St Paul Session

Had a great time talking to the Christian Union at Bucks New Uni on Monday evening as part of my role as one of the chaplaincy team there.

First of all I'd packed up a tent with various parts of the tent labelled with different stages in Paul's life. (see below*)

Then we talked about St Paul's journeys and how he travelled around so much sharing his faith.

As part of this I got them to list the things they could do individually and as a CU to share their faith with those around them and with the university. We then turned these lists into origami boats as a symbol of our hope to let their ideas "set sail"

We went on to talk about the Pauline letters (which are/aren't may/may not be written by Paul!) concluding that, no matter the authorship, the letters contained a lot that was worthy of study. Then I suggested they do a "secret santa" style letter exchange and write each other a letter using only quotations from the letters.

We then looked at the prayers that Paul uses to begin and end his letters particularly the grace as found in the conclusion to 2 Corinthians 13.

I put Philippians 2.5-16 before them as a model for them in their life in the university - shining as points of light in the dark as very few Christians in a fairly secular institution.

Then we concluded with my most favourite all time bit of probably one of my favourite books of the Bible (well certainly of the New Testament - gotta love bits of Job and Psalms!):

"Finally, beloved,
whatever is true,
whatever is honorable,
whatever is just,
whatever is pure,
whatever is pleasing,
whatever is commendable,
if there is any excellence and
if there is anything worthy of praise,
think about these things.
Keep on doing the things
that you have learned and
received and heard and seen in me,
and the God of peace will be with you."

Philippians 4.8-9

* Chronology of St Paul
1. Born at Tarsus in Cilicia (Acts 21:39)
2. Father was a Roman citizen (Acts 22:26-28; cf. 16:37),
3. Originally called SAUL played an active part in the martyrdom of St. Stephen (Acts 7:58-60) and the persecution of the church
4. Conversion experience on the road to Damascus (9:1-19; 22:3-21; 26:9-23)
5. Paul set about preaching to the Jews (Acts 9:19-20).
6. Withdrew to Arabia -- probably south of Damascus (Galatians 1:17 returned to Damascus but had to flee
7. He went to Jerusalem to see Peter (Galatians 1:18),
8. Paul’s activity is not recorded for 5-6 years. Barnabas goes to find him and they work together in Antioch and Jerusalem Acts 11:25-26).
9. First mission (Acts 13:1-14:27)
10. Second mission (Acts 15:36-18:22)
11. Third mission (Acts 18:23-21:26)
12. Captivity (Acts 21:27-28:31)
13. later years obscure before martyrdom at Rome in the reign of Nero.

Beanbag or trampoline?

"Thus says the Lord God, See, I am laying in Zion a foundation stone, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation"

Isaiah tells us of God’ plan to lay a foundation for his church and Paul continues this model

"So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. In him the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom you also are built together spiritually into a dwelling place for God."

Today we remember Simon and Jude two of Jesus first disciples. To continue that image of the church, two of the first building blocks of the church. These are two characters we all feel we should know but perhaps we don’t know as much about them as we should.
In fact it’s hard to know much about them as very little is known about either of them.
Simon we know as Simon the Zealot so we know his past was one which might have involved some very radical political activity in objecting to the Roman occupation, Josephus tells us that the most violent zealots were in action much later but, the title zealot definitely tells us that Simon believed in the rights of the Jewish people to be free within their own kingdom. The New Testament, however, tells us no more about Simon other than listing him among the disciples.
Jude, sometimes called the obscure, is actually LESS obscure than Simon. Jude, also known as Judas and Thaddeus is, not surprisingly, described in greater detail in an endeavour to distinguish him from the other Judas. Jude is known much more in some ways because of the confusion with Judas. He has the dubious honour of being the patron saint of lost causes because he is, unsurprisingly, the last name of any of the apostles that someone praying would call upon for intercession.

He is called Judas of James, meaning he was either the son of James or perhaps the brother of James (perhaps the James who was one of the other disciples). Certainly the new testament epistle of Jude is by Jude brother of James. So this Obscure saint may not be so obscure after all but the author of one of the books of the New Testament. Some have even suggested that as brothers Judas and James may well have been the Judas and James mentioned in Matthew’s Gospel in chapter 13 when the people of Nazareth question Jesus’ authority to preach

"Is not this the carpenter's son? Is not his mother called Mary? And are not his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas?" Mt 13:55 ff

So, unlike Simon, Jude is described outside of the lists of the disciples. In fact a question he asked Jesus at the last supper is recorded in John’s Gospel:

Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, "Lord, how is it that you will reveal yourself to us, and not to the world?" 23 Jesus answered him, "Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. 24 Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; and the word that you hear is not mine, but is from the Father who sent me. John 14:22 - 24

Why doesn’t Jesus reveal himself to everyone?
Jude’s question is a very good one. It goes to the heart of our calling as Christians. Why doesn’t God reveal himself to everyone? Why just us?

In the film Evan Almighty this summer, a journalist asked:

Reporter: What makes you think God chose you?
Evan Baxter: He chose all of us.

Evan replies calmly to this question and that calm assurance is what makes the response powerful and not arrogant.
So, just as Jesus called Simon and Jude, he does choose all of us. Not just here but everyone. Trouble is, not everyone hears it when he calls and that’s where we come in.
Our job – the job of the church
Jesus’ words to his disciples in the Gospel make it clear that life as a Christian is not always easy. We do not belong to the world. Does that mean we belong instead to the church and the church is our defence against the world – on that firm foundation do we build a fortress against the world?
God built his church with strong foundation. In the building that is the church are we a Brick in the wall or, as someone preached a few years ago, are we, like the saints, some stained glass that the light can shine through?
We have been trying in All Saints to build a Centre for Anglican Spirituality – opening our church up to people of all ages, people who have never experienced God in their lives and those who want to explore further. You may have noticed we’ve been making a few changes in the way the church is laid out. Pat’s place for the little ones with the toys always out, the plants ready for our quiet garden in the north chapel, the library for those who want something a little deeper and the corner that the young people have made their own. In setting up these spaces we’ve explored various names for some aspects. One such name was SANCTUARY. A great name – a Latin name so I rather liked it – a traditional name; the church has been a place of sanctuary for hundreds of years. In the rather more blood-thirsty periods of history men and women have been chased by their pursuers until they could get that hand grasped on to the sanctuary ring on the outside of the church and claim the church’s protection from the outside world.

What model of church do we want?

(A VOLUNTEER BRINGS ON A BEAN BAG)

It’s appealing to think of the church as a place of comfort where we can escape from all the pressures of life. A place to escape and be looked after. We can rest in God’s love and get away from all that opposition that Jesus said we would face in the world because we don’t belong there. In the Renaissance English sense of “comfort.” In Renaissance English “comfort” is formed from two Latin words, con and fortis: “with strength.”

Yet the church must be much more than that. The church should be the foretaste of God’s kingdom that we’re building.

(A VOLUNTEER BRINGS ON A BEAN BAG)

We shouldn’t just be a place where people can escape from the world. The church should be a place that empowers people to going back into the world; a place where people are encourage to get into the world and engage with it. To equip them to build the kingdom.
Of course there are times when we all need some comfort - times of difficulty or distress but when we have been comforted through those times, the church should still be the place that empowers us to go out into the world.

What do you seek of your church?
A place of comfort or a place to be sent out?
What should the church be?

Eat drink man woman

"So how would we make our own processed cheese slices?"
- This is the phrase from Hestor Blumenthal that I think, for me summed up the difference of his approach to making a cheeseburger to Nigella Lawson's EXPRESS which I watched last night. Blumnethal used a whole half-hour program to explore how to make the PERFECT cheeseburger including weighing the burger after each bite to check you got a a bit of everything, experimenting with different shapes of bun, making his own processed cheese using the chemical that's used to cure cystitis (YES, he REALLY DID) and making his own ketchup out of tomato concentrate.
It's well-known that Hestor takes cooking a little more serious than most people or in his own words: "If you de-burger does it become too poncey and no longer a burger/" Maybe, yes Hestor!

Nigella, on the other hand, was making food the way I would usually. She didn't know how much of each ingredient she put in (but she made a rough estimate for people watching who NEEDED to get the right amount!). Now, I don't think Nigella got where she is by just winging it the whole time. I'm sure she started, as most of us did, by weighing and measuring but it is pretty cool to see someone cooking on television like a normal person.

It made me think about how we do church sometimes. Do those of us in ministry take it just a little bit too seriously? Yes we might need to give the odd aside to explain something but otherwise keeping it simple is more like the way we "do it at home". Of course, we DO need that underlying understanding. I think doing in worship without understanding why is far worse than going so deep into understanding it all that you end up overcomplicating it (but understanding the complications). Where is the balance?

Do we Blumenthalise our liturgy too often and lose the flavour?
Do we make it too EXPRESS an EXPRESSION?

p.s. One interesting bit of info from Hestor, though - the perfect mouthful is apparently something less than two fingers thick, which means... you can eat a whole waggon wheel but a whole doughnut might be too much!!

I've been thinking about the readings for this Sunday. The gospel is the story of the Pharisee and the tax collector. In the story we hear of two men going to their place of worship with very different motivations

The Pharisee goes to confirm his religious practices as part of his ritual and to show off how humble he is. It seems he does all the right things for the day.

If it were today he might say:

"God, thank you that I am not like other people; thieves, benefit frauds, paedophiles, or even like this traffic warden. I always give something up for Lent, I’ve got a direct debit set up for all the charities – with gift aid! - I recycle, I don’t leave my television on standby, I come to the 9.45 AND evensong as well as listening to Songs of Praise, I’ve read the WHOLE bible three times!"

Then there’s another person, hiding away in a corner, crying

“God, show me mercy, I’ve done wrong!”

The second is the one who goes home justified.

It’s not that giving to charity and caring for the environment or coming to church is wrong. Far from it; it’s the outworking of a living faith in God. It was the attitude that was wrong. The Christian life is doing the right thing for the right reason in the right way. Or as in the case of the second man, doing the wrong thing for the wrong reason in the wrong way but admitting that and, in the right way, confessing it to God in humility.

Quite often those outside the church think that all we're about is the church going and hymn/worship song singing* (*delete as applicable!) when, as much as that is how we express our praise, it is not the only way and it is not all that we are as Christians - or, at least, it should not be. How do we encourage our young people, our church members and ourselves to live out our faith so that we are known not for our singing but for our humility?

Going Deeper

Realised the blog hasn't had much thought let alone DEEP thought lately so I will be addressing that... but not today! Enjoy this BIZARRE exhibition of non-scary puppets.

Jesus loves the little children

FABULOUS morning hosting the best primary school in Britain at church today for their harvest festival. No hackneyed old bread shaped like sheaves of corn and tins of tomato soup from them but some amazing singing, dancing, artwork, drama, jokes and information about their REAL harvest of money for some Tearfund projects in Brazil. Fantastically we raised £140 just this morning but the school will no doubt make more.

It has to be said though that the littlies were ever so cute - including some from Ark our Sunday school so I may be just a little bit biased!

This made me ever so nostalgic and so, following Ian's lead I'm sharing some gems from a wonderful book called God Bless Love which Nanette Newman ( mother of Emma Forbes for those of you too young to remember her!) edited together in 1972 and which my brother and I used to read when we were about that age and at that school - awwww. As one of the grandads there today (whose wife was one of my Brownie leaders) said, "Sarah, it feels like just yesterday you were that little Brownie" Luckily enough although there apparently are MANY embarrassing pictures of me in the Brownie archive they're not on my pc.

Funny to think that, as these were written in 1972 so that makes some of these people a "little" bit older now!!

So words of wisdom out of the mouths of babes...

"I think you can fall in love if you have your picture taken in front of a church" Eric aged 5 (now aged 40!)

"My sister is always writing to Jesus an he sends her chocolate an once he sent her two lots of chocolates on the same day but she won't tell me where to write" Ian aged 6 (now aged 41)

"My granny always talks to Jesus on Sundays. the rest of the week she goes to Bingo which is where he lives sometimes" Charles aged 5 (now aged 40)

"God loves everyone who is good like me and my friend lucy but not peopul like gillian who takes other peoples rubbers" Katy aged 6 (now aged 41)

"If you eat sweets in church the vicar tells Jesus " Robert aged 5 (now aged 40)

"Everybody loves baby Jesus even my uncle and both my bruthers but I don't. i love the three wizmen best becus they broat presense" John aged 5 (now aged 40)

Pie in the Sky

Lewis in Oxford
Originally uploaded by Sarah Brush

Had a lovely day off yesterday. Michael and I wandered over to Oxford and caught a glimpse of Lewis being filmed (common enough for Oxford residents, I know but I like seeing all the technical stuff going on!). I bought myself a "large area" paintbrush so later I did a bit of painting (still only the groundwork of the Ruth piece so nothing interesting to post yet on that score).




After that a did a bit of wifely duty and my dear hubby a proper PIE (which does seem to prove Pies are squared! ;oP sorry - enough puns for now!

Pie 1
Originally uploaded by Sarah Brush

Pie 2
Originally uploaded by Sarah Brush

Today I saw a link on the Oxford diocese site to Bishop John visiting one of my FAVOURITE places in the world when I was a child - Cotswold Wildlife Park and I thought that being a bishop sounded like the best job in the world but no... there was a snake involved so thank you but no thank you. Have a look at the pictures... is it just me or is that a slightly sinister look with the snake? Sorry John but maybe it's me fear of snakes make everything in the pic seem frightening!

Set My People Free - Mary in the Garden

Mary in the Garden detail 2
Originally uploaded by Sarah Brush

I've just finished another one of the paintings inspired by the Set My People Free initiative at All Saints'. I've also nearly finished the Peter picture which I was hating for a while as I really mucked up part of it. Fortunately a friend, who's also starting to paint, recommended turning it upside down and seeing what happened. I didn't actually move it but I did turn it upside down in my head and then I saw how I could make it work still.

I've still got Ruth to do - especially as it's the session about her relatively soon! I'm just not so sure what to do for Ruth. I don't think Ruth at the feet of Boaz is quit emy style. I was pondering some kind of image of Ruth and Naomi comforting each other and entering Naomi's hometown... we'll see!

Set My People Free: Abraham

We had our first session of Set my People Free this week, looking at Abraham. If you're interested you can download it to listen to it here.

My painting inspired by the theme for this session is currently in church (picture up here soon).

Game on!

Michael and I have just finished giggling about Old Harry's Game on Radio 4. If you've not heard it (listen again here!), the programme is by Andy Hamilton and features him as Satan, Robert Duncan (from Drop the Dead Donkey) as his sidekick with "residents" such as a city slicker played by Jimmy Mulville (minor claim to fame - I've been in a lift with him - how random can you get?!) and this series introduces an historian played by Annette Crosbie who's decided to write a biography of Satan and is interviewing people about him.

Tonight featured some FABULOUS bits about unclean things according to Leviticus ("...osprey, hoopoos - has anyone ever TRIED to eat a hoopoo?") and Richard Dawkins ("when he gets here...").

The programme pushes the boundaries a bit with reference to suicide bombers and various aspects of religion but for me it stays within the funny side.

In War

We were practising an absolutely marvellous piece last night using these words of Winston Churchill:

In war: resolution. In defeat: defiance. In victory: magnanimity. In peace goodwill.

The music is by Malcolm Archer (previously of St Paul's and now at Winchester college) responsible for music at the college chapel) and based on the Last Post. The choir and guest trumpeter will be singing it at the Remembrance Service in November and I really think it's going to touch people. I only wish I could find a recording of it to share with you!

Church as a foretaste of the kingdom

I went to the Reaching the Unchurched network conference a few weeks ago when Bishop Graham Cray spoke about the church being a foretaste of the kingdom and tonight it really felt that way.

We had an ecumenical meeting about a night shelter we're setting up in Wycombe this winter. 7 churches around the town will be offering their church halls as a place for homeless people one night a week: 7 teams in 7 church buildings 7 nights with one vision.

You might remember AGES ago that I went and volunteered at a night shelter in London and last year two of our teenagers went along and another small group of young people got together to make some fantastic soup for them to take.

This evening was all about the plan to make this happen in High Wycombe to.

Ok so there were a few little digressions into the nitty gritty of it all but overall it was a group of people fired up to get it all working not just on our own as willing volunteers but in partnership with local agencies and with plans for some great training for volunteers.

As one of the teenagers there said - It's what Jesus would do!

Mark Berry hates these but never mind!!

Mind the Gap

For some reason Gap years have been coming up a lot lately.

One of my young people is thinking of a Gap Year that involves Orangutan (another one here and a brochure here too!), one has found a church placement that involves working with offenders, another is looking for a church placement and another wants to do something on mission for half a year after half a year of earning money.

Well I've been surfing and Ian came up trumps with a site from Church Army which looks really good.

So, in case anyone is looking, this is a site all about gap years of all kinds.

For specifically Christian Gap Years there's

Ignite XL at the Foundry, DNA, Year4God, Christian Aid, Careforce, Youth for Christ.

Youthblog has also put up some links but (sorry, chum!) the links weren't working when I tried but I'm sure it'll be fixed soon.

Sony Bravia - Play Doh - Full TV Commercial

Absolutely AWESOME video from the people who brought us that video with the bouncing balls. Just love this. (HT to EasyRew)

Funky Munky

In looking for some interesting crafty things for the youth group I found this marvellous site which led me to the wonderful flickr monkey page with some really instant craft activities for groups. All you might want to do is work out why you want a red monkey...

He's so cute
Originally uploaded by flickr monkey

I've stocked up on a fab moving representation to help people explore the trinity from this maths site. Shame I was looking for something Christmas related!!

You gotta have soul

Such a fabulous Cross-Section last night. We had a gospel choir and street dancers from Ruach ministries in Brixton. They sang and danced for us and then showed us all how to join in. The Gospel singing was SO MUCH FUN. I loved it. Not so good at the street dancing but you can't be good at everything!

It was amazing to see the young people opening up to this new type of worship and the adult creche were totally transfixed by it all.

Pastor Mark also delivered a brilliant message which was really challenging. So challenging that, one of my colleagues said she wasn't sure she could ever preach again having see a group of young people so focussed on a speaker. He was speaking about a subject I'm exporing at the moment for a sermon sometime soon - how we as Christians deal with faith. Do we use it as a comfortable self satisfied "I'm ok" idea or do we share it with others. Is the church a cosy club for us or a springboard to send us back out?

Well I know it's sent me out humming "Can't nobody do it like Jesus..."

Present-ing Pocoyo - Music!!!

Just had a wonderful afternoon visiting our nearly one year old neice. We bought her a little heap of Pocoyo presents including a book, a DVD and best of all an interactive sleepy bird as featured in this little episode. We did have trouble handing it over as we loved it so much ourselves but our neice really liked it and was exploring all the different sounds it can make including a lovely lullaby (complete with nightlight beak!!)

Set My People Free

We've got a series of evenings coming up called "Set My People Free" which Dave, our vicar, is leading. He's taking the topics of freedom as expressed in the lives of some Biblical characters, namely; Abraham, Moses, Ruth, Peter, Mary Magdalene & Paul.

We've been exploring ways of expressing the whole concept of "Set My People free" in our pastoral team.

We had thought we might do somehting each Sunday to tie in but as a traditional church it's a bit of a challenge to do som

ething which is recognisably linking each of the weeks

but is essentially about freedom - formal liturgy just doesn't seem to cut it.

I'm not sure what we're going to end up

doing but I've been trying to get my head round it by exploring the concept and some key moments of freedom in the lives of the characters through my painting.

Busy busy
Originally uploaded by Sarah Brush

I am The Way, The Truth and The Life
Originally uploaded by Sarah Brush

Burning Bush
Originally uploaded by Sarah Brush

Damascus
Originally uploaded by Sarah Brush

Savin yer bacon

Random Market Pigs
Originally uploaded by Sarah Brush

ok I haven't TOTALLY lost it but I've just got the youth holiday photos CD from my co-leader and I've remembered this marvellous picutre I took in Chester market. It reminds me both of that day and the fabulous games of Pass the Pig we had a few evenings during the week - ah the days!










I love intriguing signs and this one really was bizarre. A stall selling roast pork baps with apple sauce (yummy - wish we'd not had lunch packed already!!) and in front, rather cruelly I suppose, were these two pplastic pigs... with this sign... possibly more visible in the close-up. WHY OH WHY?

Random market Pig
Originally uploaded by Sarah Brush

What happens when someone TOUCHES THE PIG - nooooooooo!

The Calling

and while we're on videos... here's a great worship intro I used for Yellow Braces which somebody aske me for and I totally couldn't find for AGES so I thought I'd post it so I wouldn't lose it again!!

This is the Truth

Absolutely awesome video that Bishop Alan put up on his blog over the weekend. It seems kinda lame to start with but keep going with it for that "Sixth Sense" moment. All I have to do now is work out when I'm going to use it. I did a "you need to look at things from God's perspective" session on the youth holiday only a month ago so I may need to save it up for a while!!

More from the golden mouth

The daily thought on Taizé's site today used some more words from John Chrysostom which were profound so I thought I'd share them. I'm sure there might be at least one Proudhon reading anarchist out there who will appreciate this!

'There were periods in history when some Christians were particularly sensitive to sharing. In the fourth century, Saint John Chrysostom wrote, “Quarrels and wars break out because some people try to take for themselves what belongs to everyone. It is as if nature became indignant that human beings, by means of those cold words ‘yours’ and ‘mine,’ have sowed division where God has set unity.”' from Peace of Heart in All Things
by Brother Roger of Taizé

Interesting Times

The old saying has it that it is malicious to say
"May you live in Interesting Times"

"According to the philosopher Ly Tin Wheedle, chaos is found in greatest abundance wherever order is being sought. It always defeats order, because it is better organized. "

Terry Pratchett, Interesting Times

Tree of Life

Tree of Life
Originally uploaded by Sarah Brush

This was a commission for my friend Matt. When I handed it over I didn't actually say what it was but it produced quite a few different interpretations. It makes me wonder whether I should put titles onthem in some ways. I think the interpretations I heard were as valid as those that had been consciously in my mind when I painted it. This picture is all about growth and life. Some have seen people in it, others have see plant life. How about you?

Ressurections

Ressurection first version
Originally uploaded by Sarah Brush

Ressurrection second version
Originally uploaded by Sarah Brush

This is to show how my paintings can change so very easily from one day to the next...

Did our hearts not burn within us

Did our hearts not burn within us
Originally uploaded by Sarah Brush

This is a commission for my friend Stella based on the words of the two companions who met the risen Jesus on the road to Emmaus: "Did our hearts not burn within us as he spoke"

Unblogability drive

There are times when there is just too much stuff going on that is not something a person can blog about for various reasons. In such times I fidn it hard to blog about other stuff. Now is one of those times, I'm sorry.

Hopefully normal sporadic blogging service will be resumed shortly but for now you're going to be subjected to some more paintings for a while and some wisdom from the church fathers notably today John Chrysostom:

The waters have risen and severe storms are upon us, but we do not fear drowning, for we stand firmly upon a rock. Let the sea rage, it cannot break the rock. Let the waves rise, they cannot sink the boat of Jesus. What are we to fear? Death? Life to me means Christ, and death is gain. Exile? ‘The earth and its fullness belong to the Lord. The confiscation of goods? We brought nothing into this world, and we shall surely take nothing from it. I have only contempt for the world’s threats, I find its blessings laughable. I have no fear of poverty, no desire for wealth. I am not afraid of death nor do I long to live, except for your good. I concentrate therefore on the present situation, and I urge you, my friends, to have confidence.

Do you not hear the Lord saying: Where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in their midst? Will he be absent, then, when so many people united in love are gathered together? I have his promise; I am surely not going to rely on my own strength! I have what he has written; that is my staff, my security, my peaceful harbour. Let the world be in upheaval. I hold to his promise and read his message; that is my protecting wall and garrison. What message? Know that I am with you always, until the end of the world!

If Christ is with me, whom shall I fear? Though the waves and the sea and the anger of princes are roused against me, they are less to me than a spider’s web. Indeed, unless you, my brothers, had detained me, I would have left this very day. For I always say “Lord, your will be done”; not what this fellow or that would have me do, but what you want me to do. That is my strong tower, my immovable rock, my staff that never gives way. If God wants something, let it be done! If he wants me to stay here, I am grateful. But wherever he wants me to be, I am no less grateful.

Yet where I am, there you are too, and where you are, I am. For we are a single body, and the body cannot be separated from the head nor the head from the body. Distance separates us, but love unites us, and death itself cannot divide us. For though my body die, my soul will live and be mindful of my people.

You are my fellow citizens, my fathers, my brothers, my sons, my limbs, my body. You are my light, sweeter to me than the visible light. For what can the rays of the sun bestow on me that is comparable to your love? The sun’s light is useful in my earthly life, but your love is fashioning a crown for me in the life to come.

(From the Sermon "Before Exile" Ante exsilium, nn. 1-3, Patrologia Graeca 52, 427-430)

Artisan's Blend

Marvellous news today. I've sold my first painting for actual real money! It's actually one that's still drying and I'v enot even put a pic of it up on Flickr yet! So the £20 has gone in my canvas fund tin which, rather appropriately is one of Michael's old tobacco tins for a pipe tobacco called Artisan's blend.

I also got another three commisions today.

I think a celebratory curry is in order!

Busy bee

The lack of blogging blight has struck again. Apologies. It's that first week of term thing you know.

Had a really good meeting with a local vicar today. It turns out that there are another two churches in our town looking to employ a youthworker. To quote her "not for what it can give the church... it's just what we should be doing... it's the Gospel!" Amen to that! Sounds like it could be a really exciting piece of work in an Urban Priority Area. It's pretty amazing as we've just had two youthworkers appointed in two other local churches. Out of the seven churches in the team we could end up with four or five youthworkers. Just think what the Holy Spirit could do with that!

Prayers of Mother Theresa

These were the prayers written by Mother Theresa that I used this evening:

Breathe in us, O Holy Spirit, that our thoughts may all be holy
Act in us, O Holy Spirit, that our work too may be holy
Draw our hearts, O Holy Spirit, that we love but what is holy
Strengthen us, O Holy Spirit, to defend all that is holy
Guide us then, O Holy Spirit, that we always may be holy. Amen
Deliver us, O Jesus,

From the desire of being loved,
From the desire of being extolled,
From the desire to being honoured,
From the desire of being praised,
From the desire of being preferred,
From the desire of being consulted,
From the desire of being approved,
From the desire of being popular,
From the fear of being humiliated,
From the fear of being despised,
From the fear of suffering rebukes,
From the fear of being calumniated,
From the fear of being forgotten,
From the fear of being wronged,
From the fear of being ridiculed,
From the fear of being suspected.
Amen.
Lead us from death to life,
from lies to truth
Lead us from despair to hope
from fear to trust
Lead us from hatred to love
from war to peace
Let peace fill our hearts, our world
our universe with peace. Amen

O God, Father of every human being, you ask us all to bring love where the poor are humiliated, reconciliation where human beings are divided, joy where the Church is shaken. You open this road for us so that we may be ferments of communion throughout the entire human family.

Make us worthy, Lord, to serve our fellow men throughout the world, who live and die in poverty and hunger. Give them today, through our hands, their daily bread and through our understanding love, give peace and joy. Amen

Dear Jesus, help us to spread Thy fragrance everywhere we go. Flood our souls with Thy spirit and love. Penetrate and possess our whole being so utterly that all our life may only be a radiance of Thine. Shine through us and be so in us that every soul we come in contact with may feel Thy presence in our souls. Let them look up and see no longer us but only Jesus. Stay with us and then we shall begin to shine as you shine, so to shine as to be a light to others. Amen

Sermon 2nd September

Here is the sermon I gave this evening at evensong. I had quite a lot of trouble knowing what I'd say when I looked at the readings. For some reason, nothing much leapt out at me from these texts. Then I heard about this new book of Mother Theresa's letters, Come be my Light, which revealed some things about Mother Theresa's faith journey which have shocked many people. So this is what I said:

Ten years ago this week saw the death of a woman who set an amazing example to many by giving her life to devoted service. I’m not speaking of Diana who has received a lot of press but of a woman whose life of service was much longer. Mother Theresa of Calcutta died on 5th September 1997 and, following so soon after the wake of Diana’s tragic death, for someone so well-known, Mother Theresa passed away relatively unnoticed by the world much as those people she had served on the streets of Calcutta. Yet her life is still celebrated and recently a book of her letters has been published. However this woman whose life of faith was an amazing beacon to people is now shown to have had periods to deep and sincere doubts of her faith.

In her letters to various friends and spiritual guides, she wrote:

"Lord, my God, who am I that You should forsake me? The Child of your Love — and now become as the most hated one — the one — You have thrown away as unwanted — unloved. I call, I cling, I want — and there is no One to answer — no One on Whom I can cling — no, No One. — Alone ... Where is my Faith — even deep down right in there is nothing, but emptiness & darkness — My God — how painful is this unknown pain — I have no Faith — I dare not utter the words & thoughts that crowd in my heart — & make me suffer untold agony."

This to me sounds so much like something one of the psalmists would say. Indeed in today’s psalm we heard:

"My soul hath longed for thy salvation: and I have a good hope because of thy word.
Mine eyes long sore for thy word: saying, O when wilt thou comfort me?"

Yet her words are rooted not only in the Hebrew text of the Old Testament but in her Christian faith as she said in a letter to a friend:

"Jesus has a very special love for you. As for me, the silence and emptiness is so great that I look and do not see, listen and do not hear. The tongue moves [in prayer] but does not speak."

The psalmist and Mother Theresa both show times of seeking for God but not finding what they seek. I’m sure all of us have times when we seek but do not find. Times when our faith is tested. Times when our doubts speak louder than our faith. This is why Desmond Tutu, among many, has not seen this revelation of her times of doubt as any kind of disaster. He says:

“Mother Teresa wonderfully was no plaster cast saint. She has helped to affirm many who are passing through this period of desolation and dryness when God seems so remote. St Theresa of Avila after one such bout cried out in frustration to God, ’No wonder your friends are so few given how you treat them!’ My regard for Mother Teresa has been enhanced. Doubt can be an integral part of faith, when the evidence is never so overwhelming, so incontrovertible. St Thomas is our patron Saint for doubters. We live by faith not by sight and frequently the evidence does not make the leap of faith redundant.”

So the woman who was able to write these words:

"So many unanswered questions live within me afraid to uncover them — because of the blasphemy — If there be God — please forgive me — When I try to raise my thoughts to Heaven — there is such convicting emptiness that those very thoughts return like sharp knives & hurt my very soul. — I am told God loves me — and yet the reality of darkness & coldness & emptiness is so great that nothing touches my soul. Did I make a mistake in surrendering blindly to the Call of the Sacred Heart?"— addressed to Jesus, at the suggestion of a confessor, undated

Is also the woman who was able to live out her faith so tangibly in the service of others, as she herself described it:

"As to my calling, I belong to the world. As to my heart, I belong entirely to the Heart of Jesus."

St John of the Cross in his great work, “The Dark Night of the Soul” describes how people sometimes face times of doubting God either through the distractions of the world and our own sin, or in the case of some, because of the great depth of their faith have focused so much on the non physical and sensory experiences of the world that they no longer feel things as they used to do. Feelings are something of the world, even feelings which might normally draw us to God; love, mercy; gentleness.

In her dark times, Mother Theresa did find some comfort. She wrote to one spiritual adviser:

"I can't express in words — the gratitude I owe you for your kindness to me — for the first time in ... years — I have come to love the darkness — for I believe now that it is part of a very, very small part of Jesus' darkness & pain on earth. You have taught me to accept it [as] a 'spiritual side of your work' as you wrote — Today really I felt a deep joy — that Jesus can't go anymore through the agony — but that He wants to go through it in me."— to Neuner, Circa 1961

This reminds me of that passage in John 1.5:

"The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it."

Sometimes we find God in our darkest times but that does not mean that we should be overwhelmed by the darkness. God is in the darkness – as the psalmist says

"For darkness and light are both alike to you" (Psalm 139)

St Paul when writing to the Christians at Philipi encouraged them to
Shine as points of light in this dark world (Philippians 2.15)

God does not expect us to find our faith journey easy at all times. God travels with us in dark and in light. God encompasses both.

For a journey of faith is just that; one which moves and grows. In a life of devoted Christian service as long as that of Mother Theresa, hearing that she had times of doubt is no startling revelation at all but a reaffirmation of the greatness of her faith.

Even through all that she persisted to seek after God. She did not find reassurance and self satisfaction but challenge and a longing for Christ. What more should we expect?

Isaiah says

"if you offer your food to the hungry and satisfy the needs of the afflicted, then your light shall rise in the darkness and your gloom be like the noonday. The Lord will guide you continually, and satisfy your needs in parched places, and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters never fail. Isaiah 58.10-11"

In her own darkness, Mother Theresa was able to shine her faith out to others

In 1968, British writer-turned-filmmaker Malcolm Muggeridge visited Teresa. Muggeridge had been an outspoken agnostic, but by the time he arrived with a film crew in Calcutta he was on a full spiritual search.

Mother impressed him with her work and her holiness and she wrote a letter to him in some two years later:

"Your longing for God is so deep and yet He keeps Himself away from you," she wrote. "He must be forcing Himself to do so — because he loves you so much — the personal love Christ has for you is infinite — The Small difficulty you have re His Church is finite — Overcome the finite with the infinite."

Muggeridge certainly did. He became an outspoken Christian apologist.

"Overcome the finite with the infinite."

These were Theresa’s words. Our own strength, faith and feelings are all finite. When we have our doubts, we may try to overcome them through our own faith but there is only one thing that can overcome them and that is a surrender to God’s will for us. Only God’s infinite power can have authority over her dark nights. Our darkness, our doubts our troubles are all finite. No matter how vast they may seem. Only God's infinite power can overcome our finite troubles and doubts. As John the Baptist:

“No one can receive anything except what has been given from heaven”
He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever disobeys the Son will not see life, but must endure God's wrath.

It is not easy for human beings to accept it but we need to submit our wills to the will of God; to lay down our lives including our troubles and our darkness. We cannot overcome them on our own. Only when we submit to God's will can we - or rather God - overcome the finite with the infinite.

Not entirely unoccupied...

I realised a week of non-blogging has gone by again. I've been living up to my name and been usefully employed with some brushes as well as doing some book reviews, writing some of the book Phil and I are working and proof-reading the first of my best beloved's recently completed trilogy.

Evidence of some of this can be found in the ART folder on my flickr site.

Today I've been very much occupied tidying my office. I have managed to ecavate the filing cabinet but only tackled some of that magnus opus so far. I have discovered two hooks on the wall that I had never seen before but I've really no idea what my predecessor used them for as there's very little space below them and, as they're in an alcove, would be pointless as a place to hang pictures. Well after today the office has gone down on the Hamilton scale as the carpet is now not only VISIBLE in large areas but also CLEAN! The bookshelf is also tidied AND organised into sections. The office now pretty much contains only those things it should contain. So tomorrow I'll be moving them all back into the places they should be and clearing the desks!!

I am a Christian

A great poem that one of my young people sent me. I think it's pretty cool!

I am a Christian
When I say..."I am a Christian"
I'm not shouting, "I am saved"
I'm whispering, "I was lost"
That is why I chose this way.

When I say..."I am a Christian"
I don't speak of this with pride.
I'm confessing that I stumble
And need someone to be my guide.

When I say..."I am a Christian"
I'm not trying to be strong.
I'm professing that I'm weak
And pray for strength to carry on.

When I say..."I am a Christian"
I'm not bragging of success.
I'm admitting I have failed
And cannot ever pay the debt.

When I say..."I am a Christian"
I'm not claiming to be perfect,
My flaws are all too visible,
But God believes I'm worth it.

When I say..."I am a Christian"
I still feel the sting of pain
I have my share of heartaches
Which is why I speak His name.

When I say..."I am a Christian"
I do not wish to judge.
I have no authority.
I only know I'm loved

Evan Almighty

Went to see Evan Almighty on Monday. It's definitely worth a see. Not sure it needs the big screen for all of it but certainly the denouement won't look as good on the small screen.

Of course there is the inevitable comparison with Bruce Almighty...

I think Evan is in some ways more likeable (doesn't seem like the character was in Bruce Almighty) though a litle bit vain and politiciany! Yet his "conversion" is not as dramatic as Bruce's. He displays some resistance but mostly listens to God and obeys. It's a shame so many of the funny bits have feature in the trailers.

For me the key bits which are worthy of reflection are the scene with God and Evan's doubting wife...

Let me ask you something. If someone prays for patience, you think God gives them patience? Or does he give them the opportunity to be patient? If he prayed for courage, does God give him courage, or does he give him opportunities to be courageous? If someone prayed for the family to be closer, do you think God zaps them with warm fuzzy feelings, or does he give them opportunities to love each other?

and right near the end when Evan tries to command the water or the ark or the rapidly approaching the bridge or ANYTHING... but finally he says "Can I get some help here?" and God acts! It is GOD'S power not Evan's and Evan knows that (or at least he remembers it eventually!!!)

Like Bruce Almighty there's an easy "lesson" which is that an Act of Random Kindness (A.R.K.) can change the world. There's even a project in American based on the film called ARKalmighty which is helping churches sign up to this concept.

Yesterday we went to see Bourne Supremacy - I have to say it is a better film. Pacier, more engaging, thought-provoking.

Recipe 2 - Chocolate Puddle Pudding

This was a rather popular conclusion to the week away with the young people. Be warned it can be kinda rich!! It works well with a little bit of vanilla icecream.

This pudding is rather clever as it knows which bits to put in the sauce at the bottom and which bits to keep as cake.
(for 6 people)

Preheat the oven to 180c or Gas mark 4

In a mixing bowl mix together 5oz self raising flour, 2 tablespoons of cocoa (or you can do 4oz flour and an extra 1oz cocoa!) 7oz caster sugar, a pinch of salt, a teaspoon of vanilla essence, 1 oz melted butter and 5 fluid oz milk (preferably full fat or semi skimmed).

Spoon this mixture into an oven proof dish.

In another bowl, mix together 5oz brown sugar and 4tablespoons of cocoa. (Alternatively you can use a very good drinking chocolate which has a similar cocoa content!). Sprinkle this evenly over the top of the cake mixture in the dish.

You can leave it at this stage for a while.

When you are ready to cook it, pour three quarters of a pint of hot (not boiling) water over the dish and put it straight int he oven for fifty minutes. DO NOT PEEK!

The finished pudding will look like a chocolate cake semi floating in a chocolate puddle.

You can eat it hot or cold... if it lasts that long!

Recipe 1 - TIFFIN

TIFFIN
In a saucepan melt 250g/8oz butter and 4tbsps of golden syrup (or brown sugar/honey if you don't have syrup!). When it's melted take the pan off the heat and break up 400g/14oz dark chocolate into the saucepan. Stir it all up.

Then crush up 450g/160z digestives (this usually works out as just less than one of those big packets so you can eat the few left over!!) and add them to the chocolate mix.

Then add 200g/7-8 oz of a mixture of the following:
nuts, raisins, glace cherries, dried mango, dried cranberries, coconut, dried apricots, dried apple, dried pineapple, glace ginger, mini marshmallows etc. Experiment with different mixes.

Smush that all into a silicone baking tray (or a greased normal baking tray if you don't have one of those)

Gently melt another 400g chocolate in the pan and pour this on top of the mixture. Smooth it out. You can even put little marbling effects in with white chocolate if you're keen).

Put in the fridge until it all sets. When it's hard, take it out of the fridge fro twenty mintues then slice into pieces. You can put these in a tin and store in the fridge for as long as you can hide it from yourself!

All Saints' Youth Holiday 2007

Fantabulous time away with the young people at Quinta Hall up in Shropshire. We went to Holy Communion at the cathedral at Chester on Sunday and went to the beach at Prestatyn on Monday (with mini golf, sandcastle competition and fish & chip supper!). On Tuesday we send the young people on a treasure hunt round Oswestry then got them cooking for masterchef. Wednesday saw us enjoying a swim at Wrexham in the morning (including funky slide, jacuzzi and one of those weird tidal pool thingies) and then tree-climbing and doing archery with Aiden and Luke from the fantastic Adventure Plus all rounded off with a stoningly tasty roast chicken dinner. On Thursday we continued with Fencing and a low ropes course (including a game of Wah on the low ropes - yes I think we were mad!). Friday was a marvellously chilled out day on a canal boat going of the Pontcysyllte viaduct which is pretty amazing.

Alongside all this we looked at the book of Genesis, touching on issues of sin, meeting with God, families and using our gifts. There was also plenty of time for some great games of Kubb, Wah, the foot Game, Tom's game, shops, Mafia, 1-2-3, Monkey, boppit, Chinese cricket and the occasional few hours of sleep!

We had some great food and I did promise to put up two recipes - both chocolate coincidentally!

So recipes for tiffin & Chocolate puddle pudding following...

Bishop on the Blog

Courtesy of Dave Walker (Cute cat owning cool cartoon creating curly haired dude) I've discovered that Alan our bishop has a blog which he seems to have started this August. So I may have managed to scoop Youthblog - oh yes!

Check out his latest post including a painfully accurate bit of commentary on Christian rock!

I look forward to hearing more from you soon, bishop.

Eat this bread

In the time I spent focussing on Bible study in Taizé, I was fortunate again to be in a group led by Brother John looking at chapter six of the Gospel of John. This chapter includes the feeding of the five thousand, the calming of the storm and a long bit of teaching on “the bread of life”. It was an amazingly apposite text for the week as each day involved the feeding of five thousand young people at Taizé (and trust me the tuna and potato salad looks like there really were only two fish between everybody!), we had plenty of teaching and sharing of bread as well as a very impressive storm.

The final part of the Bible introduction I went to at Taizé focused on Jesus’ teaching on the bread of life. Brother John brought out from this text something I had not connected to before. he talked a lot about what eternal life meant. Eternal life is not that which lasts for ever. Eternal life is that which is like God as God is eternal. It's not about not dying but about living. Brother John also emphasised the sheer shocking nature of Jesus saying he was the bread. To us it may sound odd but Jesus told an audience of Jewish people bound up in laws about eating that they had to drink his blood:
I am the living bread that came down out of heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will live forever; this bread is my flesh, offered so the world may live." Then the people began arguing with each other about what he meant. "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?" they asked. So Jesus said again, "I assure you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you cannot have eternal life within you. But those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them at the last day. For my flesh is the true food, and my blood is the true drink. All who eat my flesh and drink my blood remain in me, and I in them John 6.51-56
Now the idea of eating flesh is fairly shocking but of course to the Jewish people it is even more so as their tradition says they cannot eat meat with blood in it. Yet it was not this that Brother John said which really struck home.

We always associate this passage with the last supper; flesh and blood; bread and wine. Yet this passage comes a long way before the last supper. There is something much more significant about these words. For in eating or drinking something it becomes one with us. Once we have swallowed something within a few hours that is then part of us. This is the kind of food Jesus is talking about. Jesus is asking us to take Him into our lives so completely that it is as if we were one. That really is some challenge. Unless we take Jesus into our lives THAT much we don't have the eternal life. We're not living the life God wants.

So is Jesus so much a part of you that you have consumed that true bread? Is your life eternal?

There and back again

Well all the Oxford diocese Taize group are safely returned. We had an absolutely fabulous time.

I ended up on "night welcome" which means telling peopel to be quiet from 11pm and pretty much ASLEEP from midnight which is somewhat challenging!! but it was FANTASTIC fun as the team were hilarious.

Dovile from Lithuania was just Awesome - an experienced Night welcomer of 7 years and really skilled at chatting to people and persuading them to be quiet and in their OWN rooms, especially the Italian boys.

Mara was just hilarious and quoting Eddie Izzard and Family guy all the time

Simon was a great giggler who insisted the moon was so bright that at midnight we needed moonglasses and moon lotion.

Radik was so calm that he managed to make people quiet just by STANDING there.

and then there was the rest of the team..

Dr Phil was like a police dog specially trained for sniffing out alcohol and bagged so much in the week it made our team look decidedly unskilled! Although when Joanna discovered he was ticklish he did run away like a giggling Homer Simpson.

Vlad (the loud haler) did get the idea of keeping peopel quiet in the end but not really the idea of being quiet himself.

Hans was so loud that he tried to tell ME to go to bed when we were closing Oyak - but they wouldn't let me as I was supposed to be working!!

Niklas (and Lisa who liked him so much she joined the Night team) from Sweden were just "chill" and helped keep me warm and laughing.

Christophe, well what can you say about the man that made all of us stay up until 3am some mornings and some of us until 5.30 am!! Honestly he was a legend... particularly when he lost his German cool and got really frustrated about people but never at them!!

Of course but by no means least was Brother Paolo who went RUNNING to get us more breakfast when there wasn't enough. A Taize brother flying across from the kitchen is a site to see.

The Oxford group did keep a taize diary (though without me nagging them to do it as I was on a different time zone to them most of the time it is a bit short!) which is beautifully and suitably random. I'll pop that up on the Taize blog when I get a sec.

Right now I need to upload some pictures and then get on with sorting our youth holiday out.

Taize 07

Off to Taize this afternoon, leaving my best beloved behind but other than that huge distress I am really looking forward to having some time to reflect and give my still centre a little TLC.

Think of me on the big purple bus tonight as we drive through the night!

Blogging service returns to normal after I'm back sometime like 7th August.

Fresh Cafe 07

Fabulous couple of nights at Fresh Café with young people chilling (rather too literally in some of the downpours!) hanging out at the café, strutting on the dance mats, zooming on the snowboard, getting down on the singstar, getting moving on the volleyball and five-a-side football, getting artistic for our big art installation, reflecting in the labyrinth, rocking to the bands (Behaviour were just STONKING!) and generally exploring what MAKES LIFE MAKE SENSE to them.

There was time also for some deep conversations and some important conversations too.

This may not sound amazing but at the beginning of the second evening we had about 25% of the main tent that was useable and not literally underwater, the labyrinth tent had blown apart earlier in the day and most of the site was decidedly squelchy and clouds like these were looming around us!

Clouds over Fresh Cafe 3
Originally uploaded by Sarah Brush

Who do you say you are?

We had a good chat at Fresh Cafe last night about personality types and how people are different.

Some of the young people were wondering about it so I said I'd put up a link to a page that has an online version of the Myers Briggs Test. I would strongly recommend being tested properly by qualified Myers Briggs tester in the future but this one is good if you're just curious and this other one has good explanations too.

The real Mary Magdalene

This morning's sermon is below. I also strongly recommend anyone wanting to explore this further to take a look at the Rejesus site.

You may notice that we have a smaller version of Da Vinci’s Last Supper on the back of your service sheet. Today I want to explore Mary Magdelene not as the Da Vinci Code would have it -
Wife of Jesus? mother of his children? Centre of a great church conspiracy? but as she is presented in the Bible.

What does the Bible say about Mary Magdalene?

Matthew
Mary is the first one he mentions as those gathered at the foot of the cross and in the list of women who went to the tomb on the first Easter Sunday and were the first to see Jesus risen
Matthew 27:50-56 Matthew 28:1-10

Mark
The Gospel of Mark also lists Mary Magdalene first at the cross and in the garden and who fled from the empty tomb telling no-one because they were afraid but Mary then sees Jesus and here we have some new information about her

When Jesus rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had driven seven demons. She went and told those who had been with him and who were mourning and weeping.
Mark 16.9-10 Mark 15:33-41


Luke
Luke also lists Mary Magdalene as the first among those to the tomb but this is not her first mention in Luke. In his gospel Luke also mentions Mary somewhat earlier. She is listed, again first in the list, among those women whom Jesus had cured of evil spirits or diseases and who travelled around with him and helped to support Jesus out of their own means. (Luke 8.1-3) (Luke 24.1-12)

John
As is so often the case, it is the Gospel of John which is different and a little more detailed in its description of Mary Magdalene.

Mary comes last in the list of those standing near the cross – unsurprisingly it is Jesus’ mother that John’s Gospel lists first. But this isn’t a judgement against Mary magdalene’s significance, more an honouring of the place of the Virgin Mary. Indeed John’s recognition of Mary Magdalene’s own ministry is evident in his description of Easter Sunday. In John’s account it is Mary alone who goes to the tomb. She finds the stone rolled away and seeks out Peter & John. After Peter and John have gone home again, Mary stays near the tomb weeping and after meeting with two angels, she is then the first to witness the risen Jesus, though she’s not aware of it at first:

At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus. "Woman," he said, "why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?" Thinking he was the gardener, she said, "Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him." Jesus said to her, "Mary." She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, "Rabboni!" (which means Teacher). Jesus said, "Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet returned to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, 'I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'" Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: "I have seen the Lord!" And she told them that he had said these things to her. John 20.14-18 (John 19.25, John 20:1-2 & 11-18)

So this is what the Bible says, does it tell us anything more?

Well the fact Mary is called Magdalene rather than “the wife of” indicates that she was probably not married. Magdalene indicates she was from a place called Magdala, a town next to the sea of Galilee

Mary’s prominent listing as first in the list of women around Jesus certainly hints to a prominence and importance. Does this mean that the she was MORE than a significant follower?

What about what the bible does NOT say.

There is no mention of Jesus being married to Mary Magdalene. If Jesus had been married, I personally see no reason why it should not have been mentioned. As many of us will have heard at weddings:

“Marriage is a gift of God in creation
through which husband and wife
may know the grace of God.
It is given that as man and woman grow together in love and trust,
they shall be united with one another in heart, body and mind,
as Christ is united with his bride, the Church.”

For me, If Jesus had been married, if he had had children, I might question God’s plan which left that family unsupported but the very fact of Jesus being married. For me that would be acceptable, honourable but most importantly the bible does NOT SAY HE WAS.

More importantly, we have nothing in these passages about Mary being a prostitute. This results from a confusion over so many Mary’s in the New Testament. It’s the same as someone hearing about All Saints in a few hundred years confusing David Picken with David Knight or David Cambridge and coming up with a Vicar who plays the organ and used to sit in the front few rows.

Unfortunately even one of the great fathers of the church, Pope Gregory the Great described Mary as a prostitute in a sermon in the year 591.

The Da Vinci code and other books see this as a conspiracy. Something sinister and secretive? If this were so, surely the church would not celebrate Mary Magdalene as they do today, honouring her role.

So, according to the bible, Mary Magdalene, dedicated follower and supporter of Christ, present at his death and resurrection; NOT a prostitute, not the wife of Jesus,

What about these other texts which Dan Brown’s book says presents a “more human” story of Jesus. The Gospel of Philip, which the Da Vinci code cites as describing how Jesus loved Mary above the other disciples an used to kiss her on the mouth. Firstly, a kiss on the mouth then was a common practice. Secondly this book was written some 250 years after Jesus’ death – compare that with Mark’s Gospel which written within a lifetime of the event. Which would you consider more reliable?

(Other texts, the Gnostic Gospels, seek not to portray a more human Jesus, but in line with the Gnostics focus on knowledge and wisdom, many of them portray Jesus more as spirit than as human. The Gospel of Mary and the Gospel of Jesus, much later than those in the Bible, describe Jesus as having one special confidante wither Mary or Judas. These texts are both from the mid 2nd century and differ drastically from the more contemporary Gospels which have been generally accepted. The Gospel of Thomas which is earlier has barely any reference to Mary. )

As some of you may know, before I was youth minister here I used to study History and Latin and, as much as I enjoyed the Da Vinci code as a great work of fiction. I have to say that for the period of History I myself had studied, that of early medieval France, Dan brown’s history is decidedly dubious. So much so that one part made me laugh out loud.

Fiction of this kind may well be fascinating but this (Da Vinci Code) is not the book that should be central to us. It is FICTION. This (the Bible) is what should be central to us.

What does the Bible and the real life of Mary Magdalene have to offer us as an example today?

She was someone whose life was turned around by her encounter with Jesus. Before him she had been possessed by seven demons. We know from other storied of Jesus curing demoniacs that such people were ostracised and ignored. Jesus delivered her of those and she followed him and supported him in his ministry.

Mary Magdalene had the guts to stand by as Jesus was crucified. When many of the disciples had fled in terror at Jesus’ arrest, fearing for their own lives, Mary and a few others stood with Jesus in his agonies.

She also demonstrated her caring nature in coming to the tomb to anoint his body with spices. She was certainly an emotional person. We hear her mourning and weeping. When she does see Jesus after his resurrection, John tells us that Jesus instructs her “do not hold me”. Clearly she had instantly embraced or reached out for him.

[This is something that can be very dificult for some Christians, especially for us Anglicans it seems. It's not this book (the Bible) that we have a relationship but with Jesus Christ.]

She knew the reality of his suffering, his sacrifice, his death. She witnessed his body being placed in a tomb and, because of this, she also knew the reality and significance of his resurrection.

She calls Jesus, the Lord, and teacher yet she is not entirely perfect. She does not recognise Jesus at first when he is risen. Like many of us, she missed something she was not looking for. It was only when Jesus called her by name that she recognised his presence.

How much do we follow Jesus? Acknowledge him as Lord and teacher?
How much do we support him and his ministry by our presence and our money?
How much do we allow ourselves to respond to Jesus with our emotions?

Do we recognise it when we hear Christ's call and do we respond?

In the palm of his hand (finished)

In the palm of his hand (finisihed)
Originally uploaded by Sarah Brush

Finally finished the painting yesterday and posting it as I think of all the people affected by the rains.

Very much in mind are all those flooded for a second time.

Prayers too for all those involved in planning summer activities for children and young people. Be assured, all those preparations will not be wasted. The young people and children join these events for what they get to do with friends old and new not for the sunshine! Even if it is pouring with rain - they'll all be happier at a camp than bored at home with it raining outside.

God is with you all. Remember he holds you in the palm of his hand

If I ascend to heaven, you are there;
if I make my bed in Sheol, you are there.
If I take the wings of the morning
and settle at the farthest limits of the sea,
even there your hand shall lead me,
and your right hand shall hold me fast.
If I say, "Surely the darkness shall cover me,
and the light around me become night,"
even the darkness is not dark to you;
the night is as bright as the day,
for darkness is as light to you.

Psalm 139.8-12

In the palm of his hand (in progress)

In the palm of his hand (in progress)
Originally uploaded by Sarah Brush

Close up of the picture I'm currently working on and really loving the colour blend. Just hope I don't muck up the detail at the centre when this bit has dried!!

Hide me under the shadow 3

Hide me under the shadow 3
Originally uploaded by Sarah Brush

A close up of my most recently completed painting

On the front line

According to Ian, this is what the new bishop of Oxford has said:

[Youth Ministry] “This is absolutely frontline mission with an agegroup that has never been so alienated from the Christian Church. It’s not that they’re against the Church; it’s just that they know almost nothing about it.
Anyone in our churches involved in youth work needs special thanks, regular encouragement and an occasional bottle of whiskey”

if only it were so - my whiskey stores say otherwise!

Jesus on the cross

Jesus on the cross4
Originally uploaded by Sarah Brush

I got the chance to do some painting on my day off this week and managed to use the new BIG canvases that Michael treated me too in Cheltenham. It really is much more liberating to paint BIG. This is an image which has come to me over the last few years. It's all about the contrast of that dreadful and agonising cross and the glorious salvation it procured.

The word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing but to those whoa re being saved it is eternal life.

I'm doing another canvas for Paul for the Youth for Christ office soon too. it really is good to have an outlet for stuff in a creative medium like this. Not sure what life would be without it in fact! This kinda ties in with waht we're looking at for Fresh Cafe this year. What makes life make sense for you?

Yellow Braces 07

Fabulous weekened at Hill End though I am still tired!

We had some really great talks from Simo, an unforgettable flip-flop-flip-flop stomp from Ian, fabulous worship from the Taste band, awesome lifeguarding and techie stuff from KT, amazing nosh from the unflappable catering team, some great energy and enthusiasm from all the leadership team and some really good chat both fun and serious with the young people.

The late night worship was based on Jesus' two great commandments of Love God and Love your neighbour. There was the usual set up panic - this time resulting from a corrupted CD which meant I used different music to what I had planned BUT it worked SO WELL so maybe God had other plans all along!

I'd done a powerpoint show of images of people serving or seeking/needing help (which I'll try and put up somewhere for people) and invited the young people to pray for situations needing love via the hearts in the cetnre of the room and to offer their own service through adding their "hands" to the dead looking branch to bring our faith to life. I'm hoping someone else got some pics of what it all looked like in the end!

The Calling

Bless to impress

For various reasons, next week I need to IMPRESS some people with my skills and talents. As a strong believer in the concept of servant leadership I always find a certain conflict within myself when trying to demonstrate ability and competence whilst maintaining suitable humility. Of course, Jesus' response to people demanding that he impress them was usually to ask them a question, tell them a story with a hidden meaning or beginning a sentence with the phrase "woe to you..." (though the last one was not so often in response to people to be honest!)

Of course as in many things it's more about discernment than about testing how GOOD someone is, well it certainly is for me.

I don't tend to do youthwork in the mode of trying to impress young people with how cool I am (though occasionally they do say I am which I find quite unfathomable!) but rather in that more incarnational model of coming alongside them, sharing in their journey and their story and helping them see themselves in the greater story of God and find God in their own story.

Unfortunately that slow, dedicated and personal model of ministry is never very impressive if you try and judge it in terms of SUCCESS but I don't see the point of measuring success that much as it's not really about how well I've done. It's whether or not I'm doing what God wants for me and for the young people in front of me which really counts.

So am I going to impress? I don't know. Am I going to endeavour to discern... I certainly am.