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June 2025 Gathering

The aisle was decorated in shiny red fabric and an American flag, as the subject for the day was Martin Luther King Jnr. His portrait and most famous quotes from his speeches were also on display.

Our worship included two songs: a gospel song, “Soon and very soon” by Andraé Crouch,  and a song we have only recently learnt, “Is He worthy?” by Andrew Peterson, Ben Shive (First line – Do you feel the world is broken). This was followed by a time of prayer.

Barbara told us all about the life and work of Martin Luther King Jnr; his mission, and his passionate speeches highlighting the need for desegregation and racial equality, and his untimely assassination at the age of 39. I doubt anyone could listen to the tale without being moved.

And so, on to the morning’s activites:

There was a table with ideas for a poster with quotes from Martin Luther King Jnr. This inspired many of us and the result was colourful and varied.

A table with book marks was also a popular place to gather and have quiet conversations.

The next craft table was a sewing task, with white doves to be stitched stuffed and embellished. Fortunately, Alison was on hand to guide and encourage, with wonderful doves as a result.

An unusual activity was provided with small stepping stones, to be arranged  to map out personal life events and reflect on  that journey. The explanations at the end of the morning reflected the deep thought that had taken place.

The writing table had small cards to write about what inspired us and the pieces were read out at the end.

We were kept refreshed by Lyn, who kindly took over the coffee and tea this week and kept up the replenishment of the biscuits!

David M encouraged those who enjoy singing something new, to join him and his guitar. This provided background music and was greatly enjoyed, we hope that it will be repeated in October.

Having rediscovered the missing knitting needle!! the meditative, prayerful knitting was able to continue, and it has come to decision time about how to use the knitting and display it.

 

We ended  by gathering to share and talk about all our efforts, and singing “Benediction” by Matt Redman & Jonas Myrin to end the morning’s activities.

The picnic lunch was something to behold, tables laden with food brought to share. Jan had put a lot of work into organising and setting out all the contributions as well as making a delicious selection of sandwiches. If only it had been warm enough to sit in the garden this year! The applause for her was well deserved!

Please come and join us after our summer break, on Tuesday October 14th at 10.00 for faith-inspired activities and friendly conversation.

 

May 2025 Writing

This piece was written by Chris following a long period of nursing her mother in law.

 I Stand Amazed

In a world full of broken trust and wariness;
She trusted me
She understood that I loved her,
She permitted me to walk the distance with her,
To describe the landscape we were travelling through,
To help her understand the incomprehensible,
And when the diagnosis took her beyond hope, she trusted me…

As we walked on water together,
out beyond the boundaries of solid ground on to an ever-changing surface.
“Am I drowning?” No, let’s keep our eyes fixed on your beloved, both yours and mine…

And out on the stormy waves of intrusive physical procedure and painful uncertainty, together we trusted our Saviour.
Then came the time, when He took her in His capable arms and lifted her to safety.
No more pain, no more hesitant breaths.
I stand on the rocking waves, awestruck by the sacred moment.

Jesus has won the fight to draw her on up, through the veil of death and into His nearer presence.

Awestruck by the sanctity of life and the preciousness of what we have shared. Grateful for the very spectral grace that we have received and the wings of mercy that have been spread over us.
Now when we sit round the table with Jesus, the remembrances will be richer, fuller, deeper…

The bitter sweet of life is more bearable because death has lost its sting.
His body already broken for us
His blood, spilt and speaking a better word that I can trust
I go forward, amazed.

© Chris Graham, Kingdom Arts May 2025

All are welcome

 What is your mask today?

I am Coco the clown. I make people laugh at my antics. Facial expressions, joke, smiles and hugs, but it is a façade.
I am sad and broken but I have this one love who saves me. Compassion rolls over me whenever I meet His eye and I know he knows me through and through.

Beside me sits Leon, lion by name and lion by nature, clever, assured, confident and yet empty, heart broken by a woman, betrayed and left alone.
Yet he who sits at the head of the table gives him comfort.
He knows the gamut of human emotion and understands.

Next to me is Rosie, a widow, also left alone by death but she has faith in a new life and helps those who are in a similar position to herself. She sheds her mask to show others her hurt, her anger and her pain and yet she rises above it when she is with her Lord.

Gary is injured. He had a fight in prison and is now recovering. He killed a man but is sorry and knows he is forgiven. He is called to this special diner for the Master’s friend. The Master invites everyone with welcoming hands and loving arms.

Jacob does not know where he stands. He loves the Master but his live is ruled by ritual. What people see seems important but his heart is not in it. He wants to see true love, unconditional love despite all his errors and wrongdoing.

Pauline is experienced in men. She has had so many relationships but the Master forgives her and tells her to sin no more. She sees purity and innocence in his face but also knowingness of everything humans feel.

Then there is Lois. She is old and near the end of her life, but the Master promises her new life for ever and she waits patiently for that.

The Master picture upholds them all through thick and thin.

Sieger Koder : All are welcome.

© Julia Holdsworth, Kingdom Arts May 2025

All God’s Children

We are all God’s children.
Through His son’s sacrifice we are all forgiven,
His love includes every one of us.
He invites to His table the outcasts, the unfortunates the needy and dispossessed.
But do I belong?
His loving arms reach out
His compassion surrounds the bereft and tormented,
All cultures, colours and differences are brought together as one family.
We are all God’s children
We all belong.

© Barbara Rolison, Kingdom Arts May 2025

 

May 2025 Gathering

This month’s theme was based on a picture by a German artist

“All are Welcome” by Sieger Koder.

The aisle was decorated in white cloth and a large copy of the picture, in front of which was a depiction of a simple last supper, with candlesticks, bread and wine. (If you would like to see the picture in more detail, you can search the internet and find it easily).

Our opening worship included two songs –  “I stand amazed in the presence” and a song we had prepared previously with David M “I rest my soul on Jesus.” This was followed by a time of prayer.

Alex told us of Sieger’s life and gave us an insight into the meaning of the picture, unpicking the details.

The morning’s activities were inspired by what we saw and heard.

There was a modelling table using mod rock and wire, where a representation of the supper with Jesus and the “sinners” was recreated. The forming of the people was tricky and needed some strength and perseverance. The result was impressive.

A table with a still life laid out to interpret using watercolours and testing the eye and drawing skills.

The next craft table allowed imagination to flow as faces were created using collage techniques.

The writers’ started from the scene sometimes called “Jesus eats with Tax collectors and Sinners”. You can read their contributions on the May 2025 Writing page.

The colouring table, a popular and regular activity, allowed for conversation and thoughts to be shared.

David M encouraged anyone inclined to join him and his guitar, later in the morning for a short singing session. This provided background music and was greatly enjoyed, it will be repeated! The song practised will be sung by all next month.

We were kept refreshed by Pam, who keeps coffee and tea available all morning, and replenishes the biscuits!

Also, we had our own mystery – one of the large (very large) needles used for the prayerful knitting had disappeared! There may well be more on this story next month . . .

We ended the mornings activities by gathering to share and talk about our efforts, and singing “O spread your wings of mercy over me (Holy Overshadowing).”

This month’s soup choice  was tomato and basil or parsnip and apple; with  bread, cheese, fruit, and home-made cakes.

Next month our meeting will be followed by the annual picnic lunch (hopefully out in the garden).

Please come and join us on Tuesday June 10th at 10.00 for coffee with worship, a short talk, activities and lunch; before we take a break for the summer.

 

April 2025 Writing

God’s Love

If we are made in the image of God, where has it all gone wrong? Have we forsaken our first love? Are we moving in the wrong direction? Do we need to turn around and take our stand at the foot of the cross?

God gives us gifts: Peace, love patience, self control, gentleness, kindness, goodness, all weapons to counteract the chaos and pain and death of this world and pointers to God’s eternal life.

Where is fear? Not in his Kingdom. Where is death? Not in his eternal realm.

Do we need to do the right thing, put our head above the parapet and believe in absolute truth.

Jesus died for us, rose again and lives for ever at God’s right hand. We need to hold onto that truth amid all the confusion. Trade wars are just a blip in history, but His sacrifice for us and resurrection to eternal glory never ends.

We have a soul that can be purer and higher than any earthly worries if we cleave to Jesus and are part of his vine.

Evil can never win. Yes, there will be skirmishes, but God’s love wins every battle and his peace will come and there will be a new Jerusalem where there will be no tears but joy and peace.

© Julia Holdsworth                        Kingdom Arts April 2025

What is faith

Is it complicated, requiring adherence to ritual?
Does it require a certain type of allegiance to rule and regulations?
Can it be experienced wherever you are?
Or is it always corporate, restricted  to time and place?
How do you get it? Is it for everyone?
Or only a select few who have chosen to dedicate themselves, to live a monastic life, separate, apart from the world?
Is it a way of life, of truth, honesty, self-sacrifice.
Putting others first, resisting the pull of materialism?
I tried for years to find answers to these questions
I tried to be good, to do good, to not be anxious???
To believe in God, to pray, to love.
But I failed to sustain it.
Yet another failure on my list.
My failure to understand who I was,
Why was I here?
Somehow I knew faith had to make a difference.
Would make a difference if only I could find it.
But why was it so elusive?
I gave up, I pursued a different life
But things quickly fell apart
So what now? No-one to trust, hope eluded me.
But then I saw something different
I watched a life living with joy, living in peace and contentment, a  life laid down preferring others,
Reaching out to me, valuing me, believing in me,
Trusting me, encouraging and hopeful, a living faith
And deep within I knew that faith had a source.
One I had not yet discovered or tried.

It had to begin with relationship.
A relationship with the source, the love of mankind
Whose life was spent in the service of others:
And who gave his life away for the benefit of many.
It was Jesus, the son of God, who was asking me to search for he answers I’d been seeking.
And so it happened, I found faith.
I asked him to come into my life, to take me as I was, and He came.
He changed everything, He gave me peace, and joy, hope for the future, ability to love.
And He began to walk with me.
Day by day, through ups and downs, and through faith in Him I have travelled, through life, looking to Him with eyes of faith.
Knowing that He’s always there for me and makes the difference every day.
Son of God, Prince of Peace, lover of my Soul, who gives me the faith I need to live this life for Him.

© Ruth Campsall                     Kingdom Arts April 2025

Grounded

As we stand on land
Do we feel the layers below us?
Created through the years
As faith has grown within
Like beautifying moss
Through faith filled friends.

Mind bursting sunsets
Clasping fingers of young and old
Prayers of love and forgiveness
Meeting many different minds
Years of God’s living baptism
Washing life’s painful cracks
Hearing God’s whispers
To allow the everlasting love to reign
And help us shout
JESUS FOREVER
Echoing voices from the beginning of time.

© Helen McNicholl                         Kingdom Arts April 2025

April 2025 Gathering

Now we have reached April and we are enjoying the warmth of spring sunshine, the warmth of Alex’s welcome radiated through our gathering, as she welcomed us all.

The aisle was decorated with shining red satin, as well as photographs, books and decorated tiles to represent the Middle East as our Martyr this month was Ragheed Ganni 1972-2007.

We began by singing “Beauty for Brokenness” and “The Lord’s my shepherd”, both with lovely choruses, which were followed by prayers.

Jan B talked about Ragheed Ganni, an Iraqi Chaldean Catholic priest who was martyred in Mosel Iraq for his Christian faith. It was a most moving story and we were surprised at his youth, dedication to God and amazing faith.

Sue then described most of the exciting activities for the morning, with input from Alison G.

There were interesting patterns following an Eastern tile pattern theme for those who love colouring and conversation.

Alison inspired her group to learn felting, [health and safety warning!] we used sharp needles to gently tease out the wool and a there was lot of enthusiastic stabbing!!

The resulting crosses were delicate and beautiful.

A most unusual activity was to make a quill pen from a goose feather, [another safety warning about craft knives!] then to try out calligraphy. The results were “interesting”.

Sue coached us in drawing and watercolours with a difference.

Take the paper and a black pen, look intensely at the spring flowers, either daffodils or tulips, and draw them without looking at the paper!!

DO try this at home.

The watercolour palettes were then used to gently brush on some colour. Please look at the results.

David M encouraged a small group of musically inclined to begin to learn a new hymn, which we will sing next month.

The writing focus was “Faith”. The range and extent of pieces of work was wonderful. Please take time to read the contributions on our creative writing page.

There were also the usual opportunities for quiet, contemplative, prayerful knitting.

We were kept refreshed by Pam, with tea, coffee, biscuits and a smile.

We ended the morning’s activities by gathering to share our morning’s efforts, pray and sing.

A lunch followed with soup, lovingly made by Jan K, this month it was pea and bean, a tribute to spring, or carrot and coriander soup!

There was bread, cheese fruit and an amazing Simnel cake – thank you Jane – and other delicious home-made cakes, thank you Ruth!!

All around the tables there was a welcome opportunity to catch up with each other.

We do hope you will come and join us next month, when we meet on Tuesday 13th May.

Coffee from 10.00, followed by worship and activities, with lunch around 12.30.

March 2025 Writing

Threads

Who has known us since the beginning of time?

God has known us while we were in the womb and while we were conceived, the thread of our parents’ DNA and their two bodies as one made into an unknown cord with God

Family ties us in shared relationships. We can choose our friends, but not our family so how do we love them and support them and most importantly help them to know God as he has children but no grandchildren.

What do we love doing?

Singing, sewing, writing, working, praying, looking at creation, with friends, threads of shared experience.

Marriage: the thread of a shared love and life lived together through ups and downs, joys and sorrows.

Old age. Hanging on to old memories of once new experiences and friendships, long gone relationships and the loneliness of being alone and yet who is there with us?

Death: are we finally reeled in by God by the thread that has always held us together.

With the warp and weft of all our threads suddenly we can see the big picture.

Is it good?

© Julia Holdsworth         Kingdom Arts March 2025

Pieces of me

Threads…

The shuttle of my life rattles its way back and forth…
Spelling out threads of colour – squares, pieces of me…
A bottle of sorrow tears shed. Raining down upon the stitching.
My fabric of Present life –
Pulled taut – stretching too far –
Splitting – fraying at the edges…
The shuttle of life never stops.

Sadness .. Joy.. Ashes .. beauty.. tears.. laughter.. Disappointment .. Anger .. Faith ..

The Pictures of the Pieces of me woven on the loom of life ..
Crimson, Red, Black, Purple.. threads spelling out the truth that hold my stories together.
Until the shuttles stop, and threads tied up-

Pieces of me.

© Shefali             Kingdom Arts March 2025

Colour

Colour all around us.
Do we feel it see it, bear it?
Is it there for us all?
Help us to be alive to
Vibrations, feelings, tones.
A sun that fills our soul
Scents wafting through the air
Whispering, swirling winds.
Dreams and echoes through life
To move us onwards
Clasping moments of every emotion.
Transmitted into dots, swirls and lines.
Colours beyond description
Souls moved to touch and love
And be nearer to God.

© Helen McNicholl          Kingdom Arts March 2023

His Hand Guides the Thread

There is a thread that weaves through our lives.

How we use it is within His gift.

Rivers of creativity flowing from a wellspring of ideas.

Evolving into a sort of creation; ever evolving through images and experiences.

Always involving God somewhere in our thinking about where to move on.

Developing faith throughout, learning from others all the while until

Stillness shapes the final scene.

© Barbara Rolison          Kingdom Arts March 2025

(Not so much doing as being)

Cast on 3 stitches
——-Father
————–Son
———————Holy spirit

I am the beginning.
Running the stitches through history ‘His song’
Through creation a happy thought, brooding over the chaos.

‘I am the word’
Spoken release
Let these be…

A freedom of will, handed over to created order, to people, your choice.

‘I am the truth’
A redemptive act of being with us entering our realm, being torn to reconcile the irreconcilable.
Being broken

To identify with the broken hearted.

‘I am the way’
A liberty from failure, frustration and a fudge. Words that should shield from accusation…

‘I am the truth’
I realise I am seen and known through and through
A vision of all that has been, is, and could be;
Inspiration, revelation, restoration.

Breath of life to resuscitate, to bring strength, to identify.
Standing in such grace, I plant my feet upon the earth and dare my eyes to seek heaven.
Heavens throne,
A throne of grace,
A mercy seat;
Where judgement is infinitely compassionate and knowing.
So I dare to face myself and ask the question
‘Who shall I say sent me?’
As I wonder how to express the inexpressible, with a heart choked with gratitude.
The answer comes;
‘I am who I am, say I am sent me.’

The alpha, the omega, beginning and end and the never ending one.

© Chris Graham               Kingdom Arts March 2025