Reflections during Lent @mooninpuddle-blog - Tumblr Blog

Remembering my grandfather Herbert Down

Remembrance Sunday 2018 and remembering my grandfather Herbert Down:

I found a thin sacred space on Remembrance Sunday last year. As you know it was the 100-year Anniversary of the end of the First World War. It was the last time for me to walk on the parade as one of the local Town Councillors. I wanted to wear a white poppy symbolizing peace in addition to a red one. Some of the trappings of…

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#angels #First World War #grandfather #Lancashire Fusiliers #Pals Regiments #peace #red poppy #Remembrance Sunday 2018 #saints #stretcher bearer #thin places #war #white poppy

Altered Perspectives (Revised) (first written 14 April 2014 as part of reflections during Lent.)

Do you know what you are looking for? When you think of your life’s ambitions what do you dream of doing?

Do you want to be that one person who can make all the difference- that fantastic cricket player that saves the Ashes; the brilliant singer who has been on top with his music sales for several years; or that charismatic…

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#Do you get what you are hoping for? Diana Ross; hidden treasure; parables about the kingdom of heaven; pearl of great value; Matthew 13: Par

Where do you store your treasure? — dbobstoner It’s been a year now that Mandy & I have been serving in this community. It certainly has been interesting – in a good way I’ll quickly add.

My Beloved sister Cassie

Tenth anniversary of my eldest sister’s death.

Ten years ago today my eldest sister Cassie took her own life in front of a high speed train, stepping off the platform at her local station.

This was one of her poems that I read at her funeral:

Midwinter Two deer, In the frosty half light At the start of the year. You turn towards me Shyly. Startled, you bound away. Not together but apart. Make not…

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#beauty #butterfly #compassion. care #Deep peace #deer #faith #loss #Love #shade. light. funeral. death #suicide #summer sun

Martha and Mary

If I decide to come to your Church

Will you expect me to be?

Martha… Always busy, busy doing Raising money, baking cakes Calling door to door for Christian Aid Giving lifts to the young and elderly Being part of the coffee rota The flower rota The counting of money And giving of money To keep the Church going A few stalwarts baling water To keep it afloat Growing ever…

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Family Wisdom: Part Seven (Final songs and blessings) People are often unreasonable, illogical and self-centred Forgive them anyway If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish ulterior motives.

#Blessings; forgive; be kind; be successful; build; be happy; do good; it is between you and God; Mother Teresa; Jubilate everybody; trees of

Family Wisdom: Part Six (Prayers of Intercession) I led this service at the beginning of July, the start of the Summer holidays. Now it is November and we have just finished the Autumn half term holiday for schools in this area.

Family Wisdom: Part Five (My personal reflections)

O storyteller you sit me down you fill me with tears and love and laughter. come into my life, and tell your story through me. Amen My reflections on the theme of family wisdom: What have our readings got in common and today? Proverbs is about listening to wisdom. I made a mistake to use Proverbs, as that was not intended as the lectionary reading. And yet, it seemed to fit. I remember…

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#Jesus #Stories; wisdom; wheat and weeds; enemies; thugs and bullies; gremlins; discouraged; brothers and sisters; creation; suffering;Caribbean; pe

Family Wisdom: Part Four At this point in our morning church service I took the collection and said this prayer.

#service; collection; prayer; love; justice; peace; listen; pray; delight; beauty; praise; gospel reading; matthew 13; wheat and the chaff; h

Family Wisdom: Part Three

Romans 8 verses 12 to 25; Translation by Alan T Dale New World: the Heart of the New Testament in Plain English. I have chosen this translation from one of the books I kept from my Dad’s library. Alan Dale introduces Romans as follows: This letter Paul wrote to the Christians in Rome is different from his other letters other letters; as these were Christians Paul had heard about but not yet met.…

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Family Wisdom: Part Two When I am looking at the bite-size piece that I am posting tonight, it seems timely that I importing it on All Hallows (Halloween) or another word for it is All Souls Day.

A Morning Service: Family Wisdom Part One

Hello, on my blog I am going to show the theme and the structure of the service I led during the summer. This is how it began: Family Wisdom: Part One Let us start our service with a short prayer. Wise and gentle God You revealed yourself in time and space and gave us a path to follow. You sent your son, Jesus Christ, to show us your love and truth. We ask you to guide us. Each new day help us…

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#Morning church service; prayer; wisdom; mistakes; family; quotes; Proverbs; Bible Gateway;Book of wisdom; Romans; Matthew: Jesus Christ. Hym

My attempts at leading a service

Earlier, in the summer of this year I was honoured to be asked to lead a service. I was pleased to be asked. And I gave it a go. To my surprise the theme and the service flowed through inspiration. I didn’t know how or why. In some ways it seemed effortless, and yet it took it out of me. Afterwards I have been glad not to be asked again for a while. Mostly in my life, I conform. I try to obey…

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#Church of England #church; service; Methodist #exploration #God #heart-felt #hymn sandwich; love #lay preacher #liturgy #rebel; conform; preacher #relationship

Prayer for Others

My first Prayer is based on words of Mother Julian of Norwich In you Father Almighty, we have our preservation and our bliss; In you Christ, we have our restoring and our saving You are our Mother, Brother and our Saviour. In you, our Lord the Holy Spirit is marvelous and plenteous Grace. You are our clothing; for love you wrap us and embrace us. You are our Maker, our Lover and our keeper.…

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#prayer for others; mental health awareness; death and afterlife; Mother Julian of Norwich; Father Almighty; Christ; Holy Spirit; walking; ca

The hand with the nail embedded in it. (Good Friday Revelation (2))

This is a photograph of the left hand I injured with the nail embedded in my hand to hold the broken bone straight. The nail is under the dressings. The broken little finger strapped to my ring finger.

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#Picture of injured hand; Picture to illustrate my Good Friday; injury; accident; nail; pain; Revelation

Good Friday Revelation

To all fellow bloggers I am sorry that I have not written here for such along time. My life had become increasingly busy and had squeezed out any room for writing and contemplation. The pace of my life instead of a well-controlled stream became like a flooding torrent bursting out of its banks. I was stressed… and anxious and had no time to reflect. By March I was well ready and in need of a…

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#holiday #Jesus #Love #Majorca; complications; taking stock; stop.#rest #unexpected accident; injury; finger; nails; Good Friday

What is success and failure in God's upside down Kingdom? (2)

What is success and failure in God’s upside down Kingdom? (2)

Blessings from Failure: Back in 2011 and prior to my discovery of dyspraxia, my boss tried to help me rectify my overloaded caseload. We worked together and I tried hard to please my manager. I never could. I fell down constantly. He was trying to manage me better. In the end the chronic stress was too great and I was signed off work for 5months with severe anxiety and medium/severe depression.…

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#blessing #Love #prayer #struggle #success; failure; work; dyspraxia; stress; anxiety; depression; not waving but drowning; help; mentor; specific learning disability

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Reflections during Lent