Weekly Thoughts (June 2021)
Week of Monday 14th June 2021
The Mustard Seed (Mark 4 vv 30-32)
“What shall we say the Kingdom of God is like?” asked Jesus. ” What parable shall we use to explain it? It is like this. A man takes a mustard seed, the smallest seed in the world, and plants it in the round. After a while, it grows up and becomes the biggest of all plants. It puts out such large branches that the birds come and make their nests in its shade.”
Are we Planters, offering support, or creating an environment which encourages others, to grow in faith?
Are we Seeds, growing in faith, starting from tiny beginnings?
Are we Trees, sheltering others, providing a resting place, a listening place, a place of safety?
Are we Birds, enjoying our welcome, our support, our chance to grow in faith, and feel safe?
They are all connected and depend on each other.
Prayer
Father God, we give thanks for our freedom to worship.
Jesus, Son of God, we give thanks for your parables which teach us so much.
Holy Spirit, we give thanks for those who spread the Word of God. Amen
Nancy Gilmartin
Week of Monday 7th June 2021
Psalm 138
Last Sunday our first reading was Psalm 138, which begins,
“I thank you Lord with all my heart; I sing praise to you.”
That seemed a bit ironic, as we couldn’t sing together, and we have not been able to sing together in church since March 2020.
For so many people, this has been the hardest part of church lockdown: two Easters and a Christmas without the familiar well-loved and well-known carols and music; worse perhaps, weddings and funerals without the comfort of a favourite hymn.
Now we have tried to make the best of it, by looking on the brighter side, where possible. We have enjoying watching the performance of professionals on video. We have enjoyed and appreciated the skills of our organists and church musicians. We have found new meaning in,, and enjoyed, the opportunity to focus on the words of well known hymns. We have tried to make the best of it by joining in on Zoom. And some of us have resorted to enjoying a shorter service, with no music!
However, this Sunday, even with masks, singing together in church will for many people, be Good News at last.
Prayer
Father God, thank you for the opportunity to praise you in our worship, singing or not.
Jesus, Son of God, you sang the psalms in worship too, and taught us to pray.
Holy Spirit, inspire us to worship God in all we say and do in our daily living. Amen
Nancy Gilmartin
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