URC Daily Devotion for 13 September 2025

Notes from Small Islands 12: Weaving Threads 
 
Proverbs 31: 10 – 22
 
She is far more precious than jewels.
The heart of her husband trusts in her,
    and he will have no lack of gain.
She does him good, and not harm,
    all the days of her life.
She seeks wool and flax,
    and works with willing hands.
She is like the ships of the merchant,
    she brings her food from far away.
She rises while it is still night
    and provides food for her household
    and tasks for her servant-girls.
She considers a field and buys it;
    with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.
She girds herself with strength,
    and makes her arms strong.
She perceives that her merchandise is profitable.
    Her lamp does not go out at night.
She puts her hands to the distaff,
    and her hands hold the spindle.
She opens her hand to the poor,
    and reaches out her hands to the needy.
She is not afraid for her household when it snows,
    for all her household are clothed in crimson.
She makes herself coverings;
    her clothing is fine linen and purple.
 
Reflection
 
Today’s reading sounds rather like the qualities that Barbara and Tom Good had in the 1970s sitcom The Good Life: these seem useful skills for spouses of either sex.  
 
Island communities are industrious; we even call our agricultural shows “industrial shows”. The Northern and Western Isles have weavers, potters, jewellers, wood turners, spinners, knitters, and an amazingly diverse range of artists and musicians.  Some are folk who have come to live here, many are islanders reviving old arts and crafts, displaying amazing skill; some crafts are historic – Fair Isle patterns are said to date back to the Armada when shipwrecked Spaniards settled there and on other Shetland isles.    Traditional music finds new life in modern forms which blend in rock-like rhythm; some contemporary bands from West Coast isles have helped in maintaining interest in Gaelic.  The industriousness of island artists, crafters, and musicians is not just to turn a profit but to create work of great beauty and ingenuity. 
 
The Church has always been a sponsor and promoter of art; whether that’s beautiful icons or other paintings, sculpture or, in the Reformed tradition, the beauty of simple unadorned buildings.  The Church has always commissioned music for liturgical words, Psalms, or hymns.  Calvin’s Geneva produced tunes for Psalms which are still sung; the Plainsong of earlier centuries still resonantes with contemporary people alongside newer forms of music.  Art and craft lift the spirits, provide a form of what is now called mindfulness – deep concentration with a purpose – and glorify God.  An insight of the Reformation was that God could be honoured in a well crafted piece of furniture as much, or maybe even more so, than in an icon or religious painting.  So as we leave our voyage around the isles, how might you use your art, craft, and music to glorify God in your setting?    Islander or mainlander, how might art, music, craft, and industriousness lift your spirits and honour God?  
 
For Reflection and Prayer
 
Summoned by the God who made us 
rich in our diversity, 
gathered in the name of Jesus, 
richer still in unity:
 
Let us bring the gifts that differ and, 
in splendid, varied ways, 
sing a new Church into being, 
one in faith and love and praise.
 
Bring the hopes of ev’ry nation; 
bring the art of ev’ry race. 
Weave a song of peace and justice;
let it sound through time and space. 
 
 © 1993 Sr Delores Dufner (published by OCP)