This morning we pondered the letter to Philemon, which was read in conjunction with part of Colossians and with a bit of Galatians as a call to worship.

Paul's dilemma - he espouses a theology of a reconciled creation in which such potentially divisive categories as race, gender and status have no significance, and now he has to deal with the very real issue of a runaway slave.  How should he respond?

We looked at four possiblities:

The parable of the starfish method - I can't change the world but I can make a difference in this specific instance (so, not challenging the status quo of slavery but making an empassioned an dpastoral plea on behalf on Onesimus)

The prophet method - to denounce the status quo and announce an alternative... noting that few are truly called to the prophet's role, and for most the task is to hear and respond

The subversive method - obeying the rules to the letter in a way that shows how ricidulous they are: turning the other cheek, giving your tunic as well as your cloak, walking the extra mile

The transformative method - being salt and light, or the leaven in the lump , or the mustard seed.  Values and actions that influence those nearby subtly and significantly, changing culture and practice.

What we need to do is - hold on to our vision of a renewed, reconciled creation and by whatever means is right for us, starfish, prophetic, subversive, transformative or any blend thereof, live out what it is we profess.

And that is my sermon in a fraction of the words!!

I think last night went aright - we certainly had some good conversation, shared some tasty food and 'partook' of bread and 'wine' in a very informal way.

We each agreed to host a similar gathering within the next couple of months, so the gentle 'cascade' begins, with four homes each hosting up to about half a dozen guests next time.

Watch this space!

Bird of Paradise flower, Madeira, 2013.

Another "AD" holiday with another friend.

In the "BC" days I never went overseas on holiday, partly because I love exploring the UK (and have seen far more of it than most people I know) and partly because I mostly took solo holidays (which I also love, and to an quite an extent miss) so was not really confident to go so far afield.  What a lot has changed!

This friend I met back in the early 1980s when we worked in the same office in Derby.  Like all of my long term friendships, we have each seen our share of struggle and pain along the way, and we have also loved and laughed.  This friend is definitely my 'overseas travel' buddy, and we continue to share plans for more adventures in the coming months.

Madeira was our second overseas jaunt, having previously been to Hungary (no great nature photos from there for some reason) and it ended up with an extra day when rain closed the airport...!

Once I've posted this, my next task is to start work on a big pot of vegetable broth for this evening.

I am excited to be hosting a first, experimental, "pot luck" meal within the context of which we will " break bread" (share Communion) in a very low key way.  The hope is that conversation will flow, relationships be forged and strengthened, and that these first few participants will feel encouraged to have a go at hosting themselves.

If all goes well, I will be inviting these folk to undertake to host a similar small gathering with the next couple of months (so that would mean five homes in the next 'cycle') with a view to cascading this to include everyone who would like to come along and/or host over time.

In these early days, it's important NOT to keep inviting the same folk but instead to make a concious decision to invite people we maybe know less well, or who know each other less well, to help make a stronger 'web' or 'network' of relationshsips. We may need to co-ordinate a bit to ensure we can include everyone in a  timely fashion.

Next time, I hope to be able to include at least one family with young children in those in my home, so that this can be truly inter-generational.

I'm excited - I hope other people will be to.

Passion Flowers in Edinburgh in 2012!

I decided to stick with my "AD holidays" theme for these photos, and of itself it is enjoyable to look through them again, recalling places and people.

This was a Staycation based at home here in Glasgow, and shared with my bestest walking buddy.

The flowers were photographed in Edinburgh ona day when we enjoyed the Princes Street Gardens before the spectacle of the Tattoo in the Castle.

Any photos of times we've shared have a degree of poignancy, since each of us has faced some huge and painful challenges over the years.  The passion flowers, with their interpretted symbolism of the crucifixion are at once beautiful and poignant in their own right.

Hope you enjoy the photo.