Wilderness Sunday

What better way to celebrate Wilderness Sunday than to make some sand saucer art! Do any of our grownups out there remember doing this as a kid?

In the 'old days' we had sand saucer competitions at Industry Fairs and Parish Fêtes ... 

First ... we took an old saucer ... 'What's that?' I hear you ask! Ah ... long before disposable coffee cups and bubble tea, we drank hot tea from a teacup, which rested on a tea saucer. A little plate, smaller than a sandwich plate. 

Next ... we put a layer of sand on the saucer. (I was using some special 'magic sand' in the photo below).

Finally ... we arranged flowers, greenery and whatever else we fancied, to make a little garden scene. 

I remember making one many years ago for the Greymouth Industries Fair and I used a little piece of broken mirror for a lake. 

If you're interested in reading more about sand saucer competitions, there's a great short story on the Christchurch City Libraries website. You can read it here: https://my.christchurchcitylibraries.com/new-zealand-childrens-authors/phyllis-johnston/sand-saucer-competition/

These photos show the beginnings of a creation ... I forgot to take a photo at the end, so you'll have to use your imagination! (I got a little distracted playing with the magic sand!) Or, why not make your own sand saucer art at home and send me a picture for the blog!

Prayer:

God of the wild, the beautiful, the mysterious,
We thank you for the wilderness of Aotearoa,
for open spaces, beaches, mountains, forests, bushland,

for lakes and rivers.
Thank you for space to play and be.
Help us to step out of the noise and busyness of our lives,
away from electronic devices;
to be kind to our world, to be kind to each other,
and to be still, breathe and focus afresh on you.
Amen

Garden Update!

 Look how well the little gardens are doing!

Land Sunday

For Land Sunday in our Seasons of Creation, Carol and Maureen talked about how we are all connected to each other and the earth and we need to take care of the earth.

Our Awesome Kids played a board game and planted some little gardens. I hope they are better at watering plants than I am!

Storm Sunday

This week is Storm Sunday. 

The Bible describes many storms and 'stormy times' Jesus went through. We all know the story about Jesus stilling the storm (Luke 8.22-25) when he was in the boat with the disciples. Jesus calmed the stormy sea. 

In the storms of life, we can know that God is with us. God's loving presence gives us comfort, strength and hope.

I read somewhere that God's love is like an umbrella... just like an umbrella can give us a little shelter and comfort as we go out and brave the weather, God's love helps us to face all the storms of life. 

Jesus wants us to share God's love with others, and be a comfort and strength to people who are going through their own storms.

It reminded me of this book, "Tiny Miss Dott and her Dotty Umbrella", written by Michelle Osment and illustrated by Sarah Nelisiwe Anderson. Miss Dott works at the charity store, just like our very own Dot at the Budget Boutique! When Miss Dott goes to work at the op shop, she takes her umbrella in case it might rain. She leave it outside the door, and while she's inside her umbrella provides much needed shelter to a number of people. 

I hope that we can be like Dott's umbrella, and help give shelter and comfort to those who need it.

Prayer:

Lord, help us to remember; 

that when the winds are wild and clouds are dark, You are with us.

When the lightning flashes and the thunder booms, You are with us.

In the rain and hail and snow and gales, You are with us.

In the crashing waves and swaying trees, You are with us.

When we are frightened, anxious or stressed, You are with us.

When we are upset, angry or confused, You are with us.

Thank You for being our shelter and strength, 

for helping us in times of trouble.

God, help us too to calm storms, 

to bring healing and peace to people 

and all creatures on our planet. 

Amen