"While My Guitar Gently Weeps" Rock n Roll Hall of Fame

You'll see this everywhere today on the news of the death of 'Prince' the superlative musician who's stuff I didn't particularly get into but who's creativity was undeniable. The 'Symbol' era became a parody of himself but the point was not letting leeches and money grabbers get their hands on your music.

The best stories are those of regular post gig jams at local hangouts where music continued all night amongst the locals!! This clip shows a band doing a great job of a faithful rendition and out steps the master. Favourite story is a the rock journo asking Eric Clapton what not was like to be the world's best rock guitarist to which he replied "I don't know, why don't you ask Prince?"

Sunday 17th April 'Shepherd and Sheep'

   I said on Sunday that I'd probably get myself into trouble somehow that despite the theme for the day I reckoned there are way better metaphors for us and God, Jesus and us and well, models of leadership, power and mission. At the same time, Paul Ricoeur as usual offers the framework for understanding how the idea made sense in it's listening audience context and then gave us a starting point for ours. I also took the invitation of the commentator who suggested "if you ever preach on Psalm 23, do it today." The reason being it's too easy to leave the Psalm to Funerals as the "go to" for so many people. The invitation revolves around the NRSV words "my whole life long" and I think I heard the collective gulp when I invited us all not to leave our deliberations, faith or response to our Funeral but to understand God's hopes and love for us "our whole lives long".... something like that anyhow...

It was hard for some to hear and had a sense of heaviness in parts...

We sang, we used percussion for "God Has Spoken to His People, hallelujah!"

It's everyone's go but I keep reminding people we are all different and I contend it helps you focus on the words as you try to get the tune and keep banging away in time...

We watched a combined effort video to use an already creative combo and overcome a corrupted file

Thanks David McGregor and Chris MacNaught and 'The Work of the People'

We sang this song too...

Regulars know how little I relate to in singing... 

love hearing others sing meaningful contemporary stuff mind you 

and to this end, what fine words...

"Holy Spirit, go before us" TIS 420

1. Holy Spirit, go before us,

every mind and heart prepare

for good news of life in Jesus,

for the joyful hope we share.

gently lead the lost to safety,

gently teach them Wisdom's way,

till they come to seek you gladly,

till we find the words to say.

2. Holy Spirit, come and help us,

give us words to speak of Christ.

teach us how to tell all people:

deepest darkness can be light!

help us tell how faithful God is,

and how Jesus sets us free;

take our words, and make them gospel,

so that many may believe.

3. Holy Spirit, stay to show us

how to serve as Christ served us.

May our words of love be grounded

in love's actions, first and last.

Your good news is news of justice,

and the strong befriend the weak

in your service, till compassion

builds the peace the nations seek

Elizabeth J. Smith 1956 –

Kids in for the holidays were good value and I hope found something in the freedom and permission of the space, to make it OK to come along again!!

I had a great clip about 'power' that didn't end up being the focus...

Double header "I Am Mine" Pearl Jam

"Sirens" Pearl Jam

"Don't You Give Up On Me" Lissie

"Kimberley Calling" Dan Sultan

Easter Monday Playlist done "Song for Someone" U2

Easter Sunday Playlist #02 "How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful" Florence + the Machine

Celebration, reflection, big sound...

Easter Sunday [in case you missed it]

Welcome + Acknowledgement

Introit TiS 381 “This Joyful Eastertide” v1 and chorus

Call to Worship

He is Risen!

He is Risen Indeed!

What a joy it is to celebrate the love of God

We are called to be Easter people

Darkness cannot claim us

Fear cannot bind us

Christ is risen

Christ is risen, indeed 

Amen

Jesus is alive again.... 

And we join with all those down the centuries who place their hope in this story of life

Today across the world thousands of people recommit themselves to putting faith into action

To live out God’s grace, compassion and love

Refusing to believe that what can be seen is all there is

Like the sun hitting you in the face, we are warmed into wondering what it all means

Song #01 TiS 370 “Christ the Lord is Risen Today”

Opening Prayer

Storybook “Hunwick’s Egg” by Mem Fox onscreen and shared at the front

[also crayons etc in the space and cardboard 'bricks' to draw/write on]

Song #02 TiS 380 “Yours Be the Glory

Bible Reading/s Isaiah 65: 17-25 Luke 24: 1-12

Video “Rev.” 3min 14

Reflection

Song #03 TiS 390 “Alleluia Give Thanks to the Risen Lord” v1,2,3,5

Announcements/Concerns [only essentials]

Offering

Prayers for the World

‘The Mystery Gift’ explored 'cardboard box at Christmas now opened by the kids]

Song #04 TiS 242 “Lord of the Dance” v1,2,3,5

Sending OUT

Recessional TiS 779  “May the Feet of God Walk with You”

THESE WERE THE NOTES I STARTED WITH BUT DID EXPAND [BRIEFLY]

Easter Sunday Reflection 

[1] Jesus is alive again?  You must be crazy, you’re talking nonsense!!

At least that’s what Jesus disciples thought when Mary, Joanna, Mary

and the other women returned

At v11, “the words seemed to them an idle tale” [literally meaning delirious]

[2] And let’s face it,

If it’s not hard to believe, maybe we’re not really trying…

And as Christian communities I think we sometimes miss a huge opportunity

to say to each other… You know what, if it’s a bit hard to believe,

come on in, you’re amongst friends

Let’s be part of a movement, gathered, trying to work out what it means…

Working to play our part in God’s mission in the world…

[3] 24But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb,

taking the spices that they had prepared…

Nobody expected it to be otherwise BUT

2They found the stone rolled away from the tomb,

3but when they went in, they did not find the body.

THEY DID NOT FIND THE BODY

[4] We can speak in metaphors,

we can define how we speak about God differently,

OR we can claim a ‘simple faith’…

BUT the only way I know how to respond to the RESURRECTION,

To God beating death and showing again the strength of unfathomable love IS...

What happens to people and communities when they live it as a reality

And as defining and shaping and sustaining…

 [EXAMPLES GIVEN...]

KIND OF LIKE “HUNWICK’S EGG… HE WORKS OUT IT’S NOT AN EGG,

IT WON’T HATCH, BUT IT’S BECOME THAT CONNECTION IN HIS LIFE

WITH SOMETHING BIGGER BEYOND HIMSELF AND IT BRINGS COMFORT,

LIFE AND PURPOSE… it's not in the expected form but it's real...

[5] When God’s spirit turns up,

whole communities are transformed by HOPE,

[explain] ETERNITY [National Museum]

“To hope is to dream. Of what might or will be. Of the possible and the mere possible — hope against hope. To hope is to strive for the best.

To build on glimmers of new beginnings. To hope is to never give up.

To remain expectant, against hopes dashed, disappointments, falsities.

To hope is to believe there is a way.”

4While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men in dazzling clothes

stood beside them.

These women are grieving, numb, they would be in the ‘in between space’ regardless

In the middle of that struggle come the words of hope…

[expand]

Remember what he said,

“Why are you looking for the living mong the dead?”

He is not here, but has risen. 6Remember how he told you

8Then they remembered his words, 9and returning from the tomb, 

they told all this to the eleven and to all the rest.

[6] Rev Adam Smallbone BBC TV Series 3

St Saviours in the Marshes...A struggling suburban East London congregation

All episode Adam is reminded he volunteered to lend the timber cross

He finally carries it through town and up to the small hill

He is struggling with his mission, questioning, he’s made some mistakes

AND he is wondering what to do, he’s given up…

HE IS MET IN HIS SINGING BY THE MYSTERIOUS CHARACTER

IN A terrible lime tracksuit [beautifully cast as Liam Neeson]

[7] GOD meets Adam in his worst moments/ reminding him it’s in ALL moments

For me this scene is a telling one about faith in a resurrected JESUS

That GOD meets us in all moments of our life

In this scene Adam is reminded “It’s OK” “I’m with you”

OUR TRUTH TO SHARE IS HOW GOD MEETS US,

When we tell our story, when we live it together,

Others might rush back to the tomb, see the folded linen clothes

And go home amazed at what had happened…

and yes, I forgot the Lord's Prayer... on Easter Sunday [says all you need to know about my drive to make room for context and inspiration] BUT we include it 'most weeks' just not all...

Luke 24:1-12

24But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb, taking the spices that they had prepared. 2They found the stone rolled away from the tomb,

3but when they went in, they did not find the body. 4While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men in dazzling clothes stood beside them.

5The women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen.

6Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, 7that the Son of Man must be handed over to sinners, and be crucified, and on the third day rise again.”

8Then they remembered his words, 9and returning from the tomb, they told all this to the eleven and to all the rest. 10Now it was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them who told this to the apostles.

11But these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them.

12But Peter got up and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; then he went home, amazed at what had happened.

Easter Sunday Song #01 "Miracles" Chris Martin from the credits of the film "Unbroken"

Couldn't yet show the acoustic version at the Film party but this is the song...

TV/Movies I’ve Caught Up with or Watched Recently

TV/Movies I’ve Caught Up with or Watched Recently

Way too many of these have been while working on my Mac at the same time but it’s been a rich catch up of an evening when no TV of note has been on or in an afternoon of admin tasks or just for fun!!

James Bond Spectre

Concussion

Joy

The Hateful Eight

The Revenant

Sicario

Steve Jobs

The Dressmaker

Brooklyn

Deadpool

Spotlight

Whiplash

Better Call Saul

House of Cards

11.22.63

I hope to catch Batman/Superman, Hail Caesar and a few others soon...