we've just had our orientation weekend for new students at college. we seem to have a growing number who want to consider God's call on their lives in some way, which is kind of exciting.
in our part of the world, people are invited to undertake a 'period of discernment' about their sense of call, which has a number of elements including some learning with us. so most of these people were starting their PoD, as we call it (mmm... there must be a way we could get iPod sponsorship!)
i started the weekend with the theme of "deeper water" and used Luke's version of the call of the fishermen. i made a lake from blue cloth (forgot photos as usual!) with stones around one edge, a wooden bowl (to represent a boat, but also offering, whatever), and candle and Jesus icon (by a local artist) at the other end of the lake.
Tonight we gather
on some kind of journey
towards we’re not sure what
we’re hoping for something new
to step deeper in faith
to reach closer in community
to stretch further in service
We all know what it’s like
to do the same thing
be in the same place
with the same people
and then suddenly
to thirst for something more
for a deeper faith
a wider vision
Not a surface change -
but real transformation
like a seed germinating
or birth waters breaking
It is hard to describe
this sense of call
from the One who
names us and claims us
inviting us to more completely be
part of God’s future for our world
That seems a bit too bold
We’d rather say –
we’ve enrolled at college
we’re doing a course
we’re checking out options
we’re filling in time
But if we are honest
perhaps it is more than that
May we on this weekend
and in the weeks and months to come
wait for that gentle breeze
listen for that whispering word
the one that calls us to deeper water
to cast our nets
to trust and follow
to serve and give
I talked about the disciples being called into deeper water, and the risk, trust and uncertainty that involved. We watched the episode from the Time-Life "Jesus" DVD (which I really like and had used recently, but in the watching realised that its not based on Luke's version of the story - doh!). We talked about the movie clip and what it was about this portrayal of Jesus that spoke to us. I moved the bowl from the edge of the 'lake' to the centre.
The next day, my colleague Tony used other passages from Luke for a Bible study - Mary and Martha, the Good Samaritan - and we reflected on word and deed being alongside one another.
In the evening I showed the remarkable movie "Pieces of April". The intent was to do theological reflection on the film, but by the time we got to it, my brain was too tired, so the discussion was a bit of a struggle. But also it was clear that the movie (which I've seen several times) had moved some people quite deeply. I really needed to have had a more pastoral process up my sleeve.
At any rate, I hadnt had a clever 'lake' worship up my sleeve, but I'd taken the Christmas star lights and a bunch of blue/green candles. So I had placed the stars and candles on the lake opposite the stones. We agreed that they weren't starfish in the lake, but stars reflecting on the lake. So I had the 'salt and light' text from Matthew and the 'shining as lights' text from Philippians, and a Noel Davis poem about looking in the mirror and seeing the light within you, and a couple of 'light' blessings from the Iona blessings book.
In 'Pieces of April', the main character, shows great faith a courage to defy her exclusion from her very dysfunctional family by inviting them to her shoddy apartment for thanksgiving dinner. and along the way she deals with all kinds of obstacles and discovers and offers grace and hospitality. so the theme of 'light' was about the darkness not being able to put out the light within us.
[in the discussion i asked people 'who is the Christ-figure in the film?' and in the middle of serious discussion a certain person started chuckling to themselves. we found out later that it was because it had occurred to him that the thanksgiving turkey was the christ-figure because it had given its life to bring people together.... you had to be there....]
we had all kinds of other things happen on the weekend, including a 2 visits to Malvern UC and hearing Phil preach about Jesus' temptation. the Malvern visit was a real gift to us in many ways.
when we finished yesterday afternoon, i said that often when I'm in an amazing place, like Bear Lake in the rocky mountains or Lake St. Claire in Tasmania, I'll pick up a stone and put it in my pocket to remind me of this place. I invited them to take a stone as a reminder of the lake and the call to move into deeper water, and a candle to remind them that the light of Christ would be with and in them no matter what. Phil Carr had talked to us about rituals that sustain relationships, and that rituals bring solidarity and euphoria. I invited them to make time to light the candle and hold the stone - to remember God's call to 'deeper water' and to listen for that call, and to remember that the light of Christ was with them and in them, and to pray for the others of us in the group who were also on this journey. I played the Waifs "Here If You Want."
God was good to us... Many memorable bits along the journey.