ONE OF THE TWELVE - PHILIP THE APOSTLE

 

One of the twelve

Philip the Apostle

From the village of Bethsaida

On the Sea of Galilee.

Witness of the ascension

Who spread the Gospels

Far and wide

He was martyred

By beheading

In the city of Hierapolis

 

Feast Day 3rd May

HEAVENLY BODIES

 

The sun gifts us

With warmth and light

Endowing and sustaining

The green earth with life

Then when day is done

After the setting of the sun

The Moons silvery disk appears

Boldly bright through its phases

And stars are liberally sprinkled

Across the curtain of night

These gifts from God

Make our days complete

ONE OF THE TWELVE - JAMES THE LESSER

 

One of the twelve

James the lesser

Son of Alphaeus

A tax collector

Witness of the ascension

Who then spread the Gospels

Far and wide

James son of Alphaeus

Was beaten, stoned

And clubbed to death

 

Feast Day 1st May

BELTANE

 

Beltane, on May 1st

Is one of the four

Gaelic seasonal festivals

Beltane marks

The beginning of summer

And the end spring.

Celebrated with feasting,

The decorating of homes

With May flowers,

Visiting the holy wells

And the lighting of bonfires

NAMED BY THE CATHOLIC CHURCH

Named by the Catholic Church

As one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers

Christian martyr, St George of Lydda

Was a Venerated soldier saint

Legendary vanquisher of dragons

And the Patron saint of England 

ARE YOU WEARING A RED ROSE?

 

Are you wearing a red rose?

England’s floral emblem

A sweet-smelling symbol,

Displayed out of patriotism

ON A HILL IN CALVARY

 

On a hill in Calvary

In a savage unenlightened time

Nailed upon a rugged cross

By brutal hand

They thought to kill a man

To snuff out his light

That light of purest love

Unquenchable, indestructible

 

On that hill in Calvary

He died for us

The shadow of that cross

Cast upon the bloody land

Was an illuminating shadow

That spread light and love

Shining across millennia

Unquenchable, indestructible

 

On that hill in Calvary

He died for us

In that savage unenlightened time

Murdered by brutal hand

Humiliated, dehumanised

But through his love for us

And his sacrifice for us

He redeemed us

VIA DOLOROSA

The path that Jesus walked

Carrying his cross with him

Was the Via Dolorosa

In the old city of Jerusalem

 

It was the way of sorrows

The way of grief

The way of suffering

For his life so brief

IN THE SHADOW OF THE CROSS

 

When the world

Appears a troubled place

When you see pain

Etched into every face

Look for hope

In the shadow of the cross

 

When evil lives

In the hearts of man

When our neighbours

Plot our destruction

Look for hope

In the shadow of the cross

 

When you are burdened

With anxiety and fear

When you are so desperate

For someone to hear

Look for Him

In the shadow of the cross

EASTER ISN’T JUST ABOUT EASTER EGGS

 

Easter isn’t just about Easter eggs

I have a far deeper meaning in mind

Easter marks the death and resurrection

Of the saviour of all mankind

THE SHADOW OF GOLGOTHA

 

Our lord beaten and bloody

Must die like a criminal

To add insult upon injury

Atop his tousled curls

Was set a thorny crown

Pressed into his scalp

He carried his cross

Upon his bloodied back

Through narrow streets

To the baying of the crowds

Then onto the hill of Calvary

Where the prince of peace

Was nailed to his cross of pain

And dealt the final blow

His side pierced by a spear

His earthly life ebbing away

Through the open wound

He called out to God

But not for vengeance

He asked that they be forgiven

And his cross of pain

Cast a Holy shadow

Across the world

That reached every corner

But the shadow cast

Was not one of darkness

But one of light

A divine light

The light of love

Which still shines today

For it is the eternal light of God

GETHSEMANE

 

In that favoured retreat

Of Gethsemane’s garden

Did the Prince of peace

In his agonies

Sweat blood upon

That fertile ground

Forsaken by his father

Doubting his destiny

And how wretchedly betrayed

By that simple Judas kiss

WE CELEBRATE GOOD FRIDAY

 

We celebrate Good Friday

Because 2000 years ago

God proved that we matter

When he let his only son go

TGIGF

 

We celebrate Good Friday

And thank God reverently

For our saviour’s sacrifice

Thank God It's Good Friday

ONE OF THE TWELVE - JUDAS ISCARIOT

 

One of the twelve

Judas Iscariot

The betrayer

The taker of coins

The lost soul

Satan’s pawn

Hanged himself

Replaced as an apostle

By Matthias

WE CELEBRATE GOOD FRIDAY

 

We celebrate Good Friday

Because 2000 years ago

God proved that we matter

When he let his only son go

SECULAR EDUCATION

 

The education system

Is becoming increasingly secular

But Schools will never

Totally achieve their doctrinaire

For the simple reason

That as long as exams are held there

It is safe to assume that for the pupils

There will definitely be prayer

ITS NOT THAT I’M ANTI SOCIAL

 

I won’t come to the pub

Thank you all the same

Not in celebration

No thanks I will refrain

 

I will go to church

Thank you all the same

To celebrate the day

That the Lord came

MY LIFELONG FRIEND

 

My Lord Jesus Christ is with me

He has been my lifelong friend

And when he walks beside you

On the saviour you can depend

Jesus was there at my beginning

And He will be there at my end

THE WORD

 

You will find comfort

In His Holy Word

It is still relevant today

The Bible isn’t absurd

 

You will find no better

In any modern tome

Read His word abroad

Read His word at home

GODS DEVOTEES

 

You will find in any holy place

Every up turned face

Of the congregation there

With the power of prayer

Can achieve both great and small

With faith and prayer is all

A fellowship on their knees

A family of Gods devotees