I’ll Huff and I’ll Puff

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Liturgical Seasons

With the wonderful Valley of Dry Bones I just felt I had to do it.  Do what you might well ask, well retell the story of the Three Little Pigs with an Ezekiel and Pentecost spin.  So the Holy Spirit huffed and puffed around the three Christians threatening to bring them alive, and despite their insistence that there weren’t dead, they soon found out that there was a difference between living and being truly alive.

It was also the first year I was able to get out my new liturgical icon a wonderful glass flame.

At St Andrew’s it was surrounded by candles each signifying a member of the congregation.

While at All Saints there was plenty of other stuff going on so it sat on the altar.  By the end of the service however the sun streaming through the stained glass windows had added extra flame effects.

Day Out

Today it was off to the Cathedral where I was looking forward to the coolness of the building as another scorching day hit.

I love our Cathedral Church – one day I must get along with my camera and just spend some time clicking away, and not just the angels – today however wasn’t the day for it.  Today I was there for the annual Ministry Celebration Service which this year included the licensing of those who lead the All-Age Worship at All Saints.  Celia had a previous engagement and Johnathan had to rush away to a rehearsal before the service was over – no end of demands for an opera singing plumber.  But I managed to snap the other four at the end of the service:

It was nice to see several members of the congregation also there to support them and Mike, our Lay Reader who was preaching:

He had admitted to me last week to being slightly nervous about preaching in such a big building with the bishop present, but I doubt that anyone would have known it.  There was a sprinkling of people from all corners of the diocese and it was great to catch up with people, but I missed the usual splash of red from the Cathedral Choir and the congregation could have done with some choral support as the music was obviously unknown by the vast majority of those present.  I also missed the mighty hug I usually get from Frikki after Cathedral services, hopefully I will get that on Sunday when the Diocese returns to witness installing two canons.

Poor Goliath

Yesterday the Sunday School at All Saints were immersing themselves in the story of David and Goliath including having a re-enactment after the service.

It might have been wet sponges rather than stones but poor Goliath didn’t stand a chance with all those Davids!

Christ’s Maundy Thursday Victory

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Religion

100+ people, most for the first time, sat or knelt in silence – you could’ve heard a pin drop between the odd sniffle as they kept the vigil.

Okay they didn’t keep it for long but they kept it Baptist, CofS, Pisky, RC and Coptic, side by side in the near dark.

Most appeared to leave reluctantly not realising they could have stayed, but I felt for the first time it didn’t matter that they left, Christ might have been arrested but he had won.

They left in muted silence, some with reddened eyes, some with hesitate smiles, some with warm hugs and whispered shaloms, some with downcast faces, some fidgeting with the order of service, some with mouthed thank yous, all with a gentle presence surrounding and seeping from them.

For the first time ever I felt that the Church could be one.

I know it wont last but tonight I consider myself blessed indeed, tonight I glimpsed paradise.

The Law of the Lord

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Liturgical Seasons, Psalms

During Lent I have been preaching a series of sermons on the Psalms and then we have been having a discussion on a Wednesday evening about issues raised in the sermon.  Last Sunday it was Psalm 19:

¹ The heavens are telling the glory of God;
and the firmament proclaims his handiwork.
² Day to day pours forth speech,
and night to night declares knowledge.
³ There is no speech, nor are there words;
their voice is not heard;
⁴ yet their voice goes out through all the earth,
and their words to the end of the world.
In the heavens he has set a tent for the sun,
⁵ which comes out like a bridegroom from his wedding canopy,
and like a strong man runs its course with joy.
⁶ Its rising is from the end of the heavens,
and its circuit to the end of them;
and nothing is hidden from its heat.
⁷ The law of the Lord is perfect,
reviving the soul;
the decrees of the Lord are sure,
making wise the simple;
⁸ the precepts of the Lord are right,
rejoicing the heart;
the commandment of the Lord is clear,
enlightening the eyes;
⁹ the fear of the Lord is pure,
enduring for ever;
the ordinances of the Lord are true
and righteous altogether.
¹⁰ More to be desired are they than gold,
even much fine gold;
sweeter also than honey,
and drippings of the honeycomb.
¹¹ Moreover by them is your servant warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.
¹² But who can detect their errors?
Clear me from hidden faults.
¹³ Keep back your servant also from the insolent;
do not let them have dominion over me.
Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression.
¹⁴ Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be acceptable to you,  O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

Last night we had a great discussion about those laws which were around in the time of this psalm first being sung but we totally ignore and don’t even think about – such as the wearing of mixed fabrics – also why there are other laws of that time which still challenge the church so.

But Zadok Was AWOL

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Religion

Yesterday, a day early, All Saints marked the accession 60 years ago today of Queen Elizabeth II by crowning, robing, and generally kiting out king Neill.  His big brother wasn’t too keen about the whole having to pay homage to his younger sibling and was somewhat relieved when Neil’s reign was even shorter than that of Lady Jane Grey.  Of course you don’t need me to tell you it took over a year before the Queen’s coronation service actually took place, the day when one of the richest people in the world is handed a Bible and told:-

… the most valuable thing this world affords …

Not having access to the Crown Jewels and not being able to buy an orb anywhere I had to set about making one.

It turned out satisfactory enough and fairly illustrated the words which are said when the orb is presented:-

Receive this orb set under the cross and remember that the whole world is subject to the power and empire of Christ.

Talking with some members of the congregation after the service we did wonder how the next coronation might change.  There has been much talk in the past about Prince Charles wanting to be defender of faiths, rather than defender of the faith, words which are spoken at the handing over of the ring and also as part of the oath.  However throughout the service there are constant references to the Kingship of Christ, to things only being able to done with God’s help, and probably most controversial of all the instruction to the new monarch to protect the Holy Church of God as the sword of state is presented.  Sixty years is a long time but as a British monarch is reminded when the crown is placed upon their head the time will come when their reign will end, but Christ’s reign is an everlasting kingdom and it endures forever.  I  don’t expect that we will see a new monarch any time soon, especially if our current queen has her mother’s long-lived genes, but I can see much debate and discussion at some point in the future when a new British monarchs’ coronation is being planned.

Oh and the title of this post, well the one thing that was missing this morning I hadn’t let the organist in on what I was up to and primed her to play Zadok the Priest as we led the newly crowned king to be enthroned with his somewhat surprised newbie bishop – now there was an opportunity missed.

Tree of Life

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Art, Photography, Religion

The Youth Discussion Group at All Saints have been hard at work producing a mural for the wall of the meeting room this is the finished result.

Praying the Easy Way

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Prayers

If like me you rejoiced at the possibility to put the Scottish Episcopal Church’s Daily Prayer in its pdf form on your Kindle or other e-reader, you will also have discovered like me that it is even more cumbersome to navigate around electronically than in its paper form.

For those of you who have never managed to co-ordinate the jumping from here to there and then back to here you may be wondering how it could be made less user friendly but I can assure you it is.

So I embarked on a little project of my own making Daily Prayer e-reader friendly and now I have got to the stage where I am looking for others who use, or indeed would like to use, Daily Prayer on any electronic device that supports pdf’s to trial it.

So if you are willing and interested then please let me know, but remember it is still a work in progress so don’t expect perfection.

All The G’s

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Religion

Yesterday, (yes I know it was Super Friday as my day off is referred to by certain members of the congregations, and no I am not back at work I am still signed off by the GP) nevertheless yesterday I took a trip to the Cathedral for a meeting on the Diocesan Growth Strategy.

This will be so much part of all that we do and plan at both congregational and diocesan level in the future that I had been keen to attend one of the day which was being held this week.  As driving is still no longer an option a trip over the bridge down into Ayrshire, which would have been my first option had my health not been in the equation, was not possible.  Super Friday saw Hubby taking me over to the Cathedral to work for the first time since Easter and deal with some of the brain fog which as my health improves I am becoming more and more conscious of.

It was a good day, good to spend time with my peers, to catch up on how other people are, to start to sift through my grey cells how the strategy might be worked out in this corner of the vineyard.  This is a long-term not a flash in the pan process and can not even begin at either St Andrew’s or All Saints until I am back at work, but that doesn’t stop my brain whirring with the excitement of the possibilities and challenges that lay ahead.

It Was On a Wednesday Morning …

the bishop came to call.

Bishop Gregor has dedicated himself to visiting all the churches in his diocese and spending a day with them, out with what would be the usual times when the Bishop came a-calling.  Yesterday was All Saints and St Andrew’s turn.

We began with the usual Wednesday morning Eucharist at All Saints, I say usual but in reality it was far from usual as the numbers were considerably up on usual.  We were slightly late in starting due to the Bishop’s car and the Church gate post also wanting to meet up, no damage done though.  Then coffee and cakes along with some chat, a flying visit to the MU before heading off to St Andrew’s were the ladies did us proud for a spot of lunch, (soup, quiche and salad) with a visit to Friendship House.

Back in the car and off to visit one of the House Groups where we both saw Isaiah’s calling in the new light of prayer, then another quick cup of coffee and more cake before we headed off to do a hospital visit.

What fun we had not many hospital visits are filled with so many laughs, ‘G’ who we were visiting is a hoot at the best of times and her quick wit and antics have been keeping everyone in the ward amused.  We also discovered in one of those ‘small world moments’ that ‘M’ in the bed beside her lives just across the road from the Rectory.

Who says fun can’t last we headed back to Bearsden for a Wednesday Sunday School and lots more fun.  It might be Lent but due to the timing of school holidays a decision had been made to preview Easter.  The Bishop made himself a new Pectoral Cross

after very diligently colouring an egg which will reappear in the great Easter Egg rolling competition that All Saints have each year.  While the children reveled at having a bishop among them, trying on his ring and questioning him about all manner of things.  Pizza followed, not sure what the delivery guy thought was going on, before the children headed hone and more adults arrived for the evening entertainment of a quiz.

While the Bishop won the quiz (although I don’t think he should have got a bonus point for knowing his own name), the gold star should go to ‘C’ for knowing exactly how many Munros there are.  Meanwhile ‘M’ and I got slightly confused and somehow ended up giving the same answer to about four questions, I blame the medication – mine not hers!

Thanks go to all those who made the day such a great one, Bishop Gregor certainly enjoyed himself.

(I should have taken my camera along to record the day, but I didn’t so sorry there is only one very poor picture taken with a mobile phone.)

All Saints Christmas

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Liturgical Seasons, Photography

Onward to Christmas

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Liturgical Seasons, Photography, Religion

This afternoon I have spent a very pleasant time wrapping tablet in bright cellophane, tying ribbon and decorating the finished product with little wooden angels on as ‘H’ and I discussed mission.

The tablet will be distributed to the neighbouring houses of All Saints next week as we go carol singing up the street, there was some discussion about whether the tablet or the singing would be most appreciated!

Will people be sick of hearing Slade scream ‘Merry Christmas’ and not want to hear ‘tidings of comfort and joy’, or will it be just the thing to put them in the Christmas spirit?

Will people drop the pretty bag straight in the bin dubious about what it contains, or be touched by the gift and tell their friends and family about it?

Will the wooden angel become an annual addition to their Christmas tree, a tag added to someone elses gift, or kindling for the fire?

Will the bright colours warm their hearts or make them think ‘humbug’?

Will the ring on their bell or knock on their door, disturb their evening or make it?

Outreach and mission usually require a leap of faith, we don’t know what people’s response will be, but we are walking in well trodden footsteps.  Even God didn’t know what the response would be when the Christ Child was gifted to the world to show just how precious and loved we are.  God had previously tried and received a cool reception, however, God still went ahead and so will we.  We aren’t selling anything, collecting for anything or even telling them about our Christmas services (unless they ask) we are just going to spread the love and joy of the season by freely giving them a surprise gift – after all isn’t that what Christmas is all about?

If you would like to join in with the singing and for some ‘adult’ hot chocolate to warm us up afterwards, then be at the church on Tuesday at 7.15pm.