Just Say NO!

To weffriddles

With a LOT of help from the forums I got up to level 14...

United Under God's Tent

Today is the World Day of PRayer. THe congregation here is hosting the service this year and I am giving the reflection. 5 Minutes on the theme of being United Under God's Tent (interestingly, at first I typed tenet -- gives things a different meaning.)

I plan to emphasize that what we have in common is more important than those things that divide us. We are part of one family of faith in the end and we share the same God.

THen the challenge is, how do we live out our unity. How do we make the unified voice calling for God's justice and God's love speak loudly and powerfully?

MAkes you Remember the Little Blessings

Well the good news is we, technically speaking, still have water.

THere is a water main break down the block and while they are fixing it they could have turned the water right off. They didn't but they have got the pressure WAY down, to a trickle. That in and of itself would be a mere annoyance (although showering this morning was, um, interesting) but our kitchen taps leak like crazy when the water pressure is low. We keep ending up with a lake on the counter.

Guess it is time to get them checked out...

Wonder How This Will Work...

This Sunday the sermon is talking about Emerging Spirit and Wonder Cafe.

IT seemed inappropriate to only do this topic orally so I have arranged to borrow a projector and use the PowerPoint. The slides are very basic, and the bulletin is done as per usual as well so people will have the choice of which to read. All the ads from the campaign will be shown (that may be a mistake) and we will look at the website. First time PowerPoint has been used in worship here.

Wonder what the reaction will be?? Mind you it isn't like I rearranged the chairs or something drastic like that.

Baptism

GOt Miriam baptised at opening worship for Presbytery this morning. Thanks SUe!

A MEditation

DUst and ashes touch our face,
mark our failure and our falling.
Holy Spirit come, walk with us tomorrow,
take us as disciples
washed and wakened by our calling
"Dust and Ashes Touch Our Face" 1986 Brian Wren. #105 in Voices United verse 1

Ashes. Pale, grey, nondescript. Ashes. That is how our Lenten journey begins. We take the remnants of last years triumphant palms and turn them from signs of joy into pale grey nondescript ashes.

As we look at the ashes we remember to confess those times we have slipped in our attempts to be the people GOd would have us be. We "mark our failure and our falling" as we rub the grey powder between our fingers. We remember and we recommit ourselves to try again.

As we look at the ashes we are reminded of the old words "Remember you are dust and to dust you shalll return". SOme of the ashes in our life are signs of bitterness, signs of mortality and destruction. And so we remember this year our brothers and sisters in Nipigon, left to watch as the town's main empoyer was reduced to ashes. We remember all who have placed caskets and urns into the ground to the refrain of "ashes to ashes, dust to dust". AShes mix with tears to become a pasty mess, ready to mark our lives.

ANd yet ashes are also a sign of hope. The ashes of the forest fire provide a rich bed for the new forest to start growing. The legendary phoenix is only able to be refreshed after the fire, then to rise again from the ashes. From the fire of destruction can come hope, as again we remember our sisters and brothers in Nipigon with the promise of rebuilding.

The world around us is ful of ashes. The ashes of burnt out souls. The ashes of burned up dreams and hopes. The ashes of regret and repentance. But amidst all the ashes and fear and depression lies a promise. "From the ashes a fire shall be woken, a light from the shadows shall spring". The Lenten journey takes us to Jerusalem and destruction. But beyond that lies the hope of resurrection and new life.

Dust and ashes choke our tongue
in the wasteland of depression.
Holy Spirit come, walk with us tomorrow,
through all gloom and grieving
to the paths of resurrection
Take us by the hand and lead us,
lead us through the desert sands
bring us living water, Holy SPirit come.
"Dust and Ashes Touch Our Face" 1986 Brian Wren. #105 in Voices United verse 3 and refrain

I Like this Idea

Australia has announced it will ban incandescent light bulbs in three years in an effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, becoming the first country to do away with this technology, which has been in use for more than a century.

This is the sort of thing we need to make change real. Maybe a total ban is a little over the top (there are places where flourescents are not appropriate (a dimmer switch for example) but sometimes people need a little push.

DANGER! Highly addictive!!!

Can you park the car?

Use the 4 arrows on your keyboard, and the space bar for brake.

This is addictive:->>>>>> http://www.107.peugeot.co.uk/peugeot.swf


ANd I thought parking on my driving test was hard

This One Seems Right, Sort Of

You Are Bert

Extremely serious and a little eccentric, people find you loveable - even if you don't love them! You are usually feeling: Logical - you rarely let your emotions rule you You are famous for: Being smart, a total neat freak, and maybe just a little evil How you life your life: With passion, even if your odd passions (like bottle caps and pigeons) are baffling to others

The Sesame Street Personality Quiz

ALthough the logical part is in doubt and the neat freak thing must be a joke.

Hat Tip to Scrivener

Don't I Look Organized--But am I really?

AS named here I am doing a sermon series for Lent. Just worked out what Scriptures I will use for it:

March 4: The Church In the World: WonderCafe/Emerging Spirit

• Isaiah 43:14-21
• Psalm 27 (VU p.754)
• Revelation 21:1-7

March 11: The Church In the World: Witness/Testimony

• Psalm 81:1-10 (VU p.796 Part One)
• Matthew 28:16-21
• Mark 16:9-18

March 18: The Church In the World: IN But Not OF

• Joshua 24:14-24
• Psalm 1 (VU p.724)
• Matthew 5:3-12

March 25: The Church In the World: Poverty and Wealth

• Isaiah 55:1-9
• Psalm 63 (VU p.781)
• John 12:1-8

Now I just need a clue about hymns (not to mention the content of the actual sermons)...

Cross posted at Riverview Rolls On