We started with Hope - the hope that we could finish the project ... To help us, we remembered our Faith, which had kept the church going in the past and continues to sustain us ... As the work progressed, we were expressing our longing for Peace, as we pieced together broken fragments of mosaic and built a bigger picture ... And now it is done, we celebrate with Joy!
On Sunday 2nd October we marked this moment with celebration - and the community artist who helped to start us off returned and was very impressed by the quality of the work. So we give thanks that we stuck with it, and made the mosaics say something about us: though each of us is small, rough-edged, and shaded differently, we contribute to a bigger picture.
We hope this says something too about our actions in the world and our welcome for all people, of all shapes and sizes - help us be a bigger picture!
For more about the Mosaic Project - see recent article here in The Congregationalist
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Fairtrade Fortnight 2011 - Show off your label
Lees Street tries buy fair trade to support producers around the world.
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Christmas - Don't be Afraid! It's only a baby!
It's easy to say, but not so easy to put into practice ... but this Christmas at Lees Street, one of the things we valued was the angel's word of encouragement to Joseph: "Do not be afraid" - and we said it to each other. It's something we need to hear in today's world; that we are here for each other, to help comfort one another in our fear, to help bring God's peace. Do not be afraid ...
In our Christingle service, I said that the angel had said this, and Sofia (aged 4) added, "It's only a baby!" Don't be afraid - it's only a baby! She thought it was funny that Joseph should be scared at all - why worry? It's only a baby! And on the one hand, it was certainly a funny moment - and it helped put the whole Christmas story and stress into perspective - don't worry; don't worry about getting everything just so; don't worry about all the wrapping, all the lists of things that 'need' doing, because it's only a baby - and a baby doesn't worry about all those things ... all the baby worries about is some love ... (as well as some food, and warmth, and security, of course) ... not a bad thing to focus on - love.
But on the other hand, the story tells us that some people were fearful of this baby - represented by the King Herod. The powers-that-be feared that this baby represented a new kind of start, as prophets and wise men foresaw. And this is something to give us hope - Joseph needn't worry, because God isn't afraid of scandal; but the powers-that-be, the vested interests in our world ought to be worried, because this birth represents a new beginning ... so take heart, dream wide awake, be ready to join with God in this new thing, do not be afraid, because it's only a baby - a baby who will shake the world and turn things upside-down.
In our Christingle service, I said that the angel had said this, and Sofia (aged 4) added, "It's only a baby!" Don't be afraid - it's only a baby! She thought it was funny that Joseph should be scared at all - why worry? It's only a baby! And on the one hand, it was certainly a funny moment - and it helped put the whole Christmas story and stress into perspective - don't worry; don't worry about getting everything just so; don't worry about all the wrapping, all the lists of things that 'need' doing, because it's only a baby - and a baby doesn't worry about all those things ... all the baby worries about is some love ... (as well as some food, and warmth, and security, of course) ... not a bad thing to focus on - love.
But on the other hand, the story tells us that some people were fearful of this baby - represented by the King Herod. The powers-that-be feared that this baby represented a new kind of start, as prophets and wise men foresaw. And this is something to give us hope - Joseph needn't worry, because God isn't afraid of scandal; but the powers-that-be, the vested interests in our world ought to be worried, because this birth represents a new beginning ... so take heart, dream wide awake, be ready to join with God in this new thing, do not be afraid, because it's only a baby - a baby who will shake the world and turn things upside-down.
Wednesday, April 07, 2010
Easter 2010
This Easter has seen many signs of new life at Lees Street.
It has been a busy, messy, reflective time, as we have tried to explore the Easter story in different ways. Through our Maundy Thursday Agape meal, Good Friday and Easter Sunday services, we recalled the events of Easter, being free to ask questions and see the story in new ways.
We also shared the Easter Story through our new groups at Lees Street.
Our new group Inspiration reflected on the events of the Easter story by thinking about endings and beginnings. We shared our own stories of endings and beginnings and discussed our thoughts and questions about the Easter story.
We were pleased to welcome new children and adults to our Messy Church Easter celebration. We enjoyed painting eggs, making chocolate nests and egg puppets, decorating Easter magnets, and creating a New Life banner. We also explored the different feelings in the Easter story - from happiness to anger, from despair to hope.
You can see photos of what we got up to by clicking on the Flickr photos. We are trying out Messy Church on Saturdays. The next dates are 15th May , 19th June.
It has been a busy, messy, reflective time, as we have tried to explore the Easter story in different ways. Through our Maundy Thursday Agape meal, Good Friday and Easter Sunday services, we recalled the events of Easter, being free to ask questions and see the story in new ways.
We also shared the Easter Story through our new groups at Lees Street.
Our new group Inspiration reflected on the events of the Easter story by thinking about endings and beginnings. We shared our own stories of endings and beginnings and discussed our thoughts and questions about the Easter story.
We were pleased to welcome new children and adults to our Messy Church Easter celebration. We enjoyed painting eggs, making chocolate nests and egg puppets, decorating Easter magnets, and creating a New Life banner. We also explored the different feelings in the Easter story - from happiness to anger, from despair to hope.
You can see photos of what we got up to by clicking on the Flickr photos. We are trying out Messy Church on Saturdays. The next dates are 15th May , 19th June.
Monday, February 22, 2010
Lees Street Insight Group and Friends present the pantomime :
Treasure Island
25th - 27th February 2010
25th - 27th February 2010
7.30 pm
(Sat. matinee at 2.30 pm)
Tickets £3.50
Contact 0161 231 0004
Fairtrade Fortnight 22nd Feb. - 3rd March
Lees Street supports fairtrade. You can find out more about products which provide a better deal for producers at the Fairtrade Foundation website. Click here
Thursday, January 07, 2010
Messy Christmas
We enjoyed baking biscuits at our Messy Church Christmas - they were really tasty. We made angels and stars, while thinking about what we were doing to get ready for Christmas. We also made trees and reindeer bags as we talked about waiting for something exciting to happen. Some of us also made Christingles ready for the 11 o'clock service, reminding us that the birth of Jesus brings light to the world.
We will be having a break in January but Messy Church will return at 9.15am on 14th February.
We will be having a break in January but Messy Church will return at 9.15am on 14th February.
Tuesday, January 05, 2010
Window of Peace
We were pleased to celebrate the completion and unveiling of our third mosaic - Peace. It is fantastic addition to our series of mosaics, brightening up our corner of Manchester and sharing our faith, hopes and dreams with our community.
Recently, we received an encouraging email from Brian Raymond, the community artist who helped with the initial designs for the mosaic project.
“Whenever I find myself passing Lees Street, I drive down to see if the next in the series of mosaics has been completed. For a long time I have wondered what was happening to the mosaic-making part of the project – but – last week my patience was rewarded when the third stunning design appeared alongside the first two.
I must say I was very impressed by the standard of mosaic making. I am so impressed by the mosaic group’s dedication and endurance! I can only agree with the design changes they decided to make and am pleased they have the confidence to make these decisions as the project continues. Soon they will be designing and mosaic-ing all on their own.
Well done to everyone working on the project – what a brilliant Christmas present for the church.”
We hope that our third mosaic will be enjoyed by our local community and beyond as we pray for peace in Openshaw and around the world.
Click on the flickr photos for more pictures of our mosaics.
Recently, we received an encouraging email from Brian Raymond, the community artist who helped with the initial designs for the mosaic project.
“Whenever I find myself passing Lees Street, I drive down to see if the next in the series of mosaics has been completed. For a long time I have wondered what was happening to the mosaic-making part of the project – but – last week my patience was rewarded when the third stunning design appeared alongside the first two.
I must say I was very impressed by the standard of mosaic making. I am so impressed by the mosaic group’s dedication and endurance! I can only agree with the design changes they decided to make and am pleased they have the confidence to make these decisions as the project continues. Soon they will be designing and mosaic-ing all on their own.
Well done to everyone working on the project – what a brilliant Christmas present for the church.”
We hope that our third mosaic will be enjoyed by our local community and beyond as we pray for peace in Openshaw and around the world.
Click on the flickr photos for more pictures of our mosaics.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
