Virtual Methodist

I posted this monologue based on John 12: 20-28 earlier in the year as part of our Holy Week reflections, but I'm posting it again as we head into Harvest Season - we'll be using it this morning as we meet for communion in the light of some difficult news I have to share with the congregation -  more on that in due course... I’ve followed him from the day when John the Baptizer pointed him out to us… Following him has never been straightforward… But things recently have just been plain confusing… When we entered into Jerusalem it seemed as if everything was coming together… Some said it seemed as if the whole world was at his feet… though that was probably stretching it a bit… But then some Greek speaking Jews asked to meet with him and we realized that this was now bigger than we had ever imagined… But he didn’t seem to see it that way… yes he seemed to think it was important… But he started to talk sowing seeds and reaping more… I suppose with it being the harvest se...

We continue to look at the new creation that is to be found in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus using Genesis 1: 9-13, John 1: 35-42 and John 12: 20-27. Opening Liturgy And God said, "Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place, and let dry ground appear." And it was so. God called the dry ground "land", and the gathered waters he called "seas". And God saw that it was good. Then God said, "Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds." And it was so. The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. And there was evening, and there was morning the third day. Genesis 1:9-13 (ANIV) Readings The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. When he saw Jesus passing by, he s...

I suppose this poem/reflection was a product of many thoughts colliding: a reaction against the idealised views of birth, especially the birth of Jesus in less than ideal conditions, the discipline of waiting in both advent and pregnancy, as well as the Jesus' phrase about being born of "water and Spirit" (John 3: 5) to Nicodemus, a conversation which also gave us the much-misused or misunderstood statement about being "born again/from above", as well as the verse in the first Letter of John: This is the one who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ. He did not come by water only, but by water and blood. 1 John 5:6 (ANIV) Born of water and blood He’s coming Joseph He’s coming… The waters break… And the agony begins. Through the water The people were saved. Through time of trial A place of promise was reached. Wait, my love… Wait, don’t push… The time is not right, But he is coming… Why must we wait? Why not now? Let’s take what is ours It’s the way of the world H...