Facetiously this week I'm grateful to
blogging for a chance to procrastinate on the
challenge of leading the weekly prayer meeting tomorrow morning. But really I'm extremely grateful to have lived most of my life on the shores of
Belfast Lough, in a Northern clime that knows
no extreme of temperature, nor of tempest. Where
the hills surround and shelter.
For most of this week I've been
haunted by the image of the baptism that preceded Jesus' baptism- when at the moment of that baptism the very skies were torn asunder and yet the
manifestation of all that creator power was a dove. God dealing
gently and patiently with us. But I'm thinking the manifestation of created power this weekend continues to terrify in these times of the in-between.
We had a show of
great might in church this weekend-
hundreds of people coming through the doors of our
new and finally ready extension. Such gratitude to the
Wonderful Warren who conjured bouncy castles, archery, magicians indeed, food, climbing wall, all manner of community event. The centre of it all is the
Heartspace, with tables and chairs and sofas and love.
PC played an acoustic set, an evening concert and the Sunday morning dedication service.
Such talent in small places to big effect.
This week I also finished my
latest Barbara Pym, who was
slightly more upbeat ultimately. "
The small things of life were often so much bigger than the great things, she decided, wondering how many writers and philosophers had said this before her, the trivial pleasures like cooking, one's home, little poems especially sad ones, solitary walks, funny things seen and overheard."
Mind you. I couldn't live without
those great things either.
Facetiously this week I'm grateful to blogging for a chance to procrastinate on the challenge of leading the weekly prayer meeting tomorrow morning. But really I'm extremely grateful to have lived most of my life on the shores of Belfast Lough, in a Northern clime that knows no extreme of temperature, nor of tempest. Where the hills surround and shelter.
For most of this week I've been haunted by the image of the baptism that preceded Jesus' baptism- when at the moment of that baptism the very skies were torn asunder and yet the manifestation of all that creator power was a dove. God dealing gently and patiently with us. But I'm thinking the manifestation of created power this weekend continues to terrify in these times of the in-between.
We had a show of great might in church this weekend- hundreds of people coming through the doors of our new and finally ready extension. Such gratitude to the Wonderful Warren who conjured bouncy castles, archery, magicians indeed, food, climbing wall, all manner of community event. The centre of it all is the Heartspace, with tables and chairs and sofas and love. PC played an acoustic set, an evening concert and the Sunday morning dedication service. Such talent in small places to big effect.
This week I also finished my latest Barbara Pym, who was slightly more upbeat ultimately. "The small things of life were often so much bigger than the great things, she decided, wondering how many writers and philosophers had said this before her, the trivial pleasures like cooking, one's home, little poems especially sad ones, solitary walks, funny things seen and overheard."
Mind you. I couldn't live without those great things either.
9 comments:
Wow I sure enjoyed the lovely pictures and thoughts about baptism.
..........and great things yes ;-)
Blessings Linnie
I love the phrase "little poems especially sad ones." But not a trivial pleasure, no not at all!
xofrances
It must be a very beautiful place that you live in. I am leading our housegroup this morning too - I think we will stay on the subject of angels as I am there already! At the mooment I am having some difficult challenges in real life and blogging for me has unexpectedly given me lots of resource to strengthen my own faith and fellowship too, so plenty for me to be thankful for.
Another lovely post. Glad the extension all open now. [post pictures won't you?] Bouncy castle AND a magician wow!!
Those cakes look delicious.
Hope the prayer meeting was well attended.
One of these days I'll come into a fortune and be able to visit all my friends in blogosphere and SEE these places in reality [current list includes NI, Scotland, France, USA, Canada and Peru!]
blessings xx
We really are very priveleged to live where we do...I LOVE that view of the Lough!
Thank you for last night...a lot of food for thought! Cx
I've been thinking much about your "thin places"these last few days. . .love that imagery!
And now your thoughts on the power of the Creator. . .wow!
Why is it that we become overwhelmed when he does show his magnificent power. . .and we often fail to see the "doves" in our lives, those times he deals gently with us?
sweet treats,
your words are delicious as well.
smart post.
What a magnificent post. These amazing words that you share seem to come so easy to you. What a blessing they are. Thank you.
much to ponder here....
small, sweet things add up to become the big things overall
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