Messy Church

Well it was messy, but it was fun! And we will be doing it again in January.

Mary's Journey

There will be no donkey,
and especially not a little donkey.

I'm eight-and-a-half months pregnant.
I couldn't swing my leg over its back.

If I sat side-saddle, I'd probably fall off
and if I stayed on, it might trigger my contractions.

Now if Joseph could afford a camel....
but Joseph can't afford a camel,
so I'm  going to walk.....

eighty miles
eighty pregnant miles
to register to pay the poll-tax...
I don't know what it will be like
and, since Joseph left the town
when he was just a toddler,
he can't remember either.

I ask you....
would any of you who a\re women
want to walk eighty miles,
when your time has nearly come,
to give birth,
in who knows where,
to a child who is a source of consternation
to your parents before he is born
and who will be a source of controversy
to the  world ever after.

When I was a girl
I used to love playing practical jokes.
All our neighbours would roar and laugh
and say to my mother
"Where does she get her sense of humour from?"

Sometimes when I think of the mess
that Joseph and I are in,
I smile to myself
and realise I got my sense of humour
from my maker.

Graemsay

8 of us from Stromness went over on Tuesday to share lunch and a wee communion service with the Graemsay folk. It was a lovely day out (but quite tiring for some!)

Communion

Jesus was always the guest.
In the homes of Peter and Jairus,
Martha, Mary and Zaccheus,
he was always the guest.

At the meal tables of the wealthy
where he pled the case of the poor,
he was always the guest.

Upsetting polite company,
befriending isolated people,
welcoming the stranger,
he was always the guest.

But here,
at this table,
he is the host.

Those who wish to serve him
must first be served by him.
Those who want to follow him
must first be fed by him.
Those who would wash his feet
must first let him make them clean.

Dirty Weekend

Well that was some weekend. The boat journey from hell and then a weekend of mud and hurricanes. I'm glad to be back on Orkney. Here's a few photos of my mates enjoying themselves.

Look after your pets!

When Lord did we ever see you...?

When Lord did we ever see you hungry and feed you?

I'm famished!
I could eat a scabby horse!
The cupboard is bare.
We know where our next meal's coming from
and where it's going.
But do we know the cost?
The poor wait ,hungry for change.
Jesus waits with them

When Lord did we ever see you thirsty and give you a drink?

What're you having?
It's your round!
I only drink to be sociable.
Make mine a double!
We take it for granted, drinking,
whatever we want, whenever we want.
Some live to drink,
others drink to live!
The poor wait, thirsty for justice.
Jesus waits with them.

When Lord did we see you a stranger and welcome you in our homes?

Who's that over there?
The new boy, the incomer.
Never set eyes on him before.
Not sure I like the look of him!
We like to stay safe,
comfortable in the circle of our friends.
The strangers wait for welcome.
Jesus waits with them.


More on Sunday, feel free to comment or contribute, please!