The Guild WORSHIP JANUARY 2005 Finance and General Purposes Committee Reading Matthew, 6:25 to 6:27 Meditation Facing the Storm, by Eddie Askew Prayer Dear Father, we thank you for the joy of being togther and for the privilege of being involved in the work of your church. We are almost at Candlemass in the Church year, the last feast of Christmas. May we remind ourselves that Christ came to give us light and life. Father, we thank you for all the beauty of the world you created. I don't know how it is but we have turned this beauty you made into a desert. We have found it easy to destroy by indifference and complacency as much as with evil and yet you love us. Dear Father, give us a pure heart that we may see you; a humble heart that we may hear you; a heart of love that we may serve you; a heart of faith that we may abide with you. Let us pray this morning for the Guild, its work at home and overseas, and for our current six projects. Help us to think before we speak as we consider our present financial state and our plans for the future. Father, we pray that you will support us all day long until the busy world is hushed and our work is done. Help us as we plan the Guild's annual meeting and forthcoming theme days. Father, we thank you for teaching us how to pray simply and sincerely to you and for listening to us when we call on you. Thank you for saving us from our sins and directing our ways. Lead us ever onward for the sake of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour. Amen. Marketing and Publicity Committee Xandra Shearer, convener, opened the meeting with the following: Reading 'Roads' by Jean Munro Prayer Thank you for bring us safely together at the start of a new year. Be with us in our deliberations today and throughout the weeks ahead.Guide us to build on the positive profile that the guild has achieved over the last year. Help us to remind everyone that the existing projects and charities still need our support even though new tragedies and events occur that will need our support in years to come. We appreciate the bonds of Christian fellowship and friendship offered by the Guild and its members to each other, let us reach out with that Guild hand of friendship and fellowship to those outwith the Guild in the year ahead. Father we thank you for being the light in our world. Amen WORSHIP FEBRUARY 2005 National Executive Elspeth Dale, national convener, opened the meeting with worship reflecting on the election of new office bearers later in the meeting. Reading Acts, chapter 1, verses 15 to 26. Meditation 'Meditation of Matthias' from Worship Through the Seasons by Nick Fawcett. Prayer Almighty and everlasting God, we are here before you. Grant us a glimpse of your awesome presence, and help us to contemplate you with reverence. Father God, we are here before you. Grant us a sense of your everlasting arms surrounding us, and help us to trust always in your loving purpose. Lord Jesus Christ, we are here before you. Grant us grace to hear your call, and help us to follow in your footsteps, wherever that might lead. Holy Spirit, we are here before you. Grant us openness of heart, mind and spirit, and help us to know your peace and power. We thank you for the difference you have made both to our own lives and to the experience of so many people like us. We thank you for the difference you have made to our world, working through countless individuals and transforming innumerable situations across the centuries. You call us, in turn, to make a difference – to help bring joy, hope and healing to those who are hurting, all who have lost their sense of purpose or faith in the future. Teach us to reach out in your name and to share in your renewing work. Stir us to show our care and compassion, our love, our commitment to you, through our commitment to others. Lord, we ask for your blessing upon us as we meet this morning to further the work of the Guild. Make us aware of your presence among us. Give us wisdom and vision as we plan for the future. May we listen to you and follow you, accepting the tasks and challenges which present themselves to us, humbly – so that all we do is in your name and to your glory. Amen. WORSHIP MARCH 2005 Finance and General Purposes Ray Spalding, convener, opened the meeting with worship: Reading Hebrews 9:16-28 and Psalm 139 Prayer Let us pray. Eternal God, you sent your Son into the world to be an example to us. Help us to walk in his steps. Help us to walk in his humility and forgiveness, so that we too may forgive as we hope to be forgiven. Help us to walk in his courage, so that nothing may divert or discourage us until we reach our goal. Loving God, grant calmness and control of thought to all who are facing uncertainty and anxiety through illness or in the workplace. Let their hearts stand fast, believing in you. Be all things to all people, knowing each one and each household in their need. Loving God, help us to listen and remember and not to give up thinking, questioning and enquiring. As we meet today for the last time as a committee of the Guild, help us make the correct decision as we move onward. Dear God, bless our Guild. Make her, through this country, a real fellowship. Let us give thanks for the work achieved by the present leaders and committees. We pray for those about to take higher office. At this Eastertide, grant unto us the strength to take up whatever cross is laid upon us and that we may gladly carry it. Teach us to learn from you; how to love; how to hold nothing back; how to give ourselves. Fill us with that spirit of yours to enable us to love and serve all our brothers and sisters sincerely without counting the cost. For the sake of Jesus Christ, Our Lord. Amen. National Executive Elspeth Dale, national convener, opened the meeting with worship which included the following: Instructions: As people arrive draw round a foot on coloured paper and ask them to cut it out. Place feet on table in front of each person – facing in a clockwise direction. The footsteps symbolise our journey through life and our journey of faith. Reading Isaiah 26:1-8 Meditation Our journey is made smooth and level by God. No matter how it began, no matter how it has progressed, our journey has brought us together at this point in time. Meeting as the National Executive committee of the Guild, we bring together all our experiences, all our talents, all our skills, and allow them to blend into ideas and interact in decision-making. But we don’t go round in circles; we begin and we end, and for some of us this is our last meeting (these people turn feet to face them). We are set to move on to a different part of our journey, but all the richer for the time we have spent here. Poem Spirit of Affirmation by Cecily Taylor. Prayer Let us pray – We journey in faith, Almighty God: faithful, though sometimes fearful, trusting, though sometimes timid, committed, though sometimes coy. Forgive our fearfulness, Forgive our timidity, Forgive our coyness And instead instill in us new faith for our life, new trust for our pilgrimage, new commitment for our journey. We journey in hope, Loving God: hopeful though sometimes hopeless, delighted though sometimes despondent, upbeat though sometimes downcast. Forgive our hopelessness, Forgive our despondency, Forgive our downcast And instead instill in us new hope for our life, new delight for our pilgrimage, new upbeats for our journey. We journey in love, Eternal God: loving though sometimes neglectful, selfless though sometimes selfish, compassionate though sometimes careless. Forgive our neglectfulness, Forgive our selfishness, Forgive our carelessness And instead instill in us new love for our life, new selflessness for our pilgrimage, new compassion for our journey. Lord, be with us in our meeting together. Guide our thoughts and our words that they might all be to your glory – whose we are and whom we serve. Amen. WORSHIP JUNE 2005 Programmes and Resources Esme Duncan, convener, opened the meeting with the following preamble: These readings chose themselves! I've been particularly busy and stressed and urgently needed something for this meeting! Praying quietly, I reached for Eddie Askew's book, Unexpected Journeys, (pages 60 and 61) and read his words to the Lord about feeling like a hamster in a treadmill, and asking for the grace to pause, breathe and reassess just where we are, and to find the time to hear His voice. Reading Mark 4: 35 to 41 Prayer Esme's prayer included a commitment of ourselves, and of what we had to do, into the hands of God. And: They took Jesus with them... so we take you... we let you in on our planning... we ask you to lead us... "Unless the Lord build the house, the builders labour in vain"... and God wonderfully answered! Projects and Topics Helen-May Bayne, convener, opened the meeting with the following preamble: 'As we begin a new Guild year today in the life of the projects and topics committee, with Norah now our convener and Lesley vice-convener and with new members on our committee, our reading today is the story of how Matthias becomes an apostle. Reading Acts 1, 12 to 26 Meditation Matthias, from No Ordinary Man 2 by Nick Fawcett Prayer Let’s turn to God in prayer O Lord, we want to thank you this morning for the rich tapestry of gifts which you give to people. It is easy to overvalue some gifts and equally easy to undervalue others. Help us to recognise that you have given us all gifts which you value equally; each of us having something to contribute to others and something to receive from them. Teach us to appreciate our own worth and to recognise that of those around us. May we learn to use the various gifts you have given wisely and with humility in your service. We pray today for those unable to be with us- we pray for Lesley as she gets to know the people and the work of the Church and Society Council which is meeting today, for those on holiday that they may be refreshed and those unable to be with us for other reasons. We thank you for all those who contributed to the Project co-ordinator’s conference. We thank you that it lived up to the high expectations of those attending and for this we humbly give you the praise and glory. We thank you for all that is being achieved through the projects and discussion topics and for all those who promote them. We pray for ourselves as we meet together today. Guide us as we look to the future - grant us wisdom, grant us insight and grant us love as we seek and acknowledge your presence with us – whose we are and whom we serve. Amen Finance and General Purposes Ella Burns, convener, opened the meeting with the following worship. Preamble Let the concerns of the day drift into this music and allow the music to centre our thoughts in its title: Every day with Jesus. (Following reading read over the music.) Reading Ephesians 5: 1 to 2 from Eugene Peterson's The Message Reflection Watch what God does, and then you do it, like children who learn proper behaviour from their parents. Mostly what God does is love you. Keep company with him and learn a life of love. Observe how Christ loved us. His love was not cautious but extravagant. He didn't love in order to get something from us: Love like that. Considering commitment, I looked through the book, Women of faith, and wondered which one of them I would highlight. I read through and found the answer at the very end. The 'unsung Guild member'. I'm sure you know them too. Can I tell you about Pam, always the one who notices the lady sitting by herself and takes action, always the one to know who was in pain for whatever reason and take action. Are we committed like Pam? Ann always greets you with a smile and I know she has days that are far from trouble free but always a smile. Are we committed like Ann? Irene reminding us about needy people far away, knitting, sewing, giving. Are we committed like Irene? The unsung members who live a caring and sharing existence for their community and beyond. Are we committed like them. Let us give our thoughts to God in prayer: Prayer Loving Father God, you give us your love as endless as a circle, a circle that places us right in the middle. Love that is so warm that it is warmer that the sun shining on us. Lord help us to pass this love to others, those that we encounter daily or meet by chance. Lord stir us up to improve our commitment to this service. Lord spread your love around this meeting, place it in our hearts and minds. We ask that your love guides all we do today and ask that in Jesus' name. Amen. Closing worship John 15:4 Lord, set your blessing on us as we go through this day. Confirm in us the truth by which we rightly live. We ask not for what we want but for what you know we need. We ask through Jesus, our friend. Amen. Council Conveners' Conference Norah Summers, national convener, opened the meeting with worship: Preamble Although we have our big annual meeting to come in September, this is the start of our new working session, because we need to have a lot of things in place long before September. So, let us start as we mean to go on, and commit this day to God in worship. Hymn Brother, sister let me serve you (Common Ground 16) Reading Mark 1: 16 to 20 Reflection This passage was used in the Bible Study workshop of the recent Training Days. We were invited to consider how the first disciples were called and how 'at once they left their nets and went with him.' We were asked to consider occasions on which we had made a commitment - at once? Or after a lot of prayer? Often we don't know what we are taking on: 'Will you just...' 'There's nothing to it really...' 'It's only three times a year...' Do I hear hollow laughter? I read recently a quote from a woman whose husband had retired: 'I know I promised for better, for worse', she said, 'but I dont remember it saying anything about lunch.' We all know how commitment grows; you join a; they need someone to represent them on b; before you know where you are you are looking for an eighth day in the week. We all know people whose commitment to one casue actually does damage in other parts of their life - so busy earning money for the family, that family time is neglected; so busy doing good works that prayer time is neglected. I am very conscious, at the start of this new commitment in my life, of the need for balance. It is a very salutary exercise to examine one's self and one's lifestyle in the face of a new challenge. I have been trying to do a sort of spring cleaning; I put away winter clothes (what a mistake that was!) to have the new season's at the front, similarly a sort of mental and spiritual spring cleaning to sort my priroities for a busy time ahead, to make time for duties and family and prayer and reflection and appear calm and efficient the while. Hmmm. There is a little verse, from the Iona Community which has been going round in my head. These words will appear in the following prayer. Prayer Loving God, Take, o take me as I am. These words speak to me of your acceptance, as you made me. You know me inside out, just as I am. Here I am Lord, I offer myself , my commitment to you. Summon out what I shall be. These words speak to me of the potential which is your gift to me, what I shall be, what I could be, what you, Lord, are going to make of me. I offer myself, my commitment to you. Set your seal upon my heart I offer myself, you accept me, you and I, Lord, committed to each other so that you live in me and I in you. I offer myself, my commitment to you. Take, o take me as I am Summon out what I shall be Set your seal upon my heart and live in me Take us all this day, Lord May we enjoy one another's company May we make new friends May we encourage one another We remember our friends and colleagues who are sad or anxious today We remember our troubled world and pray for peace and healing. We pray for ourselves, representing the Guild in all the airts. We pray for our speakers and thank you for their commitment. We thank you for your love and commitment to us; for you love the world so much that you sent us Jesus, Whose we are and whom we serve. Amen. WORSHIP OCTOBER 2005 Projects and topics Helen-May Bayne, convener, opened the meeting with the following worship: Reflection I have with me today a bookmark which has been in my Bible. I received it some time ago at a Guild Annual Meeting. It was the year when we are asked to take a homemade bookmark to the meeting and once there we all exchanged them. I wonder how many others, like me, still have the bookmark in their Bibles. Be still, and know that I am God. Reading Psalm 46 Reflection In amongst earthquakes, flooding, war and political upheaval, we read these words, Be still and know that I am God. Nothing has changed has it? Earthquakes, flooding, war and political upheaval in various countries today are all reported in the press. As we struggle with seeing such suffering, we know that God is still here and that he is God. Some of you have been up very early this morning in preparation for getting here, some have been preparing things at home or in the office to allow you to be here, all of us busy. So the first words are be still – stop whatever you are doing and be still. We are going to do this shortly. Looking at the bookmark again, I see that the lady who created this has made the ‘I’ and ‘God’ in larger letters. When I have looked at this bookmark in the past I have always concentrated on the 'being still’ bit. However it is being still and realising who God is! As we prepare ourselves for the task before us, we know that we, as individuals, and even, as a group, are not able to make these decisions ourselves. This is too big for us. However, as we read, ‘I am God’ we believe and trust in a God who is so immense, that we hand our meeting over to Him asking for His guidance and leadership in it knowing that our God is able to do this and will lead us and guide us to the decision. We have nothing to be anxious about if we have spent time considering all the submissions! A.G. Hogg (1875 to 1954) wrote: "If I am really on the business of the Divine King… then all the resources of our Father’s empire of reality must needs be at my call for the legitimate requirements of my errand. That he who is on the King’s business should have the right to work miracles at need is no subject for surprise or incredulity. The real marvel is elsewhere; it lies in the fact that we mortals should be actually entrusted with the King’s business." Hymn Be still for the presence of the Lord. Reflection ‘Be still’ again- we are in God’s presence, he is here among us of that I have no doubt. Recently I heard someone say that we shouldn’t be asking God to be present with us but instead we should be thanking him for his presence because he has said that he will be with us. So now that we have taken time to reflect on our mighty God let us continue in prayer. Prayer We bow our heads now, O God, in your Holy presence And will be still and silent for a moment… We acknowledge all our weaknesses and failures and yet we marvel that you still call us and use us in your work. We thank you today that you are here in our midst and we thank you for all those who have and are praying for this meeting today. We give you thanks for all that has been achieved through our current projects and for all those involved. On reading these submissions we become so aware of the great needs of so many people – needs of the body; needs of the mind; needs of the soul. We ask that their needs may be met. Today we pray for the work of all the organisations represented by these project submissions. A few will be delighted but most will be disappointed when they are contacted after today’s meeting. We ask your blessing on all that they seek to achieve. We bring before you our discussions and deliberations asking that each submission is given equal consideration before decisions are made. As we discuss may we be sensitive to each other’s opinion and point of view. May we take time to listen to each other and value each other’s comments. Grant us wisdom, understanding and patience. We pray that, at the end of the meeting, the projects of your choosing may be selected and that we may be united in our decisions. May any disappointments be laid aside in the firm knowledge that you have led us to the right decision. These prayers we bring before you now in Jesus name, whose we are and whom we serve, Amen. Programmes and resources Esme Duncan, convener, opened the meeting with the following reflection: On Monday morning I sat in my motorhome on the campsite at Scone Palace. I was reading my Bible when my eye was caught by a movement. Two cheeky robins were playing and chasing among the dead leaves on the grass. They flew into the bushes.Then a fat rabbit arrived, confidently grazing for a few moments before scampering into the bushes. Later, in another place, I watched a busy grey squirrel darting back and forward before shooting straight up a tree. Each one is a creature wonderfully designed by God; each one is an individual; each one is known to God; each one is seen by God. If that is true of the birds and animals, how much more is it true of us. Reading Psalm 139:13-16 Prayer from Pray Now 2005, day two: The Senses, based on Psalm 139: 14 Closing prayer Help us not to stray from you, for you are the way; Nor to distrust you, for you are the truth; Nor to rest on any other than you, as you are the life. (Prayer of Erasmus – 1466 to 1536 based on John 14.6) Followed by the Grace. Finance and General Purposes Ella Burns, convener, opened the meeting with worship, on the theme of harvest, which included the following: Poem Autumn Tints (Anon) Preamble Let's take ourselves to a beautiful place, dressed in autumn tints and fragrance and listen while we are there to God's word: Reading Romans 8:31-35 and 38-39 Reflection What can we say about all this? If God is on our side, can anyone be against us? God did not keep back his own son, but gave him for us, If God did this, won't he freely give us everything else? If God says his chosen ones are acceptable to him, can anyone bring charges against them. No, indeed, Christ died and was raised to life, and now he is at God's side, speaking to him for us. Can anything separate us from the love of Christ? I am sure nothing can separate us from God's love; not just life or death; not angels or spirits; not the present or the future; and not powers above or powers below. Nothing in all creation can separate us from God's love for us in Christ Jesus, our Lord. In this part of the world, it is harvest time and we are giving thanks for the harvest. Our churches are dressed with the flowers and produce of the harvest. I think most churches now have a new way of celebrating by giving money for the supplying of aid, for fresh water projects and of supporting and educating children in other countries. We go to our shops and supermarkets and can be choosy about our purchases, checking that each item is fresh and good. I invite you to take a piece of fruit from the bowl - enjoy and celebrate our harvest and to think. What if the fruit had been soft or mouldy and would we have pushed it out of the way - rejected because it wasn't up to scratch? How comforting that God does not do this kind of choosing in the supermarket of humans. He calls us all and loves us all whether we have blemishes or mouldy bits! He is leading us now as we in the Guild promote discussion on HIV/AIDS; assisting us in learning, understanding and daring to care on an ever increasing level. Scarlett Ribbons is the symbol of support - can we hum that lovely tune and think on those in need of God's love because of this illness. Prayer Father God, thank you for the splendour of this autumn time. Our eyes are dazzled by the colours on the hills and trees. We just soak in the brilliance of it all. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you for all that is provided for us to eat; the skills and devotion of the our farmers and growers who work to provide us with the best to eat. Thank you, thank you. Encourage us in the work of sharing out what is available. Giant steps have been taken to re-dress the balance, but much more is needed. We ask that you hear the thoughts of each of us here on the needs which we silently lay before you now. Lord we ask for your guidance in our meeting today, that decisions will be sound and just. We ask all in this in Jesus name. Amen. Closing Worship Reading Luke 6:8 Blessing Bless us God, from A Book of Blessings, by Ruth Burgess WORSHIP DECEMBER 2005 Finance and General Purposes Ella Burns, convener, opened the meeting with the following reflection: Are you ready for Christmas? Christmas cards written and sent? Christmas mincemeat pies ready? Christmas tree up? Christmas presents bought and wrapped? The song says: "And so this is Christmas" - no, I don't think so. It's part of our celebration of the coming of Christ, the birth of the precious son. Let's hear the story again: Reading Luke 2: 1 to 14 This is the Christmas we celebrate. If we could be in that story, who would be be? Mary, bearing the responsibility of carrying the son of God? Joseph, and man of kindness and integrity dealing with the situation? An angel, telling of the good news? A shepherd, and ordinary person giving honour and homage or a wise man travelling a long way to give a gift. Could we do these things, bear the responsibility, show kindness and integrity in a situation, tell the good news, give honour and homage and travel to Christ and give our gifts? "So this is Christmas and have we done? Another year over and a new one just begun?" The wonder of it all is that as each Advent comes we get the chance to begin again and be better this time and everything happens when the child is born. Let's listen to and give our hopes and thoughts and focus onto this song (play: When a Child is born). Prayer You sent your son to show us how to live and most of all how to love. We celebrate his coming, bringing light to your world. We give thanks because we live in, and with, the light. Show us how to take the opportunities to tell others of this glorious light and warming love. Cast your light and love on this group today. Transform our thoughts on business into the best of actions to further the good news. Father, bless our meeting and our being together. We ask all in Jesus name, Amen. Projects and Topics Helen-May Bayne, convener, opened the meeting with the following reflection: When I was thinking about today’s opening devotions, various thoughts were going through my head; World AIDS Day last week; the 16 days of prayer, which we are in the middle of, for those suffering from the effects of violence and injustice; and then, of course, Advent. A couple of things focused my attention on Advent. Preparing for my church's children’s club, the lesson was all about names. What was the origin or significance of their own names. We looked at the various names for Jesus and what they meant: Jesus – he will save his people from their sins Messiah – the one whom God has promised Saviour – one who saves us Immanuel – God with us. I was at a concert in a neighbouring church last week and across the wall at the front of the church was a striking banner; dark sky with glistening specks like stars, the silhouettes of houses as in a town, different shapes, different sizes and all lit up. Across the top was written, Immanuel –God with us. At this time of year we reflect on the name Immanuel. Readings Isaiah 7:14 Matthew 1:18 to 25 God sent his son Jesus so that as well as being a saviour, he could always be with us. In this Advent season as you juggle all that has to be done and the decisions you have to make; send Christmas cards or give the money they would have cost to a deserving cause; wrestle with the dilemmas of buying Christmas presents or buying goats through one of the aid charities - or both, deciding what you need for the Christmas meals – do you buy the large turkey and everything one could possibly eat and drink or consider those with little and reduce your shopping to what you actually need. As we work through these dilemmas, we know that Christ came to be with us. May you be aware of Him with you through this festive season and in the days to come. As in the banner, may our friends, neighbours, those in our towns and villages come to know this too. Immanuel – God with us. Prayer Wonderful counsellor, mighty God, everlasting father, prince of peace, Immanuel, we want to praise and thank you for sending your son as a baby to live amongst ordinary people. We thank you that in his birth and through his death we can know and feel your presence with us. As we mix with those in the streets and the shops this Christmas, help us to be joyful resisting the temptation to moan about how busy it is and the long queues at the tills. Help us now, to leave aside the many things which crowd our minds, to concentrate on our committee meeting today. We bring this meeting before you and ask that you will guide our thoughts as we endeavour to compile the Let’s talk about... body image booklet. Help us to achieve the right balance within it. Guide us in all that we discuss today. We pray for all those who will use the current discussion topic: Let’s talk about HIV/AIDS. We pray for the booklet to be widely used encouraging people to stop and think about the issues it raises. May it also be a means of encouraging Guild members to talk and discuss amongst themselves.We bring our prayers in Jesus name, Amen.