Skip to main content

Give a Little Love

I came across this video earlier in the month on facebook, and nearly posted it then given that I saw it against the backdrop of community tensions in Belfast over the flying of the Union flag. But I thought I would hold it over to play in the light of this week's Advent candle theme of "Love."
I also do it in the light of the act of thanksgiving for the work of Dundonald Family and Community Initiative  that we are having today in church because it is unfortunately having to close because of lack of funds. There were those who objected to having that as part of this morning's service incase it took the focus off the message of Christmas, but actually, for me DFCI's closure puts the message of Christmas into stark relief... 
God so loved the world that he didn't establish a "programme" or "initiative" - he sent his son (John 3: 16). He took on flesh and blood and moved into the neighbourhood (John 1: 14).
There are times when we, as Christ's body, think that we can programme or professionalise God's love for the world... But we are called to love one another as he has loved us... Incarnationally... Sacrificially... Putting flesh and blood on the Christmas story...
If we were REALLY to do that as individual Christians and as churches, then we wouldn't need  to look for funding for programmes like DFCI, whether it be to the lottery or to anywhere else... 
If we as Christians were to love our neighbours as we love ourselves and we as churches were to love our neighbourhoods, then perhaps there wouldn't be unrest on our streets, be it about flags or anything else...
But just as God gave up heaven to show that he loves us, we need to give up our cosy wee corners and get out into the world... 
Give a little love...


Shalom

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

A Woman of no Distinction

Don't often post other people's stuff here... But I found this so powerful that I thought I should. It's a performance poem based on John 4: 4-30, and I have attached the original YouTube video below. A word for women, and men, everywhere... "to be known is to be loved, and to be loved is to be known." I am a woman of no distinction of little importance. I am a women of no reputation save that which is bad. You whisper as I pass by and cast judgmental glances, Though you don’t really take the time to look at me, Or even get to know me. For to be known is to be loved, And to be loved is to be known. Otherwise what’s the point in doing either one of them in the first place? I WANT TO BE KNOWN. I want someone to look at my face And not just see two eyes, a nose, a mouth and two ears; But to see all that I am, and could be all my hopes, loves and fears. But that’s too much to hope for, to wish for, or pray for So I don’t, not anymore. Now I keep to myself And by that

Psalm for Harvest Sunday

A short responsive psalm for us as a call to worship on Harvest Thanksgiving Sunday, and given that it was pouring with rain as I headed into church this morning the first line is an important remembrance that the rain we moan about is an important component of the fruitfulness of the land we live in: You tend the land and water it And the earth produces its abundance. You crown each year with your bounty, and our storehouses overflow with your goodness. The mountain meadows are covered with flocks and the valleys are filled with corn; Your people celebrate your boundless grace They shout for joy and sing. from Psalm 65

Anointed

There has been a lot of chatter on social media among some of my colleagues and others about the liturgical and socio-political niceties of Saturday's coronation and attendant festivities, especially the shielding of the anointing with the pictured spoon - the oldest and perhaps strangest of the coronation artefacts. Personally I thought that was at least an improvement on the cloth of gold canopy used in the previous coronation, but (pointless) debates are raging as to whether this is an ancient practice or was simply introduced in the previous service to shield the Queen from the TV cameras, not for purposes of sacredness, but understandable coyness, if she actually had to bare her breast bone in puritan 1950s Britain. But as any church leader knows, anything performed twice in a church becomes a tradition. All this goes to show that I did actually watch it, while doing other things - the whole shooting match from the pre-service concert with yer wumman in that lemon-