From darkness to light

For the past 6 weeks a group have been meeting as part of the Exploring our Faith course. This term the group were looking at the history of liturgy in the church and at the end of the term they had to design an act of worship. Being off work for 6 weeks has meant that I did the first session and then left poor +Alan to do all the rest but clearly he did an excellent job for last night the group offered a wonderful Advent service.

We started in darkness in the narthex and heard a voice in the distance (at the Advent wreath) bringing light into the darkness. The light was brought to us and we sang as we processed to the lectern for the first reading.  Then we moved to the 2nd lectern for more reading and another hymn. We listened to scripture and to why we need to reflect in these weeks before Christmass. Then we found a picture of jesus that spoke to us before moving to the star to reflect upon it. The seats were in a star shape around lots of candles which we all lit and gradually the light grew. it really was beautiful.

 

WE reflected on why we had picked ‘that’ Jesus and then sang a Taize chant for Advent.

The service continued with the right balance of quiet and words and music. (Love that Wachet Auf – and yes it does sound like a German curse!)

And mulled wine and cake after!

It really was a wonderful evening and such a joy for me to sit and ‘be’.  Loved the star seats, which we’ll keep for morning prayer this week, and the ever-increasing light.

So thank you little flock-group for offering yourselves and your worship to us.

PS. This is what I’ve been working on for the last week. In Hobbycraft you can buy cardboard letters which you can paint. Don’t they look good?

Oh happy day!

Oh I can’t tell you how good it was to be back at work today. I feel as if I’ve been away for 6 months, not 6 weeks, and it was lovely to catch up with folk. It seemed appropriate to be going back at the beginning of term, as it were. (Mind you I did forget to take my correct uniform with me in all the excitement so I’m afraid the lacy alb was worn when it should have been plain. But I think I got away with it so sshhh!)

The candle was lit.

The child knew what to do.

O Come, O Come and Lo, he comes.

No 3 microphone wailed.

A little Bach Chorale to soothe the soul.

From the step a toddler solemnly watched.

Our Father who art in heaven, Harold is thy name…

Deep, deep purple satisfied.

The Body of Christ – and one was missed.

Dawn and evening celebrate your glory…

Music and muttering

Oh its good to be home.

And in all the excitement what I didn’t do was thank Bishop Alan and Fr Alex for looking after my little flock so well. It made such a difference to know they were in safe hands. Thank you boys. Put your feet up now, why don’t you? Mother’s back in charge!!

And tonight the group who were doing the Adventures in Faith course have put together a service of Darkness into Light at 6.30pm.  It is strange for me to go to something I’ve not had a hand in but I’m looking forward to it. (I don’t mind not being in control, really!)

love blooms bright

Advent approaches and you may be looking for something to read or ponder during these dark days.  Why not put love blooms bright into your Favourites or Reader and I’m sure you will find something to mull over?

What have I been reading?

Why, thanks for asking.

I probably have the biggest Amazon wish list in the world. I am always reading book reviews or hearing people wax lyrically about a certain book and before I forget its name, I pop it on my wish list. From time to time people give them to me as gifts, and sometimes they turn up in charity shops. The two books I’ve read this week have fitted those categories.

The first was The Tenor Wore Tapshoes by Mark Schweizer. I think it was RevGalPals who recommended one of the books in this series but as they are rather expensive over here a lovely friend got me one when in the USA.  It is classed as a Liturgical Mystery which was a new one for me, being a huge fan of the Ecclesiastical Whodunnit.  The blurb says:

Hayden Konig leads a charmed life. He’s rich, he loves his full time job as police chief in the little mountain town of St Germaine, North Carolina, and he still enjoys his part-time employments as the organist and choirmaster at St Barnabas Episcopal Church. He’s also working on his third detective story and is convinced that purchasing Raymond Chandler’s typewriter and using it to compose his opus will impart some magic to his demented prose. He couldn’t be more mistaken.

It was a light read and quite amusing. A body is found in the altar and the Immaculate Confection (a cinnamon bun that looks like the Virgin Mary) is stolen. Hayden and his friend are coerced into attending the Iron Mike Men’s Retreat and the revival evangelist is helped by Binny Hen the Scripture Chicken. If you’re ever in the States, do pick me up another in the series.

The second book I read in one sitting yesterday and loved it. This one was found in a local charity shop and I picked it up thinking it might have some resources for Advent. In fact, it was a story not a resource book, although I suspect I will go back to it again and again.

The Advent Calendar by Steven Croft tells the story of Alice’s adventures in an Advent Calendar which is short on chocolate but big on surprises. There are codes and secrets all inviting us to explore the deeper meanings of Christmas.  Children would enjoy it too.  The imagery of the calendar is still going round my head and I’m almost tempted to read it each day in Advent at Morning Prayer. It certainly will be our next Book Group book.

Steven Croft is/was Archbishop’s Missioner. This book was published in 2006.

It’s yer ain tongue

Thanks to our Bishop’s Notices I have found the link to the Scots Language Centre where you can hear the Advent readings, and Christmas too, in yer ain tongue. Not sure I would have understood it all had I not know the story.

Advent plans

What are you planning to do this Advent?  Shop and spend and fret and get anxious?  I am spending mornings with the help of Fr Kelvin’s Morning Prayer.  (Just a pity our Liturgy Committee haven’t done something similar by now!)

And evenings are spent with Love Blooms Bright, our own Piskie Advent meditations hosted by Mother Kimberly.

What a wealth of talent we have in our wee church.

Advent conspiracy

Check this out. It is the gist of my parish letter this month.

Alternative Advent

Well, Advent began with a frosty start and much de-icing. The church (and me!) looked beautiful bedecked in purple. The Advent wreath (purple, pink and white I’m afraid Kelvin) was resplendent with garden greenery. The knitted nativity set have started their journey to Bethlehem via the many window sills.

This Advent we are doing something slightly (very?) different by using some material from USPG called Born Among Us.  Each week we are exploring Advent and Christmas around the world with the help of pictures (already on acetates for you), hymns, crafts to make for children, and stories.

Yesterday we looked at Europe and our theme was God in the Everyday. Nativity scenes often included characters from the local village or town in amongst the shepherds and kings. Our favourite part was learning about the ‘caganer’ often found in Catalonian nativities. This figure is often spotted in the middle of the scene crouching down ‘doing a poo’.  I think it is all about the humanness of Jesus – he is one of us. God in the everyday. Often ‘caganers’ are made to look like famous people so you can think who you would like to make yours look like. Suggestions please!

We struggled a bit with the Polish song which might have been easier if it was still in Polish. Hope to provide music next time folks. But apart from that it all seemed to work well and there was even good feedback which is rare in these parts!  Next week we will be looking at Africa (with Bishop Alan).

After church we sold some more leftovers from the Advent Fair so the total is rising. Thanks folks.

Car still frozen when I came out of church and had to scrape again. This is not funny.

Home to prepare for our weekly Advent evening meditations. (Had to de-ice car again on the way out.) Good turn out (18) for the meditations but I probably didn’t leave enough silence. Sorry folks. Will try harder next week.

Advent begins…

… at St Mark’s with the Advent Fair (Fayre?).  We had over 100 visitors through our doors and raised £1400+ for church funds.  Not bad considering how many other craft etc fairs there were in Portie. (At this time of year it can’t be avoided.)

There were Crafts and homemade cards, Nearly new, Tombola, Treasure Map, Books and Toys, Baking and Preserves, the Raffle for the most beautiful Christmas cake and knitted creature, and Antiques and Treasures. New layout in church which worked well and meant that those serving coffee didn’t risk scalding anyone which is always a good thing.

Of course the best thing about it all is working together and getting to know one another better. The 8.30am folk mixed happily with the 10.30am folk and made new friends. All good.

The really hard work is done in the days before and the hours after when our church is pulled apart and put back together again. Thank you to all who helped move furniture and moved tables. You know who you are. Thanks to all who contributed goodies. And thanks to A for organising it all.

Love Blooms Bright

The Piskie Advent blog starts again soon. Check it out daily for inspiration and prayer.