This was the reflection I used at the two Carol Services I led last Sunday - I thought I would share it here also!
Christmas is a time of contrasts. In our modern world, we go back to a story from 2000 years ago. In our Information Age, when the whole of human knowledge seems to be at our fingertips, we hear once again a story that we have heard every year. In the darkness of winter, we celebrate the coming of Christ, the light of the world. In a world that seems to stumble from crisis to crisis, we bring a message of hope.
The contrasts are all the more between our life today and the world into which Jesus came. We, by the standards that most in our world have, are rich; he was born in a stable. We have freedom to help choose those who represent us; he was from a nation occupied by a foreign power that had just ordered a census.
The images we have on our Christmas Cards – a radiant child, happy mother Mary, splendidly dressed Kings, tidy-looking shepherds, all in a Stable that looks warm, cosy and well ordered – they are a long way from the reality of the Christmas story that we have heard again today. Expectant parents today may be planning the best route to hospital, and worrying about whether they are as antiseptically clean as they should be; Mary faced a long journey, on foot or by donkey, that could hardly be ideal preparation – and then gave birth in what was probably a grimy, smelly, animal shelter.
This is so far beyond our own experiences that it is hard for us today to understand what it was like. And yet, today, we have heard the story again, and it still holds us. Why?
The answer is, for me at least, that ultimately it is about God’s love. God comes down as a baby, in humble surroundings, because of Love. God lives among us, sharing his love. God goes to the cross, to prove his love for shattered humanity. God comes to us today, calling us with words of love.
How are we to respond? How else can we respond, but to love in return? We find ways to share that love with others, devote ourselves to serving God, and in doing so serve others, not because it is our duty but because of the love that is within us. “We love, because God first loved us.”
Whatever else may be going on over this Christmas period, may the love of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit bless you and stay with you each and every day.
Hi, I'm Rob Weir. This Blog follows my experiences as a Methodist Minister in Manchester, UK. This is not intended to be super-spiritual, but occasionally relflections and meditations may appear.... as well as odd bits of silliness.
Tuesday, 22 December 2009
Sunday, 25 October 2009
Not in my name - joining a chorus of disapproval
There is, quite rightly, a storm of protest brewing from Christians at all levels about the claim of BNP Leader Nick Griffin to represent "Christian Britain" - with former Archbishop of Canterbury Lord Carey one of the latest heavyweight figures to challenge his claim.
Whatever the rights and wrongs of the whole Question Time episode (and opinion seems to be changing daily on what the fallout might be) this claim of Griffin's is arrant nonsense and seems if anything to display a disconnection from reality. For example this article from 2006 includes research that shows that churchgoing is at a higher level among ethnic minorities than among what Griffin laughably describes as the "Indigenous population" - so Christian Britain (a term that Ekklesia points out means little in any case) is increasingly Afro-Carribean and African, particularly in the big cities - in London it's getting on for half of those who go to church, and in Manchester I can see the trend going the same way. And I rejoice that we have people who are committed to the way of Christ, whose love is for all, whatever their ethnic background may be.
What worries me about the likes of Griffin is that he's a political opportunist at a time when disenchantment with politicians in general means that many are looking for alternatives to the mainstream. At the moment the BNP seems keen to portray itself as the custodian of the Bulldog Spirit, the plucky little underdog that's going into battle against the big bad political giants - and yet when you consider their political background and history, you realise that all that's really changed from the bad old days of the National Front etc is that they've done what many other political parties have done and rebranded. Griffin and his party are more dangerous because they're shrewder than some have given them credit for: they're managing to pick up disenchanted voters by making themselves seem that little bit more respectable. Griffin didn't need to win any sort of debate on QT, he just needed to look and sound relatively personable and effectively not be a Neanderthal in a Combat 18 T-Shirt - for those who might be likely to say "I'm not a racist but...." that could well be enough.
Whatever he may say, when Griffin talks of "Christian Britain" let no-one be in any doubt: he does not speak for me, or the vast majority of those who actually go to church (and I wish I could say for all) - I do not regard the policies of his party, or his attitude to others such as Muslims, as remotely representing the love of Christ or the position of Christianity as a whole.
Whatever the rights and wrongs of the whole Question Time episode (and opinion seems to be changing daily on what the fallout might be) this claim of Griffin's is arrant nonsense and seems if anything to display a disconnection from reality. For example this article from 2006 includes research that shows that churchgoing is at a higher level among ethnic minorities than among what Griffin laughably describes as the "Indigenous population" - so Christian Britain (a term that Ekklesia points out means little in any case) is increasingly Afro-Carribean and African, particularly in the big cities - in London it's getting on for half of those who go to church, and in Manchester I can see the trend going the same way. And I rejoice that we have people who are committed to the way of Christ, whose love is for all, whatever their ethnic background may be.
What worries me about the likes of Griffin is that he's a political opportunist at a time when disenchantment with politicians in general means that many are looking for alternatives to the mainstream. At the moment the BNP seems keen to portray itself as the custodian of the Bulldog Spirit, the plucky little underdog that's going into battle against the big bad political giants - and yet when you consider their political background and history, you realise that all that's really changed from the bad old days of the National Front etc is that they've done what many other political parties have done and rebranded. Griffin and his party are more dangerous because they're shrewder than some have given them credit for: they're managing to pick up disenchanted voters by making themselves seem that little bit more respectable. Griffin didn't need to win any sort of debate on QT, he just needed to look and sound relatively personable and effectively not be a Neanderthal in a Combat 18 T-Shirt - for those who might be likely to say "I'm not a racist but...." that could well be enough.
Whatever he may say, when Griffin talks of "Christian Britain" let no-one be in any doubt: he does not speak for me, or the vast majority of those who actually go to church (and I wish I could say for all) - I do not regard the policies of his party, or his attitude to others such as Muslims, as remotely representing the love of Christ or the position of Christianity as a whole.
Monday, 14 September 2009
When is Freecycle not Freecycle?
Over the last two or three years we have been members of Freecycle - a wonderful concept in many ways - but right now I am questioning whether to stay part of the groups that I am currently a member of. Let me explain about the concept, and then why I am becoming more disenchanted by it.
Freecycle involves a brilliantly simple concept: if you have something you don't want anymore, but may still be useful, you can offer it free of charge to someone from your local area - thus keeping something still usable out of landfill. No money changes hands, and it's expected that the person who wants the item comes to collect it. You can post "Wanted" ads on there as well, usually after you have already offered at least one item. Mostly what's on offer are things that are simply not worth selling - but that are still useful. For example we've received items including a bundle of clothes for our (then baby) daughter, a wheelbarrow, replacement drawers for our freezer, a food steamer, and a bike suitable for our son. In return we've given away any number of ornaments, a Haynes Manual for a car that had been scrapped, two sofas that were of no further use, videos, and all the other things that had collected in our house that we had no wish to move to the manse.
So where's the problem?
Well to start with what you might call the Freecycle Movement seems to be having more than a bit of internal strife. This article from the Guardian tells part of the story, and it's not hard to find other stuff as well. I'm not about to get into the debate about who is right or wrong, other than to observe that the reaction of The Freecycle Network (TM apparently) to the defection of the Manchester Group (to something that is being called Freegle) has been to set up a "new" Manchester Freecycle Group that at the time of writing has 61 members and no messages, compared to the Manchester "Greencycle" Group's 9500 members and 150 messages since Friday alone. Freecycle however remains the "brand" that people are most likely to have heard of, has a name that very neatly encapsulates what it is about, and the splits are unlikely to help the cause that both sides say they support.
What is more annoying to me now though is that whether it's Freecycle, Greencycle, Freegle or whatever, it is in danger of becoming a victim of its own success. A quick looks at some of the numbers tells a story... 156 messages since Friday Morning: 4 Announcements (mostly about the changeover to Greencycle); 60 Offer messages; 2 Received messages; 23 Taken messages; and 64 Wanted messages. More wanted than offered isn't the way I think a group like this needs to run to be healthy; a quick peruse of the wanteds reveals that many people are looking for what might be called "High Value" items such as Laptops and other computer equipment.
Some of the experiences we've had of offering things have been less than good as well. There are some people who seem to reply to pretty much every message saying it's just what they want etc - we noticed this especially when we cleared a load of stuff out of our loft in Liverpool. Do they really just happen to want every single diverse item for themselves - or are they looking for stuff for a Car Boot sale etc? The one guy who was up front about wanting stuff for that purpose (specifically to raise money for a minibus for a local group) was fine - we ended up giving him quite a few bits - but you can't help being suspicious in some cases. It smacks of the many leaflets that appear through the door for "Clothing Collections" that in some cases seem to imply they're going to a good cause when in fact it's a company looking to sell stuff on - you feel like you're being deceived.
Then there's the people that say they want something, but don't turn up - leaving you wondering why you have for example kept an evening free when you could have been off doing something much more interesting than waiting for a doorbell to ring. That's happened several times, and you end up feeling so frustrated that you wonder whether this is really worth the candle.
What's the solution to these sort of problems? That's a tricky one, and depends in some ways where your idealism lies. Some people have no particular issue with stuff being sold on - after all, it's still staying out of landfill. Others (like me) don't mind so much if it's being done openly so that you know where it's going. Others would say you shouldn't be allowed to sell on anything under any circumstances. Some groups limit you to one or two "Wanteds" in a month - but can they police people putting themselves in the group multiple times effectively? Given that all the moderators are volunteers doing this in their spare time, that's a pretty big ask.
Another argument is that many of the items offered on Freecycle are the sort that would traditionally have been donated to Charity Shops - who are therefore potentially missing out. That's not the complete story - what charity would for example want the remains of a load of Topsoil, Daffodil Bulbs, Bricks, Windfalls from an Apple Tree, three internal doors, or a somewhat warped Piano, all of which I have seen offered - but it has to be admitted that there is plenty of stuff offered that charities would be happy to take and sell on.
The long and the short of it is that I'm probably just going to set the messages from whatever the group is called to be automatically deleted until such time as I have something to offer - and for many things, first try and find other places where they will be appreciated, such as the Charity Shops run by a couple of my churches and by Churches on the Edge. It feels like a shame, but for the moment Freecycle and the groups operating in a similar line just don't feel the way they should.
Freecycle involves a brilliantly simple concept: if you have something you don't want anymore, but may still be useful, you can offer it free of charge to someone from your local area - thus keeping something still usable out of landfill. No money changes hands, and it's expected that the person who wants the item comes to collect it. You can post "Wanted" ads on there as well, usually after you have already offered at least one item. Mostly what's on offer are things that are simply not worth selling - but that are still useful. For example we've received items including a bundle of clothes for our (then baby) daughter, a wheelbarrow, replacement drawers for our freezer, a food steamer, and a bike suitable for our son. In return we've given away any number of ornaments, a Haynes Manual for a car that had been scrapped, two sofas that were of no further use, videos, and all the other things that had collected in our house that we had no wish to move to the manse.
So where's the problem?
Well to start with what you might call the Freecycle Movement seems to be having more than a bit of internal strife. This article from the Guardian tells part of the story, and it's not hard to find other stuff as well. I'm not about to get into the debate about who is right or wrong, other than to observe that the reaction of The Freecycle Network (TM apparently) to the defection of the Manchester Group (to something that is being called Freegle) has been to set up a "new" Manchester Freecycle Group that at the time of writing has 61 members and no messages, compared to the Manchester "Greencycle" Group's 9500 members and 150 messages since Friday alone. Freecycle however remains the "brand" that people are most likely to have heard of, has a name that very neatly encapsulates what it is about, and the splits are unlikely to help the cause that both sides say they support.
What is more annoying to me now though is that whether it's Freecycle, Greencycle, Freegle or whatever, it is in danger of becoming a victim of its own success. A quick looks at some of the numbers tells a story... 156 messages since Friday Morning: 4 Announcements (mostly about the changeover to Greencycle); 60 Offer messages; 2 Received messages; 23 Taken messages; and 64 Wanted messages. More wanted than offered isn't the way I think a group like this needs to run to be healthy; a quick peruse of the wanteds reveals that many people are looking for what might be called "High Value" items such as Laptops and other computer equipment.
Some of the experiences we've had of offering things have been less than good as well. There are some people who seem to reply to pretty much every message saying it's just what they want etc - we noticed this especially when we cleared a load of stuff out of our loft in Liverpool. Do they really just happen to want every single diverse item for themselves - or are they looking for stuff for a Car Boot sale etc? The one guy who was up front about wanting stuff for that purpose (specifically to raise money for a minibus for a local group) was fine - we ended up giving him quite a few bits - but you can't help being suspicious in some cases. It smacks of the many leaflets that appear through the door for "Clothing Collections" that in some cases seem to imply they're going to a good cause when in fact it's a company looking to sell stuff on - you feel like you're being deceived.
Then there's the people that say they want something, but don't turn up - leaving you wondering why you have for example kept an evening free when you could have been off doing something much more interesting than waiting for a doorbell to ring. That's happened several times, and you end up feeling so frustrated that you wonder whether this is really worth the candle.
What's the solution to these sort of problems? That's a tricky one, and depends in some ways where your idealism lies. Some people have no particular issue with stuff being sold on - after all, it's still staying out of landfill. Others (like me) don't mind so much if it's being done openly so that you know where it's going. Others would say you shouldn't be allowed to sell on anything under any circumstances. Some groups limit you to one or two "Wanteds" in a month - but can they police people putting themselves in the group multiple times effectively? Given that all the moderators are volunteers doing this in their spare time, that's a pretty big ask.
Another argument is that many of the items offered on Freecycle are the sort that would traditionally have been donated to Charity Shops - who are therefore potentially missing out. That's not the complete story - what charity would for example want the remains of a load of Topsoil, Daffodil Bulbs, Bricks, Windfalls from an Apple Tree, three internal doors, or a somewhat warped Piano, all of which I have seen offered - but it has to be admitted that there is plenty of stuff offered that charities would be happy to take and sell on.
The long and the short of it is that I'm probably just going to set the messages from whatever the group is called to be automatically deleted until such time as I have something to offer - and for many things, first try and find other places where they will be appreciated, such as the Charity Shops run by a couple of my churches and by Churches on the Edge. It feels like a shame, but for the moment Freecycle and the groups operating in a similar line just don't feel the way they should.
Tuesday, 11 August 2009
A walk - and annoyance
Today I went for a walk on my own, something I like to do and need to do every now and then. So off I went to Dovestones Reservoir on the edge of the Peak District. As you can see, the scenery even on a cloudy day is pretty impressive.
And then halfway round I saw this.
Do you ever get the feeling that you don't understand what motivates some people? I simply don't get why what was probably a family group goes off somewhere like this for a picnic and then spoils it for others by leaving their rubbish around like that. There were lots of juice bottles, a disposable barbecue, empty cider bottles and lager cans....
I walked on for a few yards, muttering under my breath about the sheer thoughtlessness of others. Then I stopped: I was challenged. Moaning about it wouldn't make the eyesore go away; however, I could make a difference.
Back I went to the pile. Some of the stuff was in carrier bags; I put some more of the rubbish into them. I didn't carry all of it away, because to be honest there was too much - but the five bags worth I did take helped to make it look somewhat better.
Then came another thought. The stuff had probably been there for the best part of a couple of days and in that time how many people had walked past it? Dovestones is a popular place. Dozens? A hundred? More? Most probably found the sight as deplorable as I did, so why did it seem that no-one (or at least the vast majority) had done more than shake their heads about it?
Reflecting on it now, what springs to mind (although it didn't at the time) is the parable of the Good Samaritan. Something obviously wrong, something causing others to shake their heads about the state of society - but no-one stopping to do anything about it.
Apathy reigns... but it doesn't have to.
(For a few more pictures of Dovestones, check out my Flickr account here!)
Saturday, 4 April 2009
Revenge of the Bad Speller
There are times that I realise that I'm becoming something of an Intellectual Snob, and yesterday was one of them. There's some building work happening just outside my Son's school, and this sign has been placed on a blocked path.
If anyone finds out what a Pedestrain is, and why one might need access to anywhere, let me know!
If anyone finds out what a Pedestrain is, and why one might need access to anywhere, let me know!
Monday, 30 March 2009
A little cross....
Some time ago I blogged about making a cross for my study - well, here is the finished article. With the exception of a small screw in the base and the string, it's created only with the bits I picked up on the beach in North Wales last summer.
Wednesday, 18 March 2009
Social Too-Much Networking?
Some time ago now Sally Coleman over at Eternal Echoes talked a little about something she was looking at in terms of whether it is possible to offer Pastoral Care via Blogs and Facebook. I remember at the time thinking that it could be good up to a point, but that face to face is still the best way. However, when it comes to Facebook in particular, I'm beginning to wonder how much is possible.
I wasn't an early adopter of Facebook, but I have become someone that goes on there at least once a day now, and as more and more people join the site (and some of them find me) my friend list went up. I still don't have that many compared to some, but the disparate crew on there includes family, friends from college, people from my University days, one or two people from messageboards I frequent, various people who have roles within the Methodist Church, friends of my wife's.... a wide variety in other words, of people who I have some sort of connection with.
The end result of this is that I'm discovering that I'm being a lot more cautious about what I put on there. There are things I shared last year through my Status that I simply wouldn't post this year: it used to be I knew everyone personally, and in many cases well (or at least well enough to trust with my inner thoughts and feelings), but now there are people I haven't seen in over 15 years, some who I have never actually met in person, and others who while friends are not what I would call close friends. Suddenly sharing some of those things becomes far too risky - do I really want people who are not close to know these things?
Some things are of course still possible, with Messenger conversations and private messages hidden from view - but in some ways I no longer feel that I can be as open because Facebook is throwing up too many friends, too many people who while it is nice to be back in touch with, don't have the same sort of connection to me.
Is this inevitable with Social Networking? One of my favourite Podcasts, Buzz Out Loud, reported recently on a story that a Juror who used Twitter to talk about a verdict before it was announced in court may cause a mistrial.
It's beginning to look that the more people join these services, the more we have to think about how we use them. Facebook does allow you to only share certain things with certain people - are we all going to have to learn how to use it?
I wasn't an early adopter of Facebook, but I have become someone that goes on there at least once a day now, and as more and more people join the site (and some of them find me) my friend list went up. I still don't have that many compared to some, but the disparate crew on there includes family, friends from college, people from my University days, one or two people from messageboards I frequent, various people who have roles within the Methodist Church, friends of my wife's.... a wide variety in other words, of people who I have some sort of connection with.
The end result of this is that I'm discovering that I'm being a lot more cautious about what I put on there. There are things I shared last year through my Status that I simply wouldn't post this year: it used to be I knew everyone personally, and in many cases well (or at least well enough to trust with my inner thoughts and feelings), but now there are people I haven't seen in over 15 years, some who I have never actually met in person, and others who while friends are not what I would call close friends. Suddenly sharing some of those things becomes far too risky - do I really want people who are not close to know these things?
Some things are of course still possible, with Messenger conversations and private messages hidden from view - but in some ways I no longer feel that I can be as open because Facebook is throwing up too many friends, too many people who while it is nice to be back in touch with, don't have the same sort of connection to me.
Is this inevitable with Social Networking? One of my favourite Podcasts, Buzz Out Loud, reported recently on a story that a Juror who used Twitter to talk about a verdict before it was announced in court may cause a mistrial.
It's beginning to look that the more people join these services, the more we have to think about how we use them. Facebook does allow you to only share certain things with certain people - are we all going to have to learn how to use it?
Monday, 16 March 2009
Staff Retreat
Last month saw the Circuit Staff Retreat, which took place over three days at Whalley Abbey - picture above, and more on my Flickr Stream.
It was a great chance to stop, take stock, and take in instead of give out - there was plenty of opportunity to be creative and to enjoy the surroundings; many of the pictures were taken on a walk that some of us did literally from the doorstep.
I did a little bit of writing while there, and I thought I'd share them here....
I found somewhere to sit and rest
I found a place – just me
An opportunity to be refreshed
A chance to simply be.
A thousand things that must be done
How many want things of me!
But God demands a single one:
“Spend time alone with Me!”
The time I spent alone with God
Enabled me to see
It mattered not the speed I trod
Much more, it was with thee.
As I sought silence
Time to spend with God
Sounds reached my straining ears
Birds singing
A distant car
Footsteps
A door opening
My own breathing
Where was the quiet?
How could I seek God?
But in these moments
Those gentle noises
Helped me to know that God sought me.....
“Seek and ye shall find” came the words
And so I went out to seek.
I searched the skies
I searched the Earth
I turned over the rocks
I delved into the deeps of the ocean
I looked in every place I could find
But I did not find what I was seeking.
In despair, I stood still;
In silence, I thought of all I had seen
Then I began to laugh – for I realised that what I had been seeking was there all along,
Just needing me to name and recognise the God that is everywhere that we seek
And that is also within ourselves.
Thursday, 12 March 2009
Baptism - a lasting mark?
It's been a while since I've posted on here, partly because it's been quite busy recently - so there are a few things that I will be trying to catch up on and post here in the next week or so!
I did another baptism - or rather two, as it was two sisters - in the middle of February, which seemed to go fairly well again. A couple of days later I went back to the church to fill in the Baptismal Register and write out the Baptismal Certificates; as I did so, I couldn't help but reflect on the fact that my name and signature is now on some documents that have some lasting significance - there is a lasting mark that I have made on their lives. Should those I have baptised want to go to a Church School, or later on get married in a church, it is my name certifying that they have been baptised; and if the future equivalent of "Who do you think you are" ever features their descendants, if they go and look at registers or certificates it will tell them that I was the one who did the baptism, as well as who the parents were etc.
I say a lasting mark, but some would of course disagree; and just this week I came across an article that included the story of someone who wished to renounce their baptism and have their name removed from a Baptismal Roll (scroll down to the end of the article for it.) He was told it wasn't possible, but what is interesting is in a way that it raises questions about what Baptism is, and what we believe about it. At about the same time, I read a letter in Ichthus - the magazine of LWPT - from someone questioning whether it is still reasonable to hold the view that baptism is once, for all time, and cannot be repeated.
Now, this is where it gets interesting, because the view you take on this depends a lot on where you are coming from. The Secular Society would of course argue that Baptism is essentially meaningless - although it is a little amusing to me that they do provide a "De-Baptism" certificate for download for those who wish to display their lack of belief in God, despite the fact that by their own view the original ceremony has no effect or meaning.... They are of course free to choose this and argue their case - but then, as a believer in God, so am I.
Baptists and others that accept only Believers (ie Adult) Baptism would argue that the baptism is in any case invalid, and reserve the right to re-baptise adults; many other churches (including my own) adopt the position that whenever the baptism is administered, it remains in force.
If you accept that Infant Baptism is valid, there is no need to rebaptise - and in fact many denominations would be very unhappy about this being asked for. My own feeling is that one of the important aspects of Baptism is about God reaching out to us - some of the words are "All this for you, before you could know anything of it." (To use theological language, this is called Prevenient Grace.) It's a sign of God's love which is there for us before we love God, whether we wish to accept it or not - and so, given this, how can a baptism be revoked? I believe that God continues to reach out to us, and even if (like the person in the article) you wish to reject this by regarding it as meaningless ritual or whatever, those of us with faith are also allowed to maintain that this is what we believe is happening with Baptism.
I did another baptism - or rather two, as it was two sisters - in the middle of February, which seemed to go fairly well again. A couple of days later I went back to the church to fill in the Baptismal Register and write out the Baptismal Certificates; as I did so, I couldn't help but reflect on the fact that my name and signature is now on some documents that have some lasting significance - there is a lasting mark that I have made on their lives. Should those I have baptised want to go to a Church School, or later on get married in a church, it is my name certifying that they have been baptised; and if the future equivalent of "Who do you think you are" ever features their descendants, if they go and look at registers or certificates it will tell them that I was the one who did the baptism, as well as who the parents were etc.
I say a lasting mark, but some would of course disagree; and just this week I came across an article that included the story of someone who wished to renounce their baptism and have their name removed from a Baptismal Roll (scroll down to the end of the article for it.) He was told it wasn't possible, but what is interesting is in a way that it raises questions about what Baptism is, and what we believe about it. At about the same time, I read a letter in Ichthus - the magazine of LWPT - from someone questioning whether it is still reasonable to hold the view that baptism is once, for all time, and cannot be repeated.
Now, this is where it gets interesting, because the view you take on this depends a lot on where you are coming from. The Secular Society would of course argue that Baptism is essentially meaningless - although it is a little amusing to me that they do provide a "De-Baptism" certificate for download for those who wish to display their lack of belief in God, despite the fact that by their own view the original ceremony has no effect or meaning.... They are of course free to choose this and argue their case - but then, as a believer in God, so am I.
Baptists and others that accept only Believers (ie Adult) Baptism would argue that the baptism is in any case invalid, and reserve the right to re-baptise adults; many other churches (including my own) adopt the position that whenever the baptism is administered, it remains in force.
If you accept that Infant Baptism is valid, there is no need to rebaptise - and in fact many denominations would be very unhappy about this being asked for. My own feeling is that one of the important aspects of Baptism is about God reaching out to us - some of the words are "All this for you, before you could know anything of it." (To use theological language, this is called Prevenient Grace.) It's a sign of God's love which is there for us before we love God, whether we wish to accept it or not - and so, given this, how can a baptism be revoked? I believe that God continues to reach out to us, and even if (like the person in the article) you wish to reject this by regarding it as meaningless ritual or whatever, those of us with faith are also allowed to maintain that this is what we believe is happening with Baptism.
Wednesday, 11 February 2009
A Pettiness of Politicians
Usually when doing intercessions in Church, I will make a point of praying for all those in positions of power, whatever political party they may represent. Every now and again, you get the feeling that it would be far more appropriate to pray instead for the rest of us who end up looking on in disbelief as the politicians set forth on their latest round of metaphorical face pulling in a way that any respectable playground would find beneath them.
The latest thing is a discussion on the artist Titian. Gordon Brown comments on feeling like Titian, age 90, realising that he might just be getting the hang of painting; David Cameron decides to effectively go "ner-ner-ne-ner-ner" at Prime Minister's Question Time and says Titian died age 86. He said other things too, but when it turns out that the Wikipedia page on Titian doesn't quite back up his claims, someone (we are told some over-enthusiastic staff member) at Tory HQ alters the page to make it look like Titian died four years earlier than he did. When this is uncovered, it suddenly becomes the hot political story of the day.
In other words, rather than getting on with some serious analysis of what's going on here and across the world, a significant amount of time is being devoted to how old a Renaissance Painter was. The irony being that no-one really knows in any case.
Somewhere I once read a quote which went something like this: "At the start of every day's business in the House of Commons, a Priest comes in, looks around at the Members of Parliament, and prays for the people."
The latest thing is a discussion on the artist Titian. Gordon Brown comments on feeling like Titian, age 90, realising that he might just be getting the hang of painting; David Cameron decides to effectively go "ner-ner-ne-ner-ner" at Prime Minister's Question Time and says Titian died age 86. He said other things too, but when it turns out that the Wikipedia page on Titian doesn't quite back up his claims, someone (we are told some over-enthusiastic staff member) at Tory HQ alters the page to make it look like Titian died four years earlier than he did. When this is uncovered, it suddenly becomes the hot political story of the day.
In other words, rather than getting on with some serious analysis of what's going on here and across the world, a significant amount of time is being devoted to how old a Renaissance Painter was. The irony being that no-one really knows in any case.
Somewhere I once read a quote which went something like this: "At the start of every day's business in the House of Commons, a Priest comes in, looks around at the Members of Parliament, and prays for the people."
Tuesday, 10 February 2009
Extended Communion
Today I've been visiting people who, for one reason or another, are unable to receive Communion at Church. As I don't have dispensation to "do" Communion myself, I was doing an "Extended Communion" - taking some of the bread and wine that had been blessed on Sunday, and using it to allow the people I visited to share in the Lord's Supper (as the words in the Order of Service put it.)
I won't get into the way different traditions might see this, but while preparing sheets with the service on and thinking about what is likely to happen when I am able to preside over Communion both in the home and in the Church, I was struck by the fact that in some ways there are some fantastic things about this way of doing a Home Communion.
The main thing in some ways is that Church Members who are in a way detached from the main congregation can receive the same bread and wine, blessed at the same time, as the rest of the congregation. When we talk about sharing in the one loaf, or the one cup, knowing that you are sharing with the people who were there strikes me as being quite a powerful image of how they are part of the congregation even if they find it a struggle to get beyond their own front door.
At the same time there is something of a practicality issue. Bread can only be kept so long before it becomes unsuitable for human consumption, so I am limited to trying to fit all the visits in within two or three days of a given Communion Service. This may not always be practical - there are some people who I am currently unable to visit, and they will have to now wait for the next time there is a Communion - and in the Methodist Church, that's usually something that takes place once a month.... Once I am able to preside, that will cease to be an issue.
Part of me wants to find an alternative solution for after September - one that might allow me to retain the feeling of sharing not just with the one or two people present at a home visit, but with the whole congregation. One possibility might be to actually bake the bread myself (or at least use our Breadmaker), slice and freeze it, and then use this both in Church and in Home Communions. Literally then we would all be sharing in one loaf - even if the blessing of it takes place days or even weeks apart!
I won't get into the way different traditions might see this, but while preparing sheets with the service on and thinking about what is likely to happen when I am able to preside over Communion both in the home and in the Church, I was struck by the fact that in some ways there are some fantastic things about this way of doing a Home Communion.
The main thing in some ways is that Church Members who are in a way detached from the main congregation can receive the same bread and wine, blessed at the same time, as the rest of the congregation. When we talk about sharing in the one loaf, or the one cup, knowing that you are sharing with the people who were there strikes me as being quite a powerful image of how they are part of the congregation even if they find it a struggle to get beyond their own front door.
At the same time there is something of a practicality issue. Bread can only be kept so long before it becomes unsuitable for human consumption, so I am limited to trying to fit all the visits in within two or three days of a given Communion Service. This may not always be practical - there are some people who I am currently unable to visit, and they will have to now wait for the next time there is a Communion - and in the Methodist Church, that's usually something that takes place once a month.... Once I am able to preside, that will cease to be an issue.
Part of me wants to find an alternative solution for after September - one that might allow me to retain the feeling of sharing not just with the one or two people present at a home visit, but with the whole congregation. One possibility might be to actually bake the bread myself (or at least use our Breadmaker), slice and freeze it, and then use this both in Church and in Home Communions. Literally then we would all be sharing in one loaf - even if the blessing of it takes place days or even weeks apart!
Monday, 2 February 2009
I went for a walk on a Winter's day....
With Manchester, in common with the rest of the UK, covered in the white stuff, I thought I'd share a few photos with you all of my trip out to do some Pastoral Visiting this morning.
Now, if you are thinking "aren't you in Manchester" the answer is yes - in fact, where I live is not far away from Sportcity, where Manchester City play.
And so is all of this! This is Clayton Vale, a small stretch of what is actually part of the Medlock Valley. I walked through it on my way to do my visiting.
This is pretty much on my doorstep, and we take advantage of it - who knows what green spaces there are where you are!
Hat tip to Sally Coleman, who frequently does a bit of photo-blogging of where she has been walking, together with plenty of other stuff that's well worth checking out. Sally is someone I met at Connexional Candidates Committee, when we were both accepted for Presbyteral Ministry, just under two years ago and her blog contains reflections on where she is at, poetry, sermon thoughts and much more.
Sunday, 4 January 2009
Crying with Laughter!
Anyone that has ever seen me lose it completely would have been in for a treat tonight.... for those that have never seen it, when something really tickles me I turn into a helpless quaking laughter machine, tears rolling down my cheeks, usually to the complete bemusement of those around me as it's often something that others don't quite get.
In this case, it was one of my Christmas Presents. Some time ago I discovered a rather wonderful book that for those of an easily-offended nature I shall call the "Alton Towers Book". Written by the people behind the website of the non-existent newspaper the Framley Examiner, it was a book about what it described as "Uncommonly British Days Out" - about as far removed from the average theme park as you can get. It featured such delights as the former Nuclear Bunker at Kelvedon, Southport's Lawnmower Museum, the Cumberland Pencil Museum, the set of Eastenders - or at least such of it as is visible over the fence that surrounds it, the David Beckham Trail, and the Morpeth Bagpipe Museum.
Unsurprisingly, the same authors have come up with a sequel. While reading this tonight I came across the chapter on the National Coracle Centre, and there, in the footnotes, was something that reduced me to tears.
One of the events apparently done in coracles involves a race in Yorkshire in coracles made effectively from Yorkshire Pudding Batter. The footnote pointed out another project from the person that made this happen: the North Yorkshire Elvis Bus Tour, in which a group of people dressed like Elvis, and went on a Bus Tour round Ryedale. Singing Elvis Songs. To the tune of "On Ilkley Moor Baht 'At." (Incidentally, there's a little bit more about it here.)
This may give you an insight into my sense of humour, or it may not. Either way, you have been warned.....
In this case, it was one of my Christmas Presents. Some time ago I discovered a rather wonderful book that for those of an easily-offended nature I shall call the "Alton Towers Book". Written by the people behind the website of the non-existent newspaper the Framley Examiner, it was a book about what it described as "Uncommonly British Days Out" - about as far removed from the average theme park as you can get. It featured such delights as the former Nuclear Bunker at Kelvedon, Southport's Lawnmower Museum, the Cumberland Pencil Museum, the set of Eastenders - or at least such of it as is visible over the fence that surrounds it, the David Beckham Trail, and the Morpeth Bagpipe Museum.
Unsurprisingly, the same authors have come up with a sequel. While reading this tonight I came across the chapter on the National Coracle Centre, and there, in the footnotes, was something that reduced me to tears.
One of the events apparently done in coracles involves a race in Yorkshire in coracles made effectively from Yorkshire Pudding Batter. The footnote pointed out another project from the person that made this happen: the North Yorkshire Elvis Bus Tour, in which a group of people dressed like Elvis, and went on a Bus Tour round Ryedale. Singing Elvis Songs. To the tune of "On Ilkley Moor Baht 'At." (Incidentally, there's a little bit more about it here.)
This may give you an insight into my sense of humour, or it may not. Either way, you have been warned.....
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)