Living in a broken world

Today has been one of those days when the objective lens on the microscope of life has been clicked on a notch and what it has revealed as the focus was adjusted is a bit unsettling. I reflect upon my introduction into the world of histology, the times when you stick a slide under the lens as gasp at the thing before you; awe-filled at the wonder of creation. The immensity of things that exist at a microscopic level.

There are times in life where the self-same response is brought forth in life as the magnification is clicked up and the view, for a number of reasons, stops you in your tracks and causes a sharp intake of breathe. This is one of them!

The pastoral role, the being a shephed for the sheep, is one of the most privileged, challenging and humbling roles anyone can aspire to assume. There are times when the sheep kick out and bring you home bleeding and limping. There are the times when you need to go out and find them and, having done some, plonk them around you neck (smelly and muck covered though they be) and bring them home. Worst of all are the times when th wolf is at the door, often a door that they've opened for a number of reasons, and the contest is on.

we are called to be 'one who comes alongside' - a Paraclete - to be the one who rushes into the burning buildings of life and contend with those who might devour those who stand before them. To give sight to the blind, hearing to the deaf; to set the prisoners free and to preach 'good news' to the poor. In a day of death, Christingle, confusion and the promise of salvation the subtle tones and the rigid lines take on more meaning, and show themselves to be much more, as the focus knob is turned and all becomes clear and understanding, clarity and knowledge are added to.

The day has been a day of three halves - a sandwich in which the filling was the joy that meeting new people brings coupled with real 'family time' (which I need more of) - the bread being the things my life as a changed human being (the ontological reality that is 'priest').

Lord, for the broken people I seek to serve, give me clarity of vision and sharpness in my thinking, and action, that I might be their protector and guide. Give me wisdom in my dealings with those things against which they contend and gentleness in my execution of all before me. Help me to hear Your voice and to move to your prompting, to take each step prayerfully and never to startle the sheep or cause the wolves to strike. Gentle as doves and cunning as a serpent - now that's an image to contend with innit?

in a classroom of children, glow sticks, oranges and the excitement of Christmas before me, I experienced such joy as the privilege of engagement was mine.

In the joy of seeing the bricks were laid and relationships developed in the promise of changed lives as situations - the opportunity to extend the family that is more than being a congregation.

In the pain, anger and frustration that is mental health and the wounded and broken individuals, and the resonance in those around them with their bitter self-recriminations and destructive mea culpas - I look for you and your healing and redeeming love.

Lord, we bring who we are and what we have to the party, help us to accept and engage with those in the room the way we want to to be accepted and engaged with. Help us never to pass by on the other side when the need is obvious and apparent. May the wind in our ears never stop us hearing the voice in our hearts and, even though we might limp,may we never stop running the race until the line is crossed and our journey is done.

Thank you for a mixed day and for the challenges and joys - let's do this again tomorrow - but let's do it a bit better eh?

CHRISTINGLE: It's that time of year again

Here we are again at the start of the Christingle season (500 glowsticks at the ready this end of the wire) and as is my custom, you will find a powerpoint version of the Christingle Orange to use HERE (This has been updated and is not the same as that found on this blog last year).

Being able to add a projected version of the orange is one of the best things I have taken the time to produce and it is something I use many times over the Advent run-in: No oranges found under the car seat months later (wondered what the smell was!) and no being spiked by cocktail sticks either. Bliss!

As ever, here are the start and end images:

Feel free to share this with anyone you know who needs such a graphic for their Christingle service this Advent and help to support the work of the Children's Society.

THANK YOU

Here's a short clip to show the orange in use:

This movie just shows the movement
the real thing has a stages working

I have taken to using glowsticks (for which each year I am berated for not being traditional) BUT:

i. The lighted Christingle is taken from the church (or other building) the service is held in and arrives home still lit: The Christ Light has been successfully taken and delivered - don't get that with candles!

ii. Having had a woman lose her hair when her grandchild waved their lit Christingle near to the hairspray enriched thatch causing it to 'flash' and disappear in a cloud of awfully smelly smoke, I find this to be a much safer bet thank you very much, and

iii. There's no wax to remove (so no moaning from the wardens and other helpers) and there are no burns or singed clothing or claims to the Ecclesiastical Insurance to be made once the fire brigade and ambulance have left!

But whichever you chose - may you have a blessed run in to Christmas.

Pax

Postscript
Following a few requests I have added a simple Christingle service powerpoint file to the folder. You can find it and the component slides (and, perhaps oddly, all the funeral hymns too!) here


Just added an infant's Christingle service outline which you will also find  here

Christingle on Powerpoint

One of the things I find the season of Advent calls me to use a great many times is a projected version of the Christingle Orange, ribbon, candle and cocktail sticks,

So I made my own a few years back and this has, slightly modified over the time, served me well - and so I offer it to anyone who might find it useful as a resource.

Here's the first and final images:

and the powerpoint file for them (and the stages between) can be found HERE

Feel free to share this with anyone you feel might benefit from it and help to support the Children's Society this Advent.

Here's a short clip to show the graphics in use:

Pax

Postscript
Following a few requests I have added a simple Christingle service powerpoint file to the folder. You can find it and the component slides (and all the funeral hymns too oddly!) here

Glowstick Christingles

Well, it has begun.

Yesterday we had the Clergy Christmas lunch (Buzzard's Valley, near Tamworth) and today the Christingle services began.

So often we don't get to applaud the backroom team and this year I thought I'd let them take a bow before the pressure starts to tell on them. So here they are:

They are (left to right) - Roland (the organist AKA Roland MT-9) and Mac (the data manager).

The guest projector was already there (so ours went off for a mince pie and hot chocolate).

All in all we managed to get through some 350 glowsticks; use them instead of candles and:

1. There are no burns, candle wax incidents or building fires,

2. Theologically, the Christ-light is lit during the service and, still lit, taken home (an important part), and

3. You can stick them in your ears during the service (which always lowers the tone and raises the noise and engagement).

Here two of those we made earlier:

As the Carol services, Christmas assemblies and Christingle season begins - please pray for those who will be delivering them, those who will be attending them and the teachers (and parents) who are working so hard to made this yet another Christmas to remember.

And thank God that we have a nation who still does Christmas too!

Happy Adventide

ps. 'Thank You' Children's Society (now - where's my red tape and other stuff?)