If we could all
just stop throwing stones,
and stoop, knees bent
and write in the dust,
we'd see that the dust
was once stone -
grand, and hard, and proud, and tough -
now ground and dissolved
in grace and tears.
So... how much better
to be a grain of dirt
on that kind prophet’s hands
than a stone
in the cold, accusing Temple
of the pure.
Technorati Tags: Dirt
Thought this might be suitable for Ascension Day:
God it's lonely up here.
I thought I had risen above it all, surrounded by Pilkington and reinforced concrete.
The Urban Individual, in penthouse isolation.
The detached life.
Social climbing, promotion, negotiation, natural selection, top of the pile, rising star in Eastern Bank.
Responsible position.
My own office.
A detached space for a detached life.
Free-agent, no responsibilities, do as I please, what I please, what pleases me.
What pleases me?
So involved in my self, my life, my work, I never saw where everyone went.
God, it's lonely up here.
This is my transmission, my song of assent: Save My Soul.
Originally posted at vaux.net
Technorati Tags: Ascension Day
Thanks to Andrew Jones for getting the go-ahead to blog this, which is from his Anam Cara book.
He has a book of blessings coming out soon, which will doubtless be equally wonderful.
Beannacht ("Blessing")
On the day when
the weight deadens
on your shoulders
and you stumble,
may the clay dance
to balance you.
And when your eyes
freeze behind
the grey window
and the ghost of loss
gets in to you,
may a flock of colours,
indigo, red, green,
and azure blue
come to awaken in you
a meadow of delight.
When the canvas frays
in the currach of thought
and a stain of ocean
blackens beneath you,
may there come across the waters
a path of yellow moonlight
to bring you safely home.
May the nourishment of the earth be yours,
may the clarity of light be yours,
may the fluency of the ocean be yours,
may the protection of the ancestors be yours.
And so may a slow
wind work these words
of love around you,
an invisible cloak
to mind your life.
Be gone cobwebs,
Dust, don’t gather.
Air, don’t still
And stones don’t settle.
All that creeps and steals,
Skulks, sneaks and slithers,
Retreat!
There is life here, reignited,
Burning, heat and light.
No word can be said,
But the stone still cries out,
And retreats in holy fear.
Air rushes in terror to escape,
But is inhaled again,
In, out, in, out.
A leaden chest rises, and falls;
Black blood melts red and circulates.
An eye is opened, a muscle twitches;
A word is about to be said.
Creation, three days in revolution,
Waits in cold dread for its hearing…
But receives only forgiveness as
The sun rises.
Technorati: Resurrection | Easter
safe space maundy thursday liturgy
jesus washes the feet of the disciples
reading - john 13v3-17
scraping off the shit
where we walk, we walk in the crap left by others, by ourselves, the
mess of human lives, the comings and goings of a wasteful, corrupt and
selfish world, we wallow in the dirt and the hurt, oblivious to the
stink and the stains that we carry with us. God stripped off all
finery, stepped in our shit, knelt in it, touched it, held our ugliest
bits in the very hands that made us and washed them clean.
hands which formed matter, pulse which set the rhythm of the
planets, breath which stirred life into being, mind which dreamt the
diversity of the species, eyes which bore deep into the heart of
humanity, heart which yearns for us to choose peace, feet that walk
each step with us, mouth which chides and comforts, arms which embrace
the hurting, strength which sustains the weak, life which was given up
for love, creator who scrapes the shit off my feet, God who serves.
wash me clean
...for the whole liturgy click here
Amniotics spilt, and semiotics rupture;
There are no words, just raw screams and suckles.
Child of God, child of man - no difference:
New life is unmoored emotion,
a wide sea of tears and sick,
one desire: to feed, to gather more, be mother-close.
But God won't stay.
Controlled crying.
Separation an immediate fact post-partum:
we must learn to settle ourselves and enjoy the moments we have together.
Foretastes of another rupture to come,
a larger curtain rent, another cry of pain
when we'll be thrown down into
Mother's hands, never to leave them.
A Form of Contemplative Prayer
Using Anglican Prayer Beads
Based on 1 Samuel 3
The Cross
The Lord’s Prayer
The Invitatory
"He
is the Lord; let him do what is good in his eyes."- 1 Samuel 3:18
The Cruciform’s
"Speak, your servant is
listening."- 1 Samuel 3:10
The Weeks
"You called me, and here I am." -1 Samuel 3:4
From New Psalms
We used this piece in a service reflecting on our 'finitude'. We'd love to see ourselves as immortal. We're not. And Lent is a good time of 'mini deaths' to reflect on this.
//
We remember God, falling to earth as a seed, to live in our dirt, to suffer our pain, to understand our weakness, and to die and be buried. We struggle to understand life beyond death. We live as though immortal, and though death surrounds us on every side, we do not often confront it. In this communion, we remember God who died, and we hold the mystery of this death as comfort for our fear, pain and mortality.
[Call]
As we prepare to accept these symbols of God's death, we remember:
Those who have died
Those who mourn
Those who face death
[Response]
But if it dies, it produces many seeds
[Call]
As we prepare to accept these symbols of God's death, we acknowledge:
Our fear of death
Our deadness of spirit
Our frailty and mortality
[Response]
But if it dies, it produces many seeds
[Call]
As we meditate on these mysterious symbols of life beyond death, help us:
To live with uncertainty
To hold on to the world lightly
To comfort those who mourn
[Response]
But if it dies, it produces many seeds
Dismissal (after communion)
[Together]
Accept these symbols of life and death. May they lighten your spirit, enrich your life and give you peace. Amen.
Originally uploaded at vaux.net
St Chad (March 2nd)
St Chad was born in cAD635, his calling was first as a student of St Aidan on Holy Island, before succeeding his brother as Abbot of Lastingham. After the Council of Whitby Wilfrid was selected as Bishop of York, he travelled to France to be consecrated by Roman Bishops, this took so long that Chad was named Bishop of York in his absence. Wilfrid eventually returned and Chad stepped down saying “I willingly resign the office, for I never thought myself worthy of it; but, though unworthy, in obedience submitted to undertake it.” Later Chad became Bishop of Mercia at Lichfield… Bede described his ministry as following in the pattern of Aidan, travelling from town to town, preaching and praying zealously among the people he served. He died in cAD672. This Friday is St Chads Day.
We take a moment to embrace the lives of men and women who lived their lives as an act of worship and mission, who lived for God, who lived with God, who gave their lives for God and for Gods world.
“Take your everyday, ordinary life-your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life-and place it before God as an offering.” From Romans 12 – The Message
Walking, Running, Eating, Drinking, Sharing, Giving, Listening, Talking, Learning, Teaching, Encouraging, Challenging, Shouting, Crying, Holding on, Letting go, Fighting, Healing, Laughing, Grieving, Waiting, Acting, Being, Doing, Breaking, Mending, Living, Dying…
All of Me.
Walking, Running, Eating, Drinking, Sharing, Giving, Listening, Talking, Learning, Teaching, Encouraging, Challenging, Shouting, Crying, Holding on, Letting go, Fighting, Healing, Laughing, Grieving, Waiting, Acting, Being, Doing, Breaking, Mending, Living, Dying…
All for God.
Walking, Running, Eating, Drinking, Sharing, Giving, Listening, Talking, Learning, Teaching, Encouraging, Challenging, Shouting, Crying, Holding on, Letting go, Fighting, Healing, Laughing, Grieving, Waiting, Acting, Being, Doing, Breaking, Mending, Living, Dying…
All is Gods.
Walking, Running, Eating, Drinking, Sharing, Giving, Listening, Talking, Learning, Teaching, Encouraging, Challenging, Shouting, Crying, Holding on, Letting go, Fighting, Healing, Laughing, Grieving, Waiting, Acting, Being, Doing, Breaking, Mending, Living, Dying…
All is God.
“Offer your lives as a living sacrifice to him. Your offering must be only for God and pleasing to God, which is the spiritual way for you to worship.” From Romans 12 – New Century
Reflection
Chad spent time in learning,
What have you learned in the last year that has surprised you?
Chad was willing to take up the challenge.
What challenges have you had to grasp, though you did not feel ready?
Chad was willing to step down and allow another to lead.
What have you had to let go of which hurt but which has led you on to new ground?
May St Chad be an inspiratin, a role model and a guide for us… in the way we learn, on our willingness to go beyond our expectations and in having the humility to let go of our own pride for your sake. May we be ready for the challenges set before us, knowing that it is you at work and we serve your purpose.
When you call
I am willing
When you push the boundaries
I am willing
When you set the pace
I am willing
When you encourage
I am willing
When you set the challenge
I am willing
When you blow my mind
I am willing
When you reach out your hand
I am willing
When you apply the brakes
I am willing
When you change the course
I am willing
When you turn the tide
I am willing
When you pull the plug
I am willing
When you call another
I am willing
When you call
I am willing
1 Thessalonians 2:1-13
Great God,
from the very first fruits of the English nation
who turned to follow Christ, you called Chad
to mission amongst and the nurture of his own people:
give us grace to mirror his peaceful nature,
his humble spirit and prayerful life,
that our lives may sing songs of your love,
that our words and deeds might truly reflect your passion and compassion;
In the name of Jesus, the God-Man who died, rose and lives on for us,
the Spirit who moves across the surface the waters and in the beating of the human heart,
and of the Creator and re-Creator, God of grace.
Lent is the traditional time when we remember Christ’s temptations in the desert.
It’s a time when Christ considered what form his ministry was going to take.
It can also be a time for us to consider what form our Christian witness might take too.
The first temptation was to turn stones into bread.
The people were hungry – what better way to win them over than to meet their physical needs? Jesus’ rejection of this temptation is a rejection of the idea that true love can be bought. Giving people bread might make them follow him, but for what reasons?
The second temptation was to jump from the Temple.
We live in a society in love with spectacle. People can be won over with tricks and fantastica. Jesus’ rejection of this temptation is a rejection of the idea of celebrity. Doing tricks might amaze people, but was that love?
The third temptation was to give up.
We live in a world where persistence and tenacity are rare qualities, especially in the face of peer opposition. Marcuse outlines how pressures from our peers, from our own insecurities, and from the dominant power structures draw us towards ‘one dimensionality’: truth by big brother vote. Jesus’ refusal to bow down and just ‘take the money’ is a rejection of the easy way out. It might make for an easy life, but was that what life was about?
These Lenten prayers could be used as a daily rhythm over these 40 or so days.
Technorati Tags: Desert, Lent, Temptations
Valentine's Day falls on one of our meetings days this year. We thought about canceling to allow people to sneak off and be romantic, but everyone agreed they'd rather meet and enjoy a shared 'love feast'!
This is the piece of liturgy we're going to share tomorrow night.
Saint Valentine is a bit of a myth. The day came about because the 14th of Feb - Saint Valentine's day - was also the traditional day in Spring when birds chose their mates. As Chaucer put it in his piece 'The Parliament of Foules':
For this was sent on Seynt Valentyne's day
Whan every foul cometh ther to choose his mate.
So the liturgy is not directly about love, but takes a quick journey through avine metaphors in the Bible... The spirit hovering over the water, the dove sent out by noah, the 'wild goose' of the Spirit, the dove settling on Christ, the assurance of the Father's love even for the birds... All ending with us eating
'these breadcrumbs, this bird-food, as a sign of our love,
this wine, your blood, as a memory of yours.'
As ever, feel free to share, and use with imagination.
Technorati Tags: Chaucer, Chaucer, Parliament, Wild Goose, Valentine's
An environmental communion first used at Vaux.
The earth is one, though it is made of many parts;
And though its parts are many, they form one earth.
So it is with Christ.
We were all born to one earth, whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free, and were all given the one earth to use.
Now the earth is not made up of one part, but many.
If the valleys should say, "Because I am not a mountain, I do not belong to the earth." it would not for that reason cease to be part of the earth.
And if the soil should say, "Because I am not stone, I do not belong to the earth." it would not for that reason cease to be part of the earth.
If the whole earth were stone, how would plants grow? And if the whole earth were soil, where would solidity be?
But in fact, God has arranged the parts of the earth just as they were meant to be. If they were all one part, where would the earth be? As it is, there are many parts, but one earth.
Humanity cannot say to the forests, "I don't need you." And the city cannot say to the ocean, "I don't need you."
On the contrary, those parts of the earth that are dirt, are indispensable, and those that are alien, we should respect.
God has summed the parts to make a greater whole,
so that there should be no selfish abuse,
no extinction,
no polluting,
no exhaustion of resources
no genetic modification
no contamination
no food mountain
no battery meat
no vivisection
no enforced relocation
no germ warfare
no Agent Orange
The earth is one,
though it is made up of many parts;
So it is with Christ.
As we are part of the earth, we are part of the body of Christ.
If we crucify the earth, We re-crucify Christ.
We share the body of Christ
Committing to turn outside ourselves for strength.
Acknowledging our interdependence with the earth.
We share the blood of Christ
Committing to share in Christ's sacrificial nature.
Acknowledging our hand in destroying our environment.
Originally archived at http://www.vaux.net
Technorati Tags: Environment, Earth
This is the introductory reflection I wrote for the Celtic Soliton Sessions in Northern Ireland in February 2007.
It is based around some thoughts I had on an alternative reading of the Judas narrative. What if Judas had actually thought he was doing Jesus a favour? What if he, just like the other disciples, had got it all wrong, and though Jesus needed a helping hand to catalyse his military coup? This would obviously explain the kiss a little better...
At communion we are offered a piece of bread. Just as Judas was. Often we are about to go out 'into the night', just as he was. So what are we going to do with these gifts of bread and wine? Be like Judas and try to co-opt Jesus into our own revolutions, or be like Christ and walk the way of sacrifice?
The longer text towards the end of the piece is taken from the final chapter in my book Signs of Emergence, or The Complex Christ in the UK.
The congregation gather around a table.
Lord, it is night,
It is night after a long day.
Websites have been tended, Copy written, Ministers ministered to, Festivals organized, lessons given. [The work details of the congregation are entered]
Lord it is night,
It is night after a week in the city.
Gardens have been dug, films seen, music listened to, people engaged with…
People bumped into, sleep disturbed, sirens heard, violations suffered.
Lord we are hungry,
Junk has been eaten, producers forgotten, chemicals swallowed, meals rushed, thanks not given.
Lord we are not as hungry as some,
Forgive us.
Lord we are hungry,
Make this table yours. Make this table just. Make this table gracious.
Make this table thankful.
Lord we are not whole,
We remember those who are not with us.
Lord, we are not whole,
We break this bread and share this wine to re-member your body.
Broken so we may be whole.
Poured out so we may be filled.
Lord it is night,
May this body and blood be strength and refreshment for us.
May it give us energy to forgive, to persevere, to love.
Dear Christ, re-invigorate us, re-plenish us, eat with us tonight.
Amen.
Bread and wine is shared, and a meal is eaten.
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