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In the Garden - References
Yesterday's passage wasn't entirely unrooted. Here are the main Bible references I had in mind:
In the Garden
Last night's St Clement's PCC meeting took place in the beautiful setting of Stanton House, near Oxford. Partway through we had a break to wander in the gardens and reflect; here is what came to me:
Does God laugh at me when I try to cultivate and care for my garden? I think not but he might if I thought I could out-do his rain with my watering can. In an afternoon he can bring life and refreshment to an area that I could only water each part of once in a lifetime — and that only with water already fallen from his sky.
I am sure he smiled at least — though kindly — when I made the mistake of trying to set on his recently watered grass. And then, grass! That misnomer for the verdant sward, myriad upon myriad of flora and fauna, richer in itself than any planting scheme I could devise.
Or what of my excitement over a single tree I planted when I stand among his giants? Some of them started before I was born and many will still stand long after my corruptible frame has been left behind.
And yet, as I glance and enjoy the sight of a rabbit darting along the edge of the nearby stream, I remember that, because God loves me and has caused me to be planted by a river of living water, I carry within me the promise of fruit in season, prospering under his careful, love-stained pruning.
That is cause enough to live humbly and carefully among the grandeur of creation.
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Pirates!
That is how Henning Mankell, author of the Wallander series and member of the recently hijacked flotilla, describes the Israeli soldiers who used brutal force stopping a protest attempt. His account is available in the Guardian.
I can understand how precarious Israel feels, hemmed in by hostile nations. However, I wish they could learn a little bit more of grace and mercy in their actions.
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Elected
Jane and I attended our first Annual Parochial Church Meeting at St Clement's yesterday and I came out having been elected for a three year term on the PCC (Parochial Church Council).
It will be interesting to get some more insight into how a relatively large Anglican church runs and I hope that my experience of leadership roles when I was at Hither Green Baptist Church will stand me in good stead to make a positive contribution to the process.
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Easter
Only a couple of days from Good Friday and already it is Easter! Jane and I are just back from a wonderful service at St Clements and now getting ready to head across town to join friends for a meal, grateful that we are in a position to mix celebration and relaxation.
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Good Friday
Good Friday. I've been to three church events over the last two days, including a combined "Walk of Witness" down Cowley Road. They have all been relatively slow, quiet reflective affairs, as befits the season. Sometimes it is wonderful to be in a church pew where you can't get up and distract yourself with the computer or a musical instrument or a book; it is a time to rest and reflect and also to remember to make more time to rest and reflect at other times and places too.
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Blessedly Easy
Having been looking forward to contributing some bass playing to tonight's special Taizé service at St Clement's, I was a bit torn when asked if I could cover the sound desk because of some last minute things that had come. It was all quite understandable but I was feeling rather nervous because, despite having done sound desk work in the past and having had a tour of the St Clement's one a few weeks ago, I am out of practise at that kind of thing.
I am glad I did chose to step up to the plate though. It turned out to be a blessedly easy evening to be in charge of the desk, with just a couple of things going through the system. I was even able to leave it during the portion of the service with music and lay down some rich low notes. All in all, a very satisfying evening.
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