The Marathon

I LOVE Holy Week. I even relish the long slog through Lent - much more than the craziness of Advent when we prepare for the Incarnation. Lent, Holy Week and Easter move me in a way that Christmas just doesn't.
MAybe that's because Advent and Christmas are done at breakneck speed. With Lent, Holy Week and Easter, there is a more leisurely lead in, time for reflection, time to savour each event and remembrance. Time to live the Incarnation. From the crib to the cross - and on to resurrection.
SO I look forward to the week beginning tomorrow with Palm Sunday, to celebrating a parade before we then tiptoe through the rest of the week, spectators, bystanders, witnesses to Christ's passion, participants in his death, beneficiaries of the resurrection. A marathon for preachers, one measured in blood, tears and agony but that promises a wonderful trophy at the end.
And so it begins...

Sharing the love

This has been a great week of school chaplaincy that has afforded access to all kinds of end of term activities, from coffee and hot cross buns to end of term services in primary and secondary schools.
Although the secondary pupils mostly stand mute in their services while members of the orchestra play their hearts out, they still bring a buzz to the church building, enhanced by this week's sunshine when a walk from school building to church is a welcome distraction.
In one of the primary school services, we bade farewell to a member of staff who has brought a lot of music into the life of the school and who is now moving on. She said that all the tributes and good wishes made her feel really loved. Hopefully, she experienced that love in her work and not just now as she takes her leave.
It is so important that we express appreciation for each other every day, that we let those around us know about the difference they make to our lives, especially when their influence is for the good. It is good to share the love.

Take, Eat

An Easter Communion invitation:

This is the table of the Risen Lord Jesus Christ

Behold his broken body  - the broken bread

Behold his spilled blood   - the poured wine

Behold his amazing love  - in the remembering and sharing here

These elements laid out before us

come to life as the Risen Christ strides along this table

strides through our lives,

strides through our towns and villages and communities

breathing hope

breathing forgiveness

breathing love that knows no bounds

Young and old

friend and stranger

pilgrim or resident alien

The Lord Jesus makes space for you at this table

offering nourishment

offering fellowship

offering communion with all the saints in heaven and on earth.

Take, Eat. To remember him.

Becoming like children

Becoming like children

We imagine Jesus riding into Jerusalem

surrounded by palm branch waving children

surrounded by exuberance

and infectious laughter

shouts of greeting

cajoling and cheering.

There is a freshness in the welcome of children

a candour that is not subdued

or diminished

but comes from the heart.

bringing warmth, promoting acceptance

with is no expectation of return

but simply a desire

to spread the love.

We imagine those greetings containing familiarity

arising not out of disrespect

but out of the ability

to naturally honour and cherish

every relationship

deeming all as worthy of nurture

and investment.

We imagine Jesus surrounded by children.

The adults would have been much too reserved,

too inhibited

to be so vulgar

in their welcome.

Palm branch waving

and jacket tossing

are not for sophisticated grown ups.

We leave that nonsense to the children.

And most of the time that’s OK.

Most of the time, we are quite relieved

to keep our feelings to ourselves

to remain tight lipped

cool and distant.

But, on occasion,

wouldn’t it be great

just to throw caution to the wind

and let our exuberance escape

even just for a little while?

And what better day than this fools day

when we celebrate the absurdity

of a king riding a donkey

into Jerusalem.

Palm Sunday – a day to become like children.

Liz Crumlish Palm Sunday 2012

Blessed

Blessed is the one who comes in the Name of the Lord

A cry taken up by ordinary folk

men, women, children

out lining the streets

looking for a spectacle

longing for a cause.

Blessed is the one who comes in the Name of the Lord

A cry to get behind

to celebrate

to champion

welcoming the rebel

on whom the hopes of a nation are pinned

Blessed is the one who comes in the Name of the Lord

A cry to imitate

when there is little else to do

and nowhere else to be

when it is easier

to go along with the crowd

Blessed is the one who comes in the Name of the Lord

A cry that echoes in emptiness

when enthusiasm wanes

and hope fades

when excitement moves aside

to make way for disillusionment

Blessed is the one who comes in the Name of the Lord

A cry that drifts away

on the tide of change

as the mood of the crowd

becomes blacker

and more dangerous

Blessed is the one who comes in the Name of the Lord

A cry that becomes mocking

as the people jeer

and change their tune

and Blessed

becomes Crucify!

Blessed is the one who comes in the Name of the Lord

Liz Crumlish Lent 2012

This day

Living in the moment is a recurring theme just now. And the unseasonably warm Scottish weather seems to be endorsing that. Chances are that, by the weekend, the weather will have reverted to the usual damp and chill for this time of year, so it is important to enjoy it while we can.
Many of us are programmed to always be on the lookout for our next challenge or goal for which to strive. And while complacency isn't terribly productive, there does  come a time when it is important to simply be - enjoying what is, appreciating what has been achieved, often through hard work, taking a breath before plunging in again. Maybe we will discover as we breathe that we are indeed in a good place and that is something we want to hold on to - negating the need or desire to dive in again.
This day is a good day and that's enough to be going on with.

We wish to see Jesus...

We wish to see Jesus

THAT was the moment Lord when it seemed to hit you

when you knew the game was up

We wish to see Jesus

Those strangers who came

rocked your boat

Confirmed you'd come too far

Reminded you that your fate was sealed

The word was out

and there was no escape.

We wish to see Jesus

the journey was nearly over

YOUR journey - to the cross.

We wish to see Jesus

So quietly, you get on with it

You walk right into their hands

give yourself up

to death.

THAT was the moment

when you went viral

And you've been viral ever since.

We wish to see Jesus.

‘The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. John 12:24