The essay is done, proof read, revised, updated, even in parts rewritten, and the New Revised Standard Version has been duly bound in cardboard ready to deliver to Manchester today. I am meeting fellow student, blogger, and all round good egg, Kez (who is way too intelligent) for lunch when we will do the deed. Now it is time for something that is just for fun, and here it is, nicked from ReverentFun.com enjoy!
A Skinny Fairtrade Latte in the Food Court of Life - Page 1079
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Just for Fun
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Hmm!
Tonight was a joint service at D+1, which turned out to be an excellent exploration of the balance between 'God as love' and 'God as holy' and what it means for us 'to be holy'. However, due to a slip up, one of the Bible readings was wrong and we heard the few verses that are Isaiah 4...
When that time comes, seven women will grab hold of one man and say, "We can feed and clothe ourselves, but please let us say you are our husband, so that we won't have to endure the shame of being unmarried."
The time is coming when the LORD will make every plant and tree in the land grow large and beautiful. All the people of Israel who survive will take delight and pride in the crops that the land produces.
Everyone who is left in Jerusalem, whom God has chosen for survival, will be called holy.
By his power the Lord will judge and purify the nation and wash away the guilt of Jerusalem and the blood that has been shed there.
Then over Mount Zion and over all who are gathered there, the LORD will send a cloud in the daytime and smoke and a bright flame at night. God's glory will cover and protect the whole city.
His glory will shade the city from the heat of the day and make it a place of safety, sheltered from the rain and storm. (GNB)
It is intriguing to ponder what might have been preached from that! Not least as the preacher was a woman. Hmmm.
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HMF prayers from the Church of No Flamin' Option
Today was our HMF fundraiser during which I led two lots of prayers. I used extracts from this year's DVD along with two prayers from Crumbs of Hope by Clare McBeath and Tim Presswood.
The first extract - 'United in Mission,' the first of the 'extras' on the DVD - uses a montage of clips from past HMF videos including that wonderful moment when Ida said to David Coffey, in response to a question about how they'd coped over the years, 'we'd no flamin' option.' If you don't (didn't, she died last year) know Ida, (or David Coffey who's just in the left hand side of the shot), she's the white haired lady with the lovely smile, who laughs. The church at the close, behind the wire fence, is Mersey Street Tabernacle - Ida's church.
Here are the prayers, in case you don't have access to Clare's and Tim's book and would like something that makes the connections ...
Prayers from a Home Mission Church
Everlasting One
Come, let us gather before the faithful GodThe everlasting one who has travelled with her people
Across the bounds of time and place
Through birth, growth, and death
Weaving in and out of the joy and pain of our lives.
Come, let us gather before the faithful God
The everlasting one who calls us to share our journey
Through the decades, wherever we find ourselves
From our beginning to our departing
As we weave the joy and pains of our lives together.
Keep us Keeping On
Faithful God We thank you that you don’t give up on us
Keep us keeping on
Give us patience not to give up on you
Keep us keeping on
When the time ahead is uncertain
Keep us keeping on
When progress seems slow or non-existent
Keep us keeping on
When we are weary of working within the system
Keep us keeping on
When the challenges of our world seem too great
Keep us keeping on
When the burden of caring gets us down
Keep us keeping on
When we are tired and worn out
Hold us in your love
Prayers copyright Clare McBeath and Tim Presswood/Inspire publishing
PS If you have a problem with feminine language for God, you could use 'God's people' since God is neither male nor female.
PPS We raised £125 for HMF, so all in all it was a worthwhile event
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Fire Risk Assessment
On Tuesday someone made a B_I_G mistake. They told me I needed to carry out a 'fire risk assessment' for Girls' Brigade. This is not a good thing to say to a former professional risk assesser because it meant I asked hard questions they couldn't answer, and then they asked what I meant by a 'designated assembly point' and the blue signage (as shown left) that ought to be in place advising fire action. Hmm.For any Baptists, the BUC guideline on Health and Safety, C.7 is helpful and has some useful websites to visit. I'm sure other denominations have an equivalent.
I also found a nice one page tick-box thing here which basically does the job for you. Unless you are trained and know the HSE stuff, don't try getting all clever (and my professioanl opinion of some of the schools' risk assessment stuff is unprintable). Also make sure you know the difference between a 'risk' and a 'hazard' and between a 'risk assessment' and an 'evacuation plan' or 'emergnecy plan.' Otherwise I get unpastorally irritable!
Alternatively, in exchange for some large quantities of fairtrade chocolate I can come and do it for you ...!
Oh, and if you don't know, a fire assembly point sign, which should be located well clear of premises and with enough space to safely gather all your people, looks like this: -
That said, I've never yet seen one at a church. -
OT Commentaries?
I am contemplating an autumn sermon series on Habakkuk on the basis I do not know this book at all and recently I have heard several people quote from it - including one person who felt the need, in their prayers, to remind God what Habakkuk said. Anyway, as I don't know the book, I also don't have any commentaries on it, though I do have one or two more generally on the 'minor prophets' and a few of the ubiquitous whole Bible in a thousand pages variety.
Anyone help?