Here is a new reading of the Christmas story from lancu, Anwen and Trefan. They are aided by Will and Catalina and various bits of technology. It’s great – enjoy
Uncategorized
Gather Community Garden ‘Open Garden’ on August 28
You are invited to join us at our Gather Community Garden (GCG) Open Garden taking place between 10.00am and 2.00pm on Saturday 28th August. GCG is a 7 plot partnership with local charity Growing Futures. It is open 6 mornings a week and is also used at other times. As well as growing fruit and vegetables the plot also has a 2 beehives, 21 chickens, 2 toilets, and indoor and outdoor cafe areas. Additionally there is a quiet garden based around the theme of Psalm 23 and a prayer room used for personal and group reflection.
The project will host an art exhibit in September and will be the venue for a Men’s Garden Shed project – also launching in September.
The community garden project is part of the work the Gather Collective chaplaincy team. It reflects our desire to help create community connections for people and be a presence within our communities. It is also underpinned by our belief in creation care and healthy food access.
For users of what3words here is our exact location. You can also find a map below – we are on the footpath between Churchdale Road and Hammonds Drive. (Bookers and Wickes)
Holy Week – Day 3
Tuesday (Matthew 22v1-15)
Jesus does some intensive teaching here, recorded in chapters 22-25 of Matthew. He tells many stories or parables, mostly about being ready for his return, which was a bit odd, as he had not gone away yet! We need to picture Jesus teaching in a public place, probably the temple precincts, from which he had evicted the bootfair. His audience would be mixed, the disciples, women and children, non-Jews, ordinary worshippers from all over the known world, and of course the religious leaders. He tells a story about a wedding feast, in reality, the story of how God and his representatives, the prophets, had been treated and at the last, how the Son would be treated. Needless to say, the religious leaders hated Jesus all the more when they realised they were the ‘bad guys’ of the piece.
The part about the man being thrown out owing to not wearing a wedding garment might seem a bit odd to us, because when we are invited to a wedding, we usually look on it as an opportunity for some retail therapy. At the time of Jesus and in some cultures round the world today, it is customary for the bride and groom to provide wedding clothes for the guests (assuming they are wealthy enough). This ensures that everyone is equal and that the poorer members of the family are not shown up by their lack.
When we become Christians, we all receive the same wedding garments (salvation) it matters not a jot if we are rich, poor, have a degree, are stunningly beautiful, homely, before God, we are all in need of Jesus and only he can qualify us for heaven. hol;
Selah: Worship the one who makes us all that God requires.
Pioneer Network February Update
2021’s first Pioneer Update comes from some of our Core Team and Staff as they share news and updates on the recent Women Leader’s Conference, our upcoming Annual Leader’s Conference, 40 Days of Prayer, Safeguarding and Pioneer RISE!
Judith on ‘Choosing to Rejoice’.
Choose to rejoice. Those were the words on our Lectio365 daily devotional which resonated. CHOOSE to rejoice. I find these long lockdown days I am having to do more choosing to rejoice- don’t know about you.
I’ve been thinking about Hagar recently when she fled into the desert after being mistreated by her mistress Sarah because she had become pregnant by Abraham, at Sarah’s suggestion. Now I can’t compare my experience with Hagar’s, but it does feel a bit desert like as we live our lives without seeing close friends and family, without hugs, without seeing people except on screens, without being able to work in the usual way, without our usual income, without gathering for worship together, without being able to confidently plan any of the above.