Monthly Archives: July 2010

the queen and the nuns

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I clawed back a day off yesterday and went to London as a family. We went especially to watch Sister Act which was simply amazing – and a surprise for our children. Many will know that at Christmas we and Andrew and Sarah buy each other 5 tickets for the same show as a Christmas present … this year we have been a bit slow but my Sarah got a good family deal 2 weeks ago and the dates worked.

We were in row D which was brilliant. I have never been so close to the stage before and being able to see, close up, the facial expressions as well as the voices gave a whole new experience to our families. Sheila Hancock played a fantastic role as we expected and hoped she would. The show was great and I wondered about talking to Scott, our Director of Music, about stealing some ideas for our Eucharist service on a Sunday …. who knows what might happen!

Before the show we, as a family, visited Buckingham Palace – another first for us. The day before Sarah booked tickets after wondering what we could do with the children during the day as it seemed a shame to miss out on a day in London and just go up for the show.

I must admit I was not that impressed with the idea. Being a good socialist who really is not a fan of the Royal Family the last thing I wanted to do was wander around the palace and rub shoulders with lots of Royal Family fans! I was, however, very impressed. The hand held guides give loads of information in an incredibly accessible way and the rooms were simply stunning! I guess we all know they must be … but to see them was quite breath taking.

I guess, for me, the most interesting thing, and stressed a fair bit by the guide, was that this is a ‘working palace’ and that there are very few of them around in the world. Beautifully crafted items that would be museum pieces elsewhere are in everyday use in this setting which is pretty impressive – even to me as an anti-royalist! I did wonder about the many churches that could learn from this philosophy – of making sure we use the things that are precious to do us, rather than just lock them away. There is something that enhances the beauty of an object when that object continues to be used for the purpose it was designed for. When it becomes a ‘show piece’ it seems to lose dignity. But … I digress!

Walking around the state rooms was a pretty good experience – even for someone like me! So I guess I am saying it’s worth a visit!

inception reality?

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Saw Inception last night which was a pretty cool film. It had elements of Matrix while exploring mind control through dreams and traveling through different layers of ‘reality’. Yes the film poses that old question of ‘what is reality’ and leaves you guessing …. and it does it well.

I like to grab or collect quotes from films which make me sit up. The sit up quote last night was … ‘you know what you know, but what do you believe?’ The film explores that fragile dimension between knowledge and belief which is something I am pretty interested in. There are other quotes around the need to dream bigger along with our reluctance, or fear, to do so.

The imagery is uses for our different levels of consciousness are quite interesting – but it would spoil the movie for you if I gave them away here. I suspect this imagery is more powerful than I realised and I’m guessing the film needs a second viewing to fully take the imagery in.

The film does have quite a sinister edge to it that I like … it leave you wondering but also leaves you concerned that others are able to manipulate the thoughts of others …. and how the sowing of little seeds of ideas can have pretty major consequences.

This is probably the action movie of the summer!

words and pictures

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In my blog catch up over the weekend I have come across two great posts today.

The first I came across is a picture from Naked Pastor of the woman caught in adultery. It’s an image which will cause the viewer to pause and think and ask what is happening. I love the way that the stern-ness of the condemners is contrasted with the vulnerability of the woman – go have a look!

The second is a great confession, using some pretty challenging but refreshing language, over on Digging a Lot. The language is thought provoking which I think is quite important in confession liturgy; one such line being:

When we live as driven people and excuse our lack of peace, when we snap with anger because we did not attend to the body’s need for sleep, when we forget that our bodies are temples and not dumping grounds for waste,
forgive us, O God, and have mercy.

textus exhibition

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The Textus Roffensis is on display in the cathedral crypt over these 3 days until Wednesday. To be honest I’m not really into history and old documents but it’s an important document, written a long time ago (1123) and is the erliest example we have of the written English language. Apparantly it is also the first laws to be written and is said to have influenced those who penned the Magna Carta.

So …. its free and if you are in the area why not pop into the cathedral to have a look. Even history- aversions like me will pop in for a look! More details of the exhibition here. I blogged about this here a little while ago as well.

solo wedding

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It’s been a great weekend and on Saturday I did my first wedding alone (as in without another priest to hold my hand) in the cathedral. Its seemed to go well but most importantly the bride and groom and their family were very happy.

I was again quite nervous – probably more so knowing there was no one to bail me out of I lost my way or was not sure of what was going on. But … it shows that those involved in my training have done a good job as all went ok. 
The most amazing thing as I reflect on the day and experience is the privilege it is to share with Zoe and Tony and to be able to play just a small part in their family history is a pretty amazing experience. Please pray for them as they start their married life together.

Photo Friday: Sky High

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This weeks photo over at my other page.

Mary Magdalene’s example

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Each day for me starts with Common Worship Morning Prayer. It’s a lot of words for 8am but I am amazed as I look back and discover how these words, and the practice of gathering for prayer, has sustained be over the last two years. Today, in our prayer, we remembered Mary Magdalene. Tradition tells us that Mary Magdalene was one of the most important women who traveled with Jesus. She was the leader of a group of women disciples who followed Jesus, and interestingly is one that stays around at the foot of the cross when all the male disciples disappear in fear! She was also thought of as being special by Jesus as he chose to appear to her before anyone else after his resurrection.  
In our New Testament reading this morning we read these words from LUke chapter 8:
Soon afterwards he went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God.
The two highlighted  words caught my attention. Jesus proclaimed and brought the good news. They are two distinct actions. I hear a lot about proclaiming the good news but hear very little about bringing good news. I wonder if that is because talking about something is always very much easier than being and doing the very thing being spoken of?
In the example of Mary Magdalene today I wonder whether we have an example of a person who was able to live out the reality of proclaiming and bringing good news. Her life backed up her words. When things got tough she did not disappear. At Jesus’ time of need on the cross was Mary Magdalene good news to him? Surely, a friendly face, even a friendly face in pain and anguish at what she was seeing was a welcome sight after everyone else had deserted him?
It seems that Mary, more so than the other disciples, had a greater understanding of what it meant to follow Jesus; that being good news is something about ‘being there’ even when it hurts and you put yourself at risk. 
I have found the character of Mary Magdalene a challenge to me today.

the cycling Dean!

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Today, my boss, the Very Revd Adrian Newman, the Dean of Rochester, and all round pretty top bloke starts the ridiculously mad feat of cycling from Lands End to John o’Groats – a total of 1050 miles! I have printed his schedule below which looks amazingly tough. We shall all be praying for his safety and endurance as he does this to raise money for the cathedral.

Adrian is hoping that 1000 people will sponsor him £10 each. A number of us have sponsored him and it would be great if you could consider this – you can do so here very easily or by popping into the cathedral office.

The schedule:

Wed 21st    Land’s End to Mawgan Porth (gentle start but very hilly along the northern Cornwall coast)
Thu 22nd    Mawgan Porth to Great Torrington (again, fairly short distances but people say to take these     early days more slowly than you might want to)
Fri 23rd       Great Torrington to Bawdrip (getting longer)
Sat 24th      Bawdrip to Pandy (now the longer rides really begin)
Sun 25th     Pandy to Whittington
Mon 26th    Whittington to Burscough (today and tomorrow I’m carrying my stuff as Gill will travel back Monday and Jack travel out Tuesday)
Tue 27th     Burscough to Grasmere
Wed 28th    Grasmere to Traquair (over the border…….)
Thu 29th     Traquair to Auchterarder
Fri 30th       Auchterarder to Tomintoul (possibly the hardest day – very remote, very long climbing day)
Sat 31st      Tomintoul to Dornoch
Sun 1st       Dornoch to Thurso (stopping just short of Lands End so that I can guarantee arriving in the light the next day!)
Mon 2nd    Thurso to John O’Groats (just a short hop – 20 miles – down the coast)

Go well Adrian and we look forward to welcoming you back!

1st pub theology

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We had our first pub theology session last night. I was interested to see who would turn up and was really pleased with the turn out we had. There was a group of 5 of us which was a good size group of people to start with.

The location was great. There was space for us, the pub was not heaving but it was not dead quiet either. The pubs policy of not playing music, and of course good staff and cheap beer, all combined to make w/spoons the best place to try this out first – and that seemed to pay off.

The conversation flowed really well and I was surprised at how diverse a range of stuff we considered. I wondered whether we needed more direction, and I’m sure that the people there will say if they think so, but it did seem that the conversation flowed naturally from theology and spirituality to jobs and other stuff and then returned to faith issues.

We started by thinking about what ‘theology’ meant as this was, after all, ‘pub theology’ … and the conversation just carried on from there. In all I was really quite excited by how the event went.

We are going to try and get together again in a couple of weeks, so if you want to try it out why not come join in with a drink at the next Pub Theology on Monday 9th. August, same place from 7.00pm. (the link takes you to the Facebook page) The early time is just so we can make sure we get a table or two… it would be easy and natural to join in when you can make it.

my first wedding

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I experienced another first at the weekend in ‘doing’ my first wedding. Until this particular day the most nervous I had been was just before signing the opening 3 lines of the eucharistic prayer in the cathedral. That still gets to me (I was in the office this morning practicing 45 mins. before the service started!) but I was very surprised how nervous I was before the wedding ceremony yesterday.

I guess I was very conscious of how things could go ‘wrong’ with signing licences and the other legal stuff. More importantly this is a very special, and unrepeatable day, for this couple. I really wanted to ensure I had prepared fully so that they could enjoy their day as much as possible.

Everything seemed to go well and I was struck, again, how fortunate I am as I get to share some very special moments with people. To be able to serve people in this way is pretty amazing and I am remembering again how privileged I am in being where I am doing what I am doing.

I get to officiate at another wedding next week so that’s pretty cool!