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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

 

March 2025 Gathering

After a time of worship, Sue gave us a short history of Jacqui’s career and how her work has developed to huge presentations of biblical events in many cathedrals around our country. We recalled the exhibition in Worcester Cathedral.

Clicking the link below will take you to Jacqui’s own website, where you can see many photographs from the exhibition “Threads Through Creation”

https://www.jacqui-textile.com/creation/

Shefali followed this with her touching personal testimony of correspondence with Jacqui and how inspired she was by her work.

This morning’s activities

Coloured pens, plain handkerchief squares, brushes and ink blocks for blending colour so that a picture using an outline template could be created and coloured in.

Air dry, coloured clay for free creativity and model making.

Alison brought fabric squares to sew using a machine and cutting strips through layers. Alternatively, there were templates to chalk through leaving a symbol or outline to embroider in running stitch.

David once again led a small but motivated group of singers, to teach us a new song.

The writing focus was to ponder on the theme of the morning and the concentration was very intense as creative ideas went on paper. See the Creative Writing section.

Alex enthusiastically encouraged us the join her table! to plat together 3 strips of cloth symbolising the Trinity. [You needed strong wrists for tearing them]

By the end  of the morning many lengths in lovely colour combinations had been joined to encircle the entire gathering and to show teamwork, unity and strength.

The conversations continued around the tables and we were kept refreshed with coffee, tea and biscuits.

At the end of the morning was the opportunity to share our work and express our thoughts and feelings.

We ended the morning by singing again the new song from last month with the chorus “Jesus I believe in you”. This was only the second time many of us had sung this song – we did well this time!

We hope you will come next month when we meet in on 8th Tuesday April.

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

 

February 2025 Writing

Sacrifice

Would you give your life for someone else?
Who do soldiers give their life for: country, family, community or for their deeply held cause?
Why do lifeboat men put to sea? Is it their desire to save a human life or because they see it as their duty?
Why does a man jump into a river to save a boy and yet they both drown?
Only God knows our hearts and why we are motivated to do things sometimes without thinking.
Courage comes into play when we look death in the eye, and do it anyway because it is right and we look to God for our life.
Jesus took all our sins upon him and with his scourge, double agony was His.
Yet may we never forget the resurrection and the eternal life that we are born into.
May love be the victor and not hate. Is this an act of will? Do we choose life or death?
What is your sacrifice?

© Julia Holdsworth          Kingdom Arts, 11th February 2025

 

Introduction

Shefali feels strongly that Kingdom Arts reaches out and is an inspiration even when you are not there!

The following piece was written after the February meeting; when Shefali, who was not able to come, was inspired by a conversation with someone who had been there, and told her the story of Maximillian Kolbe. This inspired her thoughtful and reflective creative writing.

Take me

I am but one, and yet I am 1000,
one million, one billion, one trillion.
Take me.

I am but four.
Three who depend on me.
Please, please don’t take me.
Please spare me.

I am.
Do not take me.
I give myself.
Take me.

And therein lies the answer to our deepest hearts cry.
Do we not all have hidden ways and live in dark as well as light?
Do we not have the blood of the innocent on our hearts, minds and tongues?

I am, but four.
Children…
Spare me.

I am.
Do not take me.
I give myself.
Take me.
And with that with arms outstretched
For the million, billion and trillion,
He hung his head and died.

© Shefali        Kingdom Arts February 2025

February 2025 Gathering

So, another new year! Another modern martyr to learn about.

The aisle was decorated with a photograph of Maximillian Kolbe and an assortment of Polish items, some of which we ate at lunch!

Alex welcomed everyone to the gathering, both familiar and new people, including our new priest in charge Rev. Sarah, and a special visitor from Magdeburg, which is linked with the Worcester Diocese. We began by singing “Here is love vast as the ocean” and “What love is this?”, followed by prayers.

Jan K related the story [much abridged] of the Polish priest Maximillian Kolbe, a most interesting and principled man. He is one of the modern martyrs on the front of Westminster Cathedral. His death in 1941 in the concentration camp of Auschwitz was slow and terrible. He had taken the place of another Polish prisoner.

The morning’s activities were based on Maximillian’s story of sacrifice, faith, hope, and forgiveness.

Watercolour paint, brusho, and masking tape were used to create pictures based on a single, meaningful word.

There was a table of chalks and pastels for free creative painting, as inspired by the story.

Alison G brought white and green cloth and some straws, to sew into a symbolic white tulip.  They were described later as symbolising strength when gathered together, but when separated, some strength went away with each and every flower.

David led a small but motivated group of singers, to teach us a new song. It was slightly more complex than usual, with both a chorus and a bridge, but we tried hard and all want to sing it again, so we plant it in our worship repertoire.

The writing focus was to ponder the meaning of “Sacrifice” and there was very intense discussion.

The usual opportunities for colouring had returned with a twist. Bright Polish colour patterns used in Polish crafts were available to look at and then colour in, before mounting them on a card with space for a prayer on the reverse.

As usual, the atmosphere was friendly and warm (which was more than could be said for St George’s Church on this crisp morning!) Conversations abounded around the tables and we were kept refreshed by Pam with coffee, tea and biscuits.

We ended the morning’s activities by gathering to share our morning’s labours and to learn the new song, with the chorus “Jesus, I believe in you”.

A lunch followed with soup by Jan K – “tomato and apple”, or “chicken and vegetable”; together with bread, cheese, grapes, fruit, home-made cakes, and Polish biscuits.

We hope you will come next month when we meet on Tuesday 11th March.

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

December 2024 Writing

Christmas Angel

Mary was afraid
Angel appeared suddenly
Messenger from God

Joseph was dreaming
Angel appeared silently
Be Mary’s husband

Jesus was sleeping
Lying in a trough of hay
Angel watching them

Image of a child
Christmas Spirit promises
Angels everywhere.

© Barbara Rolison Kingdom Arts December 2024

Mary and Elisabeth

Elisabeth waits…Looking heavenward…
Silence deafens, it’s piercing, unsettling.
She is in God’s waiting room.
Silence echoes in her home; hubby cannot speak!

Mary enters into keeping a silence
She has had a message, an angel, it’s piercing her dreams her life, her hopes;
It’s unsettling yet it offers hope.
A baby, two babies; conceived in the heart of God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit.
One born to prepare the way out of darkness,
One to be born in the darkness of a stable.
A box for a bed straw for warmth.

The world waits
I need hope…I lie in my own crib, one of many cribs, nameless, a pregnancy unwanted.
No future, no identity, no belonging, no light.
Are you really a king, Jesus?
Who am I?
Can you tell?
Nobody’s child.
Can I lie with you in your crib for a while?
We see the star, we hear the angels,
All is calm and all is bright, baby Jesus, Son of God’s light,
You radiate pure light.
You give me peace and love, unspoken acceptance
And your presence changes everything!

No longer waiting,
I hold onto you;
You enlighten my darkness
And silence is pierced with the cry of my heart.
Come Emmanuel!

© Shefali Kingdom Arts December 2024