Spring Clean (Making Space for God) – Report (16 October)
Motivation:
Being Spring, it’s a time when people tend to do a bit ‘de-cluttering’ – To take this concept a bit further we wanted to create a space where people could consider how they may be able to make their lives simpler so that they could focus on what matters – Physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually.
Opening Prayer: (from Grace)
This is the house of God and whoever you are, wherever you have been, whatever you have done
and whoever you know, God flings the door wide open
Come, all you who are thirsty,
come to the waters;
and you who have no money,
come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk
without money and without cost.
Why spend money on what is not bread,
and your labour on what does not satisfy?
Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good,
and your soul will delight in the richest of fare.
This is the house of God and whatever you have done and wherever you have been God has a place
reserved for you
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies
You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows
This is the house of God and who ever you are God invites you in
Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll
recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch
how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you.
Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.
This is the house of God and God is delighted to see you
You’re no longer wandering exiles. This kingdom of faith is now your home country. You’re no
longer strangers or outsiders. You belong here, with as much right to be called a follower of Christ
as anyone. God is building a home. He’s using us all—irrespective of how we got here—in what he
is building.
This is the house of God and God welcomes you here
Welcome:
Tonight we will take a journey around making space – for ourselves, for others, and for God. Many
people have a spring clean and this is a bit like that…. Tonight I encourage us all to focus on the
concept of less being more – That cleaning out our lives of a lot of our stuff – physical, social,
mental, emotional – might make more space for the things that matter – And leave us happier in the
end.
Let’s open with a parable of sorts, which will frame our thoughts for tonight. I encourage you
tonight to come back to these words and think about them beyond the physical…
We’ll follow with a period of quiet prayer and reflection.
Video:
Let’s spend a few minutes in quiet reflection, and as we do use the opportunity to mentally walk
through your house, your work, your garden – The places that you spend the most time. Look
around and think about what you really need, what you can do without – What adds to your life and
what takes away… What if you arrived home tonight to find missing, would you really miss? Allow
God to help us look at our ‘stuff’ as he does.
(Audio background played during 5 minute reflection)O
Our lives do not revolve around ourselves of course – Let us turn our mind to the space we need to
create for others:
Luke 14:12-24
12 Then Jesus said to his host, “When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends,
your brothers or sisters, your relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back
and so you will be repaid. 13 But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame,
the blind, 14 and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the
resurrection of the righteous.”
15 When one of those at the table with him heard this, he said to Jesus, “Blessed is the one who
will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God.”
16 Jesus replied: “A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. 17 At the
time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is
now ready.’
18 “But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, ‘I have just bought a field, and I must
go and see it. Please excuse me.’
19 “Another said, ‘I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I’m on my way to try them out.
Please excuse me.’
20 “Still another said, ‘I just got married, so I can’t come.’
21 “The servant came back and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became
angry and ordered his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in
the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.’
22 “‘Sir,’ the servant said, ‘what you ordered has been done, but there is still room.’
23 “Then the master told his servant, ‘Go out to the roads and country lanes and compel them to
come in, so that my house will be full. 24 I tell you, not one of those who were invited will get a
taste of my banquet.’”
(Questions from Grace)
- I wonder what the room where Jesus had dinner was like?
- I wonder if it was a private place, or if there were lots of people coming in and out?
- I wonder if Jesus felt comfortable at the dinner?
- I wonder why the leader of the Pharisees invited Jesus?
- I wonder if he wanted to meet Jesus, or if he wanted to trip him up, or if he wanted to show off his
- power and wealth?
- I wonder why Jesus told the pharisee that he shouldn’t invite to dinner only the people who could
- repay him?
- I wonder how the Pharisee felt when Jesus said that to him?
- I wonder how the Pharisee felt when he realised that the poor, crippled, lame, blind and lame would
- probably be unclean according to Jewish law?
- I wonder what kind of people you invite to dinner?
- I wonder who the equivalent of the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame are for you today?
- I wonder if you could invite them to dinner?
- I wonder why Jesus told the parable of the guests at the feast?
- I wonder which of the people in the parable is most like you?
- I wonder if you find it easier to give hospitality or receive it?
- I wonder if the parable is a picture of God’s hospitality to us?
- I wonder if you will be too busy to accept it?
Let us again spend a few minutes in quiet reflection. As we do consider who the people who would
be or perhaps should be invited to experience your hospitality. Most of the world follows an 80/20
rule. That 80% of effort goes on 20% of people….Jesus’ efforts focused heavily on his disciples. His
20%. Which 20% of the people you interact with would most benefit from 80% of your efforts. Let
us pray.
(Audio background for 5 minutes)
Luke 10:38-42
38 As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named
Martha opened her home to him. 39 She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet
listening to what he said. 40 But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made.
She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by
myself? Tell her to help me!”
41 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but
few things are needed—or indeed only one.[b] Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be
taken away from her.”
As Mary acknowledged that hospitality and making others welcome isn’t the be all and end all, so
too we come to consider that in the midst of service and others we must find space for God. Our
clutter – physical, mental, emotional, social – can just as easily crowd out God as it does other
people….
We will now spend another short period of time in reflection and prayer – This time guided by a
reflection on audio…. Following that I will say a short prayer and this will be followed by a song of
prayer on audio which will bring our service to a close.
Noise reflection from the Labyrinth (Played via audio track)
Prayer:
What’s in the box? It doesn’t really matter. I know I don’t need it. What’s in yours? Maybe,
just maybe, less might equal more. So let’s make room for the good stuff.
Song/Prayer: – I arise today (St Patrick’s Breastplate)
