Welcome to

Ben Rhydding
Methodist Church

The Season of Epiphany

From the large jug, drink the wine of Unity,

So that from your heart you can wash away the futility of life's grief.

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But like this large jug, still keep the heart expansive.

Why would you want to  keep the heart captive, like an unopened bottle of wine?

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With your mouth full of wine, you are selfless

And will never boast of your own abilities again.

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Be like the humble stone at your feet rather than striving to be like a Sublime cloud:

the more you mix colours of deceit, the more colourless your ragged coat will get.

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Connect the heart to the wine, so that it has body,

Then cut off the neck of hypocrisy and piety of this new man.

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Be like Hafiz: get up and make an effort. Don't lie around like a bum.

He who throws himself at the Beloved's feet is like a workhorse

and will be rewarded with boundless pastures and eternal rest.

                                                                                                  Hafiz

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(Note for those like me who know little of this ancient Arabic poetry:

wine is regularly used as the symbol of love of the divine)

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God be in my head, and in my understanding;

God be in mine eyes, and in my looking;

God be in my mouth, and in my speaking;

God be in my heart, and in my thinking;

God be at mine end and at my departing.

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