Love Gives.

How can we ‘Love without limits’?

How do we follow Jesus’ example in the way he loved his neighbours, his friends, his enemies? It’s such an attractive part of Jesus’ life that no matter what faith standpoint you’re coming from, the way Jesus related to people with compassion and respect and love is something to be admired.

And I want to pay particular attention to the theme and aspect of giving in the love-life of Jesus. What role does giving play in loving without limits, without conditions, without prejudice.

A Prayer.

In light of the earthquake and tsunami that have affected many people in Japan and other pacific regions countries, let us pray.

If you want to use this prayer, either personally, in churches or other groups, I hope you find it useful and helpful.

Jimmy

Lord Jesus, Prince of peace, we draw near to you and pray.
As you intercede for us before the throne, so we come on behalf of those in need.
You calmed the raging storm, and so we ask you to still the restless hearts of those in pain.
Bring your peace to troubled places.
Jesus Christ, who calmed the wind and storm,
Hear our prayer and bring your calm amidst chaos.

Holy Spirit, our helper and our comforter, we draw near to you and pray.
As you intercede for us with groans that words cannot explain, so we pray on behalf of those in need.
You are our support and comfort, bringing peace beyond our understanding and so we ask you to be the steadfast truth in the minds of those in shock
Bring your comfort in confusion and commotion.
Holy Spirit, our comforter and helper,
Hear our prayer and bring your calm amidst chaos.

Father God, creator of heaven and earth, we draw near to you and pray.
We intercede in Christ Jesus, and by the Holy Spirit and pray on behalf of those in need.
Your ways are higher than ours and your wisdom infinitely greater. And so we ask you to give wisdom to those in difficulty and mercy to those who hurt.
Let your hope emerge from the debris of tragedy.
Father God, maker of heaven and earth,
Hear our prayer and bring your calm amidst chaos.
Lord, have mercy.
Amen

Three

"You're a worship leader?" he said in a broad Northern Irish accent.
"Yeah, yeah, I have been for a while. Haven't led for a bit though." I replied, slightly hesistantly.
"That's fantastic, mate. Well, would you'ze fancy leading here one Sunday?"
"Yeah, that'd be great."
I swapped contact details with the Irishman, with his fair hair and funny little 'soul-patch' beard perched just below his bottom lip, and thought nothing more of it as he walked away. Within minutes he was back.
"Jimmy, mate, I've managed to double-book myself for next weekend. I don't suppose there's the slighest chance you might be free to lead the worship here would you?"

I was a vistor. My friend was drumming in the band. Now, I was being asked to lead worship at a church I barely knew but for some unkown reason I agreed to cover.
The following week, with a makeshift band I led the songs. After the service I was asked if I was going to the meeting on Tuesday. It turned out that the worship leaders were meeting the following Tuesday and, seeing as I was now one of the worship leaders, it made sense that I was there.

And I've been here ever since.

Previously, I'd been beaten up and cut deep by the last church I was involved in; a church where I didn't fit. It was arguably the most painful experience of my life. I was totally disillusioned with church. How could Christian's claim to follow Jesus and yet be so narrow minded, so cruel, so heartless? I was never angry at God because he hadn't done anything wrong. But I was pretty much done with Church... until that conversation with Andy Flan on the stage at Church.co.uk three years ago; triggering a chain of events that saw me go from visitor to part of the family within the space of a week . Old wounds were gradually healed here. Forgiveness was allowed to brew here. People here quickly became my friends and helped to pick me up, dust me down and help me get going again.

I've been part of CCU for three years now and as my role here has developed, from visitor, to worship leader, to student on placement, speaker, running a small group, helping co-ordinate the worship team, being invited onto the Church Leadership team, being employed to develop the music and arts work... all the way along I've never stopped being grateful for the way this church played such a part in my recovery. Being part of the leadership of this church is a real privilege for me and every day I try and give something back to the community that gave so much to me.

Thank you Church.co.uk. And here's to the next chapter...

New Songs

At the end of last year I posted lyrics to two new songs I had written. I now post what those lyrics should sound like. Enjoy.

 

 'You Say' - Jimmy Orr © 2010

'This is the Church' - Jimmy Orr © 2010

Worship Together?

We seem to be living in a church culture where most people's definition and understanding of what worship is all about would probably involve something to do with singing and music. Often in church settings when we use the word 'worship' we actually mean 'music'. The worship leader is actually the music leader. "Let's move into a time of worship" acutally means "let's start singing".

Now, I'm not for one second suggesting that music and singing has no place in worship. Firstly, I'm a musician; I love music and I love God and I love the church so the more I can combine the three the better. But we need to remember that worship is so much more than only singing or music. And I'm not talking about the whole "Worship-is-a-lifestyle" thing either. I mean within our corporate gatherings, when a bunch of Christians get together to worship God - Father, Son and Holy Spirit, for who he is and what he's done for us, worship means more than music. Worship and Singing are not words that are interchangeable.

"When you Pray..."

Prayer. We've all done it at one time or another. Often it's at a point of crisis or desperation when all else has failed or when a situation is totally out of our control. At other times it's in moments of extreme emotion - an outburst of joy or excitement or a cry of grief or heartbreak or confusion. Sometimes it's routine, sometimes it's spontaneous. Sometimes it's read from a set book, sometimes it's made up on the spot, off the cuff, out of the moment.

The one common thread through it all is that prayer is communication with God. In fact, that's the dictionary definition of Prayer: the act of communication with a deity.

To some, that definition doesn't come as much of a surprise, and maybe you were hoping for a more detailed and in depth exposition of what prayer is, but I think that there is a beauty in that simplicity...Prayer is communicating with God.

Christmas Invitation. (A Liturgy)

O come all you faithful, all you sceptics, all you who believe and you who doubt.
Come and see the baby in a manger who is born a King.
We are here to see the Christ Child.

Come like the shepherds; just as we are. Invited by the heavens to share in the mystery -
The mystery of the Word become flesh and pleased to dwell among us.
We are here just as we are.
We are here to see the Christ Child

Come like the wise men; driven by intrigued and wonder.
Determined to find what they are looking for and awestruck when then do
We are here to find what we are looking for.
We are here to see the Christ Child

O Come all you faithful. Come in wonder and intrigue; in humility and awe
We are here to see the Child; Christ the Lord.