Glimpses of GLORY the Word was God In

Glimpses of GLORY

. . . the Word was God In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people.

. . . the Word was God And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth. John 1: 1 -4, 14 (NRSV)

On Barkerend Road It was my first appointment as a Methodist minister and I was sent to Bradford from rural Dorset. I often walked or drove down Barkerend Road towards the city centre. I went into schools, I visited homes. In the funeral director's chapel I took my first funeral service. The Boys' Brigade met in a school on that road and it was a route to local hospitals.

On Barkerend Road An ordinary Bradford road, a city road - not at all like rural Dorset. I had often glimpsed God in the countryside, the incarnate word spoke loudly there for me. But in the city? In Bradford? Would I find God there or would I have to chase God out in the dales?

On Barkerend Road One overcast day, stationary at a red traffic light on the Barkerend Road, I looked into the bowl of the city centre. Suddenly rays of sunlight cut through the clouds and bathed Bradford in a silvery sheen just as the first chords of “Shine, Jesus, shine” filled the car.

On Barkerend Road No need to chase God; God was there, on the Barkerend Road. Ruth M Gee

. . . he knows what is best for me As a blind person, I glimpse God’s glory as he demonstrates his love and shows me that he knows what is best for me. I ask God for help on my journeys, and strangers offer to walk along with me, help me across roads, steer me round unexpected obstacles in my path.

. . . he knows what is best for me One night I was very ill in hospital and could not let friends know about it. Next day I discovered that God had led someone to pray for me through the night without knowing my situation.

. . . he knows what is best for me I had planned to be a physiotherapist, but could not finish the training. Shortly after resigning from the course, the Methodist Church offered me a position in their typing pool, and three months later I became a Christian, which completely changed my life.

. . . he knows what is best for me God of glory, thank you for your perfect wisdom, love and care for us. Amen. Jan Deakin

. . . deep within the heart of God is Love: and he, enfolding all the world in one embrace, with unfailing grasp is holding every child of every race. And when human hearts are breaking under sorrow's iron rod, then they find that self same aching deep within the heart of God. Timothy Rees (1874 -1939) Singing the Faith 103 verse 2

. . . deep within the heart of God The heavens are telling the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims his handiwork. Psalm 19: 1 (NRSV)

To you, O God, be the glory Generous God, For the glimpses of your glory that surround us, in the wonder and complexity of the creation, in the uniqueness of each person, In the creativity and growth of human knowledge, we thank you.

To you, O God, be the glory May your Church in its worship and its life, build upon your glory, seen amongst us, day by day. And become a vehicle for light, life and love in the communities we serve, in your name.

To you, O God, be the glory of our life together. Amen. Peter Whittaker

Reflection on John 1: 14 ‘…the Word became flesh and lived among us…’ Impossible. Where?

Reflection on John 1: 14 The Word that summoned stars, Shaped black holes Uttered quarks Wove DNA Can’t be as we are – A baby with no words A toddler with a hundred A child gathering thousands An adult with too many, yet never enough.

Reflection on John 1: 14 But shepherds knew, And Eastern astrologers And old Simeon And holy Anna in her eighties – The impossible possibility, ‘our God contracted to a span’.

Reflection on John 1: 14 Among us Here, Breathing our air, Warmed by our sun Laughing, hurting, ageing.

Reflection on John 1: 14 Among us, Walking beside us Unnoticed, A Word heard amongst all our words, A loaf torn amongst all our bread Wine poured amongst all our conviviality –

Reflection on John 1: 14 And no sooner heard, or glimpsed, But beckoning, then vanishing. Possible. Here - and there, Among us. ‘…and we have seen his glory’. David Cornick

A glimpse of his face Meeting his eyes, in the foot-darkened water. Features of love, rippled by grime; a glimpse of his face.

A glimpse of his face In the eyes of a child, waiting expectantly, yearning for bread, hungry for love; a glimpse of his face.

A glimpse of his face In the laughter of friends, the warmth of a smile, the sharing of tears, the comforting touch; a glimpse of his face.

A glimpse of his face In the depths of despair, at the heart of the pain, in the solitary silence, in the fear of the end; a glimpse of his face.

A glimpse of his face The Word become flesh, abiding, indwelling, Servant and Saviour. Find at your feet; a glimpse of his face. Ruth M Gee Image © Sieger Köder, Fußwaschung

All the world of power is thine! God of concrete, God of steel, God of piston and of wheel, God of pylon, God of steam, God of girder and of beam, God of atom, God of mine, All the world of power is thine! Richard G. Jones (1926 -) © Stainer and Bell Used by permission

All the world of power is thine! Extravagant heat. Brilliant light. Molten metal formed and shaped. Creation celebrated in shining steel. A place of work, of change and uncertainty. Industry shaping community. A glimpse of glory. Ruth M Gee

. . . “we are home now” Living just one mile from the Angel of the North I become more and more aware that this is the real ‘cathedral’ of the north east. A man has had a heart attack. He leaves hospital and somehow ‘knows’ he must go and visit the Angel of the North.

. . . “we are home now” To the Angel people come to ask their partner to marry them or to tell their partner they are going to have their baby. Local people travelling up the A 1 see the Angel and say “we are home now”.

. . . “we are home now” I long for a Church that truly listens to what is deepest in people’s hearts for there I know that I discover something of the glory of God. The Rt Revd Mark Bryant, Bishop of Jarrow

“Daddy, come here!” St Cuthbert's Shrine in Durham Cathedral is a special place, a place of pilgrimage. It is a resting place, a place to sit and wait for others to catch up. It is a place of prayer, a quiet place. A father and his two young daughters were sitting in a silence broken by occasional whispered explanation.

“Daddy, come here!” Suddenly, a child's clear voice called, "Daddy, come here!" He hushed her and went to where she was kneeling at the shrine; her sister joined them and knelt beside her. He gently kissed her hair and whispered the prayer to which she was pointing:

“Daddy, come here!” “Almighty God, who didst call thy servant Cuthbert from following the flock to follow thy Son and to be a shepherd of thy people: in thy mercy, grant that we may so follow his example that we may bring those who are lost home to thy fold;

“Daddy, come here!” through Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. ” A glimpse of glory. Reflection by Ruth M Gee Prayer from Common Worship © Durham Cathedral. Collects for Bede and Cuthbert. Used by permission.

. . . the pearl of great price God of Grace; may I find a pearl today; in the deep sea of faith, in the secure shell of intimacy, in the irritation that gives birth to new possibilities, in the death that leads to new life.

. . . the pearl of great price And finding that pearl; may I discern its beauty, grasp it and share it, that others may see the pearl of great price, the pearl of your grace. Ruth M Gee (inspired by Matthew 13: 45 -46)

. . . being on earth, as in heaven God’s glory can be glimpsed everywhere, by everyone. . . but how different these glimpses can be in urban and rural settings both in the UK and overseas. The Revd Dr R Daniel Premkumar, Director of CSI Synod Diaconal Concerns, spoke movingly of the Church of South India which has over four million members many of whom are entirely dependent on agriculture:

. . . being on earth, as in heaven “The urban understanding tends to seek its glimpses of God amongst humans or in the beauty of nature. The tribal world view on the other hand is earth-centric, seeing glimpses of God in the interaction between humanity and the land. From this perspective, ‘Earth’ refers to a world of human activity engaging with land. God’s glory is seen in the agricultural world being as it is in heaven.

. . . being on earth, as in heaven “The Bible begins with the glorious creation of land. God’s judgements and promises are also extensively clothed with land agricultural imageries. We can all find the glory of being on earth, as in heaven. ”

The glory of spiders I don’t like spiders. Their fast, unpredictable movements unnerve me and all those legs threaten to tickle unmercifully. The big ones are the worst, so quick to escape into the nearest dark place, from which they will eventually emerge stealthily to surprise again.

The glory of spiders Silent, scuttling creatures but from them comes such beauty. The finely woven web that glistens with dew in the morning light; intricate and deadly, strong in its fragility. Spider silk that cannot be made except from the silk glands of the living creature.

The glory of spiders And, wonder of wonders, silk harvested and woven into beautiful garments, naturally golden. I am challenged to look again at spiders. Still they unnerve me but I see fragile beauty. Glimpses of glory. Ruth M Gee (Reflection on seeing a garment made of silk from the Golden Orb Spider)

. . . for you are ever with me My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think that I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so.

. . . for you are ever with me But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road though I may know nothing about it.

. . . for you are ever with me Therefore will I trust you always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone. Thomas Merton (1915 -1968)

Brushed by butterfly wings Feather light, fleeting, touch of wings, glimmer of colour the butterfly passes by.

Brushed by butterfly wings Momentary reminder of that other presence touching me lightly; the glory of God passing nearby. Ruth M Gee (inspired by Exodus 33: 22)

Glimpses of GLORY