Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay On Sunday 21st May 2023, the Rev'd Paul Cannon led us in a Pentecost Reflection using poetry writing as a guide to our contemplation.
We were put into the zone with this poem by William Blake: Unless the eye catch fire, The God will not be seen. Unless the ear catch fire, The God will not be heard. Unless the tongue catch fire, The God will not be named. Unless the heart catch fire, The God will not be loved. Unless the mind catch fire, The God will not be known. After a couple of Free-writing exercises to focus our thoughts on the words and images that came up for us as we contemplate Pentecost, Paul invited us to write, first an Acrostic Poem and then a five-line poem. Below are some contributions from the participants. People Everywhere Named your beloved Tell out your story Embracing Consoling Overwhelming Spirit of Truth - John Clapton And another offering by John PENTECOST Holy Mystery, bursting into our lives Making as nothing The differences we have used to divide Calling us your own As you fill us with your love. This Five-line poem is by Marilyn Beard PENTECOST Confusion and fear Glowing red Breath Come now, Breath Into the ordinary, breathe. This is a contribution from Glenis Holliday - her contemplation on Pentecost: PENTECOST REMINDER Fiery awe-inspiring Spirit whooshing through my humble frame, Refreshing and reverberating God’s message, galvanising it in my heart again, Promising imbuing power beyond comprehension … calling me by name, to share this miraculous news gifted by the Spirit’s reign. Transforming life direction allowing God’s embrace to inspire and sustain. Yet… that insidious head voice which often bothers, rouses doubts in my brain, how to adequately, with who I am, pass the message on, helping others be inflamed. As I sit here yearning to do better wondering what I should put in place, Spirit whispers wooingly, quietly into my listening space. `Allow my flame to guide you, spend time in my embrace, for I will shine out through you, take responsibility, take the weight. Relax, rest, remember, new life direction for you and others too, comes freely and with my blessing through my love and by my grace.’
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This poem of mine was published in the USA by The International Library of Poetry in its 2007 anthology of contributed poems entitled 'Forever Spoken.'
Suppose we chose either of those options Shakespeare posed for Hamlet, to suffer or oppose outrageous fortune, so's not to be frozen between being and not being. By opposing, would we be or not be heroes of action? Or should we suffer under calumny from ignoble minds ignorant of woes composing our daily bread, from rows of foes whose nations face us around demi-globular curves of semi-united chairs; from monitor screens and identity-file photos: a bloody sea of fear-inducing faces whom we wanna see - only dead ? .... We know the truth - That the One true One who guides us all, wants none, not one to die, who warned us, Love is the only call. Hatred in action ... Or Love in submission? Dare we hope any faction respects our decision? Art Duncan Cummins - 2006 A response to the Allied military incursion into Iraq. Photo by Ray Bilcliff and pexels.com Swooping in pairs
wings flared in symmetrical synergy mudlarks carol a duet one calling the other to sing together the divine song awakening in all the dawn of a God-given new day. (c) John Clapton at Retreat given by Brother Ghislain from Taize March 2005 |
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