Virtual Methodist

Ok. It's Pentecost, and it's worth a reblog of this piece I wrote and posted last September, undoubtedly when I was in the throes of pulling together some of the material that subsequently became part of the 2021 4 Corners Festival with the theme "Breathe", Indeed this "poem" was read as part of the Saturday night event curated by Trevor Gill of "Bright Umbrella" entitled "The Art of Life and Breath" which you can see on the festival archive at https://youtu.be/W3BNtabTPaU. Hovering over chaotic waters, Calming or causing the storm? Breathing life into cold clay  Spark of consciousness and conscience. Reinvigorating the sun bleached bones Of disastrous defeat. The insubstantial essence  Tethering us together More surely than sinew, Knitting limb to torso, Binding body to head. The communicator. The strengthener. Standing with us. Bringing profound peace And deep disturbance But never glib comfort. Untameable gale. Indiscrimina...

"Pentecost" by Jyoti Sahi For years I have been profoundly moved, and inspired by two poems which each deal with the liturgical anomaly of the Feast of the Annunciation and Good Friday coinciding: “The Annunciation and Passion” by John Donne, and “Good Friday falls on Lady Day” by G.A. Studdert Kennedy.  This year The Feast of the Visitation of Mary to Elizabeth coincides with The Feast of Pentecost. Since the beginning of the Covid-19 Lockdown I have written almost nothing new. My mind has been too absorbed by other tasks. But this seemed an appropriate conjunction to prompt me writing. I am not bold enough to claim it as a product of inspiration, although I actually believe all forms of creativity are.  Kennedy's poem begins with the line "And has our Lady lost Her place" and I suppose there is an element of pondering on that in this. And it is one of the reasons I love the piece of art I am attaching to this and will post as my #PentecostArt piece on social m...

Next Sunday is Pentecost, the Birthday of the Church. It is also Aldersgate Sunday/Wesley Sunday in Methodist churchianity, and as of last year it is also the day when we in Ireland are supposed to remember the Methodist/Church of Ireland Covenant, AND its our local church anniversary and Presidential visit... So my head might be addled by the time I get that far... But I thougth I would post this wee skit for anyone looking for something for pentecost. I wrote it years ago and posted it in the early days of this blog. It's based on Ephesians 4: 7 which says: "Christ has given each of us special abilities—whatever he wants us to have out of his rich storehouse of gifts." (The Living Bible) All:             (Standin in a line and singing)  Happy Birthday to you... Happy birthday to you... 1:              Happy Birthday...  (Offering gift to number 2 out of a sack of gifts) 2:       ...

It's that time again so here is a sketch I wrote for Pentecost a few years ago. It's based on Ephesians 4: 7 which says: "Christ has given each of us special abilities—whatever he wants us to have out of his rich storehouse of gifts." (The Living Bible) All: (Singing) Happy Birthday to you... Happy birthday to you... 1: Happy Birthday... (Offering gift to number 2) 2: O thanks... (taking gift and putting it straight down behind him) 1: Aren’t you going to open it? 2: Open what? 1: The gift! 2: What gift? 1: That gift! 2: Where? 1: There! 2: I don’t see any gift? 1: There... I just gave to you... 2: No you didn’t... 1: Yes I did... 2: Don’t believe you... 1: Oh I give up! All: (Singing) Happy Birthday to you... Happy birthday to you... 1: Happy Birthday... (Offering gift to number 3) 3: O thanks... (taking gift and ripping off paper... finding tambourine) Amazing just what I always wanted... (starts banging it without any sense of rhythm... ...