Angels for Advent: Day 7 - Gathering For The Angel Tree

TODAY’S ADVENT POEM

Do angel wings pulse through the air of another planet

in the arms of a galaxy light years from here?

Does the breath of such messengers summon and challenge

creatures who think, but who most strange, appear?

IF wings pulse and breath stirs unknown beings to listen,

prepared to respond to their Maker’s desire, 

that message will ring out with love, truth, and wisdom,

and on that far world, peace and justice inspire.

This poem envisages that somewhere among the trillions of billions of Exoplanets (planets orbiting stars beyond our solar system), God’s messengers - angels - will be at work amongst any sentient inhabitants

 ...And suddenly, there was with the angel

a multitude of the heavenly host,

praising God and saying

 ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven

 and on earth peace...’ Luke 2 vv 13 & 14

They may not have looked like this, but from the Angel tree collection imagine the glorious angels’ song - and think about where you might help bring peace.

See also our fully decorated tree HERE

Angels for Advent: Day 6 - Gathering For The Angel Tree

TODAY’S ANGEL CAROL  is a traditional French Carol, 'Les Anges Dans Nos Campagnes'

Angels we have heard on high,
Sweetly singing o'er the plains,
And the mountains in reply
Echoing their joyous strains. 

Gloria

(Why not listen to one of the several versions of this carol on YouTube)

...And suddenly, there was with the angel

a multitude of the heavenly host,

praising God and saying

 ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven

 and on earth peace...’ Luke 2 vv 13 & 14

They may not have looked like this, but from the Angel tree collection imagine the glorious angels’ song - and think about where you might help bring peace.

See also our fully decorated tree HERE

 

Angels for Advent: Day 5 - Gathering For The Angel Tree

Today’s Angel Carol (Contemporary)

An angel told shepherds with great great joy,

Messiah’s come to earth as a baby boy,

and he is in a manger now

borrowing the stable of the innkeeper’s cow..

This children’s carol (also called The Counting Carol) can be found in full at The Counting Carol. It is a fun activity carol which tells the Nativity story then leads on to the reason Jesus died.

...And suddenly, there was with the angel 

a multitude of the heavenly host,

praising God and saying

‘Glory to God in the highest heaven

and on earth peace...’ Luke 2 vv 13 & 14

They will definitely not have looked like this, but from the Angel tree collection imagine the glorious angels’ song - and think about where you might help bring peace.

See also our fully decorated tree HERE

 

Angels for Advent: Day 4 - Gathering For The Angel Tree

 

Today’s Angel Carol

Angels from the realms of glory

wing your flight o’er all the earth,

You who sang creation's story

now proclaim Messiah’s birth.

and what we might see in them

Angels from the realms of glory,

symbolized upon our tree,

draw our thoughts to Jesus’ coming

to the earth for you and me.

...And suddenly, there was with the angel

a multitude of the heavenly host,

praising God and saying

 ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven

 and on earth peace...’ Luke 2 vv 13 & 14

They will not have looked anything like this, but from the Angel tree collection imagine the glorious angels’ song - and think about where you might help bring peace.

See also our fully decorated tree HERE

 

Angels for Advent: Day 3 - Gathering For The Angel Tree

 

Today’s Angel Carol

While shepherds watched their flocks by night,

all seated on the ground,

the angel of the Lord came down

and glory shone around.

...And suddenly, there was with the angel

a multitude of the heavenly host,

praising God and saying

 ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven

 and on earth peace...’ Luke 2 vv 13 & 14

They definitely will not have looked like this, but from the Angel tree collection imagine the glorious angels’ song - and think about where you might help bring peace.

See also our fully decorated tree HERE

 

Angels for Advent: Day 2- Gathering For The Angel Tree

 

...And suddenly, there was with the angel

a multitude of the heavenly host,

praising God and saying

 ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven

 and on earth peace...’ Luke 2 vv 13 & 14

They may not have looked like this, but from the Angel tree collection imagine the glorious angels’ song - and think about where you might help bring peace.

Today’s Angel Carol

Hark the herald angels sing

‘Glory to the new-born king,

Peace on earth and mercy mild,'

God and sinners reconciled

See also our fully decorated tree HERE

 

Angels for Advent: Day 1- Gathering For The Angel Tree

Let’s start our tree angels-with-songs with a verse of the message given to Mary (The Annunciation)

Today’s Angel Carol

The angel Gabriel from heaven came,

his wings as drifted snow, his eyes as flame;

‘All hail’, said he, ‘thou lowly maiden Mary,

most highly favoured lady’.

Gloria!

 

which is a prelude to the story of a host of angels below

...And suddenly, there was with the angel

a multitude of the heavenly host,

praising God and saying

 ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven

 and on earth peace...’ Luke 2 vv 13 & 14

Gabriel definitely will not have looked like this, but amidst the *Angel tree collection imagine the glorious angels’ message and think about  how you might respond to such a messenger

*See also our fully decorated tree HERE

 

A Tree-Full-of-Angels

This is my 2024 invitation 

to put your Christmas Tree

into a focal point in the 

Christmas story by turning it into a

tree-full-of-angels.

Our Angel Tree in 2023 together with our crib and 

a glimpse of the Cosmos

So here’s the story straight from the Bible

 

And suddenly, there was with the angel

a multitude of the heavenly host,

praising God and saying

 ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven

 and on earth peace...’

Luke 2 vv 13 & 14

 

And here’s a poem to link your tree

with the story

 

O Christmas Tree, with Angel Throng .                         

 

O Christmas tree with angel throng

remind us of that awesome night                              

when hardened hillside shepherds quailed                                       

beneath the skies, ablaze with light.                          

 

O tree, your lights like stars that flecked                    

the dark cold skies upon the hills,                              

stir up fresh hope, the angel song                              

might be Earth’s future - ‘Peace for all’.  

 

And the tree above is our tree of ’23 with its ‘multitude’ of

70+ angels.

Find more Christmas poetry, songs and ideas at 

https://crossandcosmos.blogspot.com/p/carols-and-other-christmas.html

  

 

CLIMERICK: Mr Trump, You Are Headed to Be

This Morning, I’m posting a replica of the entry I have posted on my companion site Eco-Verses with Climericks (Climate Concern Limericks). It appears here too, as I feel fairly sure that a number of those who visit this site will be feeling pretty impotent in the face of the US Election results. Here, at least, is an opportunity to feel we can make a small contribution to the biggest concern of our time - so could well be shared and backed by a prayer that it might have a small but telling effect in our efforts to be good stewards of God’s beautiful creation. So, here’s my Eco-Verses/ FB/ TwitterX entry. Do please share as widely as you can if you feel strongly about this issue.

Here’s my response to yesterday’s election news from the USA.

 

Mr Trump, you are headed to be

THE GREAT FOOL OF WORLD HISTORY.

If you boost coal and oil,

the planet will boil;

then it’s curtains for Earth, YOU and me.

 

Please don’t just like this: SHARE it as widely as you can.

Set it to music, illustrate it, make videos of it,

Can we try to make sure the President Elect sees it and hears it at every turn he takes?

Let’s do all we can to make that happen.

 

This is a CLIMERICK (Climate Concern Limerick). You will find lots more at 

http://eco-verses.blogspot.com

To A Sunflower.

Just experienced one of those glorious moments when nature overcomes our (or rather, my) ineptitude. A sunflower, pot sown far too late to bloom, bursts into flower just as October turns into November. Beautiful amongst the otherwise seasonal drabness and certainly lovely enough to provoke a few lines.

Photo by Pam

To a Sunflower

 

Late I sowed;

so, late you flowered

to grace a chilly autumn day;

your vivid yellow, joyfully

gleaming in sun’s slanting rays.

Iona: At the Hermit's Cell

Watercolour by the author: 

the image of a complete beehive cell

or clochan

draws on similar well preserved

cells in Ireland and some small 

Scottish islands

From coracle to beehive cell,

once rudderless upon the tides

where wind drives the sea

inexorably before it:

running, ebbing, flowing,

thrubbing, drumming, beating

on the tensioned hides.

 

Holiness at the helm

then, Holiness at the door,

wherever that might be;

to demonstrate

humility and love

poured out, dispersed,

available to any

who trust, as they have trusted

in their Sovereign Lord above.

 

Sovereign over land,

Sovereign over sea,

Sovereign over tempest,

yet pinioned by nails,

driven to death,

for you, for me.

 

Then, Risen! Risen! Risen!

Let all the earth rejoice,

let praise and glory be

to Him who brought the hermit

safely from the sea.

Trevor Thorn

Job 38 v 4 and ff Reimagined for the 21st Century.

I have been generously asked by Dr Ruth Bancewicz, Church Engagement Director of the Faraday Institute for Science and Religion to give a  link to my Reimagining of Job 38 from verse 4 onwards, on the background of my acrylic painting called “Starburst’. The thumbnail here is a jpeg, so as the text could not be easily lifted from the image,  I have followed the thumbnail with a plain words version below and you will find a ‘dropbox’ printable version HERE. 

I found it a delight to overlay the words on to on to my painting and a number of people have been kind in telling me they have found the re-imagining helpful. For me, both exercises try to convey the glory of God in His amazing universe, in the language of today, and building this on the magnificent passage of Job 38 felt compelling. 

Job 38 v4ff re-imagined for Today

on Acrylic ’Starburst’ painted by 

the author

This is not the only re-imagining I have enjoyed putting together. So if this resonates with you, then you might also enjoy Psalm 24 Reimagined for Today which sets out the reimagining in a format for a cantor to speak the verses other than the ‘chorus', which can be sung by a choir or congregation. The 'chorus' in the Psalm starts ‘Lift up Your Heads, you gates’ and in the reimagining becomes ‘Lift up your heads, you galaxies’ and I hope might speak not only to those who are familiar with the Psalms but to some who may never have encountered them - but can see, in this reimagining, a glimpse of the sheer wonder of Creation expressed poetically in English that might be used when looking up on a clear night at the hint of the immensity of Creation. You will also find a link on this page to a YouTube video of the re-imagined Psalm.

Trevor Thorn, 

posted on an unexpected ‘extra’ retreat day on the Island of Iona when another amazing demonstration of the glory of our planet is being manifested in a 'ferry-stopping' storm and we are in the warmth and comfort afforded by The Iona Community a dispersed Christian Community, working for Peace and Justice, which you also might like to check out.                   

Job 38. 4ff re-imagined for the 21^st Century.

 

Where were you when I gave birth to the universe; when my Wisdom called forth particles from the womb of the cosmic void and seeded them into the realm of existence?

 

Who marked off its dimensions and form and let matter prevail over anti-matter?

 

On what were its footings set or who provoked its mighty expansion in the blinking of an eye?

 

How deeply do you comprehend the gift of light or understand the mysteries of its nature?

 

Who of you knows from where the sounds that fill the cosmos emanated or how music distilled its harmonies from the roaring cadences of creation?

 

Who gave water its extraordinary properties, decreed its many forms and accorded rôles to each that it might adhere to the surfaces of gathering spheres, to nurture and give shape to barren terrains?

 

Can you make sense of the patterns of constellations as they would be seen from planets in the extreme reaches of the universe?

 

Can you leap between galaxies or re-fashion the orbits of stars or planets, or yet fully understand the fundamental forces of the cosmos?

 

Can you yet contemplate travelling to the beautiful Pleiades or loosening the cords of Orion? Have you fully uncovered the laws of the universe or can you emulate God’s care for it?

 

Could you reduce turbulences that beset distant planets, weather the extreme storms on other worlds or alter the path of the arrow of time?

 

Have you even perfected knowledge of your own benign planet, understood the reason for its existence and how to encourage your own people to act as responsible stewards for it?

 

Can you fathom in your exquisitely fashioned brain the mind of your maker or conceive the depth of his love?

 

Will you ever understand enough to render praise and thanksgiving truly worthy of the Creator of heaven and the entire cosmos?

 

 

 

 

 

 

If your church is working to promote biodiversity in its churchyard: this may be of interest

ON OUR COMPANION BLOG ECO-VERSES

KEEPING CLIMATE CONCERN

CONVERSATIONS ALIVE with... 

A Churchyard:

In this Little Patch of Creation 

With many churches working to promote the biodiversity in their churchyards, here is a novel way to invite people in. Further Climericks will build on this invitation.

 

In this little patch of Creation,

we invite you to find restoration

for your body and soul,

in this place, with its rôle -

to give peace that will last generations.

Find more about the thinking behind the growing collection of CLIMERICKS HERE  

NEW CLIMERICKS WILL APPEAR ON THIS SITE TWICE WEEKLY - SO KEEP LOOKING TO STAY UP TO DATE.

Aurora over Iona Abbey - Real and imagined!

Sometime between 2015 and 2018, with the sunspot cycle low in its eleven year sequence, I imagined, in pastel, how an aurora might look over Iona Abbey, feeling that such an event, if ever it happened, would beautifully illustrate the idea that Iona is a thin place where heaven reaches down to touch the earth.

So I was absolutely thrilled to see the picture below taken by Mark Wildman, Head Chef at The Bishops House, Iona, on 24th September 2024. Thank you Mark and thank you Robbie (Warden of Bishops House)

Just wonderful!

The pastel was an outworking of a poem I had written in 2015

Aurora

 

Your hand,

O Lord,

ripples the light

at the ends of the earth.

 

You have set the stage

for dancing curtains

to irradiate

the dark hours

preceding

a polar dawn,

with the assistance

of Your beautiful servant

the sun,

whose life-giving

irridescence

is muted

and borrowed,

so we might safely

be wonder-struck

by the glory

of Your

heavenly light.

 

An Autumnal Mist

  

This morning, I glanced out of our bedroom window and caught this exquisite moment on my phone, where it will join a billion other camera-shots, recording the passing of today. I could not resist turning the beauty into a poem for I particularly love those moments when a picture births a poem or vice versa. 

 

 

 

 

An autumnal mist

filters the morning sun,

reducing its blaze to quiescent orange,

on which, just for a few rare minutes

I can safely stay my eye.

 

I remind myself

that beyond nature’s curtain,

spins a roiling,

turbulent ball of gas,

that sustains all life

on Earth.

 

So I give thanks.

 

But remember,

that unconstrained,

this glowing sphere

also has,

a fearsome capacity

to kill and destroy.

 

TT 21.09.24