Uncategorized – Page 11

Green Tau: issue 124

25th May 2026

Rivers of Spirit: Spirit of Rivers – a reflection

On the last day of the festival, the great day, while Jesus was standing there, he cried out, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me, and let the one who believes in me drink. As the scripture has said, ‘Out of the believer’s heart shall flow rivers of living water.’” Now he said this about the Spirit, which believers in him were to receive; for as yet there was no Spirit, because Jesus was not yet glorified. John 7:37-39

The above is one of the alternative readings given for Pentecost which thinks of the Spirit not as wind or fire, but as a river of water.

Last Friday I took part in a thought-provoking event at St John’s Waterloo entitled Rivers of Spirit: Spirit of Rivers – https://stjohnswaterloo.org/tag/rivers-of-life/

We began by going down on to the foreshore of the Thames where, like children, we looked at all the treasures on the little beach – shells and pebbles, smooth-worn glass, ends of clay pipes, rounded stubs of brick, sticks and pieces of bone. We sang and we prayed as, with increasing reverence, we were drawn to the sound and the movement of the river, to the ebbing-flowing tide – drawn to the Thames living presence.

From that reconnection with the river, we were more open to hear the wisdom of the afternoon’s speakers.

Bishop Martin himself quoted from the passage from John’s Gospel, and talked about the living nature of water through the example of the eel.

Eels are amazing creatures. They are laid as eggs in the Sargasso Sea from where they voyage by ocean currents some 6500km to reach Europe. During this first couple of years they develop from egg to glass eel. They leave the sea and swim inland up various rivers including the Thames, where they continue to develop becoming elvers and then yellow eels and finally silver eels – this can span from 5 to 20 years. Now they are mature enough to make the return journey to the Sargasso to begin the whole cycle again. Eels in the past were numerous in our rivers and a source of food for many (and not just humans). But due to the effects of climate change, pollution, loss of habitat including from obstacles such as weirs and dams, their numbers over the last 40 years have declined by a staggering 95-98%. (1)

God’s Spirit, like rivers of living water, is there to cleanse and refresh us. But what if we harden our hearts and do not seek forgiveness and renewal?

The first two speakers, Al Barrett and John White spoke about the importance of creating communities. Al Barrett is the vicar of the Hodge Hill Church in east Birmingham. John White is the founder of the Hazelnut Community and author of the Rooted in Rubble articles from which I have recently quoted.

Al spoke about creating ‘bumping places’ – places where parishioners from many and diverse backgrounds can meet and get to know and trust each other. He spoke how during Covid they ‘rediscovered’ the green places in the parish including the common. Commons have existed for hundreds of years as spaces designated for use by the community – the commoners – who would have rights to graze animals, gather firewood etc. Where Commons remain today they are often important as essential green spaces for local people and as essential habitats for wildlife.

And Al described how finally he managed to ‘discover’ the River Tame which was barricaded out of sight and inaccessible to the community through which it flowed.

John spoke about how the Hazelnut Community’s garden brings people together in the garden and in the gardening. Gardens root us and place us in a right relationship with creation.

Debbie Colvin described to us our place – our home – within the Thames basin which stretches from the Cotswolds to the estuary, from the Chilterns and northwards to the South Downs. Within this area rainwater drains down to the Thames, but not just via stream and rivers, but also percolating down into the strata deep below our feet where the water moves and buffers, hydrating the ground, feeding into springs and wells. A slow and measured process whereby rain falling on the hills of Reigate may take 10-20,000 years before reaching Trafalgar Square. (Prior to the 1930s the fountains in Trafalgar Square were fed by artesian wells (2)).

Paul Powlesland spoke about his life’s journey that finds him as a self appointed river guardian for the River Roding and as the founder of the River Roding Trust. His love and respect of this river sees him clearing rubbish, planting willow and Black Poplar saplings and defending the rights of the river and the communities that live nearby. Called to jury service, Paul made his oath not on a Bible but on the River Roding, making this river a sacred thing, a being worthy of worship. (3) Much of this river, the third longest in London, is degraded – desecrated – by sewage, rubbish and pollution. Paul’s approach is hands on and includes pressing the Thames Water Authority to do its job properly. (4)

Paul himself lives off grid on a narrow boat which means his life is intrinsically connected to that of the river and the environment. His awareness of the drought that we are currently facing, is measured by how much water remains in the rainwater that provides him with water.

What struck me about the issues raised by these speakers was –

how little value we, as society, place on water,
our lack of concern/ interest as to where our water comes from and
our lack of concern as to whether it will be there in sufficient quantity in the future (humankind is extracting fresh water at a faster rate than the rate at which natural processes allow for replenishment (5))
our lack of concern for the health and wellbeing of our rivers – and not just our rivers, but the springs and aquifers from which they come, and
our lack of concern for the other living communities that depend upon rivers and the river environment.

At the same time, the speakers brought to mind way we might change our relationship with rivers:

looking at / treating rivers as living needs and rights, and
as beings that give generously of themselves to our benefit, and further,
that maybe we should treat rivers as sacred –
and not just rivers, but all water. In the past wells were often considered as holy places so why not also taps and reservoirs today?

And from this came thoughts about what we might do as local communities and as churches.

Create a map that shows local rivers, streams and wells.
Arrange pilgrimages to walk along or between these
To spend time in prayer and celebration in these places, to wonder and to rejoice.
Work out – maybe add to the map – where our drinking water comes from, and where it goes when we have used it
Find about local riverine habitats and whether they are in good or declining health.
To engage with – or establish – means of safeguarding and caring for wellbeing of your local river/ stream etc – and allowing yourselves to benefit from its contribution to your wellbeing.
Identify our local water sources as sacred.
Arrange water blessings for local rivers, streams and wells and wells
Provide blessings for taps, drains and water butts
Encourage people to value water – to treat it as sacred and not as something to be consumed rashly or without consideration
Encourage people to think about being less wasteful in the use of water. At current levels of consumption, we are likely by 2055 to see a shortage of 5 billion litres per day (6)
Encourage people to be aware of water cycles – seasonal changes, periods of rainfall and periods of droughts, of tidal cycles where appropriate.
Encourage people to do even small scale gardening (cress seeds grown on blotting paper) to appreciate the importance of water in keeping plants – and therefore us too – alive.

Feast of Pentecost

24th May 2026

Pentecost feels like a time of great anticipation, excitment, and new opportunities. At Pentecost we should expect to be surprised!

Echoing the words of the prophet Joel, Pentecost is a time to ask each other ‘What dreams do you have? What is you vision for the future?

Sometimes it feels as if all we want for the future is for things to continue as they are – that we can keep on with life as it is: the same type of shops in the high street, the same sorts of food for our meals, the same pattern of holidays – sun or snow in winter, sun and beaches in summer etc. Or maybe this is only so for those of us whose lives already feel comfortable.

Or maybe we do want a different future but can’t imagine how it could become a reality. Maybe we dream of a world where everyone has enough to eat, where everyone has the safety and comfort of a home, where the health service delivers equally to all, where everyone can access a good education, where war is no more and know one lives in fear of violence.

Maybe our vision for the future is smaller, more local. A vision of wildlife friendly green space. A friendly cafe where friends and strangers can meet and chat. A church roof covered with solar panels. A community vegetable patch.

To have a vision or a dream may lead to a prophetic role as God urges us to speak out, to inspire others, to draw out the skills and resources that will make the dream a reality.

Sometimes God summons us to take on a prophetic role that calls us to challenge those who say that a different future is impossible, to challenge those who cling to the status quo. God may gives us different ways of expressing that message – different tongues mean that more people will hear the message in the language or medium that they are most attuned to.

In terms of action how do we have agency?

Talking with and enthusing others to share the vision: the more who are committed to effecting change methods more likely it will happen. Share it with your church – perhaps your vision could be part of your church’s Mission Action Plan.

Talking with and/ or writing to people in positions of power and authority – such as your MP, your local councillor, the CEO of relevant businesses etc.

Making changes in your own lifestyle which can influence others to do the same and be a means of exerting consumer power.

Take practical action. If you want less litter, do a litter pick. If you want more trees, plant some.

Support other groups who similar aims. Make donations to relevant causes.

What ever the vision, what ever the message, those inspired by God’s Spirit will be enthused and enliven by that same Spirit. With all our differences, with our different modes of communication, with the different focus of our dream, if we can come together and work together like the parts of a body, we will be effective agents of growth in God’s kingdom here on Earth.

Acts 2:1-21

When the day of Pentecost had come, the disciples were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.

Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. Amazed and astonished, they asked, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs– in our own languages we hear them speaking about God’s deeds of power.” All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” But others sneered and said, “They are filled with new wine.”

But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, “Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o’clock in the morning. No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:

`In the last days it will be, God declares,

that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh,
and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,

and your young men shall see visions,
and your old men shall dream dreams.

Even upon my slaves, both men and women,
in those days I will pour out my Spirit;
and they shall prophesy.

And I will show portents in the heaven above
and signs on the earth below,
blood, and fire, and smoky mist.

The sun shall be turned to darkness
and the moon to blood,
before the coming of the Lord’s great and glorious day.

Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’ “

Psalm 104:25-35, 37

25 O Lord, how manifold are your works! *
in wisdom you have made them all;
the earth is full of your creatures.

26 Yonder is the great and wide sea
with its living things too many to number, *
creatures both small and great.

27 There move the ships,
and there is that Leviathan, *
which you have made for the sport of it.

28 All of them look to you *
to give them their food in due season.

29 You give it to them; they gather it; *
you open your hand, and they are filled with good things.

30 You hide your face, and they are terrified; *
you take away their breath,
and they die and return to their dust.

31 You send forth your Spirit, and they are created; *
and so you renew the face of the earth.

32 May the glory of the Lord endure for ever; *
may the Lord rejoice in all his works.

33 He looks at the earth and it trembles; *
he touches the mountains and they smoke.

34 I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; *
I will praise my God while I have my being.

35 May these words of mine please him; *
I will rejoice in the Lord.

37 Bless the Lord, O my soul. *
Hallelujah!

1 Corinthians 12:3b-13

No one can say “Jesus is Lord” except by the Holy Spirit. Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. To one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the discernment of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are activated by one and the same Spirit, who allots to each one individually just as the Spirit chooses.

For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in the one Spirit we were all baptised into one body– Jews or Greeks, slaves or free– and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.

John 20:19-23

When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”

Prayers for Pentecost

23rd May 2026

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 2 Corinthians 3:17

Holy Spirit, you are the breath of life:

reinvigorate us with new growth.

Holy Spirit, you are the inspiration for knowledge:

refresh us with your wisdom.

Holy Spirit, you are the wind of change:

redirect us to the right path.

And let this be to the glory of the kingdom of God.

A reading from Isaiah 32:14 -17 (The Message)

The royal palace is deserted,
    the bustling city quiet as a morgue,
The emptied parks and playgrounds
    taken over by wild animals,
    delighted with their new home.

Yes, weep and grieve until the Spirit is poured
    down on us from above
And the badlands desert grows crops
    and the fertile fields become forests.
Justice will move into the badlands desert.
    Right will build a home in the fertile field.
And where there’s Right, there’ll be Peace
    and the progeny of Right: quiet lives and endless trust.
My people will live in a peaceful neighbourhood—
    in safe houses, in quiet gardens.
The forest of your pride will be clear-cut,
    the city showing off your power levelled.
But you will enjoy a fortunate life,
    planting well-watered fields and gardens,
    with your farm animals grazing freely.

Pentecost Spirit,

taking breath over creation,

drawing life out of chaos.