The Shepherd

The Gospel reading this morning reminded me of these photos I took last year in Nazareth.





'Very truly, I tell you, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate but climbs in by another way is a thief and a bandit. The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. They will not follow a stranger, but they will run from him because they do not know the voice of strangers.' Jesus used this figure of speech with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.

So again Jesus said to them, 'Very truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who come before me are thieves and bandits; but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. John 10.1-10

sunlight

What sunshine is to flowers, smiles are to humanity. These are but trifles, to be sure; but, scattered along life's pathway, the good they do is inconceivable.

Joseph Addison (1672 - 1719)

Friday was a day for celebrating Wedddings. We held a Wedding in St Michael's in the morning, a happy occassion with lots of family and friends present to witness Jayne and David's marriage. It may not have made the national press but did get a mention in the Romford Recorder and everyone in church could see the whole service!

Richard and I were invited to a street party in the afternoon.



A toast to William and Kate.





The party in progress







There were plenty of Union Flags to be seen



Some reflections.









Lots of chat, games and quizzes and a certain amount of temptation.

For someone who doesn't photograph people I managed rather a lot of pictures.

Holy Saturday

A day of watching
of waiting
A day of darkness
The light seems far away
An opportunity for reflection
to ponder on what was
and what might have been
A day of uncertainty
Letting go of the past
Being released
into an unknown future
Time stretching into eternity

Good Friday

Washing One's Hands

 

Washing one's hands of the conflict

between the powerful and the powerless

means to side with the powerful,

not to be neutral.

 

Paulo Freire

 

 

The Crucifixion

 

You were one with the Father.

Then the Father turned his back on you.

You felt forsaken,

hanging there between heaven's thunder

and the dank spittle of earth.

 

For that moment you belonged nowhere.

You were love, cut off from love;

truth nailed down by lies.

You must have wanted to explode, to disintegrate,

to disappear into a void.

But that was forbidden.

And that was the test.

 

Your blood burst through your skin

and ran down like sweat.

Your sweat ran cold

and drained into your heart.

The universe caught hold of your pain.

The sun went blind with grief.

The earth shivered in shock.

History was torn in two.

 

I stood at a distance,

my collar turned up,

like a murderer witnessing

a wrongful arrest.

 

Steve Turner

Maundy Thursday

a foretaste of things to come.



A day of story telling;

the Passover

the Last Supper

Foot washing

The Garden of Gethsemane



When Jesus Shared

When Jesus shared his bread and wine
and faced his final day -
Did we not promise, we will stay?

When Jesus in Gethsemane
asked us to watch and pray -
Did we not sleep the night away?

When Judas kissed him on the cheek
and soldiers took our Lord to slay -
Did we not also run away?

When Jesus was reviled and mocked
and we were asked to own his name -
Did we not also love betray?

When Jesus walked towards his cross
and stumbled on the way -
Were we not hidden far away?

Colin Ferguson

Palm Sunday

Cross-marked beast
bearing cross-burdened Christ,
what is you message today
as you travel the palm-strewn way?
Stumbling on a stony track,
people's coats on your back,
you were chosen for faithfulness.
This is a calling we share,
as the cross-marked hill
comes closer still.
Your job is to carry him today,
yesterday's weight forgotten;
tomorrow's burden still uncertain.
May we, his cross-marked people
bear him just as faithfully.
Janet Lees

Classic London

There are some classic London icons



Red London Buses



Telephone Box

Oranges and Lemons - a twist

Reflections by Waterloo Bridge

There were some mirrors on the wall by the side of Waterloo bridge where the refurbishments were taking place. They gave an interesting perspective of the Thames.

London Bridges

An alternative view of Waterloo Bridge

Peace

The sun and heat of last week was just too much for some.

How easy do we find it to switch off and ignore the hustle and bustle which surrounds us?

Windows and Walls

As well as the exhibition I enjoyed looking at the interesting views and reflections in the windows and walls in the gallery.

The Followers

The idea behind this burial wall “The Followers” by Ximena Garrido-Lecca came from the Peruvian tradition. As well as photos and flowers in the niches were many things that the deceased would need in the afterlife, including bottles in Inca Cola & Cusquena beer. It reminded me of our visit to Peru in 2009 and the many times people mixed Christian faith with traditional spiritual worship. People would return from church with Holy Water and sprinkle it alongside coca leaves and corn beer left in offering to the gods.