I recently realised I had not written anything since Epiphany, and here we are with Easter upon us!! Easter is much later this year, and with the weather a little better than it was last year, and all the Daffodils etc out, it feels more like Easter.
With the turn of events this year, it has been hard to focus on Lent, but Andrew and I have tried changes in diet, in a bid to view things at a different angle, and not falling into the trap of thinking of it as "Give up Chocolate time"!
God has been good to me, with the way my official days off have fallen. As a result, I have been able to be off work from Good Friday right through to the following Wednesday!! Due to working late, I missed the Maundy Thursday Holy Communion, but yesterday, I was able to take part in a couple of very moving events. In the morning, we had the Exploration of the Cross at St. Lukes, which involved the image of the cross laid out on the floor, and we were given a choice of different stages and hands on experiences. There was a chance to paint our hands red and mark a hand print on the paper cross image, and to imagine that there really was blood on our hands, and then to wash our hands. We also had an opportunity to paint a stone red, to wash it and to place it on a cairn in the centre of the cross. This was all so we could imagine if it was blood, and if we were Pilate washing his hands of our Lord's blood. We also had a confession corner with the scripture relating to Peter's denial and kneelers set out, where we could bring to god all the times we have denied him. All this was interspersed with scripture readings, and an opening and closing liturgy relating all the events to the present day, and Jesus being with us now, in Norwich.
In the afternoon, I and a few from our church took part in the silent Walk of Reconciliation in the city. After a short service in Chapelfield Methodist church, we walked in silence and followed the cross it the Cathedral. People did stop and look at us, but who knows if they understood what it was about. One man shouted out the word, "JEWS!" to which a woman in the procession retorted "Jesus was Jewish!" We had a very moving point in front of the Forum where nails were driven into the cross, and the sound of banging echoed against the big building. Then the cross was stood up, and that in itself was very powerful, it really felt like Jesus was being crucified for us personally, in Norwich. The walk culminated in a service of Evensong in the Cathedral, which was packed full, so we really raised the roof with our singing!
Next port of call for us, is the Confirmation at the Cathedral this evening, when we will be supporting a number of people from St. Lukes as they make the commitment to follow Jesus.
Friday 10 April 2009
Tuesday 6 January 2009
HAPPY NEW YEAR
Another Christmas is over, and it seems as if Christmas has already gone away into the dim and distant past. The New Year has arrived, and whilst Christmas itself has become a bit old hat, what people did over New Year, is still a subject of conversation. To Andrew and myself, it was very important that we were simply together when the clock struck twelve (as some of you will know, Andrew was very ill a year ago, and spent the first nine days of 2008 in Hospital). We tried keeping ourselves awake on New Years Eve, watching a DVD of "Ivor the Engine" (a fun Christmas presesnt I got from Andrew) but by 11.30 p.m., we were exhausted and went to bed, so we were asleep by midnight!
New Years Day was spent chilling out and walking in our much loved local Catton Park, before we had to face going back to work and getting back down to the nitty gritty of things. We all blithely say "Happy New Year" but we wonder what this year actually holds for us. We hear all the depressing stuff in the news about all the dreadful things happening in Zimbabwe under Robert Mugabe's regime, and every week in church, we are praying for peace in Iraq, the Middle East, Afghanistan and the Congo Region. Madeleine McCann has still not been found, the family have been given a number of false hopes that have lead nowhere. Also there are big changes afoot in the world as Barack Obama gets sworn in as the first coloured Pesident of the U.S.A. Then there's the financial climate, and what it's going to do for Andrew and myself personally, and everyone else. We hear on the News that the credit crunch is likely to affect us for the next four years, so it's all doom and gloom.
As I type this, it is "Twelfth Night" or the Season of the Epiphany, which is the actual time when the Wise Men (or the Magi) visited the the Christ child in Bethlehem. We had a very lively pre-Epiphany service on Sunday, where the children acted out the story of the journey of the Magi, from the point of view of "Sandy the Camel". My next port of call will be to dismantle the Christmas Tree and put all the decs away in the loft. I am reminded here, of a sermon we had some years ago from Rev. Pam Goddard who was an assistant curate at St. Lukes Church. She told us that now that the decorations were put away, they were no longer there to sidetrack us, and that we should focus our minds fully on Jesus, and the purpose for which he was born to us. Let this be our prayer to each and everyone who trusts in him.
New Years Day was spent chilling out and walking in our much loved local Catton Park, before we had to face going back to work and getting back down to the nitty gritty of things. We all blithely say "Happy New Year" but we wonder what this year actually holds for us. We hear all the depressing stuff in the news about all the dreadful things happening in Zimbabwe under Robert Mugabe's regime, and every week in church, we are praying for peace in Iraq, the Middle East, Afghanistan and the Congo Region. Madeleine McCann has still not been found, the family have been given a number of false hopes that have lead nowhere. Also there are big changes afoot in the world as Barack Obama gets sworn in as the first coloured Pesident of the U.S.A. Then there's the financial climate, and what it's going to do for Andrew and myself personally, and everyone else. We hear on the News that the credit crunch is likely to affect us for the next four years, so it's all doom and gloom.
As I type this, it is "Twelfth Night" or the Season of the Epiphany, which is the actual time when the Wise Men (or the Magi) visited the the Christ child in Bethlehem. We had a very lively pre-Epiphany service on Sunday, where the children acted out the story of the journey of the Magi, from the point of view of "Sandy the Camel". My next port of call will be to dismantle the Christmas Tree and put all the decs away in the loft. I am reminded here, of a sermon we had some years ago from Rev. Pam Goddard who was an assistant curate at St. Lukes Church. She told us that now that the decorations were put away, they were no longer there to sidetrack us, and that we should focus our minds fully on Jesus, and the purpose for which he was born to us. Let this be our prayer to each and everyone who trusts in him.
Saturday 20 December 2008
Christmas Thoughts for 2008
Another year is over, and it has been a mixed one for many, what with personal issues, and some of what we have heard on the News. It is hard to take in that Christmas is once more upon us!
"So when does Christmas actually come?" I will always remember Nicholas Vesey asking us that question at the start of his sermon at the Midnight Communion at St. Augustine's Church in 2004. it is almost more challenging to us as Chistians than it is to non Christians. For those of us who work in retail, Christmas comes earlier and earlier, with all the shops bedecked in fairy lights and decorations by mid October! for Schools, it all comes as soon as Bonfire Night is over, and teachers are up to their eyes in organising bazaars, parties and nativity plays.
It is so sad to remember that the true meaning has become totally lost by commercialism, and so it becomes a less than relaxing time for many, with the "season of Goodwill" concept becoming a joke! It is a season of stress for those of us in retail and the postal service, and a season of greed for those who are only interested in money, food and drink! In my workplace, trade is tough this year, and the effects of the credit crunch are obvious, but people are still buying. It will be interesting to see how many failed Christmas presents come back on Boxing Day THIS year!!
For many, Christmas is "really just for children" as it's all about new toys and Santa Claus, and schools and nurseries do nativity plays but simply brand it as a "nice little fairy story" with too much emphasis on Baby Jesus, and the children don't understand that he grew up to be the greatest person that has ever lived!! Before i was a Christian, I worked as a Nanny, and i used to share in the wonder and excitement of the children in my care that santa was real!!
As we go through these next few days, those of us who believe need to ask God to help us to see through all the stress, and to focus on his birth and his return. So that on Christmas Day itself, we will be able to turn our hearts to the true meaning of the event. May i close by wishing you all a restful and relaxing Christmas.
"So when does Christmas actually come?" I will always remember Nicholas Vesey asking us that question at the start of his sermon at the Midnight Communion at St. Augustine's Church in 2004. it is almost more challenging to us as Chistians than it is to non Christians. For those of us who work in retail, Christmas comes earlier and earlier, with all the shops bedecked in fairy lights and decorations by mid October! for Schools, it all comes as soon as Bonfire Night is over, and teachers are up to their eyes in organising bazaars, parties and nativity plays.
It is so sad to remember that the true meaning has become totally lost by commercialism, and so it becomes a less than relaxing time for many, with the "season of Goodwill" concept becoming a joke! It is a season of stress for those of us in retail and the postal service, and a season of greed for those who are only interested in money, food and drink! In my workplace, trade is tough this year, and the effects of the credit crunch are obvious, but people are still buying. It will be interesting to see how many failed Christmas presents come back on Boxing Day THIS year!!
For many, Christmas is "really just for children" as it's all about new toys and Santa Claus, and schools and nurseries do nativity plays but simply brand it as a "nice little fairy story" with too much emphasis on Baby Jesus, and the children don't understand that he grew up to be the greatest person that has ever lived!! Before i was a Christian, I worked as a Nanny, and i used to share in the wonder and excitement of the children in my care that santa was real!!
As we go through these next few days, those of us who believe need to ask God to help us to see through all the stress, and to focus on his birth and his return. So that on Christmas Day itself, we will be able to turn our hearts to the true meaning of the event. May i close by wishing you all a restful and relaxing Christmas.
Sunday 7 December 2008
Sunday 9 November 2008
REMEMBER, REMEMBER THE FIFTH OF NOVEMBER!!
As I type this, we are in the midst of all the Guy Fawkes celebrations going on around us, and as I walk home from another hard day in Boots, the darkness of the sky is broken on a regular basis, as yet another loud bang gives way to a spectacular display of colour!!
This year, Andrew and I decided to celebrate it in style, with our own fireworks display. We would have done it on the actual "5th", but lousy weather necessitated us postponing it, so a fish pie and plenty of White Wine warmed us up, as the rain crashed down onto our conservatory roof! Instead, we let off our fireworks two days later, and had the experience of the noise and colour in our own back garden, in many ways! Not only did we let off fireworks, but it was also the perfect opportunity for Andrew to christen our new incinerator. with plenty of paper rubbish to burn, and triffid style Jerusalem Artichoke Stems to get rid of, and with a little help from the used fryer oil and new back gate "treatment", we had a display almost on a par with the St. Lukes Bonfire of two years ago!!(see photo below!)
The fun is by no means over for us. Next weekend, Andrew and I are going to a bonfire party along the road in the garden of his work mate, Chance. This is within easy walking distance, so we will certainly not feel guilt ridden about churning up the mud in Earlham Park on the night of their annual firework display!!
I will close by sharing a "funny" that occured at Luton Christian Fellowship way back in about 1993, and this is true. The church were organising a firework display in a local park, as a means of introducing non Christians to the church in a fun way. Before the event, at the midweek prayer meeting, those present were praying about the event, with particular emphasis on the important Health and Safety aspects. Imagine how the whole gathering fell about laughing when someone piped out "Dear Lord, we pray that all those who come to the event will be on FIRE FOR GOD!!!"
This year, Andrew and I decided to celebrate it in style, with our own fireworks display. We would have done it on the actual "5th", but lousy weather necessitated us postponing it, so a fish pie and plenty of White Wine warmed us up, as the rain crashed down onto our conservatory roof! Instead, we let off our fireworks two days later, and had the experience of the noise and colour in our own back garden, in many ways! Not only did we let off fireworks, but it was also the perfect opportunity for Andrew to christen our new incinerator. with plenty of paper rubbish to burn, and triffid style Jerusalem Artichoke Stems to get rid of, and with a little help from the used fryer oil and new back gate "treatment", we had a display almost on a par with the St. Lukes Bonfire of two years ago!!(see photo below!)
The fun is by no means over for us. Next weekend, Andrew and I are going to a bonfire party along the road in the garden of his work mate, Chance. This is within easy walking distance, so we will certainly not feel guilt ridden about churning up the mud in Earlham Park on the night of their annual firework display!!
I will close by sharing a "funny" that occured at Luton Christian Fellowship way back in about 1993, and this is true. The church were organising a firework display in a local park, as a means of introducing non Christians to the church in a fun way. Before the event, at the midweek prayer meeting, those present were praying about the event, with particular emphasis on the important Health and Safety aspects. Imagine how the whole gathering fell about laughing when someone piped out "Dear Lord, we pray that all those who come to the event will be on FIRE FOR GOD!!!"
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