Readings 28 February 2025 Roborough Methodist Church
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Welcome, and opening prayer
Opening Prayer God of so many blessings, of unmeasurable mercies, and unconditional love, as we ponder your presence and all that you offer us, may we welcome your guidance of our priorities, the shaping of our characters, and the readjusting of our desires. Shape our lives so that we may resemble you each day, live more fully in your love, and for the purpose of your kingdom. Amen Readings Judy’s writing When I began to think of our ponderings for today (well in advance, as I was pretty certain I might be away in February, because of our move of house) it was just shortly before Christmas. Because of the turmoil and uncertainties at the time about our house move, I suddenly ‘heard again’ what someone had said at our QS at St Mary’s on the Friday before Christmas. |
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“Still small voice of calm” – words that so often throughout my life have suddenly stilled and quietened all that had been going on in my head and my heart. And they did just that, then, in those hectic days before Christmas.
We so often need to really hear these words - ‘still small voice of calm’ – so calming yet, at the same time they can be so enormously powerful. They will be needed throughout the year … by most of us, at some time, I am sure.
Just after deciding to share these words at February’s QS, I was watching an online service from St Martin in the Fields – where some words from the Benedictus jumped out at me, “…the tender mercy of our God” Yes! I thought … they just complement the ‘still small voice of calm’. Beautiful words, to ponder often, throughout our lives … and so here we are!
And so, in our Thoughts to Ponder, I first of all wanted to share the beautiful words of The Benedictus, Zechariah’s prophesy from Luke 1: 67-79. As you might imagine, there are many different versions coming through from the various translations, and I have chosen the New International Version (UK) … “the tender mercy of our God” is in verse 78!
Zechariah’s song
67 His father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:
68 ‘Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel,
because he has come to his people and redeemed them.
69 He has raised up a horn of salvation for us
in the house of his servant David
70 (as he said through his holy prophets of long ago),
71 salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us –
72 to show mercy to our ancestors and to remember his holy covenant,
73 the oath he swore to our father Abraham:
74 to rescue us from the hand of our enemies, and to enable us to serve him without fear 75 in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.
76 And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High;
for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him,
77 to give his people the knowledge of salvation
through the forgiveness of their sins,
78 because of the tender mercy of our God,
by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven
79 to shine on those living in darkness
and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the path of peace.’
JAnd of course, I really want to add the words of the hymn which reminds us so often about that ‘still small voice of calm’.
Here’s the whole hymn – it can really be the most amazing source of meditation, of comfort, and reassurance:
Dear Lord and Father of mankind,
forgive our foolish ways!
Re-clothe us in our rightful mind,
in purer lives thy service find,
in deeper reverence, praise; in deeper reverence, praise.
In simple trust like theirs who heard,
beside the Syrian sea,
the gracious calling of the Lord,
let us, like them, without a word,
rise up and follow thee; rise up and follow thee.
O Sabbath rest by Galilee!
O calm of hills above,
where Jesus knelt to share with thee
the silence of eternity
interpreted by love! interpreted by love!
Drop thy still dews of quietness,
till all our strivings cease;
take from our souls the strain and stress,
and let our ordered lives confess
the beauty of thy peace; the beauty of thy peace.
Breathe through the heats of our desire
thy coolness and thy balm;
let sense be dumb, let flesh retire;
speak through the earthquake, wind, and fire,
O still, small voice of calm; O still, small voice of calm.
I will add some shorter pieces which speak of God’s tender mercy, and/or that still small voice of calm … but would also like to share a piece from Howard Thurman, The Experience of Growing Up.
Whatever you decide to do during your quiet time this morning, perhaps you would like to take some time as we enter March, finding your own passages, poems, sayings etc which speak to you of our wonderful God, whose tender mercy reminds us of his still, small voice of calm – both of which are available to us from before we were born, and throughout eternity. Do feel free to share your thoughts during the ‘sharing’ today – and perhaps also, later, by a message to us on email or social media.
The Experience of Growing Up – by Howard Thurman
“Always the experience of growing up teaches the same lesson:
The hard way of self-reliance – the uneasy tensions of self-confidence.
What there is to be done in accordance with the persistent desire, each must do for himself.
Often by trial or error, by fumblings and blunderings, here a little, there a little more. Step by uncertain step we move in the direction of self-awareness; gather unto ourselves a personal flavour, a tang of uniqueness. In this strength of intimate disclosure, each person faces his or her world, does battle with nameless forces, conquers and is defeated, wins or loses, waxes strong or weak.
Always experience says, ‘rely on your own strength, hold fast to your own resources, desert not your own mind.’ In the same moment, the same voice whispers, ‘Upon your own strength, upon your own resource, upon your own mind.’ At long last you cannot rely. Your own strength is weakness, your own mind is shallow, your own spirit is feeble.
The paradox: All experience strips us of much except our sheer strength of mind, of spirit. All experience reveals that upon these we must not finally depend. Brooding over us, even in the shadows of the paradox, there is something more - there is a strength beyond our strength, giving strength to our strength. Whether we bow our knee before an altar, or spend our days in the delusions of our significance, the unalterable picture remains the same. Sometimes in the stillness of the quiet, if we listen, we can hear the whisper in the heart, giving strength to weakness, courage to fear, hope to despair.”
From “The Mood of Christmas” - by Howard Thurman. Rev Judy – Quiet Spaces 2025
Introduction to Silence
Blessing
“For Equilibrium, a Blessing:
Like the joy of the sea coming home to shore,
May the relief of laughter rinse through your soul.
As the wind loves to call things to dance,
May your gravity by lightened by grace.
Like the dignity of moonlight restoring the earth,
May your thoughts incline with reverence and respect.
As water takes whatever shape it is in,
So free may you be about who you become.
As silence smiles on the other side of what's said,
May your sense of irony bring perspective.
As time remains free of all that it frames,
May your mind stay clear of all it names.
May your prayer of listening deepen enough
to hear in the depths the laughter of God.”
John O'Donohue, To Bless the Space Between Us: A Book of Blessings
We so often need to really hear these words - ‘still small voice of calm’ – so calming yet, at the same time they can be so enormously powerful. They will be needed throughout the year … by most of us, at some time, I am sure.
Just after deciding to share these words at February’s QS, I was watching an online service from St Martin in the Fields – where some words from the Benedictus jumped out at me, “…the tender mercy of our God” Yes! I thought … they just complement the ‘still small voice of calm’. Beautiful words, to ponder often, throughout our lives … and so here we are!
And so, in our Thoughts to Ponder, I first of all wanted to share the beautiful words of The Benedictus, Zechariah’s prophesy from Luke 1: 67-79. As you might imagine, there are many different versions coming through from the various translations, and I have chosen the New International Version (UK) … “the tender mercy of our God” is in verse 78!
Zechariah’s song
67 His father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:
68 ‘Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel,
because he has come to his people and redeemed them.
69 He has raised up a horn of salvation for us
in the house of his servant David
70 (as he said through his holy prophets of long ago),
71 salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us –
72 to show mercy to our ancestors and to remember his holy covenant,
73 the oath he swore to our father Abraham:
74 to rescue us from the hand of our enemies, and to enable us to serve him without fear 75 in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.
76 And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High;
for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him,
77 to give his people the knowledge of salvation
through the forgiveness of their sins,
78 because of the tender mercy of our God,
by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven
79 to shine on those living in darkness
and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the path of peace.’
JAnd of course, I really want to add the words of the hymn which reminds us so often about that ‘still small voice of calm’.
Here’s the whole hymn – it can really be the most amazing source of meditation, of comfort, and reassurance:
Dear Lord and Father of mankind,
forgive our foolish ways!
Re-clothe us in our rightful mind,
in purer lives thy service find,
in deeper reverence, praise; in deeper reverence, praise.
In simple trust like theirs who heard,
beside the Syrian sea,
the gracious calling of the Lord,
let us, like them, without a word,
rise up and follow thee; rise up and follow thee.
O Sabbath rest by Galilee!
O calm of hills above,
where Jesus knelt to share with thee
the silence of eternity
interpreted by love! interpreted by love!
Drop thy still dews of quietness,
till all our strivings cease;
take from our souls the strain and stress,
and let our ordered lives confess
the beauty of thy peace; the beauty of thy peace.
Breathe through the heats of our desire
thy coolness and thy balm;
let sense be dumb, let flesh retire;
speak through the earthquake, wind, and fire,
O still, small voice of calm; O still, small voice of calm.
I will add some shorter pieces which speak of God’s tender mercy, and/or that still small voice of calm … but would also like to share a piece from Howard Thurman, The Experience of Growing Up.
Whatever you decide to do during your quiet time this morning, perhaps you would like to take some time as we enter March, finding your own passages, poems, sayings etc which speak to you of our wonderful God, whose tender mercy reminds us of his still, small voice of calm – both of which are available to us from before we were born, and throughout eternity. Do feel free to share your thoughts during the ‘sharing’ today – and perhaps also, later, by a message to us on email or social media.
The Experience of Growing Up – by Howard Thurman
“Always the experience of growing up teaches the same lesson:
The hard way of self-reliance – the uneasy tensions of self-confidence.
What there is to be done in accordance with the persistent desire, each must do for himself.
Often by trial or error, by fumblings and blunderings, here a little, there a little more. Step by uncertain step we move in the direction of self-awareness; gather unto ourselves a personal flavour, a tang of uniqueness. In this strength of intimate disclosure, each person faces his or her world, does battle with nameless forces, conquers and is defeated, wins or loses, waxes strong or weak.
Always experience says, ‘rely on your own strength, hold fast to your own resources, desert not your own mind.’ In the same moment, the same voice whispers, ‘Upon your own strength, upon your own resource, upon your own mind.’ At long last you cannot rely. Your own strength is weakness, your own mind is shallow, your own spirit is feeble.
The paradox: All experience strips us of much except our sheer strength of mind, of spirit. All experience reveals that upon these we must not finally depend. Brooding over us, even in the shadows of the paradox, there is something more - there is a strength beyond our strength, giving strength to our strength. Whether we bow our knee before an altar, or spend our days in the delusions of our significance, the unalterable picture remains the same. Sometimes in the stillness of the quiet, if we listen, we can hear the whisper in the heart, giving strength to weakness, courage to fear, hope to despair.”
From “The Mood of Christmas” - by Howard Thurman. Rev Judy – Quiet Spaces 2025
Introduction to Silence
Blessing
“For Equilibrium, a Blessing:
Like the joy of the sea coming home to shore,
May the relief of laughter rinse through your soul.
As the wind loves to call things to dance,
May your gravity by lightened by grace.
Like the dignity of moonlight restoring the earth,
May your thoughts incline with reverence and respect.
As water takes whatever shape it is in,
So free may you be about who you become.
As silence smiles on the other side of what's said,
May your sense of irony bring perspective.
As time remains free of all that it frames,
May your mind stay clear of all it names.
May your prayer of listening deepen enough
to hear in the depths the laughter of God.”
John O'Donohue, To Bless the Space Between Us: A Book of Blessings
Thoughts To Ponder
Psalm 36: 7-9
How precious is your unfailing love, O God! All humanity finds shelter in the shadow of your wings. You feed them from the abundance of your own house, letting them drink from your river of delights. For you are the fountain of life, the light by which we see.
Psalm 37:4
Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him, and he will help you.
He will make your innocence radiate like the dawn, and the justice of your cause will shine like the noonday sun.
Psalm 73: 25-26
Whom have I in heaven but you? My heart and my flesh may fail, but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion forever.
The book of Numbers 6: 24-26
“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine upon you; the Lord turn his face towards you, and give you peace.” (Perhaps like me, whenever you read these words, you are reminded of the beautiful anthem written by John Rutter!)
John 8: 12b
“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
Lectio 365 – 10th January 2025
‘It feels counter-intuitive to learn that my life should be on display, like a light that can be seen by others. Surely the more humble path is a hidden one. But when I struggle to look directly into a strong light, I realise that lights don’t exist to attract attention to themselves – instead they illuminate their surroundings, making visible both the beauty and brokenness around them.’
Lectio 365 – 8th January 2025
What does a blessing look like?
A comfortable home? A healthy bank balance? Close friends? A fulfilling career? None of these things are wrong in themselves, but Jesus’ focus is on a very different source of happiness. When Jesus describes what a blessing looks like, he talks about satisfaction, mercy, God’s presence, and a heavenly family. What kind of blessings do we hope to receive?
God’s tender mercy
“The tender mercy of our God”… has been described as ‘simple kindness,’ ‘gentleness’ and ‘grace’ – something which we often yearn for so much in today’s troubled world. How can we pass on the tender mercy of our God?
Henri Nouwen puts it like this: “… a gentle person is “someone who treads lightly, listens carefully, looks tenderly, and touches with reverence. In our tough and often unbending world,” he says, “our gentleness can be a vivid reminder of the presence of God among us.”
Psalm 36: 7-9
How precious is your unfailing love, O God! All humanity finds shelter in the shadow of your wings. You feed them from the abundance of your own house, letting them drink from your river of delights. For you are the fountain of life, the light by which we see.
Psalm 37:4
Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him, and he will help you.
He will make your innocence radiate like the dawn, and the justice of your cause will shine like the noonday sun.
Psalm 73: 25-26
Whom have I in heaven but you? My heart and my flesh may fail, but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion forever.
The book of Numbers 6: 24-26
“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine upon you; the Lord turn his face towards you, and give you peace.” (Perhaps like me, whenever you read these words, you are reminded of the beautiful anthem written by John Rutter!)
John 8: 12b
“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
Lectio 365 – 10th January 2025
‘It feels counter-intuitive to learn that my life should be on display, like a light that can be seen by others. Surely the more humble path is a hidden one. But when I struggle to look directly into a strong light, I realise that lights don’t exist to attract attention to themselves – instead they illuminate their surroundings, making visible both the beauty and brokenness around them.’
Lectio 365 – 8th January 2025
What does a blessing look like?
A comfortable home? A healthy bank balance? Close friends? A fulfilling career? None of these things are wrong in themselves, but Jesus’ focus is on a very different source of happiness. When Jesus describes what a blessing looks like, he talks about satisfaction, mercy, God’s presence, and a heavenly family. What kind of blessings do we hope to receive?
God’s tender mercy
“The tender mercy of our God”… has been described as ‘simple kindness,’ ‘gentleness’ and ‘grace’ – something which we often yearn for so much in today’s troubled world. How can we pass on the tender mercy of our God?
Henri Nouwen puts it like this: “… a gentle person is “someone who treads lightly, listens carefully, looks tenderly, and touches with reverence. In our tough and often unbending world,” he says, “our gentleness can be a vivid reminder of the presence of God among us.”
