Words for Today 2013

Nicola Slee

Description

Words for Today presents a lively, fresh and often adventurous approach to daily Bible reading. Writers are drawn from around the world and from different traditions, including Jewish as well as Christian biblical scholars, artists and poets, clergy and lay people, and members of religious orders.

Sujets

• Philosophie et théologie

Informations

• Publié par: International Bible Reading Association
• Date de parution: 22 septembre 2012
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781905893683
• Langue: English

Extrait

Copyright
© 2012 International Bible Reading Association
Words for Today aims to build understanding and respect for a range of religious perspectives and approaches to living practised in the world today, and to help readers meet new challenges in their faith. Views expressed by contributors should not, however, be taken to reflect the views or policies of the Editor or the International Bible Reading Association.
The International Bible Reading Association’s scheme of readings is listed on the Christian Education website at www.christianeducation.org.uk and the full scheme for 2013 may be downloaded in English, Spanish and French.
Cover image: ‘Mary with the bread of life – Element earth’ by Lucy D’Souza-Krone, one of the series ‘Mary and the four elements’: www.lucy-art.de IBRA gratefully acknowledges the permission of the artist for the use of this image.
Editor – Nicola Slee
Every effort has been made to gain permission for the inclusion of copyright material. The publishers would be pleased to include correct attribution of any inadvertently unattributed material in subsequent editions, on being contacted by the lawful copyright holder(s).
Published by: The International Bible Reading Association 1020 Bristol Road Selly Oak Birmingham B29 6LB United Kingdom
Charity number 211542
First published in eBook format in 2012
ePUB ISBN: 978-1-905893-68-3 MOBI ISBN: 978-1-905893-67-6
All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse-engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of the Publisher.
Ebook Conversion by www.ebookpartnership.com
Contents
Editorial
Prayers
How to use a ‘quiet time’
Abbreviations and acknowledgements
1 Jan - New year manifesto
John proclaims Jesus David Warbrick
Jesus proclaims himself David Warbrick
13 Jan - Living differently
Changes and challenges Jane Gonzale s
But I say to you … Francesca Rhys
The new way Jenny Warbrick
Hearing a different drummer Tom Arthur
Living as children of light Sibyl Ruth
13 Feb - Through Lent and Passiontide in poetry
Temptations Neil Paynter
Enemies and opposition Lynne Frith
Suffering and distress Rachel Mann
Being overwhelmed Deseta Davis
Separation from God Brenda Lealman
Protection and deliverance Eleanor Nesbitt
The passion of Christ Geoffrey Herbert
31 Mar - Readings in Luke (1)
Resurrection and ascension Ian Wallis
Going up to Jerusalem Anselm Smyth SSF
The last days Robert Draycott
21 Apr - Hosea
Covenant and faithlessness Rachel Montagu
God’s continued forgiveness Rachel Montagu
5 May - Fire
Fire in the Old Testament (1) Nicholas Alan Worssam SSF
Fire in the Old Testament (2) Nicholas Alan Worssam SSF
Fire in the New Testament Godfrey Chigumira
26 May - Acts 6 – 12: From Jerusalem to Antioch
Disciples increasing in number Elizabeth Fisher
Light dawns for Paul and then Peter Elizabeth Fisher
The church spreads Peter Fisher
16 Jun - Questions in Job
My servant Job Robert Parkinson
Job’s friends venture a few words Ruth Shelton
Job calls God to answer David Ford
A happy ending? Ruth Shelton
14 Jul - Mountains and valleys
Mountains Alistair Ross
Valleys Alistair Ross
28 Jul - Paul for today
A re-formed life: in Christ Lori Rizzo
Sharing good news Janet Corlett
Grace talk: God-walk Gideon Byamugisha
Living letters Lori Rizzo
25 Aug - Contested sites
Promised or stolen land? Debbie Young Somers & Ray Gaston
‘Neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem’ Ann Conway-Jones
God’s vineyard Monica Melanchthon
15 Sep - Navigating numbers
Taking stock, counting heads Pete Tobias
Journeying on Chris Bedding
Beyond the plains Pete Tobias
6 Oct - Mothers
God at the birth Sibyl Ruth
Mothering continues Annie Heppenstall
20 Oct - Facing death
Facing death in the Old Testament Renato Lings
Facing death in the New Testament Jennie Hurd
Facing death with God at our side Paul Nash
Facing death and beyond death Susan Hibbins
17 Nov - Readings in Luke (2)
Jesus the teacher Eun Sim Joung
The kingdom is among you Paul Kybird
1 Dec - Isaiah 56 – 66
Soon my salvation will come Keith Riglin
Your sins have hidden his face Jennifer Smith
Good news to the oppressed Vincent Manoharan
You are our Father Nathan Eddy
They shall not labour in vain Nathan Eddy
Nathan Eddy – new IBRA editor
Editorial
This year’s striking cover image by the German-Indian artist, Lucy D’Souza-Krone, shows Mary holding in her arms the bread of life. It is one of a series depicting Mary and the four elements (see http:www.lucy-art.de for more of Lucy’s work). In the painting, we see Mary squatting on the earth, indeed almost emerging from the earth itself, and the shapes and colours of the painting suggest images of seeds and leaves and fruits. From Mary’s arms sprouts a great bundle of wheat and the Christchild seems to be one with this natural element. This is a wonderfully earthy celebration of the Word that gives life and nourishment and is the source of all creativity and fecundity in the world. The Christ who comes to us in scripture and sacrament is not apart from the whole created order but is an integral part of it, coming to us also in creation and in every creature that lives. We are invited to pay the same respect and reverence to each creature that we would pay to God, the source of creation.
What does it mean to pay respect and reverence to God in creation? Whatever else it means, it surely requires us to co-operate with God in caring for the creation, in mothering it as Mary mothered Jesus – protecting and nurturing life, standing against whatever threatens fullness of life, and giving ourselves in costly commitment for the well-being of all. Meditating on this strong and beautiful painting may help us to enter into this work to which we are all called.
After ten years of editing Words for Today , changes are afoot at IBRA (see the inside front cover), and it is time for me to hang up my hat and hand over to a new editor. It has been an immense privilege to work with a diverse and gifted team of writers from around the world, as well as the internal team at IBRA, and I have learnt a huge amount from the wisdom and experience of many folks during this time. I would like to extend my thanks to each one who has contributed to the liveliness, richness and challenge of these Bible notes over many years (not only under my editorship), and offer my best wishes to Nathan Eddy, the new editor, as he takes up the baton and works to create something new, yet in continuity with the best of what has gone before. Readers are, of course, also part of the rich exchange of this shared endeavour, and I would like to extend my warm thanks and best wishes to all the thousands of readers who have used the notes down the years. Some of you have written or emailed or phoned to share feedback, and we are always grateful to hear responses to the notes; but beyond such overt response, it has been humbling and encouraging to know that, throughout the world, thousands of you have been using the notes as an aid and support to your own daily discipleship. May you be strengthened and enlivened by the nourishing bread of life, kneaded and baked anew each day. Nicola Slee – Editor
Prayers and reflections
Come, all you who have discernment, vocal advocates of the Spirit, prophets who beheld hidden things in you, true visions. You farmers who sowed seeds and slept in hope, rise up and rejoice at the harvest: look in my arms: I clasp the Wheat-sheaf of life that provides bread for the hungry that feeds the needy. Rejoice with me, for I carry the Sheaf full of joys.
Lucy D’Souza-Krone, according to hymns of Ephrem the Syrian
Thank God for life, for living Thank God for love, for giving Thank God for death: an ending a beginning.
Thank God for lips, for speaking Thank God for hearts, for seeking Thank God for weakness: a stumbling an upsurging.
Thank God for eyes, for seeing Thank God for soul, for being Thank God for absence: a longing an unfolding.
Thank God for life, for loving Thank God for death, for longing Thank God with singing.
Mary E Morgan, Caribbean ( Oceans of Prayer , NCEC, p.57)
Lord, from our imperfect understanding of their suffering, we dare to stand with our brothers and sisters and pray with them. We pray with children who, still and quiet from hunger, neither laughing nor crying, neither running nor resting, know little of life but hunger andwaiting. We pray with young women, bearing and nurturing the next generation. We pray for strength throughout pregnancy, safety in childbirth and joy in being the channel of life and love for each precious new being. We pray with men who, once strong and now weakened by chronic illhealth, struggle to go on working in mines, factories and on the land, made ill by the very conditions which they dare not leave.
Christa Hook, UK ( Oceans of Prayer , pp.49–50)
How to use a ‘quiet time’
Pay attention to your body Take time to slow down, consciously relax each part of your body, and listen to your breathing for a while.
Use silence to relax and empty your mind of all that’s going on around you. Know that God’s loving presence encircles you, your family, your community and the world. Learn to enjoy God’s presence.
Have a visual focus – a cross, a plant, interesting stones, pictures or postcards... create a prayer table on which to display them with other symbols.
Read the Bible passage for the day several times, perhaps using different translations, and then the n