Ruth Burgess - Acorns and Archangels. Resources for Ordinary Time – The Feast of the Transfiguration to All...

Acorns and Archangels Acorns and Archangels Resources for Ordinary Time (The Feast of the Transfiguration to All Hallows) Ruth Burgess www.ionabooks.com Contents of book the individual contributors
Compilation 2009 Ruth Burgess First published 2009 by
Wild Goose Publications, 4th Floor, Savoy House, 140 Sauchiehall St, Glasgow G2 3DH, UK. Wild Goose Publications is the publishing division of the Iona Community. Scottish Charity No. SCO03794. Limited Company Reg. SCO96243. www.ionabooks.com ePub:ISBN 978-1-905010-80-6
Mobipocket:ISBN 978-1-905010-81-3
PDF:ISBN 978-1-905010-82-0 Cover painting and internal illustration Scott Riley The publishers gratefully acknowledge the support of the Drummond Trust, 3 Pitt Terrace, Stirling FK8 2EY in producing this book. www.ionabooks.com ePub:ISBN 978-1-905010-80-6
Mobipocket:ISBN 978-1-905010-81-3
PDF:ISBN 978-1-905010-82-0 Cover painting and internal illustration Scott Riley The publishers gratefully acknowledge the support of the Drummond Trust, 3 Pitt Terrace, Stirling FK8 2EY in producing this book.

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published by Wild Goose Publications, Iona Community,
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Ruth Burgess has asserted her rights in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988, to be identified as the author of this work. For Val and for Ted
and for the congregation of St Vincents Church, Whitburn.
With thanks and love INTRODUCTION Acorns and Archangels is a resource book which covers the period from the Feast of the Transfiguration (August 6th) to All Hallows Eve (October 31st).This period is usually referred to as Ordinary Time, or the days after Trinity. It is the final book in a series of resource books that cover the Christian calendar. I didnt set out to create a series, but the material kept coming in! This book contains material relating to the psalms and the prophets, the gospels (after the Transfiguration), and the Acts of the Apostles and New Testament letters.There are also womens stories, sections on saints and angels and harvest, a variety of blessings and a play for Halloween. The material in this book consists of the stuff that liturgies are made of: stories, songs, responses, poems, scripts, biblical reflections, sermons and prayers. My grateful thanks to all the contributors for the wealth of rich material I have been privileged to edit its been a labour of surprise and delight.

Its also been the second time that one book has turned into two! Thanks are also due, as always, to the staff of Wild Goose Publications for their professionalism, creativity and support: Sandra Kramer, Jane Darroch Riley, Alex ONeill, Neil Paynter and Lorna Rae Sutton. What a team! Particular thanks to Neil for his loving care and attention to detail.Thanks also to Scott Riley for his artwork. God of the seasons,you surround us with beauty and wonder:you smile in the ripening fruit,you dance in the tumbling leaves.Teach us to dance with you,to act justlyand to share fairly,to love you in friend and strangerall the moments of our nights and days. Ruth Burgess, August 2008 Candles & Conifers: Resources for All Saints and Advent
Hay & Stardust: Resources for Christmas to Candlemas
Eggs and Ashes: Practical & Liturgical Resources for Lent and Holy Week
Fire and Bread: Resources for Easter Day to Trinity Sunday
Bare Feet and Buttercups: Resources for Ordinary Time Trinity Sunday to the Feast of the Transfiguration
Acorns and Archangels: Resources for Ordinary Time Feast of the Transfiguration to All Hallows THE FEAST OF THE TRANSFIGURATION TRANSFIGURATION This is my son: there are no screaming teenagers no adoring fans nor desperate followers, no wired, dark-besuited heavies no, not here no trappings. This is my son: no red carpet laid down only on this lonely path wine, wounds, blood. This is my son: no flash photographers only the one spotlight but in this spot what light. Penelope Hewlett TRANSFIGURATION: A DISCIPLE REFLECTS (based on Luke 9:2842) Did we mind when Jesus took them with him up the mountain? Not really.

We were used to it, you see. Peter, James and John and Jesus: the inner circle. The kernel of the kingdom, if you like. And so the rest of us got on with things at ground level, serving the Servant of the Lord in whatever ways we could. But it was Jesus people came to see, and who could blame them so did we. This time though it felt different.

They were away for ages for a start. Not just another early morning praying in the hills. They were gone a couple of days at least. When they came back down they were different, all of them. Jesus was quietly radiant. The others? Well, they seemed subdued; almost in shock.

They didnt say a word about it till some time later. I suppose it didnt help what they came back to: the rest of us in disarray, unable to heal a child. So what did Jesus say? Reproach? No, sorrow more like, at a faithless generation. He stepped in as usual, taking our unbelief into his extraordinary understanding of the love of God. Seeing that healing happen was like a mountaintop experience. Awesome! Carol Dixon A SERVICE FOR HIROSHIMA DAY (6 August: the Feast of the Transfiguration) Call to worship Then Jesus came and stood among them.

Peace be with you, he said. After saying this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples were filled with joy at seeing the Lord. Jesus said to them again, Peace be with you. (John 20:1921) In the name of Jesus Christ, I say, Peace be with you PEACE BE WITH YOU Peace to you who are nearby and to those who are far off PEACE BE WITH YOU Peace to friend and to enemy PEACE BE WITH YOU Let us worship God Song Prayer of repentance O Christ, true image of God WE COME, DRAWN BY YOUR GLORY O Christ, revealer of life in its fullness WE HIDE, FEARFUL OF YOUR LIGHT OF TRUTH O Christ, lifted up in weakness WE HOPE IN YOUR POWER FOR CHANGE Because on this day years ago, a great flash was seen,
not to reveal the divine image but to incinerate it in a multitude of Gods children:
and light is become darkness,
God weeps silence
Lord have mercy
CHRIST HAVE MERCY Because people are whispering, and terror is everywhere,
security is become fear and fear is become death:
and what was open is covered up,
God weeps silence
Lord have mercy
CHRIST HAVE MERCY Because children lie bleeding from great wounds that gape in their throats and sides,
in the cities they disappear without trace, as if they had never been,