03/09/2020
A reflection and prayer to start the day with Rev Dr Janet Unsworth
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PRAYER FOR THE DAY - Script - Thursday 3rd September
Good morning
Some years ago I attended a family concert at which the Belfast composer, Neil Martin, was playing.
He captivated me with his explanation of one of the pieces being played.
One day 听a friend of his emailed him an awesome photograph taken from the Columbia Space Shuttle.
听
It showed night creeping across the corner of the globe.
North Africa and Southern Europe were in darkness and the city lights were visible.
And looking northwards, Ireland was enjoying what must have been a stunning sunset.
For the musician it offered a surreal suspension of reality and time.
Sadly it was only a few days later that the Columbia from which the photo[PB1]听 had been taken, disintegrated 听on re-entry into the earth鈥檚 atmosphere.
The juxtaposition of the tragedy and the photograph inspired Neil to later write that piece of music - A Space for dreaming. 听听听
听
Some time later another friend put him in touch with an astronaut who was a flautist who was serving in the International Space Station.
He sent her the mp3 track of his piece to see what she thought of it.
It thrilled him to think that as he was polishing his composition,
another musician was hearing his music in space,
music inspired by that picture 鈥� so beautiful yet also so personally tragic for[PB2]听 the person behind the camera - of the heavens and the earth.
听
In Psalm 19, the Psalmist writes that 鈥淭he heavens are telling the glory of the Lord.鈥�
But he goes on to speak of the connection between heaven and earth.
What is done on earth and what is revealed in the heavens 鈥�
all of God鈥檚 creation combines with one voice to declare the glory of God.
听
Lord, may our words and our actions today reflect your glory revealed in heaven and on earth. May we catch glimpses of your Spirit at work and do our part to enable your Kingdom to come here on earth. 听AMEN
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听[PB1]I think this sharpens the sense?
听[PB2]These are both just non essential thoughts from me, which I hope serve to make better sense of the story if there鈥檚 time for the extra words.
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