The above photo was posted on Facebook by Nick Shutt, the Archdeacon of Plymouth. It shows his granddaughter Lily modelling the ultimate lockdown hairstyle.......!!! Perhaps she is still waiting for a hair appointment.
Below is A Prayer for Wales which has recently been put together by Cath and Dai Woolridge and the Sound of Wales Collective based on the melody Finlandia.
You could make up your own list.
Also below is a poem about the coronavirus written by Dai Woolridge, who is the Bible Society's Creative Development Specialist, in response to the recent National Writing Day. It is based on a verse from Job (The Spirit of God has made me; the breath of the Almighty gives me life) and the famous poem by Dylan Thomas called 'Go not go gentle into that good night' about the death
of his father.
It is a poetic response to our current crisis, to give space for lament. It is a plea to those in charge to use their breath to make wise decisions. It is a pep talk to the courageous front liners to keep on breathing when they feel overwhelmed. "It is a prayer for those fighting for Ruach, for breath,,,,,,,"
explained Dai as he reflected on the piece. " In this time, we cannot escape the sheer devastation of the coronavirus. It has reminded us of our fragility and tragically so many have fought for their final breath. It's a stark reminder that though we are home to the Ruach of God we are still formed from the dust."
of his father.
It is a poetic response to our current crisis, to give space for lament. It is a plea to those in charge to use their breath to make wise decisions. It is a pep talk to the courageous front liners to keep on breathing when they feel overwhelmed. "It is a prayer for those fighting for Ruach, for breath,,,,,,,"
explained Dai as he reflected on the piece. " In this time, we cannot escape the sheer devastation of the coronavirus. It has reminded us of our fragility and tragically so many have fought for their final breath. It's a stark reminder that though we are home to the Ruach of God we are still formed from the dust."
Do not breathe lightly into that tight chest; Do not breathe lightly into that tight chest
For those at risk, with aid to ventilate,
Breathe, breathe, against the final breathed out breath
Health advisors putting measures in the mess
Who predict fate but can only estimate,
Do not breathe lightly into that tight chest
Virus lab workers who take swabs and tests
Whose limited test kits they consecrate,
Breathe, breathe, against their final breathed out breath
Grievers who could not lay loved ones to rest
Who mourn from a distance and self-isolate,
They do not breathe lightly into that tight chest
Heroic frontliners and NHS
Who mask up on courage in dire straits,
Breathe, breathe, against their final breathed out breath
And you, vulnerable, and faint who breathe in less
Who know Covid does not discriminate,
I pray – do not breathe lightly into that tight chest
Breathe, breathe, against the final breathed out breath
Dai Woolridge
THE AARONIC BLESSING
I have been thinking again about the words of The Blessing which I suspect have become very familiar to many of us during the past few weeks. But what I found interesting was the context in which they were spoken and the challenge to us if we read the next verse which follows.
If you read Numbers chapter 6 you will see that God sets out a whole long list of conditions which the people must observe if they wish to make a special vow of consecration to him as a Nazirite. But there then follows an "if and then" condition, God saying "if you do this, then I shall do that." If you look at verse 22, God says to Moses, "Tell Aaron and his sons to say to the people,
The Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make his face to shine on you and be gracious to you;
the Lord turn his face toward you
and give you peace.
But then in verse 25 it adds, In this way they are to put my name on the people so that I will bless them".
So in fact Aaron and his sons have to speak the words before God can act upon them.
In other words, if we are to look at this from our own point of view, we are to be a blessing to others so that the Lord can then bless them. Scary! So how are we supposed do that in these present circumstances??? With difficulty, I know.
But what Tess and I now do on a Monday evening at 8.00 pm (as well as lighting a candle at 7.00 pm every evening) is to take a couple of speakers out on to the patio and play the Welsh National Anthem and the Welsh Blessing as loud as possible over the village and pray for the people in the hope that it will bless them and in turn allow God to add
His Blessing.
Emmanuel He is for us, He is for us, not against us.
Amen, Amen, Amen
I have been thinking again about the words of The Blessing which I suspect have become very familiar to many of us during the past few weeks. But what I found interesting was the context in which they were spoken and the challenge to us if we read the next verse which follows.
If you read Numbers chapter 6 you will see that God sets out a whole long list of conditions which the people must observe if they wish to make a special vow of consecration to him as a Nazirite. But there then follows an "if and then" condition, God saying "if you do this, then I shall do that." If you look at verse 22, God says to Moses, "Tell Aaron and his sons to say to the people,
The Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make his face to shine on you and be gracious to you;
the Lord turn his face toward you
and give you peace.
But then in verse 25 it adds, In this way they are to put my name on the people so that I will bless them".
So in fact Aaron and his sons have to speak the words before God can act upon them.
In other words, if we are to look at this from our own point of view, we are to be a blessing to others so that the Lord can then bless them. Scary! So how are we supposed do that in these present circumstances??? With difficulty, I know.
But what Tess and I now do on a Monday evening at 8.00 pm (as well as lighting a candle at 7.00 pm every evening) is to take a couple of speakers out on to the patio and play the Welsh National Anthem and the Welsh Blessing as loud as possible over the village and pray for the people in the hope that it will bless them and in turn allow God to add
His Blessing.
Emmanuel He is for us, He is for us, not against us.
Amen, Amen, Amen
If you have just watched the above video you may have noticed two familiar faces among those taking part. Two of our Sunday School members, Rhiannon - third row down on the left - and Dewi, - fifth row down on right - were chosen to be part of the group singing the Welsh version of The Blessing, now causing a sensation across the whole country.
A big WELL DONE to everyone involved in the project which was carried out with breakneck speed. More than two million people have now listened to the original song based on Numbers chapter 6 verses 22 - 24. The words of the song (in English) appear below as well as the international kids version and the UK adult original.
A big WELL DONE to everyone involved in the project which was carried out with breakneck speed. More than two million people have now listened to the original song based on Numbers chapter 6 verses 22 - 24. The words of the song (in English) appear below as well as the international kids version and the UK adult original.
The Blessing {Kids}
Over the past week or so online church attendance has gone through the roof mainly due to more than two million people listening to THE BLESSING. Over 65 individual singers and musicians representing hundreds of churches in the UK individually recorded this song which was then edited and put together by Tim Hughes.. It is based on Numbers ch6 v22 , where Aaron blesses the people. Wales is represented by Cath Woolridge who is the lead singer of the group Sound of Wales evangelical outreach. She used to live in Ammanford, going to Amman Valley School and Ammanford Evangelical Church but now lives in Pontypridd.
The Lord bless you and keep you
Make His face shine upon you
And be gracious to you
The Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.
Amen, amen, amen
Amen, amen, amen
As we receive, we agree, amen
May His favour be upon you and a thousand generations
Your family and your children and their children
May His presence go before you
And behind you, and beside you
All around you, and within you
He is with you, He is with you
In the morning, In the evening
In your coming and your going
In your weeping and rejoicing
He is for you, He is for you
Amen, amen, amen
Amen, amen, amen
Make His face shine upon you
And be gracious to you
The Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.
Amen, amen, amen
Amen, amen, amen
As we receive, we agree, amen
May His favour be upon you and a thousand generations
Your family and your children and their children
May His presence go before you
And behind you, and beside you
All around you, and within you
He is with you, He is with you
In the morning, In the evening
In your coming and your going
In your weeping and rejoicing
He is for you, He is for you
Amen, amen, amen
Amen, amen, amen
