent calendar just too late to have the fun of clicking it open every day in December... Oh well. Not too late to start, or go back and just idle away another hour at work clicking through the whole lot. And do buy their book - Change the World for a Fiver.
Also check out Greenbelt's own Year of Living Generously, of which I'm one of the 100-strong pilot community members - www.greenbelt.org.uk/generous.
Here endeth the sermon on how to change the world slowly but surely.
Also check out Greenbelt's own Year of Living Generously, of which I'm one of the 100-strong pilot community members - www.greenbelt.org.uk/generous.
Here endeth the sermon on how to change the world slowly but surely.
Manchester, city of heathens
Apparently Manchester, which I had always thought was God's Own City, is in fact the most godless place in the country. Blimey.
Wisdom and Logos
"The figure of divine wisdom in Proverbs 8 and in the Wisdom of Solomon is theologically identical to what the New Testament describes as the Logos, or 'Son' of God. Because Christianity chooses the male symbol for this idea, however, the unwarranted idea develops that there is a necessary ontological connection between the maleness of Jesus' historical person and the maleness of Logos as the male offspring and disclosure of a male God. The female figure of divine wisdom is displaced from the orthodox trinity".
Rosemary Radford Ruether (1983) Sexism and God-Talk SCM Press p99
There's been a long history of assuming that the fact that Jesus was biologically male somehow means that God is male and therefore, those people who represent God to the church - priest, ministers - must also be male. This ignores that fact that Jesus was also palestinian and a carpenter - conveniently - how many palestinian carpenters are knocking around ready to give communion?
It's been very exciting over the past few years to discover femaleness within God. I hadn't realised that the Wisdom in Proverbs 8 (she stands on the street calling out to people) is theologically identical to the logos in John 1 but it makes sense - as well as meaning word, I think it can be translated to mean wisdom and idea. If there is maleness and femaleness within God, which there must be as we are all made in God's image and gender is one of the basics of identity, then I am like God.
Waiting for the Light
Tonight's service is called Waiting for the Light. It's at Sacred Trinity (on Chapel St off Deansgate) at 8pm (last minute plug!).
However, I've just been "rehearsing" it at home this afternoon - I'm leading it because Ben and Ruth are busy with the gorgeous Jude - and I think it's going to be a stunner! Ben wrote almost all of it so I can't take any credit but I think we deserve extra brownie points this time for linking (not giving anything away) Jack Nicholson, brown paper bags, a complete black out, Homer's Odyssey, and Advent. And of course the usual obligatory seasonal food - mince pies...
More later once it's over. Maybe even a photo or two if you're all good children...
However, I've just been "rehearsing" it at home this afternoon - I'm leading it because Ben and Ruth are busy with the gorgeous Jude - and I think it's going to be a stunner! Ben wrote almost all of it so I can't take any credit but I think we deserve extra brownie points this time for linking (not giving anything away) Jack Nicholson, brown paper bags, a complete black out, Homer's Odyssey, and Advent. And of course the usual obligatory seasonal food - mince pies...
More later once it's over. Maybe even a photo or two if you're all good children...
I'm a Dad!!
Ruth and I have had our first Baby!! He's called Jude Samuel and I'm rather pleased with him! He weighed 6lb 13 and was born yesterday at 8:50 am.
wireless apples
Thank God for Apple and the Airport! How lovely is it being able to browse anywhere with no wires or modems trailing after you?... Think of all the recipes I can now follow from Nigel Slater online whilst actually cooking. Think of being able to Listen Again to all the radio shows you've ever missed whilst lying in bed on a Sunday morning. Hmmmm. And how tiny can you make such a clever thing?!
Three festive cheers for Apple!!!
Three festive cheers for Apple!!!
Morrissey has forgiven Jesus.
Have a look at the video for Morrissey's new single: I have forgiven Jesus.
http://www.video-c.co.uk/microsite.asp?vidref=morr)
The lyrics and the video are fascinating, with mozzer though you have to wonder how much is tongue in cheek...
I was a good kid
I wouldn’t do you no harm
I was a nice kid
with a nice paper-round
Forgive me any pain
I may have brung to you
With God’s help I know
I’ll always be near to you
but Jesus hurt me
When He deserted me / but
I have forgiven Jesus
for all the desire
He placed in me
when there’s nothing I can do with this desire
I was good kid
through hail and snow / I’d go
just to moon you
I carried my heart in my hand
- do you understand?
- do you understand?
but Jesus hurt me
when He deserted me / but
I have forgiven Jesus
for all of the love / he placed in me
when there’s no one I can turn to with this love
Monday - humiliation / Tuesday - suffocation
Wednesday - condescension / Thursday - is pathetic
by Friday - Life has killed me
by Friday - Life has killed me
why did you give me /so much desire?
when there is nowhere I can go
to offload this desire?
and why did you give me so much love
in a loveless world?
when there is no one I can turn to
to unlock all this love
and why did you stick me in
self-deprecating bones and skin
Jesus - do you hate me?
why did you stick me in
self-deprecating bones and skin
... do you hate me?
http://www.video-c.co.uk/microsite.asp?vidref=morr)
The lyrics and the video are fascinating, with mozzer though you have to wonder how much is tongue in cheek...
I was a good kid
I wouldn’t do you no harm
I was a nice kid
with a nice paper-round
Forgive me any pain
I may have brung to you
With God’s help I know
I’ll always be near to you
but Jesus hurt me
When He deserted me / but
I have forgiven Jesus
for all the desire
He placed in me
when there’s nothing I can do with this desire
I was good kid
through hail and snow / I’d go
just to moon you
I carried my heart in my hand
- do you understand?
- do you understand?
but Jesus hurt me
when He deserted me / but
I have forgiven Jesus
for all of the love / he placed in me
when there’s no one I can turn to with this love
Monday - humiliation / Tuesday - suffocation
Wednesday - condescension / Thursday - is pathetic
by Friday - Life has killed me
by Friday - Life has killed me
why did you give me /so much desire?
when there is nowhere I can go
to offload this desire?
and why did you give me so much love
in a loveless world?
when there is no one I can turn to
to unlock all this love
and why did you stick me in
self-deprecating bones and skin
Jesus - do you hate me?
why did you stick me in
self-deprecating bones and skin
... do you hate me?
Two
Sanctus1 hosted a club night on weds at cord. It was a great night, thanks loads to DJ fat roland and squeeky productions for all their organising and for some fine tunes and great visuals. We hope to be there again in the future.
It was also good to see people there who were not from Sanctus1, the night seemed to open us up to another group of people, i had some great chats with people who would never usually even think about faith and spirituality.
It was also good to see people there who were not from Sanctus1, the night seemed to open us up to another group of people, i had some great chats with people who would never usually even think about faith and spirituality.
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