OP/EN 5 - 'the god... who is to come'
The world we live in isn’t perfect. But every now and then, we get glimpses of heaven, of how it might be.
We don’t know what heaven will be like, but these words and pictures are as near as we can get to how wonderful it will be.
Christians believe that when we pray “Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it in heaven,” we are asking for this world to be perfect, to be full of God’s love and joy and glory.
We invite you to think about the ideas that we have had, and to share your ideas with us.
The Kingdom
It's a long way off, but inside it
There are quite different things going on:
Festivals at which the poor man
Is king and the consumptive is
Healed: mirrors in which the blind look
At themselves and love looks at them
Back: and industry is for mending
The bent bones and the minds fractured
By life. It's a long way off, but to get
There takes no time and admission ,
Is free, if you will purge yourself
Of desire and present yourself with
Your need only and the simple offering
Of your faith, green as a leaf - R S Thomas |  |
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Pictures and words are all very well but we believe that heaven will be for all our senses – smell, taste, touch, hearing.
Listen to the music.
And look at some of the food and drink that made us think of heaven.
Could it be heaven without a bacon sandwich...?
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What do you think heaven will be like?
What reminds you of heaven?
Write it here...
...or make a picture on the other table |  |
The Lord’s Prayer
It shows us how to pray for ourselves and for the whole world.
And when we pray “Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven" we are praying for this world to be perfect, to be like heaven, to be full of God’s love, joy, power and glory.
Please use the different sections to pray for your needs, the needs of your family and community and the needs of the whole world.
Write your prayers on the flipchart pages...
What are you waiting for this Christmas?
| • iPod Nano? • Xbox 360? • Expensive jewellery? • Dior handbag? • Cuddly toy?
Do you remember what it was like when you couldn’t wait until Christmas morning to find out what Father Christmas had brought you?
If someone gave you a present today would you be able to wait until Christmas morning to open it?
Well that’s what we would like you to do… (wait, that is)
These are our presents to you; they look rather plain at the moment so please wrap them up, take them away and keep them under your Christmas tree until the 25th December. |
With music from...
Louis Armstrong - What a Wonderful World
J.S. Bach - Partita #3 in E-minor BWV 1006 (Gavotte En Rondeaux)
Dave Matthews - Crash
Jan Garbarek - Officium
Palestrina - Kyrie from Missa Papae Marcelli
Further images from op/en 5 can be found in the Christ Church image gallery