My
Diary…
Diary…
August
9th
– Falkirk Spiritualist Church (SNU)
– Falkirk Spiritualist Church (SNU)
12th
– Perth Spiritualist Church (SNU)
– Perth Spiritualist Church (SNU)
13th
– Kilmarnock Spiritualist Church (SNU) The
first of four workshops on “Understanding the Basics of your Psychic Abilities”.
– Kilmarnock Spiritualist Church (SNU) The
first of four workshops on “Understanding the Basics of your Psychic Abilities”.
16th
– Kilmarnock Spiritualist Church (SNU)
– Kilmarnock Spiritualist Church (SNU)
18th
– The Association of Spiritual Knowledge (ASK) Cumbernauld.
– The Association of Spiritual Knowledge (ASK) Cumbernauld.
20th
– “Understanding the Basics of your
Psychic Abilities”. Kilmarnock Spiritualist Church (SNU)
– “Understanding the Basics of your
Psychic Abilities”. Kilmarnock Spiritualist Church (SNU)
27th
– Understanding the Basics of your
Psychic Abilities”. Kilmarnock Spiritualist Church (SNU)
– Understanding the Basics of your
Psychic Abilities”. Kilmarnock Spiritualist Church (SNU)
Saying
Grace
Grace
In a restaurant recently I saw a family quietly saying
Grace before starting their meal. It
took me back to my childhood when one or two older members of the family did
say Grace. When I got home I looked this
up on the Internet and found that a poll a few years ago asked if people said
Grace before eating. Most of those who
said ‘no’ commented that they were lucky to just have the whole family sit down
together to eat, let alone say grace. So it looks like saying Grace has become a
thing of the past. That may not be
surprising as those connected with religion are becoming fewer as each year
passes.
Grace before starting their meal. It
took me back to my childhood when one or two older members of the family did
say Grace. When I got home I looked this
up on the Internet and found that a poll a few years ago asked if people said
Grace before eating. Most of those who
said ‘no’ commented that they were lucky to just have the whole family sit down
together to eat, let alone say grace. So it looks like saying Grace has become a
thing of the past. That may not be
surprising as those connected with religion are becoming fewer as each year
passes.
But do we need
the whole family around the table before we can say Grace? It need not be of religious content we can
take thirty or so seconds contemplation before we eat. In this day and age most of us are rushing
about and those few quiet seconds may let our brain drop down a gear so we can
savour the taste of the food more than we would have done. .
People who do it tend to eat more slowly, aiding digestion,
Taking a few seconds to think how the food has
reached our plate. From the moment the seed was planted, the minute the animal
was born, all through the food chain process so you don’t starve and you enjoy
your meal. Making you appreciate what
you are eating and not to take it for granted or waste it.
reached our plate. From the moment the seed was planted, the minute the animal
was born, all through the food chain process so you don’t starve and you enjoy
your meal. Making you appreciate what
you are eating and not to take it for granted or waste it.
I
have always felt that Spiritualism should have a Harvest Service and the
produce donated could be given to local food banks. I am sure Spirit would be in favour of
this. Many of our grandparents relied on
their vegetable plot to supplement their meals.
I am sure our forefathers would
think of the Harvest festival as a great idea especially if some of it came
from our own gardens.
Harvest Service
In a restaurant recently I saw a family quietly saying
Grace before starting their meal. It
took me back to my childhood when one or two older members of the family did
say Grace. When I got home I looked this
up on the Internet and found that a poll a few years ago asked if people said
Grace before eating. Most of those who
said ‘no’ commented that they were lucky to just have the whole family sit down
together to eat, let alone say grace. So it looks like saying Grace has become a
thing of the past. That may not be
surprising as those connected with religion are becoming fewer as each year
passes.
Grace before starting their meal. It
took me back to my childhood when one or two older members of the family did
say Grace. When I got home I looked this
up on the Internet and found that a poll a few years ago asked if people said
Grace before eating. Most of those who
said ‘no’ commented that they were lucky to just have the whole family sit down
together to eat, let alone say grace. So it looks like saying Grace has become a
thing of the past. That may not be
surprising as those connected with religion are becoming fewer as each year
passes.
But do we need
the whole family around the table before we can say Grace? It need not be of religious content we can
take thirty or so seconds contemplation before we eat. In this day and age most of us are rushing
about and those few quiet seconds may let our brain drop down a gear so we can
savour the taste of the food more than we would have done. .
People who do it tend to eat more slowly, aiding digestion,
Taking a few seconds to think how the food has
reached our plate. From the moment the seed was planted, the minute the animal
was born, all through the food chain process so you don’t starve and you enjoy
your meal. Making you appreciate what
you are eating and not to take it for granted or waste it.
reached our plate. From the moment the seed was planted, the minute the animal
was born, all through the food chain process so you don’t starve and you enjoy
your meal. Making you appreciate what
you are eating and not to take it for granted or waste it.
I
have always felt that Spiritualism should have a Harvest Service and the
produce donated could be given to local food banks. I am sure Spirit would be in favour of
this. Many of our grandparents relied on
their vegetable plot to supplement their meals.
I am sure our forefathers would
think of the Harvest
festival as a great idea especially if some of it came
from our own gardens.
from our own gardens.
Here
are some prayers from around the world with food being the theme…
are some prayers from around the world with food being the theme…
Buddhist Tradition–From Thich Nhat Hanh…
“The plate is filled with food. I am aware
that each morsel is the fruit of much hard work by those who produced it”.
that each morsel is the fruit of much hard work by those who produced it”.
Native
American Tradition…
American Tradition…
“Preparing to Eat Now
that I am about to eat, O Great Spirit, give my thanks to the beasts and birds
whom You have provided for my hunger; and pray deliver my sorrow that living
things must make a sacrifice for my comfort and well-being”.
that I am about to eat, O Great Spirit, give my thanks to the beasts and birds
whom You have provided for my hunger; and pray deliver my sorrow that living
things must make a sacrifice for my comfort and well-being”.
Islamic
Tradition… As we sit at table and
rejoice in the mercy and goodness of the one God, may the bonds of friendship
be strengthened, may our fellowship be a light in the darkness, and—most
importantly—may we remember that in opening ourselves to each other we open
ourselves to God”…
Tradition… As we sit at table and
rejoice in the mercy and goodness of the one God, may the bonds of friendship
be strengthened, may our fellowship be a light in the darkness, and—most
importantly—may we remember that in opening ourselves to each other we open
ourselves to God”…
Jewish
Tradition–Adapted from an Haggadah of Liberation…
Tradition–Adapted from an Haggadah of Liberation…
“We dedicate this meal
to our hopes and dreams for the future. We dream of a world not threatened by
destruction. We dream of a world in which all people are free to be themselves.
We dream of a world at peace”…
to our hopes and dreams for the future. We dream of a world not threatened by
destruction. We dream of a world in which all people are free to be themselves.
We dream of a world at peace”…
From
the Native American Iroquois Tradition…
the Native American Iroquois Tradition…
We return thanks to the corn, and to her sisters, the
beans and squashes, which give us life. We return thanks to the bushes and
trees, which provide us with fruit. We return thanks to the Great Spirit, in
who is embodied all goodness,
and who directs all things for the good of his children.
Buddhist
Tradition–From Thich Nhat Hanh
Tradition–From Thich Nhat Hanh
“With the first
mouthful, I promise to practice loving kindness. With the second, I promise to
help relieve the suffering of others. With the third, I promise to see others’
joy as my own. With the fourth, I promise to learn the way of non-attachment
and equanimity”…
mouthful, I promise to practice loving kindness. With the second, I promise to
help relieve the suffering of others. With the third, I promise to see others’
joy as my own. With the fourth, I promise to learn the way of non-attachment
and equanimity”…
Buddhist
Tradition–From Thich Nhat Hanh…
Tradition–From Thich Nhat Hanh…
“All
living things are struggling for life. May they all have enough food today”.
living things are struggling for life. May they all have enough food today”.
Sir Nicholas Winton.
In today’s a
celebratory mad-world we are forgetting the really special people who have
lived among us. Those who have risked or
given their lives in trying to help others or their country. Men and women on many occasions who’s heroic
acts will never be made public.
celebratory mad-world we are forgetting the really special people who have
lived among us. Those who have risked or
given their lives in trying to help others or their country. Men and women on many occasions who’s heroic
acts will never be made public.