Adjust, Invest, Engage

I am so grateful for technology in some ways though it can give us too much of an information overload.  I am amazed, not in a good way, by how so many places are completely sold out of so many items- bread, eggs, lentils, flour, rice, pasta, noodles, tinned soup. Even online!  It's a shame CBC and I are almost out of flour and what we have is very out of date as we have a breadmaker and make our own bread. Ah well!
But today, I was blessed. The church I've been attending didn't seem to have loaded any sort of service link and my previous church were hosting their service via Facebook which I don't have.  Fatdormouse, Alison, sent me the link to her church service in France but I woke late and couldn't get Zoom to download onto my computer.  I was pondering what to do and then my friend Becky on Instagram posted her church link to her service and it was Youtube live which I COULD stream.
I was so relieved to be able to find a church service and so happy to see the pastor, that I confess to shedding a tear.  But the service was brilliant! I am so grateful to the Sutton Vineyard team who posted such a wonderful service.  The sermon was really, really, real, practical and helpful. I can't put it so succinctly as Jason, the pastor put it, so I have shared the youtube video here.
Sutton Vineyard has a dedicated Corona page.

Right now we need to do three things:

• Adjust
• Invest
• Engage

Adjustment:  right now we have a new norm.  Things are changing and we need to anchor ourselves together in the storm that is happening.  Be responsible, do the right thing. Be sensible. Connect in places like churches. Accept that we are in the storm and it is ok to be scared but Jesus can take us from fear to faith.  God has not abandoned us.  Isaiah 30 v18-30

Investment:  We need to decide what we are going to do with our time.  Are we going to invest our time in futile things that cause us to fear or spend time doing good things?  The now is the time to invest in our time with God.  Do things differently, let go of things that are keeping us from God and pray, give things away, give financially if we can, spend time hearing God.

Engagement:  As a church, 'go out' (metaphorically of course) and be agents of his kingdom- take the opportunities to live differently.  Engage with those who need help.  Think of how wonderful it will be when we can meet again.  The early church could not get together because of oppression but they grew!

The lovely thing was, when I posted to Becky that I was so grateful and I have felt truly uplifted by the service, she invited me to join in with her small group prayer.  I managed to make Zoom work and it was so exciting to see all these new faces (plus Becky) on the screen and share in prayer and positivity together.  It was a wonderful time. We'd all lit candles in our windows to acknowledge world day of prayer.

I am thankful for community aided by technology! 
 This is my Pause for Lent with Ang et al.

xx.

P.S.  Please can you let me know if there is anything specific you would like prayer for.

A pause for Advent 1 (2014): Together

One of the things I love about Christmas is that it brings us together.  This time of advent and Christmas is one that brings us together.  Christmas creates community.  As advent begins, we come together for many occasions:  get togethers at Christmas with friends, seeing our family, Christmas parties at places of work.  For me, apart from the many concerts which I organise at school for Christmas, there are the carol services, church services.  These, for me, are the most wonderful part of Christmas.  There is warmth, joy, love and community in singing and rejoicing in the Saviour.




There is unity that a small Baby, Jesus, who was  God made human brought and brings about community and oneness.




Wise men, of higher birth, shepherds of lowly birth were all brought together in one place. All of us, from different places are brought together at Christmas.




All of us can experience the togetherness of Christmas.




There are people who are alone, let's try and notice them, show them our time and try and include them somehow.  There are opportunities to spend time with others if we seek them.  Perhaps we could all find someone to include this year at Christmas.




In Matthew 18 v 20, Jesus says "For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them."






I am so grateful for all the opportunities I have for community, for those two or three, or many more- for there Jesus is with us, sharing his peace and joy. I am thankful for the joy and beauty and community of the carol service which I had the privilege to take part in today.  Many gathered, many felt the peace and joy and anticipation and excitement of remembering Jesus coming and rejoicing that he comes to, to us too.




I hope you experience togetherness this advent.

#A pause for advent 2013 : 2

Not really a religious theme to this today or any reflection on me but something my husband said really made me think. He said that, in any other case at this time of the year, in the UK and cold climates, we would be staying home, huddling against the fire, we probably wouldn't be socialising with anyone, making much effort but just trying to survive by ourselves and what is it about Christmas that makes us so sociable and doing things before Christmas?

The time of Advent, whilst those of us are preparing for the coming of Christ would like to do that peacefully in theory, it is actually rather wonderful with its sense of busyness and bustle and activity!

We will make the effort to see friends and family whereas we might otherwise be reclusive, 'before Christmas'. It spurs us on to meet each other. It encourages us to get out there and meet up and whilst for some of us who have family and happy situations, this might be something we do anyway, for others who lack that, should they so choose, it is a chance for them to be included in this family and community be that through meals, carol services, switching on of lights etc. Even just going to the shops, gets us out there and ensures we aren't too much hermits.

As one more house after another puts up Christmas lights throughout Advent-tide- the super early ones graduating to those who wait for Christmas eve, there is a sense of growing joy. Noticing the jolly glow makes you think of the people who have put them up. They have made you smile and perhaps entered your thoughts and somehow draws you closer if only subconsciously.

This time of preparation offers us a chance to think of others a bit more that we might not otherwise consider. People choose, at Christmas, to volunteer at soup kitchens and providing Christmas meals and events for others, either on Christmas day or throughout Advent- perhaps if we didn't have this time of Advent, an extended 24-day period of cheer, that they/we might not otherwise consider helping and getting to spend time with new people and spreading a little cheer.

Likewise, we all receive the charity messages asking for support at Christmas time. Whilst I am committed regularly to specific charities- the feel and fact that it's Christmas makes me inclined to help other organisations that I don't/cannot do regularly throughout the year. Advent offers me thinking time to consider how and if I can support a charity.

At Christmas, we are more likely to invite others round and visit others, whereas if it wasn't Advent- the lead up to Christmas, we might feel less inclined. It helps us to open ourselves up to others more.

Though it might not feel like that sometimes (like you are being dragged on a ferris wheel of chaos and busyness, that you can't seem to get off), taking a bit of time to think and it becomes obvious that you choose how to be around Christmas- you can choose to get stressed and angry, you can choose to hate Christmas, or you can choose to join in and enjoy those aspects that you love or at least don't hate (if you are a Christmas-phobe).

For me, I have always enjoyed Christmas and don't really get stressed. Admittedly, I don't have to plan or cook the meal (though I am going to try and reduce any stress during our holiday by doing as much as I can- chopping, cooking, washing up etc) but those aspects I adore at Christmas are of course the church services with the wonderful carols, the finding of presents and knowing that I love and am loved.

I will take part in as much as I have time for without stressing me out or making me unwell. Next week, we have our carols by Candlelight service which is always magical and I can wholeheartedly recommend attending such a service no matter your religious persuasion for a sense of joy and community it engenders, even if you never set foot there again! Admittedly for me, there is no Christmas without Christ, but if that is not you, just remember this one thing about Advent-tide, even if you are not religious or just plain grumpy about Christmas: Think how grim December would be without it! I like having the hope of Advent and Christmas when it's cold and miserable!

Blessings and hugs to you xxx

Head over to Floss's for more pauses in Advent. Ang's at Tracing Rainbows is particularly wonderful!

A pause for Lent 2013 #6

It's the last Pause for Lent.

I've struggled about what to post hence why I've left it till now.  I've struggled to write quite a few of these posts.  Maybe it was the poem- it seemed obvious, what more could I say that wouldn't be just words. I just prayed just now and the following literally leapt into my brain at the start:

You can't do it alone

What does that mean in context?

I increasingly find that in this present age, much serves to try and isolate us from each other be it internet shopping, kindles (i.e. no library).  Don't get me wrong, these are great things in themselves and in  a sense promote community (i.e. bloggin!) but the ultimate combination can result in isolation.

Community has never been so important in this current age. We need it, we need to nurture it, value it and work at it.

My home group from church have been talking about serving our community.  What are our community's needs.  There was a little bit of a difference of opinion over it.  I questioned whether people actually know what they need/want.  We are so wrapped up in ourselves that we don't always think about it. Another teacher agreed with me.  She said that some parents don't know what they need, they can't articulate it or fathom it out. Others said that our community wants to feel safe, protected, wants to feel that they can walk out without fear of attack, without worrying. That's something we cannot do alone.  It takes responsibility from all of us. For us to be alert, help others, reassure them.

Community starts from God.  Prayer is never a thing you do alone.  It's always a duet! God is there, even if you struggle to hear his voice or think you haven't/don't hear it at all.  He never answers in the way you think but he does, nonetheless.  He is there to listen if only I could be patient and WAIT to hear his voice instead of wanting instant gratification like all this technology offers and expecting him to pick up and give a simple answer.  He's bigger than that! I can have no concept of what he is really like other than that if he is eternal, his concept of time is a lot different to mine!!  It takes trust and it takes time and it takes belief. Faith is not being given a big obvious piece of undeniable proof, it's being certain of what you believe and being certain of what you hope for without seeing it. 

The church is built on fellowship. It isn't meant to be something you do on your own.  You and God Alongside You and a community.  Yes, the church or community you are in might not be ideal, it might be irritating, you might not want to 'mix' with the people there (Read C.S. Lewis' writings in the Screwtape letters for thoughts on this), I for instance felt highly irritated with the church warden who told me to go and sit with the choir yesterday even though I had missed practice and wanted to sit at the back (as he surely realised I thought at the time but maybe he just wanted to reassure me it was ok to go to the front!), but they are a fellowship, they are brothers and sisters.  Anytime I find myself irritated with anyone (because we are human.  Christians are not robots who don't experience the difficulties.  We make mistakes, we can be mean, we can be unkind but we should try again and hopefully we are trying to put it right!  Don't think because someone Christian was mean to you that therefore it is all nonsense) Yes, there are people that use it wrongly and that is awful.  We all hear the tales of people who have done wrong and they should be held accountable but loving those around us in general life is something to work at.

Struggles aren't meant to be faced alone.  They are meant to be faced with God and with a fellowship of  Those around.

I cannot do it alone.

Or in this concept, more appropriately:
 We cannot do it alone.

xx