Stewart Weaver

ST. PHILIP’S E-NEWSLETTER

9 SEPTEMBER 2011

COMMENTS FROM THE EDITOR

Lots of things to convey to you on this late summer Friday.

So, let’s move on to the usual: a thought, the order of worship for Sunday, events in and around the church, and a joke.

All to keep you posted on the life and worship of your church.

JOKE

An elderly woman walked into the local country church. The friendly usher greeted her at the door and helped her up the flight of steps,  “Where would you like to sit?” he asked politely.

“The front row please,” she answered.

“You really don’t want to do that,” the usher said “The pastor is really boring.”

“Do you happen to know who I am?” the woman inquired. “No.” he said. “I’m the pastor’s mother,” she replied indignantly.

“Do you know who I am?” he asked.… click here to read more

ST. PHILIP’S E-NEWSLETTER

2 SEPTEMBER 2011

COMMENTS FROM THE EDITOR

We’re just about to enter the new session:

lots of organisations starting,

meetings are now underway,

and a sense of excitement.

So, the St. Philip’s E-newsletter to get us on track

(note subtle reference to controversial local issue….for

further subtleties, see joke below)

WORSHIP NOTICE

Don’t forget: worship is now at 11.00AM this Sunday!!!

(If you happen to arrive early, go to the Centenary Hall and we

can provide a cup of coffee for you.  Hospitality: the 11^th Commandment!)

THOUGHT

‘What is love?’, the novitiate asked the abbot.

‘The total absence of fear’, replied the abbot.

‘What is it we fear?’, asked the novitiate.

‘Love’, replied the abbot.

WORSHIP

Your minister will begin a year of Genesis.  This Sunday it will be Gen.1.1-19.  Does God create… click here to read more

Magda Milano, a well-known Italian artist, has been displaying her work at St. Philip’s as part of the Edinburgh Art Festival and Portobello’s Big Things on the Beach.  Here are some photos.  Do come along from Mon. 29 August to Friday 2 September, 3pm to 7pm.

ST. PHILIP’S E-NEWSLETTER

19 AUGUST 2011

COMMENTS FROM THE EDITOR

Welcome to the St. P’s e-newsletter: insightful, informative and, depending on the joke du jour, as entertaining as the Edinburgh Festival!

Indeed, a slice of the Edinburgh Art Festival will be at St. Philip’s from 28 August to 2 September.

See the announcement below.

Bring along flowers on Sat. 27^th!

And volunteer stewards warmly welcome!!!

THOUGHT

A young man was considering a life of contemplation but first he wanted assurance from a learned and wise monk.

‘Can you teach me the goal of human life?’
‘No, I cannot.’

‘Can you at least teach me its meaning?’
‘I cannot.’

‘Can you… click here to read more

ST. PHILIP’S E-NEWSLETTER

12 AUGUST 2011

COMMENT FROM THE EDITOR

After a two week break back to the newsroom, rested, relaxed and raring to go for another round of information, thoughts and jokes, just to keep you posted on all that’s happening in and around St. P’s.

And, two special plugs…

Coffee Morning: Sat. 13 August 10-12.  Catch up with each other about all our summer activities!!!

Palestinian Artist Faten Nastas Mitwasi: Sunday 14 August 7.30pm in the Sanctuary.  An excellent chance to hear about a Palestinian Christian’s use of art for the sake of community.  Here’s a quote from one of her communications:

“The Palestinian is a human being first before being a cause. The human identity for the Palestinian precedes… click here to read more

Last Sunday (17 July) I offered a few musings from my handwritten bullet points.  In my responses to questions that had come my way I take it that I struck a chord amongst members of the congregation.  I was thus asked to ensure that something was put on the web.  Here are some of the notes expanded into something resembling a reflection or meditation.

Sunday 17 July 2011

‘I know you haven’t seen much of me lately at church.  I’m having lots of difficulties with my faith.  When I think of something like the Holocaust, I’m not sure what I think of God.  How could God let that happen?  Where was God?’

A few days ago as I walked home from the hardware store, lugging a 7 litre tub of masonry paint, I… click here to read more

ST. PHILIP’S E-NEWSLETTER

3 JUNE 2011

COMMENTS FROM THE EDITOR

We’re beginning to slide towards summer weather after winds and stormy blasts.  So your editor is perched on the beach with his iPad and slaving away with the waves washing up at his feet.

Is that suncream I smell?

THOUGHT

Your editor recently read a description of different types of worship services and attempts to weave alternative styles together.  Within the article is a reference to a book by Gary Thomas called ‘Sacred Pathways’.  He suggests different pathways to God for different personalities.

Naturalists: Loving God out of doors

Sensates: Loving God with the senses

Traditionalists: Loving God through ritual and symbol

Ascetics: Loving God in solitude and simplicity

Activists: Loving God through confrontation

Caregivers: Loving God by loving others

Enthusiasts: Loving God with mystery and celebration

Contemplatives: Loving God through… click here to read more

For months now we have been looking at the parables of Jesus.
‘Why?’, you might ask.
After all, there was an advertisement for a course on preaching the parables.  It suggested that parables were an absolute delight to the new minister and inexperienced preacher because of their self-contained nature, vivid characters and compact story.  For those with a bit more experience, they can be a nightmare.  Here we go again!!  What more can I possibly say on this parable?  How can we get anything out of it???

It has been said that particular parables, like the Prodigal Son or the Good Samaritan, are succinct summaries of the Christian faith.  Hold these in your memory and act on them and you are on the path of love, grace and faith.  Hold these in your memory and you will be in tune with… click here to read more

ST. PHILIP’S E-NEWSLETTER

27 MAY 2011

COMMENT FROM THE EDITOR

Your editor was rather busy last Friday and thus no newsletter.

Busy today and thus a late newsletter.

And this week your editor has been participating in the events at the General Assembly.  Historic events, perhaps.

Time will tell.

INTRODUCTORY JOKES

Because last week’s edition was cancelled, it only seems to be fair to add a couple of extra jokes.  Your editor seems to have a penchant for Tim Vine’s one liners….

Most of my ginger friends are well read.

My friend started throwing words at me that started with ‘th’.  I missed this, there and then, but I didn’t see that coming.

THOUGHT

The reading for this week is the parable of the true vine from John 15, in which Jesus compares himself to the vine, tended by God… click here to read more

And now a summary of our discussion on 4 May.

Purpose Driven Life

4 May 2011

Charis House

At the meeting today there were some fascinating points brought up and an excellent discussion.  Here are some of the topics.

The Glory of God: In one section of the book, we are told the following:

The ultimate goal of the universe is to show the glory of God.  It is the

reason for everything that exists, including you.  God made it all for his

glory.  Without God’s glory, there would be nothing.

For one of our number it was an excellent summary of God’s glory, references to which are found throughout the Bible.  For another, it conjured up thoughts about the risen Christ as St. John tells us in Revelation.  Interestingly, a 21^st century Californian pastor in his discussion reflects one… click here to read more