Seals and White Horses

Seals on Lindisfarne Sandbank

Staying once again on the beautiful Holy Island of Lindisfarne and privileged to be able to watch the tides from the lounge and bedroom windows. Sunday 10 days ago we experienced a wild wind which roared up the sound, so I tried to capture the moment and ... consider the future.

Seals and White Horses

(on a Lindisfarne Sandbank)

 

Twice a day,

some twenty score of seals

languidly allow themselves to succumb

to the encroaching sea,

as it steadfastly overwhelms

their sandbank resting-place.

 

But on this tide

a stampede of white horses

chases them

into forced retreat

before a fast-running tide,

driven by ferocious wind.

 

This wind has roared across the Atlantic

having wrought devastation-by-flooding

prior to leaving its last landfall.

 

Yet more extreme weather

resulting from the

undeniable climate chaos,

discerned by the truth-seeking,

broad-based research

of rightly sombre scientists.

 

Too soon, the sandbanks

will be permanently submerged.

 

No respite then for seals.

This post is part of  ‘My Lindisfarne Collection’, the rest of which which can be found HERE

No Longer is The Ploughing

Picture credit Kridneh via Pixabay free images

Last Sunday, in keeping with the Bible story of the sower, scattering seeds that both perish and prosper depending on where they fall, we sung (on Lindisfarne) the well-known harvest thanksgiving hymn ‘We Plough The Seeds and Scatter the Good Seed on the Land’. 

 

I was reminded that back in 2011, I wrote new words trying to reflect the onward march of technology on the farm. The revised version was called ‘The Great Machines of Harvest’ which can be accessed by link at the end of this post.

 

However, as we sang the original version of the hymn, I was disconcerted by, what in these ‘extreme weather’ times, felt complacent to me, and I realised, the same criticism could be applied to my 2011 version. 

 

During the afternoon following the service, I explored a different approach which once again could be sung to any familiar hymn tune used for the original version. Here it is - and suddenly with the stupidity of politicians wanting to ditch green policies, it feels important to post it

 

No Longer is The Ploughing

No longer is the ploughing

one annual winter chore:

fields now are laced with compounds

so they will yield much more.

But snow which once warmed seedlings

might now be rain extreme,

so weather’s wild excesses 

wreck cultivation schemes.

 

Refrain

 

All good gifts around us

are not found everywhere,

for drought and floods and warfare,

can render farmland bare.

 

Although our generous Maker

desires that earth should thrive,

sustain its population

that everyone might live. 

The greed and vast consumption

of those in lands of wealth

mean millions face starvation

and dangerous ill-health

 

Refrain

 

We ask you then, O Father

‘Help us make protests strong

‘gainst fools and vested interests

who’d short-term gains prolong,

instead of realising

the change we can’t avoid:

STOP oil! STOP profiteering!

Before all Earth’s destroyed.  

The Great Machines of Harvest mentioned in the first paragraph can be accessed HERE 

Dear Lord, I Thank You for The Sun (& other clean energy sources)

 Dear Lord, I thank you for the sun

Tune: Fulda (We Have a Gospel to Proclaim ) or many LM tunes

 

Dear Lord, I thank you for the sun

with its amazing energy,

which we can harvest every day

and turn to power reliably.

 

Dear Lord, I thank you for the winds,

unseen as they turn turbine sails

to generate their gusty streams

of pristine power at mighty scale.

 

Dear Lord, I thank you for the ways

that water-power is utilised,

and pray that soon we’ll tame the tides

for widespread use – a precious prize.

 

Dear Lord, please guide those who invest,

to understand; NOW is the hour

for boosting flows of finance to

those who commit to greener power.

Find more Care of the Planet poems, songs and hymns at https://crossandcosmos.blogspot.com/p/care-of-planet-collection.html

 

People of God, Awake!

 

People of God, Awake! 

Tune: Hills of the North Rejoice/ Little Cornard

People of God, Awake!

In this earth’s crisis hour.

Bold in our stewardship

let us speak truth to power:

the use of fossil fuels must end

if we, the planet ‘s health would mend.

 

Unless good sense prevails

every low coastal place

will fall beneath the waves

millions will be displaced.

So may we like the prophets old

sound warnings and take actions bold.

 

If everyone of faith

rallied to make it clear

that our Creator God

needs us renounce our fears

of taking action, to demand 

that gas, oil, coal are swiftly banned.

 

Then would our stewardship

chime with the will of God,

who must lament the wounds

wrought on the world he trod.

So protest now in forceful ways

to save these being earth’s last days.

Find more Care of the Planet poems, songs and hymns at https://crossandcosmos.blogspot.com/p/care-of-planet-collection.html

 

 

Look Around In Many Towns and Villages...

This is a companion poem to 'The Song of The Rooftop’ published here just a week ago. Both are fairly lighthearted poems written with the idea that school-age children might be able to use them to start a conversation about a fairly prominent statement demonstrating a community’s desire to do all it can to protect out fragile planet.

I will add to this post over the next two-or-three weeks as I find information which can supplement this poem. One thought would be that this and/or its companion could be included in an end-of-term concert. So, watch this space, and watch also for a post which will list around 10 or 12 items, all of which could, similarly be introduced into end-of-term concerts. 

Solar Panels on St Barnabas (Barney’s) Derby: 

Photo credit Pixaby.

Oh Yes! Don’t worry if people quote Listed Building Status as a problem: there are lots of helpful precedents, including solar panels on two Cathedrals - Gloucester (installed 2016) and Salisbury (installed 2020).

Look Around In Many Towns and Villages.

 

Look around, in many towns

and villages you’ll find, 

there's a parish church

which has weathered storm and wind, 

down the years. There, people

have met to mark the dates,

of life and death occasions

and often celebrate.

 

Almost all these churches

have nave roofs that face South:

they'll get the sun upon them 

throughout the daylight hours; 

and as they’re large and well-placed

to gather solar power,

with big arrays of panels 

they can drive emissions down.

 

So why not ask the Vicar,

and chat around the town

to see if there are people

whose backing could be found,

to help to make this happen 

in your community

to help towards an earth that can

from fossil fuels break free?

 

Trevor Thorn June 2022

The companion poem ’The Song of the Church Rooftop' can be found HERE

Dear Lord, I Thank You For The Sun

Image: The Sun showing prominences. 

Credit ESA

 Dear Lord, I thank you for the sun

Tune: Fulda

(We Have a Gospel to Proclaim ) or many LM tunes

 

Dear Lord, I thank you for the sun

with its amazing energy,

which we can harvest every day

and turn to power reliably.

 

Dear Lord, I thank you for the winds,

unseen as they turn turbine sails

to generate their gusty streams

of pristine power at mighty scale.

 

Dear Lord, I thank you for the ways

that water-power is utilised,

and pray that soon we’ll tame the tides

for widespread use – a precious prize.

 

Dear Lord, please guide those who invest,

to understand; NOW is the hour

for boosting flows of finance to

those who commit to greener power.

Creationtide - Day 34. Make Us Good Stewards Lord (for St Francis’ Day).

Throughout Creationtide, 1st September - 4th October, there will be a daily posting of material to help us reflect on the various themes associated with this period in the Church’s year.

Credits NASA

The posts will incorporate the following themes:

• Glory of the Cosmos, 
• Bible 
• Earth’s Wonders 
• Care of the Planet 
• Meditation/ Prayer 
• Praise & Adoration
• Jesus, the heart of it all

I hope you will find these notes, prayers, hymns and meditations helpful and that you will feel you want to call in on the site each day. You will be very welcome and as many of the items reflect the biggest challenge of our times (notwithstanding Covid 19), I hope you might encourage other like-minded people to join us on this 34 day pilgrimage.

When we can sing again, this poem can be sung to the tune for the hymn, ‘Hills of The North Rejoice’ (Little Cornard)

Make us good stewards, Lord,

Of this your earthly home.

Help us be resolute  

In curbing damage done

By fossil fuels and plastic waste,

And other ways earth is defaced.

Help us encourage hope    

That the world can achieve   

Limits to harm caused by  

products to which we cleave,   

that strip the world of minerals rare,     

and plunder water without care.    

Give to your people, Lord,  

Zeal so we might protest, 

when justice is denied

by wealth’s voracious quests    

That ransack earth, afflict the poor, 

as greedy profiteers make more.

Other poems/hymns/songs with the theme of caring for our common home can be found HERE

You might also like to reflect on the internationality of the potential contribution towards the stewardship of the earth from the Christian church globally by spending ten minutes listening to one of the many versions of ’The Blessing’ which have been published during Lockdown times. Today’s choice is the Elevation Gospel revamp

Creationtide - Day 32. Source of The Fundamental Forces

Throughout Creationtide, 1st September - 4th October, there will be a daily posting of material to help us reflect on the various themes associated with this period in the Church’s year.

The posts will incorporate the following themes:

• Glory of the Cosmos, 
• Bible 
• Earth’s Wonders 
• Care of the Planet 
• Meditation/ Prayer 
• Praise & Adoration
• Jesus, the heart of it all

I hope you will find these notes, prayers, hymns and meditations helpful and that you will feel you want to call in on the site each day. You will be very welcome and as many of the items reflect the biggest challenge of our times (notwithstanding Covid 19), I hope you might encourage other like-minded people to join us on this 34 day pilgrimage.  

Source of The Fundamental Forces (Hymn)

Source of the fundamental forces,

Jesus Christ our Lord;

Setting primeval plasma coursing

Through His mighty Word.

Called from the womb of the void,

Particles deployed,

Wisdom decreed

These are the seeds

Of creation’s form.

Source of the simple organisms

That evolved on earth.

Deep in the wellsprings, God was minded

To bring life to birth,

Through several billion years

Reasoning minds appeared

Shaped to explore

Wonder and awe,

At creation’s forms.

Source of the love that deep enfolds us,

Saviour, Master, King;

Seeing our wayward human natures

You gave everything

To liberate our race,

By your amazing grace:

Tortured to death;

In your last breaths,

Promised eternal rest.

Source of all holy inspiration,

Spirit of the Lord,

Breathe into us desire and urge to

Worship and adore.

You, Lord, who formed all things, 

Hear us as we now sing.

Giver of light,

Giver of life,

Praise to you, Lord of all.

(c) Trevor Thorn, April 2018.

Here’s a quick look at the tune

You might also like to reflect on the internationality of the potential contribution towards the stewardship of the earth from the Christian church globally by spending ten minutes listening to one of the many versions of ’The Blessing’ which have been published during Lockdown times. Today’s choice comes from India 

Creationtide - Day 31. Does The God Who Lived a Human?

 Throughout Creationtide, 1st September - 4th October, there will be a daily posting of material to help us reflect on the various themes associated with this period in the Church’s year.

The posts will incorporate the following themes:

• Glory of the Cosmos, 
• Bible 
• Earth’s Wonders 
• Care of the Planet 
• Meditation/ Prayer 
• Praise & Adoration
• Jesus, the heart of it all

I hope you will find these notes, prayers, hymns and meditations helpful and that you will feel you want to call in on the site each day. You will be very welcome and as many of the items reflect the biggest challenge of our times (notwithstanding Covid 19), I hope you might encourage other like-minded people to join us on this 34 day pilgrimage. 

Does the God who Lived a Human   

(Recommended tune:Through the Night of Doubt and Sorrow 8.7 D)

Does the God who lived a human,

weep with anger, weep with rage,

at the sweep of gross injustice 

in this money-driven age?

Wealth and arrogance are forcing

powerless people to the brink;

such as those who live in terror

that their homes and fields will sink.

Add to that the lies and falsehoods 

in our corridors of power: 

Lord of justice, cause your people 

to rise up in this dark hour.

Seeking truth and resolutely 

challenging both lies and wealth  

that are careless of resources,

or strip others of their health. 

Listen now to children’s wisdom,

many of whom recognise

that unless we change our lifestyle

earth is facing its demise .

If we strive more for your vision

of an earth where love and care

guide the actions of its people,

hope can flower and rout despair.

So, bring hope, O great Creator,

let the planet’s saving be

hastened by your Holy Spirit,

calling leaders, calling me.

You might also like to reflect on the internationality of the potential contribution towards the stewardship of the earth from the Christian church globally by spending ten minutes listening to one of the many versions of ’The Blessing’ which have been published during Lockdown times. Today’s choice comes from 50 Covid nations

Creationtide - Day 30.For Amazement by Beauty

 Throughout Creationtide, 1st September - 4th October, there will be a daily posting of material to help us reflect on the various themes associated with this period in the Church’s year.

Neuron tangle: CGI by the author 

based on a mirroring of partial neuroscience brain scans

The posts will incorporate the following themes:

• Glory of the Cosmos, 
• Bible 
• Earth’s Wonders 
• Care of the Planet 
• Meditation/ Prayer 
• Praise & Adoration
• Jesus, the heart of it all

I hope you will find these notes, prayers, hymns and meditations helpful and that you will feel you want to call in on the site each day. You will be very welcome and as many of the items reflect the biggest challenge of our times (notwithstanding Covid 19), I hope you might encourage other like-minded people to join us on this 34 day pilgrimage.

This can be sung to the tune of the Sans Day Carol (omitting the chorus) 

For amazement by beauty

we give you our praise;

for the patterns that form

in our neural pathways.

Our brains stimulated

by wonder and awe:

for glimpses of glory,

we thank you, dear Lord.

For the marvel of colour

deriving from light,

and heightening each image  

revealed by our sight. 

For spirited hues

that emotion arouse.

Give thanks for the splendours

our vision bestows.

For delight in the fragrance

of blossom and herbs,

as we breathe in the glories

of nectars and oils:

some heady, some soothing,

some prized for their power

to promote our well-being

with root, leaf or flower.

For the myriad touches

that make us aware,

of the soft, smooth or yielding,

of the hard, harsh or spare.

When feeling such beauty

as a new-born child’s face,

there’s delight in the moment,

a great gift of grace

For the tongue and for taste buds

that flavours detect.

For our instinct, which foods

to enjoy or reject.

May we, who by plenty

are mightily blessed

be preserved, Lord, from hunger,

thirst, waste or excess

For the patterns of language

that gladden the ear;

for the glory of music

as it trembles the air;

for tones and expressions

we love to applaud.

For all blessings of beauty,
we adore you, dear Lord.

You might also like to reflect on the internationality of the potential contribution towards the stewardship of the earth from the Christian church globally by spending ten minutes listening to one of the many versions of ’The Blessing’ which have been published during Lockdown times. Today’s choice comes from Pittsburgh

Creationtide - Day 29. Psalm 150 Reimagined for the Second Space Age

Throughout Creationtide, 1st September - 4th October, there will be a daily posting of material to help us reflect on the various themes associated with this period in the Church’s year.

Moth nebula: imagined acrylic by the author

The posts will incorporate the following themes:

• Glory of the Cosmos, 
• Bible 
• Earth’s Wonders 
• Care of the Planet 
• Meditation/ Prayer 
• Praise & Adoration
• Jesus, the heart of it all

I hope you will find these notes, prayers, hymns and meditations helpful and that you will feel you want to call in on the site each day. You will be very welcome and as many of the items reflect the biggest challenge of our times (notwithstanding Covid 19), I hope you might encourage other like-minded people to join us on this 34 day pilgrimage.  

Praise God in his holiness;

Praise him in heaven, his glorious dwelling-place

Praise him from the unknown depths of stars, moons and planets; and from the soaring wonders of the vastness of space.

Praise him for the marvellous gift of matter; and for his extravagant love for all that lives.

Let great aquatic creatures and enormous land-bound mammals, miniscule animals, insects and microscopic cells, praise the Lord.

Let forms of life wholly beyond human comprehension, praise the Lord.

For the neural pathways that birth our imaginations and give rise to all our understandings, give thanks and praise.

Let everything that exists, Praise the Lord.

You might also like to reflect on the internationality of the potential contribution towards the stewardship of the earth from the Christian church globally by spending ten minutes listening to one of the many versions of ’The Blessing’ which have been published during Lockdown times. Today’s choice comes from Hawaii

Creationtide - Day 28. Sonnet of The Source

 Throughout Creationtide, 1st September - 4th October, there will be a daily posting of material to help us reflect on the various themes associated with this period in the Church’s year.

The posts will incorporate the following themes:

• Glory of the Cosmos, 
• Bible 
• Earth’s Wonders 
• Care of the Planet 
• Meditation/ Prayer 
• Praise & Adoration
• Jesus, the heart of it all

I hope you will find these notes, prayers, hymns and meditations helpful and that you will feel you want to call in on the site each day. You will be very welcome and as many of the items reflect the biggest challenge of our times (notwithstanding Covid 19), I hope you might encourage other like-minded people to join us on this 34 day pilgrimage. 

Sonnet of The Source

       

CGI by the author representing the 

cosmic wave background that reflects  the historic evidence for the big bang

 

Source of deep rhythms of our universe,

You magnificently nurture both life and death:

from pulsing galaxies to gentlest of breaths,

from softest rain to gamma ray bursts.

Matter birthed into being and scattered abroad

enjoined in the arrow of time,

chaotic, yet crying to be refined

by the forces released at your Word.

So particles eagerly coalesced

and gravity gathered its spheres:

life was invited, a simple-form guest

to evolve, once it had appeared,

into reasoning creatures with power to distil
this opus of love and God’s mighty will.

You might also like to reflect on the internationality of the potential contribution towards the stewardship of the earth from the Christian church globally by spending ten minutes listening to one of the many versions of ’The Blessing’ which have been published during Lockdown times. Today’s choice comes from China