On each two-page spread you can write down the scripture readings, key points the preacher makes, and your immediate reaction to them.
You are also prompted to identify how the message challenges you, actions you will take and the key idea you will take away from the sermon.
* * * * *
Kindle a flame within our hearts
let your light shine through
let your light shine through.
Kindle a flame within our hearts
let your justice shine through
let your justice shine through.
Kindle a flame within our hearts
let your hope shine through
let your hope shine through.
Kindle a flame within our hearts
let your love shine through
let your love shine through.
Kindle a flame within our hearts
let your peace shine through
let your peace shine through.
Kindle a Flame was written as a reflective song for worship and I have used it many times when leading services.
It also works well as part of the devotions for a small group, and as an individual, private meditation (change “our hearts” to “my heart”).
The words are simple and repetitive.
There is a melody line setting and several suggestions for how to use this liturgy/song in our PDF eBook Kindle a Flame.
* * * * *
Loving God of Aotearoa,
hear now our call to you,
We have gathered in your presence,
to celebrate anew!
We have come from many places,
speaking, thinking differently,
But in you we are united,
one whole, strong family.
Refrain:
Let us heed your call to service
and follow lovingly,
May we be compassionate people,
alive in you and free.
Scripture tells of faithful people,
who spread your light and love.
Now inspire, lead, direct us,
so we can be like them.
May the Way that Christ has taught us,
and the power of your Word,
Set a fire burning in us,
for justice and for love.
Rimu tall, with tui singing,
proclaim your majesty,
You who care for all creation,
will always care for me.
Matariki’s spirit guide us,
rise within us all the year.
Help us live and speak forgiveness,
your people want to hear.
* * * * *
Rev Desmond Cooper, our minister at the time, was president elect of the Methodist Church in 2010 and wanted a song for the Induction service at Conference. He mentioned that he liked Holst’s tune Thaxted (I vow to thee my country) but would prefer alternative words that were less nationalistic.
Loving God of Aotearoa is the result. I consulted Desmond and vice president elect Susanne Spindler as the lyrics were being written and they smoothed off a few rough corners. The hymn is dedicated to Desmond and was sung at the Methodist Conference in Palmerston North in 2010.
This poem is found in my collection of, music, prayers and poems: Kindle a Flame
which you can download as a free 30 page PDF eBook when you sign up for our email newsletters.
With laurel leaves
the winners crowned
Olympian effort applauded
With laurel leaves
the emperor crowned
power and force rewarded
How then to crown
the Lord of Life
the Saviour long-expected?
With sharp, hard thorns
was Jesus wreathed
prophecy and love contorted.
Crushed, healing herbs
dressed wounds and hurts
bodies whole again
Lest we forget
the dying sun
green shoots, new life
still comes.
Amen.
* * * * *
Our congregation took part in the Living the Questions study programme some years ago. This poem is a response to the session on the book of Revelation.
It contrasts the way ancient Greek Olympic champions, Roman emperors and Jesus were crowned. This leads to thoughts about commemorating those who died or were injured in war.
Like the book of Revelation, the poem finishes on a hopeful note of renewal and growth.
This poem is found in my collection of, music, prayers and poems: Kindle a Flame
which you can download as a free 30 page PDF eBook when you sign up for our email newsletters.
A Thought for Today
“The earthquake was oddly localised. The jail was badly shaken, but not the jailer’s home nearby. If the jail, one of the most strongly built structures in town was seriously damaged, we could expect a home built of unreinforced mud brick to collapse completely.
This is typical of the writer of Luke and Acts. He is telling a good story to make a point. The facts, whatever they really were in this case, have been moulded into a coherent narrative, designed to engage and inspire the listener.
When I was doing some introductory New Testament study as part of my lay preacher training, I did an exercise of trying to match up the accounts of Paul’s voyages in Acts – written sometime after Paul’s death – with the various letters that Paul wrote. I was frustrated that I couldn’t make the sequence and dates for the journeys line up. The writer of Acts had taken the basic facts and harmonised them into a logical order… which is fine.
The purpose of many gospel accounts is to convey meaning, rather than a set of historical facts.“
* * * * *
From the sermon – What must I do? – 12 May 2013
in Let Your Light Shine Through by Philip C. Garside.
A Thought for Today
“Somewhere in this week Jesus went through a process from celebration to struggle to transformation, from prophet and social revolutionary to victim, then to victor. From a human plane to a divine plane. From giving his supporters hope, to despair, to hope again.
I hope that you didn’t find the exercise of making flax crosses too difficult.
I’m sure you can guess why I worked through this with you. We have gone from waving flax leaves to celebrate, to struggling with crafting them, to transformation of the flax into our most important symbol as Christians.
I enjoyed practising making the crosses at home. They are a real kiwi icon. I like the way the flax comes from the land, the whenua that we sang about in our Māori introit. A flax plant is grounded in the way that our faith can be grounded. Change takes effort. We sometimes need the help of our friends to move forward to get the job done, just like we need friends on our journey of faith. And while the completed flax crosses might seem like an end point, the cross as a symbol has no end, just as God’s love for us has no end.
And just as the flax is strong, so God’s love for us, symbolised by the life, death and rising of Jesus is strong. I can’t break this flax leaf [demonstrate]. Nothing you or I can do, can defeat God’s love.”
* * * * *
From the sermon – Celebration – Struggle – Transformation – 24 March 2013
in Let Your Light Shine Through by Philip C. Garside.
Breath of the Spirit is not just a print book and eBook.
We have used the images in the book to create a collection of 57 PowerPoint slides to display in your worship services.
The images are royalty free so long as you display the credit at the foot of the slides.
You can download the set immediately after making payment.
A Thought for Today
“The reading from Paul’s letter to the Romans urges us to share publicly our belief that Jesus is Lord, that God raised him from the dead and that if we do so we will be saved.
If we don’t make this profession of faith with our lips, will we still be saved?
What does it mean to be saved?
We have no way of knowing for sure in this life, what will happen when we die. Perhaps if we lead good, faithful lives we will have eternal life? Perhaps Jesus dying on the cross made this possible? Maybe.
What I do know is that we all have a choice. Either we can turn towards God, to strive to understand the messages of scripture, and to respond to God’s love for us by reflecting that in our treatment of and relationships with others.
Or we can turn away from God and go our own way and follow the way of the world.
In saying all this, I don’t stand before you as someone who is perfect. A few months ago, a young man attended worship here. He didn’t have a permanent place to live. He asked me if he could stay at my house and I said no. I’m not proud of that. But my answer would probably be the same today…
The example of Jesus’ life, and the mystery of his resurrection, are a compass, pointing our way to a safe passage through this life, saving us from the temptations of the world. This feels to me like one useful way of understanding what it means to be saved.“
* * * * *
From the sermon – Lent, Season of Love – 17 February 2013
in Let Your Light Shine Through by Philip C. Garside.
Click to order eBooks: https://payhip.com/b/FJSL
A Thought for Today
“…What extra meaning might we take from this story today?
Christmas Day is nearly upon us. Just two more sleeps as we tell the young children. As children we loved Christmas because we knew we were going to get special presents and eat special food.
And, because we loved the nativity stories about baby Jesus in the manger and the shepherds and the kings and the angels. And maybe we got to be in the Christmas play and learned beautiful carols for the first time.
With this childish wonder and delight we began our faith journey, a life-long journey. We have had good companions along the way to share with and challenge us and support us, as we grow to new and deeper understandings of the good news of God’s love for us.
It is easy to get wrapped up in the hustle and bustle Christmas shopping, and end of year parties, and worrying about whether family members who don’t meet during the rest of the year are going to get along this time round… or what have you.
We know another story, of a brave young woman who accepted the challenge of being the bearer of a child who would become the symbol of God’s love for the world.”
* * * * *
From the sermon – Journey in faith – 23 December 2012
in Let Your Light Shine Through by Philip C. Garside.
Click to order eBooks: https://payhip.com/b/FJSL
A Thought for Today
“This is the second Sunday of Advent. Advent is the church’s New Year.
As Christians we get a few week’s jump on the rest of our community. We can make our New Year’s resolutions now, have time to break them before Christmas and get a second chance to set some more on the first of January. Well maybe…
Last Saturday Festival Singers presented a Christmas concert at St Ninians’, in Karori. We called it From Shadow to Light. We went on a musical journey from Purcell’s 400 year old sombre funeral music for Queen Mary, through to contemporary English composer John Rutter’s Gloria. The Rutter piece is joyous and jolly hard to sing.
We arranged the programme for the concert that way to acknowledge that while Christmas is a happy celebration, it also brings sad memories of loved ones who have passed away and can no longer share it with us.
It’s good to take a little time in Advent to pause and reflect.
The world has troubles. We all have our own troubles and concerns.
Then God’s love breaks through.
The birth of baby Jesus is a symbol of God’s love for us.
We have much to celebrate and to be hopeful about. Amen.”
* * * * *
From the sermon – A New Hope – 4 December 2012
in Let Your Light Shine Through by Philip C. Garside.
Click to order eBooks: https://payhip.com/b/FJSL
