'LOGGING ON’ a Cross and Cosmos Prayer at Iona Morning Prayer

Iona from Fionnphort

Yesterday was a special day in terms of getting the faith and science message around. The Iona Community’s  Morning Worship, Prayers of Gratitude and Concern, featured a prayer entitled ‘Logging On’  posted here back in 2013. It lifts many concerns there are around internet use. Of course, if the poem was more recently written it would have needed to incorporate concerns about AI. So with that reservation, here is the prayer, 

Logging On

Almighty God,

We thank you for the wonders of the internet and the intellect that gave rise to the system.

We pray that many, many people might long for the web to be a safe environment and keep that in their prayers.

We pray that those whose job it is to identify and remove pernicious sites may be given wisdom, insight, courage and determination to perform their task well and that you will protect them from being adversely affected by the material they find.

We pray for parents seeking to protect their children from malign material: that there will be help at hand to steer them well.

We pray that children who stray into corrosive sites might have the courage to share their anxieties with an adult concerned for their safety and able to guide them.

We pray for investigative journalists who seek to expose these pernicious influences: that you will keep them safe and courageous. Amen 

and you can hear it read by me HERE

The Whole Cosmos Is The Lord’s (Psalm 24 re-imagined)

 

How extraordinary! 

An hour long solar eclipse

 as witnessed by the astronauts on the Artemis mission. 

A time to revisit an earlier re-imagining of Psalm 24

Psalm 24 For Today.

The whole cosmos is the Lord's and everything in it:

every particle of matter throughout the universe.

 

All human beings, the earth’s wild creatures and resources:

and unknown beings who may live on planets far beyond our reach.

Lift Up your heads, you galaxies, 

Bright Nova form a dazzling path,

That your great King of Glo-o-o-ory 

Through all your realms may nobly pass 

 

It was God commanded the deep realm of space, Come forth:

and it sprang into instant being.

 

He established light and dark; light to see the wonders of our generous planet: darkness to invite us to see the vastness of  creation.

You can listen  this and the rest of a reimagining of Psalm 24 at

https://youtu.be/4XHgjfVDhlY  

LOOKING FORWARD TO THE JOY OF EASTER: New Song - First to The Tomb Came Mary of Magdala

Here, at the beginning of Holy Week, I, with many others look towards the pain of Good Friday and the joy of the resurrection. I am glad to be able to post a new song (written jointly with Lois Pott with whom I’ve been collaborating in a monthly song-writing challenge) about the story we will hear on Sunday, of Mary being the first to the tomb.

Gethsemane Redeemed - a CGI of mine

First to the tomb came Mary of Magdala,

carrying oil and spices to clean

the blood-soaked body of Jesus, her Master.

Tears in her eyes from her grief and her pain.

 

Wondering how she could roll the great stone away, 

hoping the guards might regard her distress,

But seeing no-one, she paused in the darkness 

Stopped in her tracks by the tomb’s emptiness.

 

Dazed and afraid, Mary called John and Peter,

 they ran together with trembling and awe.

 Peter and John saw the cloths and the linen.

 Left Mary standing to weep at the door.

 

Deep in her grief and completely bewildered,
She asked a stranger if he could explain
But then a voice that she knew breathed out ‘Mary’: 

It was the Lord, raised to life once again

 

So as the first to encounter The Risen,
Jesus called Mary to witness that day

to bring the news to the men who had followed him 

First among equals, in God’s perfect way 

I love John’s Gospel version of the story of the first Easter Morning which reaches its climax as Jesus speaks his first post-Resurrection greeting to Mary who had been the first to the tomb and is, therefore, sometimes known as Apostle to The Apostles. It sits wonderfully alongside the story of the Samaritan woman at the well who becomes the first Evangelist. As a man, I feel I need to notice the way in which God puts women into key roles in these two instances. Hence the closing question in the song asking if God is inviting us to notice these important ‘firsts’ granted to women.

ALSO -  you may like to have a look at the various poems, songs and all-age activity which I have put together for use in Holy Week and Easter-tide. You will find them HERE

 

A WOMAN ARCHBISHOP - PRAISE THE LORD!

Today, I break from my Lenten sequence to Celebrate the marvel of a woman becoming Archbishop of Canterbury. Here’s my Facebook celebratory note

Yesterday we watched the amazing moments that a woman became Archbishop of Canterbury - for which I, among many others, give thanks and praise.

And here’s a bit of thinking that has emerged for me in the last 24 hours.

I have never been able to understand how the whims of a monarch to set up and brutally promote a renegade church, could be in God’s plan. HOWEVER, if the Reformation in England had not happened (with all its grisly history), this amazing event could not have happened. Rome, with its much longer history, hasn’t reached there yet: but the Anglican church has managed to thoroughly overturn the huge injustice of male superiority, which should, surely, never have been part of the church of Christ.

What a day! What a celebration! What Joy! Praise the Lord.

LENT WITH TALLIS’ CANON - DAY 36: Our Newsfeeds Are Incessantly

                                                    

Here is the Lent - Day 36 prayer verse

Our newsfeeds are incessantly

revealing war and poverty.

It is too easy to be blind

To outrages on humankind

Father forgive, forgive

Father forgive

Father forgive, forgive

Father forgive

Can be sung to Tallis’ Canon with the refrain - see posting for Ash Wednesday which can be found HERE 

ALSO - With Holy Week approaching, you may like to have a look at the various poems, songs and all-age activity which I have put together for use in Holy Week and Easter-tide. You will find them HERE

 

LENT WITH TALLIS’ CANON - DAY 35: My Pride, Too Easily, Begins

                                                   

Here is the Lent - Day 35 prayer verse

My pride, too easily, begins

to surface, when I’m cornered in

a situation where I think

I’m right, so from it will not shrink.

Father forgive, forgive

Father forgive

Father forgive, forgive

Father forgive

Can be sung to Tallis’ Canon with the refrain - see posting for Ash Wednesday which can be found HERE 

ALSO - With Holy Week approaching, you may like to have a look at the various poems, songs and all-age activity which I have put together for use in Holy Week and Easter-tide. You will find them HERE

 

LENT WITH TALLIS’ CANON - DAY 34: Our Wastefulness is Everywhere:

                                                  

Here is the Lent - Day 34 prayer verse

Our wastefulness is everywhere:

it spoils the land and fouls the air.

help me take an assertive stance

‘gainst waste born of extravagance

Father forgive, forgive

Father forgive

Father forgive, forgive

Father forgive

Can be sung to Tallis’ Canon with the refrain - see posting for Ash Wednesday which can be found HERE 

ALSO - With Holy Week approaching, you may like to have a look at the various poems, songs and all-age activity which I have put together for use in Holy Week and Easter-tide. You will find them HERE

 

LENT WITH TALLIS’ CANON - DAY 33: May I Speak Truth to Power, Dear Lord

                                                  

Here is the Lent - Day 33 prayer verse

May I speak truth to power, dear Lord

whenever justice is ignored:

please keep me faithful, bold and strong 

despite threats from those in the wrong

Father forgive, forgive

Father forgive

Father forgive, forgive

Father forgive

Can be sung to Tallis’ Canon with the refrain - see posting for Ash Wednesday which can be found HERE 

ALSO - With Holy Week approaching, you may like to have a look at the various poems, songs and all-age activity which I have put together for use in Holy Week and Easter-tide. You will find them HERE

LENT WITH TALLIS’ CANON - DAY 32: It Is Too Easy To Forget

                                                 

Here is the Lent - Day 32 prayer verse

It is too easy to forget

to give our thanks when prayers are met:

also for good gifts ‘by the way’ 

and unrequested, day on day.

 

Father forgive, forgive

Father forgive

Father forgive, forgive

Father forgive

Can be sung to Tallis’ Canon with the refrain - see posting for Ash Wednesday which can be found HERE 

ALSO - With Holy Week approaching, you may like to have a look at the various poems, songs and all-age activity which I have put together for use in Holy Week and Easter-tide. You will find them HERE

LENT WITH TALLIS’ CANON - DAY 31: ‘Revenge is Sweet,’

                                                

Here is the Lent - Day 31 prayer verse

‘Revenge is sweet,’ it’s often said,

but that should fill the heart with dread;

for when we try to ‘pay things back’,

we hurt ourselves as we attack

Father forgive, forgive

Father forgive

Father forgive, forgive

Father forgive

Can be sung to Tallis’ Canon with the refrain - see posting for Ash Wednesday which can be found HERE 

ALSO - With Holy Week approaching, you may like to have a look at the various poems, songs and all-age activity which I have put together for use in Holy Week and Easter-tide. You will find them HERE

LENT WITH TALLIS’ CANON- DAY 30: Sarcastic Comments Sometimes Slip

                                               

Here is the Lent - Day 30 prayer verse

Sarcastic comments sometimes slip

our thoughtless or malicious lips:

they may be wily, smart or cruel.

but bitterness, they’ll often fuel

Father forgive, forgive

Father forgive

Father forgive, forgive

Father forgive

Can be sung to Tallis’ Canon with the refrain - see posting for Ash Wednesday which can be found HERE 

ALSO - With Holy Week approaching, you may like to have a look at the various poems, songs and all-age activity which I have put together for use in Holy Week and Easter-tide. You will find them HERE

LENT WITH TALLIS’ CANON - DAY 29: So Quickly, Filth and Bawdiness

                                              

Here is the Lent - Day 29 prayer verse

So quickly, filth and bawdiness

confuse and build up mental stress:

in face of either, we should quail:

embracing them, well-being fails.

Father forgive, forgive

Father forgive

Father forgive, forgive

Father forgive

Can be sung to Tallis’ Canon with the refrain - see posting for Ash Wednesday which can be found HERE 

LENT WITH TALLIS’ CANON - DAY 28: Money and Wealth Are gods Today,

                                             

Here is the Lent - Day 28 prayer verse

Money and wealth are gods today,

for many who are led astray

believing these the keys to life:

Instead, they can cause dreadful strife.

Father forgive, forgive

Father forgive

Father forgive, forgive

Father forgive

Can be sung to Tallis’ Canon with the refrain - see posting for Ash Wednesday which can be found HERE 

LENT WITH TALLIS’ CANON - DAY 27: Conspiracy is Everywhere!

                                                       

Here is the Lent - Day 27 prayer verse

Conspiracy is everywhere!

Refuting it, we have to dare

to seek the truth against the grain,

to try help break its vicious chains.

Father forgive, forgive

Father forgive

Father forgive, forgive

Father forgive

Can be sung to Tallis’ Canon with the refrain - see posting for Ash Wednesday which can be found HERE 

LENT WITH TALLIS' CANON - DAY 26: Today refresh our pale attempts

                                                         

Here is the Lent - Day 26 prayer verse:

So we reach mid-Lent Sunday, Refreshment Sunday

or Mothering Sunday.

The verse focuses on the opportunity to reflect on OUR

journey through the season 

so far, and renew our resolve to be prepared

to celebrate the awesome miracle of

EASTER DAY.  

Today refresh our pale attempts

To walk alongside You this Lent

Revive our steps along the way

To greet you, Lord on Easter Day

 

 

Father forgive, forgive

Father forgive

Father forgive, forgive

Father forgive

Can be sung to Tallis’ Canon with the refrain - see posting for Ash Wednesday which can be found HERE 

 

 

 

Father forgive, forgive

Father forgive

Father forgive, forgive

Father forgive

Can be sung to Tallis’ Canon with the refrain - see posting for Ash Wednesday which can be found HERE 

 

LENT WITH TALLIS CANON - DAY 25: When Purchasing We Need Be Wise,

                                                        

Here is the Lent - Day 25 prayer verse

When purchasing we need be wise,

Earth can be harmed by goods we buy.

Seek things produced sustainably

and don’t dump new things rapidly.

 

 

Father forgive, forgive

Father forgive

Father forgive, forgive

Father forgive

Can be sung to Tallis’ Canon with the refrain - see posting for Ash Wednesday which can be found HERE 

 

LENT WITH TALLIS’ CANON - DAY 24: Desire For Sex Can Make Us Fools

                                                       

Here is the Lent - Day 24 prayer verse

Desire for sex can make us fools

for once the heat of ardour cools

both parties may be filled with pain:

bring trauma over and gain.

 

Father forgive, forgive

Father forgive

Father forgive, forgive

Father forgive

Can be sung to Tallis’ Canon with the refrain - see posting for Ash Wednesday which can be found HERE 

 

LENT WITH TALLIS’ CANON- DAY 23: Beware A Beast Within Us Lies

                                                      

Here is the Lent - Day 23 prayer verse

Beware a beast within us lies

more vicious than we’d realise

if unrestrained great harm can come

to anything and anyone.

Father forgive, forgive

Father forgive

Father forgive, forgive

Father forgive

Can be sung to Tallis’ Canon with the refrain - see posting for Ash Wednesday which can be found HERE 

Refrain

Father forgive, forgive

Father forgive

Father forgive, forgive

Father forgive

Can be sung to Tallis’ Canon with the refrain - see posting for Ash Wednesday which can be found HERE 

LENT WITH TALLIS’ CANON- DAY 22: The Slightest Racist Thought in Me.

                                                     

Here is the Lent - Day 22 prayer verse

The slightest racist thought in me

should prompt my conscience, fearfully.

For everyone upon the earth

in God’s eyes, has an equal worth.

Refrain

Father forgive, forgive

Father forgive

Father forgive, forgive

Father forgive

Can be sung to Tallis’ Canon with the refrain - see posting for Ash Wednesday which can be found HERE 

Refrain

Father forgive, forgive

Father forgive

Father forgive, forgive

Father forgive

Can be sung to Tallis’ Canon with the refrain - see posting for Ash Wednesday which can be found HERE