One of the things I enjoy about preparing sermons is their propensity to take me in directions I had not anticipated, or to make links that I had never before made.

So, I am intrigued that for the second week running I have made links between the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew and the I Am sayings in John.  No doubt loads of poeple have done this before, but it is intriguing me, at least as long as it works (which may not be much longer, but it's been fun!).

This Sunday will be 'I am the Gate" which is intriguing for all sorts of reasons.  Hope I can communicate something of what it's got me thinking about!

This poem...

Yesterday evening's service was a sort of reflection on old age and included poems, video clips and some thoughts from me.  Here is the first of two posts sharing some of that material.

This short passage has been chosen by a young couple whose wedding I will be conducting in September... it is just beautiful...

The Beauty of Love (Anon)

Apparently one of two women seeking to become leader of the UK Conservative party and, thence, de facto Prime Minister, has said that she is more invested in the future of this nation because she is a mother than is her rival, who is not.

Whether the report is accurate or not, and however out of context it is being cited, it was guaranteed to anger women who, for any number of reasons are not mothers, myself among them...

Those who never met the right partner
Those for whom it just never happened
Those who were unable to conceive or carry a baby
Those whose male partners were unable to father a child
Those for whom fertility treatment or IVF was unsuccessful
Those who were rendered infertile by injury or illness
Those who were rendered infertile by life saving medical treatment
Those who opted to care for members of their exisiting family
Those who chose careers that made motherhood an unrealisitc option
Those who felt that it was selfish to bring a child into an over-populated world
Those who inadvertently left it too late
Those who knew that motherhood was not for them

Those I didn't even think of...

Apparently we are less invested in the future...
We engineers, scientists, teachers, doctors, nurses, researchers, midwives, chidlren's workers, youth organisation leaders...

I wonder how we define "investment in the future"?

I spent half my adult life working in industry to try to ensure a safe, reliable electricity supply across this land - and shared the frustration of others that no significant government investment was made in research and development of new or alternative technologies

I spent thirty years encouraging other people's daughters to discover and develop their gifts and skills, to know their unique worth whatever life may bring them.  I took them on holidays, accompanied them to courses, went to their school concerts, baptisms, confirmations, weddings...

I continue to spend my adult life trying to support and encourage others as they make sense of life froman overtly Christian perspective, which includes looking forward, practically and prayerfully to a future when I am no longer here.

So if I'm somehow less invested in the future, I'm sorry - but I am more sorry, and not a little angry, at any suggestion that reproducing or not somehow relates to the integrity, investment or suitability of another human being.

Here endeth the rant!

Sunday morning, and we baked bread within the context of worship.  We reflected on a range of ideas (no coherent sermon having emerged!) including...

If Jesus is the 'bread of life' - the staple, carbohydrate, what else do we need for healthy flourishing?  Bread and jam, cheese on toast, roll and sausage... Faith and science, faith and the arts, faith and politics, faith and family etc.

Jesus twice used yeast as a metaphor, once for the kingdom of Good and once as a caution against the attitudes of the Pharisees.  In each one of us both kinds of 'yeast' may be active, so how do we cultivate the good yeast?  And in the post EU referendum context, how are we, indivudually and corporately good yeast?

And communion the breaking of bread as a metaphor for Christ's broken.  If we apply the metaphor of 'Christ's body' to the church, how are we broken - scattered, consumed - for the health (and maybe salvation) of the world of which we are part?

We used this video in lieu of a communion liturgy...

And the bread recipe, just in case anyone wants it...

250g strong plain flour

1 tsp/15g dried yeast

1/2 tsp salt

1 tbsp oil

125ml (probably plus a bit more) carbonated water.

Mix the dry ingredients in a bowl.

Add the oil.

Add the water a little at a time, mixing as you go.

Turn out onto a floured board and knead for roughly 6 minutes

Divide into rolls (makes 6-12 dependent on the size)

Brush with a little water if you wish, to help with browning

Back in a hot over 220C for 10-15 minutes

Serve warm with friends and family!

Enjoy.

Photo (c) Brian Muir; faces of minors obscured.