Seeds

For a little project later in the year, I would like to collect some different seeds. I have a million and one hollyhock seeds, but if anyone has any other sorts spare in their garden please could you collect them up for me.

Encounters with Jesus

Today's talk became the start of a little mini series where Roy and I will be focussing on the encounters different characters had with Jesus and what we can gain from another look at these epidodes.

This morning I took the story of Zacchaeus, the powerpoint below just highlights some of the phrases of the encounter, what are your thoughts?

Intercession

A friend was describing a picture that she had stuck in her head and we decided to try and get it on paper. Over coffee and a series of emails we came up with the following digital collage. It is called Intercession. It means what it does to her, but I think there could be lots of stories it describes.

A Revive! reflection

Having had a day or two to reflect on my Revive! experience this photo (taken at the site) and Psalm 23 express a lot about what God has been saying to me during the week




















The Good Shepherd
You, LORD, are my shepherd.
I will never be in need.
You let me rest in fields
of green grass.
You lead me to streams
of peaceful water,
and you refresh my life.
You are true to your name,
and you lead me
along the right paths.
I may walk through valleys
as dark as death,
but I won't be afraid.
You are with me,
and your shepherd's rod
makes me feel safe.
You treat me to a feast,
while my enemies watch.
You honor me as your guest,
and you fill my cup
until it overflows.
Your kindness and love
will always be with me
each day of my life,
and I will live forever
in your house, LORD.

The whole thing.

I went to Taize last week. I find it quite an experience. There is so much to take in; so many favourite little moments, it is all a bit of a medley.
I discovered that my computer's photo software offers the option of piling all your photos on top of each other. I'm sure there is a sensible reason for that that I have misused, but here is my entire collection of photos of Taize - the silly hats; the cup of coffee being brought in the morning; the view; a butterfly on some buddleia; the group gathering ready to go in to the amazing space that is the church; the queue for food; a monk's prayer stool; stained glass.

There are just so many images and it is hard to decide what sums Taize up the most for me. So, I was quite pleased to be able to display it as a splurge of mixed images, because that feels quite apt!

God's hand on my shoulder

The last few months have not been easy in the Bramwell household, and I have found it difficult to hold on to God's peace. While we were away in Hereford this week God gave me a dream which I am holding onto tightly. I hope others will find it helpful too.

I was walking early in the morning. It was spring following a long dreary winter, and the air felt soft on my face. The sea was in front of me with a blue sky and warm sunshine. There were blossoms as I walked along and I saw the beauty and delicacy of their creation. I felt as though a weight was being lifted from me.

Then I was aware of a hand on my shoulder and I knew it was God's hand. It lifted me to a new level of peacefulness, which filtered slowly through my whole body. I woke up, still concious of this feeling of wellbeing, and lay in bed thinking about what a hand on your shoulder can do.

It can indicate caring and support, someone drawing alongside and just sharing in whatever we are experiencing, good or bad.
It can be a guiding hand, gently showing us which way to go, without forcing us; out own built in satnav, that never gets cross if we go the wrong way, but always able to find another route to the desired destination.
It can be a supportive hand that steadies us when the ground beneath our feet is uneven and we stumble.

In my dream God's hand was all these things, and since then, when I have felt that things are a struggle, I recall the dream and say to myself that God's hand is on my shoulder. The journey is easier when you know that God is guiding you and dreams like this reinforce the knowledge that He does guide us if we let him. I continue to try and rely on Him and not myself.

I know that this was my dream and not yours, but I pray that anyone who nneds it and reads this will be aware of God's hand on their shoulder too.