Chipping Away At Churchianity

2011-12-15T15:58:00.002Z

Grant, my husband has just written this Christmas round robin letter: thought you may like to read it...

Well what a year of magic and wonder 2011 has been...
Tom is nearly 12 now and has continued to progress academically this year. He constantly amazes his fellow professors at Cambridge University with his intuition in the finer points of Eastern European fiscal law. He really enjoyed conducting the BBC Symphony Orchestra in the Royal Albert Hall in the summer and intends to spend this Holiday transcribing 'War and Peace' into Arabic and Cantonese.
Gill had a very busy year. In between her work as Archbishop of Greenland and Senior Partner of Apple (Europe), she introduced a line of children's novels and hand made active-wear. She remains occupied with Tom and has introduced him to Yoga and hang gliding this year which will come in useful on their expedition up Everest next summer. We are particularly proud of Mum in her role as a fly-half representing England in the Women’s Rugby World Cup.
Grant was immersed with his Graduate School studies, and managed to co-author a paper on Multidimensional Customer Attribute Analysis by Conjoint Survey and accept a Nobel Prize for his discoveries in Quantum Physics. We are proud of his work serving on the Board of Directors of IBM, Coca-Cola, and Walt Disney. Dad was also active with Tom teaching him Classical Ballet and helping to lower his golf handicap to 5.
We were able to squeeze a little travelling in this year. We started in Aspen, went to Belarus, the Congo, Denmark, Ethiopia, the Falklands, Greenland, Holland, Italy, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Venezuela, and Zaire. Our trip sailing our new boat around the world was a great experience for Tom; we all learned to communicate with Dolphins and discovered a new region of deep water volcanoes which are now named after us in recognition of our services to marine science.
Whisper and Mittens, our cats, learned to speak Ancient Hebrew which will make reading the Old Testament so much more meaningful for them.
Christmas will be a particularly happy time for us as we have just heard that Grant’s mother has been given a Royal Pardon by the King of Thailand, and will be released by February. Apparently, she thought the powder the man gave her at the airport in July was icing sugar.
Other than that, it’s been a very quiet year.
So from our household to yours, all the blessings of the season and may your New Year be prosperous.
P.S. We found out yesterday that we won the Euromillions Lottery, and we didn’t even know we had entered!
Yours in great love and humility,

Grant, Gill and Tom

2011-11-28T20:23:00.001Z

A walk through a local village and in to the countryside enacting the Nativity Story using drama, carols and Bible readings. We will encounter a fierce roman Soldier, see Mary and Joseph turned away from the inn and then meet three shepherds as they huddle around a meagre fire and discuss the coming of the Messiah who will change everything. We will rejoice with the Angels and marvel with the Kings as they speak of his coming. Finally we gather together in the barn to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, the only Son of the living God.

2011-11-15T17:29:00.002Z

Poppies and Crosses

The significance of the poppy as a lasting memorial symbol to the fallen was realised by the Canadian surgeon John McCrae in his poem ‘In Flanders Fields’. The poppy came to represent the incredible sacrifice made many young men of the time and quickly became a lasting memorial to those who died in war of any kind. Here are a few lines from the poem:

‘In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.’

When fighting ceased in 1918 the mud of the battlefields was allowed to rest and nature began to be restored. Before long the poppies grew over the battered earth. The colour of red reminded people of the extreme bloodshed and the sacrifice made by millions of soldiers. And so the poppy became the symbol of sacrifice.
But that poem also mentions another symbol: ‘Between the crosses, row on row’.

This refers of course to the crosses which marked the graves of the men who died, who laid down their lives for their families, friends and countrymen. But the use of a cross has a greater significance because those crosses are of course the Cross of Jesus.
One of Jesus great sayings was: ‘Greater love hath no man than this; that he lay down his life for his friends’ (John 15:13).
When Jesus died on the cross to pay the price for our sin, he did exactly that for you and for me. He laid down his life for us - his friends. Quite an amazing thought that we can call ourselves friends of the living God...
Many people have benefitted from these two great symbols of sacrifice – the Poppy and the Cross. Both brought freedom. The sacrifice which the poppy represents brought freedom to Europe from dictators such as Hitler and Mussolini. But the cross brings us an even greater freedom – a release from sin and death which brings us into a loving friendship with God.

2011-10-12T14:05:00.000+01:00

I'm not sure that the above cartoon is really the way forward for our churches. However, I really love this passage from 1 Peter as a description of how church should be. If it was always like this, then it really would be brilliant! I am just glad that I get glimpses of this on occasion, through the actions of some very special people.

‎1 Peter: 4: 7b-11

Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.

It's all there: clear mindedness, prayer, love, forebearance, hospitality, gifts, service and the word of God. Peter places God firmly at the centre of it all...For me, this is church as it should be, whatever worship style we choose to wrap it up in.

Epic!!

2011-10-10T12:03:00.000+01:00

Little Miss Busy...A week in the Life of a C of E curate.

Before I begin I need to confess that I stole this idea from a fellow curate because it was really interesting to read what filled her week last week: see here. Thanks Karen.

MONDAY: Started work about 8.30am, answered emails, phone calls and then prepared 'All Age Worship' for Sunday. Attended a wonderful women clergy lunch with our Dean of Women, Libby Lane, our Archdeacon, Michael Gilbertson and our Suffragan Bishop, Keith Sinclair. It was really useful to talk formally about the issues facing women in the church and informally with one another. I left about 3.45pm and went straight off to pick up my son from his school choir practice. In the evening I attended PCC where much was discused and some very positive decisions made.

TUESDAY: I had to travel down to London by train to attend an AWESOME committee meeting. I left at 8.30am and got into Euston around 11.30. I made my way to Pimlico where our chair, Liz has her vicarage. We had a lovely lunch together and then continued with our meeting. It was fantastic to meet with such a wonderful group of women, all evangelical theologically and all faithfully following God as ordained ministers. Much was discussed and I realised how much I really enjoy this link to the wider church and the issues under scrutiny at the moment. It is a valuable connection and one I really treasure. Got home about 10.30pm...a long but rewarding day.

WEDNESDAY: I was relieved to discover via an email that it was the Methodist Ministers turn to take communion at the local nursing home. I enjoy going in usually but had so much on this week that any extra space for preparation was very useful. I picked up a message inviting me to go and speak at the local Methodist churches fellowship meeting in November. I prepared Housegroup, phoned a few people and answered emails. I had to take our two kittens for their second set of jabs at pm and then began my sermon for Sunday evening. Took some time out when my son got in from school because in the evening I was going out again, this time to Housegroup. I don't seem to be seeing very much of my family this week; will make up for it at the weekend I hope.

THURSDAY: Presided at 10am Communion and stayed to have coffee afterwards. Then went to the Vicarage for a supervision meeting with my incumbent. In the afternoon I did some more sermon preparation, this time for the morning service and got the intercessions ready. The evening was spent at the Alpha meal where we were very pleased to welcome about 20 people. It went well and some good first introductions were made. The venue at Delamere park is proving to be a good one.

FRIDAY: Back to my previous place of work, The Grange Senior School, Hartford, to take their Harvest assembly. The powerpoint worked and it all seemed to go well. Enjoyed seeing pupils and staff again. The went to visit a member of housegroup who has had an operation to take her a card and some flowers from the group. Came home and did some more preparation for Sunday before seeing a friend for an hour. In the evening took Tom to Youth Group and stayed to do tuck shop and help out with general games etc. Then on to the local village hall for a Church organised Quiz night and fish supper. Thanks to some very clever team members (not me) we won! Phew...Fridays aren't usually this packed!

SATURDAY: I took this as a complete day off as I was supposed to have one on Monday but didn't in the end due to other committments. Was great to chill out with the family and do very little after such a busy week.

SUNDAY: Busy Sabbath!!! 9.30am - CW Communion, lead and preach. 11.15 - All Age: whole thing, 6.30pm - BCP Evening prayer: whole thing. All services went fine although we were down on numbers at 9.30am. A lot of our regulars were away I think. Had fun at the 'All Age' with the theme 'Taste and see that the Lord is good'. Nap in the afternoon, needed the recharge! Got home from the evening service about 8pm to find I had a delicious Indian take away waiting and a glass or two of wine. A lovely end to a good but busier than usual 'week in the life of this curate'.

2011-08-28T21:54:00.003+01:00

BURNING COALS

My husband today made what I thought was an excellent observation in the form of an analogy. We were driving back from church and he was congratulating me on my sermon (which was nice). He said that I'd got the balance exactly right between encouragement and challenge. Then came the analogy...

If the church is a pile of burning coals then to just pile more and more coals on (AKA endless encouragement in the form of platitudes) would choke it and cause it to die. If on the other hand one merely poked at the fire(AKA challenge and criticism) then it would burn itself out very quickly and also die. BUT, by feeding a fire and poking it sometimes when needed to keep it alive, the fire stays alight and has the potential to grow.

I'm going to remember that...a healthy church needs both encouragement and challenge. Too much of one and not enough of the other makes the coals go out...

Inspired! Thanks Grant!

2011-08-07T12:12:00.002+01:00

Encouragement.

Everyone needs to be encouraged...and some people are so very good at it. I am blessed with some lovely encouragers at church, people who love me for who I am and tell me when I get it right...those who appreciate my gifts and encourage me to use them all the more. I thank God for them and pray that sometimes I can be just a little bit like them.

The Bible lists encouragement as a spiritual gift: Romans 12:6-8

'We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement. if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.'

It is up there with preaching, teaching and leading...and yet so often it is the more up front gifts whcih are celebrated and talked about. This I think is a big mistake. without the encouragers in the church many would go under, may succomb to those who sadly seem to see their mission as discouragers. It is the encouragers who keep the love of God at the forefront, who make us feel enthusiastic and apprecated, who make us want to serve.

My prayer is that encouragement would be seen as a vital ministry, an essential part of the building up of the body of Christ and a truly mighty gift which when used correctly will be a force for good in the church of God.

2011-07-17T14:52:00.001+01:00

Come Explore the More from Jeff D. Johnson on Vimeo.

2011-02-08T17:59:00.003Z

A study of the Apostle Peter

WANTED:
A solid yet imaginative leader for a disparate group of renegrades. The position: to turn them into a force for good which will shake the known world. A learned yet grounded visionary with staying power is needed for this important position who knows the mind of God and can convey it to others…prayerfully, powerfully and accurately. Applications are being received for an immediate start after Easter AD33.
At first glance….Peter wasn’t exactly a great prospect…
It could be said that his CV had some rather obvious “gaps” in it. In Acts 4 he is described as unschooled or uneducated. Consequently he was a fisherman, an ordinary every day profession, nothing special or especially religious. He was prone to break his word and make promises that he didn’t keep. When he cut off the servant’s ear in John 18:10 we see a quick temperedness - an impetuous and impulsive side to his character which showed itself at other points in the gospels. Neither could he always control his tongue, cursing those who accused him of being a follower of Jesus and lying to get out of this potentially dangerous situation. It could therefore be leveled at him that he was also showing cowardice here and when he hid away with the other disciples after Jesus arrest…
As I said, on paper it doesn’t look great…at first glance anyway…
So why was it that Jesus chose him to lead the early church, what was it about his character which made him the right man for the job?
At Pentecost following the resurrection of Christ, there was Peter—boldly preaching the first sermon with his fellow apostles. However, it didn’t stop there. The man who fled for his life when he was identified as a disciple of Jesus was the very same man who, despite the threat of imprisonment, fearlessly proclaimed that Jesus was risen to those who could easily have had him arrested.
When the counsel commanded him not to speak or teach in the name of Jesus, this once reluctant disciple replied, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard” (cf. Acts 5:29).
So how can we account for this incredible transformation? How did this ordinary Galilean fisherman become a seemingly fearless and notable force for God? How did he go from catching fish to catching men? How did this uneducated man with an unsubmissive personality and an opinionated knack of putting his foot in it, become a rock-like leader—a great preacher and in every sense the dominant figure in the first twelve chapters of Acts?
Very simply, he realized who Jesus really was. He encountered the risen Christ and it was as if everything he had heard and seen and experienced over the three years of Jesus ministry fell into place.
Peter says in his own first epistle, verse 3-4:
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade.”
A new hope, a new birth..a new start...
But the journey to great leader and preacher wasn’t an easy one. Jesus said ‘follow me’ three years earlier. Peter’s impulsive nature was a good thing on that occasion…he did exactly that…he followed him. That trust paid off, that lack of concern for the things which could have dragged him back was an advantage. It set him on the road to a new life which would be fulfilled after Jesus death and resurrection.
So what can we take from this?
1. No matter what your previous background or your present circumstances, God can use you in his service. Like St Peter, our faults can be molded and fashioned into virtues. Weakness can become strength. As Jesus himself promised, “Mustard-seed faith” can be enhanced to move mountains.
2. It takes time to become the person Jesus wants you to become. In 1 Peter 2:2 Peter talks of growing up into salvation. No one is shaped into a mature follower of Christ overnight. Peter certainly wasn’t. In fact, approximately twenty years into his ministry he still had unresolved issues around his attitudes to the Gentiles. Whenever the Jews came to visit, Peter only ate with the Jews. However, when the Jews went home, he changed his practice and ate with Gentile Christians. Eight-to-ten years later it took a vision from heaven to convince him that God, in fact, accepted all men—including Gentiles—into the faith
3. Jesus seeks a willing spirit. Peter’s problem wasn’t his lack of zeal; it was how he employed this quality that often got him into trouble. Sometimes we can see a trait in a negative light, but look at it from another angle and we see it entirely differently. Impulsiveness, outspokenness and quick temperedness when someone you love is threatened can become devotion, determination and passion when it is moulded by the Holy spirit and directed correctly. Once Peter came to terms with the concept that Jesus was risen, his fervency was channeled in a very constructive and powerful way towards leadership and the creation of the early church.
From Peter we can learn that God sees beyond what we are to what we can become. We may look at our lives and think they seem unimpressive or lacking in potential. We may see faults in our characters, or past failures, we may see a lack of understanding or admit that we have been unwilling to follow Christ when things got difficult. But Jesus looks at us and instead of our failings he sees our full potential. I wonder then, what does he see in you?

2010-11-05T19:03:00.002Z

Apologies for my silence. This has been caused by the sheer busyness of life as a curate in a three parish benefice and not through lack of interest.

It is sufficient to say that I am loving my curacy and can't quite believe that I get to do this job every day. The work is varied and exciting, the people lovely and supportive and the surrounding are beautiful.

However, being a deacon is most definitely not just a 'job'; it is a calling. All of the stuff I wrestled with during discernment about 'being' and not just 'doing' is becoming clearer and is making more sense every day.

The fact is that as an Ordained person, you are there to 'be there' for people. You are there to help them to develop in their relationship with God and you are there to help them pick up the pieces when things go wrong. Sometimes it is enough to just be at an event, to show your presence. At other times we are called to celebrate and rejoice with those we meet. Sometimes it is necessary to be present prayerfully, physically and verbally at the most difficult and emotional times such as when a loved one has died. These can be both the most special times and in a way the most awkward, just because in our British culture one would normally not gate-crash into peoples lives as a stranger at such a time. This is also why it is such a privilege; to be welcomed with open arms by strangers and given the opportunity to minister to them at such a turning point in their experience.

Of course Jesus is our blueprint. He shows us how to just 'be'. That doesn't mean he didn't 'do' anything, but he was a presence, a light and a pointer to the Father and his love. Jesus was available to others...sometimes it was enough for him just to be there, at others he made the celebration even more exciting - like at the wedding in Cana. At other times he went out of his way to actively teach the people about God and at others he became involved with the most private and painful moments in the lives of those who would let him.

More and more I am aware that he is my Lord, my role model, my friend....I want to be like him. I have a long, long way to go, but I hope that I continue to love the calling he has given me, the people he has sent me to and that I can be a help to those I serve.

2010-08-01T08:43:00.002+01:00

I thought I'd better update my blog as the last few weeks have been very busy. I have started my curacy and am really enjoying it so far. I love the variety of what I am doing, the people I am meeting and the new challenges which are being thrown my way.
It is no secret that I love to be busy, I love to be around people socialising and having fun and also to talk about God and how he works in individuals lives. Sharing spiritual insight with others is one of the main ways in which I grow.

However, as we are now into the school summer holidays, things have gone fairly quiet. Less services, less events, less stuff to DO. Whilst I am really looking forward to the inevitable busyness that September will bring I am becoming aware that I need to use this time to connect more closely with God, to establish greater discipline in my one to one time with him and to pray for the needs of the parish...
This is what I need to Do..it is also what I need to BE...a person of prayer.

Please pray that I will be able to focus and develop spiritually over the coming months...that God will fully equip me to take on whatever he has in store.

2010-07-24T12:14:00.003+01:00

I love this Blog...
It has shades of some of the more fundamentalist of Adrian Plass characters and is often scarily accurate!

2010-06-30T20:59:00.004+01:00

I am off on retreat tomorrow. The next time I blog I will be a Deacon...which for me is a scary yet exciting thought. I'm not going to say much more here and now, just that I would value your prayers both over the next few days and in the weeks to come. When God takes control of your life my advice is to hang on tight, because you're in for a rollercoaster ride which is like nothing else you have ever experienced before!! But the upside is...the view from the top is spectacular...

2010-06-22T08:03:00.002+01:00

Less than two weeks now and I will be sporting a dog collar... The last couple of weeks have continued to be lovely with so many good wishes from friends and aquaintances. I don't think I have ever had so many parties before.. it has all been quite overwhelming. To put the icing on the cake, all those being ordained this year were invited to Lambeth Palace to mee tthe Archbishop of Canterbury. We had a wonderful, weekend of fun, friendship and thoroughly enjoyed our time at Lambeth...Some of us are pictured above in the gardens...Thanks Rowan!

A week on Thursday I go on my pre ordination retreat. We are fortunate enough to have David Runcorn as retreat leader, whose books have been used on the course and who I am told is very good. It is all very exciting.

But am I ready for this? Well; my robes are bought and hanging in the wardrobe, my course is finished and I have passed, I am assigned to a church as curate...but all of these things are outward trappings of what is actually an inner less tangible thing. Ministry is all about my strong vocation, calling and very necessary equipping by God. I need so much help to do this but I know that because He has called me to it, He will provide all I need.

The whole thing is quite unreal and rather mind blowing..Why me? I still wake up and pinch myself sometimes...

If you are reading this, please pray for me...I have come to realise that prayer will be vital to my ministry if I am to keep going, both my own prayer life and the prayers of others...So please if you have a moment pray that I will be equipped, that I will know the closeness of God and that I will be a blessing to others.

2010-06-09T16:32:00.003+01:00

Well!! What a HECTIC few months it has been. I really haven't had the time or the energy to blog at all since Easter and no wonder! The end of the course with a big glut of assignments (all due at once) coincided with the end of year Drama exams and me finishing teaching for good. Immediately after all of this we were to move house - half an hour away into deepest darkest rural Cheshire.

I am pleased to say that all of these things have happened and have happened well.

The last course weekend ever was an emotional affair not least because of the lovely Valedictory service we all attended. The assignment marks were not as bad as I feared (in fact some were a pleasant surprise!)

Work were lovely both pupils and staff. Amongst other stuff, one of my Speech and Drama pupils made me a fabulous cake (see picture above)and I had a fabulous lunch out at a posh hotel with the girlies from the drama dept who made me feel very spoiled.

We have moved house and I am thrilled with the new place. The living room is enormous ans our new sofas look amazing.

All in all it has been an exciting few months and it isn't over yet. In the next three weeks I preach my final sermon at my sending church, attend a garden party at Lambeth Palace...Rowan watch out...have one leaving do and one pre ordinaton party, watch some of my friends get ordained in Manchester, go on retreat, get ordained and start my curacy...phew!

In all of this God has been faithful and his goodness and blessings have been so apparent. I am completely thankful to him and really looking forward to the next step on this exciting journey.

2010-04-04T09:03:00.001+01:00

HE IS RISEN!!!! LET'S CELEBRATE!!!

Resurrection: Rob Bell from The Work of Rob Bell on Vimeo.

2010-03-14T14:50:00.003Z

CEN FRIDAY, MARCH 12, 2010 No: 6014 www.churchnewspaper.com

As a female who enjoys Bible study, academic theological debate and who responds well to a doctrinally led, reasoned approach to the bones of my faith; I was somewhat perplexed by Mr Alan Bartley’s letter, 12 March 2010. This is due to the fact that he seems under the impression that all men are rational, intellectual and level headed beings and that conversely, all women are emotional, silly and suggestible and by implication, lack sound judgement. He quotes research by an Edwin Starbuck (conducted as recently as 100 years ago); citing it as proof of his theories about women and men and the state of the church today.
“Edwin Starbuck, a student of the famous William James, noted a number of differences as to how the sexes differed in coming to faith. Among them that women tended to be “more suggestible, hence yield more readily to ordinary influences” while with men intellect [is] more prominent;”
Quite apart from the fact that this research was conducted on Edwardian women who wouldn’t have had much in the way of formal education and would therefore have had little experience, opportunity or expectation of being asked to think academically; it is also well out of date in that the men who did the research would have had a whole range of prejudices that few in this day and age would share, (mostly because they have been disproved: i.e. women brains are smaller and therefore less intelligent etc.)
In addition, Mr. Bartley states that anyone who disagrees with his suggestion that gender stereotypes are true are apparently ‘mad’.
“we would be mad to deny that the stereotypes are true of how the bulk of men and women approach life and life decisions.”
This statement is one way to stifle opposition I suppose, but hardly an intellectual one. In fact it seems to my female mind that this would seem to be a more emotive argument, based on dubious experience and opinion.
Mr. Bartley goes on to tell us that women are apparently attracted to Christianity because the church has failed to ‘argue the credibility of Christianity’; but has relied on emotional appeal not reason, which (according to Mr Bartley) is what ‘lights our candle’. As an evangelical woman about to be ordained, I know how much importance Evangelicals put on sound biblical exegesis and argument. Mr. Bartley clearly doesn’t spend much time in evangelical circles if he thinks our whole approach is experiential. Maybe the reason he hasn’t come across women of intellect is because they are not tolerated in his church? I praise God that Jesus encouraged Mary to learn at his feet, the attitude of a disciple and rabbinical trainee, that St Paul commended the teaching abilities of Priscilla and Timothy’s mother and grandmother and that Deborah led Israel and was blessed by God for her sound judgement and spiritual advice. Having said all of this, to deny the relevance of spiritual experience as Mr. Bartley seems to do, is to deny vast swathes of the biblical account. Jesus didn’t spend the whole of his ministry in the synagogue using his reason and intellect, he went out and healed the sick, raised the dead and was moved to tears by the death of a friend. He gave his friends supernatural experiences - Peter walked on water, met Elijah and Moses etc. He encouraged his followers to pray, believing that answers would come and appeared not to despise leaps of faith alongside doctrinal reasoned argument - the thief on the cross springs to mind.
Mr. Bartley seems to think that the less academic approach of the Post Modern world is down to feminisation. I have studied Post Modernism as part of my course. I was under the impression that Post Modernist thought was more down to the rejection of a Modernist reasoned hypothesis which stated that humanity would continue to improve and develop and reach an eventual utopia. This was a humanist doctrine: biblically incorrect, dangerous and against the truth of the gospel. Thus I would respectfully argue that reason can be just as damaging as emotion and can serve to promote untruth and unbelief. People have rejected it because it has been shown to be untrue in this context. If we want a balanced approach to faith then we need both reason and experience. Doctrinal understanding is essential and a good grasp of theology necessary, but so too is an appreciation of the mystery and majesty of God. The understanding that we are human and that he is so much more than we can ever fully understand. You don’t have to be a woman to grasp that, you just have to have spent some time in his company.

2010-03-12T09:13:00.004Z

A Rocky Climb?

Today I am going off on our penultimate course weekend. In fact this will be the last 'normal' weekend away together as the last will be a sort of formalised farewell event. This thought has brought home to me just how close to Ordination we all are. In three and a half months all of us will no longer be Ordinands but Curates. Whilst that thought is daunting, it is still very exciting.

God has been amazingly close throughout this experience. I feel so honoured to have been called into this particular ministry; not because it is somehow 'better' or 'special', but because of the privilege that ordination gives in terms of access into peoples lives, the automatic trust they give you and the task of helping them at some of lives most significant times and events.

My thoughts on all of this are many. I hope I am up to the 'job'. I hope that I develop more wisdom, sensitivity and intuition for others. I hope that I have the strength, time management and stamina to carry on when things get tough. My faith and experience of the Lord tells me that he will equip me for all that he asks me to do and that whether I am up to things is his department not mine. I am not to worry..full stop!

Trust is a big part of this whole process. I had to trust that God called me to do this four years ago. I have had to trust that the church will discern God's will for me from the beginning of the Ordination process and into the selection of my Title Post. This trust has to continue as I step out on the next big part of the journey. I don't know what God has in store, what rocky trails there are to climb, what obstacles I will have to navigate my way over/round or through. Who knows what will be along the way? What I do know is that the view from the top will be spectacular...so thank you Lord...bring it on!

2010-03-04T08:27:00.006Z

The Good Soil.

I've been thinking quite a bit over the past year about the way in which we as Christians tend to want to push each other into particular ways of worship. Even the most Liberal of my college friends can have incredibly firm ideas about what is the RIGHT way to conduct a church service. In fact it is often the most Liberal docrinally who (I have observed) can be the narrowest in this regard...

In the Parable of the Sower, Jesus talks about good and bad soil...Some of us land in good soil and grow. But we are not told any more about this good soil. Have we perhaps come to a point where we believe that the same soil is good for everyone?

Returning to the root of the analogy (sorry, bad pun), are we assuming that all plants do well in the same kind of conditions? Clearly looking at nature we see that this isn't the case. Plants need very different conditions to stay healthy. Plant a cactus in a swamp and it wouldn't get far and would probably be extremely sick - if not dead. Growth would be non existant. Plant a cactus in a hot dry and sunny place and bingo - it thrives. The opposite could be said of ivy which prefers dark, wetter, forested environments. Many plants need something strong and rigid to grow up. without that rigidity they would be unable to grow up towards the light. Others are quite capable of growing and supporting themselves amongst a variety of other plants...You get my drift.

The point is this:- we are just as differnet spiritually as a plant. Note: I am NOT talking about doctrine here but worship practice. Why do we assume that because a particular way of prayer or form of music works for us personally, that it will work for someone else? Why do we think for example, that all will love the structure of liturgical worship because we find God within the familiar language and practice or conversely, all will find it's rigidity dictatorial and oppressive just because we do?

My musings may explain why I have know a number of people who have thrived in one church which had a range of services and a variety of sorts of people present, whilst other people found it extremely hard to cope in a place where everyone didn't do things in the same way as one another. In the latter kind of situation, spiritual growth can be stunted because the environment is wrong for that person. Put the person into an environment suited to them and growth begins...and is often startlingly quick too!

I too have experienced others trying to squeeze me into a box which I just don't fit into and to try to force a type of spirituality upon me which doesn't help my growth but actually stunts it. It hasn't been a particularly helpful experience. Let's be less keen to assume that out way is the best for all and more willing to accept that practices which work to put people in touch with God can be extremely different.

As an about to be ordained priest it will be my role to find the ways in which my congregation can get in touch with God...these ways may be incredibly varied and may not suit me...but I must be prepared to try both old and new for the sake of the spiritual growth of the people.

I thank God that the Church of England in 2010 is becoming more and more varied in her worship practices...let's celebrate that and encourage it...after all, if it leads to spiritual growth, why would we want to stop it?

2010-02-28T07:20:00.003Z

It became clear to me the other day just how close I now am to my Ordination and all of the changes that that will bring. I am now in the last three months of my Ordination course and will be handing in my last piece of work on the 19th of May. My curacy is arranged and we plan to move in early June. I will be ordained on July 4th in Chester Cathedral at 10am.
The whole family will be very sad to leave our current church. It is a place where we have made many good friends and have grown as Christians. It is also the place where the possibility of Ordained ministry was first suggested to me by the Rector and encouraged by others. I have felt supported and cared for over the 6 years. I have had the privilege to work with some fantastic people, not least through the two pantomimes I have had the privilege to lead.
We are also excited about what the future holds. Whilst the huge learning curve I have been on for some time now seems set to continue, it is exciting, challenging and wonderful to see what God has planned....The theme of trust was a big part of the recent church production of Moses. Putting your trust in God can be a scary thing to do but he has taught me that it really is the very best that you can do, especially when things seem hard or confusing...I hold on to that thought as we prepare to move on to pastures new...

2010-02-10T08:50:00.004Z

Rod Thomas and the Reform statement on Women Bishops.

The recent Reform statement on the controversy over Women Bishops seems to have further fuelled the feelings of division between Evangelicals of differing viewpoints. An attempt to take the 'biblical high ground' (something that Reform appear increasingly keen to do) is the main thrust of his argument in which he tries to claim more faithful scriptural study than less extreme evangelical opinion.

"Our concern is derived from Scripture. It seems to us that the Apostolic teaching on male headship in church and family (as in 1 Corinthians 11-14, Ephesians 5, 1 Timothy 2 and 1 Peter 3) is clear enough in its principles: overall leadership in the church is to be exercised by men. The fierce debates that have surrounded the gender issue over the last twenty years or so have stimulated much careful analysis of these texts, and have only served to show that mainstream translations such as NRSV, NIV, REB and ESV are correct in their translation and may (and should) be taken as they stand."

Rod Thomas then argues that to study a passage with close reference to the culture in which it is set (as many open evangelicals do), is to somehow imprison it, making it ineffectual and an attack on scripture's authority.

"It is, of course, right to say that these passages in Paul and Peter have a particular cultural setting; but to make them prisoners of that culture and thus unable to challenge our culture, seems to us implicitly to deny the authority of Scripture."

In response to this I would like to make a few points...
1. I have always found it perplexing how most Conservative Evangelical women, (who uphold complementarian teachings) are happy to dispense with Paul's instructions not to leave their heads uncovered during worship, who shamelessly wear pearls and braid their hear without guilt. Their reasoning is that Paul's instructions are to be interpreted against the culture within which they were written and only suggest broad ideals to be extrapolated in a culturally relevant way by us today.
2. Many cessationist Evangelicals frown upon the practice of raising ones hands in prayer, seeing it as 'charismatic' and yet Paul specifically tells men to do it. Why then aren't all faithful christian men doing so regularly?
3. I know of Anglican Conservative Evangelical clergy who have children who are exceptionally badly behaved; yet these men have not been demoted from a position of leadership, despite Paul's explicit instructions in Titus 1:6. Why are they allowed to continue as leaders if the Bible forbids it and is always to be read and obeyed without any interpretation or contextual study at all?

Rod Thomas continues:
"It is surely the genius of the New Testament that what was spoken in a particular context is at one and the same time also God’s word to us. Far from being a prisoner of his culture, Paul is not afraid to challenge it, warning his readers “not to live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking” (Eph 4:17). Why, then, is it assumed he will uncritically reflect their values on this issue of gender?"

Rod Thomas is here arguing against himself. No-one except him has said that studying the bible with reference to context and culture is imprisoning the meaning, rather it is felt that studying context sheds greater light and insight on what was meant by the New Testament writers. No-one 'assumes' anything if they take the Bible's message seriously and God breathed. I have read some excellent egalitarian studies of the passages he speaks about which are some of the most serious and respectful biblical exegesis out there. The reason that many evangelicals believe wholeheartedly in women's ordination and women holding the office of a bishop is BECAUSE they have studied these passages in depth. In addition they also look at other passages which Reform seem to spend very little time explaining their less plain interpretation of: e.g. the story of Deborah leader of Israel, Huldah the Prophetess who advised the advisors or the King, Junia the apostle etc.) The reason we think Paul supports an egalitarian view is because of the scriptures and his acceptance of women within a culture which rejected their authority.

Lastly, Rod Thomas' appeal to reason seems odd against his 'sola scriptura' position above.

"If reasoned reflection of Christians down the ages (including the historic position of the Church of England) has been correct; we fear that the current pressure to overturn it comes not for biblical reasons but because we are losing our nerve in the face of pressure from society."

This reasoned reflection and the historic position of the C of E, was actually based upon a basic theology that women were inferior to men and somehow lacking mentally! I recognise that Reform are not making this point, but their forebears believed it. Therefore if it is possible to reinterpret one's theological position in one regard, why not in others? To assume that Open Evangelicals are somehow 'losing their nerve'in the face of cultural pressures; are lacking 'biblical reasons' and by inference, that they care less for the true will of God and more about what people think is at best severely misguided and at worst, insulting. A little more respect for Evangelicals who disagree with Reforms interpretation of scripture and their doctrine of headship would be welcome. In addition, an appreciation of open Evangelical integrity and faithful reference to scripture in coming to their position would also be welcome...and long overdue!

2010-02-08T17:49:00.003Z

Moses: The Panto!

My home church, St. Michael’s and All Angels, Middlewich will be performing ‘Moses – The Panto’ in a few weeks. I have written it and it has a cast of 30+ with an age range from 7 to 70 including the Rector as Pharaoh. The whole church has got behind this event...with the cast taken from four very different worshipping congregations within the same church, it's a great example of a church community really working together.

Those involved have been busy rehearsing, set building, designing publicity and generally working together to pull this off in time. The sense of community which has been felt is palpable and it is without doubt that much fun and many good relationships have been built along the way.

All proceeds will go to the refurbishment of ‘Number 28’, our new parish centre which will be key resource for the church and the wider community in Middlewich.

Moses performs from Wed 24th February until Saturday 27th February at Byley Village Hall in Cheshire. Evening performances start at 7.30pm and there is a matinee at 1.30pm on Saturday. Tickets are £5 each (concessions £2.50). Family Ticket: £10. There are also special large group rates.

For Tickets please phone: 01606 834471.

2010-02-04T17:46:00.002Z

I have felt for a long time that we have somehow lost the plot when it comes to how we are as a Church. This article really struck a chord with me; here are a few lines from it:

"Take the spiritual temperature of your church. Are your small groups well attended?Do your people eat together often?Do the men talk about sports and the women arrange to go out together?Do your people waste time together?If they don ’t your church is sick."
Read the rest here: Is Evangelicalism dying?

2010-01-21T17:24:00.002Z

From Hebridean Altars

Seven times a day, as I work upon this hungry farm,I say to Thee,
'Lord, why am I here?
What is there here to stir my gifts to growth?
What great thing can I do for others - I who am captive to this dreary toil?'

And seven times a day Thou answerest,
'I cannot do without thee.
Once did My Son live thy life,
and by His faithfulness did show My mind,
My kindness, and My truth to men.
But now He is come to My side, and thou must take His place.'

2010-01-20T07:35:00.003Z

Hospitality is something which the early church were asked to practice. Both St Paul and St Peter instructed the early church to be hospitable:

'Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.' 1 Peter 4: 7-9

and

'Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.' Romans 12: 12-13

Have you ever noticed that church meetings are much better attended if they:
a)Serve food
b)Take place in a home

Why is this? Both of these ingredients make people feel welcome, comfortable and wanted. They have the effect of making someone new to church life feel part of the group. In our current society genuine hopsitality is usually only offered to close family and friends. If Christians open up their homes unconditionally, then surely their hospitable attitude will be received well and with pleasure, despite being counter cultural. However, in our private and inward looking society, Christians today often seem to ignore this important outward sign of Christ's love and practice hospitality rarely. I find this perplexing and worry about its effect on our witness as the body of Christ.

When I was a student, Christians from my church regularly used to invite people from the congregation around for Sunday lunch. They saw it as a time when they could get to know individuals and bond with them. We appreciate the invitation and felt a real sense of family...something we talk about a lot within the church. How many loving, close families do you know who never eat together or meet up just to spend time with one another? Very few I would imagine. And yet we so often think we can be the family of God without this important factor!

Building community then, is one of the most important building blocks if we want a healthy church. Without it, our effectiveness as the body of Christ is curbed and opportunities for showing the world the uniqueness of a Christ centred community are lost.

Paul and Peter had their reasons for encouraging Christians to be hospitable. The word is often mentioned in conjunction with the importance of loving one another: and love is so much better when it is shown tangibly.

In 3 John Gaius is asked to practice hospitalty. In Romans 16, Paul mentions the hospitality that Gaius has shown him. Clearly Gaius took the instruction seriously...why shouldn't we?

2010-01-08T09:28:00.003Z

One of the positive angles that has been hi-lighted in news reports on the winter snow and ice, is the way in which rural communities seem to be looking after one another during the extreme weather.
Community is a subject I have blogged abut before and it is as an area I care about very much, particularly as localised community seems to be non existent in bigger towns and cities. Even in my smaller town, my neighbours rarely speak to one another..it really is quite alarming how insular and 'private' we have become.
Community deos still exst of course, but the preference today is for scattered communities drawn together by leisure or work. The problem with this approach is that the people you mix with are likely to be of a similar educational level, age group and set of interests as yourself. At first glance that may seem to be an advantage; but is it really a good thing to be so similar to those you mix with? In this restricted world of sameness, when are your ideas and preconceptions challenged? When do you benefit from the wisdom of your elders or from the freshness and enthusiasm of those younger than you if you are older yourself?
The eclecticism of the traditional village community just isn't present in most scattered community groups. Town churches are one of the few places that can still reflect a healthy wide ranging community in these places, as long as they resist the temptation to become a sort of club which appeals to a specific type of person. Then, (and this happens all too often) they become grey and uninteresting, places which exist for the benefit of those within and not those outside. They are in these situations unlikely to attract anyoone other than the type of person already represented..another interest led community like all the others. No wonder the church is said to be in decline!
Jesus commands us to go and take the gospel to others. It is therefore crucial that we as Christians become a part of our local community, wherever it is, become known, enter into the hub of local life and take an interest in the people around us who are not just like us. Maybe when they see the church as an inclusive place where people of different interests, ages and approaches to worship, exist together in a caring and supportive environment, then our churches may begin to grow.
A relational approach to evangelism is the most effective way in which people can see Christ. I am really looking forward to living in rural parish from the summer. I want to involve myself in the lives of the villages and make the effort to get to know people through my day to day contact with a real, localised community.

2009-12-31T09:57:00.003Z

TIME: A valuable commodity...

It's been a very restful Christmas and that was the plan all along. I made a determined effort to spend as much time with family and friends as possible. I have been very aware that this would be the last Christmas for many years which would be as such. Next year (I am reliably informed by those in the job already), that I will be extremely busy and will barely have a moment to draw breath, let alone wrap a present or bake a sausage roll! To be honest though, whilst I will miss the time that I have had to prepare this year; being immersed in carol services, christmas visits, children's parties and service preparation will I think, be even more fulfilling. What I do have to guard against is being so busy that I miss the peace of ceebrating Christs birth and being so tired that I burn out before I can celebrate...However, I am also aware that burn out isn't just a pitfall linked to Christmas but to every day of the year in Ordained ministry.
So I'd like to take this opportunity of wishing you all a very happy and hopeful New Year...Thank you for commmenting on this blog, I really enjoy reading the ones I get and look forward to doing so next year as well. Despite my concerns about time, I'm DEFINITELY looking forward to 2010 and in particular my Ordination...bring it on!!

2009-12-29T23:37:00.004Z

In Old Testament Israelite society men and not women, were generally the leaders. Men were the ones who controlled the political and religious decisions and who ruled the land. However there are some exceptions to this general state of affairs. Whilst we could pick out examples of poor leadership by women in the Old Testament (Jezebel springs to mind), there are also inspiring stories of God using women to lead his people in the face of adversity.

Deborah was one such woman. A prophetess, a Judge and a military leader – an extremely powerful combination of authority and responsibility. She was chosen by God to be Israel’s leader at the time of the Judges. Moses and Samuel were the only other Old Testament characters to fulfil all of these roles.

"Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lappidoth, was leading Israel at that time. She held court under the Palm of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim, and the Israelites came to her to have their disputes decided.” Judges 4:4-5
There is no doubt that Deborah was acting within the will of God. Her prophesies were fulfilled and the writer of the book of Judges is entirely positive in his description of her. Deborah was also known as the Mother of Israel because of her successful leadership - a title which was as close to ‘Patriarch’ as a woman could get in such a male dominated society. She is impressive enough when assessed regardless of her gender, but when one considers the restrictions that culture and the society of the day put on her, her achievements can be regarded as truly groundbreaking. It would appear then, that in Deborah’s case God was very much in favour of women in authority.

Huldah the prophetess was another woman used by God in a key authoritative role.

“Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam, Acbor, Shaphan and Asaiah went to speak to the prophetess Huldah, who was the wife of Shallum son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe. She lived in Jerusalem, in the Second District. She said to them, "This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: Tell the man who sent you to me...” So they took her answer back to the king.” 2 Kings 22

In this extract we read that Huldah was consulted by Hilkiah and the Kings advisors on his behalf. Hilkiah was also a priest. Huldah's words were taken back to the King as authoritative and from God himself, so much so that they were immediately acted upon. It is clear then that in this instance a woman definitely had authority and was treated with respect by the leaders of the day.

Deborah and Huldah are both portrayed in the biblical accounts as explaining and proclaiming the word of the Lord to important men in an authoritative way. As authority and teaching are two of the reasons that Conservative Evangelicals often oppose women’s ordination these texts must be grappled with by those who contest it. It is not enough to find texts which appear on a first reading to be against women having authority in the church and using these to argue an opposing view. Unfortunately this is exactly what so often happens, despite there being clear texts in the Bible which describe and support women having authority over men and proclaiming the word of God to them.

Countering what I would describe as a 'plain reading' of the Deborah and Huldah accounts; some Conservative Evangelicals like Thomas Schreiner (writing for the Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood), draw attention to the context of both Deborah and Huldah. (Interestingly 'context' suddenly becomes much more relevant and less is said about taking scripture at face value on this occasion)...Schreiner sees their roles as complementary and supportive ministries. Further to this he argues that this ministry fostered and preserved male leadership.

“Deborah is a special case because she seems to be the only judge in Judges who has no military function... Deborah is not asserting leadership for herself; she gives priority to a man...Deborah did speak the word of God, but her attitude and demeanour were such that she was not asserting her leadership. Instead, she handed over the leadership, contrary to the pattern of all the other judges, to a man.” (Schreiner, 1997)

It is sometimes claimed that both women lived at times when Israel was short of men who were willing to step up to the mark and lead. Barak’s reluctance to go into battle without Deborah is seen by some to be an example of this. Deborah attempts to back away from the military responsibility which should have been Barak’s, but is forced by his reluctance to take on a more prominent role. This argument claims that if a man will not respond to God’s call, then God will use a woman, but only as a ‘second choice’. His ‘best’ is the leadership of a man. Indeed Schreiner differentiates between Deborah and other prophets by pointing out that she isn’t explicitly described as being raised up by God:

“But in the case of Deborah, there is no explicit statement that the Lord raised her up...I am not suggesting that the Lord did not raise her up, for He did bring evident blessing to Israel through her, but it may indicate that the nature of her role as a prophet and a judge was different from that of the other judges in that she did not exercise leadership over men as the other judges did.” (Schreiner, 1997)

The problem I have with Schreiner's argument is that nowhere in the bible is it suggested that Deborah or Huldah are anything other than God’s chosen prophets who both clearly wielded considerable authority over important men. Huldah advised the advisors of the King – a badge of authority indeed! How anyone can see Deborah as anything other than a leader I cannot tell! Both women’s evident blessing and proclamation of God’s truth are the only indications of their divinely inspired leadership and God given authority that we should need.

I have to conclude then, that if God chose two women to have authority in the Old testament, then why not today? To deny Deborah and Huldah's God given prophetic/leadership status is to twist the Biblical accounts, making them fit a predetermined theology of male only leadership. But these passages demand that we have to take biblical approval of women's leadership seriously and then ask candidly; what does this mean for God's church today?

2009-12-19T22:13:00.004Z

Well it is all beginning to feel a bit real now! I had the letter yesterday from the Bishop, telling me that he was willing to ordain me as a stipendiary curate in Chester Diocese and formally offering me a Title Post.
I will be serving this in the Cheshire countryside, in a group of parishes very different from the one I am in at the moment, which is suburban.
I am looking forward to the new challenges tremendously and can't wait to get started.
The reality is though, that I still have a secular job to go to until May, several essays to hand in and a church play to direct and produce in the meantime. Add to this co-ordinating the house move that goes with the new job and that adds up to quite a lot in a few months!
Still, it will no doubt go very quickly and I am constantly amazed at how much God has seen me through so far and have no doubt that he will be beside me, holding my hand all the way to Ordination and beyond...I'm glad of that...because I need it!

2009-12-13T07:22:00.004Z

Do Evangelical's emphasise the authority of leadership too much?

One of the principal reasons that some Anglicans have objected to women priests is due to their theological understanding of the functionality of the role. In the Evangelical wing of the church, Ordination is understood as a calling to leadership and authority over the people of God. Incumbents are expected to fulfil a teaching and preaching role primarily, leading the people and proclaiming God’s word from the pulpit.
The Church of England Ordinal certainly states that these roles are indeed part of priestly ministry:
“They are to proclaim the word of the Lord” and “They are to unfold the Scriptures, to preach the word in season and out of season, and to declare the mighty acts of God.”
It could also be argued that an authoritative role is hinted at when the ordinal says:
“They are to teach and to admonish” and “Formed by the word, they are to call their hearers to repentance and to declare in Christ's name the absolution and forgiveness of their sins.”
However, nowhere is the actual word ‘authority’ mentioned. Indeed the Ordinal puts far more emphasis on serving and caring for the people of God and for those who are outside the kingdom, than on anything else.
“Priests are called to be servants and shepherds among the people to whom they are sent... They are to be messengers, watchmen and stewards of the Lord; to feed and provide for his people ...and to walk with them in the way of Christ, nurturing them in the faith...They are to resist evil, support the weak, defend the poor, and intercede for all in need. They are to minister to the sick and prepare the dying for their death.”
The language above is heavy with subservient, selfless language. It echoes the words of Jesus - the Good Shepherd and also the use of the word 'diakonos' (servant) in the letters of Paul to describe the churches leaders.
A shepherd cares for the sheep and puts himself at risk for them. A steward and a messenger both serve others. Feeding, nurturing, supporting and defending are all words which suggest selfless caring and pastoral responsibility.
In the ordinal's description, as in scripture the importance of 'being in authority' seem almost entirely absent. Why then are they emphasised so much Evangelical circles?
All Anglican priests accept the Ordinal’s description when they are ordained. If they have integrity it is fair to assume that they must agree in full with the theology of the priestly statement.
With the exception of teaching and preaching most of the ordinals listed functions of a priest could and should be fulfilled by women as well as men, even allowing for the most 'complementarian' readings/interpretations of scripture. No-one would argue that a woman shouldn’t ‘defend the poor and intercede for those in need’ for example.
Is it then just the teaching and preaching role which is really the problem for those who cannot accept women's ordination? Certainly this is the area of functionality that seems to be the most debated amongst evangelicals. It is also an area where certain biblical texts are frequently cited as definitive against the idea of women fulfilling this side of the role, 1 Timothy chapter 2: 11-12 for example.
However, teaching and preaching are something of a lesser issue if we examine the problem carefully. Many evangelicals will accept woomen as deacons and assistant priests but not as incumbents or as Bishops. Thus they are ok with women preaching as long as they are under a man's authority.
It is actually ‘authority’ that is at the centre of the issue for conservatives and more specifically the idea of ‘headship’. When commenting on the evangelical view of Ordained priestly ministry, R.T. France comments:
“But the heart of the issue is elsewhere: it is a matter of authority...the specific function of priests is not primarily specific acts in the context of worship, but an overall role of leadership in the parish.” (France, 1995)
Is it possible then that the conservative evangelical emphasis placed on authoritative leadership may be at odds with the wider expectations of the ordinal? In conservative evangelical churches, many of the listed responsibilities of a priest are rarely fulfilled by the incumbent, but are usually delegated to layworkers, often ironically - women. Something doesn't add up! The Church of England has an agreed theology of priestly ministry far from the day to day reality of the evangelical model. The ordinal emphasises servant leadership not authority. At ordination we pledge pourselves to serve, nurture and pastor the people of God as well as to teach them. But for many Evangelical clergy, pastoral care clearly is only very rarely the vicar's role..he believes himself to be called primarily to teach and preach and to be in authority over the people.
Why then are so many conservative evangelicals still happy to go through an ordination ceremony which demands that they make pledges they do not intend to fulfill and to agree to a very different theology of priesthood from which they actually hold?
That doesn't seem to me to be an example of integrity at all...

2009-10-14T08:56:00.006+01:00

A MeMe

Pets: Two Guinea pigs
Married: Yes...for 21 years
Children: A fabulous son-aged 9
Smoke: Never
Drink: Wine sometimes, fizzy pop..toooo much
Exercise: Not if I can go in the car..which is bad because I usually can
Spend Your Life On Facebook: Yep...only way to keep up with college friends
Play On A Sports Team: see exercise...
Belong To Any Organizations: Church of England, AWESOME, CPAS,SNWTP
Love Your Job: Not my present one, it is ok but I am looking forward to what comes next..Ordained ministry...7 months to go!!
Like To Cook: Yes..Paella, Thai, Italian, Roasts...if it tastes good I will cook it
Play An Instrument: Ha ha ha
Sing: ummmm....nooooo (see above)
Dance: well I have been known to but only after too much falling down water...
Speak Multiple Languages: Nine (that's German for NO by the way, not the number..)
Ice Skate: Well I can stay upright..mostly
Swim: Yes and usually underwater
Paint: Used to paint landscapes in oils
Write: Yes, mostly plays and now sermons too..
Ski: Only once
Juggle: Why?
Do you wish you lived somewhere else?: No, nearly moved to Canada a few years back but I am so glad I didn't..(There's no place like home, there's no place like home...)
Roller coasters?: NO!!!!
Enjoy sppending time with your family? Definitely
Ever think about the price of petrol?: No, why would I? I have to buy it anyway...see exercise
Sleep with a fan on?: I live in England, how often would I need to do that?
Spelling?: Not bad but I occasionally need a dictionary..
Ever type "kik" instead of "lol?: Kik ???
Know how to play chess?: Yes but badly.
Ever miss being a little kid?: I enjoyed the freedowm we had to roam...but if I was a kid now I wouldn't have that...those days are long gone..sadly

2009-08-21T17:22:00.004+01:00

I haven't blogged for ages as I have been a little preoccupied with arrangements for next year and also with assignments and summer stuff.

The news is that it looks as thought my curacy is pretty much sorted and it is a big relief to know where we will be as a family from July 2010. I can't say where it is yet (except that it is in the Diocese of Chester), but I will say that I am VERY pleased and can't wait to get stuck in!

However, waiting is something I am getting quite used to which is just as well as I still have 9 months of my course to go. We have LOTS of work to get through before May 31st and I am already doing assignments for next year that we were given on Summer school. Hard to believe we will be third years...time has flown by...

At summer school I ordered two clergy shirts and my ordination stole which was really scary, yet exciting!

Ahh well, times they are a changing...and it is wonderful to be a part of!

Thank you God for ALL your blessings...too numerous to mention!!!

2009-04-06T09:32:00.001+01:00

2009-03-29T23:37:00.004+01:00

Step in to the Light!

Just recently I have been a little surprised by some unexpected compliments/showings of respect that I have received and feel totally unable to identify with me. Having said that, receiving them has also been a great encouragement. This didn't remove the puzzlement until I read some biblical passages today which put it all into perspective.

"Have faith in the light while it is with you, and you will be children of the light." John 12

"Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, your justice like the great deep. O LORD, you preserve both man and beast.
How priceless is your unfailing love! Both high and low among men find refuge in the shadow of your wings.
They feast in the abundance of your house; you give them drink from your river of delights.
For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light." Psalm 36

What came to mind immediately, was the fact that it is God who is righteous and holy. Therefore in one sense I am right to find other's praise incongruous. However, the Bible also tell us to to be 'a light to the gentiles'.

The best image of the light Christians are called to be that I could think of was the moon. Sometime the moon is the only light shining in the darkness. Just as the moon doesn't have an light of its own, a light which is self generated; we do not. The moon merely reflects the light of the sun. It struck me that I am in exactly the same position, I am here to reflect the light of the Son of God. If therefore people notice and comment, instead of being uncomfortable or proud; I should rejoice and remember that what is being seen is a reflection of God because he chooses to make me his child.
Awesome!!!

2009-03-28T18:04:00.003Z

One of my asignments at college is to write an art reflection on a picture which means something to me spiritually. I will then present this to a group as a talk in due course. I have chosen this rather stunning painting by He Qi, entitled Martha and Mary. I think I know what I want to say about it (as this incident in the Bible has meant a lot to me as I have wrestled through the whole egalatarian, women in ministry thing). However, if anyone out there has any nuggets of wisdom or stuff which springs to mind when they look at the painting, please comment...I can probably do with all the insight I can get!

2009-03-17T21:20:00.004Z

Yay! I won and award for an instant sermon idea from a random picture! Awarded by Rachel over at Re-vis.e Re-form Here it is!

Our lives can seem like a tangled mess but God is always there in the centre of them making sense of it all and working with us despite our failings.
Philippians 2:13
It is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.

2009-03-14T08:43:00.002Z

Packaging is a big thing today..we are attracted to well packaged merchandise. Retail uses it to attract us to their product. Therefore it is big business. Everything is packaged! Clothes (labels), cosmetics, food etc etc. We even package ourselves! It's a strange and rather shallow concept really, because we are actually buying the product and usually throw away the packaging. I found a quote on the internet which hi-lighted our obsession with it.
“Urban Decay's Big Fatty Mascara - the packaging is so retro. I love it! I have been using Dior’s waterproof mascara for about a year now and I feel like it’s time for me to try a different brand. I was torn between Urban Decay's and Benefit Bad Gal, but I was sold to UD's packaging.”
Is it me, or do we seem to have got our priorities all wrong?
In Biblical times, packaging was less important. What was inside the container was the important thing. Most things were sold/stored in clay jars: Virtually every archaeological dig in the Middle East has unearthed many pieces of pottery. Pottery was a favourite material for making a wide variety of utensils. It was cheap and mouldable. It was used to make everything from pitchers and oil jars to bowls and pots. Utensils were made for a particular purpose. But all made from clay. Paul refers to these clay pots in 2 Corinthians 4. The phrase ‘Jars of clay’ that he uses is actually "earthenware vessels" and refers to a vessel serving a specific purpose (such as a jug, cup, pan or pot). When used of people it often carries the sense of "implement" or "instrument". So to be God's "vessel" is to be his instrument in carrying out a specific service.
Items of value could be kept in clay jars. They were especially popular for storing liquids because the pottery slowed evaporation and kept the contents cool at the same time. Clay pots are mentioned a lot in the Bible either directly or by inference. At the Wedding at Cana in Galilee where Jesus turned water in to wine, empty clay jars were filled with common or garden water and then Jesus miracle occurred. The water became wine. The jars themselves were not important other than to contain the fabulous wine. But without them the miracle could not have happened. Empty they were useless. Filled they became something amazing. Their existance was vital to contain the miracle.
Every person in this world is made by God and is loved by God. But just like an unfilled jar, our lives can often seem empty. To compensate for this emptiness, people try to fill their “jars” with all kinds of different things. Sometimes it is drugs, drink, TV, shopping, big houses, cars, friends, parties, work, money—and the list goes on. Unfortunately, these things are transient. They fill the longing for a time but the happiness and fulfilment soon evaporate.
Nevertheless, there is something, or rather someone, who can fill us. That someone is Jesus! The solution to our difficulties is not to struggle alone with them but to allow Jesus to take control of our lives. As Christians we accept Jesus as Saviour and Lord. That means that we accept what he did for us on the cross in dying for us and taking our sin on himself, but it also means following him, doing his will and putting him first in our lives. Not all difficulties will be removed but we will have divine strength to deal with problems and difficulties as they occur. We are all called to be witnesses to him and to his death for the world. Paul says,
“We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus amy also be revealed in our body.” (2 Corinthians 4 v 10)
Christians are a reminder to the world of Jesus life and death and of the reason for it. It is for us to point people towards him with our lives and with our behaviour and with our words. We are the human equivalent of vessels made of common, run-of-the-mill clay--fragile and easily broken. And yet God has entrusted the treasure of the gospel to such vessels. Just as Palestinians stored their valuables in common clay pots. Why does God do this? According to Paul, he does it to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. God uses what is fragile and yet serviceable so that there might be no confusion to the origin of the gospel's power. When people see or hear Christ in us, they know that it isn’t because we are just fantastic naturally, but because it is the presence of God within us, working through us. The Greek dynamis is the term from which we derive our English word "dynamite." The gospel is not merely a message that confronts the mind but an explosive power that turns a person's life upside down.
As Jesus spoke to the woman at the well as she filled her clay jars he said: “Everyone who drinks this water, will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life” (John 4:13 - 14).
We have this water, but we need to share it with others, we have the hope that is the Gospel. We carry this hope out into the world. Each of us have been made for a specific purpose, like clay jars we are ordinary and weak but we are all unique. We each are called to different purposes but with one thing in common; we are all made to carry something of the highest value, the death and suffering of Christ. God's message of love to mankind. How much more important, fulfilling and meaningful can life get?

2009-03-12T12:37:00.002Z

Could God really be exclusively male?

There are many Christians today that truly believe that God has a gender and is therefore male, including his physical appearance and his personality traits. God created man in his image. Women were created as a 'helper' for the men from the Hebrew word (ezer)in Genesis. Subordination then is their role, designed for them by God.
However, if anything we perceive to be 'good' or 'holy' in a person is a reflection of God's nature, does that mean that only men exhibit these qualities? But surely any positives in any human MUST come from God? He is the origin of all goodness. This would of course include so called feminine attributes if we accept that females have some positive traits in their make-up. Unfortunately many Christians still harbour Greek philosophical ideas about women. They misinterpret the story of the Fall as the result of women's weakness and unsuitablility to lead. Eve was the one who upset the applecart and rebelled. Adam was an unfortunate and fairly silent victim in the whole sorry tale. According to some, all he did wrong was to lack the backbone to stand up to his wife and say NO! Consequently those preaching this theology, have to accept that they see all women as inferior. Their attitude to God's character and 'gender' betrays this. If man alone was made in the true image of God as many in this school of thought believe, then where does that leave women? I asked a friend who believes this stuff recently and his answer was that women were made in the image of man. I must conclude then that like the Greeks, women are seen by some Christians to be inherently inferior to man, not made in God's image but made in the image of Adam. Women cannot truly reflect God's nature because nothing exclusively feminine is 'good' or 'holy'. i.e. directly from God. As God's nature is inherently good; God must therefore be a male through and through...
I worry about these teachings and the effect they are having in our churches today. How many women have been damaged by them? How many have turned away from tnhe church altogether? Serious prayer is needed, so that Jesus attitude to women becomes the one we follow, not a major misinterpretation of the Biblical passages which rely mostly on translation, a lack of contextual understanding and inherited pagan attitudes.

2009-03-12T11:33:00.003Z

BREADSONG
It's not in the bread
but in the breaking
that the mystery of God's story is told.
It's not in the seed
but in the dying,
not in the treasure
but in the digging for it.
It's not in the mountain
but in its moving.

It's not in the wine
but in the pouring out
that a new world is purchased
for the weary.
It's not in the cross
but in the crucified,
not in the nails
but in the nailing.
It's not in the grave
but in the rising from it.

It's in the giving
that the gift becomes life;
it's in the living
that the Word becomes flesh.

It's in this taking,
this receiving,
this sharing of a supper,
this pointing to a future
that is promised
and paid for
and pressed into our hands;
it's in this everyday mealtime miracle
that the universe is born
to new life.

From a collection of poems by Gerard Kelly called 'Spoken Worship', published by Zondervan (isbn no: 0-310-27550-4).

2009-02-18T21:24:00.004Z

WOMEN IN MINISTRY

I've been reading 'Why Not Women?" by Loren Cunningham and David Joel Hamilton (YWAM Publishing, Seattle). It is a comprehensive summary of all of the arguments for an Egalatarian approach to leadership and the intention of God for humanity since the creation. I have already read a great deal of articles/books on the subject, but think that this one best sums up the reasons why many Bible believing Christians (and Evangelicals to boot), do believe that a Complementarian view of men and women is actually unscriptural and therefore against God's plan for us.
The book covers the background of Biblical and surrounding cultural beliefs about women, including the Greeks, Romans and Jews. It focuses on Jesus attitude, particularly against the backdrop of a misogynistic society and hi-lights Paul's praise of and support for certain women ministers. In particular, the book looks in detail at a number of key 'Complementarian' passages (1 Cor 14, 1 Tim 2 amongst others,)and unpacks well known theological positions such as 'Headship'.
I feel strongly that the many Complemetarians I know (I became a Christian within a Conservative Evangelical setting), have come to their views without really examining the opposing arguments. Those I have debated with, tend to assume that those of us who disagree with their interpretation of scripture (and it is an interpretation and not 'plain reading' as some would try to claim!), are throwing out our 'high view' of scripture and selling out to a reason only approach to theology and doctrine.
This book shows anyone who bothers to read it that this is just not so.
It is my hope that those who disagree with me on these issues and hold to a male headship view of Christian leadership; would at least read the opposing arguments and accept that they too have spiritual integrity and are backed up by legitimate theological scholarship. Sadly, through discussion, I have found this to be much rarer than I would like.
Those of us who have examined both perspectives (whatever position we hold), have I hope, a better understanding of and respect for the others reasoning, however much we may disagree with it. That has to be the way of Christ and thus of Christians, doesn't it?

2009-02-07T11:07:00.003Z

Random thoughts

I am a little too preoccupied at the moment with something which will be decided in a few months time:- my curacy. I think the problem is down to two things.
1) I like to plan and be in control of my life and I know that instead I must leave this to God and trust him to lead all those who are involved in the discernment of where, who, which etc. to get it right.
2) I am just plain excited and can't wait to find out where it is that we as a family will be sent! What kind of community will it be? Rural or Urban? What kind of church? What will the Vicar be like? Will it be Evangelical enough for me but still accept my ministry as a female? What will our new home be like (also linked to the feminine part of me I suspect)...and so it goes on, like a swirling whirlpool of thoughts and preoccupations...
All I can actually do though is pray and wait and trust....It is at times like this when I wish I was more spiritual...

2009-02-07T10:54:00.002Z

My sermom for Sunday, a sneak preview:

All things to all people: 1 (Corinthians 9:16-23)
When it comes to people, most of us live with a range of attitudes. We need people to share our lives, to socialise with, share insights and information, and to interact in ways that shape our lives and theirs. Family and friendships are very important. We are naturally social animals. On the other hand, if we are honest, there are people in this world that we have no desire to be with. With some, even minimal contact can be difficult and to be avoided!
Sometimes, the distinctions we make are personal. We just don't like some people. Sometimes, the distinctions we make are social. With some people, we feel as if we have no common ground on which to build a relationship. This isn’t anything new. Jews had no dealings with Gentiles. Greeks considered themselves superior to Barbarians. Today, Palestinians and Jews live in the same land but in a relationship marked with fierce violence. Modern British society is made up of many different cultures and traditions, many of whom never meet or experience one another as friends. Thankfully class division and racism are less pronounced than they were but they still exist. Middle class will often mix with middle class, working class with working class. I am including myself in this. How many upper class people can I call a friend for example? Our paths just don’t cross very often, we are culturally separated. Our occupations and age can also classify us and separate us from one another. In our current looks led culture, young people are often encouraged to make judgments of others purely on their appearance. We hear more and more about even children becoming obsessed with losing weight, having cosmetic surgery, spending money they don’t have on ‘looking good’. The reasons given are so that they will be popular, have lots of friends and fit in. Sad but true. Looking good has replaced the God given desire to ‘be good’ or more accurately to attempt to emulate Jesus.
It isn’t just the young who have to conform to social stereotypes and post modern cultural rules. All age groups look for certain commonalities when forming deeper friendships. This isn’t wrong in itself. It is however a problem when we develop a tendency to exclude certain kinds of person from our circle because of preconceived ideas and assumptions, without actually knowing anything about them.
In 1 Corinthians 9, Paul speaks about his attitude towards other people and how he relates to them. His words in verse 22 have often been misinterpreted to mean a sort of spineless, two faced kind of attitude. I don’t believe for one minute that this is what he is getting at. Paul doesn’t mean that he wants Christians to be lovely to some one’s face and then criticise them mercilessly behind their back. Unfortunately this is a definite human trait and one that we as Christians need to be watchful of.
Instead, Paul states that he is free in verse 19, he has no obligation to anyone, he isn’t forced to behave in a particular way, or to be nice to someone just for the sake of it. We know that he was a strong character who wasn’t afraid of challenging authority, being imprisoned and ultimately he gave his life for his faith.
No, his words here refer to how he feels we as Christians should relate to others, in order that they may see God in us. As Christians we should want others to get a glimpse of God when they look at us. I have to ask myself, how often though does my attitude and behaviour fall short of that ideal?
How do we as Christians respond to one another in our day to day lives? How do we respond to different viewpoints or to different ways of doing things within the church? Are we prepared to “become all things to all men, that I might by all means save a few” In other words, are we aware that sometimes what is the best and most obvious way of being or doing to one person will not be the best and most obvious to another. We live in such an eclectic society, with the best will in the world, you can’t please all of the people all of the time and we certainly can’t all be the same, nor would we want to be – that would be pretty unexciting!
How then does the Bible teach that we should behave as individuals? Thankfully, we’re not on our own. Jesus modeled the way for us to be. He was totally at home in a range of situations and relationships. He taught the high ranking men of the synagogue (aged 12), he challenged Pharisees and Sadducees about their theology, he ate with the despised and marginalised, the tax collectors and sinners. He spoke to women, not something which was accepted or expected in his day. In the way that he related to those around him, he was ‘all things to all men’. He embodied Paul’s words. He never compromised that which was really important, but he was always ready to relook at practices which were taken for granted and turn them on their head - healing on the Sabbath for example.
Above all, to the vulnerable, Jesus was approachable. All strata’s of society felt comfortable in his company.
Approachable people exhibit the following characteristics:
1) Personal warmth; they truly like people and generate personal warmth toward those they meet each day.
2) Their moods are consistent. Approachable people are usually the same every time you see them. They may not always feel like this inside, but they work hard not to take out their moods on others.
3) Sensitivity toward people's feelings. Although approachable people are emotionally steady, that doesn't mean they expect others to be that way. They recognise that good people have bad days; consequently they tune their moods to the feelings of others and quickly adjust how they relate to them.
4) Understanding of human weakness, and exposure of their own. Novelist Ed Howes said, 'Express a mean opinion of yourself occasionally, it will show your friends that you know how to tell the truth.' Approachable people are honest about their abilities; and their shortcomings. They embrace the old proverb which says: 'Blessed are they who can laugh at themselves, for they shall never cease to be amused.' And because they can admit their own faults, they don't have a problem allowing other people to have faults as well.
5) They show an ability to forgive, and are the first to ask for forgiveness.
As Christians we need to take these concepts really seriously. Those outside of the church will look to us when they are searching for God. If we respond well to them and really show care and consideration for them, they may be more disposed towards us and may listen to what we have to share. Ultimately our hope should be that through us, they find faith for themselves. In doing so we will be living out Paul’s final words in the passage:
I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the Gospel, that I may share in its blessings.
Amen.

2009-01-26T08:36:00.000Z

I love this:

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alt="Wordle: My blog"
style="padding:4px;border:1px solid #ddd">

2009-01-15T17:47:00.004Z

Enneagram

On one of my recent course weekends we were asked to complete a personality profile test called an Enneagram. I hoped that it would identify my natural characteristics and enable me to connect my personality with my current spiritual behaviour. One of the things I continually beat myself up about is that I don't always find private prayer easy to relax into. Knowing more about my personality could help to develop my spirituality, once I knew what kinds of prayer suited my type. Learning about myself and the personality types of others would also enable me to be watchful of my reactions towards others spiritually, pastorally and socially.

The sessions explained that we have one, over-riding energy which determines our behaviour. This can be our greatest attribute and our biggest failing. It affects our outlook, prayer life, preferences and relationships. As a Type Two(helper), I learned that the need to be needed could be both positive and negative. When a ‘helper’ is at a healthy level then words such as ‘compassionate’, ‘generous’ and ‘loving’ are used. These are all qualities I would like to have and would want to see in any Christian. However; ‘manipulative’, ‘domineering’ and ‘belittling’ are used as unhealthy characteristics; disastrous qualities for an ordained minister to exhibit! Sadly, I know that all of these behaviours are possibilities for me. Therefore the Enneagram has acted as a warning as well as an encouragement.

The session relating personality types to prayer gave me a deeper insight into my own struggles and came as a bit of a relief. Because 'Helpers' are naturally busy people who enjoy being with others. I am also an extrovert which increases this need. They gain energy from interaction and so sitting quietly just resting in God can seem very unnatural. It can be done however, if we understand how our personality can be encouraged to be more reflective. Using visual aids to focus upon and let go of the worls around can be the key for my personality type. Over the past year I have tried using candles and other visuals to concentrate my mind and have begun to find just existing in God’s presence beneficial and uplifting.

The sessions helped me to be aware that I need times of silence as repose from the busyness of life and to connect the two, listening for God’s voice in response to my worries, fears and problems.

Christmas fun!

2008-12-13T11:38:00.001Z

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

2008-12-07T12:42:00.002Z

My BLOG is ISFP - The Artist

The gentle and compassionate type. They are especially attuned their inner values and what other people need. They are not friends of many words and tend to take the worries of the world on their shoulders. They tend to follow the path of least resistance and have to look out not to be taken advantage of.

They often prefer working quietly, behind the scene as a part of a team. They tend to value their friends and family above what they do for a living.

Find out your blog type here

2008-12-05T14:57:00.001Z

The real meaning of Christmas...

2008-11-30T19:12:00.005Z

Ok, I've been tagged by Rachel at Re vis.e Re-form to write a creed in no more than 140 characters...Here it is:

We trust:
In the Father, source of all.
In Jesus, who lived, died and rose to save us, bringing life to all who turn to God.
In the Holy Spirit, God’s presence in our lives.

I am tagging Dot at Thoughts on a Journey

2008-11-18T16:27:00.002Z

One of the things we have been asked to do on my course this term is change a standard sermon into a story as a way of teaching a congregation. I preached a sermon about the Magi last epiphany, so I decided to have a go with that as my topic...here it is!

The Journey

I have always dwelt in the wild mountains of Tibet - cold and remote, wild and desolate, magical almost - a perfect platform for viewing the stars. The science of astrology is my passion and I have studied the heavens since I was a boy. Now I am approaching old age and thought that I would end my days in the foothills of ‘The Great Mountain’: but it was not to be...
My master mage, Yeshi called me to him some months ago when the snow lay thick upon the lowest slopes. The icicles hung sharp and clear, a jagged display along the roofline of his mountain retreat. The whole landscape seemed to melt into the sunlight. Brilliant ice and glittering snow sparkled under my feet as I climbed the final few steps.
Inside, Yeshi explained that he wanted me to help him examine a strange anomaly which had appeared in the heavens. I must admit that at that time I had not noticed it, but my eyes are not what they once were. Yeshi explained that it was a new star and that it shone more brightly each night. Curiously, it seemed to move steadily westwards, as if we should follow its leading. We looked at the ancient scrolls which contained star charts and prophecies and confirmed that this kind of celestial event usually foretold the birth of a King. An exciting thought, if this king was from our own land, but by the position of the star and its constant travelling it seemed that he would be born many miles away, to a people we did not know.
Eager to find out the truth, Yeshi sent a messenger to a Mage that I did not know who lived even further to the east in the land of the Mandarin Lords. Cong-Cheng arrived in the spring, flanked by his retinue of servants, asses and camels, groaning under the weight of his mobile laboratory. Star charts jostled with strange contraptions which he used to measure the constellations and to foretell the future. It was this gift which had drawn him to us. Cong-Cheng had been intrigued by our message and excitedly shared with us his own interpretation of the meaning of the mysterious star. That night, as we gazed into the firelight I realised that his ideas about the coming king surpassed our own in an amazing way. Our meal of roast chicken and rice was consumed with barely a touch to my taste buds as he wove a tale of majesty and power mixed with peace and ultimate sacrifice. This king, Cong-Cheng told us, was sent by none other than the Great Spirit who gives life to all things. This king was to be the means by which we could be reconciled to God himself.
I am ashamed to admit that I had not even considered that a divinity would want to bother with humanity, let alone be reconciled to us. I asked Cong-Cheng to elaborate. It was then that he showed me the ancient Hebrew scrolls which he had in his possession. In them there were prophecies which Cong-Cheng believed related to this star. My breathing quickened..Were we witnessing an event more important than anything we had so far imagined?
We talked far into the night but at last it was decided. We would follow the star until we found the palace where the new leader dwelt. A King sent by God was worthy of worship. We wanted to be there to pay him homage. In anticipation of what lay ahead I packed my scrolls and my astrological instruments as well as the provisions that I would need on the long journey to who knew where?
Many months later, after travelling over deserts and fertile plains, the star appeared to rest over the kingdom of Herod. We knew little of him and made our way through the crowded streets of Jerusalem towards his palace high on the hill. Naturally we expected to find the baby within. But he was not there. Nevertheless, King Herod welcomed up enthusiastically and wanted us to tell him everything we knew about the strange star in the heavens. Then he entertained us royally and asked us to return to his palace to enjoy further hospitality once we had found the child. We accepted his invitation and travelled on our way, little knowing that in a few days time, we would be warned strongly by an Angel not to go back. To do so would be to sign the child’s premature death warrant!
The star flared even more brightly that night. We travelled onwards and came upon the town of Bethlehem, nestled in the hills, quiet and calm...waiting...
At the edge of the settlement there was a modest house. Flat roofed and whitewashed, it shone eerily in the light cast by the ever present star overhead. Shadows ebbed and flowed beneath its beams. A few sheep and goats huddled in the corner of the yard. One goat nibbled curiously at my cloak as I edged past. Lamplight through the window betrayed the presence of those within. Yeshi knocked on the door. A tall, simply dressed man with tousled hair answered the door. He seemed somewhat bemused to see us there but bade us enter. His young wife baked flatbreads and served us a pottage made from a little meat and vegetables - it was all they had. In a corner the child lay beneath a sheepskin blanket in a beautifully carved cradle - a carpenter’s son enjoying the fruits of his father’s labour. I walked over to look at him. He was about a year old and he sucked his thumb as he slept. It was strange but his whole countenance exuded peace. Suddenly I knew for certain that this was the King we had come to worship. The son of a carpenter, living in an unremarkable town, without riches or majesty and yet...I knew...
With silent acquiescence we knelt and laid our gifts before him. Gold for Kingship, Myrrh for death and sacrifice, Frankincense for spirituality and godliness. Each gift selected to match the prophecies we had sought and studied.
‘Truly this King is the son of God, the Saviour who was foretold! proclaimed Cong-Cheng.
Yeshi and I could only bow our heads in silent wonder.

2008-10-18T10:15:00.003+01:00

I was reminded yesterday that I only have about a year and a half left before ordination...this came as no surprise, but did set me thinking about how unprepared I really am for the whole thing!

I have been on two funeral visits this week which I obviously can't comment on in any detail here, it is enough to say that one of them was pretty harrowing. Even though I only had to sit there and care, it was a difficult experience. Whilst I realise how much there is still to learn before I will be remotely ready to start my curacy, I also feel very affirmed in these daunting situations.

It has occured to me that ministering to people is not just what I want to do, it is what I am! Am I changing my theology on the ontological nature of ordained ministry? I'm not sure.. I DO know that I believe that all Christians have a specific calling within which Jesus channels his love and through whom he chooses to fulfill his purposes. Whether that means all are included in the ontological nature of calling (just different callings), I don't know. Can a teacher really not be a teacher when s/he is not teaching or a Doctor not be a doctor when s/he isn't on duty?

I will have to reflect on this further.

2008-10-12T08:41:00.004+01:00

We have a very cute pair of guinea pigs called Ginger and Tufty. We recently moved them into their new accomodation which is a rather smart apartment with a grassy area underneath in which they can graze and generally poddle about. Upstairs is their bedroom with warm shavings and straw and of course their food. I should imagine it is bliss for a guinea pig...

BUT, do they ever look beyond the enclosure at the garden beyond and wonder what it would be like to be out there? It must be hard to see the sunny part of the garden when you are stuck in the shady bit, or eye up that lovely bunch of dandelions which are just out of reach. They don't know what it is like not having to rely on me to move them to pastures new or on my choice of food for them. They don't know anything else but our garden. It could get very boring...if they ever thought about it.

Being outside their comfort zone would have its negatives of course. They may be eaten by a fox or injured by a cat! If they managed to find somewhere safe as a bed, they wouldn't be as warm and cosy as they are in the hutch. (No nice warm straw there.) The would have to be totally independent for food and shelter, foraging for what they could get and accepting the unfamiliar.

So why am I musing about all this? It struck me that Christians can be in either position. We can get comfortable in our churches, in the activities which we enjoy and are good at, in the friendship groups we are used to. We can be passive and reliant on the leadership to tell us where and why..poddling about as we have always done. Or we can hear God's call out of the comfort of the enclosure and go where things may not be as familiar; where it may be more dangerous and less reliable and comfortable. Daunting huh? The upside it that God may have the spiritual equivalent of a bunch of dandelions waiting for us, which would have always been out of reach before. We may be able to bask in patches of sunshine at the far end of the garden. We may even visit entirely new gardens never seen before in which there may be lettuces and tomatoes or even more guinea pigs... who knows?

Only those who step out of the comfort zone get to find out! Are you prepared to?

2008-10-09T13:52:00.005+01:00

Why do some Christians and branches of Christianity come across at best as eccentric and at worst total lunatics, who need locking up? Is it because they are total fruitcakes or is it because I am just not holy enough to recognise their unique understanding of God's revelation which they enjoy? As an example, it seems as if some feel it is entirely rational to brand Barack Obama as the anti Christ, see this for the full story.

Why is it that a sizable proportion of the church seem to spend so much time debating issues which are red herrings? Shouldn't we as Christians be taking a leaf out of Jesus book (he spent much of his time talking to tax collectors and sinners I recall,) and concentrating on talking to people about their need for God?

Instead they seem to be getting involved in pointless arguments and speculative rhetoric, like the Pharisees did. This kind of pejorative, ego driven criticism really makes me mad!! Even if Barack were some kind of anti messiah, will discussing it in detail help? Yes, we are called to be aware of false prophets and to be on our guard, but the endless debate and speculation over so called 'end of the world prophecies' is just pointless! Wouldn't it be better (if those who believe this stuff have integrity), to encourage Christians to get out there and triple their evangelistic efforts, if they truly believe that the end is so close??

I have to say that if we are looking for the powers of darkness, then I am more worried about this branch of the church being a tool for Satan. Who knows how many searching people are being put off looking into Christianity because of this sacremongering tripe? Whilst they are debating the reasons why Barack, (or any other politician they don't especially like), is or isn't the anti christ, they have taken their eyes off the real task of speaking to people about Jesus.

It's not as if we are not warned in scripture keep our eyes firmly fixed on the ball...Paul tells us not to get involved in arguments over pointless things in Titus chapter 3..

8This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.

9But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless. 10Warn a divisive person once, and then warn him a second time. After that, have nothing to do with him.

If they feel that they are correct; then fine, get out there and intensify evangelistic efforts! After all, if the end times are that close then evanglelism can be the only rational response...If they are wrong, what immense judgemental damage have they done to smear and damn the integrity of Barack Obama?

Who will be next to receive this kind of vitriol I wonder?
Anyone else who doesn't quite fit into their particular understanding of Christianity I suppose..I'd better hold onto my hat...

2008-10-02T09:53:00.004+01:00

Pastoral ministry can be hard...especially when bad situations don't seem to change and you are at a loss as to what on earth you can do. It can be frustrating when you think you have it all worked out and then a situation doesn't go according to plan..
The problem is they're MY plans, not Gods...
Pastoral ministry can also be one of the most fulfilling tasks you can ever be part of, when you find that you have been used by God to help, even just by listening. Listening is SUCH a vital part of ministry and I am learning that more and more. As a naturally gregarious and fairly vocal person, it can also be difficult for me, but it is getting easier, especially as I see the difference it can make.
Keep them coming Lord...I'll do my best!

2008-09-18T19:20:00.006+01:00

This is an extract from the the Epistle of Mathetes to Diognetus and was written in the 2nd or 3rd century. It describes what is different about Christians and how they live. For me it is a challenge to my Christian faith and how I live it out. How wonderful if others could see this kind of faith in me and in the rest of God's church...we have a long way to go I fear...

For the Christians are distinguished from other men neither by country, nor language, nor the customs which they observe. For they neither inhabit cities of their own, nor employ a peculiar form of speech, nor lead a life which is marked out by any singularity. The course of conduct which they follow has not been devised by any speculation or deliberation of inquisitive men; nor do they, like some, proclaim themselves the advocates of any merely human doctrines. But, inhabiting Greek as well as barbarian cities, according as the lot of each of them has determined, and following the customs of the natives in respect to clothing, food, and the rest of their ordinary conduct, they display to us their wonderful and confessedly striking method of life. They dwell in their own countries, but simply as sojourners. As citizens, they share in all things with others, and yet endure all things as if foreigners. Every foreign land is to them as their native country, and every land of their birth as a land of strangers. They marry, as do all [others]; they beget children; but they do not destroy their offspring. They have a common table, but not a common bed. They are in the flesh, but they do not live after the flesh. They pass their days on earth, but they are citizens of heaven. They obey the prescribed laws, and at the same time surpass the laws by their lives. They love all men, and are persecuted by all. They are unknown and condemned; they are put to death, and restored to life. They are poor, yet make many rich; they are in lack of all things, and yet abound in all; they are dishonoured, and yet in their very dishonour are glorified. They are evil spoken of, and yet are justified; they are reviled, and bless; they are insulted, and repay the insult with honour; they do good, yet are punished as evil-doers. When punished, they rejoice as if quickened into life; they are assailed by the Jews as foreigners, and are persecuted by the Greeks; yet those who hate them are unable to assign any reason for their hatred.

Striking stuff!

2008-08-08T09:32:00.002+01:00

It's our 20th Wedding Anniversary next week and we celebrate this weekend. We have always tried to do something special, a weekend away in a lovely hotel, dinner out, trip to the theatre...fabulous. But what is really important, is for us to spend time away together, just us. I think some people see it as selfish to go away without children, but I think all couples would benefit from making time for one another. All too often the busyness of everyday family life can get in the way of the relationship which should be at the heart of a family. We guard that closely and I hope that we will continue to do so.

2008-08-07T21:36:00.006+01:00

One year down, two to go!
Everyone I meet says how quickly my ordination training is going..and in some ways I agree. It doesn't seem long ago at all since the First Years on the new SNWTP course gathered for our first weekend away. Yet I am just back from Summer school and the first year is over..eeek! (See photo above of the end of year Panto..'Snow White and the Seven Ordinands' - a play wot I wrote, in which we students satirised the course and staff as much as possible!). Here's a quick extract

Wicked Queen: Reflective Mirror on the wall, Who has the brightest hair style of all?

Mirror: I’m not sure, I’ll have to think a little more carefully about it, maybe do a pastoral cycle on it, look at some relevant artwork, re-read Laurie Green, and then reflect a bit more. Could you come back a week on Tuesday?”

Wicked Queen: No I couldn’t!!! I’ve got endless assignments to mark, I only have a very small window to find out the answer!!! Tell me now, or I’ll smash you to pieces!!

Mirror: Oh ok,I can be an Activist under pressure! Your hairstyle is definitely the brightest and coolest in the land!

Wicked Queen: That’s more like it!

In other ways it has seemed an age since I started...so much has happened. I've met so many new people, i've stretched my thinking and my abilities, my views have been challenged and reflected upon...(Oh how I hate Theological Reflection!!!!) It's been a fantastic experience though, and I thank God for every bit of it so far. I just hope that my 'formation' (whatever that actually is..) is successful and my course study of the Bible has such a positive effect that I am, as Paul says 'equipped for every good work'. Because, am I going to need it!!!

2008-04-17T08:06:00.001+01:00

SLOW DANCE

Have you ever watched kids
On a merry-go-round?
Or listened to the rain
Slapping on the ground?
Ever followed a butterfly's erratic flight?
Or gazed at the sun into the fading night?
You'd better slow down.
Don't dance so fast.
Time is short.
The music won't last.

Do you run through each day
On the fly?
When you ask "How are you?"
Do you hear the reply?
When the day is done
Do you lie in your bed
With the next hundred chores
Running through your head?
You'd better slow down
Don't dance so fast.
Time is short.
The music won't last.

Ever told your child,
We'll do it tomorrow?
And in your haste,
Not see his sorrow?
Ever lost touch,
Let a good friendship die
Cause you never had time
To call and say "Hi"?
You'd better slow down.
Don't dance so fast.
Time is short.
The music won't last.

When you run so fast to get somewhere
You miss half the fun of getting there.
When you worry and hurry through your day,
It is like an unopened gift....
Thrown away.
Life is not a race.
Do take it slower
Hear the music
Before the song is over.

David Weatherford.

2008-03-28T20:40:00.005Z

When I'm In Heaven

When I'm in heaven
Tell me there’ll be kites to fly,
The kind they say you can control
Although I never did for long,
The kind that spin and spin and spin and spin
Then sulk and dive and die,
And rise again and spin again,
And dive and die and rise up yet again,
I love those kites.

When I’m in heaven
Tell me there’ll be friends to meet,
In ancient oak-beamed Sussex pubs
Enfolded by the wanton Downs,
And summer evenings lapping lazily against the shore
Of sweet familiar little lands
Inhabited by silence or by nonsenses,
The things you cannot safely say in any other place,
I love those times.

When I’m in heaven
Tell me there’ll be seasons when the colours fly,
Poppies splashing flame
Through dying yellow, living green,
And autumn’s burning sadness that has always made me cry
For things that have to end.
For winter fires that blaze like captive suns
But look so cold when morning comes.
I love the way the seasons change.

When I’m in heaven
Tell me there’ll be peace at last,
That in some meadow filled with sunshine
Filled with buttercups and filled with friends
You’ll chew a straw and fill us in on how things really are,
And if there is some harm in laying earthly hope at heaven’s door,
Or in this saying so,
Have mercy on my foolishness, dear Lord,
I love this world you made – it’s all I know.

(Adrian Plass)

2008-03-22T20:32:00.002Z

It's Easter Sunday tomorrow and as a Christian I am inevitably thinking about the wonder of the resurrection. What a turnaround that was for the disciples! Jesus executed in the most horrific way, beaten, taunted, nails driven through his wrists and ankles, hung on a bare wooden cross and left to die in unbearable heat. Body broken, dead, buried, finished...

Then the impossible, he greets Mary in the garden and the message is out, 'He is risen!' Jesus, God himself in human form, conquers death once and for all and pays the price for my sin and yours...Instead of eternity spent apart from God, we can be with him. Now that really is a turnaround!

I sometimes wish that I could have been there with Mary, met Jesus and showed my gratitude there and then. The truth is though, that I can and will be thanking him not only tomorrow in church but every day of my life. The more time I spend with him, the more special Jesus becomes and the more amazing is the gift whuch he secured on that first Easter day...

He is risen indeed, Hallelujah!

2008-03-22T09:08:00.003Z

Here's my most recent assignment. It's a book review on one of the core texts for our Mission in Britain Today module.

Enjoy!!!

‘Mission Implausible’
by
Duncan MacLaren.

This book is an examination of why Christianity has become so unpopular in Europe, when in most parts of the world religion is intrinsic to society and culture. MacLaren also looks at the few areas of Europe which have strong religious cultural expression, so that he can gain insight into what makes religion relevant and necessary in these societies.

In examining these concerns, the author makes detailed use of sociological analysis. He explores possible phenomena which may have caused the descent into unpopularity that the Christian faith has had to endure. These include industrialisation, urbanization, and consumerism. He asks how these processes have impacted upon the Church in Britain.

MacLaren observes that modern Europeans find the claims of Christianity to be implausible. Science and technology are certain, faith is not. He calls this ‘technological consciousness’. If society’s disinterest in religion is partly due to a crisis of credibility; understanding how something becomes credible to the modern mind will give insight into effective missiological practice.

MacLaren’s examination of shifts in the workings of the social order were absorbing, particularly the pages on community. By looking at the culture of modern society, Christians can devise a missiology which is relevant for today. As he asserts, old style preaching on street corners is out of step with modern culture. Knocking on doors is now counter cultural and is seen as an infringement of privacy. This was enlightening as I have certainly found such methods awkward and discomforting. He notes that we are a society used to making lifestyle choices by browsing, weighing up and considering the options available.

What also intrigued me was that consumerist mindset affects expectation. A demand for interest led activity hi-lights why passive church is often regarded as boring and why initiatives like Alpha are so attractive. All of these assertions would also sit well with the current philosophy of the ‘Fresh Expressions’ initiative. The last section entitled ‘Credible Witness’, examines three apparently disparate ideas: distinctive, inculturated and engaged community. MacLaren asserts that Christians should be weighing the three together and not see them as mutually exclusive. I would interpret this as being distinctive in our morality, theology and values, inculturated in the way we present these ideas and engaged in politics and the concerns of the world.

I was disappointed to find little practical application of the above insights. Case studies linked to some of his observations, showing how churches can assimilate modern culture into their presentation of Christianity, would have been helpful. MacLaren stops short of addressing how distancing Christianity from undesirable modern practices can be balanced with absorption of culture. It would also be fascinating to explore how the cultural language of today could be used to present the age old truths of Christianity.

In conclusion, this book is an excellent analysis of how social trends affect society’s attitude to Christianity. MacLaren comes up with some fascinating theories and insights. However, he includes little practical application or pragmatic concrete examples which I would have found illuminating and helpful.

2008-03-18T21:36:00.002Z

Lindisfarne

Primeval fire fused a cradle of rock.

Borne by the rocking tides,
smooth sand folded its hollows;
frail seeds flew
on the winds' shoulders;
blessed by soft rain
and warmth of sun,
grass and herb
bound the shifting dunes.
Lastly, trusted servants came, led by Christ
to build a home for restless souls,
a beacon to shed forth His light.

Lord of rock and tide,
of sun and air,
Bringer of light:
may Your blessing rest
on this Your house.

2008-02-05T17:09:00.000Z

2008-01-26T12:49:00.001Z

Well, with one term of Ordination training under my belt and the second one started, I feel less like a new ordinand than I did. Actually, so far I haven't felt much like an ordinand at all (whatever they actually feel like?). I think this may have something to do with the method of training I've taken. Being on a local course and therefore part time means you immerse yourself less in the process. However, you do get to stay within the 'real' world and for the moment anyway, remain involved with your own church which has been great.

The lectures for both modules, 'Biblical Studies'(my degree subject) and 'Theological Thinking' have been very good so far, although I have found the whole Theological Reflection thing difficult to get to grips with. It's not that I'm not used to thinking theologically, I just find it difficult having to do so to a set formula. Some of the stuff we did more recently (see my art reflection as one example )were easier to grasp and more grounded in the Bible which I feel to be essential. For me, thinking theologically cannot be separated from the Bible and nor should it be.

Well, I'm away next weekend at the Diocese's conference centre for another study weekend, which so far have been the best part of the course for me. It's also where I feel most like an Ordinand, because I can fully focus on that and nothing else.
Scary to think that in under two and a half years we'll be ordained...gulp!

God's given me a great group of friends too, who are not afraid to have fun and be as flippant as I am! You know who you are!!! I'll buy you a drink on Friday...

2008-01-25T18:44:00.001Z

2008-01-25T08:43:00.000Z

Now that my son's birthday is over and I've caught up from being ill with flu at Christmas, I've finally got time to comment on our FABULOUS trip to Lapland for 4 days in December.

We went with a company called 'Emagine' and they were brilliant from beginning to end. We stayed in the Hotel Jeris which is set in the forest on the shores of a lake within the arctic circle. At this time of year the lake was totally frozen and looked like a giant ice rink. There were toboggan runs right outside the hotel and we stayed in our own log cabin with its own fire and sauna!

The activities were very well run. We had a snowmobile safari which lasted all afternoon during which each family met Father Christmas. We sat in a wooden house on benches covered with reigndeer hides to wait, around a huge fire whilst a lovely lady cooked us pancakes and we drank hot chocolate...excellent. An elf led us to Santas house and we had about 10 minutes talking to him. Tom was entranced and hugged him as we left...bless. We visited a husky farm and drove the huskies ourselves. We strapped on snow shoes and went for an adventure into the forest. As well as all of this we tried ice fishing, ice hockey, kick sledding and cross country skiing as well as riding in a reigndeer sleigh. Phew!

If you haven't been and have children under 10...I would urge you to go! Even if they're older, they would still love it. it was probably one of the best holidays we've had...highly recommended.

2008-01-25T08:36:00.000Z

2008-01-18T18:59:00.000Z

Art Reflection

Maurice Denis. Holy Women Near the Tomb/Saintes Femmes au tombeau. 1894

This picture depicts the events of Luke 20 v11-18 on the morning of the resurrection when the women found the tomb empty. In the painting, the figure who spoke to the women about Jesus, is painted in the background. He is also painted in warm colours as if bathed in light. The women are painted in somber blues and greys. I love the contrasts of light quality in this picture, which for me symbolize the difference in mood that the women must have experienced when they were told that Jesus was risen. It is as if the artist has captured a moment in time when extreme sadness turns to hope. The group of women are split into two groups. On the left the two women who are bare headed appear to be waving to the golden figure. Their uncovered heads suggest that they are open to his message and are immediately affected by it. The other women on the right do not yet seem to have noticed him and remain shrouded, perhaps in gloom.
For me the whole painting is an example of how we can respond to the good news of Jesus resurrection and symbolizes the joy and light which his presence in the life of the individual can bring; if we only believe.

“This is the great truth which fills our faith with meaning. Jesus, who died on the cross, has risen. He has triumphed over death; he has overcome sorrow, anguish and the power of darkness ... In him we find everything. Outside of him our life is empty.”
(J. Escriva, Christ is passing by).
In Conversation With God Vol 2: Lent and Eastertide

2007-09-30T10:03:00.000+01:00

Why do so many people find church irrelevant and boring,(and the pub soo much more interesting)? This is a question which has been asked in Christian circles a lot lately and with good reason. It appears that congregations are depleting as the older generation die and the younger generations (who used to replace the church going population), no longer see Christianity as relevant to them. In our visual, excitement and pleasure driven culture, church is hardly the kind of experience modern people would enjoy....or is it?

One of the things which I think most people mourn the loss of is true community. They like the trappings of modern life provided by wealth and material possessions, but dislike the insularity of a day to day existence which focusses on working long hours and caring for the immediate family. Gone are the days when the community knew one another and helped one another. This is why 'feel-good' drama on TV is so popular aand also why 'not so feel-good drama' such as soaps are so important to so many. They provide the gossip (albeit rather dramatic and over exaggerated) and community feel which used to be a part of real life.

It is my opinion that churches can and should be providing this sense of community which is so lacking. It is a community which is clustered around the person of Jesus. He is to be worshipped by us and we should want to deepen our faith whilst we study the Bible, but we are also a church 'family' and should behave like one. All too often we focus on the worship and teaching which is such a central part of our faith but neglect the social contact which is so important to human beings and is a necessary part of their humanity. How many functional and loving families do you know who don't have fun together? But so often we see having fun as Christ's family as an irrelevance, not getiing on with living for Christ etc..Little wonder people don't find Christianity attractive.

Meeting together, sharing a coffee or a pizza, dropping into the pub, having an evening out at the snooker club, organising a girls night in or a bottle of wine around a good film may seem 'secular' but they provide much needed chill out time. They can also open doors to deeper conversations. Community is about caring and spending time with one another. If we don't, then we'll never get to a point when we can work effectively as a team when it really matters. Mission and evangelism is something that works best when meaningful relationships have been created.

Let's try being s REAL Christ lead community. One who cares for one another, one who reaches out to others and one who enjoys being together whether what we are doing is meaningful theologically or just being happy with one another. Be hospitable, love others for themselves and not what they can bring to the church and don't be surprised when they begin to ask what it is that is different about the church because they want to be part of it..

Rant over!

2007-09-28T13:31:00.000+01:00

I started my training at the beginning of September and have so far been on one weekend away and one evening session. Everyone seems pretty friendly and the group has a good sense of humour...always a good sign in my opinion!

We have also started rehearsing the latest church play, a pantomime version of Moses no less!! As usual I get to write and direct it, so I've cast myself as narrator so that I don't have to add line learning to the many other jobs it will create! Rehearsals have so far been great fun and as ever, bring people together in a unique way...can't beat a bit of dramatic bonding!!!

2007-08-03T16:00:00.000+01:00

Tom's Baptism pictures as promised....a wonderful occasion!
Down he goes!

And up!!

Family meal afterwards:

2007-08-02T11:45:00.000+01:00

My son dressed as a Tudor at his recent Walker Art Gallery trip...yes he is the one dressed as Queen Elizabeth...

2007-07-13T10:32:00.000+01:00

We are all off on our Parish Weekend away soon. The speaker is none other than Adrian Plass of whom I am a MASSIVE fan!!! I hope the rest of the church get his jokes and therefore the point of what he is saying as he is actually very astute indeed.

I have always gained a huge amount from his writing because it really exposes the stuff in the church which is unecessary (that which is of our own making and not of Gods). Sadly, there are alot of aspects of the wider church which fall into this category. Why? I have observed that many are only there because congregations feels safe and secure with them in place and not because they actually help anyone to grow spiritually. In fact, I think some of the traditions and practices which we hang on to so dearly can get in the way of spiritual growth.

I am not just talking about 'Traditional Anglicanism' or traditional practices in an old fashioned sense, but am equally concerned about the reliance I have seen by more modern forms of church on a particular way of worship, version of the Bible or type of musical expression to be allowed or encouraged.

I for one believe that it is not 'how' we worship God which counts, (each of us are individuals and will express ourselves differently,) but why. Each of us must be focussing on God amd our relationship with him when we worship. In simple terms it is what goes on on the inside that really matters.

Hopefully the spiritual experience of our chuch this weekend will be edifying to God, meaningful to each individual and tangible evidence of true communion with one another.

2007-06-25T16:36:00.000+01:00

Is there anybody there???

It appears from my cluster map at the bottom of the page that a small but select (?)group of people out there in cyberspace are reading this blog! This surprised me and spooks me just a little.
Who are they?
Are they human? (Sorry I've been watching too much Dr. Who!)
Do I already know them?
Will they ever leave a comment????

This last question is the most interesting. So far I have had one viewer who has taken the plunge...anyone else???
Please.......

2007-06-24T22:21:00.000+01:00

Tom's baptism was a lovely family occasion. I'm not talking in terms of biological family, but in terms of his spiritual family. There was a lovely sense of love, togetherness and belonging in the service this morning, which is just how it should be. Fantastic!
Pictures to follow....

2007-06-23T11:47:00.000+01:00

Tom is being baptised tomorrow and has opted for the full immersion rather than sprinkling. I have no problems either way (which is a good job considering my calling). We did decide when he was a baby to wait until he was old enough to make the decision himself. I don't have any problem with infant baptism and can see the arguments for it, we just wanted it to be something Tom would remember and relate to as a symbol of what God has done in his life and what he means to him.

He's really looking forward to it and has chosen the music which includes 'My God is a great big God' (to the point) and 'These are the days of Elijah' (a little more obscure).

Afterwards it's off to the pub with family and friends....

2007-06-20T19:20:00.000+01:00

Health and Safety!!!!! Grrrrrr.

I went to the Walker Art Gallery with Tom's school last week. I know that public places have to be VERY careful these days because of the risk of a member of the public suing them at any given opportunity, but think I've seen it all now! A sign was displayed in all rooms which said:

"Do not sit on the floor - splinter risk."

Well you can see what they're getting at... It would be so easy to ignore such a major risk to my health and wellbeing. I could settle myself down to admire a Monet or Titian and then without warning be attacked by a splinter and mortally wounded...disfigured for life by an innocuous looking piece of wood embedding itself in my behind!!!! I am so glad that I read the notice. It could have been really serious if I hadn't????!!!!

Grrrrrrr...hate health and safety....mumble....grrr...mumble, mumble.

2007-06-09T14:35:00.001+01:00

One of the things that I could happily consign to Room 101 is 'Health and Safety Regulations'. Whilst I can entirely see that some of these are necessary, more and more we seem to be plagued by all that is uneccessary. It adds to my frustration when this sort of thing comes up at PCC, because it reminds me that I will have to consider them even more as a Priest!

In the news today was the latest item to be under fire. Apparently pencil sharpeners were being banned from school premises because children are unscrewing them and taking out the blades to make weapons!!!! It seems to me that the problem is not with the pencil sharpeners but with the kids who see this as reasonable behaviour or the parents who exert little or no control over their offspring.

It is time we stopped tackling the symptoms and started looking at the disease. The trouble is the disease is something we mustn't talk about...it's a politically incorrect term....hold on to your hats...shhhh...lest someone is offended....'sin is the word'

The church must stop being afraid to talk of 'sin' and needs to start telling the world what is wrong and why Jesus is the answer. Young kids who carry weapons are seriously mixed up...they are, to put it in old fashioned Christian language, 'Lost in Sin' and I as a christian know that only Christ can help.

We christians, as Jesus representatives, need us to preach the gospel and also to help tackle the social problems that so many experience. The church must be involved in social action AND spiritual action. One without the other is meaningless. Poverty needs action but so does sin. We all need to face up to our responsibilities...something society is VERY reluctant to do a the moment.

2007-06-09T14:35:00.000+01:00

My blogging has been distinctly lacking recently...apologies but life seems to be pretty busy at the moment. I'm due to start on the local course in September. The whole thing is quite daunting from where I am at the moment as I won't know anyone before I start and it'll be harder to get to know other students because we're not residential. Still, God's got it all in hand, so I'll have to take advice from the curate at our church and 'rest in Him', though it's not always that easy....

2007-03-14T06:20:00.000Z

This seemed like an appropriate description of the last 14 months, (since I started on the path towards ordination).

More tea Vicar???

2007-03-13T17:13:00.000Z

It's a little daunting to think that I will be studying Theology again soon. I first studied it when I was at Uni 20 years ago. I came away with a passable Biblical Studies degree, but haven't really gone out of my way to do much 'deep' stuff since. I have on occasions had the need to research some subjects in depth, in particular 'The Ordination of Women', and have been amazed at the amount written on the subject. The stuff I've read has ranged from the 'extremely well argued and researched' to the 'total hogwash' spewed forth by those who really don't have a clue what they are talking about. The perpetrators of such drivel usually begin from their own standpoint and seek to prove it without any regard to the opposing arguments. I have encountered good and bad on both sides of the divide, so please don't think I am taking a pot shot at the anti women priests brigade..I'm not.

The other subject I've had some interesting discussions about over the years is Calvinism and in particular Limited Atonement and Predestination. The Atonement has always been a subject I've found fascinating as there are so many different interpretations and explanations of it. Hopefully I'll get the opportunity to investigate it further.. if it is ordained that I should...hmm.

2007-03-10T19:55:00.000Z

I heard this week that I have been accepted for training for Ordained ministry!!!

Dibley here I come.....Applications are now open for 'Alice'...friends and realtives are very welcome to apply!

2007-03-04T22:35:00.000Z

BAP

Well I'm back from the BAP. It was at Shallowford House in Staffordshire and lasted from Monday Evening until Wednesday teatime. The whole thing was really exhausting but enjoyable nontheless. Shallowford is a lovely old house in the country, left to Lichfield diocese in the 30's I think. Had we been there in the summer we could have enjoyed a game of croquet on th lawn..not SO attractive in February however!!! My room was quite big and the bed comfy which is always good. I took my laptop with me which was VERY useful and kept me occupied in between interviews.

There were 12 candidates in total (6 men and 6 women) and 6 advisors, plus a selection secretary. We were split into two groups, the yellows and the pinky-lilacs (no-one could decide what the exact colour was!!!) I was a yellow.

Pretty much as soon as we got there we had the Personal Inventory which was a 40 minute 'exam' which asked questions about how you would react in certain situations you may come across in ordained ministry. It was just like being back at school..."You've had 17 mins and should be moving on to the next section now!" Tea was fantastic...YUM! Worship was after tea and is best described as 'contemplative'.

On Tuesday we had worship at 7.30, followed by breakfast and then the Presentations and Discussions fot the rest of the morning which seemed to go pretty well. Then in the afternoon the interviews started!!!! My first one was Educational which was generally OK although one or two of the questions threw me a little, but I answered as best as I could. I then had to wait until Wednesday for the other two. In our free time we had to write a letter in response to a complex pastoral situation. My second interview was Vocational. I was pleased with it as I felt I answered everything and said everything I wanted to which was good. My last was Pastoral. This went ok but again there were a few questions which were unexpected. This interviewer kept asking me about being 'Middle Class' which I found a little perplexing... Still it was generally a positive experience so whatever the decision I feel I did my best in what was a very strange sitiuation (much harder than any job interview). Add in the fact that you were expected to mingle with advisors during mealtimes etc and the whole thing was quite a 'Big Brother'...The candidates were all very supportive of each other which was lovely and the Selection Panel Secretary was very helpful.

Now I just have to wait...it could be a fortnight, and waiting has never been my strong point. Still, I'm being kept busy. I gave the sermon in the all age service this morning and people were very encouraging afterwards. I'm back at work tomorrow and there's plenty of things coming up in the next few months whether I get through or not. The BIG plus point is that come what may I won't have to say IF I'm training or IF I become ordained etc. etc. The uncertainty really is the worst part of this process and it'll be a relief to know what's happening at last....

2007-01-13T12:46:00.000Z

The whole family has been out church cleaning this morning. I must admit it is an event I've ducked out of at times in the past when I've had 'more important' things to do... However something I read on another blog essentially sums up how I now feel about prioritising the less glamorous jobs in church and this one in particular.

"When he became Bishop of Birmingham (or Bishop FOR Birmingham, as he preferred to call it)John Sentamu (now Archbishop of York) made a big deal of replacing the part of the service where he should have gone and sat on his "throne" with a ceremony in which he washed the feet of 12 local schoolchildren, gave each of them a rather splendid theatrical crown to wear, and got THEM to sit on the throne one by one. In his sermon, he said that he believed in servant leadership - and I can vouch for the fact that even when he wasa lowly Vicar he was to be seen just as often as anyone else mopping the floor or washing the dishes. He never allowed the music group or any other "profile" ministry group to escape their turn on the cleaning rota. If you won't clean for the Church, he said, you have no right to minister to them."

This ties in with an extract from one of my all time favourite bible passages: Philippians 2

" Have this in your mind, which was also in Christ Jesus, who, existing in the form of God, didn't consider it robbery to be equal with God but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant."

Cleaning may not be glamorous but it is a servant ministry and what could be better than emulating Jesus in a small way by taking the form of a servant? That said it was also great fun. We had a great laugh and some fabulous conversations whilst we got on and did the necessary....next time I certainly won't seen it as a chore but as a privilege!

2007-01-10T13:29:00.000Z

You scored as Chalcedon compliant. You are Chalcedon compliant. Congratulations, you're not a heretic. You believe that Jesus is truly God and truly man and like us in every respect, apart from sin. Officially approved in 451.

Chalcedon compliant

100%

Nestorianism

67%

Modalism

67%

Pelagianism

67%

Monophysitism

67%

Monarchianism

50%

Apollanarian

33%

Socinianism

17%

Arianism

Adoptionist

Donatism

Albigensianism

Gnosticism

Docetism

Are you a heretic?
created with QuizFarm.com

Well, that's a relief!!!! Burning at the stake isn't my preferred option for shuffling off this mortal coil!!!

2007-01-10T13:11:00.000Z

Last weekend we had a fabulous time in Pisa. Weather gorgeous and restaurants fab. My waistline is still recovering!
Here's a picture of son and heir with a famous landmark behind.
Chow!

2007-01-09T18:56:00.000Z

When the song of the angels is stilled,

When the star in the sky is gone,

When the kings and princes are home,

When the shepherds are back with their flock,

The work of Christmas begins:

To find the lost,

To heal the broken,

To feed the hungry,

To release the prisoner,

To rebuild nations,

To bring peace among brothers and sisters,

To make music in the heart.

Howard Thurman.

2006-11-23T20:00:00.000Z

Don't you just hate getting the first stinking cold of the winter??? Ok, so I know it's not yet offically winter but it sure feels like it! So I'm having a good moan....my head feels like cotton wool, my nose would be just like a tap if I could turn it off and when I'm not sneezing, I'm coughing. It's so bad I'm surprised my laptop hasn't flown off my lap and onto the floor!

Oh well, it'll be gone in a week. See you when I'm feeling a bit more human....blahhhhhhh

2006-11-19T23:11:00.000Z

Well, it's been a while. Life has been pretty hectic. To cut a long story short I have been recommended to go to selection conference by the Diocesan panel!!! VERY EXCITED!!!
Now I have to face up to the huge amount of paperwork that goes with it...groan!

2006-11-19T22:56:00.000Z

But which way does it go??????

2006-09-17T21:02:00.000+01:00

Well it's over...my first sermon at church! From the feedback I received things went well. I know God was in control because everything related to the sermon I'd prepared, without there being any planning beforehand. I just hope it spoke to the congregation as much as it spoke to me preparing it. that bits well and truly God's department though!

On a related subject, I'm hoping to hear soon when my diocesan panel will be which is a sort of precursor to the dreaded BAP or Bishop's advisory panel...ahhhhh!!! God's in charge though so no real worries. My final reference goes in tomorrow, so watch this space!

2006-09-09T20:28:00.000+01:00

Just come across a fabulous website called 'Visions'. It's for a church in York for people who don't like church. That may sound like a contradiction but it isn't because church and faith in Christ are not synonymous. If you don't feel comfortable worshipping God in one way then try another...God doesn't mind, as long as your heart is right. I think that's the thinking and I'd go along with that.

Take a look:
http://www.visions-york.org/visions.html

On a less spiritual note, Tom has AT LAST lost his first tooth. He's been wiggling it for weeks and desperate for it to come out. After a day of furious wiggling it's at last given in to the relentless pressure. I hope the tooth fairy is used to the sight of blood because he managed to smear it all over his T.shirt!!!

2006-09-07T16:42:00.000+01:00

What have I done to deserve this????

My cute little son who used to choose Scooby Doo and Tom and Jerry when he was allowed to have TV, now selects Euro-Sport channel instead!! He's only 6!!! Now I have the sounds of racing cars and roaring football crowds coming from the square box in the corner...ahhhhhhhhh!

Oh well. At least he spends most of his time outside...doing what? Yes you've guessed it...playing football.

On another topic, it appears Tony Blair has finally decided to announce his departure. He's probably hoping it will stop people asking him when he's going to resign. It can't be alot of fun being a polititian if you're at all sensitive. But then sensitive polititians probably don't exist. They're skins are thicker than a body builders biceps! Must be why Arnie's gone in to politics!

2006-09-05T23:31:00.000+01:00

Tom starts his new school tomorrow and we are all a little nervous...me especially. He's a friendly chap but it's always daunting making new friends and being accepted in a new place.

I don't go back to work until Monday...bliss. The downside is that now Tom is back and I'm not, there really is no excuse not to clean the windows, grrrr.

2006-09-05T19:10:00.000+01:00

Sooo true...sadly.

2006-09-05T14:03:00.000+01:00

So...how do I start. Talking isn't normally something I find difficult...this is another thing altogether though!

I'll explain more about the title later...sufficient to say I'm a Christian and I love it, but sometimes we, (Christians) make life so much more of a straight-jacket than we should.

At the moment I'm exploring whether I should enter the Anglican Ministry and should find out either way in the next few months.

I'm married with one son, Tom age 6, two guinea pigs and none of the dogs, cats, stick insects or hamsters that my son would love us to adopt!

I'm currently working as a Speech and Drama teacher and have been known to be pretty dramatic on occasions myself!

Went on a bike ride with Tom today. Shattered once we got back...I do MUST more exercise!

Time for a nap I think.....