tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10254779937134576552023-11-16T13:45:12.310+00:00DancingScarecrowWorship in a Broken WorldTimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02602558784211031161noreply@blogger.comBlogger63125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1025477993713457655.post-30866944026280376722015-12-03T11:29:00.000+00:002015-12-03T11:29:18.491+00:00FixedOh dear - it looks as though it is over two years since I posted anything to this blog!<br />
<br />
And this is just a quick note to say that after months of being broken I have just managed to fix the Search function on the welcome page of Dancing Scarecrow.<br />
<br />
One day we will get round to updating DS again. Promise! ;-)Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02602558784211031161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1025477993713457655.post-35525614528932973752013-06-02T12:53:00.002+01:002013-06-02T12:53:21.651+01:00And the Word was…I know that for the last couple of years, there has been a considerable delay in publishing material on Dancing Scarecrow. I really am trying to do something about that. But last week Angie and Dave Tunstall came round for a eucharist meal and Clare and I wrote was has rapidly become my favourite eucharistic prayer. It started as an exploration of our methodology and ended up as a very silly, deeply serious theopoetic exploration of the relationship between liturgy, language and God. So I've allowed it to jump the queue.<div>
<a href="http://www.dancingscarecrow.org.uk/Dancing_Scarecrow/Whats_New_files/Spinach%20Eucharist.pdf" target="_blank">And the Word was…</a><br /><a href="http://www.blogger.com/"></a><span id="goog_296769568"></span><span id="goog_296769569"></span><br /></div>
Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02602558784211031161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1025477993713457655.post-32101415444239360652013-05-30T19:25:00.001+01:002013-05-30T19:25:44.470+01:00Losing the will to liveDon't say I never do anything for you…<br />
<br />
I've just spent almost three hours checking all the links on Dancing Scarecrow and making sure they work. I haven't finished yet - I started with the Dancing Stories, then checked through all the Genre, Theme and Season links. The Church Year links need a lot of work - I am aware that some of the pages haven't even been finished yet - and I do need to check all the rest. But quite honestly, I'm losing the will to live now, so I'm going to go and have my tea.<br />
<br />
Oh, there are half a dozen new prayers as well, including one by Clive Roberts which has been waiting almost 18 months to be published. Sorry Clive.Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02602558784211031161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1025477993713457655.post-27379791473712433422013-05-24T17:02:00.000+01:002013-05-24T17:02:26.161+01:00TheopoeticsThis afternoon, Clare and I have written perhaps our most off the wall eucharist yet. It will go up on Dancing Scarecrow in the next few days, when I have worked out how on earth to explain it. In the course of researching it, I discovered that there is a term to describe what we are trying to do with Dancing Scarecrow—theopoetics.<br />
<br />
Anyway, in the half hour before starting to make tea, I offer you half a dozen new prayers as well.Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02602558784211031161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1025477993713457655.post-1651343759551522462013-03-17T12:50:00.002+00:002013-03-17T13:11:18.896+00:00New PrayersOne of the advantages of long train journeys is supposed to be that you have the opportunity to get on with some work. On the way back from the UE Teams Day in Bristol this week, I have so far had to change seats four times - and change trains once. I am typing this with my left arm wedged behind the back of the guy next to me. My knees are somewhere up around my navel and my right arm has gone to sleep.<br />
<div>
In spite of this I have actually managed to upload another twenty prayers or so to <a href="http://www.dancingscarecrow.org.uk/">www.dancingscarecrow.org.uk</a> I've also created a "What's New?" page so that those of you who regularly use Dancing Scarecrow can easily find the alterations.<br />
We have noticed that there are a number of links which seem to have got confused in moving the website from one computer to another to another. If you do come across a link which doesn't work, do, please, let us know so we (OK, I - Clare has never yet actually done any mechanics on the website ;-)) can fix it.</div>
Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02602558784211031161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1025477993713457655.post-41790645607444942032012-06-05T09:33:00.002+01:002012-06-05T09:33:48.834+01:00Not Dead YetShamefully, it is almost a year since we posted anything to this blog - which probably means we haven't put anything new on Dancing Scarecrow in that time either.<br />
But we haven't been sitting around doing nothing. In that time, as well as continuing our "Have Congregation, Will Travel" we have also started a monthly "Stories and Songs" session (for which we are very grateful to have received a grant from TrustGreenbelt) in the local SureStart Centre.<br />
This month - usually it's the first Sunday of the month, if you want to come along - we looked at the theme of Pentecost - the Holy Spirit who brings peace and unites us.<br />
Graham, Deborah and Rachel put together this amazing shadow play to tell the story of Sadako and the Peace Cranes.<br />
Enjoy<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/VmSw5-qz5eE?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02602558784211031161noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1025477993713457655.post-15567630292675827262011-07-25T18:07:00.002+01:002011-07-25T18:07:22.674+01:00More Dancing StoriesJust a very quick note to say that we have today posted some new Dancing Stories to Dancing Scarecrow, including the whole of the book of Job (!) and a telling of the Massacre of the Innocents for Remembrance Sunday.Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02602558784211031161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1025477993713457655.post-34255771938759990142011-06-05T08:55:00.000+01:002011-06-05T08:55:57.876+01:00Where's Wally?So, today is Ascension Sunday.<br />
Since the 1960s (and perhaps earlier) we seem to have got hung up on the historicity or otherwise of the Ascension story. Clearly the photographs of the earth from space have proved that there is no physical heaven beyond the clouds into which Jesus ascended.<br />
We have, therefore, thrown out the baby with this bathwater.<br />
It seems to me, rather, that the Ascension is more like a "Where's Wally" puzzle - or perhaps a "Where's Jesus."<br />
The early church, having proclaimed the resurrection, now has the difficulty of explaining how the particular human being, Jesus of Nazareth, is now the divine Christ, universally present in people of faith. So the Ascension story sets the church free to be the Body of Christ on earth.<br />
<br />
Christ is alive! Let Christians sing.<br />
The cross stands empty to the sky.<br />
Let streets and homes with praises ring.<br />
Love, drowned in death, shall never die!<br />
<br />
Christ is alive! No longer bound<br />
to distant years in Palestine,<br />
but saving, healing, here and now,<br />
and touching every place and time.<br />
© Brian Wren (1936–)<br />
<br />
So, this morning, we'll be playing Where's Wally.Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02602558784211031161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1025477993713457655.post-29302466168943459802011-05-16T14:16:00.000+01:002011-05-16T14:16:32.288+01:00I forgot the camera!Sometimes you really wish you had remembered the camera!<br />
<br />
Yesterday we were at St PJs, the local URC church where we worship on a monthly basis. They know - and tolerate us - very well. We were following the lectionary readings which didn't exactly inspire. The theme of sheep/ shepherds seems to come around at least twice a year and there isn't much more we can say on the subject. However, comparing and contrasting the Acts 2 reading about the disciples selling their possessions and sharing according to their needs with the problematic parable of Jesus as the gatekeeper to the sheepfold led us to some musings about the nature of community.<br />
<br />
We discussed different types of community - groups (loose unaffiliated groupings); associations (groups which come together around a single interest) and clubs (formal, regulated associations with rules about who is in and who is out). We then contrasted this with the community of the church - and reflected on what makes the church different.<br />
<br />
We invited the congregation to put their hands up if...<br />
they were not vegetarian<br />
they were over 60<br />
they didn't watch the FA cup final<br />
<br />
and so on.<br />
<br />
We passed a ball of wool around the church, linking all those who agreed that they were part of a particular relationship. This, significantly, included both Clare and myself - and Colin, the pianist.<br />
<br />
We then reflected on what makes for broken relationships and for our prayers of intercession symbolically cut some of the strands of wool. Then, despite Colin being tied up, we asked him to play the normally unsingable "Bind Us Together" as we prayed for the Holy Spirit to re-tie the cords which could not be broken.<br />
<br />
There were tears of laughter - and, I suspect not a few sentimental tears too. And, I fear, there may have been a few tears at the quality - or lack thereof - of our singing!<br />
<br />
If only I'd remembered the camera.<br />
<br />
Here's Clare's opening prayer:<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: transparent;"><h3 id="internal-source-marker_0.2963242260739207"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Inclusive Community Opening Prayer </span></h3><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<h3><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Come from birthplaces in far off lands</span></h3><h3><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Come from birthplaces round the corner</span></h3><h3><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">God is for you</span></h3><h3><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></h3><h3><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Come from distant hills and suburbs</span></h3><h3><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Come from local terraced streets</span></h3><h3><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">God is for you</span></h3><h3><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></h3><h3><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Come with your toys and play-mats</span></h3><h3><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Come with your walking sticks</span></h3><h3><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">God is for you</span></h3><h3><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></h3><h3><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Come in your wheel chairs</span></h3><h3><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Come with your glasses</span></h3><h3><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">God is for you</span></h3><h3><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></h3><h3><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Come with your hearing aids</span></h3><h3><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Come with your special interests</span></h3><h3><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">God is for you</span></h3><h3><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></h3><h3><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Come by yourself</span></h3><h3><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Come with your civil partner</span></h3><h3><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">God is for you</span></h3><h3><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></h3><h3><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Come with your grandchildren</span></h3><h3><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Come with your friend</span></h3><h3><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">God is for you</span></h3><h3><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></h3><h3><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Come with your neighbour</span></h3><h3><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Come with your foster family</span></h3><h3><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">God is for you</span></h3><h3><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></h3><h3><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Come with your highs and obsessions</span></h3><h3><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Come with your lows and depressive thoughts</span></h3><h3><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">God is for you</span></h3><h3><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></h3><h3><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Come with your addictions</span></h3><h3><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Come with your eating disorders</span></h3><h3><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">God is for you</span></h3><h3><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></h3><h3><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Come with your joys and celebrations</span></h3><h3><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Come with your hurts and disappointments</span></h3><h3><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">God is for you</span></h3><h3><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></h3><h3><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Come with your questions and cynicism</span></h3><h3><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Come with your ideas and creativity</span></h3><h3><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">God is for you</span></h3><h3><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></h3><h3><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Come for it is God who calls you here</span></h3><h3><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">To create a wonderfully diverse, inclusive community</span></h3><h3><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">God is for us.</span></h3><h3><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>© Clare McBeath, 2011</i></span></span></h3></div>Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02602558784211031161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1025477993713457655.post-5599433940287846882011-05-16T14:04:00.000+01:002011-05-16T14:04:38.130+01:00Scapegoat or Terrorist?In the light of the killing of Osama Bin Laden it felt appropriate to give folk the opportunity to reflect on the issues raised.<br />
Within OBT, there are a variety of views on the legality/ morality of "the War on Terror," so it would have been wrong to assume that we all felt or reacted in the same way.<br />
We found a splendid Newsround clip on the BBC iPlayer which introduced some of the questions raised, then had a lively discussion about how Bin Laden's death made us feel.<br />
Whether we agreed with the killing or not, there was some agreement that the death of one man was unlikely to end terrorism. In many ways, we felt that Bin Laden was being scapegoated.<br />
However, the children didn't really know what a scapegoat was, so we read Leviticus 16:20–22.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6n4nt6tAhFs/TdEceUfQg4I/AAAAAAAADuA/eArv66IlSQ8/s1600/CRW_6750.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6n4nt6tAhFs/TdEceUfQg4I/AAAAAAAADuA/eArv66IlSQ8/s200/CRW_6750.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>We then found another YouTube video which showed us how to make our very own Scapegoat out of clay.<br />
We pinned our prayers for the world - the things which we think are wrong - or the 'sins of the world' onto the scapegoat using yet more Post-it notes.<br />
Then the children cast our scapegoat out into the wilderness of our front garden. There, I am sorry to report, he promptly collapsed under the weight of sin, and as it was a very windy day, the sins of the world were blown to the ends of the earth.<br />
Whilst I am not sure about the ecological effect of our littering, it was an illuminating reflection on the dramatic events of the week.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5oBfS5C1Oug/TdEcen0-sMI/AAAAAAAADuE/SEGb6kKZjGw/s1600/CRW_6751.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5oBfS5C1Oug/TdEcen0-sMI/AAAAAAAADuE/SEGb6kKZjGw/s200/CRW_6751.jpg" width="133" /></a></div><br />
Here are my opening prayer and Clare's Eucharist:<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: transparent;"><span id="internal-source-marker_0.8246229328215122" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Opening Prayers:</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We aren’t exactly a crowd,</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">two or three gathered together</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">in the confines of a living room.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We aren’t exactly a crowd.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We don’t exactly have a loud voice,</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">singing quite badly, protesting</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">in the powerlessness of our little community.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We don’t exactly have a loud voice.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We aren’t exactly confident,</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">huddled together, looking on</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">revolted at the baying mob.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We aren’t exactly confident.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We aren’t exactly changing the world,</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">meeting, praying, protesting,</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">trying to live out the values of Shalom.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We aren’t exactly changing the world.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In the face of the shouts of the crowd:</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We are silent.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In the face of confident political lies:</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We are silent.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In the face of media consensus</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We are silent.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In the face of the pro-war propaganda</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We are silent.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In the face of the temptation to conform</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We are silent.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">[Silence]</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In the silence of an upper room</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Would-be disciples</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">huddled together,</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">not knowing what to say</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">when their leader was killed.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In the fear of an upper room</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">former disciples</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">mourned the loss</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">of their confidence</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">in the justice of their cause.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In the isolation of an upper room</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">lonely disciples</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">watched the mood of the nation</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">turn against them</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">as the mob bayed for blood.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In the sanctuary of an upper room</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">faithful disciples</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">prayed together and stayed together</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">hoping they were right</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">in the presence of God.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And,</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">in the presence of God,</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">they prayed</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">for the coming of Shalom:</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Our Father…</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">©Tim Presswood, 2011</span></div><div style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br />
</span></div><div style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br />
</span></div><div style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; white-space: normal;"><span id="internal-source-marker_0.8246229328215122" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Scapegoat Eucharist</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">All we’ve done wrong</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">All our anger</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">All our fear</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">All or prejudice</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">All our conflict</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">All our hate</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">All our violence</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">All our greed</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What do we do with</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Such human emotions?</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If we keep</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">such human emotions inside</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">they churn us up</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">depression</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">mental illness</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">physical illness</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">anxiety</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">self-harm</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">alcohol abuse</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">low self-esteem.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">All we’ve done wrong</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">All our anger</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">All our fear</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">All or prejudice</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">All our conflict</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">All our hate</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">All our violence</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">All our greed</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What do we do with</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Such human emotions?</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If we let</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">such human emotions show</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">law-breaking</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">vandalism</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">conflict</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">terrorism</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">domestic violence</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">broken relationships</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">racism</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">injustice.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">All we’ve done wrong</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">All our anger</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">All our fear</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">All or prejudice</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">All our conflict</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">All our hate</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">All our violence</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">All our greed</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What do we do with</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Such human emotions?</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And so the scapegoat</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">was born</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">to deal with the not so pretty</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">side of humanity</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">something on which we could load</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">all our human failings</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and the things</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">we have done wrong</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">all our violence</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and destruction.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And so the scapegoat</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">was born</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">to deal with the not so pretty</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">side of humanity</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">so we might restore</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">our broken selves</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">so we might restore</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">our broken communities</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">so we might restore</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">our broken world.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But what of the scapegoat</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">the one we make the victim</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">the one who takes the blame</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">the one we send off</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">into the wilderness</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">or imprisoned</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">bullied</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">excluded</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">killed</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">silenced.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">How can killing</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">one violent man</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">be he Osama Bin Laden</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">or any other political</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">or death row prisoner</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">bring an end to</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">the war on terror</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">bring peace</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">bring justice</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">to our broken world?</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And so on the night before</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jesus became the scapegoat</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jesus sat around a table</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And shared a meal</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">With the followers who</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">would run from him</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">With the friend</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Who would deny him</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">With the enemy who</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">would betray him.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And so on the night before</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jesus became the scapegoat</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jesus took bread</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and tore it apart</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">this is my world broken by you</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">this is my body broken for you</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and the scapegoat</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">the victim</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">forgave us</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and set us free.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">[tear and share bread]</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And so on the night before</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jesus became the scapegoat</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jesus poured</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A cup of wine</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">this is my blood poured out by you</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">this is my life given for you</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and the scapegoat</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">the victim</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">gave us a glimpse of the humanity</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">God intended us to be.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">[pour and share wine]</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> All we’ve done wrong</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">All our anger</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">All our fear</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">All or prejudice</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">All our conflict</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">All our hate</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">All our violence</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">All our greed</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What do we do with</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Such human emotions?</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We lay such human emotions</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">At the foot of the cross</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And learn God’s way</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Of being fully human</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Of love</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Of justice</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Of mercy</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Of peace</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Of forgiveness</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Of reconciliation.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And we find that we are born again</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">to a new way of being human</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">a gradual learning</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">as we grow and change</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">of who we are</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and how we relate</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">to our family, our friends</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">our community, our world</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">as we become the people and community</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">that God intended us to be.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br />
</span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">© Clare McBeath, 2011</span></i></span></div></span></div>Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02602558784211031161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1025477993713457655.post-33680346251827648262011-05-04T16:37:00.001+01:002011-05-04T16:38:18.366+01:00At Last!A very quick note to point out that I have, this afternoon, got round to adding a search <search dancing="" scarecrow="">button to the site. </search><br />
<br />
It is powered by Google - and your results will show up in a Google window, rather than on Dancing Scarecrow itself. However, the only results you will get are from Dancing Scarecrow, so it should make the site a bit easier to navigate.Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02602558784211031161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1025477993713457655.post-39453478778449502612011-04-11T17:30:00.000+01:002011-04-11T17:30:31.213+01:00I Quite Liked Church This Morning…<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Last week some friends joined us for worship on Sunday morning. As it happened, it was the day before Clare's Dad's funeral, so the McBeaths were in Abingdon. Joan was away and David was unwell. So "Church" turned out to be Deborah, Beth, me and our two friends!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">In a thank-you note, one of our friends commented: </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"I quite liked church this morning…I felt like I had something to contribute, I liked the fact that the </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">contributions came from all including me, and a child, and theologians and </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">scholars and academics.... the interactive.... and the quiet, the </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">thinking..... the nobody telling me what I was supposed to think... and not </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">much singing"</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I was touched beyond measure at these comments, as that is exactly what we are seeking to achieve here.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The reading was the anointing of David from 1 Samuel. I decided to take this as one of our season looking at issues of peace - particularly since it was only a week since Britain launched yet another war, this time in Libya. The Bible portrays David as the great warrior-king who united Israel and built a great, united Empire. Yet even in the Biblical account there are hints that David may not have been the hero he is portrayed to be. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So we discussed why the Biblical narrative might have been written in the way it was. We watched a clip from the BBC's "Bible's Buried Secrets" and we discussed the concept of a Just War.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJjpJd5eKal4ivsToekvavSfaXd-qJYvG-OcJVSTD594ZVBplM7mH7CeqAONSo-EYU3J4BJh2A5N4oiFMYTCMduUWhyphenhyphenQMG-5Y6o-fy_N0YXx9ht-uS89ABdlweCIyS6ZiEdIWtdaxQKe0J/s1600/photo+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJjpJd5eKal4ivsToekvavSfaXd-qJYvG-OcJVSTD594ZVBplM7mH7CeqAONSo-EYU3J4BJh2A5N4oiFMYTCMduUWhyphenhyphenQMG-5Y6o-fy_N0YXx9ht-uS89ABdlweCIyS6ZiEdIWtdaxQKe0J/s200/photo+1.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu3RcQ90B97-wsVv0kciSueM3FDMrZXyZEOYwV8w2mNHevHroAJqURJjE41IIgSQ_-iwnvzoKJrS2gtkwb_i0mK-UdFXyEcK-LqwMZxaxfTWVScPe29oFOzv0SSHxtUd8CaG9J0nQh-OC6/s1600/photo+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu3RcQ90B97-wsVv0kciSueM3FDMrZXyZEOYwV8w2mNHevHroAJqURJjE41IIgSQ_-iwnvzoKJrS2gtkwb_i0mK-UdFXyEcK-LqwMZxaxfTWVScPe29oFOzv0SSHxtUd8CaG9J0nQh-OC6/s200/photo+2.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Then we sculpted our prayers out of clay, and weighed them - 'what makes for war' and 'what makes for peace' in the scales of justice.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Some might argue that for such a difficult subject, humour is inappropriate. I disagree. I wrote a playful eucharist, which plays with the concepts of just war and justice. To me, the joy of playing with language highlights the horror of failed linguistic attempts to solve our differences.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">See what you think.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> <!--StartFragment--> </span><br />
<h2>Eucharist – Just War Just Life</h2><div class="Body">In just a few moments,</div><div class="Body">I shall have convinced you that my cause is just.</div><div class="Body">Just pay attention.</div><div class="Body">Let me just speak</div><div class="Body">The words just pour from my lips.</div><div class="Body">I will speak for just long enough</div><div class="Body">to just suggest</div><div class="Body">that there is just no alternative.</div><div class="Body"><br />
</div><div class="Body">It’s a just war</div><div class="Body">It’s just a war</div><div class="Body"><br />
</div><div class="Body">Just as you thought humankind</div><div class="Body">had had just about enough of violence</div><div class="Body">another tyrant just has to be stopped.</div><div class="Body">He is just evil.</div><div class="Body">Our cause is just.</div><div class="Body">A regime will change just like that.</div><div class="Body">Those who get in the way will just have to accept</div><div class="Body">that there is just no alternative.</div><div class="Body"><br />
</div><div class="Body">It’s a just war</div><div class="Body">It’s just a war</div><div class="Body"><br />
</div><div class="Body">Those who die are just little people.</div><div class="Body">Soldiers are just doing a job.</div><div class="Body">Oil is just irrelevant.</div><div class="Body">The mission is just to prevent attacks on civilians.</div><div class="Body">Invasion just won’t happen.</div><div class="Body">We just won’t allow our troops to get carried away.</div><div class="Body">Their training is just sufficient.</div><div class="Body"><br />
</div><div class="Body">It’s a just war</div><div class="Body">It’s just a war</div><div class="Body"><br />
</div><div class="Body">So just 233 planes take off</div><div class="Body">and just bomb the baddies,</div><div class="Body">just targeting precisely those they want to take out.</div><div class="Body">Forgetting that our bombs are just the same</div><div class="Body">as the ones which fell just now;</div><div class="Body">just ignoring the lives</div><div class="Body">which young soldiers have just left behind,</div><div class="Body">our planes just take off and just drop anonymous bombs.</div><div class="Body"><br />
</div><div class="Body">It’s a just war</div><div class="Body">It’s just a war</div><div class="Body"><br />
</div><div class="Body">Just as, just two thousand years ago,</div><div class="Body">a man – just one man</div><div class="Body">was just so threatening to powers and principalities</div><div class="Body">that they just couldn’t cope with his challenge</div><div class="Body">and just nailed him to a tree</div><div class="Body">just to silence him.</div><div class="Body">Just one man.</div><div class="Body">Just not important.</div><div class="Body"><br />
</div><div class="Body">This is just bread</div><div class="Body">broken bread remembering the un-just</div><div class="Body"><br />
</div><div class="Instruction">[Break and share bread]</div><div class="Body"><br />
</div><div class="Body">But they just didn’t understand</div><div class="Body">that he wasn’t just a man.</div><div class="Body">He was just love</div><div class="Body">And love just cannot die</div><div class="Body">So just as dead trees </div><div class="Body">just spring back to life,</div><div class="Body">just three days later</div><div class="Body">he just sprang back to life</div><div class="Body"><br />
</div><div class="Body">This is just a cup of wine</div><div class="Body">poured to celebrate just-ice</div><div class="Body"><br />
</div><div class="Instruction">[Pour and drink wine]</div><div class="Body"><br />
</div><div class="Body">He is just life.</div><div class="Body">His life is just.</div><div class="Body">And so we just want to live</div><div class="Body">the life of justice.</div><div class="Body">Just like that.</div><div class="Body"><br />
</div><div class="Body"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">© Clare McBeath and Tim Presswood, 2011</span></i></div><!--EndFragment-->Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02602558784211031161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1025477993713457655.post-85841188281277059922011-02-27T09:14:00.000+00:002011-02-27T09:14:49.956+00:00YouTube WorshipThere are numerous advantages to being a small church. Indeed, one of the things we will be talking about over the next few days/ weeks is whether "church" is a helpful label for what we do. But that's not the point of this post.<br />
Todays readings from Isaiah and Matthew (A Epiphany 8) have often been used to say, "Trust in God and everything will be alright." It won't surprise you to learn that I think that is nonsense. Everything was not alright as Jesus was hanging on the Cross!<br />
The Message, helpfully translates Matthew 6: 34, "<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px;">Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don't get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes."</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px;">So we are going to watch a couple of YouTube vidoes (helpful to have internet on the telly). Kaa, the snake, singing "Trust in Me" from Disney's Jungle Book, and Bobby McFerrin, singing, "Don't Worry, Be Happy."</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px;">The McBeaths and Joan are away this weekend, so I think it will just be 5 of us. We might just have a lively discussion!</span><br />
<!--StartFragment--><!--EndFragment-->Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02602558784211031161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1025477993713457655.post-79574783223345342912010-12-19T13:32:00.000+00:002010-12-19T13:32:21.174+00:00What is Worship? - Part TwoSo, for the second year running we have failed to make it to Hawkshead Hill for our pre-Christmas celebration.<br />
This year, however, we were prepared. We didn't even set out - the M61 and M6 having been closed for much of yesterday. Instead, we arranged with HHBC that we would do a video link during their service.<br />
Amazingly, the technology worked perfectly.<br />
We gathered at 10.30, had a cup of tea and had just started singing some carols when Kath called us. We had the computer plugged in to the TV, so the picture was more than visible, although one or two friends (Patsy & Mike) fell off the edge of the screen.<br />
We shared news and introduced one or two new friends, then Pauline read an Advent liturgy as she lit the fourth Advent Candle.<br />
We were about to hang up, when Olwen suggested that we should sing a song together. Spontaneity is wonderful, but sometimes presents challenges. There was a slight time delay, which made singing "interesting" - and as we hadn't planned, we were using Rejoice and Sing, while HHBC were using Mission Praise, so words diverged at times!<br />
But we all finished together - and we did feel that we had been able to share fellowship together.<br />
<br />
Having separated, we carried on with some favourite carols. But having read <a href="http://skinnyfairtradelatte.blogspirit.com/">Catriona's</a> posts from today - and having the computer set up, we couldn't help but introduce the concept of Flash Mobbing by showing three videos:<br />
<br />
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXh7JR9oKVE<br />
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSk8h1oG8nY<br />
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SwlJICfSsgc<br />
<br />
For Olwen and David in particular, this opened up a whole new world to them and discussion which ensued revolved around the 'miracle' of technology. Felt like worship to me.Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02602558784211031161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1025477993713457655.post-54921575786951747592010-12-12T08:17:00.000+00:002010-12-12T08:17:55.559+00:00A Voice Crying in the Wilderness<div class="post-body entry-content" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 490px;"><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">My contribution to the Hopeful Imaginationi, Advent blog, cross-posted here:</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">No one filled Tommy’s wellies</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">as we turned on Christmas lights</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">in the park.</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">No one forgets your name</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">while taking your loan repayment</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">on Thursdays.</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">No one gives you chocolates</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">way past their sell-by date:</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">a thank-you.</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Tommy has moved.</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Kath has died.</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Elsie has died.</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Jimmy is in Chorlton</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">but where are his kids?</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Margaret, now well again</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">is in Withington.</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Beryl, across the park</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">has regained her spring.</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">But where are the Nguyen’s?</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Where’s Canadian Steve?</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Where are the nameless Czechs</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">who loved to hear me play the guitar</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">over their garden wall?</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">What has happened to Phil, the dealer?</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Or Angela or Janet, his terrified pawns?</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Where is Jimmy, whose unpronounceable name</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">was never given?</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">And where is the church they were all drawn to?</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Where is the church where community gathered?</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Where is the church where people communed?</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">I will destroy this temple that is made with hands,</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">and in three days I will build another,</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">not made with hands.</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Three days</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Three months</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Three years</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">A thousand years is like a second.</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Two thousand years—a baby born</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Two thousand years—a baby sought</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Two thousand years—a baby forced to flee</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Three days</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Three months</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Three years?</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Homeless.</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Refugee.</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Asylum seeker.</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Censused in Bethlehem</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Dwelling in Nazareth</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Hiding in Egypt</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Lost to the system</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Where are the Bar-Josephs?</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Whatever happened to Yeshua?</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidiDN54zOOLRwpta5rby3WBDcJigZkIx8CeXVDV9znjwjJwfBXegtOWO8gkRURAqMJQGS66jPymuL9YoJUSycXQ_-ldscwCixe68CMJH7sIN-oxs-HhHXiAmPZUnpveVvgbKRaAyBY6zk/s1600/IMG_0262.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; color: #2288bb; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidiDN54zOOLRwpta5rby3WBDcJigZkIx8CeXVDV9znjwjJwfBXegtOWO8gkRURAqMJQGS66jPymuL9YoJUSycXQ_-ldscwCixe68CMJH7sIN-oxs-HhHXiAmPZUnpveVvgbKRaAyBY6zk/s400/IMG_0262.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976562) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; border-width: initial; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">A voice cries in Ramah</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">A voice cries in Openshaw</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">A voice cries across the demolition site</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">A voice cries in the wilderness</span></div><div style="clear: both;"></div></div><div class="post-footer" style="background-color: #f9f9f9; border-bottom-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: -2px; margin-right: -2px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 10px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px;"></div>Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02602558784211031161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1025477993713457655.post-88674787124621755552010-12-08T09:56:00.003+00:002010-12-08T10:01:27.675+00:00Without Hope?<span style="font-style: italic;">Clare's post from the Hopeful Imagination Advent blog, copied here:</span><br />
<br />
“This is my church. <br />
<div>This is where I heal my hurts</div><div>For tonight</div><div>God is a DJ.”</div><div><br />
</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXYIPUG2IzTqQP9kUUugmFDk1-ezqsPcmmF6ij-VDMi_7Ll6C6JBFrbadM_5I4jm8IV_EqPn8NRwZK03d2p2r1dSfrR0Ca6_lir0I2jfCRMS3YPkLZnk8lkvXWQ7QzxbyHaX6MMhvfkJ7g/s1600/GodDJ.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="179" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548246694311909362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXYIPUG2IzTqQP9kUUugmFDk1-ezqsPcmmF6ij-VDMi_7Ll6C6JBFrbadM_5I4jm8IV_EqPn8NRwZK03d2p2r1dSfrR0Ca6_lir0I2jfCRMS3YPkLZnk8lkvXWQ7QzxbyHaX6MMhvfkJ7g/s320/GodDJ.jpg" style="float: left; height: 112px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 0pt; width: 200px;" width="320" /></a></div>The scene is not a church or cathedral, but a huge warehouse of an arena, packed with people of all different ages, juggling pints of beer in plastic glasses, taking photos with mobile phones and “bouncing” with arms waving ecstatically in the air. The music is loud and strobe lights pulse with the rhythm of the beat. An image gradually builds up across the light bank that forms the backdrop of the stage. Deborah thinks the image is a huge church or cathedral. I interpret it as skyscrapers forming a cityscape. Either way on the words “God is a DJ” the lights explode with a flash of sudden revelation.</div><div><br />
</div><div>After such a call to worship and time of praise, then comes the sermon, a powerful prophetic and poetic oratory, “misinformation… racism… fear… greed… inaction is a weapon of mass destruction”, underscored by moving words of light proclaiming the shocking world statistics of injustice and oppression and cost to human lives. </div><div><br />
</div><div>Then comes stillness and confession as we are humbled and challenged with the words of Salva Mea, “How can I change the world if I can’t even change myself?”</div><div>We are then invited to participate in a congregational sharing of a vision of how things could be, a vision of the kin-dom, “We come one” “Christian and Muslim, We come one…. Beneath the skin we are all the same, We come one”. </div><div><br />
</div><div>At the end, the skinny bare-chested, middle-aged singer/rapper bows low, not so much to the congregation but to something greater or deeper or maybe the divine image within, and sends us out with words of profound thanks and blessing, exhorting us to honour ourselves and each another and build a different kind of world.</div><div></div><div>Is this not the message of Advent hope that John the Baptist proclaimed a long way from the synagogue or temple hall? Is this not a glimpse of the Dancing Scarecrow? The poet, prophet and priest? </div><div><br />
</div><div>Maybe I should explain? Last Saturday, having spent most of the day preparing the Advent service for the next day on the theme of John the Baptist, we went, along with around 20,000 other people to see the misnamed Faithless live in concert at the MEN arena in Manchester.</div><div><br />
</div>Clarehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02713930594616017901noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1025477993713457655.post-31786090002121550072010-12-06T11:02:00.000+00:002010-12-06T11:02:09.248+00:00AdventAdvent usually flows from one week to another, linking thematically as we light the candles.<br />
<br />
One of the downsides to homelessness is that this year, we have no such rhythm. Last week at our house, we made Christmas cards for the churches we have visited. Next week, we have a joint carol service with one of our ecumenical partner churches, and the last week of Advent, we have our much anticipated visit to friends in Hawkshead Hill.<br />
<br />
So yesterday stood alone as the only Sunday in which we would explore the Advent themes together. The last couple of services we have taken at St PJ's have been rather too chaotic even for us (see Clare's reflection on Remembrance below!) so we wanted to be well prepared in advance. We also wanted to do an all-age service as the last couple have included a reflection as well as an all age activity.<br />
<br />
How to sum up Advent in a single service, including folk in an age range from 5 to 90s?<br />
<br />
An Advent Calendar, of course.<br />
<br />
Now, for those who are immediately objecting that the whole point of an Advent Calendar is that is is about anticipation and waiting, and that to open all the doors in a single hour's service, I do quite agree - but in our defence, for some of our more junior members, the anticipation is very much about the end of the service!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3LWmAd2oco6eN-LUiBkHKYV2EtwEbdbjR1cYw46TdXFxFE38qTz1NFbwj6UZJIdk5hL0Hh2cazSeVOACLa4-OJH64kIkn7ExQ3tm1Vx86VaOrgwy3OZQ_cbYo1U09-fgrW_6maPZfeRWX/s1600/Advent.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3LWmAd2oco6eN-LUiBkHKYV2EtwEbdbjR1cYw46TdXFxFE38qTz1NFbwj6UZJIdk5hL0Hh2cazSeVOACLa4-OJH64kIkn7ExQ3tm1Vx86VaOrgwy3OZQ_cbYo1U09-fgrW_6maPZfeRWX/s320/Advent.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>However, that aside, Clare has an Advent Calendar with boxes - designed, I suspect, once again to subvert the Advent message of hope by filling them with chocolates to gratify immediate desires! However, we filled the boxes with symbols, messages and elements of the liturgy. So, for example, the first box contained a Call to Worship which whoever opened the box had to read out. The second contained a reference to our first hymn and so on. Others contained letter outlines for the children to colour in which spelled out the word H O P E.<br />
<br />
If you know the children's newspaper "First News" it frequently contains articles which explain difficult topics in a manner suitable for younger children. Last week, in the runup to World AIDS Day there was a wonderful article about a boy who is HIV positive, but who, with the help of retroviral drugs is able to live a full active life. A real story of hope.<br />
<br />
This was interspersed with the Advent hope readings from Isaiah and Matthew.<br />
<br />
Yet another box contained a link to a video of the Children of Kabul from the Newsround website. The remaining boxes were filled with images of hope from the internet. Barack Obama's famous election poster and a beautiful (Photoshopped?) glass bottle of hope.<br />
<br />
The only thing we would do differently another year is that rather too many of the boxes were filled with a tightly folded piece of A4 paper. The communion box contained a piece of bread which the opener had to guess meant that it was time for eucharist. This worked rather better than the paper messages. So, with a bit more time and imagination, we would look for more symbols to put in the boxes.<br />
<br />
Number 24 contained a Barbie cup and saucer - and we all filed to the back of church for a warming cup of coffee!Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02602558784211031161noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1025477993713457655.post-91048642540813441322010-11-28T18:34:00.001+00:002010-11-28T18:40:58.875+00:00Urban Expression Associates<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://gallery.me.com/wierdostomps#100141&view=grid&bgcolor=black&sel=1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="197" src="http://gallery.me.com/wierdostomps/100141/CRW_5782/web.jpg?ver=12905087090001" width="200" /></a></div>A good day yesterday, Associating with other Urban Expression Associates in Birmingham.<br />
Clare and I were asked to lead a workshop on worship in an urban context, based on Crumbs of Hope. So we took along the tiles as an example of the kind of thing we do. I think they were generally well received. If you would like to see them, click on the tile to the left. Personally, I recommend viewing them using the <carousel> button.</carousel><br />
As well of reading examples of our work and (hopefully) explaining some of the how and why of our writing, we also invited the groups to create their own, "Urban Expression" blessings, arising out of their journeys to Birmingham. It is wonderful how skilled people are at writing if only given the opportunity. Over the next couple of days, I'll get them all up onto Dancing Scarecrow, but for now, here is a taster:<br />
<br />
<i>The Sun still glares through the car windscreen, despite the dirt from the gritting lorries trying to block it out. May the light of Christ get through to you this week, despite the dirt in the world.</i><br />
<i><br />
</i><br />
Sadly, no one wrote their names on the blessings, so we can't attribute copyright. If you want to use them, I suggest © Urban Expression, administered by Dancing Scarecrow 2010.Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02602558784211031161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1025477993713457655.post-58071658303201022602010-11-28T14:17:00.001+00:002010-11-28T18:07:17.757+00:00Advent HopeAn interesting, collaborative Advent project, orchestrated by Andy Goodliff. We'll be adding our tuppence-worth later in the month.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://hopefulimagination.blogspot.com/">Hopeful Imagination</a>Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02602558784211031161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1025477993713457655.post-46351703895434221572010-11-21T18:31:00.001+00:002010-11-22T09:58:33.434+00:00Uncluttered LIvesWe are well into the birthday season in Openshaw! Starting with Clare in October, Rachel, Imogen, Beth, Deborah and Joan all have birthdays in the run up to Christmas. So it was not inappropriate that we looked at the need to "de-clutter" our lives today. This was the last of our series exploring the values of Urban Expression and we focussed on the need to hold our possessions lightly - which is somewhat ironic as this post is being written on our new iPad!<br />
<br />
Jesus asked Bartemaeus what he wanted. Bartemaeus replied that he wanted to see - but in giving the gift of sight, Jesus gave so much more - dignity, respect, the ability to earn a living etc.<br />
<br />
So we looked at Simple Gifts (and also sang the almost impossible song of the same name!). We first drew up lists for Father Christmas of what we would like. My request for a Gibson Custom Les Paul guitar sat well with Joel's desire for £999,999,999,999! Neither realistic nor generous!<br />
<br />
So we moved on to look at what our community really needs. Safe, creative play spaces; a bigger primary school; jobs and so on. These were written onto wallpaper.<br />
<br />
And all our requests were sent to Father Christmas in the time honoured fashion of burning them up the chimney!<br />
<br />
Prayers were wrapped in a gift box. When we opened the box it contained "Hope" "Joy" "Peace" etc.<br />
<br />
And we closed with the following eucharist which Clare wrote:<br />
<br />
<br />
Clearing Out The Clutter Eucharist<br />
<br />
So much stuff!<br />
clothes that no longer fit<br />
stains that won’t wash<br />
buttons missing and seams undone<br />
toys which are broken and tangled<br />
or with pieces missing<br />
creased trump cards<br />
odd marbles<br />
party bag fillers<br />
toys and books outgrown<br />
craft projects half done<br />
teddies which hold memories<br />
and can’t be thrown away<br />
toys never opened or played with<br />
bits and bobs<br />
lurking at the bottom of draws<br />
messy toy boxes and book shelves<br />
time for a good clearout!<br />
<br />
So much stuff!<br />
memories of the past<br />
we want to cherish<br />
and hold on to<br />
scars we wish we could forget<br />
thoughts which come back<br />
to haunt us and weigh us down<br />
voices inside our head<br />
which damage confidence<br />
and prevent us from moving on<br />
people and relationships<br />
we neglect and don’t have time for<br />
guilt and shame<br />
we wish we could banish<br />
broken relationships<br />
we wish we could mend<br />
or leave behind.<br />
Time for a good clear out!<br />
<br />
Jesus asks,<br />
“What is it you want from me?”<br />
as he calls people<br />
to leave their homes<br />
and their families<br />
their jobs and their friends<br />
and to follow him<br />
into an unknown future<br />
travelling light<br />
with few possessions<br />
relying on the hospitality<br />
and generosity of others<br />
learning what is important<br />
and what really matters<br />
learning to trust God<br />
building friendships<br />
experiencing life<br />
knowing what weighs others down.<br />
<br />
Jesus asks,<br />
“What is it you want from me?”<br />
and he gives freely<br />
not of possessions or things<br />
but of gifts<br />
that have a deeper value<br />
love -<br />
for those that are unloved<br />
acceptance -<br />
for those that are rejected by society<br />
justice -<br />
for those who are wronged<br />
friendship -<br />
for those who are lonely<br />
food -<br />
for those who are hungry<br />
peace –<br />
for those who are tormented.<br />
<br />
Jesus asks,<br />
“What is it you want from me?”<br />
as he invites<br />
those who have learned to travel light<br />
to share a last meal with him<br />
perfume is poured out, extravagantly<br />
to be used in love<br />
not held back<br />
for its monetary value<br />
bread is broken<br />
"This is my body<br />
given for you",<br />
wine in poured<br />
"This is my blood<br />
poured out for you",<br />
not bread and wine<br />
but body and blood<br />
life itself!<br />
<br />
In this bread<br />
all humanity<br />
are called<br />
to be one.<br />
[share bread]<br />
<br />
In this wine<br />
all humanity<br />
are called<br />
to a new way of life.<br />
[share wine]<br />
<br />
Jesus asks,<br />
“What is it you want from me?”<br />
and invites us<br />
to God’s table<br />
to share in the life<br />
God gives us<br />
Jesus offers us<br />
a chance to clear out<br />
the clutter of our lives<br />
to be forgiven<br />
and live free of the things<br />
that weigh us down<br />
and to travel light<br />
to give and receive<br />
gifts that last<br />
gifts not of things<br />
but the deeper gifts<br />
of God and of ourselves!<br />
© Clare McBeath, 2010Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02602558784211031161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1025477993713457655.post-32124012704714654672010-11-16T10:50:00.013+00:002010-11-16T11:57:41.786+00:00Peace Jigsaw and Poppy Petals<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh761vVd9jlh8UgsWSjd-MTBP007qUflHNpoBcr2EOQ1OShlI4BwjHiIWk19-BvkERQGsH7o0nE2PyTSN9Q6GCnPlxyNSR3O61DgyM1Ui0r3VeQpZzNJw0qEwQPz_3belvnP3NNq2A2cKud/s1600/CRW_5784.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh761vVd9jlh8UgsWSjd-MTBP007qUflHNpoBcr2EOQ1OShlI4BwjHiIWk19-BvkERQGsH7o0nE2PyTSN9Q6GCnPlxyNSR3O61DgyM1Ui0r3VeQpZzNJw0qEwQPz_3belvnP3NNq2A2cKud/s200/CRW_5784.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5540115344350290066" /></a>On Sunday we had one of those mornings when everything that could go wrong did, ending up with me apologising to the congregation of our local URC church that we would need to put the clocks back 10 mins to OBTT (Openshaw Baptist Tabernacle Time) in order to have our 2 mins silence at 11.10 am when the rest of the world had resumed the business of daily life.<br /><div>It is then rather appropriate that having started from a place where everything fell apart we then focused our service on re-membering and putting peace back together. While Tim preached a sermon on re-membering and the difficulty of remembering if you have not lived through the experience of war, a group of children and adults who wanted a more active way of reflecting went to the back of church and made a "Peace Jigsaw" by drawing a picture of poppies and a cross and then cutting it up into jigsaw-shaped pieces. We then challenged the rest of the congregation to put peace back together by remaking the jigsaw - it was a lot harder than it looked and we reflected on the difficulty of peace-making!</div><div>We followed this with our intercessions in which we sang "Let us spread the pollen of peace" while coming forward and taking a handful of poppy petals (cut from red card) and scattering them on the fabric that cascaded over the communion table as an act of both remembering and re-membering and a commitment to peace-making. </div>Clarehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02713930594616017901noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1025477993713457655.post-4040470487562651202010-10-10T10:47:00.000+01:002010-10-10T10:47:12.388+01:00What is Worship?I recently attended a regional Baptist meeting which, as these things do, began with a time of "worship." The minister of the church hosting the meeting was not able to be present and another gentleman had been prevailed upon to lead the worship. <br />
<br />
The worship was unconnected to anything else which took place in what was, for me, an exciting and encouraging meeting. The congregation sang half-heartedly, had not opportunity to join in prayers or readings and sat in passive apathy as the worship leader gave us his thoughts.<br />
<br />
I was left reflecting what place "worship" has within our church life. What we performed seemed perfunctory and tokenistic. Presumably, in a church with numerous musicians to judge from the equipment at the front, none were available at the beginning of the meeting. Why then, was it necessary to sing? Is singing an essential ingredient in worship? The reflections upon the Scripture passage were neither profound nor relevant. Is it necessary either to read or to study the Bible in order for the gathering to be defined as "worship?" The prayer was so short that if you had sneezed at the wrong moment you would have missed it. Yet for some reason our worship leader felt compelled to include it. Why?<br />
<br />
The rest of our gathering was a joyous celebration of our common life together as an association, sharing news from around the northwest, receiving new churches into membership of the association and exploring together some of the challenges of mission in our various contexts and making some unexpected connections between our churches.<br />
<br />
Was not that sufficient to be defined as worship?<br />
<br />
This morning, OBT will gather around our table to decorate some ceramic tiles with symbols of the 28 values and pledges expressed by the Urban Expression network with whom we have recently begun to walk. I have put together a Spotify playlist of jazz for the background, but unless someone rebels and demands to sing something, that will be our only music. Towards the end of our time together, we will reflect together silently upon what God is saying to us, then we will break bread and share wine (which will probably be blackcurrant juice because the children prefer it!) in silence. Then we will go our separate ways, seeking to live out the values we have expressed through our creativity.<br />
<br />
Perhaps this is not worship?Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02602558784211031161noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1025477993713457655.post-70152265899398454302010-09-11T16:21:00.003+01:002010-09-11T16:30:20.065+01:00Back to school<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; "><b>Back to School </b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" >It has been a long time since I posted anything! The summer seemed to be a whirl of visiting family and friends and trying to keep on top of a very productive organic allotment - jam, chutney, freezing etc.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" >Since then I have been drowning under a pile of emails and requests to put dates in the diary. My son, Joel has also started high school which has involved lots of journeys to and fro and quite a bit of parental anxiety (Joel has got on just fine). So when Ken Sehested kindly circulated a litany for labor day (which is celebrated in the US and Canada) it seemed a good moment to pause and do some thinking, which naturally led to writing, which ended up with this reflection/Eucharist for September and going back to school. It'll be a while before I can get this on Dancing Scarecrow so I've copied it here.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" ></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; "><b>Back to School Reflection/Eucharist</b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial">There’s a decided nip in the air<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial">As the sun increasingly struggles <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial">to get out of bed as dawn breaks<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial">And the cooler nights begin to draw in<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial">Balmy days of summer give way<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial">To sudden downpours or endless drizzle<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial">And the traffic on the old road <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial">Crawls dejectedly towards its destination<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial">As the rain leaves puddles in the ditch by the kerb<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial">The sun breaks through with sudden brightness<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial">As we ponder whether to take a coat<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial">And umbrella just in case<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial">The mobile phone alarm rings out its annoying tune <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial">and John Humphrys reports yet another disaster<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial">as we drag ourselves, bleary eyed from sleep<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial">and stagger to the kitchen for much needed coffee<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial">For in the cycle of the seasons<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial">September is here<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial">A time to think about <o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial">Work, rest and play. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial">Yet this is the time of new starts <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial">And getting back to the familiar routine<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial">The pattern of working 9 – 5 days <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial">or irregular pre-determined shifts<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial">This is the time to learn to tie a school tie<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial">To pull on new, shop–starched uniform<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial">Blow dry freshly showered hair<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial">And search for that illusive PE kit<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial">As we race against the ticking of the clock<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial">We grab a quick bowl of cereal or slice of toast<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial">Stuff books and pencil cases into school bags<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial">And panic over packed lunches still to make<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial">Scrunched up letters to be signed, <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial">Lanyards with photo cards to be topped up,<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial">Work papers to read and pack with lap top<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial">Must remember to charge the mobile phone.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial">For in the cycle of the seasons<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial">September is here<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial">A time to think about <o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial">Work, rest and play. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial">And yet in the excitement of starting a new school or job<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial">or of meeting old friends and colleagues <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial">back at school or office or construction yard<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial">and sharing stories of summer exploits<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial">Help us to stop in the chaos of the morning rush<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial">And give thanks for the work that gives rhythm to our days<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial">Work and school that give a sense of purpose and meaning<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial">Of achievement and well-being.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial">Help us to pause in the midst of the excitement and stress<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial">And give thanks for work that sustains our lives and communities<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial">And school that gives us knowledge and skills<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial">And the promise of a career to come.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial">Help us to rest at the end of each day<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial">To give thanks for tasks completed<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial">the new things we have learned and accomplished<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial">the challenges we have overcome<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial">For in the cycle of the seasons<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial">September is here<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial">A time to think about <o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial">Work, rest and play. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial">And we give you thanks for your work<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial">Of creating our world and the cycle of the seasons<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial">For the abundance of veg on the allotment<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial">And the squirrels hording chestnuts in the park.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial">And we give you thanks for your work<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial">Of creating humankind and our diverse community<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial">For the people around us in whose faces<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial">We catch a glimpse of your myriad of feelings for us.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial">And we look around us and realise <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial">that not everyone is rushing to get to school or work<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial">and we remember those who have no work<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial">or nothing to get out of bed for<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial">And we look around us and realise <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial">That others are overworked trying to provide for their family<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial">or struggling with disabilities that make travel difficult<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial">or learning and uphill task<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial">For in the cycle of the seasons<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial">September is here<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial">A time to think about <o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial">Work, rest and play. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial">For we think of the person of Jesus<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial">Who balanced itinerant work and the demands of crowds<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial">With withdrawing to quiet places to rest <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial">And time to enjoy eating and laughing with friends<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial">For we think of the person of Jesus<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial">Who challenges us to think about the work we do<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial">To pay a fair wage and treat colleagues with dignity<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial">To live sustainably on the earth<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial">For we think about Jesus’ stories of the righting of injustice <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial">Of the relationship between land owners and labourers<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial">The need for acceptance of tax collectors and prostitutes<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial">And the inequality between rich and poor<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial">And we confess that we are part of a system<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial">That perpetuates injustice and supports the bully<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial">That encourages work at the expense of family life<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial">And prefers burn-out to longevity.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial">And so we remember that on the night <o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial">before Jesus’ work was brought abruptly to an end<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial">he took the bread made by human toil and human hands<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial">gave thanks, broke it and shared it with them<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial">[break and share bread]<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial">And so we remember that on the night <o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial">Before Jesus’ work was brought abruptly to an end<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial">He took the wine of celebration and community<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial">Gave thanks, poured it and shared it with them<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial">[break and share wine]<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial">And so we commit ourselves <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial">As the new school year of September unfolds<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial">To use our work or rest or play<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial">Labours paid and unpaid<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial">To work for the common good<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial">To ensure that all may find work<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial">That pays a fair wage and brings fulfilment <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial">And enables us to live in harmony with the earth<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial">And so we commit ourselves <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial">As the new school year of September unfolds<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial">To use our work or rest or play<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial">Labours paid and unpaid<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial">To balance our work, school and home life<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial">To enjoy time with families and friends<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial">To take the rest to which your Sabbath calls us<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial">To walk in the rhythm of your Shalom<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial">For in the cycle of the seasons<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial">September is here<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial">A time to think about <o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial">Work, rest and play. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial">© Clare McBeath, 2010 <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>Clarehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02713930594616017901noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1025477993713457655.post-72676508398780939152010-08-10T09:33:00.000+01:002010-08-10T09:33:06.607+01:00The spirit and the bookRevd Mike Smith, in this week's <a href="http://www.baptisttimes.co.uk/home.htm">Baptist Times</a> attacks the recent review of the <i>SPCK Book of Prayers</i> and the whole notion of a 'book of prayers.' Smith attacks written prayer as un-Baptist, arguing that in attacking the Book of Common Prayer our Baptist ancestors were insisting that only extempore prayers were a genuine expression of the Holy Spirit. He ends his attack with a resounding call, "Don't let the written text crush the Spirit."<br />
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It is easy to respond with caricatures. I am sure that some people genuinely have a talent for extempore prayer and are able to express their deepest desires in eloquent words worthy of the creator of the universe. But even Mike Smith must admit that many - most - do not. Extempore prayer is, for the most part, dull and repetitious. Tired formulae are trotted out week after week, while intercessory prayer degenerates into a shopping list of unachievable dreams and platitudinous generalities. If I pray "God bless Mummy and Daddy," it will be impossible to prove whether God has answered my prayers or not, so I won't have to deal with the awkward silence of God.<br />
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Prepared prayer has the advantage of containing the author's crafted words, sculpted and shaped to fit the precise meaning and context out of which the author is writing. When it works, written, poetic prayer can take on a life beyond that intended by the author, just as any work of art takes on a meaning beyond that intended by the artist.<br />
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A collection of written prayers - such as the SPCK one, or, indeed <a href="http://www.dancingscarecrow.org.uk/">Dancing Scarecrow</a>, seeks to capture this and make it available beyond the confines of the context out of which it was written.<br />
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Mike Smith seems to deny the Holy Spirit any role in that process, limiting the Spirit's work to the unthought out and spontaneous. I beg to differ. The Spirit works beyond the confines of human imagining. Folk use the prayers on Dancing Scarecrow in contexts very different to our inner city Openshaw context and find that the Spirit gives our words new meanings beyond those we put into them in the first place. Most people choose not to use our material, but for some it is meaningful and helpful. That surely is the work of the Holy Spirit.<br />
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In attacking the Book of Common Prayer, it seems to me that our ancestors were not attacking the notion of written prayer. Rather, they were attacking the power and control which insisted that everyone <i>had to</i> use the same worship material. In publishing their <i>Book of Prayers</i>, which I confess I have not yet read, SPCK seem actually to be moving us away from this kind of control, giving us even more resources to choose from, to interpret and to use in our own context. Whether or not I find this particular collection helpful, I welcome its publication.Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02602558784211031161noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1025477993713457655.post-30213866659449046972010-07-26T13:38:00.000+01:002010-07-26T13:38:15.645+01:00SummerStrange feeling today, when I would normally be looking at readings for next Sunday, to realise that I won't be leading Sunday worship again until 12 September! I probably won't even be attending church during that time.<br />
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At many levels, of course, I will miss it. Even though I am increasingly frustrated by traditional models of church, I do still feel that the church is where I belong. A couple of weeks ago, at an Inner Manchester Mission Network event, we reflected upon why we gather together for worship. The group I was in was dominated by clergy, and the overwhelming message was that worship was something which was intrinsic to who we were. It isn't something about which I have any control. I simply have to worship - because that's what I do. It is where I belong.<br />
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The question as to whether I enjoy worship is, therefore, a redundant one. Even if I hated church (which I frequently do!), I would still belong there.<br />
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So, even if I take a break for the summer - and let's face it, I am burned out at the moment - I will still be back because this strange, bruised and often bewildered little community in Openshaw is where I belong.<br />
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None of which should be interpreted as saying that what we actually do when we worship is unimportant. There is little in contemporary church practice which will attract the 96% of our population who never set foot in a church. Watching a programme like <i>Rev</i>, it is increasingly clear that the media - and therefore the population at large - have little idea of what the church is - or what it is for.<br />
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When September comes around, then, you should find the Scarecrow refreshed and able to dance with a lot more vigour.Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02602558784211031161noreply@blogger.com0