Christingle Poem 2013

It's that time of year when I am in the midst of planning for a myriad of christmas services and parties and events at church.  One of the earliest of the season, and one of my favourite, is the Christingle Service.  Last year I wrote a poem about Christingle and I was going to include it in our order of service for this year but decided it wasn't quite right; so here it is amended/updated/perfected (I wish).

If the orange is the world

And the candle is the light

Then we know Jesus is with us

Every day and every night

If the sweets are the seasons

And gifts given by Him

Then we know to always thank God

To cheer and clap and sing

If the ribbon is Jesus’ blood

His love wrapped round us all

Then no one needs feel lonely

He'll catch us when we fall

This is the Christingle

A service full of fun

Raising money for little children

God loves us, every one.

© Emma Major


For more information about The Children's Society please visit their website 

For a fully prepared Messy Church Christingle click here 

Praying for the Philippines

Lord
We don't know what to ask for
We don't know what to do
So we get on our knees to pray
Pray for help from you
Help all the many people
Displaced from their homes
All the kids and adults
Nothing to do but roam
Help relief organisations
Bringing relief where they can
Help every single person
Know how to help their fellow man
Help us in our comfy homes
Do all we can today
Give money to relief funds
And pray and pray and pray
Amen

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Remembrance Sunday #haiku

In remembrance
Of those who died for us
Poppy made of prayer

Poppy made by the children of God Squad at St Nicolas Earley.

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Kingfisher #tanrenga

It's another tan renga challenge by Carpe Diem.

river stones
caressed by flowing water
pale moon shines                                        (Becca Givens)

Scales reflect and dazzle
Kingfisher confused gives up

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Tower of Babel Messy Church

Today at St Nicolas Earley we had People, Prayers and Potatoes Messy Church on the theme of The Tower of Babel.

I started by telling the story of The Tower of Babel and then they had 10 activities to have a go at:
1. Marshmallow and straw towers
2. Cracker and cream cheese towers
3. Plastic cup towers
4. Junk modelling towers
5. Garden Jenga
6. "Our big art" Tower
7. Building to God painting
8. The names of God picture
9. Building blocks to God picture
10. Sponge towers

The Tower building activities were really popular and some kids enjoyed making something to take home as well.  One thing's for sure; it was a huge amount of fun for everyone.

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Frozen leaf #tanrenga

Bjorn Rudberg wrote this haiku and carpe diem challenged us to wrote a second stanza.

morning shimmer
dew frosting on furze
a single leaf falls

Here are my attempts at competing the Tan Renga:

morning shimmer
dew frosting on furze
a single leaf falls

Silently drifting downward
Caught on a young deers nose

Xxx

morning shimmer
dew frosting on furze
a single leaf falls

In the empty forest glade
No one hears, does it fall?

Xxx

morning shimmer
dew frosting on furze
a single leaf falls

Frozen forever; glass-like
Hits the ground hard; shatters, gone

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Lifting the veil #haiku

One unsteady step
With a new but unknown love
Leaving fear behind

Written in response to "lifting the veil" at haiku my heart.

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Meditative peace #haiku

Carpe diem asks us again to complete the Haiku:

chanting and humming
gongs immerse the green valley
...................................

chanting and humming
gongs immerse the green valley
Mediation's calm

chanting and humming
gongs immerse the green valley
Birds still on the wing

chanting and humming
gongs immerse the green valley
Panda knows to hide

chanting and humming
gongs immerse the green valley
No fear anywhere

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New Life #haibun

This month's haibun challenge at Carpe Diem requires us to intertwine prose and haiku including the five words flowers; full moon; celebrating; winter and breeze.  Here is my attempt.

Flowers all are gone
Winter chill is on the breeze
Full moon lights the night

It's November, not the usual time to celebrate new life; but if we look beneath the surface we will see flora and fauna springing with activity.  Hedgehogs and squirrels are in the final collection phase ready for their new life of winter sleep. 

Off to hibernate
We must hurry, can't be late
Into winter state

Birds are gathering strength to fight the winds on wings to new winter lives in sun and warmth. 

Full of energy
For long trip we are ready
Day goodbye to me

Plants are shedding unnecessary weights, preparing for new life in snow and ice.

Old departed leaves
Shed upon the soggy ground
What a huge relief

New life may not be our focus over the next four months but we will gain new insights and new experiences which will form a new life within us.

Celebrate all change
In the new we live and learn
Broaden our range

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By the garden path #tanrenga

by the garden path
an upside down flowerpot
cottage for a toad

Stalked by a lively cat
Toy he hopes not to destroy

The second stanza (7-7) is a tan Renga response to Mark Redfearn's haiku; inspired by Tommy who turned once yesterday and can hunt but not kill (yet)!

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Scarecrow #tanrenga

The challenge is to write a 7-7 Tan Renga stanza response to the Haiku Stanza:

wind jostles the scarecrow
near the heavy-hung cornstalks
the summer is spent

Leaves swirl around soft straw legs
Dizzy, he falls on the ground

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Fence #haiku

Sitting on the fence
Pretending no difference
Neither making sense

Inspired by a prompt at carpe diem

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