God-incidences

I was involved today in facilitating a seminar on "assisting in the search for meaning" with palliative care practitioners. There was some powerful and thought provoking discussion.

This evening I was on Largs seafront watching this beautiful sunset that could have occurred somewhere much more exotic than North Ayrshire. It struck me, as I watched the scene become more and more beautiful that, for me, appreciating nature in all its awesome glory and giving thanks to the Creator adds so much meaning to my everyday.

Freeing Spirit

I told my congregation this morning that I was moving on to pastures new. It was difficult. I've lost a lot of sleep over it. But now, it feels as though a burden has been lifted. I can look forward to the move. I can release the excitement that is in me about the challenge that lies ahead. 

We have a funny system in the Church of Scotland: Congregations appoint a nominating committee to find a new minister and that committee eventually returns with a nomination. However the candidate so nominated has to preach at sunday worship and be voted on by the whole congregation. That event is two weeks away but notice was given of that this morning to the new congregation which is why I had to tell my folks rather than let them hear on the ever efficient church grapevine.

So its still too early to plan colour schemes and the like. But I can begin to look ahead and set about what remains for me to do here. The Spirit of Pentecost that brought the church to birth encourages it to grow and sets it free. May that freedom and growth take us to places we never dreamed of.

Contrasts

This has been for me and for folk whom I love a really mixed up week of bubbling mirth and gut wrenching sorrow.

And so I offer these beautiful words of John O'Donohue:

Beannacht (John O'Donohue)

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 curach 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.

An offering for Pentecost

Lifeless

drying out

cut off from its life giving roots

rotting and decaying

soon it will be carried by the wind

lifted and laid

bearing little resemblance to the vibrant, organic plant it once was.

with no purpose

no future

dead without hope of resurrection.

A symbol of today's church?

Blow, Spirit, Blow.

Clear out the stench of death.

And bring life in all its fulness.

All you can't leave behind

Enjoyed spending time at our National Gathering at the weekend.

Especially enjoyed the Fischy Music concert with my 9 year old daughter.

The theme of the gathering All You Can't Leave Behind was especially timely for me and I'm still mulling that over. What is it that really matters in faith and worship? What are the essential bits and what are the bits that we're just attached to and that really bog us down and inhibit the great freedom, spontaneity and excitement of faith?

What are the things you'd like to ditch and what can you simply not leave behind? I'd love to know.

Rock chick vicar

Thought I might change the name of my blog for this accolade I was paid recently. I donned my leather trousers and hooker boots (I'll spare you a pic - imagination is more than enough!) and compered a gig in which talented local bands performed. This High School band, called Morning After, led the way. The evening finished with an outstanding U2 Tribute band - the lead singer had middle aged - and older- women rocking in the aisles. A wonderful night although I lost more sleep over the thought of compering this gig than I have for many years.
At the end of the night, over £3,000 pounds had been raised for a school meals project in Malawi. Which made it all worthwhile.

In the clouds

This is the season of Ascension for many Christians. When we celebrate Jesus being "taken up into the clouds". All the physical and historical arguments have never bothered me in relation to faith. I love a good story. And I love mystery. None of that stops me believing in a loving God whose call is to human beings to love and care for each other - the essence of being christian. In biblical stories, lots of important events were shrouded in cloud imagery. And often, in those clouds, the most amazing things happened, folk were changed beyond recognition. Many christians today still operate swathed in clouds but these are clouds that they are happy to hide in so that their actions which aren't faithful to God's call can be obscured. What would it take today for the clouds to be parted and for the sun to shine through and for us to live in the light of love rather than hide behind the clouds?