For me the interest is also that this Christian hymn at first sounds like what we associate with the adhan, the call to prayer in a masjid (mosque). And to hear this plays a part, for me, in realising that there is a far more ancient set of traditions that Islam drew on for its religious expressions (another being the prostrations in prayer which probably came from the practice of Byzantine monks in the middle east, in fact I'm actually wondering whether there is mileage in looking at Islam as a form of laicised monasticism).Nouslife is a wonderful place for things to ponder - check it out.
Anyway, enjoy. And the linguists might also enjoy spotting similarities to Hebrew and odd words and phrases that you recognise from elsewhere.
I'm also interested in the way that essentially static images (mostly icons) are used to give an interesting and helpful 'moving' storyboard.
Saturday, 22 December 2007
Arabic Hymn of The Nativity
Thanks to Andii over at Nouslife for this rather wonderful reminder of the Middle Eastern roots of our faith, as well as the reminder that not all Arabs are Muslims. He writes:
Tuesday, 18 December 2007
Facebook: Feelgood or Force for Change
It shouldn't come as a surprise to most of my readers that I'm on Facebook - indeed I'm sure some of you have found this blog from it. (After all, the nifty little sitemeter gadget is an efficient little spy...)
Facebook, and other social networking sites like it, often provoke an interesting variety of reactions, from incomprehension through suspicion through avid fandom, and all stages in between. It can be a highly addictive medium, after all. What starts as a simple means of keeping in touch with friends spreads. I must confess to browsing through the lists of my friends friends in the hope of reconnecting with other old friends and acquaintances, and very rewarding it is too.
Then there's a variety of rather simple and simplistic games, all carefully packaged to draw you in further and help you to waste precious time during work hours playing Tetris or Scrabble look-a-likes.
If that wasn't enough there's the opportunity to identify yourself with various pre-existing networks, through the medium of common email addresses from what I can tell, which explains how my only network is EMUT.*
Then there are groups, opportunities to join with folks of a like mind, either by invitation or by random, ranging from the entirely serious through the darkly humorous, the slightly morbid and the gently (or not so gently) ridiculous. There's even causes, which I haven't yet really explored, simply because I don't quite trust anything that purports to donate money simply for membership.
And it's all free. To join costs you nothing, or rather, costs nothing in money. And here, possibly, is the Dark Side. Every application you add gets your personal details in the form of an email address, and the right to look at your other data, so far as I can tell. There have been warnings about grounds for possible identity theft - for example your "friends" can see everything you put there (although there are privacy options), including potentially useful information for stealing your identity, or helping to access other "secure" on-line sites. It wouldn't be too easy to gather details like "pet's name" (a frequent reminder for passwords), or "first school" and the like. Using them wouldn't be so easy, but not that difficult either for the dedicated cyber-criminal.
On top of that there's the danger of what could be termed "cyber-stalking." That old acquaintance you thought so much of a while back? They might (and often do) post all sorts of photographs of themselves. Combine that with a willingness to impart seemingly random information to on-line interviews and your left with a strange mix of permissive voyeurism and the feeling of knowing someone when really you do not.
As usual (and this is typical ENTJ behaviour, I'm led to believe) I've only just reached the point I wanted to post about...
It took me a while to find out about the televisual protest of Archbishop John Sentamu recently. and I'm impressed. A grand act in keeping with the prophetic actions of the Old Testament Prophets. Of itself it will achieve nothing though. That is not cynicism, that is blatant fact. A hardened individual like Robert Mugabe (however charitable or not you may wish to be about him) will not be quaking in his boots as a result.
I am, however, somewhat of a cynical and sceptical bent. So when a Facebook group "York vs Mugabe" sprang up my main question was "is there really any point in my joining this?" Set aside the literal issue of the title, with me not being in York, but what is it. Yes, a bunch of like-minded people, and, forgive my cynicism again, naybe some folks who would like to jump on a bandwagon. Don't get me wrong - I applaud the Archbishop. But the point of the prophetic is to speak a word, that at least in part, brings change. Which brings me back to the original question, "is there really any point in my joining this?" If I don't do something, then the answer is no.
Now all that would be a really rather and negative post if I left it there, but then I stumbled upon this, Power of Facebook affects law.
The question it begs of me, and all of us, is really whether I'm willing to get up and do something, or whether I just sit behind my keyboard pontificating?
(*EMUT - East Midlands University Town)
Facebook, and other social networking sites like it, often provoke an interesting variety of reactions, from incomprehension through suspicion through avid fandom, and all stages in between. It can be a highly addictive medium, after all. What starts as a simple means of keeping in touch with friends spreads. I must confess to browsing through the lists of my friends friends in the hope of reconnecting with other old friends and acquaintances, and very rewarding it is too.
Then there's a variety of rather simple and simplistic games, all carefully packaged to draw you in further and help you to waste precious time during work hours playing Tetris or Scrabble look-a-likes.
If that wasn't enough there's the opportunity to identify yourself with various pre-existing networks, through the medium of common email addresses from what I can tell, which explains how my only network is EMUT.*
Then there are groups, opportunities to join with folks of a like mind, either by invitation or by random, ranging from the entirely serious through the darkly humorous, the slightly morbid and the gently (or not so gently) ridiculous. There's even causes, which I haven't yet really explored, simply because I don't quite trust anything that purports to donate money simply for membership.
And it's all free. To join costs you nothing, or rather, costs nothing in money. And here, possibly, is the Dark Side. Every application you add gets your personal details in the form of an email address, and the right to look at your other data, so far as I can tell. There have been warnings about grounds for possible identity theft - for example your "friends" can see everything you put there (although there are privacy options), including potentially useful information for stealing your identity, or helping to access other "secure" on-line sites. It wouldn't be too easy to gather details like "pet's name" (a frequent reminder for passwords), or "first school" and the like. Using them wouldn't be so easy, but not that difficult either for the dedicated cyber-criminal.
On top of that there's the danger of what could be termed "cyber-stalking." That old acquaintance you thought so much of a while back? They might (and often do) post all sorts of photographs of themselves. Combine that with a willingness to impart seemingly random information to on-line interviews and your left with a strange mix of permissive voyeurism and the feeling of knowing someone when really you do not.
As usual (and this is typical ENTJ behaviour, I'm led to believe) I've only just reached the point I wanted to post about...
It took me a while to find out about the televisual protest of Archbishop John Sentamu recently. and I'm impressed. A grand act in keeping with the prophetic actions of the Old Testament Prophets. Of itself it will achieve nothing though. That is not cynicism, that is blatant fact. A hardened individual like Robert Mugabe (however charitable or not you may wish to be about him) will not be quaking in his boots as a result.
I am, however, somewhat of a cynical and sceptical bent. So when a Facebook group "York vs Mugabe" sprang up my main question was "is there really any point in my joining this?" Set aside the literal issue of the title, with me not being in York, but what is it. Yes, a bunch of like-minded people, and, forgive my cynicism again, naybe some folks who would like to jump on a bandwagon. Don't get me wrong - I applaud the Archbishop. But the point of the prophetic is to speak a word, that at least in part, brings change. Which brings me back to the original question, "is there really any point in my joining this?" If I don't do something, then the answer is no.
Now all that would be a really rather and negative post if I left it there, but then I stumbled upon this, Power of Facebook affects law.
The question it begs of me, and all of us, is really whether I'm willing to get up and do something, or whether I just sit behind my keyboard pontificating?
(*EMUT - East Midlands University Town)
Monday, 17 December 2007
Keeping up with God
Another one of David's poems. And a rather fine one, I think:
*Keeping up with God?*
Keeping up with God?
Some hope!
Down to earth,
conceived as an outcast,
he cries as a baby,
eludes a child-killer,
flees as a refugee,
seeks political asylum,
is worshipped as royalty
and marked as elected
but grows in obscurity
and disappears from sight
till, tried and tested, he emerges
to defy expectations,
redefine religion,
reorder hierarchies,
alienate authorities,
rip open disgrace and death
and keep all his promises,
welcoming all respondents.
Keeping up with God?
What a hope!
© David Grieve 2007
Wednesday, 12 December 2007
Shameless Plug
Those of you appreciate the poems my friend David sends me, and then graciously allows me to "publish" here, may appreciate the following:
*Not for Sale*
editors:Carrie Pemberton, Lucy Berry and Alison Myers
Human trafficking is one of the most disturbing realities of life in
modern Europe. Here is a collection of texts for all who want to raise
awareness and make their contribution to ending the suffering of thousands
of innocent victims living on our doorstep.
978 1 905958 11 5 (P) 120pp
Available now from your book seller
Price: £12.99
This resource book is a fitting contribution to the debate raised on
slavery issues in the bicentenary year of celebrating Wilberforce's
achievements. Slavery continues, not least in the sex trade. It is a well
produced and thought-provoking contribution.
Among the many contributors is Jean Mayland (ex-diocese of Durham) and
yours truly: my two poems *Sex Slavery* and *When Our Hearts are Wintry*
(2007) are included
see https://secure2.cyberware.co.uk/~cb537/acatalog/Living_Faith.html
(scroll down)
David
In Praise of Old Technology
When I was young (so much younger than today...) I was always fascinated by one particular piece of cleaning equipment. It was something slightly mysterious, picking up things from the floor with barely a sound and light enough for a primary school-age child to manipulate without falling over power cables or suffering deafening noise.
My wife discovered one a couple of weeks back in pile of stuff literally just thrown out into the street awaiting the rubbish collection. Not only is it nostalgic, but it is efficient, faster to deploy than the vacuum cleaner, promotes vigourous exercise, and most effectively of all, can be used after the children have gone to bed without fear of awakening them.
So praise God for the Blessed Saint Ewbank, the patron of all carpet sweepers!
My wife discovered one a couple of weeks back in pile of stuff literally just thrown out into the street awaiting the rubbish collection. Not only is it nostalgic, but it is efficient, faster to deploy than the vacuum cleaner, promotes vigourous exercise, and most effectively of all, can be used after the children have gone to bed without fear of awakening them.
So praise God for the Blessed Saint Ewbank, the patron of all carpet sweepers!
Saturday, 8 December 2007
Hope? We're going to need it.
Sermon for this Sunday, Advent 2.
If there is a single word that links all the readings today it's hope.
For Isaiah, speaking to his people, the vision he offers in something that must have seemed nearly impossible – nothing more than the restoration of national fortune after near total catastrophe. Israel was like a tree, cut down to a stump, and yet here was a picture of new-growth wildly greater than what had gone before. It would have been very easy to discount ti at the time because it would have seemed so unlikely. But nevertheless there it is – the promise of new growth and revival that is ultimately understood in the coming of Jesus. Isaiah offers hope in the darkness.
So does John the Baptist to the people of Judea, under the yoke of the powerful empire of Rome. Although his words, are rather less than hope for all. The ordinary people may come after a baptism of repentance, but not the Pharisees and the Sadducees. Indeed John questions what they might hope for, or even hope in. As far as he is concerned they seem to be placing their hope in their lineage as Sons of Abraham, the greatest of the Patriarchs, who received the promise of unnumbered descendants and divine favour.
It's almost the very opposite of John's message. He is calling people to repent. And repentance is a much-misunderstood word. Maybe as part of our preparation and penitence in Advent it's worth pausing to ponder. It doesn't mean being sorry, or even owning up to the gravity of the situation. It is possible to regret, but not to repent.
It's not like a small child saying sorry because they've been told to, the sort of sorrow that isn't particularly real. Repentance is reasoned regret coupled with righteous response. It's about a 180-degree turn of attitude and action. The Highway Code frowns on U-turns, but they bring a smile to the face of God.
John the Baptist sees through the visiting “religious professionals” and challenges them to respond in the strongest of terms. The hope he offers both to them, and to the “ordinary” people is the imminent approach of the coming of God – maybe a little like how we now might understand the Second Coming. The great wrap-up at the End of Time.
John might not have got quite what he expected, but he recognised and knew enough to see Jesus as the one through whom this would all be made manifest – as well as to warn those who leant on their lineage as a shelter from divine judgement.
In Romans we are called to nothing less than a continued hope in Christ. Paul encourages his hearers, and hence us, to engage with three things: The past of our faith – our Bibles, the person of our faith - Jesus Christ, and the people of our faith – each other.
Isaiah's contemporaries maybe didn't know what to hope, other than starting from a recognition that things could only get better.
John's hearers were challenged to put their hope in the grace of God, rather than in their genealogy.
Romans – what hope does that offer? Nothing less than “all joy and peace.” Not though as an abstract something, divorced from reality, but an end that requires something of us, or from us. Paul encourages his readers to an attitude and reality of unity. Not a mere acceptance, but a unity as we follow Christ.
He reminds them of the place of Jesus, the Saviour we await, coming in the sheer ordinariness and humility of a servant to his people. He reminds us that this is a fulfilment of the great hopes of the founding fathers of the Jewish race – a fulfilment of the faith of Abraham.
It's something that goes beyond the old though – the mission of Jesus is that the Gentiles may glorify God. It is so that we, who stand outside the tradition and genealogy of the Jewish people, may come to faith in the God who has revealed himself through them.
But I'd like to return to that word hope. Isaiah's hearers needed something, or somebody, to sort then out and bring them hope in the darkness. The ordinary people who flocked to John the Baptist placed their hopes in the grace and forgiveness of God, even as the religious leaders singularly failed to do so.
And us, what do we hope for? A mended roof? A full church? A healthy bank balance? Even a full-time vicar? Maybe, dare we, ask the question that applied to the Pharisees and Sadducees: in what or who are we hoping? We are offered in Christ the hope of “all joy and peace” - but do we really need it? Do our current straits place us in somewhere where we need to rely on divinely-offered hope?
At the risk of being contentious, if we are happy and content with the status quo, or think that we can solve our own problems, then we do not need hope at all. But if we want our church to be making a difference, both in the village and on the estate we really do need hope.
We need it because the only way forward lies in raising our game, to use a sporting adage. It will require leaving behind some (or more than some) of our comfort. It will involve change, because change is an integral feature of growth.
I think we all know that already, in our heads if not yet in our hearts, but like the difference between regret and repentance it requires action, not just acknowledgement.
Action in using our facilities like the Old Schools to better effect.
In learning and growing in our faith so that we can see and understand how we need to share it with others.
In considering the messages our practices send to those outside our fellowship, and respond accordingly.
And I use the plural, “us” and “our” advisedly, because it can't, won't and shouldn't all come from the vicar. I know that we aren't all going to agree. That's the only thing that is a certainty!
As we prepare for Christmas, the celebration of the Incarnation, the power of heaven infiltrating the grubby realm of humanity let's prepare to grasp, and to respond, to the reasons why the Son of God came. Why it matters. Why we need to respond, individually and corporately.
As God made promises to the Patriarchs to spread his name to the Gentiles so that they would give him glory, so we need to hold on to that promise – that God will be faithful. Faithful in his promise to those outside our circle, our Church family, to our own Gentiles, if you like. That they may come to glorify God for his mercy too.
And to do that we really will need to hope and trust in the power of God, in our place and in our time.
May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give us a spirit of unity among ourselves as we follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth we may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
If there is a single word that links all the readings today it's hope.
For Isaiah, speaking to his people, the vision he offers in something that must have seemed nearly impossible – nothing more than the restoration of national fortune after near total catastrophe. Israel was like a tree, cut down to a stump, and yet here was a picture of new-growth wildly greater than what had gone before. It would have been very easy to discount ti at the time because it would have seemed so unlikely. But nevertheless there it is – the promise of new growth and revival that is ultimately understood in the coming of Jesus. Isaiah offers hope in the darkness.
So does John the Baptist to the people of Judea, under the yoke of the powerful empire of Rome. Although his words, are rather less than hope for all. The ordinary people may come after a baptism of repentance, but not the Pharisees and the Sadducees. Indeed John questions what they might hope for, or even hope in. As far as he is concerned they seem to be placing their hope in their lineage as Sons of Abraham, the greatest of the Patriarchs, who received the promise of unnumbered descendants and divine favour.
It's almost the very opposite of John's message. He is calling people to repent. And repentance is a much-misunderstood word. Maybe as part of our preparation and penitence in Advent it's worth pausing to ponder. It doesn't mean being sorry, or even owning up to the gravity of the situation. It is possible to regret, but not to repent.
It's not like a small child saying sorry because they've been told to, the sort of sorrow that isn't particularly real. Repentance is reasoned regret coupled with righteous response. It's about a 180-degree turn of attitude and action. The Highway Code frowns on U-turns, but they bring a smile to the face of God.
John the Baptist sees through the visiting “religious professionals” and challenges them to respond in the strongest of terms. The hope he offers both to them, and to the “ordinary” people is the imminent approach of the coming of God – maybe a little like how we now might understand the Second Coming. The great wrap-up at the End of Time.
John might not have got quite what he expected, but he recognised and knew enough to see Jesus as the one through whom this would all be made manifest – as well as to warn those who leant on their lineage as a shelter from divine judgement.
In Romans we are called to nothing less than a continued hope in Christ. Paul encourages his hearers, and hence us, to engage with three things: The past of our faith – our Bibles, the person of our faith - Jesus Christ, and the people of our faith – each other.
Isaiah's contemporaries maybe didn't know what to hope, other than starting from a recognition that things could only get better.
John's hearers were challenged to put their hope in the grace of God, rather than in their genealogy.
Romans – what hope does that offer? Nothing less than “all joy and peace.” Not though as an abstract something, divorced from reality, but an end that requires something of us, or from us. Paul encourages his readers to an attitude and reality of unity. Not a mere acceptance, but a unity as we follow Christ.
He reminds them of the place of Jesus, the Saviour we await, coming in the sheer ordinariness and humility of a servant to his people. He reminds us that this is a fulfilment of the great hopes of the founding fathers of the Jewish race – a fulfilment of the faith of Abraham.
It's something that goes beyond the old though – the mission of Jesus is that the Gentiles may glorify God. It is so that we, who stand outside the tradition and genealogy of the Jewish people, may come to faith in the God who has revealed himself through them.
But I'd like to return to that word hope. Isaiah's hearers needed something, or somebody, to sort then out and bring them hope in the darkness. The ordinary people who flocked to John the Baptist placed their hopes in the grace and forgiveness of God, even as the religious leaders singularly failed to do so.
And us, what do we hope for? A mended roof? A full church? A healthy bank balance? Even a full-time vicar? Maybe, dare we, ask the question that applied to the Pharisees and Sadducees: in what or who are we hoping? We are offered in Christ the hope of “all joy and peace” - but do we really need it? Do our current straits place us in somewhere where we need to rely on divinely-offered hope?
At the risk of being contentious, if we are happy and content with the status quo, or think that we can solve our own problems, then we do not need hope at all. But if we want our church to be making a difference, both in the village and on the estate we really do need hope.
We need it because the only way forward lies in raising our game, to use a sporting adage. It will require leaving behind some (or more than some) of our comfort. It will involve change, because change is an integral feature of growth.
I think we all know that already, in our heads if not yet in our hearts, but like the difference between regret and repentance it requires action, not just acknowledgement.
Action in using our facilities like the Old Schools to better effect.
In learning and growing in our faith so that we can see and understand how we need to share it with others.
In considering the messages our practices send to those outside our fellowship, and respond accordingly.
And I use the plural, “us” and “our” advisedly, because it can't, won't and shouldn't all come from the vicar. I know that we aren't all going to agree. That's the only thing that is a certainty!
As we prepare for Christmas, the celebration of the Incarnation, the power of heaven infiltrating the grubby realm of humanity let's prepare to grasp, and to respond, to the reasons why the Son of God came. Why it matters. Why we need to respond, individually and corporately.
As God made promises to the Patriarchs to spread his name to the Gentiles so that they would give him glory, so we need to hold on to that promise – that God will be faithful. Faithful in his promise to those outside our circle, our Church family, to our own Gentiles, if you like. That they may come to glorify God for his mercy too.
And to do that we really will need to hope and trust in the power of God, in our place and in our time.
May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give us a spirit of unity among ourselves as we follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth we may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Wednesday, 5 December 2007
Comparison Shopping
It probably says more about me than I'd like to admit, but I took some time this morning (on my day off) to do a little comparison shopping, both getting an idea of prices and engaging in some real spending. And I really rather enjoyed it. Sad, or what?
I'm still in a state of mild shock after a visit to a retail park for some computer gubbins.
I was after decent scanner/copier, a LAN card and a long Ethernet cable (10-15m). I couldn't do a price comparison for the Gigabit LAN card, but the others are rather telling.
Samsung SCX4200 scanner, mono laser copier/printer*:
PC World: £129.98
Staples: £109.99
Belkin 15m CAT6 cable:
PC World: at least £39.99 (labeling somewhat unclear)
Staples: £27.99
£32 difference for 10 minutes research! I can't really understand why there should be such a difference, other than one shop, which busily and loudly touts itself as the place to go for all things computer-related is busy ripping off consumers on peripherals. I didn't do it this time but Maplin seem consistently on the cheaper side too, as long as you know what you're looking for, and maybe that's the key phrase here.
A salutary reminder of the value of just taking a little time. (Perhaps I should go and find a nice book/DVD/RPG...?)
* why this? Firstly I had to leave behind my SCX4100 at my last job - a similar machine that had come as a freebie with a Colour Laser copier. Secondly because I've already got a perfectly decent, if venerable colour inkjet (HP845c). I'm not sure I'd organise it this way if I were starting from scratch, but I'm not.
I'm still in a state of mild shock after a visit to a retail park for some computer gubbins.
I was after decent scanner/copier, a LAN card and a long Ethernet cable (10-15m). I couldn't do a price comparison for the Gigabit LAN card, but the others are rather telling.
Samsung SCX4200 scanner, mono laser copier/printer*:
PC World: £129.98
Staples: £109.99
Belkin 15m CAT6 cable:
PC World: at least £39.99 (labeling somewhat unclear)
Staples: £27.99
£32 difference for 10 minutes research! I can't really understand why there should be such a difference, other than one shop, which busily and loudly touts itself as the place to go for all things computer-related is busy ripping off consumers on peripherals. I didn't do it this time but Maplin seem consistently on the cheaper side too, as long as you know what you're looking for, and maybe that's the key phrase here.
A salutary reminder of the value of just taking a little time. (Perhaps I should go and find a nice book/DVD/RPG...?)
* why this? Firstly I had to leave behind my SCX4100 at my last job - a similar machine that had come as a freebie with a Colour Laser copier. Secondly because I've already got a perfectly decent, if venerable colour inkjet (HP845c). I'm not sure I'd organise it this way if I were starting from scratch, but I'm not.
Tuesday, 4 December 2007
Why Chocolate Advent Calendars are Evil
In an idle moment I've discovered that my college friend Andy''s blog has been laid to rest. I hadn't noticed for a few months, what with the move and having never managed to get a working RSS feed. (Memo to self: set up RSS for this.)
What I did discover is this - in a sort of follow-on endeavour. Read it. It's good and it's thought-provoking, (as well as reminding me, along with other recent events and reading, that I'm really rather theologically and intellectually lazy and lacking in rigour. However, it's one thing to recognise it, it's another to know what to do about it!)
What I did discover is this - in a sort of follow-on endeavour. Read it. It's good and it's thought-provoking, (as well as reminding me, along with other recent events and reading, that I'm really rather theologically and intellectually lazy and lacking in rigour. However, it's one thing to recognise it, it's another to know what to do about it!)
Monday, 3 December 2007
To Be or Not To Be Faithful
One of David's marvellous poems: a fine start to the week.
To Be or Not To Be FaithfulSeveral anthologies of David's poetry are available. Please contact me for details.
Waking from sleep, and not before time,
the alarm has called me to get ready
to join the no beginning and no ending
duty and joy.
The church bells invite one and all
to assemble in
the ever-renewing life form
into which the self-giving Lord pours himself,
Having, apparently, no regard
for the risks involved
or the untidiness created
by entrusting himself to
an in-the-body-experience,
indwelt humanity.
There is, nevertheless,
always the freedom
to turn him down and throw him out,
perhaps allowing him shelter
in some sort of out of sight annexe,
As if hunger, need, fulfilment
and his sheer attractiveness
can ever be completely laid to one side.
© David Grieve 2007
Saturday, 1 December 2007
And another thing they don't tell you....
Two more illustrations today about the dangers of presumption. Not a grumble, merely the reflections of a green vicar... to remind me and to help any others!
Firstly on a visit to church to do some last minute Advent preparation the comment along the lines of "you do know about so-and-so who broke her hip a few weeks ago?"
Well, no actually. The vicar is, as usual, the last person to know. This is the story of my life, it is nothing new, since on many occasions in several churches and universities I've been faced with a question about why I wasn't at such-and-such's party, leaving me blank-faced and saying "what party?" The only recommendation I can make is to behave as we do do in the Prayer of Humble Access, "we do not presume..." I'd rather have 5 phone calls repeating the information than not know.
Then a chance conversation had by GLW in the florist's while she was picking up some oasis for the Advent wreath the children will be making. "A (former vicar) always orders a Christmas tree for church from me. If you want one this year get your husband to call me today..."
Now, I have to confess, I had never asked about Christmas trees. My curacy ended awhile ago, and was followed by the events in ME19, so any memories from there are a little hazy, and, after all, a group has already volunteered to decorate the church for Christmas "as usual" and muggins here had not thought to ask quite what that might normally entail. To be honest I'm such a Puritan at times that a lack of Christmas tree in church would probably pass un-noticed. I just hope we don't end up with two!
Perhaps all this is why other clergy friends are already getting sick of Christmas, even before Advent has started. Perhaps they actually know what to do!
Oh well, at least I've got the carols chosen for our Carols on Campus on Dec 11th, even if I will only have half an hour to get clear from a funeral that's just come in...
Firstly on a visit to church to do some last minute Advent preparation the comment along the lines of "you do know about so-and-so who broke her hip a few weeks ago?"
Well, no actually. The vicar is, as usual, the last person to know. This is the story of my life, it is nothing new, since on many occasions in several churches and universities I've been faced with a question about why I wasn't at such-and-such's party, leaving me blank-faced and saying "what party?" The only recommendation I can make is to behave as we do do in the Prayer of Humble Access, "we do not presume..." I'd rather have 5 phone calls repeating the information than not know.
Then a chance conversation had by GLW in the florist's while she was picking up some oasis for the Advent wreath the children will be making. "A (former vicar) always orders a Christmas tree for church from me. If you want one this year get your husband to call me today..."
Now, I have to confess, I had never asked about Christmas trees. My curacy ended awhile ago, and was followed by the events in ME19, so any memories from there are a little hazy, and, after all, a group has already volunteered to decorate the church for Christmas "as usual" and muggins here had not thought to ask quite what that might normally entail. To be honest I'm such a Puritan at times that a lack of Christmas tree in church would probably pass un-noticed. I just hope we don't end up with two!
Perhaps all this is why other clergy friends are already getting sick of Christmas, even before Advent has started. Perhaps they actually know what to do!
Oh well, at least I've got the carols chosen for our Carols on Campus on Dec 11th, even if I will only have half an hour to get clear from a funeral that's just come in...
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