An unusually mild morning found us sharing the park with dog walkers and children trying out their new bikes, Our enthusiastic Christmas greetings to each other took care of any further chill in the air.

In brief we shared contributions that we had brought along which included;

• A Christmas Liturgy from Abbotsford.org.uk
• 2 Christmas carols – sung unaccompanied with gusto (technology failed us) but who needs it.
• A Christmas poem by John Betjeman
• Harry lit an incense stick and we were told of the tradition of prayers being lifted to God in the smoke of the incense, we then wrote prayers on luggage labels and tied them to the shepherds crook, remembering the good news to the Christmas shepherds and that Jesus is the Good Shepherd.
• We revisited prayers for people we had prayed for last Christmas day and then sent them symbolically up into the hands of God in clouds of smoke (provided by BBQ)
• Steve wrote a wonderful Christmas day liturgy for sharing bread and wine.

Happy Christmas and see you all in the New Year!

We met on the last Sunday in Advent traditionally a time when churches take part in a service of nine lessons and carols. This morning Third Space did their our own version of this tradition adding a few little twists and edits. This tradition was started in 1880 by the Bishop of Truro with the aim of showing that Gods plan of redemption was there from the beginning of time and to keep people out of the pubs. Around the same time the tradition of Christmas crackers started, there is absolutely no Christian symbolism to them as they were an idea developed by a sweet maker to promote his sweets.

So as part of our celebrations we used the traditional advent wreath and candle with some Christmas crackers.

The wreath, the candle and the cracker

Tucked inside each cracker was a bible reading, a prayer, a poem or an instruction.

Numbered crackers were handed round.

We found someone to pull our cracker with…

we read our piece in order …

                                                               putting our jokes gifts and hats back in the box for later.

after sharing bread and wine we read the jokes, chose a gift which we gave to someone else and then we put on our hats. HAPPY CHRISTMAS!!

and …

the message for the morning?

The idyllic image that is portrayed by the commercial Christmas today is often difficult for some people.

We remembered in prayer those we know who would find this Christmas difficult.

BUT the Jesus who came at Christmas time came to bring good news to the poor, the bereaved, the lonely, the oppressed the hungry  and the outcast.

So every time you pull a cracker this Christmas …

remember the real meaning of Christmas

and

Crackers can only work when there are others to pull them with …

so remember and give thanks for your family and friends. We gave thanks especially for us those in our Third Space Community who we share much more than crackers with.

Bandstand being used … Victorian Market Marquees … Fairground rides … What has happened to the park?

Knowing the Victorian Christmas Market was being held and the bandstand was being used by others we had to go to plan B

An advent breakfast Swedish Style.

We started in brilliant sunshine and sharp frost, but not the dark morning Advent breakfast that most Swedes celebrate, but undeterred we lit out gel lantern, hung up our star, thought about advent.

What are we waiting for, what are we anticipating, what is God doing, what is He going to do?

What is our part in all of this?

Bread and Wine – shared sitting down for a change (really revolutionary!)

On to breakfast – Danish pastries (well it is next door to Sweden), eggs, croissant, toast, fruit and much more.

So good to have time to talk with friends old and new over a hearty breakfast.

We met on Sunday in glorious sunshine, after a frosty night. We were warm and cosily wrapped up against the cold. The colours and the scenery were breathtaking.

As we looked around we noticed the newly refurbished roof inside the bandstand. No fund raising, no thermometer (well it would have registered near freezing anyway). What a lot we have to be thankful for!

And the theme for this morning …

GRATITUDE

graffiti of gratitude

After thinking of all the things we felt gratitude for we tattooed each other with the international symbol for gratitude. (Permanent marker!) So throughout the week we could be reminded about having an attitude of gratitude.

International symbol for gratitude

Sharing bread and wine with friends, sunshine, laughter, belonging to Third Space Community and a bit of art work – what a lot we have to be grateful for!

The wallpaper of gratitude!

Questions we considered in the pub tonight.

Topically we had a look at what we thought about the decision of Synod to shut the door of the house of Bishops to Women.

The question out of the hat read:

“Many Anglo-Catholics and evangelicals come here to represent their town tribal loyalty rather than the dioceses that they represent”. Tony Baldry, Conservative M.P. who speaks for the Church of England in parliament.

• Do you agree with Baldry?
• Has the C of E made itself a national embarrassment with the recent vote?
• Does this represent institutional sexism?
• Are those who voted against women bishops followers of Saint Paul or the Pope rather than Jesus?

also topical was;

“Can pay, do pay! We pay our taxes. Your money, your bookshop, your community, we pay our taxes“.

• What is the above all about?

Answers on a post card please.

Only joking it was Boris Johnson about the Occupy demonstration outside St. Paul’s last year. 

We met at the bandstand on a beautiful sunny, frosty autumn morning. The colours of the trees were resplendent in the sunshine.

Fran with her new pup

Relaxed old hand

We added to our numbers with an extra dog!

As it was the 11th November we had decided to lead quite a traditional Remembrance Day service.

This I call to mind,
and therefore I have hope:
the steadfast love of the Lord never ceases,
his mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning.
Lamentations 3.21-23

Those who wait for the Lord shall renew
their strength,
they shall mount up with wings like eagles,
they shall run and not be weary,
they shall walk and not grow faint. 
Isaiah 40.31

What does the Lord require of you
but to act justly, and to love mercy,
and to walk humbly with your God?
Micah 6.8

We opened with part of a poem written by Alan Seeger, a soldier in the First World War who died at the Somme in 1916.

I have a rendezvous with Death

On some scarred slope or battered hill,

Remembering

When you go home
tell them of us and say,
for your tomorrow
we gave our today.

They shall not grow old,
as we that are left grow old;
age shall not weary them,
nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun
and in the morning,
we will remember them.

Two minutes silence …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

The wisdom from God is first pure, then
peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of
mercy and good fruits, without a trace of
partiality or hypocrisy. And a harvest of
righteousness is sown in peace for those
who make peace.
James 3:17-18

Some Help Here, Please!

By Warrant Officer Theodore Knell

Parachute Regiment

Hello God it’s me again.

I know I only call when I’m really in the shit

but at least you know you’re needed

and I’m not faking it.

I only call when it’s something really big,

well God today is one of those days.

I know you’re busy elsewhere

with other

more deserving lives to save

but you must have heard that bloody great bang

and seen the white plumes of our phosphorus  grenades

To say we’re outnumbered would be a bit  of a joke

the fire fight’s in full swing now

the air full of buzzing bullets

and thick with acrid smoke

I have two dead

and of the four that are left

two of us are carrying fresh wounds

so as you can see

we’re in well over our heads

I’ve spoken to base-

they’re on their way

but it could be some time

so it would be really good to get a  second opinion

as to whether I’ll live to fight another day

anyway God,

needs must

things to do and lives to take

thanks very much for listening

but I suspect the next time we talk

it could well be

face to face.

Prayers

Lord we bring before you for all who have
died in the violence of war, each one
remembered by and known to God.

We pray for all
who in bereavement, disability and pain
continue to suffer the consequences of
war and violence.

We remember with thanksgiving and sorrow
those whose lives,
in world wars and conflicts past and present,
have been taken away.

For the people who love them in death as in life.
For all members of the armed forces who
are in danger this day, remembering
family, friends and all who pray for their
safe return.

We pray for the wounded and the disturbed, the grieving and the homeless,
and for all who suffer due to war and conflict.

For women, and children and men
whose lives are disfigured by war and violence.
For peace-makers and peace-keepers, who
seek to keep this world secure and safe.

For those known to us who need Jesus now………..

God of truth and justice
hear our prayers for all who strive for peace,
and all who yearn for justice.
Help us, who today remember the cost of war,
to work for a better tomorrow; and as we honour the past, may we put our faith in your future.

Amen.

Always Loved – Never Forgotten

We had our own act of remembrance – thinking of those friends and loved ones we have lost. During another silence we wrote the names of those we wish to remember on tissue paper petals and then made poppies, which we will take away with us.

Bread and Wine of Remembrance

When the time was right, God sent Jesus to be among us.
Born into this life, seeing your grace revealed in all things,
he laughed with those who laughed, and mourned with those who mourned.
Through your love, he healed the sick, he welcomed the outcast, he challenged those in power,
and the structures that kept them there. And he called us back to your love.
In the power of the Holy Spirit,
the Christ laughs and cries,
heals and welcomes,
challenges and loves,
again and again and again.
We have been told that, on the night before he was taken to be
tortured to death on a cross, Jesus sat with his disciples,
and ate with them, in a meal of remembrance.
Jesus took a loaf of bread,
asked your blessing upon it, broke it,
and gave it to his disciples saying:
Take this – all of you – and eat it.
This is me. My Body. Given for you.
Each time you eat it, remember me.
Close to the meal’s end,
he took a cup filled with wine,
asked your blessing upon it,
and gave it to his disciples saying:
Take this – all of you – and drink it.
This is me. This is my promise in my life’s blood –
poured out for you and for the world.
Each time you drink it, remember me.
So we, his disciples,
eat bread and drink wine – and remember.

(from Richard Bott – Communion Liturgy for Advent.)

  We celebrated All Saints and All Souls days today. beginning with the words from Ecclesiasticus 44 which tells us to remember the famous but also to know that God remembers those we have forgotten – all lives count:

¹ Let us now praise famous men,

And our fathers that became the father of us.

⁷ All these were honoured in their generations,

And were a glory in their days.

⁹ And some there be, which have no memorial;

Who are perished as though they had not been,

¹⁰ But these were men of mercy,

And their glory shall not be blotted out. 

So we began by remembering and celebrating some saints who have gone before us…

Saint Therese of Lisieux – whose remains were visited by pilgrims across the country 3 years ago.  She reminded us that the kingdom of God grows by the little things that we do and that none of us is too insignificant to change the world for Christ. In living simply in community she inspires us to love and aspire to much in the simple things of life.

St. Francis of Assisi – who reminded us that all of creation shares its origins in our Creator – that everything God has made is our brother or sister – and who continues to challenge us today to nurture and protect the world that we live in.

St. Maximilian Kolbe – who hid and sheltered Jews at the time of the Holocaust , then ministered to others as a prisoner in Auschwitz, and eventually laid down his life in place of another who had been selected to die.  His suffering and sacrifice inspire us to live the hope that we share with him.

St. Teresa of Avila – who brought us words of enduring comfort for the journey  when she reminded us that nothing should disturb or frighten us, for all things are passing and God never changes.

St. Stephen – who was the first to lay down his life for his insistence that Jesus is Lord and whose costly payment has inspired and continues to inspire all persecuted for their faith.

St. Ignatius Loyola – who inspired us to use our imaginations in meditating on the Bible – and opened up all manner of opportunities for God to speak to so many of us causing untold celebration and changed lives.

 St. Aidan of Lindisfarne – who, as a boy, threw the washed up starfish from the beach into the sea after a night of fierce storms.  When challenged that he was making almost no difference for the vast numbers of starfish dying, he replied that it had made a difference to the ones that he did rescue. He inspires us to make a difference and we remember him with thanks for creating the monastery on Holy Island and for being so significant in the cleansing Celtic Christian revival in England.

St. Thomas – whose shortcomings and failures and initial scepticism gave way to the powerful affirmation of Christ’s resurrection and inspirational statement of faith ‘My Lord and my God’

Martin Luther King – who led the peaceful protests that overturned the racial divide in the southern United States and reminds us of the power of non-violent resistance and of the possibility of resurrection wherever there is the seeming of triumph of evil.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer – who believed in the face of evil, in a better way and who displayed so much courage in opposing the Nazi regime.  He inspires so many today through his writings and example and his wrestling for justice and integrity.

Helder Camara – who refused to be quiet but spoke out on behalf of the oppressed and denounced the corruption of the powerful to the point of giving up his life for the values of the kingdom.  He inspires us to continue to be Christ’s voice for justice.

Brother Lawrence – the monk who learnt how to find God in the busyness of the day and in the mundane washing of pots and pans.  He reminds us that we don’t need more time for prayer, but that we can meet with God in the now of any part of our day. He speaks to us of integration in our lives.

Mother Teresa – who stooped to serve the lowest of the low and the poorest of the poor, inspiring the world with he words of wisdom and love, despite years of spiritual doubt and uncertainty. She speaks to us of service of the highest cost.

The writer to the Hebrews reminded us:

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, ² fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. ³ Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.                                                                                                                                                        Hebrews 12:1-3

We considered what purpose the two days had for us today and reflected that we see things through the distortion of time, but that there is a greater reality in terms of eternity. This is our hope and our comfort, our challenge and our inspiration.

Walk to the beech tree:

We read the poem below and made it our own naming to God all those who we were remembering, who have inspired our faith and had a part to play in our journey. We included those people in our walking through leaves, by the river. Giving thanks for each one.

All Souls’ Day

Let’s go our old way

by the stream, and kick the leaves

as we always did, to make

the rhythm of breaking waves.

This day draws no breath – 

shows no colour anywhere

 except for the leaves – in their death

 brilliant as never before.

Yellow of Brimstone Butterfly,

 brown of Oak Eggar Moth – 

you’d say. And I’d be wondering why

 a summer never seems lost

if two have been together 

witnessing the variousness of light,

 and the same two in lustreless November

 enter the year’s night…

The slow-worm stream – how still! 

Above that spider’s unguarded door, 

look – dull pearls…Time’s full,

 brimming, can hold no more.

Next moment (we well know,

 my darling, you and I) 

what the small day cannot hold

must spill into eternity.

So perhaps we should move cat-soft 

meanwhile, and leave everything unsaid, 

until no shadow of risk can be left 

of disturbing the scatheless dead.

Ah, but you were always leaf-light. 

And you so seldom talk 

as we go. But there at my side 

through the bright leaves you walk.

And yet – touch my hand 

that I may be quite without fear,

 for it seems as if a mist descends, 

and the leaves where you walk do not stir.

Frances Bellerby.

At the beech tree:

An African tradition is to toast ancestors by pouring a drink onto the ground.

We poured out a little wine as toast to those who had gone before us who we love and give thanks for, saying:

To our fathers, mothers, brothers and sisters in Christ

ALL:        We thank you!

Soul cakes prayer time:

A great way to pray!

On All Souls’ Day in times past, children begged for and received “soul cakes”. The cakes were given in return for prayers for the donor’s soul:

“A soul-cake; a soul-cake, have mercy on all Christian souls, for a soul-cake.”

This is said to have led to the trick or treating tradition, which originally carried connotations of being an opportunity to pray for one’s neighbour!

We ate soul cakes and made each mouthful a prayer for all those known to us – our neighbours – who are struggling with bereavement and ill-health.

We then finished with Steve’s words written for under the branches of the huge weeping beech – reminding us once again of our interconnectedness…

Intertwined

Divine Entanglement with Bread and Wine

Look up, all around, entangled and surrounded, mind-blowingly all enveloping – God’s breathing, God’s love sweeping down and curling around.

Acknowledged blessing and unacknowledged blessing, love noticed and unnoticed, blessings overt and covert. Incidences and coincidences and God-incidences too complex for us to sort through and untangle. We are caught – in the web. God behind us, God in us, God before us.

Surrounded and enveloped by God’s care, those blessings obvious to us now and those blessings only to be known about in the future and those blessings perhaps never to be known by us.

God at work in us and in those around us and in those we love and in those we despair of. God’s love touching us, our ground, our lives through His humanity and love incarnated in Jesus.

We are surrounded in our space and time by roots, by branches, by leaves, by this living and growing 360 degree, multi dimensional, 24/7, God who loves. We are not tree hugging, but we are God- hugged.

And so while we are still indifferent, ignorant, hostile, unblissfully unaware, God loves us and in our hands we hold the bread and wine which expresses, encapsulates and enfleshes that Jesus love.

So why us? Why are we invited to this banquet under this umbrella of God’s love? Because we deserve it, merit it, lead good lives and have good theology? No, because God loves because he loves because he loves….

And so together as one body within God’s enveloping, connected with the worldwide family, we eat bread.

And so together as one body within God’s enveloping, connected with the worldwide family, we drink wine.

And so we have communed with God in this banquet but we do not now take our leave of Him. These roots and branches encircle and will not let us go even though we depart from this holy ground. He goes before us, marks our steps and our way.

And so we pray for all:

May the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the Love of God and the Fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all evermore.

AMEN!

Thanks  to all for this time together – it felt special – as ever!

We noticed a real change in the park this morning, autumn colours and mists were in evidence. Just the right time to celebrate harvest.

Since pagan times there has been a festival to celebrate the first fruits of the harvest and, as with many ancient festivals the Christian church adapted and adopted it making it their own. Traditionally it was in August (well the harvest is very late this year!). Lammas day or loaf mass day marked the beginning of the harvest season, the ripening of first fruits, and the first wheat harvest of the year. On this day it was customary to bring to church a loaf made from the new crop.

So we had some home baked bread and as it turned out we had no need of breakfast this morning.

For the promise of harvest
contained within a seed
we thank you.
For the oak tree                
within an acorn
The bread
within a grain
The apple
within a pip
The mystery of nature
gift wrapped
for us to sow
we thank you

http://www.faithandworship.co.uk/Praying_through_the_Celtic_Year.htm#ixzz276vl6iQN

We chewed on our first piece of bread, whilst walking slowly around the bandstand taking in the beauty of the autumn morning and thanking God for his provision for us.

Taking another piece of bread we remembered those who do not have the provision of basic food because of war, famine or natural disaster

We took oil from Palestine remembering it was an area of continuing conflict, hostility and oppression. We prayed for all those who find themselves in situations of hostility, oppression or conflict.

We prayed for those we know who are in need.

Why did we use the oil? – It has been used symbolically in many ways by both Jews and Christians over the years. Oil is mentioned in many contexts in the bible.

You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over.” Psalm 23:5b

The Psalmist David knew about shepherding sheep. At the end of the day it was customary for the shepherd to station himself at the door of the sheepfold, where he would examine each sheep as it passed. He would especially examine the head for injuries. When he noticed a sheep with an injury on the head, he would pour a little oil on the wound, thus anointing it. The oil had healing properties, and the sheep would soon be well again.

The oil lamp in Jewish Scriptures most often symbolizes God lighting the way for his people.

Christians used oil in lamps to represent Jesus the Light of the World

Oil is used for anointing for healing, light, the bible talks about the oil of joy and oil of gladness.

Oil also symbolises the Holy Spirit – OT prophets, priests and kings were anointed on the head with oil and this act symbolised the setting apart of the individual for special service. David was anointed as king several times during his life time.

Jesus refers to his special commissioning when he says;

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to heal the broken hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed. . . .” (Luke 4:18)

Instead of anointing our heads with oil we anointed the bread and shared it with one another saying:

Name ……the Spirit of the Lord is upon you – you are set apart for a special purpose within the Kingdom of God.

The next piece of bread was used for our customary sharing of bread and wine – what other liturgy could we use for this but our Companions Liturgy.

Take a question out of the hat – discuss – it could sound like an exam question, but over a drink at the pub – well – stimulating, enlightening, informative and fun!

Is it always wrong to tell lies?

Should there be an “opt out” rather than an “opt in” policy for organ donation, meaning that more organs are available for transplant?

What is the most effective source of renewable energy in your opinion?

Is the Protestant Work Ethic from God or from man?

As a Christian what question do you hope you will never be asked?

How do you feel about the recent case of the maths teacher and the 15 year old girl who went off together to France?

Time ran out, we didn’t have to agree, we didn’t find all the answers, but the discussion and fellowship was good.