Last Sunday Fiona led us at the bandstand and there was SO much food for thought. We walked with the following words and reconvened to share our responses, pray and share bread and wine. Do enjoy a read!

I love the changing seasons but I am not a fan of the seasons changing. The creeping, lengthening darkness and shortened days are not things I look relish. Recently, we’ve had some sparkling summer-end days but they have been quickly followed by damp, dull, greyness and in the air there is a sense of nature beginning to hunker down. But. Without this, what opportunity is there to renew, to re-energise, to grow. This word renewal isn’t one I naturally summon up at this time of year..so these words we used in Third Space last week caught my eye. (apologies to whoever wrote these –take the credit if they’re yours!) Following on, you’ll see some words from commentators, theologians and the Bible based on the themes woven through these words. Happy Autumn. Happy Renewal.

Here today, through bread and wine,
we renew our journey with Jesus
Here today, through bread and wine,
we renew our unity with one another,
and with all those who have gone before us
Here today, through bread and wine,
we renew our communion with the earth
and our interwovenness with the broken ones of the world.

We renew our journey with Jesus

“Just read the gospels more. Many Christians treat the gospels as the optional ‘chips and dips’ at the beginning of the meal – take it or leave it. The dynamism of the gospels and the person who walks out of the pages to meet us central and irreplaceable and he’s always a surprise. If you want to know who God is ; look at Jesus, if you want to know what love is ; look at Jesus, if you want to know what being human is; look at Jesus, if you want to know what grief is ; look at Jesus and go on looking at Jesus until you are not just a spectator but part of the drama, which has him as the central character.” NT Wright.

That same day two of them were walking to the village Emmaus, about seven miles out of Jerusalem. They were deep in conversation, going over all these things that had happened. In the middle of their talk and questions, Jesus came up and walked along with them. But they were not able to recognize who he was.
He sat down at the table with them. Taking the bread, he blessed and broke and gave it to them. At that moment, open-eyed, wide-eyed, they recognized him. And then he disappeared. (Luke 24)

We renew our communion with the earth and our interwovenness with the broken ones of this world.

“Imagine a moment before the Big Bang banged. Imagine a creativity, brilliance, fertility, delight, energy, power, wonder and goodness that was sufficient to express itself in what we call the universe. …and then dare to imagine that this great big beautiful, mysterious goodness wholeness and aliveness surrounds and upholds us even now. Finally try to imagine that this is also the great big beautiful, mysterious, goodness, wholeness and aliveness into which all of us and all creation will be taken up – in a marriage, in a homecoming, in a reunion, a celebration.” (Brian Mclaren)

I saw Holy Jerusalem, new-created, descending resplendent out of Heaven, as ready for God as a bride for her husband. I heard a voice thunder from the Throne: “Look! Look! God has moved into the neighbourhood, making his home with men and women! They’re his people, he’s their God. He’ll wipe every tear from their eyes. Death is gone for good—tears gone, crying gone, pain gone—all the first order of things gone.” The Enthroned continued, “Look! I’m making everything new. Write it all down—each word dependable and accurate. ”Then he said, “It’s happened. I’m A to Z. I’m the Beginning, I’m the Conclusion. (Revelation 20: The Message )

We renew our unity with one another and with all who have gone before us.

“The eucharist – I’m a big fan. Having an open table is not about radical hospitality, a virtue we have of including everyone. It has to do with this God we have, who includes everyone. And I don’t like it! I wish I could make the guest list! I don’t enjoy the fact that all the people are welcome at this table because it means its people I don’t like or they don’t like me or they piss me off or who I’m just uncomfortable with. It’s not that we’re trying to be open and virtuous – this is about God. It is this foretaste of the feast to come. Church isn’t perfect, it’s practice. We’re practising this Kingdom thing.’ Nadia Bolz Weber.

If you’ve got anything at all out of following Christ, if his love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you, if you have a heart, if you care— then do me a favour: Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends. Don’t push your way to the front; don’t sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don’t be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand. Philippians 2.