Ah, back once more in the 'green season' - or 'ordinary time' to others. Some reading this may have no idea what I'm talking about so here's a quick deffo.

Our natural year starts in January and has four seasons, but the church year starts on Advent Sunday at the beginning of December and has a number of seasons starting with Advent then progressing to Christmas, Epiphany, a little pre-Lent interlude, then Lent itself, Easter, Ascension and Pentecost - which starts on the old 'Whit Sunday' and ends one week later on Trinity Sunday. Through these seasons we remember and celebrate different aspects of the life-story of Jesus.

Trinity Sunday marks the start of 'ordinary time' - or as I like to call it the 'green season'. It lasts till Advent (or till the Kingdom Season in November if your church does that) and encompasses most of June - October/November each year. The church colours are green, so the altar cloth, the vicar's stole (the scarf thing round his/her neck) etc. are all green.

Some Christians are sad when the green season comes because most of the significant fasts and feasts have ended for a few months. But, for myself, I love the green season. I like the sense of ordinariness about it - I do tend to feel a bit 'festivalled out' by the time the leaves on the trees match the season with their rich green (that's here in the UK - sorry to those who live elsewhere!).

For me, there is a sense of stability and gentleness about this season. Benedictine monks and nuns take a vow of 'stability'. They promise to be steadily faithful and committed to their community - Benedictines are not usually wandering monks! The steadiness and continuity of the green season reminds me of this stability of life and draws me towards a willingness to be faithful and committed to my own community and congregation.

There is also a peace and gentleness in our worship during this season - the dramas of Christmas and Easter are not in direct focus - and there is time to think about some ordinary things that get pushed out in the constantly changing pattern through the rest of the church year.

I wonder, does anyone else feel this way? Are there any other green season fans out there?

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Easter Day 2009

Jesus said to her, “Mary!”

Easter Day can be a time of new hope, of joy, of renewal and transformation. I nearly wrote 'is' there instead of 'can be' but I thought back to other Easters in my life which have been bleak, lonely and depressing. Maybe for some of you reading this, this Easter is a time of trouble and struggle.

But it can be a time of new hope, of joy, of renewal and transformation. I'd like to suggest a little exercise today - even if you are in the middle of difficult times. Sometimes, we have to hasten the transformation - allow it to gain a little toe-hold in our lives - allow God a little room for manoeuvre. So, here goes:

Make a special moment today to be by yourself to pray.
Have some paper and a pencil or pen with you.
Find a quiet spot and settle yourself comfortably...

Now, write down five positive things about yourself...

Remember - God can see many more than five –
but you write down five of those positive things...

Then in a moment of quiet...
&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp read them aloud,
&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp give thanks for them,
&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp allow our risen Lord to come to you,
&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp to speak your name and say ‘Well done’.

Now rest in God's love for you.

And the blessing of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit be with you and remain with you and with those whom you love - this day and forevermore.
Amen

He is risen, indeed! Alleluia!

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On this day of waiting - pausing - before our great day of celebration, I would like to share with you this meditation from Creighton University in Nabraska, USA.

We are fortunate - for we know the whole story - but those followers of Jesus must have found this day almost unendurable.

Meditating with the mother of James and John

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