God said
I give you every seed bearing plant
And it was good
Different colours and shapes
Like all human kind
Pounded and milled for us to face life
Mixed with the water of God
Risen with the yeast of the Holy Spirit
Shaped with the love of Jesus
To become our life bread
Lifted high and blessed
Ready to share
May all be fed
To bring us nearer to God
And faith in life eternal.
Helen
I am the Bread of Life
Broken for us, Restored, Renewed, Revived Everyone welcomed Alive in God’s hands Dying you destroyed our death and in rising you restored our life.
The sight of Jesus alone as day breaks, watching the water.
Pale barley colours streak the grey sky line.
The sound of sea nibbling at the shore.
The smell of wood smoke, the flicker of spiralling flames,
A boat bumping in the waves.
Fishermen surprise in their voices greet you, as Peter splashing through the sea rushes to touch you.
At your instruction the net is cast rightly, soon teeming with the threshing and struggling fish of every kind and dragged to the shore.
All sharing the bread and fish not knowing that later they will call your name in many lands and voices,
Shout your praise
Cast the net wide again and share bread and wine with mankind.
Barbara Rolison
May 2017
Breakfast on the shore of the lake
No fish and
A thin mist on the shore.
On the lake, a boat,
Rocking gently
Where tired bodies longed for bed.
When suddenly,
Through the mist,
A distant voice –
“Cast the net once more.”
Wow! The perfect catch!
Where did all that come from?
Alerted by the spectacle
Their eyes espied a fire,
Piercing the drifting mist.
Peter,
Waiting for no one,
Grabbed his cloak,
Plunged into the sea
And struck out for the shore.
Not like Moses,
Tip-toeing his way:
Peter believed –
It is the Lord!
His heart reached out for the great embrace!
The great I am
Is on our shore
To feed and guide and love us all.
Trinity dancer, You came, Loving Lord
Flow of indwelling Love circling Your veins
Ye eternity in Your breath
Freedom in communion
Came into bustling, tumbling humanity
Crowds touching, following, circling You round.
Needs, noise, every word dissected
Your heart open to all
You often yearned for stillness; space of breath,
Yet never alone. Unless in a crowd.
You stilled our storms, healed our anguish,
Met all our outstretched hands.
But when Your human heart yearned to us
For companion, healing, holding touch…
Where were we then? O Dear Lord, now
We long to dry Your tears.
We walk alone so often, deep in heart
But there You always meet us, stand by us.
You touch, anoint, when we feel left alone.
In solidarity.
Victoria Barlow
The Crown of Thorns
A mosaic and poem by David New
Pilate: I must save
My face, hold on to power.
Christ gave all, saved all.
Christ carries the cross.
He, the willing substitute,
For us, the condemned.
Bearing the burden
Of war, oppression, sickness.
Stumbling but bearing.
Underneath it all.
Deeper than the worst you know.
He is there for us.
He meets his mother,
Not understanding, but there.
Be there and bear it.
Simon takes the cross.
Press-ganged to join the free man.
Disciple for life.
Jesus falls again
How embarrassing, we say,
Jesus understands.
Christ meets the women.
Weep not for yourselves, he said.
But for your children.
Christ, nailed to the cross.
Such unbearable pain, Lord,
How did you forgive?
My God, where are you?
I feel all desolation.
Paradise today!
I am so thirsty.
I crave relief, acquittal,
For my oppressors.
Behold, your mother.
Fellowship in suffering.
Church is born right here.
His body hangs limp
In the setting sun, heaven
Opens doors to earth.
Lifeless in her arms
He lies, all agony gone.
Grief and tears and peace.
They buried Jesus,
Joseph and Nicodemus,
In the rich man’s grave.
What was it, Jesus?
Stirred in them this act of faith?
“Hearts touched by my love.”
Silent Saturday.
Sabbath rest in stone cold tomb.
Peace that saves the world.
Let go and let God.
Prison cell prayer; being still.
Miracles follow!
David New
Gethsemane
People all shapes and sizes
Different thoughts and beliefs
Waving palms with thoughts of a coming King.
How did Jesus see them?
With love and Understanding.
The fearful gathering
Dismayed at foot-washing
Not from the Master!
How did Jesus see them?
His loved ones, His brothers, His children.
The meal set for all,
The sharing of bread and wine,
A foretaste of His body and blood.
What did Jesus hope for?
An echoing continual thanksgiving
Remembering His universal forgiveness and love.
The creeping away, Judas
With thoughts of money and betrayal.
Have we crept quietly away?
How did Jesus see him?
Ever knowing, grieving.
In the garden the absence God created
Deep prayer amongst scents and sounds
Sleeping disciples and a broken heart.
How did Jesus see God?
With slow acceptance and pain.
Upon the cross in anguish
Gasping for breath, skin tearing
Two robbers, family support.
How did Jesus see them?
With Forgiveness, concern and love.
Leaving the tomb, risen in Glory
Accomplished, one with the Father
New life for the mission of God.
How do we see Jesus?
Our Saviour, our Hope and Joy
The path for life into Eternity.
When we visit a new city,
we search for its centre.
We are optimistic.
We follow a winding trail that leads us to a grand cathedral,
the spiritual centre.
Here is where the history lies.
Where countless pilgrims have sought comfort, healing, guidance, answers;
Have raised eyes and hands in
awe, despair, sadness, joy, yearning.
As we walk our own personal labyrinth
We try to avoid distractions.
We want to move on,
‘To see Thee more clearly
Love Thee more dearly
Follow Thee more nearly.’
The Labyrinth has no dead ends like a maze.
It encourages us to seek for truth,
To bring our whole being into focus.
We are not led up garden paths leading to nowhere.
We take a continuous course mapping our thoughts and feelings on the way,
Hoping to reach the centre.
Will Jesus be there?
We remember His Healing,
His Teaching His Praying;
His tortuous journey to Jerusalem.
There is no turning back for Him.
We continue on our labyrinth walk
until we reach the centre,
Where Jesus stretches out his arms for us.
We linger with Him awhile.
Encircled by His love, we retrace our steps.
Jesus guides us back
And ‘sends us out into the world
To live and work to His praise and Glory.’
Sue Ashby-Davis Lent 2017
Labyrinth
Tracing a finger round the labyrinth I recall the Mappa Mundi where Jerusalem is the centre of the world.
Is this my labyrinthine pilgrimage? Will my journey towards Christ lead me to my Jerusalem?
Pilgrimage is a lifetime of thinking, a long time to ponder the mysteries of our world, the challenges, lack of purpose, desperation, decisions.
I focus on Jesus and his journey to Jerusalem, his sacrifice for me. I reimagine his tests and trials as he prepared mind and spirit for death, beyond death to resurrection and God.
My God, where will my journey lead me, where is my redemption my Jerusalem?
We come to your banquet Lord Because we need refreshing. You offer us the fruit of the spirit To revive our souls, And to each one you give a gift So that we too may share your goodness with others And drink in your abundant delights. Then Lord, may we go out and share With others who do not know and love you, For your table overflows with love And you will lead us all home safely.
Lost in wonder I look into skies Lost in wonder Lifted high in praise Submitting myself to your glory This great and mighty universe.
Wondrous to behold Only a nano percent understood Is as nothing compared to you Beyond all knowing But choosing to reveal yourself In Jesus of Nazareth.
Beyond time and space Present in time and space Submitting to our limitations That we may rise in glory To the life of endless worship Lost in wonder Lifted high in praise.
Judy Morris
PSALM of ADORATION
Jesus the light of the world has come. A gift to all mankind
ADORE HIM
Shining, beaming, radiating God’s Glory,
Sadness into laughter,
Sorrow into gladness,
ADORE HIM
The lame will walk, run, and be healed,
Those that are bound will be set free.
Chains unleashed,
Sins forgiven,
ADORE HIM.
The warmth and glow of your holy Spirit enfolds us
Into a rainbow of trust and love,
Enveloping us in the everlasting arms,
A trust that will stand,
A trust that never gives up.
ADORE HIM.
We stand amazed in your presence,
Now and for evermore,
No greater gift than this.
ADORE HIM.
Without this light there would only be darkness
Without His Birth, there would be no Hope
Without His Life, we wouldn’t know His Love
Without His death, we wouldn’t know how much He sacrificed
Without His Resurrection, there would be no future in the world to come. But, Praise God there is!
Forever and Ever,
Amen
God said, ‘let them laugh,
not a laugh that derides
but the laugh that births
my creative love,
flourishing imagination.’
God said, ‘Let them question,
not with words of fear
but with word that delves my creative breath,
the harvest throughout time.’
God said, ‘Let them journey,
not a way that confuses
but the way that beckons
towards him whose hands
were scored for Creation’s sake.’
