November 4thFive Minutes on Friday #48
HOLY SPIRIT
‘Have we ever kept quiet, even though we wanted to defend ourselves when we had been unfairly treated? Have we ever forgiven someone even though we got no thanks? Have we ever been absolutely lonely? Have we ever tried to love God when we are no longer being borne on the crest of the wave of enthusiastic feeling? Let us search in our life. If we find such experiences, then we have experienced the Spirit.’ [Karl Rahner]
https://youtu.be/T1tpv7WxYVk - Welcome Holy Spirit
CELTIC PRAYER
Go peaceful
in gentleness
through the violence of these days.
Give freely.
Show tenderness
in all your ways.
Through darkness,
in troubled times
let holiness be your aim.
Seek wisdom.
Let faithfulness
burn like a flame.
God speed you!
God lead you,
and keep you wrapped around His heart!
May you be known by love.
Be righteous.
Speak truthfully
in a world of greed and lies.
Show kindness.
See everyone
through heaven’s eyes.
God hold you,
enfold you,
and keep you wrapped around His heart.
May you be known by love.
[Paul Field, Northumbria]
MENDING THE WORLD
Have you ever wondered what it would feel like to witness the reproductive dance of a giant sea star, watch ibexes spar (from a safe distance), gaze upon sun-dappled mushrooms in a fairy tale forest, or meet the gaze of a polar bear through the window of an abandoned house? Now you can, thanks to the 2022 winners of the Wildlife Photographer of the Year awards.
SUNDAY – Haggai 1.5-2.9
To think of the past as a better and maybe more glorious time than the present seems to be a common human tendency. For Jews returning from exile, the reactions were mixed. The younger set was enthused about building a new Temple; to the older set with memories of Solomon’s Temple, the return was a disappointment.
Many congregations also have a ‘Camelot’ memory. How do we honour our past while looking to God’s future for us?
For reflection:
1 What good memories of MRMC would you like to claim?
2 What does our life together look like right now?
3 How will we build community going forward?
4 What is the significance of 2.6-9 as we reflect on our community life?