Advent 21

Rom 16: 25-27
Lt us gv glry 2 Gd! He s abl2 mk u stnd firm in yr fayth, acrdng2 th Gd News I prch abt J C nd acrdng2 th revlashn f th scrt trth wch ws hddn 4 lng ages in th pst. Nw, hwevr, tht trth hs bn brt out in2h opn..... reflcshn
Gd's scrt trth ws rveld 2us in th ncanashn-in th mdst f humn lyf-an nxpctd prgncy, nd th mss n wndr f a chld b ng born2ppl on th mve ina wrld f crpshn, cnflct n cnfushn. Theolgcl lngwg n Crstms circyeles cnt do jstis 2 th dwn-2-erth nachr f wt hpnd 2000yrs ago- n s stl hpnng 2da. Gd's wsdm ds nt set Gd aprt, bt tks humn form.

Advent 20

Is 7:10-14
thr4 th Lrd hmslf wl gv u a syn. A yng wman is wth chld n shl ber a sn, n shl nm hm Imnuel.
a prer
Wht s trth, Gd? Imgnashn or reyalty? I prfr mgic, Gd-spshly at ths tym f yer. Chrstms mgic! Xpctashn n xpctncy! Anshnt prfesis cmng tru as, wns agn,th story nflds. A vrgn. A sn. Imnuel. Is ths mgicl ty JST mgic, Gd? Cn we evr knw th trth? Ys we cn. Wedo. U r th Trth. We cn no u. Bt u mk yrslf knwn in sch dscnsrtng ways. Thru fct n fntsy, thru fthlss nashns n frytnd dsypls. Evn thru ppl lk us. Cm, sher r humnnss,Imnuel, Gd-wth-us, tht we cn no u. Tht u no us. Tht lv s born agn.

Advent 19

cnt frm yst ..........
So hlp us,Fthr, 2b onth lk out 4yr cmng,as th ppl n evnts crwd in. Opn r ise 2c u in th gyz f frnd n strngr. Wtevr th pth, wrevr th plce, hwevr u cm 2us, ma we rcgnyz u. Nd wlcm u jyusly.

Advent 18

Lk 7:18-23 They sd...Jn th Bptst hs snt us2u2 sk R u th 1 who s2cm, or rwe2 wyt4 anthr?
a prer
Jsus, r uth 1? Ts hrdly srprsng tht ppl msd yr cmng wn evn Jn th Bpt wsnt evn shr.
They wr xpctng sch a dfrnt knd f Msia. th nmstkabl knd. Ona VIP thrn, WTHa gld chn. Hw cd any1 b xpctd2no who u wr wn u camin at th bck, lkng rdnry?
Thr wr plnty who dd rcgnys u, f cs. Bt r u th 1 Jsus? Ina wrld f pths n prmses, hw cnwe b shr? .... Dcyd 4yrslvs!..... u sy- s if tsnt th dctrns, r evn th mrcls, bt th cmpny u kp n th pryortys u hld, n th kngdm f psbltys n jy u npck amd r ordnryns.
cnt 2mrw

Advent 17

1Cor 1:18-2:7 I wl dstry th wsdm f th wys, n brng2 nthng th clvrns f th clvr. Whr s yr wys mn nw?
a prer
Hu r th wys wns, anywy? Hrod or magi? Poltishn or prechr,ppstr or porpr? In a wrld whr ppl kp falng off pedstls, Gd, whr do we fnd th wys wns? nd whr s th bginng f wsdm?

Advent 16

Jn 1:6-9 Thr ws a mn snt frm Gd, whs nm ws Jn. He cm asa wtns 2 tstfy2 th lyt, so tht al mt bleev thru hm. He hmslf ws nt th lyt, bt he cm2 tstfy 2 th lyt.
a prer
It isNT jst Jn th Bptst who pnts th way,isit,lvng Gd? U surnd us wth syns f th prsns f Chrst amngst us. Lt us nvr tk4 grntd th synpsts tht u gv, nor dspys th lone voys or sacrfshl lyf. Bt frgv us, in ths age f nstnt acses, whn we fal 2look b ynd th poyntr or go furthr. Gv us imagnashn 2 seek tht whch s stl hidn, payshns 2 wayt, n th wl 2 trvl on.

Advent 15

Is 11:1 On hm th spirit f th Lrd wl rst: a spirit f wsdm n ndrstndng, a spirit f cnsel n pwr..... Wth jstis he wl jdg th por, n dfnd th hmbl in th lnd wth equty.
rflcshn
Th lnd s watng 4 th snw 2 prtct nyu shts, th wrld s watng 4 th turnng f th yer, th pple r watng 4 jstis 2 chng thr lyvs, rfugees r watng 2 rtrn hm, ppl r watng 4a lvng wrd, vctms f prjudis, hearsy, pvrty, pwr msusd, th ppl r watng 4a dfrnt knd f pwr 2 trnsfrm th lnd: Th gntl pwr f wsdm, f wndr, f Gd-wth-us. Th ppl r watng, yrnng, xpctnt.... Th wrld s watng.

Advent 14

Is 40:28- 31
Th creatr f th nds f th erth.... ds nt fnt oor grw weary. No 1 cn fthm th dpths f hs ndrstndng.
prer
O Gd,pwr f creashn n cnstnt carer, u wr thr at r cnspshn,in th miracl f nyu lyf. U r thr in th nachrl n soshl 4ses by wch we r shapd n chngd. U r thr in r stmblng atmpts 2 cmprhnd u. We bleev tht u r thr,tht u no n cer. In yr pwr, maywe rn n nt feel faynt, mrch on n nt feel weary.... in yr nme, etrnl Gd. Amn

Advent 13

Day 13 is not only late but missing.

Advent 12

Is 40 In th wldrnss preper th way f th Lrd, mk strayt in th desrt a hyway 4 r Gd.
Gds glry wl b rveeld 2 evry humn b ng on erth. If th glry f Gd isin humn b ngs flly alyv , prtct us, o Lrd,durng ths r erthly plgrmage tht we may seek u dligntly,wlk wthu lvngly nd servu fthflly.

Advent 11

Oh goodness me, got a bit behind with typing these up... sorry!

Isia 61:1-3 Th sprt f th Lrd Gd s upn me, bcos th Lrd hs appntd me. He hs snt me2 brng GD nys 2 th opprssd.
Wrds.........or reyl hp 4 reyl ppl in reyl need- th por, th pwrls, th cptvs, th mornrs? Nt so csy n th reyl wrld: gd nys 4 th por mt b bd nys 4 th wl off. Rlees 4 prsnrs rayses al knds f quschns 4 wl meenng sociyt.
Bt Jsus sd 2da - heya n nw - thse wds r cmng troo. Cm troo 4us, ncmfrtbl Gd, heya n nw.

Advent 10

Ps 85 Shrly slvashn s at hnd.... Stedfst lv nd fthflns wl meet, rychsns nd peas wl ks each othr.
a prer
Gd r svyr, wLK twrdsus ona pth f pees: ncurge us in r lnlinss nd yrn ng , tk us in yr rms nd lftus up, nablus2 rseev yr gdnss nd grace, 2 per seev yr glry lrdy arnd us, hre nd nw, nd2 bleev tht jstis nd pees cn ndd go hnd n hnd .Amen.

Advent 9

Matt 25:13 So sta awak n b prperd, 4 u do NT no th dt or momnt f my rtrn.
a prar
Yr arivls HV bn prdctbl n obvys. A watng nashn snt yr mthr rnd th BK 2 gv brth. Yr fvrt cty ddNT rcgnys Gds mmnt. Yr frnds trvlld wth u alda wthowt relisng it: u brok brd WTH thm, scnds b4 vnishng. We ctch glmpses f u wnwe least xpct it N smtms wedNT, we ms u. So kpme awke 2WTu r doin. N wn. N whr. N hw. Ltme tk nthng 4 grNTd, nr 4gt u r th Gd f srpryss.

Advent 8

N yr qwyet hddn way, cm2 healn sve. Ncgnto, n r strts, bhind th crtns, wthn th drems,in agng mmris, in chldhd wndr, in brkn hrts, in Bthlhm stbl, stl sml voys, Wd f Gd,amngstus. Cm 2r dvded wrld: Cm 2r frgmntd lves: Cm 2 healn sve.

Advent 7

Eph 1
Gd hs mde knwn 2us hs secrt prpos, in acrdns WTH th pln wch he hd detrmnd b4hnd in Chrst,2be pt n2 efct wn th tym s ryp: nmly,tht th unvrs, evrythng n hevn n on rrth, mtbe brt n2 unity n Chrst.
a prer
Chrst f th csms, lvng Wd, cm2 healn sve. Cm frm th dwn f tym, shpng th univrs: Dvyn xprshn,mystry me knwn. Nyr qyet hdn way,cm2 healn sve.
cn t n da8

Advent 6

Dea Gd Y dd yr xiled ppl look bk wrds somch? Dd it mk thm feel safr,nd gv thm curij,th storis f th pth u mde thru th C 4 ther ancstrs 2 escap cptvty? S tht y they clung2 th evnts f th pst,thNKng f th GD tyms? Tws mportnt nd ndrstndrbl. Bt u wr wntng thm2 look4 a nyu thng: a pth frm ther own cptvty. Thr WS so mch4 thm2 hp4. Nt jst relees frm Babyln, bt A Messiah. A new bgnng.
It hapnd n Bthlhm. Sm beleevd. Othrs stl wait. Bt hr s th twst: isit nt th waitng wns who look frwrd nw. Whlst th beleevng wns travl thru Advnt gazng 2000yrs in2 th pst.Tk us out f r BKwrd facng seat. Trn us rnd 2c WT u wl do. Shw us 2das xiles nd cptvs, pthwys 2 opn up. New thngs,Gd-thngs we HV nvr thrt f, thngs4 a new bgnng.

Advent 5

Lf th c ror,nd al THT filsit: th wrld nd thos hu livinit. Lt th flds clp thr hnds: Let th hlls sng 2gthr 4jy at th prsns of th Lord, Fr he is cmng2 jdg th rth... ps 98
Remnd me mst f al, hly n grashs Gd,tht Advnt s about u, nd yr rayn ovr al thngs. Remnd me f howu chngd th hstry f th wrld :nd hold tym n spays inyr hnds. Amn.

Advent 4

Lord, th bst wecn do fr ny1 s tk thm 2u. Th bst wecn do4 r slvs , i spos. Whn r wrds hv bn sd , nd r knidge aird, f thr hs bn no mtng wth th brngr f lyf , whts th pnt ?
Whn wt ppl reeli wnt, nd wt I reeli need, s2fnd a wy 2u ths Advnt, Lord: sv mefrm gtng n th wy,nd hlp me2 opn th dr. Nd f I cNT do th v simpl thngs myslf, gv me th humlty 2 ask th hlp f smbdy hoocn . Amn

Advent 3

Nd he sed2me: thse wds r trstwrthy n tru, 4 th Lrd, th Gd f th sprts f th prphts hs snt hs ngl 2 sho hs srvnt wt mst sn tk plas. Lstn! I m cmng v sn!.... Rev 22: 6
Lstn! I m cmng. We r svd by lstnng nd by nt gvng up . . Evn Gd lstns. We r svd bya lstnng Gd.
a prer
I HV bn stmblng arnd in dk allys4 2lng,Gd. I m NT xpctng u2shw me n esy wy out: bt I m cryng out4u2cm n fnd me,2 lt meno u r wth me in th dknss.

Advent 2

O tht u wD ter Opn th hvns n cm dwn! Is 64:1
Wy dnt u bRk in? Tear tH sky aPrT,lk th pRfEt sd? BRk th ceLng oPn, lk th frnDs f th parlisd mn? Cm s u wrnd, lk a thf n th nt n fors yr wy in? Nd i m redy, watng, pledng 4 th in-brk f yr kngdm!

Advent 1

Twitter doesn't always cut the mustard as it should, so I thought MGT deserved to be published in full for these her advent messages:

Ea b gnth da 1...... TS GD 2 strt wtha pra a
O God,unO us btTr thn weno rsLvs -uno my B ng n my DO ng. In ths tYM f Advnt prPRashN. hLP me2spRMg cln my lyF. HLp me2deEpn n strngthN my rLasHnshPs: 2u, 2oTHrs, n2mysLf. Tk mY hnd n leeDme ona jRny. Amn

Alpha dinner

Thanks all for a lovely social tonight ("surely not?" I hear you cry!) much food and plenty of hilarity as ever. And there is call for a LUV MGT daily advent text come December... We look forward to it!

Back to business, Alpha starts this week and we're on cooking duty first! Good old quiche and baked potatoes seem to be in the offering and plenty of yummy goodies for afterwards; apple crumble and Sarah's Amazing Squidge.

Next week is the church's week of prayer I believe and we will begin our regular prayer evenings. According to the programme this will be led by ? (looking forward to meeting them!) and is at Sue's house.

Welcome back!

A new term has arrived! And with it a new programme and a carefully selected series of socials. This term we will be interspersing 2 weeks of Adventures in Missing the Point by Brian McLaren and Tony Campolo with a third week of prayer for the church and community.

Studies kick off this week 9th September at R & Ms house where I will be leading the first AIMTP study.

Look forward to seeing you there!

Not another social...

After one week's hard study... well a time of prayer anyway, it must be time for another social! The order of the evening for this coming Tuesday is a barbeque at Dave and Rosie's. Bring food to cook and share.

On Saturday a number of us set off to Newark for New Wine - whoop whoop! Pray for sunshine!!!

More indoor camping photos!

MGT asked me personally to put these pictures on... not sure I should do really!!

Indoor camping!

Well, an enjoyable weekend has been had by all despite the weather! Plenty has been eaten (and we all know from church this morning that eating is a very important part of getting to know one another!), miles have been walked, games have been played (and some have cheated) and some even slept the night on the floor. Thank you R & M!

Camping at MGTs

So the camping trip has been rained off. We are relocating to Roger and Margaret's house - starting with a fryup on Saturday morning and continuing throughout the night for those who want to sleep over!

Thank you for your prayers - I got the job!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So there will probably be much bounciness and excitement from me tomorrow - you have been warned!!

Social!

This Tuesday is our joint birthday social for Emily, Emma and Sarah Jane. 7pm at Sue's house. Bring food to barbeque or pudding or nibbles. See you there!

Don't forget our camping trip next weekend. Decifer MGT's text message over there <--- for price details and suchlike!

LUV MGT

MGTs classic text messages are unfortunately just a wee bit too long for Twitter annoyingly so they sometimes run over into 2 twitters! Sorry about that.

Welcome to our House Group blog!

Welcome one and all who have found their way to the blog of this our house group. The group with no name. Here you will find updates all about what we are learning about, what we are thinking, when our next social is (probably not too far in the distant future!) and, of course, LV MGT, the column we all love getting to decipher!

Get a brew on (better have a biscuit too), put your feet up and enjoy a little chat and some healthy discussion with us.