Seeds | Church Family Ancestors 1<
story which bravely encourages us to trust that even in the most frightening and politically complicated situations, God is at work, bringing new life out of despair. The experience of exile is very real in our lives
and world today. We hope that so also will be the experience of resilient people, making the most out of the places and life forced upon them, trusting that even in the most frightening and unfamiliar situations God is at work bringing new life and hope. J
PENTECOST
Church family ancestors In June to celebrate Fathers’ Day and explore further the Season of Pentecost with the stories of the beginnings of the Church, we hosted an All Age Worship at AUC to celebrate some of our Church Family Ancestors. Here are some of the prayers which groups wrote in response to the stories of these church family ancestors… Thank you God for Clement, (c. 96 AD): for his ministry to the early church and his encouragement that the strong should value and support the weak. Quote from Clement: “The strong must make sure they care for the weak. The rich must be certain that they give enough to supply the needs of the poor. The poor must thank God for supplying their needs. We all need each other; the great need the small; the small need the great. In our body, the head is useless without the feet and the feet without the head. The tiniest limbs of our body are useful and necessary to the whole.” Thank you God for Perpetua, (181-203 AD): for her courage to speak out her beliefs and stand fast. Quote from Perpetua: “Stand fast in the faith and love one another.” Thank you God for Augustine, (354-430 AD): for his knowledge, teaching and books which have strengthened the Church. Quote from Augustine: “Hope has two beautiful daughters. Their names are Anger and Courage; anger at the way things are, and courage to see that they do not remain the way they are.”
2 July 2011
Thank you God for Lady Julian of Norwich, (1342-1416 AD): for her ministry in terrible times. For her belief in God’s creative power and love. For her understanding of Christ as mother. For her groundbreaking writings for a female author. For her hope. For her invitation to live gladly. Quote from Lady Julian: “The greatest honour we can give Almighty God is to live gladly because of the knowledge of his love.” Thank you God for Harriet Beecher Stowe, (18111896 AD): for her risk taking to speak out against the evil of slavery. For breaking the chains of slavery which the love of Jesus can break for us today. Quote from Harriet Beecher Stowe: “When you get into a tight place and everything goes against you till it seems you could not hold on a minute longer, never give up then, for that is just the place and time that the tide will turn.” Each of these characters are celebrated in “stained glass” pictures which can currently be seen on the glass doors of the Sanctuary. J
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