I wrote this two years ago when on sabbatical. I'd forgotten about it until it popped up on Facebook Memories. Not had a lot of silence recently - the world, the church, the work - all feels very noisy just now. There's a need to find sabbath moments in the midst of the everyday.

COUNTDOWN

Words that break silence

carry a currency greater

than the cheap words

of our endless babble.

The Babel unravelling of human

relating, reveals a creator

who, with fingers in divine ears

wants some peace

and, perhaps,

to get a word in edgeways.

And what of the babblers?

We rabbit on, afraid that

should we refrain, pause,

stop, for a single second,

we might hear in the silence,

the clock-tick rhythm of our

heartbeats and be reminded

that this is a count down

to a greater silence.

by Michaela Youngson

From Rumour to Love.

A reflection on the journey to Emmaus in the light of Covid 19

This reflection was shared with pastors from Columbia, Cuba, USA, and other places in the Caribbean and the Americas on the evening of 26th April.

From Rumour to Love.

We live in a time of rumours – more so in these last few weeks than ever before. We know of wars and rumours of wars, we hear the news from far off lands – famine, pestilence, earthquake, fires and floods. For most of us, most of the time, these things are a long way away. 

These days the rumours are about disease, numbers of deaths, a shortage of PPE, not enough ventilators. The consequences of the disease, as always, most devastating to the poor and vulnerable and yet, for once, the rich and comfortable are not immune.

Rumours and facts. How strong would a rumour need to be to make us take action? What news would encourage us to set out on a journey – from Jerusalem to Emmaus? For those followers of Jesus walking the seven miles, perhaps back home, to Emmaus – what was it that prompted their journey? The death of Jesus was a devastating blow – grief beyond words, loss of hope, loss of purpose and I wonder if, as many people going through bereavement do, they just needed to get away, to leave the trauma behind and head for a safe place, a parent’s embrace, a welcoming hearth and an hospitable table?

Whatever the purpose of their journey, we understand from the text that the travelers were perplexed – they had heard rumours – some of the women whispered their witness and others went to see for themselves. Let’s not get sidetracked as to why the testimony of a woman might be seen as rumour or fake-news… that could be a discussion for another day!

As they walked, Cleopas and his companion were joined along the way – as walkers on a pilgrimage might travel together with strangers for a while, sharing stories of the road. Scripture was broken open for them by the stranger, yet it was only at the breaking of the bread that Jesus was revealed as the ultimate com-pan-ion, the one who shares bread – a new feast for a new life.

For me, so much resonates in this story in the context we find ourselves today – mostly to do with what we cannot do. The usual patterns and practices of grief and responding to death cannot be followed. Those of us in contexts of lockdown are leading funerals where a handful of permitted mourners stand or sit, metres apart – where loved ones refrain from embracing because of the risk of infection. 

If I go for a walk today, I cannot welcome a stranger joining me, rather I cross the road to maintain safety – not because I am afraid of the virus but because I love my neighbour enough not to risk spreading it to them. A core story for us is the Good Samaritan, the one who crossed the road towards danger and showed practical and physical care for a stranger – and now we walk by on the other side. If we can couch this action in the language of love, we might feel better about it but it still hurts and dismays us.

And I cannot, like Jesus and his friends, break bread with the communities of faith with whom I work and offer oversight and care. This for many is the most difficult ‘cannot’ in all of this. For me I couch it in terms of fasting. My husband asked if I wished to offer him communion on Easter Day (not, I think for his sake, but for mine) and my reply was that if the churches I serve cannot receive, then I will endure that same depravation until we can all share together. In these times ‘solidarity’ is a concept we need to discover again and experience in a profound way.

So, if we cannot see Jesus broken before us – can the scales still fall from our eyes? I think it is possible to recognise Jesus – not in the cultic practices of our liturgical acts – rather he can be seen in the brokenness of a nurse working a 12-hour shift in inadequate equipment who then goes to a hotel room because he is shielding his family from the risk of infection. It is in the volunteers moving heaven and earth to get food to those who are vulnerable. It is in the work of the doctor in a refugee camp, who chooses not to go to her home country, but to stay in the midst of the danger. It is in the church, the body of Christ, in those moments when we choose not to obsess about what has been taken away from us but rather look again at what we might give away.

Who knows how the world will look after all of this – and it’s going to be a long journey to travel to ‘after’. I believe our challenge is to keep recognising Jesus in our contexts and joining him in his mission of self-giving love.

Will these dry... churches... live?

My take on today's OT passage. A paraphrase I wrote some years ago. Interesting to look at in the light of church having to exist without (as in Scottish use) her buildings.

O God, I don’t know
Ezekiel 37.1 – 14

The hand of God came upon me and led me out. God’s Spirit set me down in the middle of a valley; it was full of churches. God led me all round them; there were very many lying the valley, and they were very dry. God spoke to me, saying ‘Mortal, can these churches live?’ I answered, ‘ O God, I don’t know.’

Then God said to me, ‘Prophesy to these churches and say to them: O dry churches, hear the word of God. Thus says God to these churches: I will cause my Spirit to enter you, and you shall live. I will give you a purpose and teach you to love, I will heal you and put my Spirit within you, and you shall live; and you shall know that I am God.’

So I prophesied as I had been commanded; and suddenly there was a noise, a rattling of keys and stone and windows, a clunking of pews and chairs, a breaking of glass. The churches came together, they found a purpose but there was no life in them. God said to me, call to the Spirit, call mortal and say to the Spirit: ‘Thus says God, come from the four winds, from the ends of the earth, breathe upon these dead churches, that they may live.’ I prophesied as God had commanded me, and the Spirit came into them and they lived, they stood on their feet, a vast multitude.

Then God said to me, ‘Mortal, these churches are the body of Christ. They say, ‘Our churches are dried up, and our hope is lost, we are cut off and declining.’ Therefore prophesy, and say to them. Thus says God, I am going to open your doors and bring you out from your buildings, and you are going to live. O my people, I will bring you back to life. You will know that I am God, when I open your doors and bring you out from your buildings, O my people. I will put my Spirit within you and you shall live, and I will bring you to a fertile place; then you will know that I, your God, have spoken and will act.’

Weaver, Word and Wisdom reflective prayers

Reflective Prayer

Creation Echoes

 

CREATION AFFIRMATION[1]

We believe in God,

Who created all things.

We believe in Jesus,

Through whom all things were created.

We believe in the Holy Spirit,

Who works continually to restore creation.

Amen.

PRAYER OF PREPARATION[2]

God of peace, keep our minds
on what is true and commands respect,

what is just, pure and kind,

whatever is excellent and commendable.

Let these fill our hearts

and guide our actions in Jesus’ name.

KYRIE

            Kyrie eleison,

            Christe eleison.

            Kyrie eleison.

ABSOLUTION AND CONFESSION[3]

God says, ‘Behold I am making all things new.’

Know in your hearts that your sins are forgiven.

Thanks be to God.

Amen.

In response to such grace let us confess our sins:

Creator God, your world is full of beauty and diversity,

Through actions of violence and attitudes of ignorance 

we have made it ugly and demanded conformity:

Forgive us for not treading gently on sacred ground.

Creator God, all we have is born of love,

Through actions of hate and attitudes of prejudice

we have learned to see our neighbours as dangerous and evil:

Forgive us for not treading gently on sacred ground.

Creator God, you have given us more than we can ever need,

Through actions of greed and attitudes of carelessness

we have deprived our neighbours of your good gifts:

Forgive us for not treading gently on sacred ground. 

Amen

PRAYER OF ADORATION[4]

Creator God, 

Maker of all that is, we offer you our praise:Heaven and earth are full of your glory.

You brought light out of darkness, 

Day for our fulfilment and night for our rest:

Heaven and earth are full of your glory.

You raised the mountains, laid low the plains,
Filled the seas with life and sprinkled the sky with stars:

Heaven and earth are full of your glory.

You formed people; children, women and men,

Diverse, complex, creative and beautiful:

Heaven and earth are full of your glory.

You did not abandon us to chaos,

but remain intimately involved in our story:

Heaven and earth are full of your glory.

You revealed your love in the life of your Son,

Your Word made flesh, living among us:

Heaven and earth are full of your glory.

You move within our lives as Holy Spirit,

Opening our eyes to your grace and truth.

Heaven and earth are full of your glory.

Accept our praise in Christ’s name. Amen

CREATION ECHOES        Genesis 1.1-5 & John 1.1-5

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters.

He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being.

Then God said, ‘Let there be light’; and there was light. And God saw that the light was good;

What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people.

And God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.

SILENCE

PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION[5]

Giver of life and light,

We pray for places in creation where your light struggles to break through.

For places of poverty, degradation and despair:

For children who go hungry,

For women trafficked into sexual slavery,

For men taking their own lives because life seems hopeless.

Help us to remember that the light shines in the darkness,

and the darkness will not overcome it.

Giver of life and light,

We pray for places in creation where your light struggles to break through.

For places of suffering, sadness and fear:

For those who face ill health,

For those who live with deep grief,

For those whose future seems bleak and uncertain.

Help us to remember that the light shines in the darkness,

and the darkness will not overcome it.

Giver of life and light,

We pray for places in creation where your light struggles to break through.

For places of power, corruption and oppression:

That the leaders of nations will have wisdom and mercy,

That massive money making companies will be fair to their workers,

That those who are not free to live, love or believe in their own way will know peace.

Help us to remember that the light shines in the darkness,

and the darkness will not overcome it.

Giver of life and light,

We pray for places in creation where your light struggles to break through.

We remember those places and people known to us who need your light and love.

Silence

Help us to remember that the light shines in the darkness,

and the darkness will not overcome it.

            

In the name of God, Creator, Redeemer, Sustainer, we pray. 

Amen.

LORD’S PRAYER

Abba, hallowed be your name;

Your kingdom come.

The bread of tomorrow, give us today.

Forgive us our debts, as we, here and now, forgive our debtors.

Do not let us succumb to temptation.

Amen.

FOR REFLECTION                       

THE WEAVER, THE WORD AND WISDOM[6]

In the beginning, the Weaver, The Word and Wisdom 

moving in relationship together,

caught a vision of potential,

a glimpse of possibility, and, 

with tentative steps, creation’s dance began.

Creation was shot through with the generosity of the Weaver’s grace.
The rhythm of life’s passion played loudly 

as a constant beat at the heart of myriad universes.

Against this universal backdrop, The Word moved 

and became free, small and intimate.

In the cry of a child, the song of a woman 

and the shout of a dying man

the Word’s voice added melody to the Weaver’s song.

In the midst of confusion, absence and loss,
Wisdom found her way.
She had danced with the Weaver’s threads, throughout all time,
weaving a maypole dance of energetic passion.
She added harmony to the beat and the melody

and composed a symphony of colour.

If creation for a single moment fails to hear the Weaver’s rhythm, 

or misses the Word’s intimate melody, 

then Wisdom will dance through the silence
until all that is joins in love’s rejoicing.

BLESSING

May the light of the Creator shine upon you

May the Word of Christ call to you

May the Spirit of God inspire you.

Amen

Image:      Melting Ice Caps - detail, From the series ‘Acts of Uncreation’. 

In fused glass Artist Michaela Youngson.

---

[1] Michaela Youngson, The Weaver, The Word and Wisdom, Epworth Press

[2] Church in Wales, An Order for Holy Eucharist, Canterbury Press 2004. pg 23

[3] Michaela Youngson, The Weaver, The Word and Wisdom, Epworth Press.

[4] Ibid

[5] ibid

[6] ibid

Reflective Prayer

Used in the Chapel at Gladstone's Library - March 2020

Please copy and use as you wish, including acknowledgements

Wilderness

The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad,
   the desert shall rejoice and blossom;
like the crocus it shall blossom abundantly,
   and rejoice with joy and singing.
The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it,
   the majesty of Carmel and Sharon.
They shall see the glory of the Lord,
   the majesty of our God. 

                                                Isaiah 35.1-2

PRAYER OF PREPARATION[1]

God of peace, keep our minds
on what is true and commands respect,

what is just, pure and kind,

whatever is excellent and commendable.

Let these fill our hearts

and guide our actions in Jesus’ name.

KYRIE

            Kyrie eleison,

            Christe eleison.

            Kyrie eleison.

ABSOLUTION AND CONFESSION[2]

            God forgives you;

            Forgive others;

            Forgive yourself.

            In response to such grace let us confess our sins:

            We need your healing, merciful God:

            give us true repentance.

            Some sins are plain to us,

            some escape us,

            some we cannot face.

            Forgive us:

            set us free to hear your word to us;

            set us free to serve you. Amen.

PRAYER OF ADORATION[3]

Generous God,

When we travel in unfamiliar territory, remind us that:

Your word inspired the people of Israel to risk the wilderness.

Your word moved Miriam to dance in praise of you.

We adore you and worship you.

Your word led Moses to find life-saving water for his people.

Your Word became flesh and offers us life-giving water.

We adore you and worship you.

Help us to be attentive to your word,

faithful in worship, and generous in our living.

In Christ’s name. Amen.

THE WORD

The wilderness is a liminal place, a space away from the known and the understood. It is a space where things might change, new wisdom might be acquired and from where a new life might begin. The poem is based on Numbers 20, in which we learn that as well as being in the physical wilderness of Zin, the people of Israel are in the wilderness of mourning because Miriam has died. 

IN THE WILDERNESS OF ZIN[4]

In the wilderness of Zin

in the place called Kadesh,

you died Miriam and we grieved as we buried you.

Who will find the water to wash the grave soil from our hands?

Who will find the water to wash the pain from our hearts?

Who will find the water to keep us alive in this God-forsaken place?

Moses, with your laws and plans, 

what use are they if we die of thirst?

Moses, with your tablets of stone, 

will they feed us when our animals starve?

Moses, with your Yahweh yearning, 

take us back to the familiar old landscapes.

What kind of wake can we offer you Miriam?

A funeral feast needs grain, figs, grapes and pomegranates.

In Egypt we would have said a proper prayer and sent you off in style.

Aaron, talk to Moses, get him to see sense.

Aaron, we are frightened, we are losing hope.

Aaron, stop hiding in your grief and rescue your people.

You led us to the rock, unyielding granite, hard like Edom’s heart.

You led us to the glorious holiness of Yahweh, the one God.

You led us to living water, flowing over angry words, 

            smoothing them to caresses.

We splashed in the spring, revelled in the ripples and drank deeply of love.

We danced in the sparkling jewels that form of light glancing on water.

We remembered Miriam and, in our dancing, grief was cleansed of anger.

SILENCE

GOSPEL

Luke 4.1-14

Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing at all during those days, and when they were over, he was famished. The devil said to him, ‘If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become a loaf of bread.’ Jesus answered him, ‘It is written, “One does not live by bread alone.”’

Then the devil led him up and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And the devil said to him, ‘To you I will give their glory and all this authority; for it has been given over to me, and I give it to anyone I please. If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.’ Jesus answered him, ‘It is written,

“Worship the Lord your God,
   and serve only him.”’

Then the devil took him to Jerusalem, and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, saying to him, ‘If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, for it is written,

“He will command his angels concerning you, to protect you”, and
“On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.”’

Jesus answered him, ‘It is said, 

“Do not put the Lord your God to the test.”’ 

When the devil had finished every test, he departed from him until an opportune time.  Then Jesus, filled with the power of the Spirit, returned to Galilee, and a report about him spread through all the surrounding country.

SILENCE

PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION[5]

God, whose Spirit drives your people out 

from the comfortable, safe places;

guide us through each wilderness, 

every tough and lifeless landscape 

that would drain our energy and leave our souls parched.

We pray for those who travel through wildernesses of fear, loss and hate…

Help us to find places of refreshment, 

to wet our lips with your living water,
to drink deeply of your life-giving stream.

We pray for those who travel through wildernesses of poverty, disease and injustice…

Help us to travel with our eyes open, 

that we might glimpse your glory in unexpected places 

and your presence in unlikely people.

We pray for those who travel through wildernesses of isolation, prejudice and misunderstanding…

Help us to remain attentive, 

that we might see the wilderness as a place of beauty 

and sanctuary that will bring us, in the end, 

closer to the fullness of your grace.

In the name of the one tested in the wilderness. Amen.

LORD’S PRAYER

Abba, hallowed be your name;

Your kingdom come.

The bread of tomorrow, give us today.

Forgive us our debts, as we, here and now, forgive our debtors.

Do not let us succumb to temptation.

Amen.

FOR REFLECTION

I see the world being slowly transformed into a wilderness; 

I hear the approaching thunder that, one day, will destroy us too. 

I feel the suffering of millions. 

And yet, when I look up at the sky, 

I somehow feel that everything will change for the better, 

that this cruelty too shall end, 

that peace and tranquility will return once more. 

Anne Frank

Poetry is one of the ancient arts, and it began as did all the fine arts, within the original wilderness of the earth.

                                                                        Mary Oliver

BLESSING[6]

For glimpses of grace,
For shade in the wilderness,
For places of rest
We thank you, loving God.

In the arid places,
In the places of exposure,
In the heat of the day
We pray for your blessing.

Guide us in your way.
Amen

Cover Image:      Global Warming (detail), from ‘Six Acts of Uncreation’, 

in fused glass by Michaela Youngson.

---

[1] Philippians 4.8

[2] the church of the Province of New Zealand. The Liturgy of the Eucharist Genesis Publications. 1984. pg 50 (alt).

[3] Michaela Youngson, The Weaver, The Word and Wisdom, Epworth, 2008 (altered)

[4] ibid.

[5] ibid

[6] ibid

A poem, reflecting on silence and our fear of it.

COUNTDOWN

by Michaela Youngson

Words that break silence

carry a currency greater

than the cheap words

of our endless babble.

The Babel unravelling of human

relating, reveals a creator

who, with fingers in divine ears

wants some peace 

and, perhaps, 

to get a word in edgeways.

And what of the babblers?

We rabbit on, afraid that

should we refrain, pause,

stop, for a single second,

we might hear in the silence,

the clock-tick rhythm of our 

heartbeats and be reminded

that this is a count down

to a greater silence.