Opening

From Ikon

As people entered the worship space they were asked to say "thank you" into a microphone which was recorded onto a computer to be used later in the gathering.

After some music Peter approached the center of the room and began to speak,

We do not see sight, it is sight that enables us to see

We do not feel touch, it is touch that enables us to feel

This can be compared to the light in this room, for while we do not see it, it is the light which allows us to see

So too our senses are not themselves sensed they are what open us up to the whole realm of the sensual

In a similar way the mystics tell us, contrary to what we might expect, that God is not what we experience but the name we give to that which opens up the world of our experience

They say that we do not see God but rather it is God who enables us to see

They inform us that we do not feel God but that it is God who enables us to feel

Here God is approached as the name we give to the impossible which renders our world possible in its horror and beauty, in the mundane and in the majestic

Today, during the next 45 minutes, we will endeavour to provide a sacred space to reflect upon that impossible source and the world that has been opened up to us by that source

As we take a moment now to reflect upon this we may find that we are grateful for something. Something that has taken place in our lives, something which has changed us, something which has utterly transformed us

It could be the glance of a stranger, the embrace of a friend, the kiss of your beloved. It could be a birth, a marriage or even a timely and peaceful death

If something comes to mind please take a few moments to write it down on the paper provided and pass it along to the end of the row, where I will collect it

These will be used as part of the gathering this morning, so if what you are thinking about is private don’t worry about writing it down

After this people took time to write down what they were grateful for, these were passed to the end of the rows and collected. During the subsequent reflections these were typed onto a computer which was connected to two video projects in the sanctuary so that everyone could see what people had written.

While people were writing some ambient music played with the sound of people from the community saying ‘thank you’ (which were recorded at the beginning) mixed in.