QFC Sept 26

Welcome and Peace

All are invited. Whether you consider yourself a close friend of Jesus, or are just a wee bit curious we meet in his name and share his peace.

We meet in Peace and make peace through meeting.

We collect our thoughts together

God of our salvation,
be with us when we call upon you,
and bless us with your steadfast loving kindness:
restore in us the beauty of your creation
and keep intact the gifts you have restored,
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.

Reading from the book

 The whole congregation of the Israelites complained against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness.  The Israelites said to them, ‘If only we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the fleshpots and ate our fill of bread; for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.’

Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘I am going to rain bread from heaven for you, and each day the people shall go out and gather enough for that day. In that way I will test them, whether they will follow my instruction or not. On the sixth day, when they prepare what they bring in, it will be twice as much as they gather on other days.’ So Moses and Aaron said to all the Israelites, ‘In the evening you shall know that it was the Lord who brought you out of the land of Egypt, and in the morning you shall see the glory of the Lord, because he has heard your complaining against the Lord. For what are we, that you complain against us?’ And Moses said, ‘When the Lord gives you meat to eat in the evening and your fill of bread in the morning, because the Lord has heard the complaining that you utter against him—what are we? Your complaining is not against us but against the Lord.’

 Then Moses said to Aaron, ‘Say to the whole congregation of the Israelites, “Draw near to the Lord, for he has heard your complaining.”’ And as Aaron spoke to the whole congregation of the Israelites, they looked towards the wilderness, and the glory of the Lord appeared in the cloud. The Lord spoke to Moses and said,  ‘I have heard the complaining of the Israelites; say to them, “At twilight you shall eat meat, and in the morning you shall have your fill of bread; then you shall know that I am the Lord your God.”’

 In the evening quails came up and covered the camp; and in the morning there was a layer of dew around the camp.  When the layer of dew lifted, there on the surface of the wilderness was a fine flaky substance, as fine as frost on the ground.  When the Israelites saw it, they said to one another, ‘What is it?’^[a] For they did not know what it was. Moses said to them, ‘It is the bread that the Lord has given you to eat.

Exodus 16: 2-15

Reading From Creation

Some of us will have walked here, others will have arrived by other means. We will all wander onto other places afterwards. The chapter of creation to read today could be titled “Roads”. We will take time to explore roads and pathways .

• What is the difference between a way, a path and a road?
• What do all of the above have in common?
• Remember to look around you! Avoid the temptation to discuss semantics, we can do that sitting in our front rooms. What roads can you ‘see ‘ do insects make roads, do birds follow a path?

Travelling can be hard work. Where do we find nutrition, refreshment, on the road?

• Do you plan your routes based of where you can find refreshment
• If your spiritual life is a journey, have times have been wilderness journeys, and others a walk in the park?
• It is the season of harvests – where have you found Oases, or ‘Mana’ from Heaven and was this ever unexpected?

Gathering Song

As has been said – “Not all who wander are lost” – We have to leave home to return again; grubby, scarred, and exhausted, to the delight of those who care for us.

I have climbed the highest mountains
I have run through the fields
Only to be with you
Only to be with you.

I have run, I have crawled
I have scaled these city walls
These city walls
Only to be with you.

But I still haven’t found
What I’m looking for.
But I still haven’t found
What I’m looking for.

I have kissed honey lips
Felt the healing in her finger tips
It burned like fire
(I was) burning inside her.

I have spoke with the tongue of angels
I have held the hand of a devil
It was warm in the night
I was cold as a stone.

But I still haven’t found
What I’m looking for.
But I still haven’t found
What I’m looking for.

I believe in the Kingdom Come
Then all the colours will bleed into one
Bleed into one.
But yes, I’m still running.

You broke the bonds
And you loosed the chains
Carried the cross of my shame
Oh my shame, you know I believe it.

But I still haven’t found
What I’m looking for.
But I still haven’t found
What I’m looking for.

But I still haven’t found
What I’m looking for.
But I still haven’t found
What I’m looking for.

I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For

U2 – The Joshua Tree )

Prayer

The earth is the Lord’s, And all that is upon it

Created and creative things, Fruit and Fruitfulness

Springtime and Summer, Seedtime and harvest

For the promise of harvest contained within a seed we thank you.

For the oak tree within an acorn, The bread within a grain, The apple within a pip,

The mystery of nature gift wrapped for us to sow

we thank you.

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Blessing

(together)

We see signs of summer’s passing in golden leaves,
shortening days, misty mornings, autumn glow.
We sense its passing in rain that dampens,
winds that chill, Harvest’s bounty placed on show.

Creator God, who brings forth both green shoot and hoar frost, sunrise and sunset, we bring our thanks for seeds that have grown, harvests gathered, storehouses filled, mouths fed.

And, as your good earth rests through winter’s cold embrace, we look forward to its re-awakening when kissed by Spring’s first touch.

Praying through the Celtic year

Refreshment

We will probably end up at the Central cafe! But as always we listen to all who have gathered and then decide.