Storytelling For Small Ones

Storytelling for Small Ones had a theme this time - TREES! We went on a journey to Ghana in Africa and found out about the story of the cocoa bean - with ACTIONS! Then we sat in the garden and drew our favourite trees. As you can see from the photos, we made a forest out of them, with Esme actually BEING a tree, wrapping it all around her!

after that, we listened to a story about The Giving Tree under the lilac tree. It was very beautiful but a bit sad as well, because the tree gave everything she had to a boy she loved...

...Then we dressed up in the TeePee Tent (thanks to Jo) and told our own stories! As it was Will's birthday (hooray!) we also had lovely cakes (thanks to Emma) and sang 'Happy Birthday' really loudly :)

Many thanks for all those who attended - the next one will be on Saturday 20th October at 2pm! Hope to see you small ones there again...

16/9/07

On Sunday Dewi, Rich, Myself, Ros and Catheryn all headed over to Sue & Drews new lovely home for a chance to get down to some serious scripture!
We looked at 2 Kings Chapter 22, which brought up some great discussion about the importance of the Bible.

J0N

PRAYER NIGHT2

Was great to be with Rich, Sue, Drew, Jo, Ros, sharing what we're up to, where we're at and spending good quality time praying for each other! God brought both tears and laughter when we needed it and was wonderful, personally, to be able to hear God speaking to me through the prayers of my friends!

J0N

DREWS HAT

PHIL&LISAs' BBQ!

Was so great to see Phil and Lisa, and an honour that they wanted to spend time with us all on Lisas' last weekend before heading back to Uni! Big thankyou to Mike and Chris for hosting the BBQ in their garden and cooking up a great BBQ!

Not only was it a great time to be with friends but we also managed to rescue missing Cat...'Flea'. Dewi put his newly found cat ownership skills into practice and managed to keep Flea from dissappearing over the fence before the owners' Dad arrived with a cat carrier.




Toggie started up a conker championship contest...(see Toggie Tales)














...and then later... to our amazement... Helen swapped heads with Ian for a brief moment!


















Bless Phil&Lisa! was great to see you guys!!


J0N

Saturday, September 8

Psalm 106:1-5
Jeremiah 37:1-38:13; Titus 2:6-3:2

We ponder your steadfast love, O God, in the midst of your temple. Psalm
48:9

Let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not
neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some. Hebrews 10:24,25

Gracious God, we pray that you will draw us all nearer to you.
Strengthen the devotion of those who are falling away and inspire anew
all those whose doubts burden them. In the matchless name of Jesus.
Amen.

Mr T.Umnus

Dewi&Sarahs' Kitten!

DREW&SUE GOT MARRIED!

Propper good photos to follow...
J0N

Storytelling for Small Ones - Sat 4th August

Once upon a time, there was a garden that was bathed in sunshine and flowers. In the middle of the garden was a wonderous tepee, where magical objects were waiting to be found inside. At the bottom of the garden, purple silks hung down from the branches of the lilac tree, with soft blankets lying in the shade, and white flowers grew out of all the green bushes and grass.

Suddenly, the red gate opened into the garden, where 2…3….4 little elfkins and a slightly older fairy called Megan crept into the garden. They all stopped and stared…then the brave Poppy elfkin ran immediately to the Teepee and found the magical objects…

Yes, the first Storytelling for Small Ones took place Sat 4th, and was a very fun and imaginative afternoon! Thanks to Jo for her Teepee and lilac canopy creations – as well as her exciting story about Theseus and his defeat of the horrible monster, the Minotaur (yes we are starting the small ones on epic stories already!) I told the Story of Creation, starting off the run of various Bible Stories that will be told each time, where our love for giraffes became apparent! I also told my ‘Beatrice the Dancing Bee’ story complete with a yellow and black stripy sock puppet (thanks again to Jo’s sock donation!) Amazingly, everyone liked the story and wanted to sing the Beatrice Bee song again (Will asked for the ‘Buzzy Bee song’ whilst we were telling jokes in the teepee – I felt v proud). After lots of drinks and the odd picking of our blackberries, the children all had the chance to play dressing up, where all the ‘magical objects’ were in the teepee. They created ‘mini’ stories themselves, with Poppy and Will taking it in turns to be the ‘wolf’ and Will liked being the rabbit as well – fantastic hopping moves! Abigail collected all the stars and pearls she could find and enjoyed being a ‘star in the sky’. Megan became a very elegant maid in a silk orange cloth, and I think Emma, Mikki and I all had to become queens at some point. Angel blew bubbles everywhere to add to the effect. Poppy chose very interesting characters, including a princess who wore black rimmed glasses with headphones, which was an excellent example of steering clear of stereotypes!

The next 'Storytelling for Small Ones' will take place on Sat 8th September, 2pm where blackberry picking will be apart of the storytelling J We found that children listen more attentively when parents try and withdraw a bit, so that would be something to consider for next time, if possible! Also, babies and children aged 0-2 years, would enjoy the second half of the storytelling, which is the ‘dressing up’ and play fun bit! We will have 2 stories told in the first half. Thanks to all who came and made it a lovely afternoon!



RoSi* xx

Tuesday night - prayer

Man I've really missed this...just sitting with a few freinds, going round the room, sharing what we've been up to, taking up the holy position 'in the middle' :) and simply praying for each other.
This time I particuarly noticed how something amazing happens when we share and listen to each others lives'-stories together.
By the end of the night there was a feeling of greater understanding of each others dreams and experiences and a feeling of excitement and togetherness for what God has done and doing in our lives!
I looked around the room and saw that between us our occupations covered, Sport, Education, Science, Arts, Media, Justice... and began to catch vision again for the difference we could actually make in these areas.
For me, it felt like we all left the living room a little more empowered with Gods' Spirit to usher forth His Kingdom into all of these fields, as well as being aware of areas in which we can support each other in our walk together. What more could you want?
J0N

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WEEKLY PRAYER 17/7/07

This week, I thought I would just upload some of the words of old poems that have been going through my head recently. You may recognise them as having a tune and being sung as a hymn, but see them today as poems, expressions of a writer's heart giving glory to God.

Let the words soak into you, as they have soaked into the fabric of the church for the past couple of hundred years

Read them to yourself.
Read them to your spouse.
Read them to your friends.
Read them with power.
Read them with drama.
Read them awe.
Just read them aloud.


-----


Crown him with many crowns,
The Lamb upon His throne;
Hark, how the heavenly anthem drowns
All music but its own!
Awake, my soul, and sing
Of Him who died for thee,
And hail Him as thy matchless King
Through all eternity.

Crown Him the Lord of life,
Who triumphed o'er the grave
And rose victorious in the strife
For those He came to save:
His glories now we sing,
Who died and rose on high,
Who died eternal life to bring
And lives that death may die.

Crown Him the Lord of love;
Behold His hands and side,
Those wounds yet visible above
In beauty glorified:
No angel in the sky
Can fully bear that sight,
But downward bends His burning eye
At mysteries so bright.

Crown Him the Lord of peace,
Whose power a sceptre sways
From pole to pole, that wars may cease,
And all be prayer and praise:
His reign shall know no end,
And round His piercèd feet
Fair flowers of paradise extend
Their fragrance ever sweet.

Crown Him the Lord of years,
The Potentate of time,
Creator of the rolling spheres,
Ineffably sublime!
All hail, Redeemer, hail!
For Thou hast died for me;
Thy praise shall never, never fail
Throughout eternity.



-----

Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart
Nought be all else to me, save that Thou art
Thou my best thought in the day and the night
Waking or sleeping, thy presence my light.

Be thou my wisdom, be thou my true word
I ever with thee, and though with me, Lord
Thou my great Father and I thy true son
Thou in me dwelling, and I with thee one.

Be thou my breastplate, my sword for the fight
Be thou my armour and be thou my might
Be my soul shelter, and thou my high tower
Raise thou me heavenwards, O power of my power.

Riches I need not, nor man’s empty praise
Thou my inheritance all of my days
Thou and thou only, thou first in my heart
High King of heaven, my treasure thou art

O high King of heaven, when battle is done
Grant heaven’s joy to me, bright heaven’s sun
Christ of my own heart, whatever befall
Still be my vision, thou ruler of all.

-----


Great is thy Faithfulness, O God my Father,
There is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not;
As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be.

Great is Thy faithfulness!
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided,
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

Summer and winter, and springtime and harvest,
Sun, moon and stars in their courses above,
Join with all nature in manifold witness
To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.

Great is Thy faithfulness!
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided,
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!

Great is Thy faithfulness!
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided,
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!



-----


Abide with me, fast falls the eventide;
The darkness deepens, Lord, with me abide;
When other helpers fail and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless, O abide with me.

Swift to its close ebbs out life’s little day;
Earth’s joys grow dim, its glories pass away;
Change and decay in all around I see;
O Thou who changest not, abide with me.

I need Thy presence every passing hour;
What but Thy grace can foil the tempter’s power?
Who like Thyself my guide and stay can be?
Through cloud and sunshine, O abide with me.

I fear no foe, with Thee at hand to bless;
Ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness.
Where is death’s sting? Where, grave, thy victory?
I triumph still, if Thou abide with me.

Reveal Thyself before my closing eyes;
Shine through the gloom, and point me to the skies,
Heaven’s morning breaks, and earth’s vain shadows flee;
In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me


(From Rob)

12 Marks of New Monasticism

Several of us have been reading and discussing the book “12 Marks of New Monasticism”. Here are just a few of the thoughts in each chapter for us to meditate on and pray about each day, while considering our own lives and walk with Jesus.

Chapter 1: Relocation to abandoned places of Empire

• Resist pride, power and reduction of all values to “the bottom line”.
• Express our conversion and commitment.
• Say “yes” to a new way of life (or the search for it) in Jesus.
• Rework the clay – fresh potential for beauty and service.
• Seek first the Kingdom of God.
• Prayer integrated with life and witness.
• Resist non-godly trends and issues (e.g. militarism, poverty and homelessness) and engage in search for solutions.
• Live not dominated by numbers of finance.
• Transformation (of society) that starts with ourselves.
• Ordinariness rather than impressiveness.

Chapter 2: Sharing economic resources

• John Wesley: “If I should die with more than 10 pounds, may everyone call me a liar and a thief, for I have betrayed the Gospel”.
• Do we know the poor or just know about the poor.
• Generosity.
• Redistribution (of wealth) is what happens when people fall in love with each other across class lines.
• When we truly discover love, capitalism will not be possible and Marxism will not be necessary.
• Theology of “enough” – there is enough for everyone’s need but not for everyone’s greed.

(Next 2 chapters next week!)

David.

Daily Prayer: Prayer for 9th - 15th July

Walking in a beautiful pine forest at the weekend, I took some photos and felt God speak to me about each one. I thought I would share them with you as our prayers for this week.

GOD'S HOPE



God's Hope for us and everyone we know and are praying for:

"The people who walk in darkness will see a great light - a light that will shine on all who live in the land where death casts its shadow." Isaiah 9 v.2

STRENGTH IN PRAYER



"But those who wait on the Lord will find new strength. They will fly high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint." Isaiah 40 v.31


THE BEAUTY AND POWER OF GOD IN THE FACE OF MY UNBELIEF:



Towering trees can sometimes remind me how Almighty God is, and how anything is possible with Him. I ask him to help me overcome my unbelief!

"What do you mean 'if I can', Jesus asked. 'Anything is possible if a person believes."
The father instantly replied, 'I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!'


Amen.

WEEKLY PRAYER 2/7/07

...some more 24-1 Pics

11-12pm

...actually I think the Togwells continued this slot praying (11-12pm) :) and at 12pm we all crammed into the prayer room together to share stories of our experiences with God over the past 24 hours. It was great to hear and see (as I looked on the floor) God speaking through us as a body and feeling a fuller picture of our father as I listened to each of our voices around the room. Some had hard, but good experiences and there were many writings and prayers for justice and for the poor and forgotten. I'm conscious as I write that its difficult for 'one' to sum it all up just from my perspective so heres a few words Phil put in his blog...

'Wonderful, as always, to pray and eat and talk with so many friends again, and to be a part of the next few steps that our community is taking together. We gathered at the end to swap stories/reflections... most of us felt that God had spoken, encouraged us, inspired us. And most felt that we were growing well together too. To wrap-up this phase of our prayers, we took a deep breath... thank you for your breath, Holy Spirit, for in-spiring us and con-spiring with us... make us contagious as we 'breath out' from tomorrow onwards.'


We then marched through the 'corridor of shoes' (for there were many), and enjoyed a plough-mans' meal together, continuing to share, bless and pray for each other. Thanks to all who brought food, watched over kids in trees and washing up! :)
And thanks for praying!



J0N

10 - 11am

An hour really isn't much time at all!
I think I spent most of the time having to release God to be himeslf: that is, having to apologise to God for treating him (*still*) as if he is there for my convenience and to do what I want (not so much a conscious thought but its a deep undercurrent in my thinking that I need to address time and time again). The thing is even though I struggle to feel God's presence I'm strangely even more amazed by his astonishing love. I spent the rest of the time reading the floor and praying for the tree labels.

9-10am

Good to slow down, to listen, to talk to Father... to breathe more slowly, even for a little while. Megan drew a picture of a person with tongues of fire on their head, and a little later we pumped the bellows - breath of God, fan these glowing embers, fan them into flames.

We dropped mustard seeds into the candle and watched them settle into the hot wax - Father, take the mustard seeds of our lives, the small things of the Kingdom of God in us, and make them grow.

To be honest, it hasn't been an *easy* hour. I find myself frustrated, reading some of the tags still hanging on the tree from our previous 24-1s... unanswered prayers. I find myself asking 'why?' and 'when?' and 'will it ever be?', and I hear no reply. When God says "wait", how long does that mean? Having been encouraged to wait until the "fruit is ripe", I am still so tempted to try and pluck it from the tree. God, please help me... (phil)

God loves us all, remember that! hello Jesus and God, please get us a house. these are two of the things i did while here, plus that person that my dad told you about! although i don't think i added that 'remember that!' bit, but that doesn't matter. (megan)

8-9am

Started this session feeling very weak and shallow in God's presence. What I am doing here...? Until I realised again that this faith, this place, this community is made for people like me - helpless, constantly failing to live up to what I say I believe, double-minded, selfish, full of words but "missing in actions", and needing others. Spent some time playing the drum and praying in tongues, encouraging God's spirit to flow through me, to bypass my own self-obsessed thought processes and let God's voice interrupt. It was wonderful.

Ian

7-8am

So many prayers and inspiring thoughts written on the floor. Early morning sunshine (at last!) lighting the room. I felt so peaceful in the presence of God. So loved. God's love for us is amazing. Unfathomable. Incomprehensible. And he *fills* us with his love, enabling us to love others. Thank you Lord Jesus.

David.

5-7am

I entered the room and was met by the rain and tropical sounds of birds (like a monsoon) a white light was beginning to hint its way in. Then after a long pause of listening to the sound of the rain, out of nowhere it seemed, music from the i-pod began to play.
I must admit, having put the white paper on the floor myself yesterday, one of my first thoughts were... how did the paper on the floor get so rugged? but then I remembered that there has been mention of alot of dancing!
I knelt before the cross someone had drawn and tried to give everything to God. I then started to write names of our imediate community. I began to pray about reaching out to others and started drawing around my left hand as a sign of reaching out. As I was drawing backwards from the start I hit upon someone elses previous drawing which had two hands, ''We are His hands'. I took this as encouragement to keep going, this time tracing around my right arm which was harder to do but this became a symbolic act for me I really wanted to get into practice of reaching out. As I did this I came across more and more prayers written about reaching the lost and caring for the poor. It was great to feel like I was praying amongst other peoples prayers before me. I got to a point where I felt I should switch arms again and unknowingly my new drawing then met a right arm drawing I had made and the two arms clasped hands perfectly.
As I continued to pray the light from outside began to shine in full morning light.
I am so greatful for what God is doing in us!
Thankyou everyone for praying!!

J0N

4 - 5am

A touch of heaven, the rain falling and the birds singing and peace. Gods love is for us is so evident in this world, he surrounds us with reminders of that, as I heard the rain falling harder and harder I felt his love penetrating all things, not leaving one stone unturned. God's gentle whispers come in those moments of peace, his love for us goes so deep its hard to believe. Teach me to seek you in all things and to hear that love and then to respond to it.

Dewi

2 - 4am

As soon as I stepped into the room, God welcomed me with his arms wide open...tired and bewildered though I was, I knew that I wouldn't want to leave when my time was up...so many inspiring prayers...they are more open, searing, honest, beautiful, challenging than ever before...a community that can hear God's call for justice, to love others the way He loves us, to pray and stand with those who are being persecuted in His name, to speak up for those who have no voice, to challenge slavery, to face up to our own struggles, but at the same time, thanking God that he is Holy, Almighty, our Dad, friend, saviour, lover - our Hope and Faith forevermore...couldn't stop scampering from one side of the room to the other, over flowing with things I wanted to share with Jesus, things I wanted to scribble and draw, with Jesus inspiring me all the while...turned off the music to listen to the dawn chorus of birds bringing in a new day...what a symbol of hope that God has blessed us with everyday - that darkness will always give itself up to the light of day - just as Jesus banishes the dark wherever he is present...what an amazing creator God is! Thinking as well about heaven and our REAL home - thank you God for your incredible promises to us...

Thank you everyone who has prayed and will pray! Thank you, Jesus for this community. Amen!

RoSi*

1 -2am

GOd is good! He knows my heart is to meet with Him and He organises me so I can be aware of His presence and blessing. I am reminded that heaven is my home and I choose the path that Jesus has trodden before me and the world doesn't understand it but JESUS does, I love Him!
I forget sometimes that I live by faith and that this unfeelingness of emotion or lack of physical reaction is no indicator of how I am with God, He loves me and He is at hand, the more I move towards faith the freer i become in my relationship with my Dad, I trust Him, He holds my hand evennow. This life is His, good.

Found a star in the sole of my sock, my dreams tread with me as I walk on the winding path and passages. I'm unsure of the direction or consequences of the journey but i know i'm ok and I was born for such a time as this...

Praise Him! Honour praise and glory are Yours now and forever!

Jo

11.00pm - 1.00am

not really sure I can put any coherent thoughts down! Am just amazed again at the awesomeness of God, and humbled. I find it hard to really believe what I know sometimes. I am loved, but I don't feel loveable, am accepted but don't feel I deserve it. Want to live a simple, genuine faith, but spend too much time complicating things, thinking about myself when I should be praying for others, feeling like a fraud. I know this - I love Jesus - I don't even feel worthy to say that much of the time, but I do, I love Jesus. It really is all about Jesus, pure and simple. What a friend we have in Him! Really touched reading in Pete Greigs book, God on Mute, about the guy who wrote that hymn and the story behind it, a hymn borne of experience of raw pain alongside knowledge of eternal hope, and trust in a God who really does care, fact.

Emma

9-11pm

Good prayer slot, I felt the overall result was positive, I started with some worship, trying to get in tune with God, the environment was very condusive for this purpose and I would say I felt very much connected to God. I managed to unravel some thoughts that had been going through my mind lately and felt like I had communicated where I am personally with God, which obviously God knows but through doing this have felt very encouraged and supported. I was not actually looking for anything in particular, no words or anything, and it was not as though I was asking for anything from God, I think I was just really looking to spend some much needed time with our father, at points I did try to do some praying for other people, and the only prayer that I could whole heartedly pray was 'Father, let your will be done in our lives.' I've been feeling this prayer running through our community for some time and personally know that God is slowly bending me to take up more of an obedient posture and really searching for 'his will', to be honest I think it is the attitude or process of searching for God's will that is more important than the actual specific thing God may want us to do, I believe God is really trying to just get me into a workable position, a true disciple who is ready to take on greater things, I'm not there yet but felt good from the prayer session.

Gell

8-9pm

So good to look at the globe and thank God for all the countries we have had the privilege of visiting---to think and pray for all our friends from around the world to remember how many are persecuted for their faith and to never to take for granted the freedom we have to pray and worship in this country and to use that freedom to it's maximum whatever that may mean.
Pat.

Not wood, Matting or wool supported our feet but a carpet of prayers,prayers which surrounded the globe illuminating this room with all worries, woes and struggles enveloped by the invisible, unspoken cries beyond words uniting with the Father in a desire to see all things reclaimed and redeemed for His glory. "As the waters cover the sea" These are the prayers from the saints in Romford.

Dave.

6 - 8pm

very peaceful and relaxing although i did do a bit of a dance!!!i prayed about china and the church there and for unity of the church worldwide, and then i prayed for adventures and for us to never be limited by our dreams and to think big, outside of our own situation, looking at pictures of the world and seeing how vast it is for inspiration. very glad i did it, good to spend time with the Lord!!!

Catherine

5-6pm

Wonderful to be in a prayer room again, so geared up for Esme to pray with us too. At 18 months old she prays with crayons, spinning around to our worship, saying 'Bibe-oh' (Bible) and munching her way through half a loaf of bread! We read the story of Noah (although Esme was more fascinated by the picture of Abel lying dead on the opposite page!), prayed that she'd be filled with the Holy Spirit (and the unborn baby too), prayed that she'd know God in an earthy and natural way without some of the struggles of church 'stuff' that some of us have known.

Despite all our weakness and distractions, God loves to meet with us in these special places...

Thanks, Lord, for your gracious generosity.

Ian (with Helen, Esme and Pea)

4-5pm

What a privilege it is to be part of this community - committed to following Jesus, prayer, loving the lost, shared meals and shared lives. What an impact we can have! We carry the love and presence and fragrance of Jesus with us everywhere we go. Lord we humble ourselves. Our lives are yours.

David

3-4pm

Chance to just "be" with God was great. Took me a while to empty my mind of all the stuff that crowds in. "Dancers who dance upon injustice" & the story of David dancing for joy in front of God spoke to me. Thanks for the space to be quiet before God.

Claire

1pm-3pm

Having this space was a real blessing. I remembered the world, and that the life we have is good!! Sometimes it just takes a bit of time to remember that. Also had a bit of a dance for all the good God has promised us and for all the hardtimes that we will endure TOGETHER. It never seems so hard when we're together. Thanks Ros and Jon for providing the space and atmosphere. Love Sue.

24-1 PRAYER 07

At 12 am we gathered in our living room to begin our second 24-1 hour prayer!

White paper covered the floor and in the centre Ros wrote, 'This is Holy Ground'.

We spent some time meditating on God and then Ros read from a childrens Bible the story of Moses and the burning bush. We sang together, 'This is the place, where dreams are found, where vision comes, called... Holy Ground'.

Our voices rose and we continued to sing together with our own songs.

Thomas and Oscar wrote inspiring words as we prayed.

Ros read from her book of First Hymns, 'Those Green Hills Far Away', which depicts the crucifixion of Jesus. Rob said how, having sung that hymn as a child for years the words really came together and took on real meaning this time when they were read out.

We broke bread and shared the wine and raised our voices once more to welcome God into the room to have His way with us over the next 23 hours!

Come Lord Jesus!

J0N

For meditation:

'So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal'

2 Corinthians 4:18

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace,
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy;

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

I have often been inspired by St. Francis of Assisi's prayer. Hoping it guides us in our service of the Lord and others this week.

Love and blessings,

drew

Sunday - 10/6/07

(write a list of names of people to pray for in our community)

Lord Jesus, please bless our community...

(spend a moment to meditate on each name and wait for the Holy Spirit to lead you in any specific prayer or prophetic word he may have for a person in the list)

May we grow together in your Spirit, becoming more like you each day.

(feel free to bring any words you feel God has spoken to the community meal to share with that person or people)

Thanks guys, hope you've enjoyed!
See you for lunch!
J0N

Saturday - 9/6/07

'In My Fathers House'

http://youtube.com/watch?v=hu-otdZmC4E

http://youtube.com/watch?v=7usHjHlBeGI&mode=related&search=

(If the links don't work, try cutting and pasting into your browser)
You can download the track from i-tunes for just 79p!

Friday 7/6/07

Thursday 7/5/07

Wednesday 5/6/07

For meditation...(click to enlarge & print)

Tuesday - 5/6/07

(click to enlarge & Print)

MONDAY - 4/6/07

Jesus, I give to you all my worries and concerns for the week ahead,
and begin this week with you...


Christ be with me, Christ within me,Christ behind me, Christ before me,Christ beside me, Christ to win me,Christ to comfort and restore me.Christ beneath me, Christ above me,Christ in quiet, Christ in danger,Christ in hearts of all that love me,Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.
I bind unto myself today the strong name of the Trinity.

...extract from Toggietales

Community Meal 04-03
"So let's not allow ourselves to get fatigued doing good," she reads slowly, meaningfully. Rosi has a beautiful voice, and has just completed a story-telling course, so it's no wonder we all listen in silence (except Angel, who wants to "cuddle Esme!").
I look around the room at these gathered friends... sat on a few scattered chairs and on the steps leading into the corridor, others leaning on door-posts, or still making drinks in the through-kitchen, peering over shoulders to catch every word. I am so very grateful for these friends, with whom I share so many good past-memories, and in whom I have found such hope for the future... such wonderful people.
Rosi, and her husband Jon Bilbrough, married last year in a beautifully decorated barn, beneath a canopy of feathers, on what felt like the coldest day of the year - they are probably the most creative couple I know - I love them, and their families, dearly. After years of (im)patient praying and 'getting by', she's finally landed a (dream) job developing new programmes with cBeebies. And Jon, after equally (im)patient waiting/writing/gigging has just released his first singer/song-writer cd/ep, and is courting contracts right now (check out his songs on his myspace).
"At the right time," Rosi continues, "we will harvest a good crop if we don't give up, or quit." I smile to myself, realising how appropriate these words are for both of them. "Right now, therefore, every time we get the chance, let us work for the benefit of all, starting with the people closest to us in the community of faith."
The people closest to me, I muse. My community of faith? Well, many of them are here. I'm not entirely sure how we all came together, but here we are... a community of faith. I wonder for a moment if I know what that really means?
Next to Jon, I notice Gel, bottle-feeding his one-year-old daughter, Amber (Gel's wife, Sarah, is 'taking a break' at home a few roads away, studying to become a financial advisor). Amber is the liveliest young child I think I've ever known, always on the move, exploring, touching, investigating. And Gel is one of the gentlest young men I've ever known. A short series of moments that Gel and I have shared flicker through my mind, snap-shots of stories we have shared, with many others... times praying, walking on mountain-tops, worshipping in 24-7prayer rooms, conversations about life and theology and sex and marriage, competing across a badminton net. I can't help but chuckle quietly to myself.
In front of the randomly-stacked Bilbrough bookshelves (I browse them everytime I visit - something about the randomness fools me into thinking I might find something new amongst them) sits Jon's Dad, Dave. And Pat's over near the kitchen doorway as well.
Pat (who I don't have a photo of, strangely) once ran me around a crowded, overheated marquee in the grounds of Royal Holloway University, yelling, "I'm going to push you, Phil... you better keep running for Jesus, because I'm going to keep pushing you... I'm for you, I believe in you, I will encourage you, but I won't let you stop... you have to keep running!" We barely dodged our way around bewildered youth workers, who leapt in all directions. But I think I got the message. Pat and Dave have faithfully encouraged (maybe even 'parented'?) Emma and I, and many others, for many years. And Emma's sitting beside Pat right now... they'll talk for while after we've eaten I suspect.
Rosi prays and draws my drifting attention. She thanks God for our friendships and our food, and asks for God's blessing on our time together. I whisper my Amen, as sincerely as I have ever meant the word. I like the way Eugene Peterson translates it, "Yes, Yes, Yes!"
And so the conversation begins as we cluster around the table, heavy with the food that different people have made and brought along - Dewi and Sarah's lasagne is especially good! I talk with Richy about his week, which has been difficult for lots of reasons... and then with Sarah, about my recent travelling and the new 24-7prayer uk team. She likes what I describe of Si and Ali's skate-shop/prayer-room in Torbay, and we begin dreaming a little more of what God could do with and through us, here in Romford. I love this conspiratorial dreaming. :o)
Pockets of twos and threes spread out around Rosi and Jon's downstairs flat, eating and talking. Dewi and I begin to tackle the washing-up, as we consider a few ways to pray together more regularly, as a whole community of friends. Maybe we can agree to use the Moravian daily text, or arrange a short daily 'meet' (or even a few of them) for prayer?
The familiar ache of frustration burns briefly in my chest... I long to find a big community-house nearby - proximity is so important for things like this. Sarah tells me later that she and Dewi pray every time they pass the house that we were chasing a few months ago... I realise, with some surprise, that I still have a flicker of faith for that place?
And it's so good to see our friends Ian and Helen, and baby-Esme (who still refuses to smile at me... in spite of my offer of ice-cream. Hehe) again... I realise how much I've missed them, being away throughout February. Laughing, I tell them about a conversation that we'd had on the way. From the back of the car, Megan had asked what we thought Helen was having (a boy or a girl... she's pregnant by the way), and then had promptly answered her own question, "I think she's having twins!" "I think she's having a toy," countersed Angel immediately, at which we all burst into laughter. Ian and Helen do too.
Lots of our friends were missing on Sunday, for different reasons, but it was wonderful to share the meal with those who were there. Later, Emma and I agree that we need to invite our new home-educating friends from Brentwood, Roberta and Leon, along soon. And Marcus, the guy from Romania, who sells the Big Issue in Romford - Emma's got to know him quite a bit.
We need to open our meals and homes and lives to people like this... and maybe, just like Zaccheus, they will taste the salvation of Jesus in this sharing?

Community Meal 4/3/07

'Right now, therefore, everytime we get the chance, let us work for the benifit of all starting with the people closest to us in the community of faith.'

Gal 6 (The message)

Thanks to all who brought food!

Especially Gells desserts!!

J0N