Ash Wednesday

Posted by & filed under General.

Ash Wednesday

As usual we gathered at Holly House to mark the beginning of Lent.

We chatted over issues arising from Chapter 23 of our book – we all seemed to fall under the Pharisee banner than that of the multitudes!

We drew names from hats to match us up with prayer partners and took time to share briefly with one another in our pairs and then we had a short reflective prayer time, influenced by websites of Wellsprings and Faith and Worship. This is what we did:

Opening prayer:

Into your presence we come, Lord a few moments of quietness in a busy world that demands our attention. Breathe on us now that we might know your presence and your power as we pray, side by side, in solidarity with one another, and acknowledge our failings and need for God’s mercy an forgiveness for the journey ahead.

Readings: From the Message – Rev 2:2-3 & 3:15-17 followed by silent reflection

Confession:

I confess that I have forgotten the great love that my God and Creator has for me. I have lived as if I created myself; Forgetful of God’s great goodness to me; Forgetful that I am God’ beloved. I have embraced the feast and neglected the fast. I have lived as if there were no God and have chosen to ignore his call. I have allowed my first love to become luke-warm .

Reading: From the Message – Joel 2:12-20

Then ThirdSpace’s version of the Lord’s Prayer  (see previous blogs)

We then made the sign of the cross on each others’ foreheads or hands with the ashes naming each in turn and praying: Know yourself beloved of God. Receive his forgiveness and strength for the journey ahead.      

We shared bread and wine with these words:

We share a traditional Lenten bread, the pretzel, which is shaped in the form of arms crossed in prayer. It reminds us that we are called to stay prayerful but to draw strength from Jesus our companion on the journey.

JESUS OUR COMPANION IN PRAYER

We share in wine, the symbol of suffering, a reminder of Jesus in Gethsemane asking that his cup of suffering might be removed from him. We choose to drink, trusting in his strengthening, provision and victory as we embark on this next stage of our own journey.

JESUS OUR STRENGTH

We finished with the circular blessing – which is basically a group hug! – giving each other strength and support for these forty days and nights…

STRENGTH AND SUPPORT

 

 

Preparing for Lent

Posted by & filed under General.

Last Sunday Paul and Fi led us in a preparation for Lent. So this is what we are doing:

  • We are supporting the 40 for 40 Trussell Trust campaign – 40p each day from each home for 40 days of Lent to support the huge numbers of families and individuals needing the help of food banks this Easter.
  • We are using these words: Lent: serious, intentional, reflective.

We have chosen to fast

Not with ashes but with actions

Not with sackcloth but in sharing

Not in thoughts but in deeds.

We remember your resurrection promise

Of a new world breaking into ours

And we remember that you are over all,

around all and in all

Amen.

 (www.godspace.wordpress.com)

 

  • We are using this reflection:

Fast from discontent                              Feast on gratitude

Fast from worry                                       Feast on Good’s providence

Fast from complaining                           Feast on appreciation

Fast from consumerism                         Feast on generosity

Fast from unrelenting pressure            Feast on ‘all will be well’

Fast from self-concern                           Feast on compassion for others

 

Fast from evasion                                    Feast on openness

Fast from avoidance                               Feast on participation

Fast from cynicism                                 Feast on hope and truth

Fast from problems that overwhelm  Feast on prayer that sustains

 

This is adapted from something written by William Arthur Ward. We always use a version of this at this time of year in ThirdSpace. I personally use a couplet each day to focus on – it’s very challenging!! Join me?

Soup & Miracles

Posted by & filed under Book discussion, meals.

Over steaming bowls of soup, served with bread and cheese we had a stimulating discussion about miracles based around Brian McLaren’s book “We Make the Road by Walking”.

 

Miracles?

Are you a believer in miracles?

Are you sceptical about miracles?

What problems do you encounter from your stand point?

McLaren talks of signs and asks if we imagine a story of one of Jesus miracles  – does it inform us or prove something else. Does it shake up our normal assumptions, inspire our imagination about the present and the future, and make it possible to see something we couldn’t see before?

Share a story of a time when you felt you experienced a miracle, or when you prayed for a miracle that never came.

Think of the story of Jesus turning water into wine at the wedding at Cana.

  • Consider the superabundance of 935 bottles of wine to the Galilean village. What might that signify?
  • What might it mean for God to save the best till last?

Meditate.  Hold in silence the image of an empty ceremonial stone container being filled with water that is transformed to wine. Hear the sound of water filling to the brim. See the water changing colour, and taste the change in flavour as it becomes wine. Hear the sound of people celebrating in the background. Sit with the words “empty”, “full” and “transformed”. See what prayer takes shape in your heart.

We shared bread and wine using the Companions liturgy.

The evening  concluded as we chatted while enjoying Fairtrade Honey Cake and mugs of Fairtrade coffee!

Keep Moving

Posted by & filed under Alternative prayer activities, bandstand, bread and wine, emerging church, General, Outdoor church, park, third space prayers.

I chose the theme of Keep Moving for Sunday morning worship for three reasons;

  • The weather forecast told of extremely cold conditions and a screaming wind straight from the Arctic. (We would need to keep moving to prevent us from getting too cold.)
  • We are studying a book called “We make the Road by Walking” by Brian McLaren.
  • We should never become complacent in our ways of doing church, we need to keep our eyes on Jesus and be guided by the Holy Spirit so we continue to be experimental and not set in our ways.

It actually turned out to be a sunny, but cold morning the wind not quite so fierce as expected. One really great thing about meeting outside is that we can use what is all around us to focus our worship.

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Keeping moving in Thanksgiving

We turn to the river

Thank you that Jesus that you refresh us with Living Water

We turn to the rising sun

Thank you for Jesus the Risen Son

Turn to the road

Thank you that you journey with us

Turn round and find the wind – welcome the wind with open arms

Thank you Holy Spirit that you dwell with us

Turn back to the river and look at the foot bridge

Thank you Jesus that you are The Way, The Truth and The Light

Turn in a direction of your choice and look at the winter scene

Thank you Lord God for the seasons of our lives, as we move on help us to keep moving on with you.

Bible Reading: Luke 3 from The Message

We read excerpts from Brian McLaren’s book from chapter 19 about the alternative baptismal cleansing that John the Baptist was offering to the Jews at the time of Jesus. It was this alternative way of thinking that Jesus signed up to when he came to John to be baptised in the River Jordan.

Keeping moving we walked to the Park Head considering while we walked:

Imagine God asking you, “What one thing would you like me to do for  you?”  As Solomon asked for wisdom hold up one request to God in silence.

At the Park Head, as the river rushed by, we read about the Baptism of Jesus.

Turning to the river we prayed for those we know who are in need, asking that they would experience being immersed in the flowing river of God’s love. We also prayed for those made homeless through war, disaster or other circumstances who would be experiencing the terrible cold of winter.

Bread and Wine

We know so well the stories of Christmas and Epiphany. The stories of Jesus birth, his visitors, his escape to Egypt. Apart from his visit to Jerusalem at the age of 12 we hear very little of his childhood, teenage years and 20s. We know that in those years Jesus increased in wisdom and that they were a preparation for his ministry after his baptism and temptations in the desert.  All his life he was moving, growing, changing, learning and preparing.

Preparing to die in our place

break bread – the broken body of Jesus

To shed his blood to redeem us

share wine – the blood of redemption

Luke Chapter 3: 21, 22 “When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptised too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”

 God says to you:  “You are my child, whom I dearly love. In you I find pleasure. “

 make these words your own:

“I am (my name), your child, whom you dearly love. In me you find pleasure.”

 

We make the road by walking

Posted by & filed under emerging church, stuff we like.

We make the roadSo last night we started discussing Brian McClaren’s book. We spent much of the evening debating his definition of ‘being spiritual’ as meaning ‘seeking aliveness’. We got a bit lost in it all, arguably, but it wasn’t bad to sit back and ask what it really means if we are aspiring to be ‘really alive’ or as Jesus put it to have ‘life in all its fullness’. We’ve decided to read a chapter a week and when we have an evening dedicated to it we can share anything arising from the previous chapters or that week’s.  We’re going to put a pop-up on the homepage every week to remind us where we’re at – as we’re starting at week 19 this week (His book begins in September). If you’re following us from afar, why don’t you get a copy and join us from a distance. You could post comments on your responses…

Thanks Fi for leading us and to the Gate for the real fire!

Taize meets Soulspace

Posted by & filed under Soul Space.

So last night we hosted our first Taize service with John Phillips and music group. We had a turn-out of around 70 people from a range of Matlock and local churches along with Soulspace regulars. The evening was a great success – with a terrific combination of wonderful Taize songs combined with images on our giant screen. Our theme was ‘Open’ and readings (from The Message from Luke 2:1-35 and selected verses from Ephesians 3:1-19) seemed to speak so powerfully and vividly – I LOVE THAT PARAPHRASE! – Go on – look them up! We also included these readings which were so profound:

‘Although God never stops trying to communicate with us, God never wants to impose anything on us. Often God’s voice comes in a whisper, in a breath of silence. Remaining in silence in God’s presence, open to the Spirit, is already prayer.

It is not a matter of trying to obtain inner silence at all costs by following some method that creates a kind of emptiness within. The important thing is a childlike attitude of trust by which we allow Christ to pray within us silently, and then one day, we will discover that the depths of our being are inhabited by a Presence.’               Brother Roger

 

Epiphanies are Made for Sharing . . . . . . . . . Father Thomas Rosica, CSB                                                                         Solemnity of the Epiphany, Year A, Dec. 25, 201

“The word ‘epiphany’ means ‘to show forth.’ Epiphanies, both large and small, tend to be private events – yet events with great significance for the public. Trying to share the details with another of an epiphany is fraught with complications. The words are never quite right, and even the most sympathetic listener cannot fully bridge the gap between description and what is was like being there. Most of us keep our personal experiences of the Holy to ourselves. Who would believe it? And who would really understand? The irony is that epiphanies are made for sharing, even as they are impossible to communicate fully.…      “Unlike the poor shepherds, the Magi had to travel a long road; they had to face adversity to reach their goal. It was anything but a romantic, sentimental pilgrimage that we often see in our manger scenes!…      “The experience of the magi reminds us that all who make the tedious journey to the truth will finally encounter it and be changed in the process. They can never go back to a ‘business as usual’ way of life. When we meet Christ and see who he really is, we will never be the same – and only then can we hope to begin to share in his mission.…”

Have a think on that!

Prayers with images attached led to a strong sense of presence and connection and our service ended with John’s fantastic solo over Laudate Dominum – quite stunning!

Thanks to all who came and for the many special and important conversations over wine, hot drinks and home-baking. It was good to see you and we hope you’ll find us again!

Book plug / swap

Posted by & filed under General.

Only at ThirdSpace could you get such an eclectic range of books on offer! Thanks everyone for such a good evening – for passionate promoting – and the not so passionate (did two of us really bring books with the proviso ‘I can’t really recommend this…’?!!) So here are our recommendations – mostly loved bboks, with a couple of challenging reads!

At the Loch on the Green Corrie – Andrew Craig. Poetic, touching, thought-provoking…

This fragile tent – blog – where it was found recommended and offers a great read in itself.

23 things they didn’t tell you about Capitalism – Ha-Joon Chang. Not easy – but interesting!

A man called Ove – Fredrik Backman. Quirky, Swedish humour about a grumpy old man. Fun!

The labyrinth of Osiris – Paul Sussman. Complex drama set in Jerusalem and Luxor. Compelling!

Do no harm. Stories of life, death and brain surgery – Henry Marsh. Moving and inspiring…

Flatland – Edwin A Abbott. Quirky, funny, brilliant novel set in 2 dimensions. Plato would love it!

Rock the shack – the architecture of cabins, cocoons and hideouts. A coffee table book. Beautiful.

Head on – Ian Botham’s autobiography. Amusing and insightful.

The hen who dreamed she could fly – Sun-Mi Hwang. Touching, unusual… the tale of ‘Sprout’.

From wild man to wise man – Richard Rohr. We love Richard – but is defining what men are helpful?

 

Join us in enjoying feeding mind and soul… We’re all starting to read bits of Brian McClaren’s We make the road by walking. We’ll post how we get on with that in due course

Opening our sails to the Spirit

Posted by & filed under bandstand, General.

Opening our sail to the wind

This morning we met after a pretty stormy few days with a bit of a biting wind which had, mercifully, died down to something more acceptable!

I had stumbled across a very interesting website – www.seekerschurch.org – which led to our focus at the start of this new year (This was our first bandstand gathering of the year). The following is adapted from their liturgy you can find there.

We began with this reflection:

I cannot cause light; the most I can do is try to put myself in the path of its beam. It is possible, in deep space, to sail on solar wind. Light, be it particle or wave, has force: you rig a giant sail and go. The secret of seeing is to sail on solar wind. Hone and spread your spirit till you yourself are a sail, whetted, translucent, broadside to the merest puff.   Annie Dillard, Pilgrim at Tinker Creek, First Perennial Classics, HarperPerennial, 1998, page 33

This put us in mind of our ‘patron saint’ Brendan, setting sail and going where the Spirit blew. This seemed highly relevant to us at the start of a new year, not knowing the way ahead, but wanting to go where we are led…

CALL TO WORSHIP

Leader:            The light of God fills all of Creation,

inviting us to shine like the dawn.

People:            We are called to be open,

                         to stretch ourselves out

                         with every movement of the Spirit.

Leader:            The light of God fills us with compassion,

inviting us to pray.

People:            We are called to follow Jesus,

                         to open ourselves to the force

                         of God’s love and justice and peace.

Leader:            The light of God fills every moment,

inviting us to reach out

beyond what we think we know or can do.

All:                    We are called to become the living Word,

                         filled with divine power and light

                         for the healing of the world.

 

We walked with questions reviewing the last year and thinking ahead to this one, before joining in this prayer of commitment:

Lord God, we come today to claim our relationship with you.

We pray for the commitment to grow together, sharing the gifts you give us with others here and in the wider world.

Forgive us for the hurts we have inflicted and help us forgive those who have hurt us.

Give us strength and discipline to nurture our relationship with you, to care for your creation, to foster justice

and to be in solidarity with those in need

We open ourselves to your light and guidance in this coming year.

Amen.

 

We named those known to us and those in Nigeriaa, France and elsewhere who we wanted to be in solidarity with and included them in our sharing of bread and wine, saying:

 

Leader:   We gather as one body to celebrate God’s presence among us  united in Christ’s spirit, broken and whole all at once;

All:          Nourished and hungry, loved and loving,  sinner and forgiven; we make one circle of knowing, believing, rejoicing, being,  as God lights and     rests among us.

 The body of Christ, broken for us

 he blood of Christ, which makes us whole.

 

Finally, taking one of our banners – made of sail material, we spread our sail to the wind (which unhelpfully, momentarily died!) and used this benediction:

Leader:   So to 2015 as individuals, families and ThirdSpace

Let us open wide our spirits,

that together we are transformed into one broad sail,

propelled by the force of God’s love.

Reaching beyond what we now know,

to answer the call to be God’s light in this broken world.

In the company of God the creator, Jesus the Christ,

and the Holy Spirit shining within us,

All:          Amen.                          

 

To any readers who weren’t there – join us in stretching yourself wide and seeing where the Spirit blows you this year! Happy New Year!     

Christmas Day at the Bandstand

Posted by & filed under General.

Christmas Day dawned bright and sunny, no sign of a white Christmas

We met together and celebrated this special morning

May we…

As the light begins to shift and a crack appears in heaven. As stars slide across the darkness and angels clear their throats. As an unborn agitates with the labouring of love

may we…

as incarnation moves from promise into life. As words of prophecy spill into every empty silence. As you, O Love, shift restlessly and begin to let go

may we…

as the world turns and the rumour goes unnoticed. As grandiose words are spoken yet never contain the word. As the longing and waiting and calling are missed

may we…

may we shift restlessly along with heaven at the breath-taking vulnerability of hope, speak justice into the silence of injustice, move towards those, others move away from, may we forgive in order to bring new life to the world, prepare to change as all of heaven changes now, live towards what is right and away from what is wrong.

May we pull on the hope of Advent live on the cusp of incarnation and proclaim with our lives the Good News of promise of hope in a messy world of Emmanuel…..

may we… may you make way for birth

for God with us!

(With thanks to abbotsford.org.uk)

Thinking about Christmas Day 100 years ago in the trenches during the First World War we listened to the music of Silent Night, praying for peace and echoing the words of the angels to the shepherds “Peace on Earth and Goodwill to All Men”

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Memorial to the First World War Anniversary. Hall Leys Park, Matlock

THE GAME: CHRISTMAS DAY, 1914

It is so cold.
The lines of this poem are sinking
Into the unforgiving mud. No clean sheet.

Dawn on a perishing day. The weapons freeze
In the hands of a flat back four.
The moon hangs in the air like a ball
Skied by a shivering keeper.
All these boys want to do today
Is shoot, and defend, and attack.

Light on a half-raised wave. The trench-faces
Lifted till you see their breath.
A ball flies in the air like a moon
Kicked through the morning mist.
All these boys want to have today
Is a generous amount of extra time.

No strict formations here, this morning;
No 4-4-2 or 3-5-1
No rules, really. Just a kickabout
With nothing to be won
Except respect. We all showed pictures,
I learned his baby’s name.
Now clear the lines of this poem
And let’s get on with the game.

No white penalty spot, this morning,
The players are all unknown.
You can see them in the graveyards
In teams of forgotten stone;
The nets are made of tangled wire,
No Man’s Land is the pitch,
A flare floodlights the moments
Between the dugouts and the ditch.

A hundred winters ago sky opened
To the sunshine of the sun
Shining on these teams of players
And the sounds of this innocent game.
All these boys want to hear today
Is the final whistle. Let them walk away.

It has been so cold. The lines
Of these poems will be found, written
In the unforgotten mud like a team sheet.
Remember them. Read them again.

© Ian McMillan for the Premier League and The Poetry Society

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 Sharing bread and wine we used part of Steve’s Christmas Liturgy

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It might not have been a white Christmas but here are some views of the park after Boxing Day snow

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Band Stand in the Snow

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WW1 memorial

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Shadows in the Snow

HAPPY NEW YEAR!