@churchwow
Encounters with God in Southwest Scotland - going beyond the walls of conventional churchianity to commune with God in unexpected ways and places. www.churchwow.wordpress.com https://substack.com/@churchwow
On Easter Monday evening, we will be hosting a Zoom gathering for people to share music that inspires, uplifts and feeds our spirits. Not necessarily conventional hymns and worship songs (tho those are very welcome) but also classical or contemporary secular music that brings you closer to God.
Lord, to Your abundance, we bring the hungry, the thirsty, the loveless and the hopeless. We bring those who live on the margins today, praying for Your transformation. Lord, transform us, enable us, in Your power and out of Your abundance to transform the lives of others. In the name of Christ, Amen.
"We shall persevere with the prayers of saints, and the songs we sing are the seeds of change!"
It is so hard at times to keep on praying for peace when all we hear is news of spiraling war and aggression. But the Bible tells us not to allow ourselves to become discouraged, but to keep on doing what we know is good and right - and in particular never to give up praying (Luke 18:1)
I'd love you to join me on Facebook live at 8.30am tomorrow to start the week with an act of Morning Prayer.
www.facebook.com/groups/churc...
Just don't plan on having too many protest marches to express that feeling once the Policing Bill is passed!
My new rendering of the Lord's prayer, based on translations of the earliest Aramaic texts.
I love some of the concepts - eg 'From you is born the song which beautifies all' and 'Loose the fetters of the faults which keep us bound'.
Please consider emailing your MP to ask them to oppose further restrictions to our civil liberties through the Crime and Policing Bill currently before parliament. Maybe also join the mass lobby on 17th March. Remember, the UK has already been criticised by the UN for its approach to such issues.
As the UK government unveils new, stricter immigration policies we need to ask ourselves anew 'Who is my neighbour?' and recognise that they are not always of the same nationality, ethnicity or culture as ourselves. The vulnerable, isolated and demonised are always worthy of our care and protection.
Our First Friday event tonight will be online rather than in person due to illness - here's a taster. Join us on Facebook Live at 6.30pm. www.facebook.com/groups/churc...
This month's contemplative worship gathering will reflect our concern for the current unrestrained US-Israeli crusade against Iran, and other warzones across the globe.
Lord, have mercy.
Natural Connections reflection from yours truly, on a walk to Ninians Cave today.
About 2pm in Physgill Glen.
Even in the most inhospitable environments, there are signs of beauty and quiet resilience to be found. Delicate flowers amid the tangle of thorns.
Share your reflections too!
Loving God, may we discern what will help and what will harm, empowered to nurture and not neglect. Help us to live as Your people, choosing to turn toward love each and every day. Amen.
Almighty and everlasting God, You love all that You have made and forgive the sins of all those who look to You. Create in us a pure heart, that we may receive mercy from You, as we lament all that we have done that has diminished Your love in the world. Amen.
Please pray for our first cafe church gathering this morning in the Isle of Whithorn. We will be looking at some themes from the Lord of the Rings to spark discussion and prayer about how we can support one another in our faith and mission, particularly in dark and forbidding times.
May we find a moment of meeting with You, when the daily veil that at times covers our world is removed, and we see Your glory revealed in the beauty of the universe You have created. Beauty revealed in the community we are part of, beauty revealed in Your precious word: most of all, beauty revealed in the love of Your Son, Jesus Christ.
We set out on a journey of faith and fellowship with the first of our monthly 'Coffee Connections' gatherings in the Isle of Whithorn on Saturday. We'll be taking inspiration from Tolkein's Lord of the Rings to explore our own spiritual paths and find inspiration for faith in difficult times.
Merciful God, we tremble and recoil as did the disciples on the mountain. We have prostrated ourselves before the false brightness of lesser lights, which blazon their false claims of truth, or fulfilment, or hope. Humbly we ask for Your forgiveness.
Not all of us can be mighty heroes, wielding the sword of justice, rallying the troups with our powerful words. But each of us, however small and insignificant, however bumbling and inept, are capable of doing little things with great love. And sometimes, the little things are what wins the battle!
Almsgiving is one of the 3 Pillars of Lenten observance. This year, I am encouraging our little community to donate directly to a former military chaplain in Ukraine (a friend of a good friend) who works tirelessly on behalf of those most in need in that war-torn country.
But who would want him? Trumpian America i guess.
We pray for our world, conscious of gross inequality that millions toil without justice and scarce pay for our comfort and convenience. We cry out against the mountain of debt which keeps countries from caring for their people. We pray for our planet itself exploited and abused groaning and damaged.
How important is being a part of a praying/worshiping community (whether that is a formal church, or a more ad hoc gathering of like-minded spirits) to you? And where do you find that connection and support?
You may know of the Walk for Peace by a group of Buddhist monks in the US. Today there is an invitation to people of all backgrounds to join together to meditate for peace - at 9.30pm UK time. This will be livestreamed here www.facebook.com/walkforpeace... or you may prefer to pray on your own.
New for gay Christian men and their allies in the UK - initially a Facebook group with the potential for online prayer/refection/fellowship meetings down the line.
We've just set up a Facebook group for gay/bi/queer Christians in the UK - Men's Connections www.facebook.com/groups/14771...
"Each and every human being ... is created in the image of God, loved by Him and worthy of being loved by us."
From Saturday's Worship in the Wild event.
"For all of creation and the majesty of its Creator
We rejoice in the promise of Spring"
