Sunday morning found us constructing a huge cube made out of canes.

Is that corner stable?

Jon must have designed this for a team building exercise????

This corner needs more

Laughter, co-operation, vision and initiative isn’t that what fellowship is all about.

Thank God for those among us that are tall…

and those that can bend down low.

Almost there

Jon explained that the cube we had constructed was the same size and shape as Nelson Mandela’s cell, shared by three people.

Inscription at the Archiepiscopal Chapel at Ravenna:

  Aut lux nata est aut capta hic libera regnat

 The light is either born here or imprisoned, reigns in freedom

Some quotes from Nelson Mandela

“There is no easy walk to freedom anywhere, and many of us will have to pass through the valley of the shadow of death again and again before we reach the mountain top of our desires.”

“For to be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.”

“I have walked that long road to freedom. I have tried not to falter; I have made missteps along the way. But I have discovered the secret that after climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more hills to climb. I have taken a moment here to rest, to steal a view of the glorious vista that surrounds me, to look back on the distance I have come. But I can only rest for a moment, for with freedom come responsibilities, and I dare not linger, for my long walk is not ended.”

Often credited to Nelson Mandela  – but a quote from Marianne Willamson

“We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There’s nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give others permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

We all had a poem to take away and read to help us reflect on freedon

My FREEDOM –  Glamorous Enigma

Freedom To … Raymond A. Foss

I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings – Maya Angelou

Frederick Douglass Robert Hayden

Underwear – Lawrence Ferlinghetti

The Weight – Linda Gregg

Prayer – Jorie Graham

A light exists in spring – Emily Dickinson

 Autumn Conundrum – Michael R. Burch

Freedom

Freedom comes from God:

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there

is freedom.

2 Corinthians 3:17 (NIV)

Freedom to talk to God:

In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom

and confidence.

Ephesians 3:12 (NIV)

Freedom to share it around:

The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to

preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom

for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the

oppressed.

Luke 4:18 (NIV)

Freedom to follow:

And I’ll stride freely through wide open spaces as I look for your truth

and your wisdom.

Psalm 119:45 (The Message)

Prayer

Lord,

Thank you that you are the source of our freedom even when we choose to walk in darkness.

Thank you that we are free to talk to you any time we want without fear of imprisonment.

We remember those who are not free and who are persecuted

for their beliefs.

Thank you that we are free to come into presence because you removed the roadblocks.

Thank you that you make wide open spacious places for us to dwell in.

Help us not to abuse our freedom and follow our own selfish desires.

Help us to use our freedom wisely and walk in the light.

Give us courage to speak words of life which set others free.

Thank you that you were imprisoned and died for us so that we may be set free.

Amen.