{"id":3204,"date":"2020-03-24T14:22:29","date_gmt":"2020-03-24T03:22:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.leighmoorunitingchurch.org.au\/?p=3204"},"modified":"2020-03-24T14:31:34","modified_gmt":"2020-03-24T03:31:34","slug":"from-barbaras-desk-24-03-hope","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.leighmoorunitingchurch.org.au\/?p=3204","title":{"rendered":"From Barbara’s desk 24-03-20 : Hope"},"content":{"rendered":"

Hello Faith Pals,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

I trust you are all doing the right thing, keeping away from bugs and trying not to pass them on.\u00a0 It is hard when we are so used to socializing, whether that be via a visit, or seeing someone as we are out shopping, and stopping for a chat.\u00a0 Did you find Sunday a little odd?\u00a0 I poured myself a cuppa, ready for Songs of Praise<\/i>, instead it was all about the latest on the corona virus.\u00a0 Oh well-it was good for my prayer time, praying for the world.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Just a short email today.\u00a0 I don’t want you to feel overwhelmed by words (ministers are sometimes too wordy.\u00a0 Maybe in my next email I will tell you about a spiritual practice that helps me).<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

My quotes today deal with hope.\u00a0 Poet Emily Dickinson wrote:\u00a0 <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

‘Hope is the thing with feathers <\/strong><\/span>
\nthat perches in the soul <\/strong><\/span>
\nand sings the tune without the words <\/strong><\/span>
\nand never stops at all.’ <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

This morning, as I scattered grain for the collared doves that congregate outside, I remembered that poem.\u00a0 The birds just go around their daily business, doing what they do.\u00a0 Strutting around, one of the bossy ones chasing away the others (I tell him there is food for all but he never listens!) My cat has been visiting my desk, helping to type this email.\u00a0 My, how it is fun to press keys!\u00a0 My blind dog sleeps at my feet. God’s creation can give us comfort, even hope, through these dark days.\u00a0 Flowers may die, but seeds are also part of the plant;\u00a0 they settle in the warm, dark earth, until spring reveals some surprises.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

We must hold on to God’s strength, and God’s promises. <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

St Augustine wrote: ‘Hope has two beautiful daughters; their names are Anger and Courage.\u00a0 Anger at the way things are, and Courage to see that they do not remain as they are.’<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Desmond Tutu wrote: ‘Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness.’<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

We have so much Scripture we can hold on to as well.\u00a0 In Lamentations 3: 22-23: ‘The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Keep the candle of hope burning in your heart.\u00a0 Love this world, continue to pray for its inhabitants, all of them God’s children, family we just haven’t met.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Until next time,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Blessings and love<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Barbara Allen<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

ps: thank you to those sharing emails\/hymns\/youtube clips etc.\u00a0 We are church family, even if we cannot meet face to face at the moment. <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/td>\nVirus-free. www.avg.com<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

 <\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Hello Faith Pals, I trust you are all doing the right thing, keeping away from bugs and trying not to pass them on.\u00a0 It is hard when we are so used to socializing, whether that be via a visit, or seeing someone as we are out shopping, and stopping for a chat.\u00a0 Did you find Sunday a little odd?\u00a0 I poured myself a cuppa, ready for Songs of Praise, instead it was all about the latest on the corona virus.\u00a0 Oh well-it was good for my prayer time, praying for the world. Just a short email today.\u00a0 I don’t want you to feel overwhelmed by words (ministers are sometimes too wordy.\u00a0 Maybe in my next email I will tell you about a spiritual practice that helps me). My quotes today deal with hope.\u00a0 Poet Emily Dickinson wrote:\u00a0 ‘Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul and sings the tune without the words and never stops at all.’ This morning, as I scattered grain for the collared doves that congregate outside, I remembered that poem.\u00a0 The birds just go around their daily business, doing what they do.\u00a0 Strutting around, one of the bossy ones chasing away the others (I tell him there is food for all but he never listens!) My cat has been visiting my desk, helping to type this email.\u00a0 My, how it is fun to press keys!\u00a0 My blind dog sleeps at my feet. God’s creation can give us comfort, even hope, through these dark days.\u00a0 Flowers may die, but seeds are also part of the plant;\u00a0 they settle in the warm, dark earth, until spring reveals some surprises. We must hold on to God’s strength, and God’s promises. St Augustine wrote: ‘Hope has two beautiful daughters; their names are Anger and Courage.\u00a0 Anger at the way things are, and Courage to see that they do not remain as they are.’ Desmond Tutu wrote: ‘Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness.’   We have so much Scripture we can hold on to as well.\u00a0 In Lamentations 3: 22-23: ‘The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. Keep the candle of hope burning in your heart.\u00a0 Love this world, continue to pray for its inhabitants, all of them God’s children, family we just haven’t met. Until next time, Blessings and love Barbara Allen   ps: thank you to those sharing emails\/hymns\/youtube clips etc.\u00a0 We are church family, even if we cannot meet face to face at the moment. Virus-free. www.avg.com  <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center 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