News (page)

October 2018 Puppet Theatre

The Prodigal Son – The Movie

Click on the links below to see the videos

Rehearsals

Performance

Camera J

Camera D

 

 

October 2018 Writing

A prayer for my son

God, I know that you are listening always.
I pray for my precious son, now so far away amongst strangers in unknown lands and facing who knows what?
Keep him safe I pray
I miss him, I long for his return and I fear for him.
God, help him!
He is young, unwise and thinks he is invincible, but I fear he will lose all he has and be hungry, homeless and in despair.
Protect him I pray.
Surround him with your love wherever he is.
Hold him close as I long to do. Help him to know my love for him is also unending and I will be here waiting for him.
Please God
Show him the pathway home.

© Barbara Rolison

The Prodigal’s return

The sheep peer through the cracks in the wall.
A man walks down
Unsteadily
The lane stones hurt his feet
Thorns remind him painfully of his despair
Mournfully the sheep turn their back as they slowly munch in the evening sun.
Shadows fall across the path.
A distant cry
Running feet
Calls, shouts
The man falls to his knees as his strength fails
He manages to speak the words he had rehearsed over and over
Would he
Retribution?
Revenge?
But No! His remorse was met by loving reconciliation.

© Christine Allen

A Prayer for forgiveness

Father
Help me to remember your example when I am faced with difficult situations.
It is sometimes so difficult to quell the anger and see the good in all people.
I find forgiveness one of the hardest things to do, especially when it is someone who is hurt by the person I should forgive.
Please be in my heart as I juggle the emotions vying for attention.
Ensure that your loves shines through and enables me to offer heartfelt forgiveness as you do to all.
Amen

© Sue Cottam

 

October 2018 Gathering

9th October 2018

“The Parable of the Prodigal Son”
Luke 15:11-32

Our new season of meetings is based on the parables of Jesus and interpreting their meaning or sparking interpretational ideas through writing, craftwork, art or music.

Following praise through songs accompanied by our amazing musicians and vocalists, a reading of the parable of the Prodigal Son, and starting points from members of the team; our group, including new members and visitors explored the activities on offer.

Creative writing explored feelings and how to express or seek forgiveness, while the free drawing with charcoal expanded the parable into visual art.
Words around the concept of feelings were translated into posters.

Felting [in this instance, making pig shapes with felt pressed through by stabbing with a needle] was offered for the first time and was so much enjoyed that it will surely be offered again.

The making of a “simple balance” was a challenge in dexterity and scientific principle. [Do look at the photographs.]

Finally came an innovative retelling of the Prodigal Son using a puppet theatre. The performance was a unique presentation, so enjoyable and such fun.

The discussion and sharing of ideas at the end of the morning was dynamic, personal and very thoughtful. The exploration of the meaning of the parable and the concept of forgiveness had been explored both on a personal level and within several of the groups.

We ended with a sung grace.

A delicious choice of pear and parsnip or mushroom soup was offered for lunch accompanied by bread, cheese and cake with an opportunity to continue conversations.

Our next meeting is on Tuesday November 13th.
We will be delighted if you would join us.

For this month’s pictures, see the Gallery

For this month’s words, see Creative Writing

For this month’s drama, see Oct 2018 Puppet Theatre

September 2018 Writing

The Parable of the Sower:-

Nothing is Lost.

The sower spreads His seed
Some in deserts dry and barren,
But cracks and hidden streams embrace blown seeds
To bloom again
In colours rich and deep

Some among thistles thick and choking
Thorns to tear you apart
But bursting seeds
Fly to the sky, caught by the hungry birds
Hope for new life

The path may be long and hard
With missing signposts
And full of human pain and blood
But the wind of the Holy Spirit knows where to blow
Keeping the everlasting seed growing

© Helen McNicoll

Silent

Silent are the ancestors who owned the field in Galilee.
Silent are the words of the inheritor, the sower with the seed.
Silent are the arms that scatter with aspirations so high.
Silent is the village hope for rain from the sky.

Silent are the thorns, sharply defending their ground.
Silent are the stones, stubborn and stationary on the mound.
Silent are the paths that offer an easy way out.
Silent are the greedy birds, pecking grain, no doubt.
Silent is the second when the seed meets earth.
Silent is the germination that brings each seed to birth.
Silent is the intensity of heat from the sun,
scorching the saplings which wither and burn.
Silent is the stealth of thorns that choke plants in their prime.
Silent is the dead greenery, lying shallow in a line.
Silent is the relationship between farmer, seed and soil.
Silent is the farmer’s sweat whilst he continues to toil.

Listen, can you hear? The sounds of life being shown?
Even in the thorns and stones, love can be known.
Listen to the miracles of change at every stage.
Listen to the birds that spread the seed from age to age.
Listen to the seed just sown and to saplings growing high.
Listen to the life cycle from seed to flourishing vine.
I grow seeds of peace, blooms of joy and blossoms of love,
I harvest gentleness, patience and goodness from above.
I live in each human heart, in every woman and man.
I offer again my counsel, a counsel that only a loving God can.
Listen, simply listen, to that loving voice inside.
Those branches are from the seed I planted.
Ask me again to be your guide.

© Frances Burton, September 2018

The Scorched Earth

Oh Lord what have we done
We have destroyed good and fertile soil
We have burnt the life out of the land
And have laid it bare and barren
And yet

And yet we look, and see, the wonder of your creation
Creeping along the burning soil we see shoots of green
Seeds that have been scorched now ready for germination
The Lord sees roots seeking moisture and goodness
Small shoots reaching for light and warmth.
And yet

The soil is thin and stoney, dry and poor
What have we done, what have we created.
But look, we can repent and start again
Till the soil, water the land and allow
Creation to flourish in your name.

© Jenny English

During the morning, David New displayed a mosaic he produced some years ago based on the Parable of the Sower . . .

 

. . . and whilst working on the design of origami birds for one of the activites, David also composed the following poem:

The Sower

Had it not been for you
Birds would have eaten
Every seed.

You touch our hearts
But we think
It’s a rush of blood.

You call us by name
But we say
“It’s all in the mind.”

We had a moment when time stood still
When we heard our baby’s first cry.

There was the moment
At the crossroads.
We called it
A lucky escape.

You came but we did not know it
But now we sense your presence.

Yes, you covered the seed
You waited till we understood

How your heavenly Spirit
Interpenetrates
Our earthly world.

One hundredfold
You bless us.

David New

 

September 2018 Gathering

11th September 2018

“The Parable of the Sower”
Matthew 13:1-9,18-23

Our new season of meetings will be based on the parables of Jesus and interpreting their meaning or sparking interpretational ideas through writing, craftwork, art or music.

Following praise through song, a reading of the parable of the sower and starting points from members of the team; our group, including new members and visitors explored the activities on offer.

Interesting Origami birds were a new challenge to interpret the birds who fed on the seeds, whilst stones representing the rocky ground, were decorated in colourful designs.

Watercolour paintings using seed as inspiration led to philosophical interpretation of seeds bursting forth and dispersing. This idea was also discussed by the writing group.

Meanwhile embroidery and beads embellished the earth coloured squares interpreting the meaning of the good and fertile soil bringing forth abundance.

The discussion and sharing of ideas at the end of the morning was dynamic, personal and very thoughtful. The concept of ourselves as seeds waiting for the point of germination and growth into Christian belief and action was explored in several of the groups.

A delicious choice of soup, bread, cheese and cake was offered for lunch with an opportunity to continue conversations.

Our next meeting is on Tuesday October 9th. You are most welcome to join us.

For this month’s pictures, see the Gallery

For this month’s words, see Creative Writing

June 2018 Writing

Jesus calms the sea:-

On the fifth day God created the sea.

On the fifth day God created the sea
It was filled with goodness
Tides ruled by the moon
Changing colour and moods
Inspiring man to travel the waves
As Jesus and his disciples moved
Across the lake in the evening
Then the great gale arose
Fear spread and gripped the swamped boat
Waves rose up like angry monsters
Echoing voyages of Celtic Saints, valiant fishermen and lifeboat heroes
And the cries of searching, hopeful boat people
But Jesus was there in all our lives
He calmed the seas, bringing peace
May we shed our fears, shattered dreams and grief
Lay them at his feet
And bathe in tranquil hopeful waters

© Helen, June 2018

Swamped no more!

In times when I am swamped by worries
By circumstances where I feel overwhelmed
When waves of despair hit hard and I
Am drowning in life itself
There is a moment when I may be overcome
But I am stilled and calm; my mind in quiet prayerful contemplation
I become aware of Christ; he is within me and without.
In that instant faith is renewed I am restored

© Barbara Rolison, June 2018

 

June 2018 Gathering

12th June 2018

“Jesus calms the storm”
Mark 4:35-41

Today, our songs, worship and prayers were based around the reading and made for calm and a quiet meaningful start to what was the last session for the next few months, as we all take a chance to refresh and renew.

The central aisle was decorated with fabrics representing water and a rather striking boat which announced the theme.

There were several water based activities:

Origami boats with a range of difficulty and complexity. So many rose to the challenge and a colourful selection resulted.

The free painting opportunity to create seascapes was joyfully accessed and paint and water flowed across the paper with stunning results and much satisfaction.

The pillows for Jesus to lay his head were beautifully embroidered and decorated, please see the picture gallery.

Drawing and colouring and creative writing were also available giving more opportunities for quiet discussion and thought.

A highlight was the music making with percussion listening to each other and making sounds to reflect storms and tranquillity was for some a moving experience and left us all with a sense of achievement and unity.

A time for sharing our work was an essential part of the end of the morning and after prayer we enjoyed either mushroom or “enhanced” vegetable soup (or both!)

We meet to start a new series of Kingdom Arts on Tuesday September 11th with coffee at 9.30 when we all hope to welcome you again.

For this month’s pictures, see the Gallery

For this month’s words, see Creative Writing

June 2018 Gallery

Origami Boats

Painting

Related to this theme we also have a mosaic created by David New entitled “The Wind in my Sails”

This mosaic was inspired by  a painting by the French artist Odilon Redon (1840 – 1916) entitled ‘The invisible Navigator,’ which I found in a book by Sister Wendy Beckett. I added the Holy Spirit Dove and the cross/star.
David New

Pillows

Celtic Art

Others

Click here to listen to a percussion excerpt

Tree of Life
Finishing touches before it goes on permanent display in the church.

Central display