Colourful Dreamer

Why were you given your name? What does your name reveal about who you are? Today we are given our names for all sorts of reasons. Sometimes we even change our names to something we would prefer. In the Bible names are pretty important things. A name revealed your essence. And sometimes, when your essence changed, God gave you a new name. Today’s reading from Genesis is one of two versions of the covenant between God and Abram, which establishes circumcision as the sign of that covenant. It is a covenant which changes both Abram and Sarai, and so God changes their names to Abraham and Sarah. Last week I proposed that Lent is a time to slow down; to be still and silent; to listen more deeply. It is, I suggested, a time to pay attention to the three questions that shape us: whose are we, who are we, and what is ours to do? It is a time to reflect on how our experience and understanding of God shapes how we see ourselves and what our lives are about. Lent is a time then to hear the

This can be heard here. Gate Pa – Lent 1, 2015 Readings: Psalm                          25:1-10                                                  First Reading:                         Genesis 9:8-17            Second Reading:                    1 Peter 3:18-22           Gospel:                        Mark 1:9-15                What I want to say: Lent is a time to slow down, embrace being still and silent, so that we might listen more deeply. It is a time to pay attention to the three questions that shape us: Whose are we. who are we, what is ours to do? In particular it is a time to reflect on who we understand God to be, and to hear the invitation to deepen that understanding, to let go of some images and embrace new images. What I want to happen: People to pay attention to the God they worship, and to use this as a time to let go of some images and embrace new images. The Sermon      1.      Introduction: Wednesday night read this out – quote    

We begin a new season of Lent. Lent is the 40 days leading up to Good Friday and Easter Sunday (not counting Sundays). On Wednesday night we were reminded in the liturgy that Lent is a time to prepare for the celebration Christ's death and resurrection. We were told that “In order that our Lent may be a time of renewal and growth we begin this season by remembering our need for repentance and for the forgiveness of God proclaimed by Jesus Christ.” We were then invited to “observe a holy Lent by self-examination and repentance, by prayer, fasting, self-denial and giving to those in need, and by reading and meditating on the word of God.” Lent provides us an opportunity to go more slowly, to take time in our fasting to be silent and still so that we might listen. It is a time to go deep within ourselves to listen to God deeply. Lent is a time when we can be reminded of the nature of the God we follow in Jesus, to be reminded that God is love and we are held in that love no m