Poet's Corner - A new blog for 2021
In the second of our brand new blog series for 2021, we present our first ever Poet’s Corner…
Hi there, and welcome to our second brand new blog series here at Redeemer for 2021! Once a month, our resident poet Steve Page, will be sharing with us some of his favourite poetry. We’ll be hearing from a range of voices, from famous poets to some of our very own Redeemer family members. We hope this blog builds you up, and helps you to grow in your relationship with God, maybe it will even stir you to write some poetry of your own!
Without further ado, here’s the first Redeemer Poet’s Corner of 2021…
Hope
This is my favourite poem on the theme of hope. It calls us to not give up.
(And we know a hope that keeps singing.)
”Hope” is the thing with feathers
Emily Dickinson
“Hope” is the thing with feathers -
That perches in the soul -
And sings the tune without the words -
And never stops - at all -
And sweetest - in the Gale - is heard -
And sore must be the storm -
That could abash the little Bird
That kept so many warm -
I've heard it in the chillest land -
And on the strangest Sea -
Yet - never - in Extremity,
It asked a crumb - of me.
Jesus was poetic too, using vivid imagery to communicate timeless truths - painting pictures that stick in the mind.
Here's what he had to say on the topic of hope and worry.
Matthew 6:26-34
26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?
27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?
28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin.
29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.
30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?
31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’
32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.
33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
You might say that Hope is a person called Jesus.
Poet’s Corner is arranged each month by our resident poet, Steve Page. In addition to being a poet, Steve is a deacon at Redeemer, a true friend, a trusted advisor, and a giver of great hugs. You can find more of his poetry at hellopoetry.com and follow him on Instagram.
Wednesday Prayer - A New Blog Series
Here at Redeemer we’re a praying church! Over the past several months we’ve been regularly praying together as a church and we want that to continue, so we’ve started a weekly blog which will feature suggestions of what/who to pray for this week!
Over the past several months, we often met as a church community on a Wednesday to pray together. As meetups have started, and many of us are now meeting regularly to study Ephesians together, we are no longer meeting together as a church to pray. This doesn’t mean that we’re going to stop praying! So over here on the blog we’re starting a new series on Wednesdays, giving you a few ideas of what you could be praying for today and for the rest of this week.
Today we’re praying for…..
Our neighbours!
The first few weeks and months after lockdown began back in March gave many of us more opportunity than ever before to connect with those closest to us geographically! Without the need to travel to work, or the ability to spend our free time further afield, we got to know our neighbours, whether that be through a community WhatsApp group, shopping for those who were isolating, or clapping together in the street on a Thursday evening. This was brilliant, but….
As lockdown went on, and more of us were able to travel further, see old friends again, and generally spend less time at home, we became less connected with our neighbours and our conversations and interaction became less frequent again.
As we enter into a time where lockdown measures may become more strict, there may be more opportunities to connect again in future, but we can be praying for our neighbours right now! Below are a few prayer points to help you out.
Pray for good health.
Many of us will have neighbours who are vulnerable or elderly, and may already be shielding or self isolating in their homes. Pray for their continued protection from the virus, and for healing miracles to happen in their lives, be that a healing from covid-19, or another existing health issue.
Pray for peace of mind.
One of peoples biggest concerns about the recent pandemic is the unknown nature of the regulations. No-one quite knows what is going to happen and when. This creates pressure within families, in relationships, and gives rise to panic and insecurity. Pray for those who live around you, that they might receive peace in a stressful time, and that the Holy Spirit might be at work in them to reassure them and bring hope when fears about the future come to mind.
Pray for opportunities to witness!
More than ever before, those around us are seeking answers, and though we may not know the answer to every practical question, we do know one who has the capability to fill every spiritual need! As our lives and the way we live our lives become more visible to our neighbours there is opportunity for us to display the peace, the hope, the reassurance about the future that comes from being a follower of Jesus, in the way we go about our daily lives. Why not be bold and pray today that you have an opportunity over the next few weeks to chat to a neighbour about your relationship with Jesus, and the way it helps you to deal with your current situation.
We believe in the power of prayer, and that God not only hears each and every one of us as we pray, but that he loves to be at work in our lives as a result of what we pray! So let’s pray together this week, and be expectant that things will change as a result!
Learning a little guitar...
Pete Cornford describes how he’s trying something new, and getting to know his community at the same time!
As a Hanwell resident over the years I have loved watching the local Ukulele group perform at the Hanwell Carnival and The Hanwell Hootie as well as on other fun occasions. The players all seemed to be having such a good time and the audience would dance and sing along.
Despite never having picked up the small instrument before, a year ago, I decided to go along on a Tuesday night and join the band. I am so glad that I took a step into the unknown! There have been several benefits to joining the group…
The friendly and welcoming nature of the group has meant I’ve made friends.
Tuesday nights have become a great way to connect with my local community outside of a church context.
I always enjoy my evening singing and playing at the W7 on the Green, and representing Redeemer at these events. It has been wonderful to perform locally.
It has been incredible to go along and support great local causes, encouraging and building up others that are benefitting our community.
I am stirred to challenge you with a couple of questions.
1) When did you last try something for the first time?
2) In what ways are you integrating into the local community?
Who knows how your life, or the lives or others might be changed when you step out and trying something new.
Pete.
Here is a link to the webpage is you want to come and join us: