Published by Blair March 26th, 2007
in Ritual and Resources.
We’re in the process of constructing a labyrinth on the church grounds. Stage one is to mark it out in paint, and the vision is to eventually outline it with sand.
Yes, it’s big. Yes it’s simple. There’s not too many twists and turns, and the path measures 120cm across to encourage access for wheelchairs, or two walkers together or even prams!
It’s a funny thing how kids seem to love this kind of pattern, and spend heaps of time running joyfully through it, just following the path. It was one of the reasons I suggested we get stuck into it before our annual Fete happens on the 28th April.
Some pictures:
Published by Blair March 25th, 2007
in Ritual and Resources.
This poem is from Cameron Semmens, whose website I discovered through a link on Cheryl’s blog.
I love it.
a current-er prayer
Our media,
whose art is manipulation
hollow be thy game.
Thy cameras come, it will be done
on Nine as it is on Seven.
Give us this day our daily sensation,
and feed us our fears
as we feed the fear of others.
Lead us on with misinformation
and deliver us from thinking.
For thine is the king-maker
with the power of the story,
forever and ever,
amoral.
Published by Blair March 24th, 2007
in Thoughts.
I just watched a report on the ABC’s 7.30 Report about the increasing numbers of young people at The Big Day Out wearing Australian flags and other icons of nationalism. Apparently there’s also an increase of Aussie tattoos being requested, and we’ve seen the growth of Gallipoli attenders.
I’m intrigued as to the cause. Is this something that is observable across a range of ‘brands’. Are we seeing the increase in nationalism as one of many other things that provide identity for people? Are we uniquely a generation that wants to brand itself? How does belonging factor into it? I feel sure there must be studies that have probed these sorts of questions, I just haven’t read them yet.
Is it about pride? Not in the negative sense, but in having something to be proud of, to admire and look up to? In losing our traditional mythic resources from the social fabric - through knowing every back-story, and seeing every flaw in our heroes, traditional or otherwise - have we also lost something to be proud of?
Is it about belonging? Of needing something to identify with so that we don’t feel alone, or outcast? Although I am deeply aware that the attractiveness of belonging these days doesn’t outweigh people’s fear of responsibility or accountability. We want to belong as long as there are no strings attached.
Also, as someone who reckons there is actually a best cause to pledge one’s allegiance to, I wonder whether there’s a more useful focus to offer people than nationalism. Jesus and other prophets have for a long time continued to call for a radical break from nationalistic idolatry, even clan idolatry in the worship of family.
What can the church, as caretakers of the story of God, offer in this time when the church itself is so radically unpopular (in the West)? My intuition calls me to proclaim things like love and peace before proclaiming church, or even Jesus. Not without proclaiming church or Jesus, but as a first step - the first rallying cry, after which discussion about the source of love, and the source of peace can occur, and people can be invited deeper.
Still thinking…
Published by Blair March 24th, 2007
in Resources.
I first posted this on my own blog, which can be found here.
…….
Drought
All around us
is dry and dusty;
a lifeless skin
of blazing heat
and parched earth.
Despair tempts.
Become one with
the landscape
that ravages.
Curl up and live
in compliant
dryness.
[ … ]
Help us to go deep
O God.
Nourish us,
make us hardy;
rooted in your promises
of present eternity
and eternal presence;
sure and reliable
in the deep places,
the hidden realm
of slowness
and quiet, persistent
growth.
Save us from
the groundless,
dried out,
tumbleweed existence;
blown along
by false promises
of quick fixes,
easy gain
and self reliance.
Be our water-table,
our well-spring.
Plant us by your banks
and keep us fruitful
for our sake
and yours.
Published by Blair March 24th, 2007
in Events.
Sally Douglas was officially recognised as an Intern in placement at the Daylesford Uniting Church on 11th March 2007. Although the service was at Daylesford, it is only one of the six communities she will be ministering with in the local area. I’d love to give a list of the others (in the “Highlands” cluster), but I didn’t keep an order of service, and I couldn’t find them on a simple web-search.
However! I can’t imagine a more blessed group of believers at the moment, because Sally is a truly wonderful person, and bubbling with the rowdy/peaceful Spirit of God.
Blessings on your new step in ministry Sal.
…….
btw. I couldn’t go past Daylesford without visiting the springs:
