Here's something I wrote for the staff bulletin for a local school for Interfaith week... Not something I have a huge amount of experience talking about or considering.

So much of life is about meaning-making and purpose finding. And it has been for as long as there have been humans. Whether it’s through exploration or science, poetry or music, the study of the past, the present or the future, the known or the unknown, humanity looks for meaning and purpose.

Often there is a degree of synchronicity in those discoveries. For example the idea that creation as described in the book of Genesis in a poetic way is not incompatible with science when we consider the order of things that needed to happen for the existence of all that is. Or the fact that so many stories that are told contain so many of the same themes. Or that religions that developed in isolation in different parts of the world contain so many overlapping elements and priorities… It’s almost as if in trying to tell our human story and explain our existence we’re discovering that there are recurring themes about what is important!

Interfaith week is about the dialogues that happen to seek those intersecting priorities and stories. It wants to recognise and celebrate where we have a shared understanding whilst not completely disregarding or disrespecting the journey and other beliefs that we don’t share.

Intersectionality is important. Whether it’s in the way we teach our subject in a cross-curricular way in order to provide meaning and enhance understanding and application, or the fact that the different parts of our experience, upbringing, culture and passions come together to centre us, there is a fulness of understanding at the places where things come together.

In Proverbs 8:1-4 it says:
Isn’t Lady Wisdom calling? Listen; don’t you hear the voice of understanding crying out? She’s taken her stand at the highest place in the city, at the crossroads where everyone can see her. There, and at the gates, at the entrance to the city, right in front of the city doors she cries out:
Lady Wisdom: O people! I am calling to you; I have a message for all humanity.

“Lady Wisdom” - perhaps the Holy Spirit, or perhaps just the gut/conscience understanding of what is the meaning of life - is speaking loudest in the places of intersection. Where those on different journeys come together and find commonality, that is where there is a fulness of understanding and discovery of meaning, purpose and what is important in life.

I wonder what it looks like for us to recognise the faith (or not) journeys of those around us, and to celebrate together our shared understanding of “Life in all its Fulness”?

Let us pause and pray:
Lady Wisdom, may we hear your voice at the crossroads as we find meaning and purpose in this life. May we hear your message loudly, the one that so many have determined in so many ways, to love one another, honour what is bigger than ourselves, and to seek life in abundance. AMEN

I enjoyed my first foray into spoken word with my "Culpable Disturbance of Shalom" piece that I thought I'd try again.

​Compassion was a theme for an assembly, and this time I had the image, and the words came, and then the music followed suit...

Another cheat blog...
This time is this morning's welcome service for the new Year 7's at National Academy, which was conducted at St Mary's in the town.

The theme was "Blank Page", encouraging young people to use the fresh start and the blank page that is in front of them...

Prepping for a series of assemblies at one of the secondary schools I am linked with, with the theme of "Hope".

Remit is 2 classes of young people, for about 15 minutes. Numbers are for references to slides/visuals/transitions used.

Feel free to "borrow" any ideas, and let me know how you get on...

NOTE: This is for a church school. Even then I am careful about how I present Christianity. Be sensible with what you say when you do assemblies ANYWHERE! You're entrusted with a privileged position and you represent us all...