Amidst all the, rightly, very serious, things being posted on line, are some that are LOL (laugh out loud) funny.
I hope my readers might like these, stolen from a friend in New Zealand.
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Amidst all the, rightly, very serious, things being posted on line, are some that are LOL (laugh out loud) funny.
I hope my readers might like these, stolen from a friend in New Zealand.
Yesterday, I used my permitted exercise to check out the church premises, something our awesome insurers invite us to do 'if it's safe and sensible'. I couldn't help but stop to admire the cherry trees, blossoming as they have done each year I've been here. This fragile and fleeting beauty was a joy to behold.
It's no secret I'm a 'crazy cat lady' and I follow, online, the antics of many cats who live in railway stations and town/city centres. Over the weekend, one of these cats, Bolt, Junior Pest Controller at Huddesrfield, went missing. No-one could go out and search for him, so it was an anxious time for the staff who care for him and Felix. Then, this morning they posted this... Bolt may be 'just a little black cat' but he and Felix bring joy to so many, and in these strange days we all need a good mews, sorry, news, story!
Someone produced a really slick Facebook live prayer stream, with respected speakers and original music.
And God said: that's awesome
Someone produced a clunky Skype for Business live prayer stream, with glitches and hitches
And God said: that's awesome
Someone held a Zoom service, with recorded music, readings, prayers and 'break out rooms' for coffee time
And God said: that's awesome
Someone recorded a short message and uploaded it to YouTube
And God said: that's awesome
Someone produced a simple outline and posted to their faithful, elderly congregation
And God said: that's awesome
Someone watched Songs of Praise or listened to Radio 4
And God said: that's awesome
Someone went for their daily exercise
And God said: that's awesome
Someone phoned someone who was all alone
And God said: that's awesome
Someone picked up essentials or a prescription for a neighbour
And God said: that's awesome
Someone wept alone, because they felt afraid
And God said: I'm afraid too
Someone felt guilty because they didn't feel what others felt
And God said: I feel guilty too
Someone felt frustrated because they couldn't do what they longed to
And God said: I feel frustration too
Someone felt helpless, because they didn't know what to do
And God said: I feel helpless too
Someone felt inadequate because they couldn't do technology
And God said: I feel inadequate too
Someone went to work because they were defined as a key-worker
And God said: I am working too
Someone wrote a prayer online, a litany of sorts, because though she could do technology, and though she had the most awesome congregation on God's earth, she was intimidated by those who were already theologising and reflecting, when her best was simply to take one day at a time...
And God said: yup, me too.
It seems a lifetime ago that the manse was welcoming friends visiting Glasgow... our link mission partner, our placement student and her children, the grown up daughter of a minister friend taking a course in adolescent mental health...
I always strip beds and wash sheets straight away when my guest leave, but ironing? So not my favourite task! It gets put off.
This morning as I ironed several sets of sheets, and a table cloth, I recalled the happy times of those who visited, and entrusted them, and those they love to God's safe-keeping.
Not the most 'fun' thing to do on a day off, but one that brought it's own joy... and I do love the smell of freshly ironed linen!
It was a common, weak, joke when I was at 'vicar school'...
Question: what's the difference between a sermon and a homily?
Answer: About 15 minutes
One thing about using Zoom for services is that we have pared things back quite a bit - the feel of sitting at a screen with mics muted is very different from a Sunday when we are all in the same room, and brevity seems a good thing.
I am aiming for 5 - 7 minute 'reflections' - sermonettes, homilies, whatever they are called. It's a new skill to learn, and a good one. It forces me to focus on essentials and to move swiftly between general and specific.
My respect for those who are good are five minute homilies - on radio, in church, wherever - grows apace. Anyone can waffle for 20 minutes, it takes real skill to say something in 5.