Rev. Linda Hopkins led the day and the theme was ‘The Beauty of Thy Peace.’
There were three sessions exploring-
- The Beauty of God around us (God of creation)
- The Beauty of God in the everyday (God with us in the ordinary)
- The Beauty of Christ within us (the invitation to life in Christ.
At Olive Grove Conference Centre we enjoyed the opportunities for fellowship and reflection, using music, words, pictures and the natural world around us. The day concluded with a communion service.
We were invited to write some of our reflections down, and some examples are below - are there any clues to who contributed them?
A conversation with God
Where are you God?
I hear people say, I can see God in this, around me, in everything…
But where?
In the small things, the big things, the in between things.
But where?
In creation, in the sunrise, in the sunset, in the micro details all around.
But where?
Look into your self, what do you see?
I see a person – me.
What makes you that ‘person’?
A lifetime of occurrences, good, bad and in between.
You are not alone, God says, because I created you – in my image!
Wow, how amazing is that!
Not only that but I put my Holy Spirit in you – always and for ever.
When you wake up in the morning, I’m still there. I have made you my home.
Wherever you go, I’m staying put right in here,
All you have to do is talk to me, and I will answer,..
That’s where I am!
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Linda read us an example of a blessing for an ordinary object - the dishwasher at the Northumbria Community retreat centre, and suggested that we might like to write a blessing for an ordinary object of our own. Here are some:
This one works best if you read it aloud:
Ode to a jam pan
My shiny jam pan is simply brill
God’s gift for making chutney
The heavenly brew sputters and spills
The kitchen steamy, but we..
Still stir for hours and endure the mess
For these few jars are su-perb
So precious we save them for privileged guests
Or hide them away in a cup-berd ;0)
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A Bicycle Blessing
Stable frame, may you always be strong and firm in holding things together.
Sensitive steering, may you always be responsive and flexible in choosing the route and avoiding hazards.
Firm saddle, may you always support without chafing or numbing.
Turning cranks, may you always transmit power smoothly and evenly.
Agile gears, may you always adapt to the challenges of wind and gradient.
Rolling wheels, may you always be swift and true in absorbing the rumbles and roughness of the road.
Restraining brakes, may you always respond smoothly to gentle pressure, and react swiftly to danger.
Refreshing bottles, may you always offer rehydration and renewed energy.
Blessed bicycle, may you always carry me onwards to new discoveries and adventures in God's realm.
Amen
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Blessing for a Bowls Group
Bless, O Lord, this Bowls Group.
Bless those Members who frustrate me,
they teach me patience.
Bless those Members who are infirm,
they teach me to value health.
Bless those Members who create delays,
they teach me to rest.
Bless those woods that run true,
they encourage me.
Bless those woods that fail,
they teach me humility.
Bless the Members,
they create fellowship.
Bless the Leaders,
they make it happen.
Bless the venue,
this enables it to happen.
Bless the game.
it provides social interaction, sport and gamesmanship.
Bless the tea and coffee breaks
and those celebrations that are part of it.
Bless the wider fellowship
that this provides and fosters.
Bless the fun and laughter that takes place.
Bless the day that You have provided
Bless the time that You permit.
Lord bless all of this
and I thank You that You are part of it.
In the Name of Jesus, Amen
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Laptop blessing
Bless this laptop Lord.
May I not be a slave to it but use it as a tool to glorify you.
May the words I type on the keyboard be your words
May the emails I write be kind, generous, compassionate and full of hope
May the numbers I calculate be true and reflect the generosity of your people.
Protect me from harmful websites, which may lead me astray.
Bless my printer Lord and for all the things it prints to keep people stay connected
Bless the connection between the laptop and printer and help me to stay connected to you.
Bless my hard drive Lord and give me the ability to remember people and situations
Bless my Laptop mechanics which stop the machine getting overheated and burnt out - help me Lord to slow down and rest in you and not get burnt out
Bless my mouse as I use it as a guide to navigate my laptop - may you always be my guide to navigate all parts of my life
Bless my scanner Lord as it captures every part of the document I'm working on - help me to remember that you know every part of me and nothing can be hidden from you.
Finally, I pray that my laptop and printer will keep going and that will teach me about being resilient, dependable and persistent in my faith and relationships with others
Amen
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