Dear friends,
Last weekend I enjoyed a morning with colleagues and friends from around the diocese as we gathered to think about Creating Pathways into Faith. I was very inspired by the keynote speaker, Rev’d Martin Poole, who works in Brighton and Hove using creativity and art to facilitate moments for spiritual encounter in and out of traditional church. I have always loved art in its various forms and believe, as so many have understood before us, that art allows us to connect with God in a special and transformative way. I wonder what sort of art you enjoy? Perhaps visual art with clear meaning? Or maybe music with a beautiful message? Whatever it is, I hope that you take time in life to appreciate it, enjoy it and, allow it to speak to you.
After the conference, Abbey and I looked around the South Bristol Arts Trail. It is a wonderful excuse to be nosey and see inside other people’s houses but of course also an inspiring and interesting event for the art itself. It has reminded me to try to always be creative in life, to always look for another way to express myself and to connect with others. I wonder if this might be a helpful prompt for you to reignite a past passion or project you used to engage with. Here is a poem I have found engaging. It is written by Richard Carter and helps us to reflect on God’s love and care for us and the world.
Imagine you are the seed held in God’s hand
Imagine the gentle closing of that hand
The place of darkness, the place of unknowing
The place where you fear death
But also the place of new life
The soil where the seed will break open, where the roots will grow down
And where the new shoot will begin to seek the light
You are that seed
Imagine God’s loving and longing for the world
Imagine the dwelling place for God’s loving and caring and sharing
Is your own flesh
As we continue to reflect on creation this month we will be holding bulbs in our hands and reflecting on hope. Reflecting on what it is like to bury hope, knowing we must wait patiently, not quite knowing how it will look when it grows but trusting it will be good and beautiful. Join us at 8:30 for a quiet contemplative communion or at 10:30 for our All Together communion after which we will plant the bulbs of hope into our garden. You are welcome and invited!
All the best,
Phil