He makes grass grow for the cattle, and plants for people to cultivate – bringing forth food from the earth
I have been helping to clear an allotment of all the rubbish dumped on it.
As I read the above verse I think before good things can grow and we can plant, the ground must be prepared.
I have collected bags and bags of rubbish that need to go to the tip, which I visited today.
It took 1½ hours in the queue before I got to the actual tip. When I was emptying the bags into the crusher, I had the thought that I am so thankful that there is no queue to wait to see God before I can tip out all the internal rubbish in my life and in my thoughts.
As I watched the rubbish, that had been stopping any plants from growing on the land, go into the crusher I thanked Jesus that He does not treat us as our sins deserve; and God has promised that He will not crush us, and a bruised reed He will not break; and I wondered why we wait so long to bring our rubbish to him, where we don’t have to wait, or to queue, or keep a 2 metre distance or wear a mask, and He is never shut or closed.
If we give him our rubbish, our mistakes and messes, then the soil of our lives can produce crops and fruit that God plants and creates and cultivates. I am thankful
We hear the words:
Keep your distance, keep your distance.
But our Triune God is saying,
“Come Closer, Come Closer”.
We must listen to His calling,
see His image in Creation,
letting His World vibrate
through our hearts and souls.
Encased within His constant
Love and Care.
Feel the wonder of the sky above us.
a vision of God’s greatness,
an ever-changing backdrop,
with an array of many colours.
Clouds to test our weather people.
A platform for the birds,
to swoop and glide in blissful freedom.
Each day a touch of God’s mystery.
At the breaking of the day,
and the closing in of night.
With stars and moon to lead the way,
His promise of day and night.
Often a scene of our dreams,
and a longing for eternity.
Oceans move around our land
flavoured with the salt
of Holy wisdom,
a cleansing for our souls.
Home for a thousand, thousand
gifts from God.
Sometimes waves lap gently
stilling the soul,
or crashing storms pounding the rocks,
like the power of the Holy Spirit.
Oceans are fed by rivers large and small,
God’s life-blood for the world,
filling arteries of all creatures and plants,
sustaining life and growth.
Embracing Earth with colour,
aroma, purpose and love.
God you are the fulcrum of all life.
Help us to come ever closer
to your unbounded Gift,
nurturing it with healing hands
and God-driven listening souls.
‘Even though I walk through the valley of death, I will fear no evil, for your rod and staff comfort me.’
When there’s Incessant irritation, incurable illness, or isolation, when Nights of nonsensical notions nudge and seem never-ending, we Tire and tread the tumult with thundering terror, as if Obligated.
But Tending a new timely thought can become a turning point. Heavens help and honesty, heaves humanity out of hell. There is an Encourager, an essential eternal energy which eases the effort, by exposing and excluding evil.
Listening to this light, our life can be full of love. Inward instinct identifies with this illumination. We Glimpse glory, grasp a germ seed of grace and grow. In my Heart, I hope for this harmony throughout humankind where Triumph over tumult is touched like treasure and trusted as truth.
Frances
June 1st
God’s World
Inspired by Psalm 104
In my head I hear His voice
“Look at the wonders I created”
Rest, breathe, my Spirit is here with you.
Birds sing of God’s bounty, sheltered from the wind; hopping along the lush borders of silver green, ever watchful.
Beyond the holly hedge the sheep, constantly grazing, respond to the ever-present bleat of lambs calling them to succour.
Rest, breathe, my Spirit is here with you.
Flashes of sapphire from water tumbling over rock; bubbles in a tranquil pool where a robin drinks perched on the very edge
Golden carp undulating below the lilies in crystal water surface.
The screech of a peacock disturbs the calm.
Rest, breathe my Spirit is here with you.
Children shout, call, shriek in joyful play.
A mower buzzes far, far away and nearer still the bees.
The scrunch of gravel beneath an arbour; where the smell of damp earth mingles with light, fragrant scents from the fallen petals: crimson, scarlet and rose lie with a sprinkling of pine needles.
The warmth, glories and colours of the world.
All of these touching the senses as I listen
Rest, breathe Rejoice! For my Spirit is here with you.
During the lockdown many of us are working in our gardens, tidying and planting. I’m sure this work is still going on in church grounds throughout the land too.
I hope we can all feel God in our lives during this time of confinement during which many of us are going through hours of solitude…….time alone when gardening too and it occurred to me whilst toiling in the garden, Jesus is a gardener, a gardener of our souls.
He plants the seed of our faith, waters and feeds us thus nourishing us through his teachings, he even prunes our souls if we go astray, then rejoices in watching us bloom into Christian people and just like all flora every one of us is unique and special to him.
I hope this helps to make gardening less arduous for you, knowing that what you are doing for your garden Jesus is doing for you!
Happy Gardening!
A trip to the trip is not the most inspiring of pastimes.
Well, I’ve never thought so before, but take a look at Shefali’s thoughts on that very topic.
Click here >> June 2020 Writing
Ordinary time
Some churches call the period after Pentecost ‘Ordinary Time’.
Helen has thoughts on this. Click on ‘June 2020 Writing’ above.
June 18th
Music: The Lord’s Prayer
There are many versions of The Lord’s Prayer, and we probably don’t need another one. However, at my church shortly before lockdown, we had a series of services looking closely at this prayer; and band members attempted to produce their own versions. They were very different to each other.
Here is my effort, complete with lyrics so you can sing along:
At the moment, this is an instrumental version. We would like to turn it into a sung version. If you would like to be part of this, all you need to do is use a smartphone to video your performance. Then, if you send it to us, we will combine all the videos into a ‘virtual choir’ and post it in this journal.
Deadline: July 12th
For more instructions go to the ‘music’ area.
Click here >> Kingdom Arts Choir
June 17th
A beautiful wire sculpture
This picture is symbolic of a tree with its roots growing round the rock…… each branch represents new growth , HOPE that something in our lives can produce possibilities and praise…… that God can transplant us into better soil of life to enable us chances to grow and reflect his creative love.
This tree was created for me by someone whose life was completely broken….. and in the support….. leaning on my song that was planted like a seed into their life….. Unknown to me they produced this ………
God says we will be like trees planted by the rivers where we can still flourish when there comes time of drought…… plant your seeds of songs of praise into the soil of others…… it will help them to also find life….and perhaps build their lives with roots that are set upon The Rock……. Jesus….. I am thankful.
Shefali, Kingdom Arts June 2020
June 12th
Creation
We hear the words:
Keep your distance, keep your distance.
But our Triune God is saying,
“Come Closer, Come Closer”. . . .
Helen’s words are inspired by the words of Psalm 104 and the current situation we find in our lands. To read the whole poem, have a look at this month’s creative writing.
Click here >> June 2020 Writing
June 11th
A couple of photos related to Psalm 104 and our current position.
The other day, I visited Bredon Tithe Barn. There has been a building there since 670 AD to store the wheat to support the local village through winter. This barn was built in the 13th century when the Bishops of Worcester owned the land. The door, of I think solid oak is now over seven hundred years old, and has kept the wind and the rain from the precious wheat and barley stored inside. The half open door reminded me of the semi lockdown position we are currently in. The oak door protecting us from the virus outside but now semi open so we can look out to see the beauties of creation, and see how God’s light can still shine to reflect his Glory in our lives. The window was in the room above where the Reeve (or steward) managed the collection of the harvest and collected the rent from the peasants farming the land. Again the light of God shines through.
Jan Butterworth
Psalm 23v4
‘Even though I walk through the valley of death, I will fear no evil, for your rod and staff comfort me.’
When there’s Incessant irritation, incurable illness, or isolation, when Nights of nonsensical notions nudge and seem never-ending, we Tire and tread the tumult with thundering terror, as if Obligated.
But Tending a new timely thought can become a turning point. Heavens help and honesty, heaves humanity out of hell. There is an Encourager, an essential eternal energy which eases the effort, by exposing and excluding evil.
Listening to this light, our life can be full of love. Inward instinct identifies with this illumination. We Glimpse glory, grasp a germ seed of grace and grow. In my Heart, I hope for this harmony throughout humankind where Triumph over tumult is touched like treasure and trusted as truth.
Frances
June 9th
Today should have been our regular monthly gathering.
Our theme for this month is Psalm 104 – a psalm of praise to cheer us all up.
Despite all that we don’t understand, we have a God who cares for us, loves us and wants to protect and look after us. In the midst of the sadness, fear, anxiety and the unknown, praising God is a way of keeping negative thoughts away!
In this psalm we give praise to God the Creator and His glory shines through the beauty of all He has created. It’s a beautiful song of praise to Him and there are lots of images to help us be creative . . . . . clouds, flames of fire, water flowing, birds , plants, beasts of the forest, lions, seas teeming with creatures; also music and singing praise to God.
Jan’s soups for this month
We may not be able to meet today, but that’s no reason we can’t have our lunchtime meal of soup, bread and cheese, followed by homemade cake.
If you have the ingredients to hand, you could even make one of Jan’s delicious soups – and, if you haven’t, you can always experiment!
Balsamic Roast Tomato Soup
This delicious soup is high in fibre and vitamins and is low in salt It is free from wheat , eggs, nuts and dairy, (if not using the topping). It is easy to make and can also be frozen. It serves 5.
Ingredients
400g of sweet tomatoes, halved; 1 yellow pepper, chopped; 1 tbsp rapeseed oil; 1 tbsp balsamic dressing/glaze; 1 clove garlic, chopped; 1 red onion, chopped; 1 carrot, chopped; 1 reduced salt vegetable stock cube, made up to 600ml; 1 tsp chopped parsley; 2 tsps chopped chives; 1 tbsp chopped basil; 30ml/ 2 tbsp red wine vinegar; Ground black pepper to taste.
Method
1. Pre heat the oven to 200c /180c fan/gas 6.
2. Toss the tomatoes and pepper with half the oil in a roasting tin. Roast for 20 mins, then drizzle over the balsamic dressing and cook for a further 10 mins.
3. Heat the rest of the oil in a large pan and fry the onion, garlic and carrot over a low heat for 5 mins.
4. Add the stock, bring to a simmer and cook for 10 mins, or until the carrot is tender.
5. Add the tomato halves and the yellow pepper to the pan and cook for 5 mins.
6. Season, to taste, blend using hand held blender or liquidiser.
7. In a bowl stir all the chopped herbs into the ricotta and whisk together
To serve, reheat the soup and top each bowl with the herby ricotta, if using.
Cream of Celeriac and Spinach Soup
This soup is free from wheat, dairy, shellfish, eggs and soya and is high in fibre. Celeriac has a wonderful flavour that is reminiscent of celery but also has a slightly nutty taste. It serves 6 people.
Ingredients
1 leek; 500g celeriac; 1 litre/1.75 pints water; 250 ml dry white wine; 200g fresh spinach leaves; Semi skimmed milk (optional); 25g pine nuts.
Method
1. Trim and slit the leek. Rinse it under running water to remove any grit and then slice it thickly.
2. Peel the celeriac and dice the flesh.
3. Place the leek and celeriac, with the spinach, in a deep saucepan. Add the water and the wine. Bring to the boil, lower the heat and simmer for 10-15 mins or until soft.
4. Puree the celeriac mixture in a blender or food processor. Return this to the saucepan and season to taste with salt, pepper and nutmeg. If the soup is too thick, thin it with a little semi skimmed milk or water, as your diet demands. If freezing do so once cooled.
5. To serve, reheat the soup gently. Roast the pine nuts in a dry non stick frying pan until golden. Serve the soup bowls sprinkled with the pine nuts (optional).
June 5th
The Temple of Jerusalem.
We started back in the autumn of 2019 with about thirty sheets of A4 card printed with images. Now, at last, after much puzzling and cutting and folding and gluing we have assembled a model of the Temple of Jerusalem.
David at work
This is the Temple that Jesus would have known, not Solomon’s, but the second Temple that was built on the ruins of Solomon’s after the Jews returned from their exile in Babylonia in 520BC.
The model is of the inner court only (200m x 100m) to which only Jews had access.
At one end you can see Temple itself within which was the ‘Holy of Holies,’ the dwelling place of God, entered only once a year and that by the High Priest alone. The court at the other end was open to Jewish women and it is there that Jesus would have seen the poor widow offer her two small coins and where Jesus would have preached in the days after Palm Sunday.
The moneychangers’ tables would have been in a much larger court outside this inner court and was open to all comers. It was huge and measured about 500 metres by 300 metres. That’s four times the length of Worcester Cathedral!
June 1st
We begin the month with a piece of writing inspired by Psalm 104.
‘God’s World’ by Barbara Rolison can be found on the Creative Writing page for June.
Scarlett Hemming provides us with a ‘Thought for the Day’
Reflections on gardening at this time. You can read this on the creative writing page for this month.
Click ‘June 2020 Writing’ above.
If you haven’t read it already, do look at the May 16th entry ‘An Epistle of Hope’, before you read this:
Appendix (to ‘An Epistle of Hope)
Sunshine all day long
The stars in the night sky glow
Heavens diurnal course visible through my bay window
Birdsong in the garden
The lawn an Eden green
Everywhere our Fathers springtime pattern can be seen.
Dainty aubretia follows daffodil trumpets
With colourful roses soon to bloom
Winter is behind us now
At last we are through the gloom
Summer’ s pinks and blues, Autumns copper and gold to inspire and amaze us
But soon the winter light will be upon us
So what?
Our Fathers love will protect us
We watch the rolling of His divine seasons
And know that we are part of Gods perfect plan
No need to reason.
Flesh and bone to foliage and flower
All alike and all a show of Gods heavenly power
I will sing of the Fathers love and glory as long as I live
Our beautiful and bountiful Earth
Praise the Lord O My Soul.
Scarlett Hemming
May 16th
This is a parody of Psalm 23, written for today’s audience during lockdown:
An Epistle of Hope
The Lord Is My Shepherd I shall not want
He makes me lie down in the sunshine of my own garden
He leads me through the stillness of the lockdown
He restores my soul
He leads me in right paths for his name’s sake
Even though I walk through the darkest valley that is Covid 19
I fear no evil
For you are with me
Your rod and staff, codeine and paracetamol comfort me and aid my recovery
You prepare a table before me
Despite panic buying in the supermarket
You anoint my head with oil, my cup overflows
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me through the lockdown and all the days of my life
And I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
My whole life long.
Scarlett Hemming May 3rd 2020
May 13th
Pentecostal Flames 2020
The rowan froth of white blossom
Will become luscious red berries
Ready to NOURISH our hungry birds
And fill the jelly pots.
The quiet inconspicuous holly flowers
Slowly CHANGE to red iridescent jewels
To deck the homes at Christmas
Heralding our Saviour’s birth.
When raging winds blow
They send wild rose petals flying
Then bulging red hips will grow
Full of God’s RECHARGING food.
The red awakening azalea bush
Is ready to burst forth
In a blaze of blinding colour
Remindful of that burning HOLY bush
Our churches are silent and dark
But the people sing and PRAY
Serving God in a hundred different ways
Greeting the glowing RELEASING Pentecostal flames.
His head still spinning and aching
with echoes
of that Day
The cruel, unknowing, inflamed crowd,
Shouting,
“Crucify, crucify.”
Women stifling cries of anguish.
People locked in houses,
wracked with fear.
Children with little understanding
filled with future
nightmares.
The driving of the hideous nails
Hammers for building
Not execution
He crept away like Pilate and Judas
But he was in denial, total disbelief
They could not kill his Saviour there on
Calvary
Still at the door, he remembered that word
“Come”
He entered the room
All eyes on him, the doubter
But His Lord’s voice reached his ears
His throbbing head and shaking body calmed
Jesus drew him close, and lovingly led his hands
to feel the water from His side
baptising him once again,
giving peace to his soul.
The healing hands and feet
Filling his veins with
New Life
and Strength to Live Again
—oooOOOooo—
May that miraculous spiritual love
and understanding surround us all
giving us strength to live anew
in faith and hope near to God Now and into the Future
Luke 10:38-42 New International Version (NIV) 41 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”
I Broke the Rules
I’m stuck in a gender twisted society.
But I need to break free.
If scripture was open to me,
I’d sing, “Let me sit at Divine feet
because God’s Word edifies me.” I must wait ‘til a man reads it to me,
And interprets the Word thoughtfully
through the lens of masculinity.
Naturally, I just sit an’ listen, silently.
But honestly,
I hurt in this “male-female camaraderie”.
Hebrew? Right- just lines to me.
Learning isn’t a woman’s right, you see.
So, I try to commit it memory.See, my culture has many faces.
Prophets n’ kings in high places:
Adam, Abraham, David, Shem.
Many, many men.
And I’m not saying men of God don’t speak to me –
They do! That’s the point, you see.
I’m a woman who wants to wrestle with theology,
And hear a voice, my voice, with God’s, in harmony.
Who else holds this view, secretly?
Am I the only one? Quite possibly.
Cos, even if we united for our liberty,
Women know, we can’t change society.
I thought, if people knew, they’d slander me,
Ha. They’d say, “Rebel Lady Mary?
You overstep social boundaries.”
Have I prayed for one opportunity?
For a chance to be me, really ME!
Yes – obviously.
Did you hear my plea?
God? Did you really hear me?
Cos, I tell you faithfully,
I never thought I’d see the day,
when I’d have a chance to say,
that not one male head
wanted my cooking, my cleaning,
or held me back from my Hebrew bread!See, I sat at Jesus’s feet quite openly,
He got me … and my sister-family.
He was and is God to me.
And it’s transformed me.
I radiate his Holy charity,
cos’ I know scripture accepts women like me.
See, I’m a woman whose dreams came true.
I sat with the men
Who meditate ‘em scriptures through
And what’s more, I learnt from a man
who gave me my voice, my platform.
Time stood still and I … I forgot my female form.
Look, I know my story sounds unlikely
But I broke the social rules for all to see.
I’m left with questions buzzing incessantly,
What kind of God encourages rule breakers, like me?
Even speaks of a love that rises higher than conventionality?
And he said …?
Well … isn’t it plain to see?
I broke the rules and he set me free.
Frances Burton
Acts 1v14 : “Mary the mother of Jesus stood with the disciples joined together constantly in prayer.”
Praying from a Dusty Floor
My son, Jesus, was executed in a brutal act between religious leaders and the government. The horrors I saw were still vivid in my memory on the day I met the disciples. I hadn’t been able to sleep for days. My jaw and neck muscles were tight and sore with the pain of grief but when we prayed together, even the memories that engulfed me in terror faded along with my worries about the future. The fact that we had all managed to meet there, without being caught and strung up in front of some unofficial council, didn’t seem to be a co-incidence.
No longer sensing the poison of the last few weeks, I sat down opposite the door, leant against the wall and closed my eyes. I began to feel the benefits of rest. I felt held and supported by all of Jesus’s companions around me – we who knew him so well and knew he was a holy man both in the eyes of God and the public. How could I be drawn into such stillness when raw images of his death on the cross had been torturing me? It was an experience that is beyond my comprehension.
That time of prayer was like a meeting with the depths of existence – with that which all things come from, are sustained and will return. By God’s grace, in prayer we began a new journey. It was like receiving a gift and we received it. We said ‘yes’ to it. It reminded me of the moment I said ‘yes’ to giving birth to Jesus. It was the same sense of acceptance.
Everyone’s prayers reached a point beyond words or song. Intuitively, we knew that one person’s words would not be meaningful to the rest of us, so we automatically settled into silence. Every one of us received something different from the silence. Our words could not express what was happening. We all rested on Jesus’s teaching which pointed us to what we needed now – the experience of praying together in communion with God and one another.
There was no sound but from the family in the room underneath us. I began to realise the beauty of everyone in the room … each person created, sustained and loved by God. I think we all saw each other in a new way that day. Any personal boundaries which had divided us turned into a recognition of human vulnerabilities – and we could love one another because we saw ourselves as we really were, all frail and in need of love. I blessed everything I could hear, the donkey braying, a boy who had just started crying and his mother who I could hear consoling him.
For a brief second or two, I opened my eyes and looked around. I noticed how the sheer fear etched onto their facial expressions had fallen away, as if we’d all just escaped a whirlwind of living hell. In my own way, silently to God, I started telling him my nightmares. I was completely honest: the crowds, the Temple, Pilot, Judas, the cross, the way he forgave them on the cross. It all came out until my mind fell silent and I felt peace, rivers of peace.
I began listening internally now. I wasn’t listening for a voice. It was as if I was waiting for the sweet sounds of a flower bud to open. I cast a quick eye onto the door. Only half an hour previously, I’d wanted to be in total darkness and had chosen a place where I could see for myself that no one was entering the room to harm us. But within that short amount of time in prayer, my need for security and blackness was already diminishing. There was a small amount of light, shining through the crack under the closed wooden door and I was pleased it had managed to get through – like a glimmer of hope. The warmth of the sun had penetrated the room and seemed stronger than my need to hide – and actually that felt good. The light picked up the dust on the wooden floor planks.
Nowhere in the world would there be this beam of sunlight shining on the dust on this wooden floor. In a flick of a thought, I saw myself as part of it all. Together, we merged into one and my sense of self disappeared. We shared the same creator. I felt eternity was ingrained within me, the others in the room, the sunlight and the dust and it made me feel intensely alive, as if I was both less and more than I normally am.
Although I didn’t want this moment to end, my mind jumped back to when John and I were at the cross of Jesus. The last thing he said to me was, “Woman, here is your son,” and “John, here is your mother.” Jesus wanted me to have a home, someone who would be family to me – who understood what life had been like and what our faith would mean. The pressure of the past began to catch up with me again and I felt as though I’d lost the deep peace I’d been blessed with just moments before.
At that point, I remember my eyes beginning to fill with tears and I prayed, “God help! Your peace is running away. I can’t hold onto it.” I poured out to Him how those last words sounded and how it felt to lose a son, branded a criminal and God heard me and His peace stayed me in that moment and comforted me in my anger. I know I am never alone nor could I be ever alone. “Love your neighbour,” my son had taught us. “Love your neighbour” and “God is love.” All three necessary, all three one and the same.
I glanced around the room again. There was Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. There God was in each of them – the love of God, expressed in infinite variety! And, I knew too that the love we have for others would also be expressed in infinite variety.
Instinctively, I asked for God’s blessing on each one of them and when I asked for his blessing on myself as well, I felt a deeply nourishing warmth in my heart and mind and soul. I knew that we, as a group, were going to heal, relieve suffering, be peace-makers, cultivate justice, preach and teach. We were going to continue what Jesus started. And in that moment, I knew what my role would become.
I am a woman of prayer and I desired an inner path – a life where each day would rise and return to silence, where each moment of silence would surround all those who followed a life of love for God. My sense about what our future would involve evoked a question, “Where do we start?” But I made no attempt to answer it – for it was not my answer that I needed to wait for. I let the question float in the air of that upper room.
The hours felt timeless and complete, still, strong and reassuring, like a boat’s anchor in a turbulent sea. I can clearly remember how I didn’t want this time to end but it did of course. And everything that happened afterwards was the fruit of this time of prayer.
Since then, we have had many times of trial and we have lost sight of that experience at times too. When that happens, we are honest with each other and we re-group and rest until we can forgive ourselves of anything that stops us being in communion. We pray to God that the challenges in our journeys won’t become overwhelming. Even the smallest of negative thoughts can have tremendous power to rock us by building fear within us along with an increasing feeling of powerlessness. We all have those times and we are not alone. From that perspective, humans are not so different from each other. The disciples and I have found that coming to God, as open and as honestly as we can helps us. We do so as often as we can. It allows us to open up to a deeper and more fulfilling truth, which is that we are an unspeakable mystery at one with God. We know that our lives are fleeting, as fleeting as the position of one of those specks of dust caught in the light on that wooden floor.
Frances Burton
Based on a book by Simon Small entitled: From the Bottom of the Pond – The forgotten art of experiencing God in the depths of the present moment
During these strange times when normal interaction is not possible, some people are still thinking, writing, drawing, composing, painting, etc.
We have decided to keep an informal occasional ‘journal’ showing that our worship, prayer and inspiration does not stop just because our monthly meetings have.
We do not know when our next meeting will be.
However, this journal is growing! You will find all the May entries below.
Scarlett writes: I attend St Stephen’s as well as St George’s and in their weekly newsletter entitled ‘Something Different’ I wrote my own version of Psalm 23 appertaining to the times we are living in. It is meant to come across as an epistle of hope.
To read Scarlett’s Covid-19 version of Psalm 23, visit our Creative Writing pages. Click here >> May 2020 Writing
May 15th
Next, we have a craft idea to illustrate the theme of a church service entitled ‘ The difference that Easter really makes ‘
The reading was from the Gospel of John. Ch.20 v 19:23. The appearance of Jesus to the disciples, who were locked in a room, in fear.
PRESENCE: Jesus was present with the disciples, it changed the reality. We /they are not alone.
PEACE: Jesus said, ‘ Peace be with you ‘ He spoke peace into their fear. This peace is true and eternal and moves us beyond our situation into a personal peace.
PURPOSE: ‘ As the Father sent me, so I send you ‘ The nature of the church is a community sent out in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Presence, Peace, Purpose: The difference that Easter really makes.
Margaret Stokes. (inspired by watching a Church Service in Peckham, London on the Sunday after Easter)
May 14th
These face mask adapters were made for carers and district nurses to stop the elastic rubbing their ears. Lyn Crowther
See May 9th (below) for plans to make your own mask.
May 13th
Helen McNicholl has sent us a piece of creative writing entitled
‘Pentecostal Flames 2020‘.
Some key words are: NOURISH, CHANGE, RECHARGING, HOLY, PRAY, RELEASING.
To read Helen’s contribution, visit our Creative Writing pages.
Click here >> May 2020 Writing
May 12th
The Reverend Sarah Northall of St Wulstan’s Parish in Warndon visited our meetings on a couple of occasions. See has seen our website and has sent us a link to one of her own reflections (no pun intended) called ‘Streams of Prayer.
It lasts about 10 minutes and you may find it both restful and rewarding.
Ways of Helping one another by using our creative skills in these difficult times: Make a face mask for yourself or a friend
COMPETITION who can make the most creative/colourful/ interesting Kingdom Arts Mask? Send us photos.
Making a face mask
These masks have been made from materials you may well have in your home:-
1 Materials
2 Cover metal
3 Cutting out
Materials: outside fabric, lining fabric, metal strip (if available), tape to cover metal strip, (not shown: elastic or tape)
Cover metal strips (if you have them). These are fixed across the bridge of the nose so that the wearer can shape the mask to fit closely against the nose
Cut out pieces. The fabric is folded so every cutout will produce two pieces
4 Finished cutting
5 Stitch front seam
6 Attach strip
This picture shows the pieces cut out for two masks, one large and one smaller, with double fabric layers
Stitch centre front seam
Attach strip (if you have it) to nose of outer fabric
7 Stitch layers together
8 Snip curves
9 Turn through
Stitch two layers together, top and bottom
Snip curves
Turn through, fold in raw edges and press
10 Attach tape (or elastic)
11 Finished with tapes
12 Finished with elastic
Stitch tape or elastic in middle of edge, fold over and stitch down edge.
If you want, you can leave a slot between the two layers of fabric to insert a renewable filter.
You can probably obtain suitable materials for filters on-line, although we have heard that some everyday materials might work quite well – we are not experts and you would need to check out the effectiveness of such home-made filters from an expert source.
As a serious hobbyist, I always collect bits and pieces that might be useful. The metal strips I used were saved from some old used face masks for use in dusty conditions(I think I got them from Halfords originally). If necessary, leave the metal strips out. The masks just won’t fit around the nose so well. Vikki Moore.
Exodus 35:35
He has filled them with skill to do all kinds of work as engravers, designers, embroiderers in blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen, and weavers—all of them skilled workers and designers.
When you print out the pattern, it has to be the correct size. There is a 5cm line printed at the bottom of the page – measure it and check it is really 5cm long.
May 2nd
Then and Now
Thomas stood outside the door
His head still spinning and aching
with echoes of that Day
The cruel, unknowing, inflamed crowd,
Shouting, “Crucify, crucify.”
Women stifling cries of anguish.
People locked in houses, wracked with fear.
Children with little understanding
filled with future nightmares.
The driving of the hideous nails
Hammers for building
Not execution
He crept away like Pilate and Judas
But he was in denial, total disbelief
They could not kill his Saviour there on Calvary
Still at the door, he remembered that word
“Come”
He entered the room
All eyes on him, the doubter
But His Lord’s voice reached his ears
His throbbing head and shaking body calmed
Jesus drew him close, and lovingly led his hands
to feel the water from His side
baptising him once again,
giving peace to his soul.
The healing hands and feet
Filling his veins with New Life
and Strength to Live Again
May that miraculous spiritual love
and understanding surround us all
giving us strength to live anew
in faith and hope near to God Now and into the Future
Suddenly, our hospitals need far more protective clothing than they ever have before. Demand is currently outstripping supply, despite all the efforts being made. Here’s where we can step in.
Following a plea via social media for pillow cases to be donated to make drawstring ‘scrubs bags’ for front-line health workers, an army of some 900 volunteers from across Worcestershire of all abilities have got busy producing the bags.
At the last count the total stood at: 262 Scrubs, 6953 Scrubs Bags, 3379 Headbands plus 700 Scrub Hats. What an amazing achievement in just three weeks!! Demand is still rising so if anyone wants to be involved please do search them out via the Facebook link below
Several of the Kingdom Arts group have also been involved in altering some ready-made scrubs to fit. Well done to Amanda and Lyn, Sue, Barbara and Alex for using their creative gifts!
Two pieces of creative writing from Frances
Frances has contributed two pieces of writing, which are quite lengthy. Extracts are shown below. However, you can read the full text on the Creative Writing page:
I’m stuck in a gender twisted society.
But I need to break free.
If scripture was open to me,
I’d sing, “Let me sit at Divine feet
because God’s Word edifies me.” I must wait ‘til a man reads it to me,
And interprets the Word thoughtfully
through the lens of masculinity.
Naturally, I just sit an’ listen,
silently . . .
Praying from a Dusty Floor
My son, Jesus, was executed in a brutal act between religious leaders and the government. The horrors I saw were still vivid in my memory on the day I met the disciples. I hadn’t been able to sleep for days. My jaw and neck muscles were tight and sore with the pain of grief but when we prayed together, even the memories that engulfed me in terror faded along with my worries about the future. The fact that we had all managed to meet there, without being caught and strung up in front of some unofficial council, didn’t seem to be a co-incidence . . .
In the blessing of the morning
Early shafts of sunlight stream through the branches.
Reflections on the watery surface ripple in the slightest breeze
A draft that flutters the leaves and causes petals of cherry blossom
to slowly drift onto the canal and float.
The piercing cry of moorhen and louder trills of the blackbird
whose chorus hails the new day.
A glimpse of hawthorn soon to open in fragrant white billows.
My senses are alert, all is hushed and I am stilled
In this moment of quiet solitude
I thank God.
I’ve heard they’re coming today, They’re passing through our village. I wonder, if I prepare some food, will they come and eat with us? I could get the best dishes out, I could cook something special, I could put a clean cloth on the table, I’ll sweep the floor, and dust around. So much to do, So little time.
I hear voices, Are they here already? I’ll run and meet them. Jesus, Jesus, would you come to my house today? Come and rest awhile. Join us for lunch. So you’ll come? It won’t take me long to get the food ready.
The Master enters the house. He sees Mary. Martha busies herself with preparing lunch. But Mary sits at Jesus’ feet. She listens to his every word. Fascinated by the stories he tells, The truths he reveals, the love he expresses. Transfixed by his presence, her heart is at peace. Caught up in the moment, her anxieties slip away.
“Lord, Lord, don’t you care, Mary’s not helping me! She’s left me to do all the work by myself. She just sits there as if there was nothing to do. It’s not fair. I am doing all this on my own!”
“Martha, Martha. It’s ok. I am with you such a short while. So little time to share with you the truths of the kingdom. Truths that will sustain you in the days ahead. You have such high expectations of yourself For everything to look right, — to be just so. Mary has opened her heart as she has listened to me. She has received my love. She has given me her time. She has been filled with eternal truth No-one can take that away from her.”
So, I reflect, And I see within myself two very different parts. The one -full of agendas, things to do, people to see. The other-longing for his presence, His peace. Am I free to choose, which one will I be today? Will I rush and stress, exhausted with self-imposed deadlines and expectations? Or will I slow down, will I sit at his feet, and listen to His will for me? Peace, perfect peace.
Ruth Campsall Luke 10: 38-42
April 2nd A renewed Resurrection
They nailed Him to the cross
With companions on either side
Storm clouds grew darker
Earth preparing to break apart
Birds flying unsettled
Scattering for shelter
Woman’s tears falling silently
From horror-struck bodies
The soldiers tossing lots
For ill-gotten gains
The braying fickle crowds
Thinking they knew best
But the sacrificial forgiving Jesus
Poured love on all he saw
He stretched out his hands
To believers and questioners alike
His feet pointed to God’s created earth
The land he knew and loved
His head so near the God
He worshipped and adored
There on the cross
Man and God were one.
Can we in this world’s crucifixion time
Become one with God
Reflecting His Holy teaching and caring
Drawing nearer to each other
Crossing divides of hearts and bodies
Honouring our diverse planet
Helping healing and new growth
Letting the rhythm of his words
Beat through our hearts
Washing away our fears
Replacing tears with hope
Lord hear our prayers
And lead us to a renewed resurrection
Under the shelter of your
Everlasting Love.
Holy Spirit descend on me
And fill my heart with Your eternal fire
and love divine.
And strengthen my faith once more
And open my eyes.
Give me the light of Your love that I
may shine on all I find.
Come and teach me Your ways, O Lord,
And open my mind so that I can see
the way ahead.
Take all of the mist away
And make the road clear.
Keeping me strong through the trials I face,
my faults, my doubts, my fear.
Fire within my heart,
Fire within my soul,
Fire to take me anywhere I have to go.
I surrender my all to You
The gift of Your love and Your grace are all
I ever need.
Let Your passion burn in me
And let me stand tall.
Give me the mind and the skill to speak
Your word to one and all.
Fire within my heart,
Fire within my soul,
Fire to take me anywhere I have to go.
So I stand here prepared, my Lord,
You wash away all of my doubt and fear
and take control.
You cleanse me and make me new
And I am restored.
Fill me with power and the strength to do
Your will for evermore.
In this beautiful world we care for nought
We do not do the things we know we ought
We have one planet, that is all.
In our arrogant ways, we think we are above
Mother Nature’s Laws that are from God above
We bring destruction on ourselves.
Now there’s an enemy we can’t see
It’s so small.
Yet so powerful and mighty it be,
A reminder that we
Are not rulers at all,
Our position in this universe is really quite small.
We’ve been given this world in which to live,
Some just take what they can, while others give
If we’re divided, then we fall.
Now there’s an enemy we can’t see
It’s so small.
Yet so powerful and mighty it be,
A reminder that we
Are not rulers at all,
Our position in this universe is really quite small.
Let’s consider it all, there’s only one
The Ruler of all is God alone
He is beside us through it all.
(1) the damage humans are doing to the planet;
(2) the coronavirus – reminding us we are not as powerful as we think we are;
(3) 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 “So we’re not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There’s far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can’t see now will last forever.”
During these strange times when normal interaction is not possible, some people are still thinking, writing, drawing, composing, painting, etc.
We have decided to keep an informal occasional ‘journal’ showing that our worship, prayer and inspiration does not stop just because our monthly meetings have.
This journal is growing! You will find all the March/April entries below.
“This drawing is based on the Pentecost picture of Mary breathing in the power of the Holy Spirit deep inside of her to bring transformation from inside…..when she was with others praying.
It’s my interpretation of how she would have been praying to The One True God in an openness by the way she is sitting….”
Shefali Chandros
April 23rd
Knitting the Lord’s Prayer
Many people find that spending time quietly engaged in simple crafts can stimulate thoughtful contemplation and prayer, which is why we always have ‘the big knit’ opportunity at our monthly gatherings. It has been mentioned that if you knit, you can say the Lord’s Prayer as you cast on twelve stitches.
Our Father in Heaven
Hallowed be Your name;
Your kingdom come;
Your will be done
On earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread;
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us;
Lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil,
For the kingdom, the power and the glory are Yours,
Now and for ever.
Amen.
In lockdown, Barbara thought she would like to try this, but she didn’t have any knitting needles or any wool! Ever resourceful, she improvised with sharpened sticks from an oil diffuser and thin string!
All went well until her kitten pounced and chewed one of the sticks!
Before kitten
After kitten
However she started again, perseverance pays and prayers are always answered.
Hallelujah Chorus
One of our regular members came across this version of the Hallelujah Chorus. We thought others might like it too.
If you click on the title below, you will leave this site and be taken to YouTube. You should be able to return to this screen by using the ‘back’ symbol on the new screen you go to – what this looks like depends on the equipment you are using!
Pretty good for a first attempt! Vikki says she may well have another go and see if she can improve on it.
April 21st
Reflections on our world
In the blessing of the morning
Early shafts of sunlight stream through the branches.
Reflections on the watery surface ripple in the slightest breeze
A draft that flutters the leaves and causes petals of cherry blossom
to slowly drift onto the canal and float.
The piercing cry of moorhen and louder trills of the blackbird
whose chorus hails the new day.
A glimpse of hawthorn soon to open in fragrant white billows.
My senses are alert, all is hushed and I am stilled
In this moment of quiet solitude
I thank God.
This soup is free from eggs, fish and milk. The pesto contains parmesan cheese and the topping, if used, contains wheat.
Ingredients, serves 5
1 tbsp rape seed oil
1 large onion, finely chopped.
750ml/ 1.25 pints of chicken stock.
300g of frozen peas.
180g pack of tender baby spinach.
3tbsp reduced fat green pesto.
For the topping, (if used) 100g chorizo, diced. 2 tbsp fresh breadcrumbs.
Method
1. Heat the oil in a large pan over a medium heat. Fry the onion for 3 to 4 minutes until soft but not browned.
2. Add the stock, peas, spinach and pesto, bring to the boil and simmer for 4 minutes. Cool slightly, then puree with a hand blender, or liquidiser. Freeze at this stage if required.
3. Topping if using. Heat a non stick frying pan over a medium heat. Dry fry the chorizo for 4 minutes or until crisp. Stir in the crumbs and set aside.
4. To serve, reheat the soup but do not allow it to boil. Taste and season with ground black pepper if needed. Top with the crumb, if using.
Lentil Soup
This soup is high in fibre and is free from dairy, nuts, fish, eggs and wheat. It is easy to make and does not need to be blended or liquidised. It can also be frozen. It serves 6.
Ingredients
225 g/ 8oz of red lentils rinsed and drained.
2 onions, finely chopped.
2 large garlic cloves, finely chopped.
1 carrot, very finely chopped.
30ml/ 2 tbsp olive oil.
2 bay leaves.
A generous pinch of dried marjoram or oregarno.
1.5 litres/ 2.5 pints of vegetable stock.
30ml/ 2 tbsp red wine vinegar.
Salt and ground black pepper.
Method
1. Put all the ingredients except the vinegar and seasoning in a large heavy-based saucepan. Bring to the boil over a medium heat, then lower the heat and simmer for 1.5 hours, stirring the soup occasionally to prevent the lentils from sticking to the bottom of the pan.
2. Remove the bay leaves and add the red wine vinegar, with salt and pepper to taste. If the soup is too thick, thin it with a little extra vegetable stock or water. Serve the soup garnished with celery leaves or parsley etc.
Today should have been our regular monthly meeting. This month’s theme would have been Pentecost.
Holy Spirit descend on me
And fill my heart with Your eternal fire and love divine.
And strengthen my faith once more
And open my eyes.
Give me the light of Your love that I may shine on all I find.
Come and teach me Your ways, O Lord,
And open my mind so that I can see the way ahead.
Take all of the mist away
And make the road clear.
Keeping me strong through the trials I face, my faults, my doubts, my fear.
Fire within my heart,
Fire within my soul,
Fire to take me anywhere I have to go.
I surrender my all to You
The gift of Your love and Your grace are all I ever need.
Let Your passion burn in me
And let me stand tall.
Give me the mind and the skill to speak Your word to one and all.
Fire within my heart,
Fire within my soul,
Fire to take me anywhere I have to go.
So I stand here prepared, my Lord,
You wash away all of my doubt and fear and take control.
You cleanse me and make me new
And I am restored.
Fill me with power and the strength to do Your will for evermore.
I’ve heard they’re coming today, They’re passing through our village. I wonder, if I prepare some food, will they come and eat with us? I could get the best dishes out, I could cook something special, I could put a clean cloth on the table, I’ll sweep the floor, and dust around. So much to do, So little time.
I hear voices, Are they here already? I’ll run and meet them. Jesus, Jesus, would you come to my house today? Come and rest awhile. Join us for lunch. So you’ll come? It won’t take me long to get the food ready.
The Master enters the house. He sees Mary. Martha busies herself with preparing lunch. But Mary sits at Jesus’ feet. She listens to his every word. Fascinated by the stories he tells, The truths he reveals, the love he expresses. Transfixed by his presence, her heart is at peace. Caught up in the moment, her anxieties slip away.
“Lord, Lord, don’t you care, Mary’s not helping me! She’s left me to do all the work by myself. She just sits there as if there was nothing to do. It’s not fair. I am doing all this on my own!”
“Martha, Martha. It’s ok. I am with you such a short while. So little time to share with you the truths of the kingdom. Truths that will sustain you in the days ahead. You have such high expectations of yourself For everything to look right, — to be just so. Mary has opened her heart as she has listened to me. She has received my love. She has given me her time. She has been filled with eternal truth No-one can take that away from her.”
So, I reflect, And I see within myself two very different parts. The one -full of agendas, things to do, people to see. The other-longing for his presence, His peace. Am I free to choose, which one will I be today? Will I rush and stress, exhausted with self-imposed deadlines and expectations? Or will I slow down, will I sit at his feet, and listen to His will for me? Peace, perfect peace.
Ruth Campsall Luke 10: 38-42
Easter Day Christ is risen ALLELUIA!
Sue Ashby
April 10th (Good Friday) An Easter message to you all
Hello Kingdom Arts Friends,
This is to wish you a joyful and blessed Easter. It will be the strangest of Easters but we can still celebrate and give thanks inside our homes, the new Life that Jesus brings us through His Resurrection.
You might be going to a virtual Service or connecting through the many resources which are available on the Internet and there we will be able to remember our families, and all our friends at Kingdom Arts. We miss seeing you .. there will be so much to share when we return.
As you are looking at this, you have found our “Coronavirus Journal” and can see the wonderful art/poetry that some of our members have contributed. We could do with more so if you feel inspired during this lockdown time send in your creations.
With love And God’s Blessings for you and yours,
Alex xxx
April 9th Pastel drawing
Art work by Lesley Brown , who so enjoyed working with pastels at the March Kingdom Arts she was inspired to do these .
Lesley Brown
They are based on the sculpture of the cross at Queen’s Birmingham .
Hand made with what was in the house except fixing with ‘Impulse’ Body Fragrance!!
April 6th Hama Butterfly
The life process of the butterfly, from caterpillar through chrysalis to butterfly is a Christian symbol of the human life, the death and the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Here it is my prayer for you that you will be sustained with the hope of better times to come as we wait to be released from this chrysalis-confinement-lockdown stage of our life.
David New
Maybe there is a suggestion here that God sees and senses each one of us through his creation especially in the ways we deal with the more vulnerable parts of his works. David New
April 4th Digital Art
Frances Burton
Inspired by the story of Mary and Martha (Luke 10:38-42) which was to be the theme of our April Gathering
Pentecost fire
One of our future activities was to be a representation of Pentecostal fire.
Starting with some simple materials . . .
. . . and finishing with this decoration:
Vikki Moore
You might like to try and work it out for yourself!
April 3rd In this beautiful world
In this beautiful world we care for nought
We do not do the things we know we ought
We have one planet, that is all.
In our arrogant ways, we think we are above
Mother Nature’s Laws that are from God above
We bring destruction on ourselves.
Now there’s an enemy we can’t see
It’s so small.
Yet so powerful and mighty it be,
A reminder that we
Are not rulers at all,
Our position in this universe is really quite small.
We’ve been given this world in which to live,
Some just take what they can, while others give
If we’re divided, then we fall.
Now there’s an enemy we can’t see
It’s so small.
Yet so powerful and mighty it be,
A reminder that we
Are not rulers at all,
Our position in this universe is really quite small.
Let’s consider it all, there’s only one
The Ruler of all is God alone
He is beside us through it all.
(1) the damage humans are doing to the planet;
(2) the coronavirus – reminding us we are not as powerful as we think we are;
(3) 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 “So we’re not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There’s far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can’t see now will last forever.”
April 2nd A renewed Resurrection
They nailed Him to the cross
With companions on either side
Storm clouds grew darker
Earth preparing to break apart
Birds flying unsettled
Scattering for shelter
Woman’s tears falling silently
From horror-struck bodies
The soldiers tossing lots
For ill-gotten gains
The braying fickle crowds
Thinking they knew best
But the sacrificial forgiving Jesus
Poured love on all he saw
He stretched out his hands
To believers and questioners alike
His feet pointed to God’s created earth
The land he knew and loved
His head so near the God
He worshipped and adored
There on the cross
Man and God were one.
Can we in this world’s crucifixion time
Become one with God
Reflecting His Holy teaching and caring
Drawing nearer to each other
Crossing divides of hearts and bodies
Honouring our diverse planet
Helping healing and new growth
Letting the rhythm of his words
Beat through our hearts
Washing away our fears
Replacing tears with hope
Lord hear our prayers
And lead us to a renewed resurrection
Under the shelter of your
Everlasting Love.
I look up to the mountains and hills, longing for God’s help. But then I realize that our true help and protection come only from the Lord, our Creator who made the heavens and the earth. He will guard and guide me, never letting me stumble or fall. God is my keeper; he will never forget nor ignore me. .. He will guard and keep you. Psalm 121.
Easter Garden Haiku
March 31st In the waiting room of God
Shefali
Today would have been my husband’s birthday.
It’s hard in isolation on my own.
These are pencil drawings I have done today which reflect different moods whilst waiting . . . for what?
Time to sit with me and Jesus.
Some of the drawing shows His hand reaching out to us. Others are when I need Him to grip my hand so I can hang on and ask Him not to let me go during this time of isolation.
In the garden
New growth, leaves and buds and scents of spring
Of citrus, of herbs, sage, borage, rosemary
Fragrant flowers and the heavier fragrance of lilies
In stark contrast
The sepulchre
A tomb hewn from rock, unused, simple,
Empty!
In the new light of dawn, Mary came first to the tomb, distraught and weeping
Grieving sorrowfully for the Lord she saw cruelly crucified.
She stooped to look inside,
Two angels seated in the place where Jesus had lain
They asked
“Woman why are you weeping?”
In anguish she turned away to see a man waiting
“Woman why are you weeping
For whom are you looking?”
The Lord she loved, unrecognised through the tears and misery,
Until He spoke her name
“Mary”
She knew His voice
The first to see the risen Lord, she cried out
“Master!”
With absolute belief in His resurrection, she was obedient to his command.
Whenever He calls your name
Will you know His voice?
“She leads a seedy life”
The Pharisees murmured disapprovingly
Mary knew that!
Today she didn’t care
The crush she had on Jesus
Now was absolute devotion
She poured the costly oil of Nard
Burial oil over his head and body
Absolute love in a single act
Wiping it with her hair
Soon again expressed at the foot of the cross
Risking all for the world
Tears welled up again three days later
As she preceded the others
To Jesus’ tomb in that garden of beauty
But she looked around and saw nothing
In that desolate veil, only an angel
Then she turned, behind her a figure
A half familiar face
The gardener she surmised
Tears welled up again
He spoke unexpectedly, “Mary” he said
The tears ceased
She looked up
“Rabbouni” “Master” she cried
Then she knew that love had come again.
What’s happening Lord?
You who understood everything I’d ever done
You who gave me hope, hope like I’d never known
You who gave me peace and love so tangible,
My life transferred from misery and mediocrity?
Promise of eternal life, with you the Son of God
The Son of God, the promise of the Father,
Crucified, this eternal life drained from him
Hung on a cross ’til Death came and took him from us.
He who healed and raised the dead
Now dead himself.
How can it be? We, his followers and his mother
Looked on. Powerless, we watched
Until he breathed his last. Our hearts broken
Shattered into a million pieces.
Pierced with a sorrow like none before.
So, we took your body and with great care
Prepared you for burial,
Our tears wrapped up in your linen cloths.
Everything we longed for lost and and buried
With you, as you were placed in the tomb. Secure.
And so, I came today. I knew not what to expect
But wanted to be close to you. To sit by your tomb
And remember… remember all that was good.
All that was … gone
Now even your body is gone. The tomb is empty
There is nothing left. Just empty promises
—- and SILENCE —-
Where are you? Where have you gone?
“Why are you crying? Who are you looking for?”
“What, who is that? Do you know where he is?”
“Mary”
“Master”
And thus, the revelation came
Scales not tears fell from her eyes
She could see Him
He is risen. His promises are true
There is freedom
And life forever more in His presence
I ask myself the same question
My broken heart and life
Touched by your gift of acceptance.
Your eyes have pierced my soul
And you see me… the real me
And so, I weep…
For you. my loss. my friend, the man who captivated My heart
And set me free
Why would I not weep.
I weep for all the women who
Have not yet touched you,
Who are still suppressed
I weep because I have learnt to express My heart…
Where have they taken you?
I weep because I can
You see me. you know me.
Catch my fears in the bowls of
Your hands….
I weep ….
Because I can.
Alex welcomed everyone, especially Christine Morgan from her church in Wokingham! Christine has been inspired by our Kingdom Arts initiative to start a similar group in Wokingham called Creative Spirit which she explained to us. What joy to know that Christian creativity is growing across the country.
We continued by singing praises accompanied by our musicians and vocalists. The theme of women in the bible continued with Mary Magdalene (John 20: 11- 18) her visit to the empty tomb and encounter with Jesus. There was a reflection, led by Alex with prayers.
Christine led a group using pastels or crayon to depict tear drops in a pattern with added writing if inspired to do so. The results were most effective and triggered memories for some of the group as they explained in the sharing session.
David resurrected Hama beads and the design of the cross or empty tomb was used to construct rather delicate emblems.
The creative writing table enabled people to explore the experience of Mary Magdalene in the garden when she was reunited with Jesus. The writing expanded on her experience and feelings with amazing results and very different interpretations.
In the garden
What’s happening Lord? You who understood everything I’d ever done You who gave me hope, hope like I’d never known You who gave me peace and love so tangible, My life transferred from misery and mediocrity? Promise of eternal life, with you the Son of God The Son of God, the promise of the Father, Crucified, this eternal life drained from him Hung on a cross ’til Death came and took him from us. He who healed and raised the dead Now dead himself.
How can it be? We, his followers and his mother Looked on. Powerless, we watched Until he breathed his last. Our hearts broken Shattered into a million pieces. Pierced with a sorrow like none before. So, we took your body and with great care Prepared you for burial, Our tears wrapped up in your linen cloths. Everything we longed for lost and and buried With you, as you were placed in the tomb. Secure.
And so, I came today. I knew not what to expect But wanted to be close to you. To sit by your tomb And remember… remember all that was good. All that was … gone Now even your body is gone. The tomb is empty There is nothing left. Just empty promises —- and SILENCE —-
Where are you? Where have you gone? “Why are you crying? Who are you looking for?” “What, who is that? Do you know where he is?” “Mary” “Master” And thus, the revelation came Scales not tears fell from her eyes She could see Him He is risen. His promises are true There is freedom And life forever more in His presence
This is one of four pieces of creative writing this month. To see the others, click on ‘Creative Writing’ at the end of this report.
There was an opportunity to create a collage with Spring colours and textures and ribbons.
Lyn led a workshop by providing small hessian draw string bags filled with scented cinnamon and rosemary to remind one of the Easter story. They were decorated beautifully with embroidery motifs or delicate collage reflecting the Easter theme.
As always there was time and space to sit quietly and knit with prayer. This is a welcome respite from the bustle of busy lives.
The work of the morning was displayed, celebrated and admired with some explanations and reading of creative writing.
Jan completed the morning by reading a reflection and we ended with song.
Our shared lunch was lentil soup or purple soup. There was cheese, grapes, cakes and a chance to converse with our visitors and each other.
Unfortunately, due to coronavirus and ‘lockdown’,we do not know when the next meeting will be. However, you will be very welcome when the day arrives!
If you just wish to look through all the photographs, you can see the Gallery
God says we will be like trees planted by the rivers where we can still flourish when there comes time of drought…… plant your seeds of songs of praise into the soil of others…… it will help them to also find life….and perhaps build their lives with roots that are set upon The Rock……. Jesus….. I am thankful.
The half open door reminded me of the semi lockdown position we are currently in. The oak door protecting us from the virus outside but now semi open so we can look out to see the beauties of creation, and see how God’s light can still shine to reflect his Glory in our lives.
The window was in the room above where the Reeve (or steward) managed the collection of the harvest and collected the rent from the peasants farming the land. Again the light of God shines through.
Hello Kingdom Arts Friends,
. . . and finishing with this decoration:
