Tuesday 9 February 2010

2010:365:40 Love is ... reflecting God's love.

Time for a new poster on the church notice board and this one seemed to suit the season.  It reminds me of a fun poem we used to say:

     Spring is sprung
     the grass is riz
     I wonder where
     the birdies is?

     Some say the bird is on the wing
     but that’s absurd.
     Surely the wing,
     is on the bird?

Spring is in the air and the bulbs are now well above ground level.  And love is in the air as well.  Shops are full of Valentine's cards and gifts; for it is the time of year when a "young man's fancy lightly turns to thoughts of love" (Alfred Lord Tennyson).  
"God is Love" must be one of the most frequently quoted short texts from the Bible.  The divine being is love and from God's love we learn how to love.  Love for one's own self.  Love for one's neighbour.  And, hardest of all perhaps, love for one's enemies.  
After fixing the new poster it seemed to be a good idea to spend a while in Saint Nicholas'.  I never tire of taking pictures of the church in the changing light of the different seasons of the year.  (There is a complete set of beautiful Paul Dawson images if you use the link on the right.)  Today the sunshine was streaming in and filled the building.  
"God is Love" and constantly pours out that energy on us, and into us, so that we can go out to others and share the same gift with them.
From March until September the church building on the Lisburn Road is open over lunch time so that all who wish may come in and find an oasis of peace.  My prayer is that each person will experience God's love from the moment that they enter the building and for the rest of their lives.


Almighty God,
at the Last Supper your Son Jesus Christ
washed the disciples' feet
and commanded them to love one another.
Give us humility and obedience to be servants of others
as he was the servant of all;
who gave up his life and died for us,
yet is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.  Amen. 

Book of Common Prayer
Collect for Maundy Thursday


2 comments:

Ali said...

today did feel particularly spring-like. Although bitter to be out in

Anonymous said...

what a beautiful church Elizabeth