On Sunday 7th December 2003 our Evensong slot was taken over by our Rock Group A mass of candles set the atmosphere. The Service was a delight and very enriching spiritually. We had poems, readings and hymns. The music was supplied by the group of musicians we have over the years admired and enjoyed. It is amazing that in such a comparatively small group there is such diversity of instruments. We had both the piano and the organ, violins, guitar, recorders, a flute and drums. (apologies if there were any others I couldn't see from where I was sitting).
Part of the Service was given to meditation. There were four prepared stations and the congregation was invited to move about to each. In the Lady Chapel we had Light - some writing by Nelson Mandela and we were invited to light a candle as a sign that we can make manifest the glory of glory of God that is in us.
In the Vestry were two young members of the Group reading portions of scripture which spoke of the Holy Spirit in various ways. We were invited to sit and listen for a while.
In the Baptistry were, set about the Font, bowls of water and we were invited to look at the water, move the bowls to watch the effect on the water. We spend so much time moving about frantically sometimes to very little purpose. We need time to reflect quietly to hear the whisper of the still, small voice.
Finally we had Colouring in the Sanctuary. There were mirrors in which to see ourselves and there were small sheets of various coloured transparent plastic which changed our appearance when we held them up against our faces. This changed how we saw ourselves in the mirror and how others saw us. There are various ways that we can try to hide from ourselves, others and God. Sometimes we try to alter our appearance so we are not recognised for what we are.
All these stations gave us an opportunity for meditation and prayer.
Thank you, Rock group - for all the hard work and thought which went into the Service. And our grateful thanks also go the Group leaders, Tim Mullins, Elizabeth Lea and Martin Faull who so ably organised and led the Group.
The youth of the church are the future of the church and it is encouraging and heart-warming to know we are in such good hands.
Below are two of the ‘readings’ from the Rock Group Service, to give you some feeling for the service. The theme for the service was different forms of worship.
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Different versions of the same prayer can talk to you in different ways. This is the Lord’s Prayer from the Bible in Cockney: Hello, Dad, up there in good ol’ heaven, Your name is well great and holy, and we respect you, Guv. We hope we can all ‘ave a butcher’s at heaven and be there as soon as possible; and we want to make you happy, Guv, and do what you want ‘ere on earth, just like what you do in heaven. Guv, please give us some Uncle Fred, and enough grub and stuff to keep us going today, and we hope you’ll forgive us when we cock things up, just like we’re supposed to forgive all them who annoy us and do dodgy stuff to us. There’s a lot of dodgy people around, Guv; please don’t let us get tempted to do bad things. Help keep us away from all nasty, evil stuff, and keep that dodgy Satan away from us, ‘cos you’re much stronger than ‘im. You’re the Boss, God, and will be for ever, innit? Cheers, Amen. |
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Beati mites quoniam ipsi possidebunt terram In the 16th Century William Tyndale was executed for translating the Bible into English. He wanted to make the word of God accessible to all the people. The priests believed that only they were in a position to bring the word of the Lord to the people. With the Bible in English the people would try and interpret the word of God, rather than listening to the priests. Today we wonder at what the priest said and how they could have believed it. But stop a moment are we like the priests? Do we have certain beliefs that get in our way? Do we subscribe to any dogma? Have we ever said that one version of the Bible should be used because it’s better than others? Do we try and make others worship in our way? The Holy Spirit talks to people in different ways, who are we to try and limit this? By the way the Latin words come for Matthew’s gospel, they are translated in The Message as "You're blessed when you are content with just who you are – no more, no less. That's the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can't be bought." |
Tim Mullins