Messy church

The Lord said to Moses. 'You will be able to tell wonderful stories to your children and grandchildren about the marvelous things I am doing.................to prove that I am Lord.' Exodus 10:2

It was my second encounter with 'Messy church' and it was so refreshing and life giving. The church seemed to be packed with mothers, children and fathers all engaging in 'worship' according to Messy church. To you or I it wouldn't look one bit like 'church' but the teaching through games, craft, activities, talk and song were speaking 'worship' to the unchurched from our community, and as for engagement, welcome, inclusion and pastoral care, well, it was all happening.

Two things set my heart souring for Christ. One was a lady I spoke to several times during the evening. She was there with her two children but my joy was that I had encountered this family in the community over the past years and baptised the two children and here they were, in Messy church! The other joy was real 'sacred ground.' As I was telling the story of Noah's Ark a toddler stood with me momentarily, her soft toy tiger in one hand and my hand in hers. I felt the power of the Spirit flow through us.

Open wide the doors of the church and the people will come in.

Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ

Anne

Jesus, O Jesus, come and fill our lives

''O let the Son of God enfold you with his Spirit and his love...............' TIS 655

It swept across the sky like streamers across the ballroom ceiling, hanging,waiting for the dance to begin,ribbons of bright colours of brilliant orange layered with pastel pinks and blue.....................a breath taking sunrise.

I heard a man ring into the local radio station saying, 'I just caught a glimpse of the rising sun in my rear vision mirror.'

Two thoughts crosses my mind when I heard his words.

'May we never see the Risen Son in hindsight.

And, may others see the risen Son in us today.'

Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Anne

Come as you are

'................some men cam carrying a paralyzed man on a bed. They were trying to bring him in and lay him before Jesus........' Luke 5:18

At the recent confirmation service for the two young men with disabilities, one of their friends rested awkwardly on his crutches at the communion rail, to receive a blessing. He lingered awhile before returning to his seat. Moments later he returned to the communion rail, almost in leaps and bounds despite his disability. As he stood at the rail, his smile was radiant and his face seemed to be filled with joy.I asked him why he had returned to the communion rail. His reply..................'something made me come again...I can feel something special here...........this is a special place.' We were on sacred ground.

Yesterday this young man was listening to teaching on confirmation, at his special church group, and with the same radiant smile and gentle spirit has asked to be confirmed.

The great love of God is lavishly given if the doors are open wide enough for the wheelchairs to fit through and the ones on crutches invited and welcomed to participate.

Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ

Anne

in God's strength

'Behold, I am the Lord.....is anything too difficult for me?' Jeremiah 32:27

Visions and dreams, goals and aims, hearts longings and desires, health and happiness, service and love are all the things we desire and at times the 'dreaming' seems to big for us alone.

The value of putting God first in all things is what enables the 'dreaming' to become a reality and a song of all sorts to sing in your heart.

'What matters is not the size of the mountain, but the strength of the mountain mover.' (Anon)

Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Anne

Heavens above and below

'I will declare that your love stands firm forever, that you established your faithfulness in heaven itself.' Psalm 89:2

The glory of the Lord was all about this morning from the golden rising of the sun to the misty clouds tipping the mountains and the sky was scattered with various, facinating cloud formations.

Sometimes you can look at the sky and see just that, the sky and other times you can look at the sky and see it like a huge dome, other times its a place of darkness, or light, sun, moon, stars, colour and exciting cloud formations. What a mighty God we have, who 'pegged' out the skies, the heavens and its in that greatness that our heart sings his praises in word and action as we come to this new day.

L Moody said:

A little faith will bring your soul to heaven but a lot of faith will bring heaven to your soul.

Anne, servant of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Blessings

Blessed assurance.

'Ti's mercy all, immense and free: for, O my God it found out me.' TIS 209

A glorious morning to be out walking and welcoming in the day and as I did so I reflected on yesterday. What a wonderful, liberating, freeing day for all. The confirmation of two young men with disabilities.

I could not help but look on them in the service, one being assisted by friends and the other presented in his wheelchair amidst a packed church. and I thought these words from psalm 18:32 ' 'It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect.' These young men were very visibly touched by the Spirit of God.

As I reflected on yesterday I still can't determine who received the blessings the most. The congregation, the two being confirmed, their families, me, or Bishop Trevor............ or was it God!

Abraham Lincoln said:

God is the silent partner in all great enterprises.

Anne, servant of the Lord.

Blessings

Gilded sky

'May the name of the Lord be praised.' Job 1:21

As I walked this morning I watched the pink of the early morning sunrise give way to a band of deep gold around the horizon that pushed its way above the clouds and to my voice came the hymn: 'When Morning Gilds the Sky.'

I am excited about Sunday. Two young men from our disability ministry are coming forward in Confirmation to declare that they are friends of Jesus. They know the Love of Jesus in their life, they radiate it, and they want to declare that before us all.

The love of God is so wide, so inclusive, so embracing, so special.

James says in his Epistle:'Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him?' (James 2:5)

I continued walking with these thoughts in mind, singing: When morning gilds the sky, let earth and sea and sky from depth and height reply, let Jesus name be praised.

Anne, servant of the Lord

Blessings