Readings 23 August 2024 St Mary's Church
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Welcome
‘As water takes whatever shape it is in, So free may you be about who you become.’ John O’Donohue – from “For Equilibrium, a Blessing Judy The past few weeks have been tough for so many – in lots of ways – not just in this country, but throughout the world. Let’s just take a few moments to hold the world, its wars, God’s creation, and all God’s children in silent prayer. Sometimes our minds might feel as though they are whirling - with uncertainty, complexity, the knowledge of hatred, and much more …. So how can we still our hearts and minds to try to make sense of the world today? |
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It was a couple of months ago that thoughts of meditating on ‘Living Water’ came to me – and … however you are feeling today, wherever you are at, we invite you to hear and read some thoughts, poems, and meditations about Living Water … and, maybe later this morning, share some of your own thoughts and inspirations … we don’t have to be a well-known author, or one of Jesus’ first disciples to hear God’s word, comfort, and calling through his Holy Spirit. Each one of our ponderings is valid in its own right, and worth sharing if we wish. Judy Greenfield
John 4: 7-10 A woman, a Samaritan, came to draw water. Jesus said, “Would you give me a drink of water?” (His disciples had gone to the village to buy food for lunch.) The Samaritan woman, taken aback, asked, “How come you, a Jew, are asking me, a Samaritan woman, for a drink?” (Jews in those days wouldn’t be caught dead talking to Samaritans.) Jesus answered, “If you knew the generosity of God and who I am, you would be asking me for a drink, and I would give you fresh, living water.”
John 7: 37-39 – It was the Feast of Tabernacles or Booths. On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. 3Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive.
Judy
Yes, Jesus is the Living Water we seek and through God’s grace can absorb spiritually … sometimes longing for our spiritual thirst to be quenched by the Holy Spirit … it is a very special God-given gift for all… and, sometimes, perhaps often, we are called to be Living Water to others – as Jesus the Living Water lives in us … so we are called to pass this on, by our actions, our love, our care, and journeying with others -
But – also - here today, in the world of 2024 – we know that there are many other ways of considering Living Water … in practical ways - being aware of many areas of the world where drinking water – and water for washing, cooking, cleaning is not readily available …is there is anything we can do to help? we sometimes ask – perhaps very little directly … but we can pray … and pray deeply, in an informed way. * (World Water Day 2024 – notes at the end)
Or … in being close to nature, in absorbing the beauty of rivers, lakes, waterfalls - small coves of sea water, the mighty oceans …even the angry sea – I have probably left some out, for I am sure that there are many others to add.
So, as we go into our time of stillness and quiet … let our hearts and minds be guided by the Holy Spirit … and perhaps by the Thoughts to Ponder, or in whichever way we find God in that stillness …
Judy Greenfield
Linda demonstrated her singing bowl and the affect it has on the water within it – the whole group were fascinated!
It was a pleasure being asked to bring my singing bowl for our Quiet spaces session. I wanted to demonstrate how sound effects water, by putting water in the singing bowl and playing it so the molecules start to resonate creating concurrent ripples around the edge of the bowl. As the energy started to build and the depth of sound reached out to people, they came and gathered around
to look. I could feel the energy building and everyone was smiling, a deep sense of connection with each other came, a pure, warm light radiated from the group. One member of the group put her finger in the water and said she felt the molecules move.
We are made up of 60 – 75% water, sound resonates with our bodies creating amazing results e.g .Dancing, smiling, pain reduction, crying ,a sense of inner peace and calm, joy the list is endless.
In the near future I shall write a more comprehensive piece on sound and water and, how we need to be more mindful of its properties. In the meantime try to look up Solfeggio Frequencies for a more in-depth analysis.
Many Blessings to you all
Linda O
Stillness and Quiet
Linda and her singing bowl lead us back ….
Prayer: Judy
God our creator, we pray that the water which Jesus spoke of, that you give so generously to us through your Holy Spirit, may turn into a life-giving spring which we share with others. May we freely share this life-giving water with others, and let anyone who wishes, drink from it. By your grace, may we be blessed to witness when others partake of the spring, as they come to quench their thirst. Through Jesus our Lord, Amen
Sharing
Judy
Some thoughts from our sharing following our time of stillness. There was, of course, discussion about the lovely singing bowl having contained water this time, which Linda has written about separately. We also noted:
‘As water takes whatever shape it is in,
So free may you be about who you become.’
Judy Greenfield
Blessing
May the sun bring you energy by day
May the moon softly restore you by night
May the rain wash away your worries
May the breeze blow new strength into your being
And may you walk gently through the world
and know its beauty all the days of your life
Native American Blessing Apache
John 4: 7-10 A woman, a Samaritan, came to draw water. Jesus said, “Would you give me a drink of water?” (His disciples had gone to the village to buy food for lunch.) The Samaritan woman, taken aback, asked, “How come you, a Jew, are asking me, a Samaritan woman, for a drink?” (Jews in those days wouldn’t be caught dead talking to Samaritans.) Jesus answered, “If you knew the generosity of God and who I am, you would be asking me for a drink, and I would give you fresh, living water.”
John 7: 37-39 – It was the Feast of Tabernacles or Booths. On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. 3Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive.
Judy
Yes, Jesus is the Living Water we seek and through God’s grace can absorb spiritually … sometimes longing for our spiritual thirst to be quenched by the Holy Spirit … it is a very special God-given gift for all… and, sometimes, perhaps often, we are called to be Living Water to others – as Jesus the Living Water lives in us … so we are called to pass this on, by our actions, our love, our care, and journeying with others -
But – also - here today, in the world of 2024 – we know that there are many other ways of considering Living Water … in practical ways - being aware of many areas of the world where drinking water – and water for washing, cooking, cleaning is not readily available …is there is anything we can do to help? we sometimes ask – perhaps very little directly … but we can pray … and pray deeply, in an informed way. * (World Water Day 2024 – notes at the end)
Or … in being close to nature, in absorbing the beauty of rivers, lakes, waterfalls - small coves of sea water, the mighty oceans …even the angry sea – I have probably left some out, for I am sure that there are many others to add.
So, as we go into our time of stillness and quiet … let our hearts and minds be guided by the Holy Spirit … and perhaps by the Thoughts to Ponder, or in whichever way we find God in that stillness …
Judy Greenfield
Linda demonstrated her singing bowl and the affect it has on the water within it – the whole group were fascinated!
It was a pleasure being asked to bring my singing bowl for our Quiet spaces session. I wanted to demonstrate how sound effects water, by putting water in the singing bowl and playing it so the molecules start to resonate creating concurrent ripples around the edge of the bowl. As the energy started to build and the depth of sound reached out to people, they came and gathered around
to look. I could feel the energy building and everyone was smiling, a deep sense of connection with each other came, a pure, warm light radiated from the group. One member of the group put her finger in the water and said she felt the molecules move.
We are made up of 60 – 75% water, sound resonates with our bodies creating amazing results e.g .Dancing, smiling, pain reduction, crying ,a sense of inner peace and calm, joy the list is endless.
In the near future I shall write a more comprehensive piece on sound and water and, how we need to be more mindful of its properties. In the meantime try to look up Solfeggio Frequencies for a more in-depth analysis.
Many Blessings to you all
Linda O
Stillness and Quiet
Linda and her singing bowl lead us back ….
Prayer: Judy
God our creator, we pray that the water which Jesus spoke of, that you give so generously to us through your Holy Spirit, may turn into a life-giving spring which we share with others. May we freely share this life-giving water with others, and let anyone who wishes, drink from it. By your grace, may we be blessed to witness when others partake of the spring, as they come to quench their thirst. Through Jesus our Lord, Amen
Sharing
Judy
Some thoughts from our sharing following our time of stillness. There was, of course, discussion about the lovely singing bowl having contained water this time, which Linda has written about separately. We also noted:
- the purity of water - how vital it is for life – for humans and for most of creation … and how the living water is also vital for our spiritual life.
- The Water of Baptism
- The beautiful words of St Francis.
- The perceptiveness and wisdom of Native American words and the nature of their culture, loving the ethos, which underlines how far the western world (in particular) has strayed from caring for the planet in the way it should … the seemingly close links between Celtic and Native American spirituality
- How we must freely share the spiritual Living Water of Jesus … we mustn’t be stingy – it’s not just for us – it is to share … with everyone, so that all might have access to our living, loving God.
- Jesus accentuating that living water is spirit and life … which is essential…noting how we live, what we can partake of, and the way we live. How we can access to the vital living water, so that we don’t become spiritually thirsty ….
- Scripture, prayer, caring, taking time to just ‘be’ – to be with God … especially using the teaching of the natural world, to still our inner selves; sacrament ‘we are the Body of Christ’ - and sharing with others, especially those who have not yet had the opportunity of walking a spiritual journey in life.
- The importance of acknowledging that millions of people throughout the world do not have access to fresh water, to drink, wash, or clean with.
- Unlike the folk Jesus spoke to then, we already have the Holy Spirit within us - feeding us with living bread and living water
- Each of us is different and might experience Living Water in different ways.
‘As water takes whatever shape it is in,
So free may you be about who you become.’
Judy Greenfield
Blessing
May the sun bring you energy by day
May the moon softly restore you by night
May the rain wash away your worries
May the breeze blow new strength into your being
And may you walk gently through the world
and know its beauty all the days of your life
Native American Blessing Apache
Our next meeting will be 10.30am on Friday 27 September at St Anne’s Church
