Categories
#SensingSpirituality Thought of the Day

Lent

As we prepare for our journey through Lent here is some insight from our past https://aclerkofoxford.blogspot.com/2015/02/now-pure-and-holy-time-draws-near.html?m=1 If you were given the gift of being able to truly see in this life, what impact would that have on your daily living?

Categories
Mission Thought of the Day

CAP

In some parts of the world absolute poverty is obvious, you see it on the streets as you walk. In Scotland poverty is a complicated issue, and not always visible. This organisation lives out it’s faith through helping people overcome poverty related issues. An important first step is to become aware of what is actually […]

Categories
Arts Thought of the Day

Peace

This picture is one of my early ones. It has been useful a couple of times recently. This morning I was thinking about peace as I stood in to help out at a commemoration of remembering the day that Bruce killed Comyn in Greyfriars, Dumfries. The opportunity to help arose as a result of connections […]

Categories
Creative Worship Theology Thought of the Day

Spirit of Truth

I draw during the 11 O’clock service. The pencil and paper help me to explore the familiar surroundings and repeated words. Perhaps this is similar to taking notes in a lecture theatre, even if the text is available online. Writing helps focus the mind and activate more of the brain to aid retention. For me […]

Categories
Theology Thought of the Day

Pelagius

To what extent is salvation given or worked out through living? I suspect that the issue of how “Grace” and “Works” relate to one another is an example of #SensingMystery, although like all mysteries it involves a confusion of certainty that keeps us going and awareness of the unknown so we have to keep asking […]

Categories
Thought of the Day

Happy Hogmanay

It is the eve before the new year starts! Well, that is, before the calendar year we use in Scotland starts. The financial year, the academic year, and the agricultural years have different starts. As do the multiple liturgical years observed by people living and settled in Scotland. There is also the lunar year which […]

Categories
Arts Thought of the Day

Angels

The featured photos are of a piece of interactive art in a cafe about five years ago. They have spread though facebook and pop will pop in memories for years to come. Another addition to the colourful expression of life in winter. But have you ever wondered if Angels are real, and if so what […]

Categories
Forest Church Thought of the Day

Midwinter

We are choosing to work in relationship with the natural environment when we meet as Forest Church. We are taking a chilled out approach to this though. This means that our midwinter meeting is on a Sunday close to the solstice but not the day of it. We will meet outside the Crichton chapel as […]

Categories
Arts Creative Worship Fresh Expressions Mission Thought of the Day

Illumination

It makes me smile when I think that one of the things which early Christians in these isles are remembered for is illuminated manuscripts. The grin gets broader when I compare the ready appreciation of this art with the slowness with which “youthwork for adults” has been accepted in many worshiping communities. The Manga gospels […]

Categories
Fresh Expressions Mission Thought of the Day

Creative Placemaking

Those interested in pioneer ministry will hopefully be recognise many common ways of working in this article (and perhaps even identify glimmers of micro-gospels). The article is about creative placemaking, and a phrase which stood out to me is: “The common thread amongst various definitions, however, is that it is a process that helps to […]