Postive Discrimination?!

Greetings one and all!

Phew! I don't about you, but I have felt rushed off my feet this week- but I do know that I am really looking forward to this Friday's it for a time of chilled out entertainment. Should be a nice antidote to the pressures of the last few weeks :-) Have a look below for the details of this Friday and also next Friday's Ceilidh (don't forget to let me know before Friday if you can make it on Feb 5th!)

Last week we started our sharing time with this cheery little quiz.* Have a go if you weren’t there on Friday night and then come back here for the rest..

In all seriousness it drew our attention to the shocking inequality that exists worldwide between males and females. It seems women are getting paid far less than men even though statistically they do far more work and that much of the world’s poverty rests on the shoulders of women. We thought about the ways in which the human tendency to exploit the weak has resulted in men dominating society and women being subjugated, valued in many ways for their ability to continue the family tree and to populate communities, rather than everyone bringing their unique skills and abilities together to create a fairer and more just world where everyone’s potential is recognised. This divide is clearer in some cultures than others and was especially clear in Palestine 2000 years ago.

When we looked at the story of Mary and the angel, we considered that Jesus’ coming into the world brought with it a hope for change. This hope for change is expressed in an magnificent song found here and it’s what we’ll be exploring for this weekend at it.

* I include the link for those who were present as well as those who missed out since we never got to finish it because the battery died on my net-book! Why not take a look before reading on?

an invitation to a journey

 

Hmm…  “…invitation to a journey” …maybe that’s not quite accurate.  I mean - we’re all on a journey – exploring ding our way into the future, looking for the best direction to travel in.  And recently – these past two, three years, we’ve been experiencing that journey together as fellow travelling companions, being a part of each other’s lives, asking big questions, learning from one another, looking at what guidance Jesus can give us. 

No, this invitation is not to a journey, but to explore this journey deeper.  The journey of humanity as shaped by God, lived by Jesus and followed in stumbling steps by this thing we call “Church.”  In ten sessions from February to April, we’ll be asking big questions:

“What are we here for?”

“What is God about?”

“What’s unique about the journey Jesus invites us to when he says ‘Come, follow me’  ?”

If you’re interested, ask me on Friday.  I may mention it again, but I won’t be pushing it.  This is a journey of freedom and the invitation is freely chosen and freely received.

upcoming events

 

Aren’t Thursdays neat?  I mean it is just one short day away from being a Friday and you can’t beat Fridays- am I right?

Also, who likes Cafés?  Cafés are pretty sweet, with the hot drinks and the comfy chairs and the chilling out hey?  And Church, Church is awe … ok- I admit it- I have no idea what is happening next Thursday at Cafe Church.

What I do know is that Richard, Tanya, Pedro and I are going to be at Costas from 7 – 9 pm next Thursday (4th February and we would love if it you could join us and let us introduce you to a few people who we think are pretty neat as well. 

Check this space for updates.

:)

Do you like Ceilidhs?!

Yeah, we like Ceilidhs!! ^_^

And to prove it in the next two we’re going to be part of not just one but TWO – read ‘em, two Ceilidhs!

This coming Friday, 29th January, in celebration of Burns night, we will be having a traditional Gaelic Ceilidh with a twist . So if you have a performance piece, a dance, a musical piece, a poem, an AMV or anything that you haven’t shared at it club before then feel free to come and share it this weekend.

It wouldn’t be a party without food, so if you bring the sweets, we coaches will bring something tasty for savoury. PLUS, I am looking for someone who could lend us a Karaoke machine for the evening too. Let me know if that’s you.

And then on the following Friday 5th February, we will be accepting Karri’s family’s kind invitation to her step-dad’s 60th Ceilidh. Please, please, please let me know before Friday whether you can go or not so we can let Karri’s mum know the numbers so she can plan for catering. :]

Phew! A lot of requests this week, but all in the anticipation that there will be a lot of fun to be shared in the coming weekends =]

image from

http://www.metinbereketli.com/images/Dancing-_Feet.jpg

~ dinnae fear!

 

That was the theme of our sharing times last week as we reflected together on whether the message the angels brought had anything to say for us today as we look towards the future.

I hope that if you are in the middle of exams right now, you are managing to stay calm and to not fear or worry.  I want you to know that I am keeping you in my prayers.  If you are one of the lucky ones who don’t have exams right now, then why not join me in prayer for our friends who are?  It doesn’t have to be anything complicated – simply a remembering of those people, feeling for their situation and asking God to help.  The words are not as important as the hope and the desire.

However you are feeling right now, I hope we can continue to provide a calm, safe space for you at it club this weekend and listening ears. =]

God bless you with peace and love for one another,

M@

teen challenged

With all these exams going on and decisions about the future needing made, I am sure it can be easy to feel like you have the weight of the world on your shoulders.

But what if you were 'tapped up' for a huge responsibility that might even mean the fate of the world quite literally rests on your shoulders?

That’s the situation we’re going to be looking at this week in our sharing time @ it. If you have the time and you want to be in the know, then why not read

Luke chapter 1 verses 26 - 38

image found @: http://rusdisanad.deviantart.com/art/Life-Burden-101689054

Burns Night Ceilidh, Friday 29th January

Hi,

Do you remember the Burns Night Ceilidh we celebrated 2 years ago?

Everyone brought a creative or dramatic piece to share: a song, a poem, a dance, an animation?

It was a tremendous evening that I think it’s accurate to say rocked everyone’s socks!

In 9 days time we are gonna do a similar event. Have a think about it and let me know if you have anything you want to contribute!

M@

Ps on a similar note does anyone have a Karaoke machine they could bring along? :P

image by Karri, with thanks to http://fc05.deviantart.net/fs20/f/2007/228/f/9/Celebration_by_Star_Maiden.jpg

a special invitation… Update!

 

UPDATE!

Having discussed this invite last Friday night, the general response so far seems positive.  However, we didn’t feel able to make the decision by ourselves – there was only 7 of us! – we weren’t keen on such a small group making this decision on behalf of everyone.  We will need to make a decision soon though- we have only one more Friday before the RSVP date. 

The event is a birthday Ceilidh for Karri’s step dad’s BIG 6-0~ it’s a smart dress event, and it is on Friday 5th February.  A full meal will be provided!  As I said previously it is very generous of Karri’s family to invite us, so naturally it behoves us to give a kind reply.  But what shall we reply?! 

Over to you!:

If you haven’t yet given your thoughts and if you won’t be about this Friday please could you let me know your thoughts by text or by email, so we can give a properly considered reply that represents a group decision! 

Thank you. ^_^

 

original post:

it club has received an invite for the birthday celebrations of Karri’s step-dad Robert.  All the info is on the image above (designed by Karri-san herself!)

This is really kind of Karri’s family to invite us all.  Shall we give it a good thought and discuss as a group on Friday whether we will go together?

The alternative would be  to organise our own fun for the evening elsewhere outside the building.

Give it some thought, chat about it and we will put our heads together on Friday! :)

Greeeeeetinnnnngs!!

Hi,

How are you all?

New posts up by 8pm, Wednesday evening!

Thinking of you guys who are starting exams this week.

God bless you all in whatever is going on with you this week!

M@

it club 2010: this Friday & beyond

 

Hi one, hey all!

I just wanted to let you know that this week at it we will be back and
also that we know this prelim time is stressful so we want to be considerate of that and responsive to how people feel so if you are up for activity this Friday that's cool but if everyone just wants to flop and chill that's fine too. 

As always we want it to be a safe and caring place for everyone

:)  Hope to see you soon,

M@

a suggestion for Friday

Hi, I am aware that almost everyone is busy with revision and that when you have a break you might like to switch your brains off,
but
if you do feel like doing something different, then why not have a read of the little books of Luke’s Gospel you got for Christmas?

I can especially recommend the stories featuring Angels, found in chapter 1:5-25 , 1:26-38 and chapter 2:8-20. If you really get into it you could read all the bits in-between too!

In all seriousness, we do realise that you are hugely busy, so don’t feel obliged. This is going to be more of a weekly thing over the next few months with me giving you the heads up re: the stories we are sharing. Consider it an opportunity for finding out what we’ll be sharing about this Friday at it!

Ps. Whatever you decide to do, it would be helpful if you could bring those little books along :)

new week, new year!

...new posts up by Wednesday!

in the mean time details of it club this month can be found below... :-)

Have a good week!

TFT Cafe Church

Into the Future!

Happy New Year all!

What does 2010 hold for you:

Hope, anxiety, fears or opportunities?

Whatever’s on your mind, come and share it over a hot chocolate among friends at Costa Coffee in Stockbridge.

What? TFT Cafe Church (click for more info)

When? Thursday 7th January 2010

What time? 7 – 9 pm

Where? Costa Coffee, 50 Raeburn Place, Stockbridge, EH4 1HL

images from http://stavangerphotobytanty.blogspot.com/2008_07_01_archive.html and google maps

It Club in January

Thursday 7th TFT Cafe Church

“Into the Future”

See above for details!

Friday 8th NO it club this week!

Friday 15th it club returns!

Friday 22nd it club: a safe haven from prelims!

Friday 29th Burns Night Special?*

Hi guys, sorry there is no it club this week, but I thought since Pedro and Tanya are away and James has started a new job, that we might all enjoy an excuse to stay in out of the cold!

Having said that, if you are keen to meet up this week there is always the Cafe night on Thursday!

* As for the 29th, does anybody remember our Alternative Ceilidh on Burns Night a few years ago? We chilled out and took it in turn sharing something we had created– a poem, a dance, an animation or a piece of music we had learnt- and ate Haggis Pizzas. It was a ton of fun and I think we were all amazed at the talent on show and the creativity we each possessed!

Could we do something similar? – let me know!

Photo from: http://www.edinphoto.org.uk/0_P/0_photographers_w_r_and_s_-_castle_in_snow.jpg