2nd Sunday of Easter

Good morning. This is our fourth written Sunday service, this week with contributions from Rev Derek Akker and a choice of music from Martin. Before the service officially starts, here is a note from Martin and a special viewing recommendation:

You don’t need me to tell you we live in uncertain times, where things are unprecedented, challenging unsettling and downright difficult. With everything else that is going on we are bombarded with endless stream of adjectives describing our current situation. We are aware of the pain and anguish families are experiencing, we are grateful for all the efforts of front line workers and acknowledge that some are putting their lives on the line for us. It is hardly surprising that that we can find it a challenge to pray, where do we start?

I want to suggest a way of being creative, of being artistic in your times of prayer. It is about giving you something that is unique to you, your own personal aid for prayer. I can almost hear the cries I can’t be creative or artistic, my reply to that is ‘poppycock’. Forget the Rijksmuseum, Tyler or Rembrandt Museums and the collections of Dutch masters, its not about following in their footsteps.

Over the last few weeks the UK Breakfast TV has had one story after another where people have faced challenges and been creative and done things which under normal circumstances they would not consider doing and would have probably said I can’t do that.

So, what is this way of being creative. It is simple create a collage. Collect pictures, photographs of your family, the church family, your friends and neighbours, from your local community also places that evoke concern or thankfulness, a photo of St Anna’s and St. Mary and church activity. Do you get the gist? Stick these onto a large piece of paper, a piece of newspaper will suffice.

This simple creative activity has a value in itself, especially at a time when many of our usual activities are not available to us due the restriction placed on us by Coronavirus. We can turn this activity into an aid to creative prayer. It can be done as an individual, with other members of your household or as a family activity.

Once you have started your collage, you can use it for prayer. Put the collage in front of you and sit and reflect on each picture/photo and allow your memory to come to the surface and as you recall your memories offer them as a prayer. There is no need for words, your focus becomes your prayer. Spend time, relax in the memories, bring your concerns and your thanks

As time passes you can add fresh pictures, just be creative.

Hold on the your collage and perhaps when we meet again, you can bring your collages and create a  collective collage that can become a larger piece of prayerful art

Every blessing, Fr Derek

Readings
Acts 2: 14a, 36-41
Luke 20: 19-end