Oooh, I like it when things come together!

Last Sunday we celebrated Pentecst and it was trully wonderful.

This week we continue looking at how the Spirit moves... beware sacramentalists I am exploring charisms and spiritual fruit in terms of of an Aquinas style definition of a sacrament (so less about rituals/rites/'special' grace and more characteristics/attitudes/'ordinary' grace).  See, if you understoof sacraments properly (i.e. like wot I do) it'd be fine!

Next week we are going to use the BMS Undefeated material which links to the paralympics... I know that is a-g-e-s off yet.  But, cue spooky music... the olympic torch passes the end of the road where the Gathering Place islocated not once but twice next week!  It is in the last stretch fFriday, due to pass us just before 6 p.m. and the first stretch of Saturday, due past a little after 7 a.m.

Truly Spirit in Motion in every sense of the word

My blogging friend Perpetua has very kindly awarded me this badge which  have gladly accepted.  The lovely orange gerbera type daisy brings brightness into my day when the weather in Glasgow is grey and significantly cooler than it has been.  Not that I'm complaining, I was finding the heat a bit overwhelming.

Anyway, the theory is that your link ten sunny blogs, giving them the award, and answer nine other questions about yourself.  If I am honest, it is question one (the blog links) that has stumped me as many fo the blogs I follow are fairly serious!  And many of the sunny ones are defunct!  So I have selected a few of those I read regularly which often bring a smile to my face, and which are diverse in content.  They are not 'tags' but if the nominees wish to accept the award and tag onwards, then they are very welcome to; if they don't that's fine too (at least one says its owner is not accepting awards!).  I got to eight, in no particular order, if I missed yours and you feel miffed, sorry!

Tracing Rainbows (the blog of a pastor's wife in semi-rural England)

It Could Only happen to You Chez (the no holds barred blog of a feisty young woman from Liverpool who has faced breast cancer; caution latest post has her SCAR project style photos)

Well I Never (a blog mainly of creative writing and craft stuff)

Living Wittily (the blog of a theologian, poetry lover and general good egg)

The Beaker Folk of Husbourne Crawley (Archdruid Eileen and her friends)

The Ongoing Adventures of ASBO Jesus (funny and thought provoking cartoons)

Rumours of Rhyme (another poetry/creative writing blog)

Grounded (the photo blog of ministerial student and former pilot)

Now to the other questions...

Another lovely oldie, can be found in BHB, CH4, H&P, R&S among others

Spirit of God, descend upon my heart;
Wean it from earth; through all its pulses move;
Stoop to my weakness, mighty as Thou art,
And make me love Thee as I ought to love.

I ask no dream, no prophet-ecstasies,
no sudden rending of the veil of clay,
no angel-visitant, no opening skies;
but take the dimness of my soul away.

Hast Thou not bid me love Thee, God and King -
All, all Thine own, soul, heart, and strength and mind?
I see Thy cross - there teach my heart to cling:
O let me seek Thee, and O let me find!

Teach me to feel that Thou art always nigh;
Teach me the struggles of the soul to bear,
To check the rising doubt, the rebel sigh;
Teach me the patience of unanswered prayer.

Teach me to love Thee as Thine angels love,
One holy passion filling all my frame -
The baptism of the heaven-descended Dove,
My heart an altar, and Thy love the flame.

George Croly (1780-1860)

There are a few variants of this one, which is to be found in BHB, MP, CH4 and a whole host of other older hymnbooks.

Spirit divine, attend our prayers,
and make our hearts thy home;
descend with all thy gracious powers;
O come, great Spirit, come!

Come as the light: to us reveal
our emptiness and woe;
and lead us in those paths of life
where all the righteous go.

Come as the fire, and purge our hearts
like sacrificial flame;
let our whole soul an offering be
to our Redeemer's name.

Come as the dew, and sweetly bless
this consecrated hour;
may barrenness rejoice to own
thy fertilizing power.

Come as the dove, and spread thy wings,
the wings of peaceful love;
and let thy church on earth become
blest as the church above.

Come as the wind, with rushing sound
and pentecostal grace,
that all of woman born may see
the glory of thy face.

Spirit divine, attend our prayers;
make a lost world thy home;
descend with all thy gracious powers;
O come, great Spirit, come!

Andrew Reed (1787-1862) CM

This morning I've been searching for hymns/songs for Sunday which is kind of "Pentecost Part Deux" as I make a bridge between Pentecost last Sunday and using the BMS Undefeated resource next.  I found some gorgeous old hymns (alert - I may be digging out the old GREEN Baptist Hymnbooks on Sunday as I found two lovely ones that didn't make the cut for BPW). 

I also found this one, in Kid Source...

The Holy Spirit is a 'he', not an 'it' (not an 'it')

The Holy Spirit is a 'he', not an 'it' (not an 'it')

The Holy Spirirt is a 'he', how would you feel if you were he

And ev'rybody in the church called you 'it' (called you 'it')

Steve Burnthorpe, (c) Daybreak Music

Nice idea but actually wrong.  I'm not sure when the translation from the Hebrew and Greek first rendered the Spirit as male, but it is a mis-translation that is not sustainable once we learn that ruach, pneuma, sophia are all feminine words.  I totally get what the song writer is trying to achieve, but it's flawed.  So, let's attempt a version that won't offend those who struggle with feminine language for God, but which is authentically rooted in scripture:

The Holy Spirit is Sophia, not an 'it' (not a 'it')

The Holy Spirit is Ruach, not a 'it' (not a 'it')

The Holy Spirit is Pnuema, how would you feel if it were you

And ev'rybody in the church called you 'it' and not your name?