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cnic not for you hemming yourself in from fear thomas the daring pragmatic brave even when risk especially when risk is looming you square your shoulders and walk with him to jerusalem to die do you wince at the thought remembering a hill a cross of wood and nails an unexpected yet expected ending not for you closing yourself away thomas the anything but doubting prophetic wise even when faced especially when faced with the unthinkable unlike the others you worship for you see him as he is divine do you laugh at the thought remembering the upper room his side his hands an unexpected yet predicted beginning c nik mac 2022 posted by nik at 15 38 no comments labels amwriting bible gospels church year lent holyweek easter general reflections lectionary leanings worship sunday 17 april 2022 easter sunday mary from john 20 1 18 mary entirely possessed bedevilled your steps much lighter since he met you where you were you turned your face toward the son and flourished possessed now by grief a withering your steps are heavy as you go to where he is he turned his face toward jerusalem and perished self possessed blossoming he blooms with life in all its fullness as he meets you where you are you turn again toward the son astonished c nik mac 2022 posted by nik at 10 00 no comments labels amwriting bible gospels church year lent holyweek easter jesus spillbeans worship thursday 14 april 2022 holy week reflections thursday the usual unusual story it is the usual story accompanied by the usual food it is the usual rabbi accompanied by the usual group of disciples it is the usual conversation accompanied by the usual jests and theological point scoring that is it is the usual until the unusual happens mid meal the usual rabbi suddenly rises from the table and starts disrobing this unusual action has got their full attention dressed in just his tunic a towel around his waist the usual rabbi looks unusually fragile chatter stopped they listen as the water falls into the bowl watch in silence as he kneels before them as servant the usual meal has become unusually awkward as the natural order of things is overturned and feet are washed by the master it is the usual way of things that peter misunderstands and then jumps in with both feet first the unusual usual rabbi teaches as he washes showing them the way of loving service all is upturned it is the unusual that is to become the usual bread becomes body wine becomes blood power is stripped of ego it is an unusual story accompanied by unusual food it is an unusual rabbi accompanied by an unusual group named friends gathered through the ages it is an unusual conversation accompanied by unusual love shown in word and action that is it is the unusual until it becomes the usual for usually love is a work in progress i give you a new commandment that you love one another just as i have loved you you also should love one another by this everyone will know that you are my disciples if you have love for one anothe r c nik mac 2022 posted by nik at 10 00 no comments labels amwriting bible gospels church year lent holyweek easter jesus spillbeans worship tuesday 12 april 2022 holy week reflections tuesday we would see jesus we would see jesus based on john 12 20 36 the cheers of sunday faded now replaced by whispered plotting shadows stretch and linger darkness strives to overtake the light time moves towards the hour inexorable unrelenting though even now there those who would see jesus no more space for telling stories urgency brings forth stark unvarnished truths to see him will be to witness pain and death and grief a raising up and cutting down in this defeat he talks of glory the grain of wheat upon the ground bears fruit in sacrifice and service love is shown in flesh and blood and bone c nik mac 2022 posted by nik at 08 00 no comments labels amwriting bible gospels church year lent holyweek easter spillbeans worship monday 11 april 2022 holy week reflections monday martha and mary revisited martha and mary revisited martha forever the practical one remembers the smell of death remembers her brother s grave the lord s call to take away the stone separating the lifeless from the living she remembers the sounds rock rolling away the voice crying lazarus come out the stumbled shuffling of cloth bound feet moving from darkness into light mary forever the spiritual one feels again the hot tears on her cheeks her brother s warmth as she holds him not quite daring to let go martha forever the practical one prepares the meal they will share prepares a celebration of life for lazarus brought back from tomb to home with rejoicing and thanksgiving she prepares the places serves the meal to hungry guests the lord among them smell of food replaced by scent of nard its fragrance fills the room mary forever the spiritual one now as priest anoints then wipes his feet with hair unbound as judas scolds her not quite daring to believe c nik mac 2022 posted by nik at 08 00 no comments labels amwriting bible gospels church year lent holyweek easter spillbeans worship saturday 22 january 2022 lectionary leanings epiphany 3c good news good news so he s back mary s golden child carpenter s son at least he may be the birth details were shall we say a little sketchy the local boy done well he s made a name for himself and so when he stands to read then sits to teach we listen after all we re not close minded folk words of comfort spill forth from the book of the prophet isaiah a good passage with its promises of a happy heavenly hereafter where even the ones clearly cursed by god find welcome relief and restoration the year of the lord s favour is a nice touch time for jubilee and resetting the clock settling old scores peaceably redistributing resources yep for those who didn t lift a finger those who sat about and didn t work it s all going to be good news in the great by and by of course of course we all want justice but this side of heaven we do what we need to get by make our mark give our children a good head start a wee step up the ladder after all god helps those who help themselves and i ve made very sure to help myself today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing what now i don t think so son some of us have way too much to lose how is this good news watch yourself that sort of talk will get you killed c nik mac 2022 posted by nik at 10 00 no comments labels amwriting bible gospels bible isaiah church year advent christmas epiphany lectionary leanings spillbeans worship saturday 15 january 2022 lectionary leanings epiphany 2c you were ever about joy you were ever about joy the first miracle was turning water into wine you were ever hospitable social embarrassment ironically saved by transforming water for washing shame away into heaven s finest vintage no holding back no half measures jars full to overflowing meant for celebration the first miracle was a celebration of abundance you were ever about joy in a feast lately flowing with wine the glory of the kingdom danced in singing merrily of life in all its fulness c nik mac 2022 posted by nik at 09 00 no comments labels bible gospels church year advent christmas epiphany lectionary leanings spillbeans worship thursday 4 november 2021 i would praise you i would praise you but in times like these praise is hard i would praise you but all around politicians lie cronyism is rife and those in power care little for the least of these i would praise you but worldwide oil spills kill ice caps melt temperatures rise and apathy and greed are killing our planet i would praise you but everywhere covid creates fear the poor are still poor and refugees flee their homes looking for safe harbours to take them in i would praise you for in times so hard praise is all i have i would praise you for all around leaders fail and fall and only you are faithful and reign forever i would praise you for worldwide even marred creation bears your imprint and your sheer will holds and heals it still i would praise you for everywhere you watch over widows strangers orphans and feed the hungry and lift the ones bowed down i would praise you because in times so hard times like these praise is both call to faith and call to action i would praise you because all around mortal plans crumble into dust and your promise lasts for all generations i would praise you because worldwide you sustain all that is and lives and moves and has its being i would praise you because everywhere you champion the oppressed and bring the light of hope into the darkest places i would praise you even when at times the offering of praise is made through gritted teeth i would praise you nik macdonald 2021 posted by nik at 16 59 no comments labels amwriting creation creative arts art books music poetry peace justice and politics praise confession thanks theological philsophical misc worship tuesday 7 september 2021 worship words for 12 sept p16 ugh life has been a little too busy must get my act together a wee bit more on this poor neglected blog in the meantime some worship words for this sunday focusing upon the reading from james 3 1 13 and the power of words sticks and stones the wee ditty rings out sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me bravado that rings hollow words matter words batter and bruise the heart the soul words shatter words scatter glassy shards of self image diminish those created in god s likeness til all that once was whole lies broken be mindful of the certain poisoned sweetness of the tongue c nik mac 2021 blessing may the word of life breathe love into all you say speak well and speak wisely console and speak kindly speak truth to power leave space for others to speak in all you say bless and encourage comfort and inspire may your words be loving life giving honouring the god in whose image all are made the one who spoke creation into being and who speaks words of blessing to us this day and every day c nik mac 2021 posted by nik at 21 35 no comments labels amwriting bible nt non gosp church year other lectionary leanings spillbeans worship saturday 29 may 2021 trinity sunday a short reflection beyond we try and fail to describe you god beyond words and imagination we try and fail to contain you god beyond space and time wholly other and holy other immense god who cannot be hemmed in majestic mysterious supremely glorious god to be worshipped and adored finite creatures in your presence we fall down fall apart fall infinite creator you catch us cleanse us call as seraphs listen in timeless eternity yes we utter all hushed awe c nik mac 2021 posted by nik at 13 59 no comments labels amwriting bible isaiah lectionary leanings spillbeans worship tuesday 27 april 2021 lectionary leanings for easter 5b a wee reflection i wrote for a project that i m a part of this picking up the vine and branches theme for sunday s rcl reading of john 15 1 8 i am you said the true vine and i am connected a branch at times firm and strong flourishing and fruiting with kindness and care peaceful patient rooted in love watered with grace tended with tenderness but lord at times i m barely clinging on faltering and flailing wondering if you re there rattled and restless wretched alone withered joy gone heavy with helplessness in the green times and the dry still you remain and so connected help me abide c nik mac 11 2020 posted by nik at 14 16 no comments labels amwriting bible gospels jesus lectionary leanings spillbeans worship older posts home subscribe to posts atom g day come on in sit on down make yourself all comfy like let s put the kettle on and blether about me nik scotland united kingdom i am a fan of ginger beer walking on the beach thinly spread vegemite on hot buttered toast warm hearths on wintry days and warm hearts most every day rather fond of protestant reformers with long flowing beards spontaneous musical gatherings conversations silly and serious over good cups of coffee quite partial to early modern scottish church history sunsets that leave me breathless orkney the inner hebrides and the beauty of east lothian chocolate i think that the bible s a cracking read that jesus is pretty amazing and that life is a rather surprising and amazing thing i tend to wander and wonder and try to be thankful as i ponder and process this pilgrim way i know the healing power of laughter that my redeemer lives what joy that blessed assurance gives that the arc of the moral universe is long but it bends toward justice the peculiar aching joyful beauty that is fantasia on a theme by thomas tallis and how it moves my soul i give thanks not always for i can be forgetful or overly busy yet nevertheless god is good and i am blessed indeed view my complete profile marriage is love search this blog my blog list abbey of the arts living with an open heart prayer cycle podcast a love note from your online abbess 6 hours ago a church for starving artists the world is a hot mess take courage 2 days ago faith 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