Happy Easter

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Sunrise Jerusalem Hills

Easter by Edmund Spenser

MOST glorious Lord of Lyfe! that, on this day,
Didst make Thy triumph over death and sin;
And, having harrowd hell, didst bring away
Captivity thence captive, us to win:
This joyous day, deare Lord, with joy begin;
And grant that we, for whom thou diddest dye,
Being with Thy deare blood clene washt from sin,
May live for ever in felicity!

And that Thy love we weighing worthily,
May likewise love Thee for the same againe;
And for Thy sake, that all lyke deare didst buy,
With love may one another entertayne!
So let us love, deare Love, lyke as we ought,
— Love is the lesson which the Lord us taught.

Sabbatical

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#ServiceShirk

I’m reaching the end of my intended #ServiceShirk which was planned to last from Christmas Day to Holy Week. It’s been a great opportunity to explore different forms of Christian spirituality and practice away from the entertainment – and passivity – of a conventional church service setting.

This Sunday was an exploration of Sabbath and silence using Wayne Muller’s fine book, “Sabbath – Finding Rest, Renewal, and Delight in Our Busy Lives”, as a starting point.

Wayne Muller - Sabbath

The book has some great insights into the different ways that people, across cultures, have built structured space and simplicity into their daily lives.

I’ve also been enjoying Anne D. LeClaire’s wonderful “Listening Below The Noise: The Transformative Power of Silence”.

Listening Below The Noise

Next Sunday sees a return to Church for Palm Sunday and, of course, the events of Holy Week will follow. This #ServiceShirk has been great and far more fulfilling and spiritually challenging than the usual hour and a quarter in the pews. That needs some examination. Watch this space for what’s happening after Easter 🙂