The Vicar's Blog

Church Representation Rules - suggested update

2010-12-04T16:36:00.001Z

From the Church of Scotland.

Ideas for amending the church representation rules:

'Responsibility for diligence
There is a responsibility and presumption of diligence in two senses. First, there is an expectation of attendance at Kirk Session meetings, and an elder failing to exercise that diligence for a whole year should be removed from membership of the Kirk Session [Act III 2000 Section 36(a)]
Second, there is a presumption that an elder has been present for any decision-making. Therefore no item of business should be raised again at a future meeting, or appealed against, because the elder was not present at the original debate and wishes to have that original decision reversed to suit his or her own views on the matter.'

What happens in Church?

2010-11-07T17:47:00.002Z

A Guide for those who have never been before.

(A Dramatic Performance in Two Parts)

Cast in order of appearance:

Greeters - 1 or 2 church members say hello and give out hymn books and a service book

Organist - Michael or Ann play music before the service starts and during the service play the hymns and music

Congregation - the people arrive and sit down. If in doubt ask a greeter where you can sit.

Crucifer - John carries a cross on a stick into Church as the service begins.

Choir - some people in robes walk up the central aisle as the service begins, that's the cue to stand up

Vicar - Adrian, or a colleague walk in behind the choir and welcomes everybody, reads notices of marriage, and announces the hymns.

Reader - Lisa sometimes takes the first half of the service, wearing a black cassock, white surplice and blue scarf.

Readers - members of the congregation may read the Bible readings and lead the prayers.

Chalice Assistant - helps with the cup

Act One

The drama takes place half way up the church.

Scene 1 - the Opening Hymn, the welcome
Scene 2 - the confession - we say sorry to God for the things that we have done wrong and hear that he forgives us
Scene 3 - the Bible Readings are read - the Old Testament Reading which tell us how God loved his people the Jews
- the New Testament Reading which tells us about how the church started
- the Gospel Reading which tells us about Jesus, God's Son who was born at Christmas and died at Easter and came back to life again.
- the Bible Readings are explained to us
Scene 4 - the Prayers - prayers are said for the church, the local community, for people in need, including the sick and bereaved

Act Two

The drama takes place at the top of the church.

Scene 1 - the Offertory Hymn and prayers - bread and wine are placed on the table and a collection of money is taken to help pay for the upkeep of the church
Scene 2 - the Communion Prayer - which reminds us of the Last Supper Jesus had with his friends
Scene 3 - the Lord's Prayer - which is a prayer Jesus taught his friends
Scene 4 - the Communion - the vicar gives most people some bread and wine, or a blessing to others.
Scene 5 - the blessing and dismissal - the vicar encourages us to go out and live a Christian life.

Refreshments may follow - tea, coffee, juice and biscuits rather than anything stronger!

Dress Code
This is a Church of England church. You do not need to wear special clothes to go to church, unless you are taking part in the drama itself. Some like to wear Sunday Best, but you don't need to, smart casual is fine.

What to take with you.
Some money to put in the collection, preferably more than a £1 coin.
Glasses if you wear them

Timekeeping
Try to arrive 5 or 10 minutes before the service starts, to allow time to park.
People sometimes arrive late or leave early, that's fine.

Membership
People become church members through a ceremony called baptism or christening, which often happens to babies, but can happen to adults.
People do not have to be members to come to church, but we encourage it.

How much does membership cost?
Membership is free because your membership price was pre-paid by Jesus.
We hope you will make a donation when you come to church though.
To receive communion you should normally be confirmed in the Church of England or have received the Lord's Supper in another church.

Club Rules
Men should not wear hats.
Women may wear hats but don't have to.
Please do not smoke or drink in church.
Please switch off your mobile phone.
Please join in singing hymns and saying prayers in bold text.
Please do not run or shout out
Children are welcome. There are toys to help keep them interested, and family services help them join in.
If you want a blessing please take a service booklet with you.
If you want to receive the bread and the wine but have never done so before please speak to the vicar.

Facilities
There is a toilet at the back of Darrington church which is suitable for all, but the door is heavy.
The service lasts about an hour you may need the toilet! (Unfortunately there is not one at Wentbridge or Kirk Smeaton yet.)
Please join us for refreshments at the end of the service.

vicar suspended 'for unauthorised practices'

2010-10-30T13:18:00.001+01:00

- what a disgraceful 'carry-on' said the verger

The Rev SRS Colquhoun, was suspended for six months in 1937 by a Church of Ireland court for carrying out unauthorised practices.
October 30th, 1937

Remembering the Great War - a tribute from Woodbine Willie

2010-10-14T13:40:00.003+01:00

Geoffrey Anketell Studdert Kennedy MC a.k.a Woodbine Willie, for his custom to give woodbines to the blokes in the trenches in the Great War, died March 8th, 1929.

Woodbine Willie was a man of a great down to earth faith. Here are two of his poems which speak for themselves:

Faith.

HOW do I know that God is good? I don't.
I gamble like a man. I bet my life
Upon one side in life's great war. I must,
I can't stand out. I must take sides. The man
Who is a man a neutral in this fight is not
A man. He's bulk and body without breath,
Cold leg of lamb without mint sauce. A fool.
He makes me sick. Good Lord! Weak tea! Cold slops!
I want to live, live out, not wobble through
My life somehow, and then into the dark.
I must have God. This life's too dull without,
Too dull for aught but suicide. What's man
To live for else?

...

So through the clouds of Calvary--there shines
His face, and I believe that Evil dies,
And Good lives on, loves on, and conquers all--
All War must end in Peace. These clouds are lies.
They cannot last. The blue sky is the Truth.
For God is Love. Such is my Faith, and such
My reasons for it, and I find them strong
Enough. And you? You want to argue? Well,
I can't. It is a choice. I choose the Christ.

War.

There's a soul in the Eternal,
Standing stiff before the King.
There's a little English maiden
Sorrowing.
There's a proud and tearless woman,
Seeing pictures in the fire.
There's a broken battered body
On the wire.

Woodbine Willie's poetry can be bought at all good bookstores, for example Amazon stcok

Rough Rhymes of a Padre (1918)

November is a time to remember, and never to forget.
God bless you as you seek to do his will, and may we all work for peace.

Your friend and vicar,

Adrian

We do not expect vicars to be experts in immigration law

2010-09-11T13:48:00.001+01:00

The UK Border Agency said nine people had already been arrested and charged in other suspected sham marriages in Sheffield over the summer.

Steve Lamb, operations director for the agency in Yorkshire, said: "We will not tolerate immigration abuse and our immigration crime teams are cracking down on sham marriages all over the country.

"The UK Border Agency is working closely with registrars to identify marriages that may not be genuine.

"We do not expect vicars or registrars to be experts in immigration law or spotting forged documents - that's our job.

"But if they have any suspicions about whether a relationship is genuine, we would urge them to get in touch with us."

Well that's encouraging to know...

Born Free? A Duck's Journey

2010-09-07T13:53:00.007+01:00

One day at Knowsley Safari Park a commotion in the Lion's enclosure got the keepers' attention. There in the middle of the enclosure, was an old tree stump, and walking across from that tree stump to the wire perimeter fence was a Mallard, followed by three ducklings.

A lion ate one, the duck flew away and two ducklings followed, but left in the tree stump was another duckling. The keepers rushed in with their cars to try to sort out.

That duckling was taken home to be looked after, then at 10 weeks old came to live with us. Chauffeur driven across the Pennines.
She wasn't welcomed much by the chickens, perhaps because she was different, but she eventually grew to ignore them or keep out of their way.

Several months later that duck has narrowly avoided being eaten by a Great Dane, and a Newfoundland, on separate occasions. She brought variety into my sermons and has been on exploratory trips visiting neighbours and walking along the street.

We decided not to clip her flight feathers. Her flying abilities increased, and one day we saw her sat on top of the garage.

Today she has been taken to Fairburn Ings run by the RSPB to join the thousands of ducks and geese and swans there.

She likes to swim and dive, and will be happier there, and I can imagine her catching fish and dabbling among the weeds in the water.

That duck has had a strange beginning to her life, and she is running out of lives.

The duck didn't want to get out of the car carrier which took her there. In the end she got out, and stayed by Sylvia and her friends. Dfor looked at the water, but didn't go anywhere near it. Sylvia picked her up, and gently launched her towards the lake, and she soared up and up, flew all round the lake, above the houses and back, then disappeared over towards the other lake.
'Like the Battle of Britain' it was so graceful.

Many people have difficult starts in life. Childhood isn't always what it could be.
The spiritual journey can also have rocky beginnings, ups and downs, joys and pitfalls, and companions on the way, friends or strangers.

Here in the Went Valley we try to help those who are struggling with faith, are unsure about belief, as well as those with bucket loads. But we are often just a step along the way. But when we see people make even the smallest steps in their spiritual journey...

it's a duck's life!

I would be pleased if our paths crossed soon, please phone or email if you would like a visit, your friend and vicar,

Adrian

Getting lost on the way to my ordination rehearsal...

2010-09-04T17:41:00.000+01:00

Dear friends,

The beginnings of ministry in a new place, among new people are very difficult.People are sussing you out, as you are getting to know them. Will you be their kind of curate/vicar? How long will you stay? Will they like you?

Lots of questions.

When clergy move to curacies on ordination the questions they ask include the following:
where's town? where's the supermarket? where am I? where is the cathedral / retreat house? will I look stupid in this clerical shirt? what on earth will I do? will I get on with the vicar? How can I get the house decorated and move in and still manage to go on the retreat and cook for 30 people the day of the ordination?

I remember being in my curate's house before ordination, I didn't know which way was north and south, or where the house was...I didn't know which way Worcester was, nor where the cathedral was in Worcester, so I arrived late, having eventually found it thanks a a local man whose car I followed. And the ordination retreat? I got there, but with no directions or instructions it was a little testing. And did I say I got lost on the way back from the ordination and arrived home an hour after everyone else - so much for preparing a meal for all my family and friends.

Note - send people a map and directions so they know how to get to the cathedral and to the ordination retreat house, or to wherever you want them to go!

And after ordination? A clear desk... on the first morning for the first and last time ever in ministry. Desks gradually get buried then reappear after a concerted effort to clear them. But there is always something which calls clergy's attention, and much of this is administration in multi-parish benefices. Urgent? Important? Desirable? Sadly much is obligatory, but neither urgent nor important. That which is desirable, but neither urgent nor obligatory gets left to the end.

What value do you place on spiritual things? Prayer, bible reading? What priority do they have in your life?
As harvest draws near, say a prayer for farmers as they bring in the crops, and those who work in logistics, distribution and retail.

With best wishes, your friend and vicar,
Adrian

Pontefract Deanery Plan

2010-09-03T11:25:00.002+01:00

Our deanery plan has got nowhere very slowly. It was as I forecasted. The Ugley Vicar in chelmsford diocese started his deanery plan about the same time as us - it seems like it has taken three years already. You can read all about it here and I commend it to you. His analysis is spot-on, and what deanery plans fail to do is address the issue of too many churches and too few clergy to staff them. So, if you are interested in what could happen if we were to think creatively, read his post, and wonder why every diocese seems to reinvent the wheel each time a reduction in clergy posts is announced.

Wentbridge Parish Rooms for Sale

2010-08-29T22:13:00.002+01:00

Child Protection, historic cases review

2010-08-29T21:55:00.002+01:00

I wrote earlier about Kendall house, in Canterbury Diocese, a home for teenage girls in the 1970s and 80s.
A former resident has reached an out of court settlement with the CofE.
I hope this does something to help her rebuild her life.
http://www.no2abuse.com/index.php/articles/comments/church-of-england-pays-out-after-child-sex-and-drug-abuse-scandal-press-rel/

Do pray for Teresa Cooper and all former residents (and staff).

Twitterfeed test

2010-08-28T16:54:00.000+01:00

Welcome to twitter. Click this link to view my blog.

Seeing the Invisible

2010-08-28T16:28:00.001+01:00

Dear friends,

Who can boast of being free?

Who has not got
secret prisons,
invisible chains,
all the more constricting
the less they are apparent?

Archbishop Dom Helder Camara, Brazil.

The longer in the tooth I get the more I think that Dom Camara was right. It's easy to see many physical disabilities, but there are hidden disabilities like asthma, anxiety and depression. Our responsibility is dual: to ensure that we do not discriminate against those who have disabilities, and to work as Christians to set people free from those invisible chains which imprison. This month I want to talk about a couple of those things: bearing grudges against others, and being unable to forgive yourself. The two are related.

In families people bear grudges for years, decades and half-centuries. They hold them so long that the original reason for holding the grudge is forgotten. A sleight, a deliberate insult, an accidental upset, a forgotten birthday or invitation.

In communities people do the same, you can choose your friends, but not your families or for that matter your neighbours.

Some people feel guilty about things they have done, thought, or not done, they can hold on to that guilt for years, decades, and longer. Guilt destroys lives, and the inability to forgive ourselves leads inevitably to the inability to forgive others as we should do, remembering that God forgives us through Jesus Christ.

God wants to set people free: you, and me, your family, friends, neighbours, our communities. Have a great summer, enjoy some holiday if you can, and try to forgive and forget. Holding on to anger, grudges, upset or guilt is very bad for you.

God bless.
Your friend and vicar,

Adrian

When it gets dark all of a sudden

2010-08-28T16:24:00.000+01:00

Dear friends,

Back in the autumn of 1992 I spent three months at theological college at Trinity College in Singapore. It was a fabulous experience training with Christians from all over the world, with different cultures, languages, and from different denominations.

One thing which has remained with me is the suddenness with which it gets dark. One minute it is light, but pop into a shop for a moment, come out and it is dark. Here in Britain there are lengthy periods of twilight and dawn and dusk, but there it's all over before you can blink. (Not literally, but it does get dark all of a sudden.)

When children are trying to learn something for the first time they have to work really hard at it, often for a while before the penny drops. It's as though they have a sudden moment when it all makes sense.

Faith is like any learning - it either makes sense or it doesn't, and if it doesn't make sense then trying to grapple with faith will be like trying to grapple with my maths homework as a child. I just couldn't do it. Faith is a strange thing, which might sound odd to hear from me, but I don't assume that it comes easily to many people, although children have an innate sense of awe and wonder and with that there is often a belief in God.

The rest of us have to work at faith, we have to learn, or as it is put 'read, mark, learn and inwardly digest'. I am writing this just before St Peter and St Paul's day. St Paul worked really hard at his religious education lessons with the Pharisees, but the penny didn't drop, it was only when he met God on the road to Damascus that he really understood. His lifetime of learning suddenly made sense, and it provided him with such a deep insight into Christianity that we are still reading what he wrte to help us make sense of the Gospel.

Spiritual illumination can come slowly or suddenly, and oneis not better than the other. But we need to work hard at learning about faith so that when illumination comes we recognise it for what it is and see God at work through Jesus Christ. The greatest danger would be to meet Jesus and yet not recognise him.

With best wishes, your friend and vicar,

Adrian

Getting lost on the way to my ordination rehearsal...

2010-05-24T13:21:00.003+01:00

The beginnings of ministry in a new place, among new people are very difficult.
People are sussing you out, as you are getting to know them. Will you be their kind of curate/vicar? How long will you stay? Will they like you?

Lots of questions.

When clergy move to curacies on ordination the questions they ask include the following:
where's town? where's the supermarket? where am I? where is the cathedral / retreat house? will I look stupid in this clerical shirt? what on earth will I do? will I get on with the vicar? How can I get the house decorated and move in and still manage to go on the retreat and cook for 30 people the day of the ordination?

I remember being in my curate's house before ordination, I didn't know which way was north and south, or where the house was...I didn't know which way Worcester was, nor where the cathedral was in Worcester, so I arrived late, having eventually found it thanks a a local man whose car I followed. And the ordination retreat? I got there, but with no directions or instructions it was a little testing. And did I say I got lost on the way back from the ordination and arrived home an hour after everyone else - so much for preparing a meal for all my family and friends.

Note to DDOs - send people a map and directions so they know how to get to the cathedral and to the ordination retreat house.

And after ordination? A clear desk... on the first morning for the first and last time ever in ministry.

Don't take it personally

2010-05-24T13:08:00.002+01:00

when people say all kinds of things to or about clergy. Keep a sense of humour and proportion.

Sometimes it is about their own bitterness, which just has to come out somehow as gossip, other times it is about the faults of their clergy (and we all have faults, there's no denying that), other times it is about perceptions and how they view the world. Do you ever moan and complain? Is that complaint valid? Is moaning or gossipping a proper way of expressing that unhappiness? It may be, but it might also be disrespectful...

I am not posting this because people are moaning, but because clergy regularly are on the receiving end of people's moans and groans... it is part of the package, it's our job to listen to people and to offer them spiritual advice and godly conversation. But do we recognise where they are coming from? Their world seems at times to be a different one from our own.

Think of the occasional person who after a cataract operation can see UV light - it's the same thing, some people's worldview is just totally different to our own, and other peoples.

Sometimes people want to moan and the vicar is a good person to moan to. In these cases this comment about trust from 'Proclaiming softly' fits the bill. Read the origninal post it is worth your time. The comment below was posted in response to it.

proclaimingsoftly

(June 30, 2006)

'My son, who has always been very verbal and emotionally expressive, used to come home from school, bounce off the walls, say all kinds of words that I felt were innapropriate, and tell me all sorts of things most kids don’t tell there parents about what he had done and what other kids had done.
When this would cross the line into innapropriate behavior and words, I’d ask him, “How come your teachers say you are so well behaved in school, but you act like this at home?” He told me, “Because I have to let it out somewhere.”
I almost always took everything personally, in a negative way.
But my friends told me, “He feels safe at home and trusts you.” Other kids aren’t like that. It is a credit to your relationship.
But oh, how hard.
Quite frankly, I think people in general have a hard time expressing themselves to the person/institution that is really at the core of their discomfort. And they have a hard time identifying the cause of their anger(s).
My son was, at the same time, more mature and less mature than most people in this regard.'

A beginning is the time for taking the most delicate care

2010-05-13T15:32:00.000+01:00

Science Fiction Books I enjoy: Frank Herbert's Dune

'A beginning is the time for taking the most delicate care.'

Thus begins the story of the book.

I prefer reading to television because it requires more imagination and with reading and radio the pictures are so much better. Television does it all for you, and fails to engage the imagination in quite the same way.

As I write this the nights are cold, and frosty, new shoots on plants have died, and spring seems a long time coming. The grass has had its first cuts, and the garden bins are being collected.

Our world is changing around us, though whether we will notice the difference is a moot point. Of course I am thinking of the coalition government and the appointment of the cabinet and of junior ministerial posts. The beginning is a delicate time, and we do well to remember to pray for politicians.

Churches change, it is part of the nature of human society that they change less slowly than any other organisation, but they do change whether we like it or not and whether we oppose that change or not. Our national church, the Church of England is a very different animal than it was 20 years ago, and the discussion at General Synod in July about Women Bishops will lead eventually (in 2014 at the earliest) to the appointment of women bishops. Some of my colleagues from college from 1990-1993 are in elevated positions in the church as their bishops seem to queue women candidates for the episcopate ready for the legislation to be passed. Very good ministers of the gospel they are too.

Our diocese continues to change, and the Church of England Boundaries Commission which reports in July this year may recommend no changes, or might recommend that a diocese for the whole of Yorkshire is formed. I can see no rationale worthy of keeping Wakefield, Bradford and Sheffield dioceses as they are, and with three months reserves or less and huge operating deficits with collection rates in Wakefield Diocese for quota / common fund being the lowest in the Church of England plainly there is something wrong.

How will the Church change? Will it have to change locally as well as nationally, will we notice the difference, and will we mind? Those are a few thoughts to ponder as our nation marks a new beginning and an end of one era and the beginning of another.

May God bless you, your friend and vicar,
Adrian

Institutional Child Abuse & Reporter escorted from question time

2010-04-27T08:51:00.003+01:00

I do wonder what are the real issues in this election
http://www.no2abuse.com/index.php/articles/comments/bill-maloneys-account-and-explanation-for-his-ejection-from-bbc-question-by/

'Keep it real' #AliG (SachaBaronCohen)

Humour in ministry

2010-04-25T20:34:00.000+01:00

Blessed are those who can laugh at themselves; they will have no end of fun.
Blessed are those who can tell a mountain from a molehill; they will be saved a lot of bother.
Blessed are those who know how to relax without looking for excuses; they are on their way to becoming wise.
Blessed are those who are sane enough not to take themselves too seriously; they will be valued most by those about them.

http://www.stantonyspriory.co.uk/resources/15guard.htm

Seel also:

Out of Darkness, Out of Fire A workbook for Christian leaders under pressure by Ross Kingham and Robin Pryor (ISBN 0 85819 729 4)

Ministry Burnout John A Sanford (I982 Arthur James)

Teleological ethics and Easter - a simple sermon.

2010-04-04T15:17:00.000+01:00

The Easter story tells us a deep truth about life:
life with all it's ups and downs, joys and sorrows is hard to understand at the time; only in retrospect wth the benefit of hindsight can we understand the significance of things.
The disciples didn't grasp the necessity of the crucifixion. They did not understand why he washed their feet, nor why he shared bread and wine with them, nor why the stone had been rolled away and the tomb was empty on that first Easter morning. Only afterwards did the disciples finally get the drift of what had been going on and what Jesus had been doing.
God is at work in the Church, and in the world, but we can be slow to recognise him. Sometimes only a while later do we look back and have that eureka moment when we discover truth and understand the past.Small trivial events or conversations can have life-changing effects.
We don't know how what we say and do affects others. Hidden consequences are as common as visible obvious or even intended consequences. Making moral judgements solely on the basis of likely consequences is as flawed as making them on someone's intention with no regard to the intention. 'We may not know, we cannot tell...' goes the hymn, and awareness of our ignorance is a necessary precursor to learning and change.

As we celebrate the Easter message, we rejoice that Jesus is alive, that the tomb is empty, the grave clothes set aside, and Jesus was walking and talking among his friends he had come back to life again, and he does so today, not through physical presence, but through the sending of his Holy Spirit to set us free from our sins and all that imprisons us. The Spirit of Christ helps us recognise those attitudes and behaviours which limit and prevent us from growing in the Christian faith, those things which we have identified as we prepared for Easter throughout Lent, and the truth sets us free from them.

Life is a Roller-Coaster - an Easter Sermon.

2010-04-03T20:15:00.000+01:00

Hallelujah Christ is Risen!
He is risen indeed, hallelujah.

Life can be an emotional roller-coaster, with its ups and downs, changes in pace, and direction, happiness and terror all mixed up. I am not an adrenaline junkie, Alton Towers is not my idea of a trip out, and the thought of going on Nemesis scares me to death. I am told it's brilliant... Imagine that - people choose to be scared.

Think of the disciples and the Easter story. The week had started so well Jesus entered Jerusalem riding on a donkey, the crowds had hailed Jesus shouting Hosanna to the Son of David they welcomed him as a king, they laid palm branches and their cloaks in front of him.

The celebratory meal fell flat, their Passover had very quickly turned from the celebration of the Exodus from Egypt all those years ago, to the confusion of the Last Supper.

Jesus washed their feet, the disciples didn't yet understand him, though they had spent so much time with him. More confusion as Jesus shared his body and his blood in the bread and the wine.
Seeds of doubt and uncertainty as he shared the knowledge that he was about to be betrayed.

The misery of his arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane, betrayed by a kiss from his friend.

Peter and the disciple Jesus loved had the courage to witness the trial, but even
Peter denied him three times, and the crowd had quickly turned on him called for Barabbas to be released, rather than Jesus. Were they bribed by the chief priests? Bought like Judas Iscariot?

Fear, terror, anxiety, disappointment, spread among his disciples, their expectations unmet, hopes dashed, dreams vaporised.His death on the cross, and his burial in the tomb - not quite how the disciples had planned to spend the day of preparation for the most holy Sabbath in the Jewish year. But the women remained faithful, they knew what had to be done and they went to the garden tomb to do it.

Mark tells us about that first easter morning, at the end of his Gospel:

When the sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. They had been saying to one another, ‘Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?’ When they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled back. As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man, dressed in a white robe, sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed. But he said to them, ‘Do not be alarmed; you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised; he is not here. Look, there is the place they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him, just as he told you.’ So they went out and fled from the tomb, for terror and amazement had seized them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.

This is the backdrop to the resurrection. Only with hindsight do we know the rest of the story, the hidden meaning of the Last Supper, the servant ministry of Christ, the prophecies of Isaiah fulfilled, Jesus appearing to Mary Magdalene, to Peter and the other disciples. Only with hindsight do we know the joy of the resurrection, how different it must have been then for terror and amazement had seized them. But today is a day for rejoicing, a day to be happy, a holy day, a holiday, a day to forget the pain, the suffering and to reinterpret the past, to understand the day of the crucifixion as Good Friday, to see the empty tomb as the evidence of the resurrection of our Lord, and to see in his life and death a pattern for Christians to follow.

Holy Week was an emotional roller-coaster for the disciples with its ups and downs, changes in pace, and direction, happiness and terror all mixed up.What a week to live, and what a week to die and come back to life.

Hallelujah Christ is Risen!
He is risen indeed, hallelujah.

Remembering Oscar Romero

2010-03-21T20:46:00.004Z

Archbishop Oscar Romero.

Priest, bishop, pastor. Martyred for the Gospel 30 years ago this week.

+Romero spoke it how it was, he told the truth each week in his Sunday sermon, he told people what was happening in El Salvador, the killings, abductions, the grinding poverty, the injustices and suffering of the poorest and most vulnerable.

He spent his time alongside the people, getting to know them and their lives, listening and learning, as a shepherd and pastor to the people.

He was not scared of death, but his enemies were scared of the truth, and of the Gospel with its preferential option for the poor. In this icon compare Oscar Romero standing with the vulnerable, and the American Huey helicopters.

Analogous to this comparison is the work of Kosuke Koyama - Water Buffalo Theology and The Three Mile an Hour God.

A 2005 mural by J. Reyes Yasbek entitled Verdad y Justicia (“Truth and Justice”). All photos by Richard Amesbury, with thanks to http://killingthebuddha.com/mag/damnation/presente/

“If they kill me, I shall arise in the Salvadoran people.”

Polycarp on Presbyters

2010-03-21T16:17:00.002Z

'let the presbyters be compassionate and merciful to all, bringing back those that wander, visiting all the sick, and not neglecting the widow, the orphan, or the poor, but always "providing for that which is becoming in the sight of God and man ; " abstaining from all wrath, respect of persons, and unjust judgment; keeping far off from . all covetousness, not quickly crediting [an evil re port] against any one, not severe in judgment, as knowing that we are all under a debt of sin. If then we entreat the Lord to forgive us, we ought also ourselves to forgive; for we are before the eyes of our Lord and God, and "we must all appear at the judgment-seat of Christ, and must every one give an account of himself." Let us then serve Him in fear, and with all reverence, even as He Himself has commanded us, and as the apostles who preached the Gospel unto us, and the prophets who proclaimed beforehand the coming of the Lord [have alike taught us]. Let us be zealous in the pursuit of that which is good, keeping ourselves from causes of offence, from false brethren, and from those who in hypocrisy bear the name of the Lord, and draw away vain men into error.'

Patience, trust, kindliness, seeking and saving the lost, compassionate for the vulnerable, dilligent in pastoral care, generous in judgement, aware of our humanity and our offences...
humble.

And now there's a certain type of sermon which I no longer preach.

Easter draws near - an Easter sermon or magazine article

2010-03-16T17:01:00.000Z

Dear friends,

Happy Easter! God bless you this Eastertide.
You can read the vicar's blog and follow him on twitter - www.darringtonchurch.com ; www.wentbridgechurch.co.uk or www.smeatonchurch.co.uk

There's a lovely parable where Jesus tells of workers who started at different times in the day but at the end of the day each got the same reward - a full day's pay. Those who had worked the full day were grumbling because those who had only worked an hour or two got the same as them. St John Chrysostom in his Easter sermon wrote about the wonder of the Easter message:

If any have toiled from the first hour,
let them receive their reward.

If any have come after the third hour,
let them with gratitude join in the feast!

Those who arrived after the sixth hour,
let them not doubt; for they shall not be short-changed.

Those who have tarried until the ninth hour,
let them not hesitate; but let them come too.

And those who arrived only at the eleventh hour,
let them not be afraid by reason of their delay.

For the Lord is gracious and receives the last even as the first.
The Lord gives rest to those who come at the eleventh hour,
even as to those who toiled from the beginning.

To one and all the Lord gives generously.
The Lord accepts the offering of every work.
The Lord honours every deed and commends their intention.

Let us all enter into the joy of the Lord!

We can all celebrate the day - 'conscientious and lazy' as he puts it. On Easter day we recognise no differences between Christians, church-goers or not, those who do much, and those who do little, all are welcome in God's kingdom as 'forgiveness has risen from the grave'. What a wonderful message.
However you celebrate Easter may God bless you, and I hope that you will join us in church.
with best wishes your friend and vicar
Adrian

1838 Pluralities Act - Meaning of Benefice and Clusters

2010-02-23T16:29:00.003Z

This part of the 1838 Pluralities Act has never been repealed:

'in all cases where the term “benefice” is used in this Act, the said term shall be understood and taken to mean benefice with cure of souls, and no other (unless it shall otherwise appear from the context), and therein to comprehend all parishes, perpetual curacies, donatives, endowed public chapels, parochial chapelries, and chapelries or districts belonging or reputed to belong, or annexed or reputed to be annexed, to any church or chapel, anything in any other Act to the contrary notwithstanding.'

I like the phrase belonging - or reputing to belong, or annexed or reputed to be annexed to any church or chapel.

'Reputed to belong / to be annexed' covers a mutitude of situations.

The obverse is the obvious - if a parish or district belongs in one benefice by repute, or annexation, it does not belong in the benefice that is was annexed from, or no longer belongs to by repute / reputation.

The application of this is clear as mud - where a cluster is formed by whatever process, and a parish or district is clustered to another it is as if the clustered parish or district belongs to the benefice which it is clustered with.

Formation of clusters of parishes : if you don't want to appoint a vicar to a parish, and don't feel like sequestering the living, cluster the parishes together and create in people's minds the belief that they belong together.
If you wish to avoid being clustered your freedom of action is to appeal to the Archbishop to present an incumbent to the benefice, once the parish has been vacant for a 6 month period.
Alternatively just say no thank you... but that might not work.

Clusters allow both abrogation and arrogation without sequestration.

Myers-Briggs Intuition and Lent

2010-02-21T10:53:00.004Z

Paranoia, melancholy and stress, three factors which can make clergy difficult to relate to. As an INTP, so theory goes, I relate to the world through my intuition primarily. Hunches, guesses and piecing together jigsaw puzzles, it's rather like turning a kaledioscope and waiting to see what appears.

Why do washing machines and cars breakdown in Lent? Because it is Lent! Why do PCC members cause trouble in Lent? Why does the prospect of Annual general Meetings fill clergy with trepidation in Lent? It's not just their proximity. Things go wrong in Lent - take it as a compliment.
Lent is also a time when clergy are more likely to get tired, frustrated, fed-up, stressed, miserable and grumpy. It is something to do with that spiritual warfare between good and evil - whether you understand it as structural sin permeating society, or a force for bad exisiting both in individuals and ontologically (in as far as God permits evil). Is the devil real? Hashatan - Hebrew for God's adversary is there in the heavenly court in the book of Job, and the devil or Beelzebub, the Prince of the Air is there in the Gospels. Reality is that Lent is when clergy are most vulnerable because of the spiritual warfare which surrounds us and in which we play a small part, as we exhort our flock to turn away from sin and to turn to Christ.

I am not sure if there is any research into paranoia and the Myers-Briggs Typology Indicator (MBTI), though there can be a correlation between depression and paranoia.

I am not suggesting for a minute that if you are an INTP you will be more paranoid than other personality types, but I think it is clear that if your under the weather, perhaps with a cold, flu or just down in the dumps, bacause things seem to be going wrong, so anyone is more likely to be a little melancholy. Those people with INTP brood, they mull ideas over, and if those ideas are intuitions about others, and you are a little melancholy to start with those intuitions are more likely to be negative, tainted by your experiences of Lent.

Add together the tendency to brood over things, an atmosphere of challenge to mental equilibrium, and the likelihood that some people are being nasty - your paranioa is more likely to surface. Are people out to get you? Do they intend to cause hurt and distress?
Undoubtedly some do, but if you relate to everyone based on your hunches you will be more likely to have a hunch that they are somewhat untrustworthy, potentially harmful or dangerous.

Lent is a time for self-examination, it can be a time when hunches get acted upon, but those hunches are more likely to be wrong at Lent than at any other time. Jimminy Cricket on our shoulders may not be our conscience speaking. So at Lent try to pull in the intuition, treat everyone the same as normal - hopefully everyone equally as well, though that may be too much to hope for - analyse your hunches and see if there is any basis to them, and recognise that any melancholic feelings you have are likely to be projected onto others. Motes, beams and suchlike. Withdraw your projections, recognise that some of your hunches will be correct, but that you aren't able to work out which at the moment. Hold your fire when you want to explode, and time will make things seem better. The Easter message is that Christ is the victor and conqueror of sin and death and it's his victory not ours, spiritually preparing ourselves to celebrate his resurrection will keep us rooted in his love and psychologically more healthy.

#Myers-Briggs Introverts and Lent

2010-02-20T16:39:00.006Z

Personality types described by Myers-Briggs in the MBTI are not universally accepted, and there are serious questions about determinism and whether ones personality is fixed or capable of change. I tend to place greater emphasis on free-will rather than determinism, intellectually at least, but my experience is that the more things change the more they stay the same. Plus ca change, plus c'est la meme chose... We tend to think that we have changed, and indeed we may have changed considerably, but our ways of relating to the world around us are preferences deeply ingrained in us, either by nature or nurture, and it doesn't matter which.

The 16 personality types http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myers-Briggs_Type_Indicator are based on the psychology of Carl Jung though there are differences.

My personality type is INTP -

I – Introversion preferred to Extraversion: INTPs tend to be quiet and reserved. They generally prefer interacting with a few close friends rather than a wide circle of acquaintances, and they expend energy in social situations (whereas extraverts gain energy).^[8]
N – iNtuition preferred to Sensing: INTPs tend to be more abstract than concrete. They focus their attention on the big picture rather than the details, and on future possibilities rather than immediate realities.^[9]
T – Thinking preferred to Feeling: INTPs tend to value objective criteria above personal preference. When making decisions, they generally give more weight to logic than to social considerations.^[10]
P – Perception preferred to Judgment: INTPs tend to withhold judgment and delay important decisions, preferring to "keep their options open" should circumstances change.^[11]

Having worked through the MBTI a number of times, and always coming out the same type, though the strength of preferences varies depending how I am feeling, I am convinced that this is an accurate description of my personality.

What does this mean for ministry?
With a very strong preference for introversion I believe that the description is accurate that being with others expends energy rather than energises me. Oddly the use of social networking tools - by which I include twitter and blogging - is a typically extroverted thing to do, though it is somewhat more distant than face to face interaction.
Lent is a time when Jesus withdrew from social interaction into the wilderness to pray and fast, he dealt with his shadow side - his temptations and came from the desert renewed and with a sense of direction and purpose.
Clergy in Lent are expected to spend more time with people, leading them in prayer and worship, in Bible Studies, House Groups, PCC away days, and all the social events that happen in Lent. The odd thing about my experience of Lent is that it is a time of giving out, rather than retreat. Can you imagine going on retreat in Lent? No doubt some manage it, but it wouldn't go down well here. It is, for intorverted clergy at least, somewhat other than an energising and innervating experience. That can come as quite a surprise.
For introverts Lent is not a time of spiritual retreat - not even retreat in order to advance , reculer pour mieux sauter, Lent is a time of expending energy. To constantly discharge your spiritual batteries you have to charge them sometime.
The challenge as an introvert is to deal with other people's expectations that Lent will energise you, rather than deplete your energies, and their expectations that you will enjoy the increased round of social interaction that Lent brings. Can you manage a smile when you want to frown? Can you look as pleased to be at your twentieth service of the week as your first?
The services in Lent that I enjoy most are Stations of the Cross, when all the effort goes into preparation, and only small attention is needed to lead the service. In Stations of the Cross I find that I can enjoy some of the silence to worship, and to imagine my way into the trial, and death of Christ though the art-work.

The meaning of Lent What is Lent all about?

2010-02-18T16:16:00.001Z

Lent is a season of the Christian year leading up to holy week and Easter. It begins with Ash Wednesday and pancake day is the day before Lent begins. Lent is a time when Christians who follow Jesus remember the time when he went into the wilderness and fasted. Jesus fasted for 40 days and nights, and the Bible tells us that he was tempted by the devil. After his time in the wilderness (or desert) he began his preaching and teaching ministry when he was 30 years old. Christians traditionally fast during lent, but it is different from total abstinence from food and drink. Christians practice self-denial during the Lenten fast. They choose something that they like a lot and don't eat it or drink it until Easter day. Some abstain from eating chocolate, crisps, fizzy pop, alcohol, biscuits, sweets, or other things. Other Christians understand self-denial differently. They give up some of their time or money. They try to do something to help others, or to share their faith with others. This might not seem much like fasting, but it is a form of self-denial, of doing things diffrerently, or doing things that you might not normally want to do. It is possible to give something up other than food or drink - going to the cinema, using the computer or mobile phone, watching television. What would you think about giving up for Lent? How long does Lent last? Most people would say that Lent lasts for 40 days, and that IS true, but from Ash Wednesday to Easter Day is more than 40 days - it is 47 days long. There is an explanation for this - on each Sunday the Church celebrates the resurrection of Jesus, when he came back to life from the dead, and it is a feast day. Sundays don't count as part of Lent - whatever you give up for Lent you can enjoy on Sundays, although some people would think that is cheating.

Lent is a special time when Christians prepare for Easter day. The last week of Lent is extra special and is called Holy Week. Holy Week begins on Palm Sunday, and the highlights are Maundy Thursday and Good Friday. More about those special days later.

Valentine's Day and the Armed Forces

2010-02-14T10:24:00.003Z

There aren't many days in the Church's year that the world celebrates with the church, and apart from Xmas and Easter, and patron saints, saint Valentine is one of those few additional celebrations. Odd then, to the world, or the uninitiated, that it is cyril and Methodias in the calendar of saints - try telling that to your partner. Sorry St Valentine's day is translated...
Celebrate it the world does - with chocolates, champagne, roses, food, perfume, holidays, cars, though prices seem higher than last year and money seems thinner on the ground. Today is not a day to forget a card, nor those seemingly random acts of kindness which make a relationship special.
It's all very well thinking of love as a present experience, rather than an experience remembered, or one anticipated, but bereavement or a breakdown in relationships make today a day tinged by sadness for many. Love lost is painful, and the church tries to support those who have lost their loved one. For those not in a rleationship today can be a day of bitter loneliness or disappointment with unmet expectations.
TV land, with its adverts and lovey-dovey comfort, promotes being in a relationship as the norm, and websites for dating agencies seem to be doing good business, possibly as those who are made more lonely by the season try to find a partner.
Relationships can be good, positive and wholesome, though they can also be destructive and harmful, undermining individuality as they become abusive. This part of being in a relationship is presented on telly quite well, though it is very depressing. But here in church we celebrate all that is good in relationships, whether ones anticipated, experienced in the here and now or remembered.
Think especially and pray for those who are separated by distance, especially members of the armed forces serving in Afghanistan. They miss their loved ones, and both change as they are apart and experience different things. War can change people - think of the film Apocalypse Now 'the first time I spoke to my wife was to ask for a divorce' says the Vietnam war veteran in the film.
Marital breakdown is not inevitable, but relationships are challenged by separation, by being apart. And so as we remember St Valentine let's remember the armed forces who put their lives on the line for us. Pray for chaplains such as Rev David Banbury who try to help TA soldiers and their loved ones cope with change, as they get alongside them, to listen, to talk and to just be there. St Valentine's Day, like birthdays and Xmas is a hard time to be apart, it's a time of loneliness and a time when feelings of attachment separation and loss get all jumbled up together.
Unit morale, supporting other members of the squad, or platoon offers something to replace that loss, and looking out for one another can lead to the ultimate sacrifice which the armed forces are called upon to make - they lay down their lives so that we might live in freedom. Think christ and his love on the cross, and remember those who serve today, and the homeless and mentally ill, many of whom served yesterday and in wars long ago.

Think Yellow - be ashamed to cut uni chaplaincy posts

2010-02-13T18:33:00.000Z

Whatever budget challenges society face the church will have to face similar challenges as pension forecasts are down, parish share unpaid, and expenditure outstrips income year on year. Giving is a high proportion of church income, with most of the rest being made up of fees. Unless there is an increase in church-going - not an impossible thing if the American trend to religion comes over here, or if revival breaks out - giving will need to increase or budgets shrink. Shrinking budgets mean fewer parochial clergy, and staff servicing the parishes at diocesan offices, or it means posts such as that of university chaplain will be cut, which is a travesty and a huge impediment to the church's mission. Think yellow, a chaplain whose post has been cut by Winchester diocese, to its huge shame and the detriment of God's church now. http://darksidechaplaincy.blogspot.com/

Racism and prejudice have no part to play in British politics

2010-02-13T18:13:00.002Z

Britain's economy, like many round the world has been in a mess. Politicians at local government level have begun to address the problems that this has caused them with pay freezes, and redundancies. When jobs become vacant they may not be filled. Budgets have to be balanced and a very difficult task it is as the most vulnerable in society require more help. With the increase in referrals, and in awareness of risk factors with regard to children and parenting, costs to childrens services budgets keep rising. Directors of Childrens Services jobs have become more challenging as individual need outstrips ability to meet that need and the accountability of that role has never been higher. As we think about children at risk either in local authority care or on the at risk register, and those on the periphery of awareness of the local authorities such as those who are helped in chldrens centres and parenting courses,we look to the local authority, and the local childrens safegurading board to ensure their safety. Budget savings are more likely to come from work with those deemed at least risk meaning that early intervention in respond to parental need is less likely to be able to happen. There are other groups in society that vie for the unenviable position of the most vulnerable in society, but looked after children are the statutory responsibility of the local authority, and the government in assessing the quality of local authorities has to take account of how well they undertake safeguarding as it is a limiting judgement. The minor prophets in the old testament called upon sociey to look after widows and orphans, and strangers. Those groups were the most vulnerable in Hebrew society, and most at risk.
Political parties as a general election approaches will have to try and balance the budget and think about beginning to repay the money that has been borrowed. Is there room to think creatively and imaginatively, to limit cuts to services to the most vulnerable or to increase opportunities for social care for them? How can we offer more and better services for less money? How can we do the impossible except by working together?
There are no easy answers, and there is no specific Christian agenda for our political life, only principles such as justice equality, fairness and questions that all parties need to answer. Churches have a role to play in asking questions, and to ensure that all members of society are valued irrespective of their differences. Racism and prejudice have no part to play in British politics, nor in the Church which always tries to look outwards while facing financial and other challenges of its own. Whatever budget challenges society face the church will have to face similar challenges as pension forecasts are down, parish share unpaid, and expenditure outstrips income year on year. Giving is a high proportion of church income, with most of the rest being made up of fees. Unless there is an increase in church-going - not an impossible thing if the American trend to religion comes over here, or if revival breaks out - giving will need to increase or budgets shrink. Shrinking budgets mean fewer parochial clergy, and staff servicing the parishes at diocesan offices, or it means posts such as that of university chaplain will be cut, which is a travesty and a huge impediment to the church's mission. Think yellow, a chaplain whose post has been cut by Winchester diocese, to its huge shame and the detriment of God's church now. http://darksidechaplaincy.blogspot.com/

War against terror and coercive interrogation techniques - did someone say torture?

2010-02-12T21:54:00.002Z

Clare Algar, executive director of Reprieve, which represents Binyam Mohamed, said: "It's incredibly offensive to suggest that the people who are bringing to light the ways in which the British intelligence service and US intelligence service have behaved badly could be responsible for giving succour to the enemy.

"The thing that gives succour to the enemy is the bad behaviour in the first place - and that's the reason we shouldn't be involved in torturing people."

The row over what MI5 knew has grown since the judgement, following the emergence of a letter to the judges from Jonathan Sumption QC.

Mr Sumption, who represented the government during the court case, objected to a specific part of the judgement written by Lord Neuberger, the Master of the Rolls and second most senior judge in England and Wales.

The barrister said Lord Neuberger's paragraph was "exceptionally damaging" because it left the impression MI5 did not have a culture of respecting human rights and did not object to "coercive interrogation techniques".

He said the words could be interpreted as meaning that MI5 had also misled the Intelligence and Security Committee.

from: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8513285.stm

Campaign for plain English #synod

2010-02-11T15:24:00.002Z

Repristinate

Ummm, why does the world think that the Church is irrelevant and has got its head in the clouds so much it's no earthly use? Answer: language such as 'repristinate' a theological concept from G K Chesterton who gives this example: If you leave a white (fence) post alone, it will soon be a black post. If you particularly want it to be white, you must be always painting it again.
ie you can't leave things alone and expect them to stay the same - quite a good concept, but isn't there a better way of putting it?

remodelled? repatterned? recreated? redone? remade? reanything?

'I found this concept in a book on leadership, Certain Trumpets by Garry Wills. In order for a tradition to be worth passing to another generation, Wills says, you must repristinate it, "restore it to its original state or condition."' http://www.christianitytoday.com/le/1999/spring/9l2022.html

He quotes G.K. Chesterton: "Conservativism is based upon the idea that if you leave things alone, you leave them as they are. But you do not. If you leave a thing alone, you leave it to a torrent of changes. If you leave a white (fence) post alone, it will soon be a black post. If you particularly want it to be white, you must be always painting it again. Briefly, if you want the old white post, you must have a new white post."

What people celebrate as tradition is usually a thing that's been blackened by time. "All things that resist change are changed by that resistance in ways undesired and undesirable," says Wills. "The tradition must be repristinated if it is to be worth following."

Plough Sunday

2010-02-07T13:11:00.003Z

A toy tractor and plough in Church, dad's real tractor outside. Things to remind us of the work that goes into producing our food and to remember the value of local produce. This evening we will be celebrating plough sunday. It will be all rather ralaxed and fun, Hymns: We Plough the fields and scatter / All things bright (omitting a few verses) and For the beauty of the earth. Readings to match the theme - Genesis probably - and prayers for those who work ont he land or at sea, and for shop-keepers, supermarkets, and those who work in transport.

Plough Sunday is a nice lift to what can otherwise be a dreary start to February.

Those of us who are married don't really need reminders of our humanity

2010-02-06T20:47:00.005Z

I keep a drawer aside for letters and thank you cards, and for acknowlegements from the paper. If ever I am feeling unappreciated (surely that's never I hear you say!) I look at some of the nice things people have said or written. That cheers me up no end.

I was so amused to read of Dave Walker who keeps the cartoon blog and his highlights from his blog who keeps a file entitled 'letters informing me of my idiocy'.

I suppose those who beleive they are always right and never wrong and wonderful in every way need reminding of their mistakes.
I have a new idea, I should keep a very thin file and put in it any letters that people send (not anonymous ones) entitled 'letters reminding me of my idiocy'.

Of course, those of us who are married don't really need reminders of our humanity. We get told often enough already to know our faults very well.

A Woman Scorned - Emmerdale and Clergy Discipline

2010-02-06T12:58:00.001Z

Emmerdale and Clergy Discipline - How not to do it.
Subtitled: Unite the Union Faith Workers Branch offer pastoral care when its needed.

A cameo from Emmerdale - Yorkshire Television - Friday 20th January, 2010.

Context:
The Church of England country vicar of Emmerdale is called Ashley. He has been accused of having an affair with Sally, someone whom he knew a long time ago, and had wormed her way into his life again due to his naivete, and his ignoring his wife. He had invited Sally to share his home, which made his wife unhappy. There was nothing going on between them, but she wanted there to be.
Bishop George has suspended ashley from his parish.

This episode of Emmerdale illustrates a number of mistakes that clergy can make when dealing with those in authority, especially when they are feeling vulnerable because of a complaint or allegation against them. It also illustrates a number of other things: that clergy are vulnerable to false allegations, that people believe and spread malicious gossip, and that bishops function in a quasi-juridical role rather than in a pastoral role as far as discipline is concerned.

*********************
The landlady of the pub to the vicar
'Just be aware that when this comes out people are gong to start talking'.
Ashley: 'Surely a man is innocent until proven guilty'
'Round here...' she shakes her head

*********************
Village gossip: 'They don't suspend vicars for nothing'

*********************
'The point is Ashley, where does it go from here?'
Ashley: 'That remains to be seen'
Ashley: 'I suppose that things can't get any worse'........

A dark blue Jaguar glides up. Bishop George and a man in a dark suit, both wearing black trilbies get out.

Neighbour: 'Ever seen the Great Escape, I think the Gestapo just arrived'.

Bishop George knocks at the door, Ashley opens it, his heart and face sink
'Bishop George'
'Ashley'

MISTAKE 1: Ashley lets them enter his home without an appointment, he is not prepared, and they have the element of surprise and are prepared, they deliberately catch him unawares.

The bishop and the other man enter.
'You remember Alexander of course'.

Ashley to his friend who asks what their presence means 'It means that I have been granted the gift of irony - things just got worse'

Ashley's friend to the Bishop: 'Look you know this is all nonsense don't you? Ashley is not the sort of man... it takes one to know one'

'I am sure we can sort it all out' says Bishop George

Rodney, Ashley's friend: 'maybe I should be making a move... I'll call you'

MISTAKES 2 and 3: Ashley lets his only witness leave him at the mercy of the Bishop and the registrar. Ashley allows the bishop and registrar to investigate his case, he should have reminded the Bishop of his duty to remain impartial and that he was acting inappropriately.

'Right then' says the Bishop
'I suggest we get comfortable' says the Registrar, 'and then I think we better go over everything that has happened' and the bishop and registrar sit themselves down at Ashley's table.

MISTAKE 4: Ashley has not agreed the date, time or purpose of this meeting. He allows himself to be railroaded. He has no one there to take notes as a record of the meeting. For example a representative of the Faith Workers Branch of Unite the Union.

Bishop George and Alexander Deeley the diocesan registrar question Ashley about the allegations 'from the beginning''
Bishop:'it's probably fair at the outset to warn you that we've been to see Sally'

MISTAKES 5 and 6: Ashley volunteers anwsers their questions without anyone present to advise him and keep notes, such as a Union Rep, who drive long distances to be with union members such as Ashley.

'So you never told her that you wanted to be honest about it, and you never wanted to sneak around' says the registrar

'Well, yes, no... you have to understand the context'.

MISTAKE 7: Ashley is flustered and unprepared, he does not know the allegations before he meets the bishop and registrar.

'I told you that the only reason that I went to see her was that she needed to know that it's over, finished with, I never want anything more to do with her' said Ashley
'There's an implication' says the man in suit 'You said finished with - that rather indicates that that something had started in the first place'
'That's not what I meant' says Ashley
'I think that that will do for the time being' says the registrar.

Ashley: 'What happens now?'

'There are one or more people to speak to then I will submit my report.'

Bishop George: 'Chin up, eh. As it happens, I am inclined to believe you.
Ashley: 'Am I going to lose my job?'

Diocesan Registrar: 'Be assured the outcome will be what's best... for all concerned.'

Conclusion: Ashley is very silly to let himself be put in this position. He had three opportunities to avoid this happening - he let the bishop and registrar in, he allowed his friend to leave, and he spoke to them when he was surprised rather than prepared for the encounter. Only one thing is certain - the outcome will not be what's best for Ashley who is currently suspended from his parish. How did he get suspended by the way? Was due process followed? Why didn't Ashley get his union rep in to help him?

Clergy may naively expect a father in God to act pastorally rather than juridically, and to be fair and to be supportive. That disappointment can be hard to deal with, but the consequences of ignorance and naivety are worse. Discipline may well be an episcopal role, but your average cleric may not expect the bishop to act juridically rather than pastorally. In any case who is acting pastorally towards Ashley? The bishop should have delegated his pastoral role to a third party who should be offering pastoral support. In the absence of pastoral support from the hierarchy suitable pastoral support is available from the Faith Workers Branch of Unite the Union.

Fellow clergy may be able to help in such a situation, but deanery or diocesan clergy might not be approachable. There is help out there - and it is well worth seeking out.A good place to start is on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=43479620991 where you can get a flavour of the union and its views and activities or here .
Email me or send me a message to find out who can help when your world is collapsing.

ps 'God' is not the right answer in this context, as the church hierarchy may well arrogate divine purpose to their own actions - and not yours.

Celtic crosshead carved by Runhol

2010-02-05T18:35:00.000Z

This crosshead from St Buryan is inscribed with the name Runhol
beleived to be the stonecarver. It is a ringed cross with christ on it.
The rear of the cross has five bosses, just like that from Roseworthy.
Copyright free image

Zoomorphic animals on Cornish Celic Crosses

2010-02-05T17:25:00.000Z

There are only two celtic crosses in Cornwall with zoomorphic animals.
One is at Sancreed, the other at Lanherne, originally from Roseworthy.
Significantly the inscriptions and dates have something else in common:
Roseworthy dates 900-1099 / rear inscription: RU | HOL = read as RUNHOL
Sancreed dates 950-999 or 900-1099 / front inscription RU | NHO = read as RUNHOL ref

Langdon/1896, 365, expands this to RUNHOL due to a possible suspension mark over the O.
Blair, J The Church in Anglo-Saxon Society attributes the carving of Sancreed Cross to Runhol.
They also both figure christ on the crosshead wearing a tunic or simple loincloth.

The figure of Christ is a little shorter in the leg than at Roseworthy, and there are no hands

Bank Holidays Ordinands&Prayer

2010-02-04T11:13:00.000Z

Discipline in prayer is so important. This is the routine that the discalced Carmelite nuns at Lanherne followed there. How many Anglicans are called to an enclosed monastic order? If y0u have been following this blog you will know that the reason I am interested in Lanherne is that it is the site of the cornish ringed high cross from chapel-close in barton of Roseworthy. And the interest in that prime example of mid-anglo-saxon archaeology is the delightful little copy of it sat here on my desk which acts as a focus for my devotions.

Here below is the daily routine of the nuns, I wonder how different it is from the Celtic monastic order that was on the same site in the seventh to eighth centuries, and how ordinands would cope with this and with studies, placements, community opportunities, formation groups under whatever name they are found, communal meals, chores, and community life. Did I mention private life? I hope that modern ordinands at college or on courses get Bank Holidays off nowadays. Next question is the daily routine of prayer continued privately or corporately on those days and do ordiands experience those days as 'days'off'.

'Rise at midnight - Matins and Lauds at 12.10 am
5.35 am - Lauds of Our Lady (in cell)
6 am - Prime followed by Little Office Prime
Meditation and Terce and Little Office Terce
7.30 am - Conventual Mass (sung daily)
12.20 pm - Sext (+ Little Office Sext)
1.20 pm - None (+ Little Office None)
3 pm - Vespers (Little Office – in cell)
3.15 pm - Vespers
3.45 pm - Rosary and Litany
4.15 pm - Meditation and anticipated Little Office Matins until 5.40 pm
8.25 pm - Compline (followed by Little Office Compline in cell)

Stations of the Cross – Fridays at 8.20 pm
Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and Benediction – Fridays 8.40 am – 1 pm

The Sunday timetable varies very slightly – the main difference is that the Conventual Mass is at 10 am'

Source

English Heritage and Cornish Gems

2010-02-03T22:45:00.000Z

Lanherne in Cornwall was the site of England's oldest Carmelite convent from1794. This is the story of their arrival at this ancient celtic monastic site owned by the Arundells.

'The translation to Lanherne.
The peaceful life of the English Carmels was rudely broken when, in 1794 the French entered Flanders. After some weeks of indecision and alarm, all three communities determined to seek refuge in England. So on June the 29th, the Hopland nuns, "after receiving Holy Communion, hearing three Masses and saying the Hours," left their Conven, arriving in London by way of Rotterdam on the 12th July. they lodged at first with a Mr Coghlan at no 3 Orchard Street, Portman Sq. From this centre they vainly sought a suitable house. At last Providence came to their assistance in the person of the Lord and Lady Arundel of WARDOUR, who offered the nuns their Cornish Mansion at Lanherne. Here the Faith had survived the Reformation in an almost unbroken continuity since Celtic times. With glad and thankful hearts the then Prioress, Mother Francis Xavier Maddocks, together with the community, took up the residence on the 10th of September, 1794. In their flight from Flanders the Community brought with them amny rich and costly Church ornaments and vestments given to them by their first temporal foundress, Lady Mary Lovell. The necessary alterations being almost completed, the first plans of the enclosure were drawn up by the Vicar Apostolic, Charles Walmesley, OSB, on the 27th of February, 1796.
Since then the Lanherne Carmelites have quietly continued their lives of prayer and penance, the only external event of importance being the foundation of another Carmel in the Diocese of Plymouth in 1864, and later transferred to Wells.'

Text based on 1936 edition of "English Carmelites in Penal Times" by Sr A. Hardman, SND and on 1926 edition of "The White Friars - an outline Carmelite History" by Rev PR McCafrey, OCarm

Ed.: I wonder how ordinands would have coped with the offices that they kept, or the discipline.

A blogger visited the house and took some photos which are available here

It is the site of the cross from chapel-close Barton in Roseworthy, which was moved there at about the same time the convent was founded (or just before as it was a closed order -see previous posts) and photo following. The English Heritage past-scape site does not mention the cross, which stands by the chapel door.

As the site is believed to be that of a celtic monastic foundation it is a wonderful location for a very special celtic cross. They are missing a gem - believed to be granite or by some Pentewan stone from near St Austell.

'There was doubtless a Celtic monastery at Lanherne whose lands passed to the diocesan bishops before 1085. (3,4) ' http://pastscape.english-heritage.org.uk/hob.aspx?hob_id=429177
http://www.pastscape.org.uk/hob.aspx?hob_id=429217
http://www.pastscape.org.uk/hob.aspx?hob_id=425862

Holy Well in Roseworthy Barton

2010-02-03T17:36:00.000Z

Chapel-close at Barton of Roseworthy was the field that the cross
was moved from. Although the fields aren't labelled in the maps
there is a holy well marked still on the OS maps to the south of
the village. Wells and crosses often went together in the earliest
days of Christianity in Cornwall.
This well was rediscovered in 2008.
'This Well has the absolutely classic holy Well origin tale attributed to it, or water pouring forth form the ground after it was struck with a wooden staff wielded by the pagan King Teudar, after he had been defeated in battle by Saint Gwinnear.'
http://nwiforum.hereditarius.org/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=266

The Thorpe Salvin Cross

2010-02-03T12:04:00.000Z

A replica of the Roseworthy Cross? (which is 10th century)
How old though?
Modern?
Victorian?
Medieval?
Mid Tenth Century? (930-940AD)

Even odds on modern or victorian.

On the Roseworthy Cross the base
is different - square and squat.
This is rough and rounded, but it
stops it from falling over.

Either due to the size of the cross
Christ has no hands - or it is damaged.
Similarly the cross ring is not made
from the 3 stringed braid which the
Roseworthy Cross is.
The cross ring is 4mm thick.
The figure of Christ is also shorter in the leg.

Cross Inscription - dificulties in drawing worn stone inscriptions

2010-02-03T09:32:00.000Z

This is from Macalister, R. A. S. (1949) Corpus Inscriptionum Insularum Celticarum Vol. II. Dublin: Stationery Office.

The over score above the second letter
indicative of a letter omitted - in this case an N

Macalister has more difficulty transcribing the right hand panel than the left panel which is on the reverse of the Roseworthy cross. The characters on the second line are difficult.

The other illustrations match the small copy that is in my possession, not Macalister. Conclusion: if the copy was made from a book it wasn't Macalister (1949). Could it have been Huebner, A. (1876) Inscriptiones Britanniae Christianae.? or the 1850 illustration by F.C. Hingston below? The earlier the drawing was made the less degradation to the inscription...

Thorpe Salvin and mid 9th Century Archaeology

2010-02-03T09:18:00.000Z

Other sources about the Roseworthy cross:

http://www.archive.org/details/specimensofancie00lond

'Specimens of ancient Cornish crosses, wells, fonts etc'

At Lanherne. This remarkable Cross was brought, several
years ago, from the Chapel Close of the Barton of
Roseworthy, in Gwinear, and erected in its present
position. The upper part,which is much mutilated,
represents Christ crucified ; His feet resting on
a support which has the appearance of a
long twisted braid. In the panel below,
and on the reverse side,
are curious inscriptions, both of which are represented
in the plate. (PI. xviii, fig. a).

The proportions of the cross are slightly out...
the braid should be taller.


About Thorpe Salvin.
Roman foundation, with a church with a Saxon
doorway and in the Treasure Report 2000
a mid Ninth century silver find.
see below)

Thoughts: the date of about 850AD ties in
with the 9th century date
proposed for the Roseworthy cross.
It IS unlikely to be original, but
to have contemporary Saxon finds is interesting.

Thorpe Salvin, South Yorkshire: Fragment from
an Anglo-Saxon silver fitting (M&ME 409)
Date: 9th century
Finder: Mr James Rickett
Date of discovery: 1996
Circumstances of discovery: While searching with a
metal-detector.
Description: Silver niello-inlaid fragmentary fitting,
originally consisting of two arching ribs (one now lost),
each terminating in a stylized animal head with rounded
ears and blue glass settings for eyes; the ribs branch off
above a similar animal head, and at the point of
convergence, there is a small rivet hole, surmounted by
a stylized leaf. The animal heads are inlaid with niello
contours on brow and muzzle, and the ribs, which form
their necks, are also inlaid with beaded niello decoration.
Concealed behind the stylized leaf and the muzzle of the
central animal head are two delicate vertically pierced
lugs, one above and one below the rivet hole. The back
is otherwise undecorated.
Stylistically, this elegant fitting relates to mid-9th
century artefacts; the carefully delineated animal heads
with their nielloed detail and blue glass eyes have many
close parallels among the terminals of strap-ends of this
period, on the Strickland brooch and on the Dunwich
seal-die. However, the piece has no functional parallel
and its purpose is uncertain. The lugs at first sight look
as if they might have accommodated a slender rod or
attachment pin, but this would possibly have been fouled
by the protruding end of whatever passed through the
rivet hole, probably the shank of a small decorative boss
of some kind. Alternatively, the lugs might have been
endstops for linking elements. The high quality and
careful execution of the piece suggest that it is likely to
have come from an object of some status.
Dimensions: Length: 24.5mm; width: 16mm; weight:
3.812g.
Disposition: Rotherham Museum hopes to acquire
this find.

Cornish cross drawn in 1850 shock -

2010-02-03T08:51:00.001Z

The illustration in the post above dating from 1850 is horribly wrong!
The illustration below from 'Other antiquities', Magna Britannia: volume 3: Cornwall (1814) is more accurate.
Time has not been kind to it.

The Roseworthy Cross and its little brother.

2010-02-02T23:39:00.000Z

At the bottom right you can see the Roseworthy Cross - a byzantine / celtic cross with Saxon inscription front and rear. It has christ with a tunic, and braid underneath, and the original is in a closed convent in Cornwall at Lanherne. Thought to be Ninth Century.

It was first mentioned in literature in 1814 'Okasha/1993, 133, notes that the first mention by Lysons and Lysons in 1814 recorded that the stone was moved to `the garden of Lord Arundell's mansion-house, at Lanherne'. The Manor of Lanherne was given to Carmelite nuns by Arundell in 1794 so the move is likely to have taken place before then.'

I found a small copy also in granite with the same inscription today in an antique shop. Nice craftsmanship if it was made yesterday, though allegedly 'found on a farm at Thorpe Salvin' in Rotherham MBC by a keen metal detector, the village is an old Roman foundation which is noted for having a church with 'a handsome Saxon doorway'

I wonder what the inscriptions mean.

Ah... thanks to scholars who recognised the following names on it:
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/archaeology/cisp/database/stone/lhern_1.html

The inscription on the front is read as:

Macalister, R.A.S. (1949):	+BSE \| IDE/TI \| M{A} \| H Expansion: + BEATUS EID ET IMAH Ma calister/1949 178--179 reading only
Okasha, E. (1984):	+BRE \| ID[B^E^R^E/T][I] \| M{A} \| H Expansion: +BREID [ET] [I]MAH Translation: +Breid(PN) and [I]mah (PN).

Eid (Language: Incomplete Information; Gender: incomplete)
Macalister/1949, 179, notes that the name is peculiar and may be an abbreviation.
Imah (Language: Incomplete Information; Gender: incomplete)
Macalister/1949, 179, notes that the name is peculiar and may be an abbreviation. Okasha/1993, 136: `of unknown origin, unless [I]MAH is connected with the Irish Imchadh'. Ed. : legendary kings of Ulster pre 450AD
Breid (Language: Incomplete Information; Gender: male)
Okasha/1993, 136: `of unknown origin. … The name Bredei occurs in the Pictish King-list, a name taken by Kackson to be non-Celtic'. Ed: Bruide mac Der-Ilei (died 706) was king of the Picts his death is recorded by the Annals of Ulster and the Annals of Tigernach.

Well, well, who would go to the trouble of copying an inscription in a foreign language correctly? Any why does the Roseworthy Cross mention two kings from Ulster yet was found in Cornwall?

The inscription on the back is read as:

Macalister, R.A.S. (1949):	RV~ \| HOL Expansion: RVNHOL Translation: Runhol (PN). Macalister/1949 179 reading only
Okasha, E. (1984):	RV~ \| HOL Expansion: RVNHOL Translation: Runhol (PN).

ie a Celtic name 'Runhol.'

Decription of the cross:
Langdon/1896, 357--358, notes that this `four-holed cross' is `the most beautiful specimen of an elaborately decorated cross in Cornwall'. He then describes the form as follows: `There is an entasis on the shaft, which is rather more marked on the front than on the other faces. The bead on the angles is tapered from the bottom upwards, and is carried round the outline of the head. The ring is moulded with a triple bead on the front and the back, as well as on the sides, below the arms; but on the ring above the arms there are four beads'. Langdon gives the following extra dimensions: width of (i) head 16" (ii) top of shaft 9.5" (iii) base of shaft 11.5"; thickness of (i) base of shaft 8" (ii) top of head 5.5"'.

Note:
on the back of the Roseworthy cross there is also beadwork as on the front, with the inscription panel below, on the copy the panel is at the height of the beadwork on the front.
There are also no bosses on the head of the cross - 5 on the original.

Description from the History of Cornwall: from the earliest records and traditions volume 2 - Hitchins (1824): Another remarkable curious cross... brought from a field called Chapel-close on the barton of Roseworthy, in the parish of Gwinear. It seems very ancient, but it's period must be confined within the time when Christianity was introduced and established: since it contains on one side some rude sculpture of the crucifixion, under which is a braid, and an inscription which seems of Saxon workmanship. Both this cross and that which stands in the churchyard, have suffered much from the injuries of time and a long exposure to the action of the elements.'

Employment Rights for clergy

2010-02-01T13:20:00.000Z

It seems odd to me that human rights are universal and inalienable whereas rights given by law are given to some and not to others. Statutory inequalities are obviously unjust. The law sanctions and allows inequality - including those based on sex and sexual orientation - as long as religion is the basis for that exclusion. We allow social inequality every time we fail to stand up for someone who is treated differently. Why do we permit some to be treated as second class citizens?

Clergy are no longer treated with the respect and deference which they once were, but as that social standing has eroded and as complaints prodecures have become enshrined in law, and as ministerial review and capability procedures become normative there has been a failure to take compensatory measures. There can be no excuse not to give clergy the same rights as employees. They don't have to become employees to be given those rights. Creating a whole raft of separate legislation reinforces the idea that clergy are to be treated differently, while all that is wanted is to be treated the same - to have the same rights as everyone else has, and to have them protected by law. Is that too much to ask?

Test

2010-01-31T23:39:00.001Z

Do vicars get on with each other?

2010-01-31T23:29:00.000Z

These thoughts are in response to a blog post about loneliness among clergy,
http://bernwodeblog.blogspot.com/2010/01/loneliness.html
and they address just one aspect of being a vicar - that of working relationships between incumbent status clergy.
Having worked in a number of dioceses, and being from a clergy family, this is a general analysis and does not relate to any individual living or dead, not to any particular deanery or diocese.

Rivalry, trust, vulnerability and collegiality.

The complexity of working relationships, friendship patterns, and the variable attendance rates of clergy can make discerning group dynamics among clergy difficult.
It is hard for assistant curates to understand the dynamics between vicars and priests in charge.

It is not unheard of for clergy to offer support to other deanery clergy, but it is by far the exception that proves the rule. Supporting colleagues from other dioceses, perhaps those met at college ot courses is more common, especially where both are members of alternative chapters, or fellowships. For clergy with sole cures a feeling of detachment from the diocese and from fellow clergy is commonplace. While chapter can be a positive experience

Clergy working relationships are complicated by a number of factors, and this list does not even begin to address differences in churchmanship, or views about ordination of women

1) lay relationships between parishioners from their parishes
2) deanery synod and its agenda as each parish seeks clergy leadership to promote their interests above those of other parishes, each represented by their clergy
3) working relationships with people such as funeral directors, visiting organists, and disaffected parishioners each of which might like to tell stories about other clergy, or get clergy from other parishes to meet their pastoral need eg hatch, match, despatch, especially as parish boundaries are often artificial
4) good or bad experiences of bishops and their staff skew working relationships if there is a mismatch of experiences between vicars
5) the need to report to the diocese - numbers, plans, progress, success,
6) the need to pay the quota / parish share / common fund allocation, and perceived inequalities between parishes
7) possible pastoral reorganisation, leading to insecurity, especially amongst those who are not the bishop's 'blue-eyed boys' (or perhaps 'girls' in these days where a headlong rush to appoint the first woman bishop is mulled over).
8) the perceived need to succeed, and not to fail, and seem weak or vulnerable whereas failure is the common experience of many clergy according to many measures in use
9) differences in work-loads or working patterns are very common, and it is rare for anyone to understand what other deanery clergy do, this can lead to jealousy and a feeling that the grass is greener in a different parish/benefice
10) Some clergy want preferment, or influence within a diocese, and they will participate in diocesan life in a way to draw positive attention to themselves.Others, perhaps those longer in the tooth, have no ambitions for preferment, or have frustrated ambitions and recognise that earlier dreams will never be fulfilled. The former are more likely to be outspoken of the keen ambitious clergy, the latter to question the motives of 'up and coming clergy' or to act out of jealousy.
11) Rural or area deans are in a difficult position and are caught in the middle between parochial clergy and bishops, if they are perceived as promoting the needs of the bishop over the needs of fellow clergy, or reporting back to him that could lead to mistrust.

Sunday Services

2010-01-31T21:50:00.000Z

Normal times for Sunday services: weekly

Wentbridge 9.15am Smeaton 9.15am
Darrington 10.45am (&Womersley 11.15am)

Also on the first Sunday of each month evensong at Smeaton 6.30pm

2010-01-31T09:16:00.000Z

www.wentbridgechurch.co.uk

Is now back online with another host, and a subdomain /weddings is also active again.

Please contact me if there is anything which you would like to see on the website and I will try and add it, thank you.

Website problems

2010-01-30T21:48:00.000Z

It has been a disappointing few weeks as far as the wentbridgechurch.co.uk site goes as the server had a major malfunction, and communication betweeen customers and webhost was non-existent. That is why the decision was taken to move the website to a different webhost.
It all takes times, effort, and money.

In the meantime if you are using google search you can always look at the cached version of the website after the page description.

Good point about the server crash:
It's nice to know just how many people rely on the internet for news and for information about baptisms/christenings, weddings and funerals.

Clusters

2010-01-17T21:23:00.001Z

Honey nut clusters on skewers dipped in ice cold milk and savoured like strawberries dipped in a chocolate fountain..

or

'A cluster is an informal arrangement between neighbouring parishes to share some of the work, ministry and mission together in order to make best use of resources.'

Explanation:

'Informal' means NOT formal
with no obligations or requirements

'Between... parishes'
PCC co-operation is needed as the parish remains the legal unit of church governance.
If the church council does not want to participate in the life of the cluster it is not required to. There is no such thing as a cluster council, a cluster is not a Group or a Team. Groups of individual parishes have a Group Council with representatives from each church and all the clergy - they have to meet together and work toether. Teams have a team council and district councils, one team clergy may be allocated to each district council, but all are on the Team Council. There are no individual parishes in a Team, though each church may have a treasurer and parish share may be allocated between them by the Team Council.

Purpose:
'to share...work'
church can be hard work and working together can lighten that load as people work together
'to share...ministry'
Ministry is the work of all God's people and so this means to work across the cluster to do God's work... it does not mean 'Sharing a vicar' (apart from in practise) It can mean that neighbouring clergy meet together and are less isolated and share their expertise across the cluster churches eg one might be good at baptisms, another at weddings, a third at funerals.

'to share ...mission'
God wants to bring people to know him and he uses people to draw others into the family of his church. That process is mission. It does not mean having plans schemes and targets (though these are fashionable). It means having relationships, getting to know people and showing them God's love through practical ways and sharing faith when appropriate.

'To make the best use of resources' means allowing God to have a say in how we utilise the gifts that God has given us. It does not mean planning to reduce common fund or parochial share contributions by spreading stipendiary clergy thinner.

Clusters.
Clusters rely on Parochial Church Councils wanting to work together, and on individuals wanting to meet across the churches. Clusters can't be made to work if they are forced on people against their will of if they are regarded as the least bad option.

Honey Nut Clusters are sexier than church clusters.

Health and Safety and Christmas Carols - a junk email which you may have missed

2009-12-25T13:23:00.000Z

The Rocking Song
Little Jesus, sweetly sleep, do not stir; We will lend a coat of fur, We will rock you, rock you, rock you, We will rock you, rock you, rock you:

Fur is no longer appropriate wear for small infants, both due to risk of allergy to animal fur, and for ethical reasons. Therefore faux fur, a nice cellular blanket or perhaps micro-fleece material should be considered a suitable alternative. Please note, only persons who have been subject to a Criminal Records Bureau check and have enhanced clearance will be permitted to rock baby Jesus. Persons must carry their CRB disclosure with them at all times and be prepared to provide three forms of identification before rocking commences.

Jingle Bells
Dashing through the snow In a one horse open sleigh O'er the fields we go Laughing all the way

A risk assessment must be submitted before an open sleigh is considered safe for members of the public to travel on. The risk assessment must also consider whether it is appropriate to use only one horse for such a venture, particularly if passengers are of larger proportions. Please note, permission must be gained from landowners before entering their fields. To avoid offending those not participating in celebrations, we would request that laughter is moderate only and not loud enough to be considered a noise nuisance.

While Shepherds Watched
While shepherds watched Their flocks by night All seated on the ground The angel of the Lord came down And glory shone around

The union of Shepherds has complained that it breaches health and safety regulations to insist that shepherds watch their flocks without appropriate seating arrangements being provided, therefore benches, stools and orthopaedic chairs are now available. Shepherds have also requested that due to the inclement weather conditions at this time of year that they should watch their flocks via cctv cameras from centrally heated shepherd observation huts. Please note, the angel of the lord is reminded that before shining his / her glory all around she / he must ascertain that all shepherds have been issued with glasses capable of filtering out the harmful effects of UVA, UVB and Glory.

Little Donkey
Little donkey, little donkey on the dusty road Got to keep on plodding onwards with your precious load

The RSPCA have issued strict guidelines with regard to how heavy a load that a donkey of small stature is permitted to carry, also included in the guidelines is guidance regarding how often to feed the donkey and how many rest breaks are required over a four hour plodding period.

Please note that due to the increased risk of pollution from the dusty road, Mary and Joseph are required to wear face masks to prevent inhalation of any airborne particles. The donkey has expressed his discomfort at being labelled 'little' and would prefer just to be simply referred to as Mr. Donkey. To comment upon his height or lack thereof may be considered an infringement of his equine rights.

We Three Kings
We three kings of Orient are Bearing gifts we traverse afar Field and fountain, moor and mountain Following yonder star

Whilst the gift of gold is still considered acceptable - as it may be redeemed at a later date through such organisations as 'cash for gold' etc, gifts of frankincense and myrrh are not appropriate due to the potential risk of oils and fragrances causing allergic reactions. A suggested gift alternative would be to make a donation to a worthy cause in the recipients name or perhaps give a gift voucher. We would not advise that the traversing kings rely on navigation by stars in order to reach their destinations and suggest the use of RAC routefinder or satellite navigation, which will provide the quickest route and advice regarding fuel consumption.

Please note as per the guidelines from the RSPCA for Mr Donkey, the camels carrying the three kings of Orient will require regular food and rest breaks. Facemasks for the three kings are also advisable due to the likelihood of dust from the camels hooves.

Rudolph the red nosed reindeer
Rudolph, the red-nosed reindeer had a very shiny nose. And if you ever saw him, you would even say it glows.

You are advised that under the Equal Opportunities for All policy, it is inappropriate for persons to make comment with regard to the ruddiness of any part of Mr. R. Reindeer. Further to this, exclusion of Mr R Reindeer from the Reindeer Games will be considered discriminatory and disciplinary action will be taken against those found guilty of this offence. A full investigation will be implemented and sanctions - including suspension on full pay - will be considered whilst this investigation takes place.

Christmas is a time for listening

2009-11-15T12:16:00.000Z

As Christmas approaches we prepare to celebrate the birth of the Christ-child, the Prince of Peace. Sadly in our world there are too many wars, conflicts and disagreements. People refusing to listen to others, shouting but not hearing, are the cause of many a conflict. Jesus teaches us to listen.
The strengths of the Church of England include its tolerance of difference. A wide range of beliefs is tolerated, as is a wide range of liturgical practise of how church services happen, and a very tolerant approach to whether the official service books and their texts are used at all. The Revision Committee of General Synod are thinking about how we can have women bishops. There is no doubt, we will have women bishops at some point. 2020 is the latest guess of when that point will be reached. Our society can not understand how women can be discriminated against in a church which preches that in christ there is neither male nor female. Our society looks to the church to catch it up. This is one reason why I am pleased that the revision committee has decided not to take away some of the authority of women bishops by statute, but instead to have a code of practice or guidelines under which women bishops delegate some of their proper functions to others to undertake. One of these functions would be ministering to those who don't beleive in women's ordination. A bishop is either a bishop or isn't a bishop, there is no half-way point. No one wants people to leave the Church of England, and this is not a campaign to disenfranchise Anglo-Catholics, but the Church's governing bodies see no theological objection to raising women to the episcopate. Women will be bishops, and they will be properly ordained whether we like it or not, just as women are properly ordained priests, even if some would rather they hadn't been.
One of the latest developments from Rome has been a structural way of welcoming former Anglicans into the Roman Catholic Church while allowing them to retain some of their Anglicanism. Clergy who transfer will need to be ordained and their priestly status or episcopal status regarded as null and void. It is a difficult thing to do when faithful priests have administered the sacraments to their congregations for decades. Can they regard all they have done as invalid? At least in the Church of England we have the concept that sacraments can be 'valid but irregular'. The sacraments remain sacraments and their validity is retained, but to imagine that you have never administered holy communion, absolved sins, blessed people, baptised them or married them, is something I can't do. I think that the revision committee of synod are trying to balance the needs of different groups as best they can. Some people will never believe that a woman can be ordained, others will never believe that episcopal authority can be taken away from diocesan bishops. What remains, or I hope will remain, is provision for those who can't in conscience agree to the majority or democratic view to remain in the Church of England because they are needed. Proper provision is likely to be the provision by women diocesan bishops of a bishop to whom they have delegated their rightful authority. Perhaps a quicker way of dealing with this issue would be to remove the church's exemption from the sex discrimination act. An act of synod could alternatively use simple language like: 'where legislation refers to the training, consecration and duties of bishops for 'he' and 'him' read 'he/she' and 'him/her'.
We all know that if you put three people in a room you will get four opinions of how a problem can be solved, and the issue of women bishops is no different. How can we accept people who are different from us? I hope that the Church of England can use this issue as a good example of how difference can be tolerated, and people respected who have different views. The church should be an example of how disagreements can be managed, and it is no different locally nationally or internationally. People don't have to agree to get on, and treat each other with dignity and respect, to listen and really hear what the other person is saying.
May God bless you are you prepare to celebrate the birth of our Saviour Jesus Christ.
Your friend and vicar,
Adrian

Remembrance Sunday

2009-11-14T09:50:00.000Z

The second Sunday in November is Remembrance Sunday and is when we remember those who served their monarch and country in times of war, including those who died as a result of war. A service in each Church commemorates the glorious dead, and we recommit ourselves never to forget the sacrifice that they made as we say ‘we will remember them’.

When the Last Long Trek is Over

When the last long trek is over,
And the last long trench filled in,
I’ll take a boat to Dover,
Away from all the din;
I’ll take a trip to Mendip,
I’ll see the Wilshire downs,
And all my soul I’ll then dip
In peace no trouble drowns.

Away from noise of battle,
Away from bombs and shells,
I’ll lie where browse the cattle,
Or pluck the purple bells.
I’ll lie among the heather,
And watch the distant plain,
Through all the summer weather,
Nor go to fight again.

Alec de CANDOLE
2/9/1918
RIP Arras, France 4/9/1918

On a personal note may I add that being unable to forgive is very harmful and psychologically damaging. Reconciliation between individuals as well as between nations is what God calls us to. It is not easy, but we try to forgve, as we know that God has forgiven us.

As we remember those who served King and Country, we remember those who are serving now, those war widows recently bereaved, orphans, and the wounded and scarred, mentally, physically or spiritually.

May God bless you, your friend and vicar
Adrian

Sunday Trading

2009-11-13T18:09:00.001Z

Sundays have changed forever.
(15 years since Sunday Trading was introduced)

When I was a curate I lived by a huge Shopping centre – Merry Hill , which was called ‘Merry Hell’ by locals, and which rivals Meadowhall for size. Sundays used to be very quiet, even living on the junction of two A roads, and you could if you wanted walk across the junction diagonally confident that you wouldn't ever see a car on a Sunday. Midweek it was very busy, as the road linked Dudley with Stourbridge. One Sunday it all changed, and the traffic was queuing bumper to bumper, all heading one direction – down to Merry Hill, as Sunday Trading had just been allowed. Later that day the traffic was just as busy returning from Merry Hill. Sundays were never the same again, traffic noise, pollution, traffic jams meant I could hardly get the car out of the drive on Sundays leading up to Christmas (any time from November onwards).

Church attendance remained pretty constant, though the increasing number of car boot sales has affected church attendance lately, and Sunday television has knocked evensong for a six. Satellite and cable, together with Freeview mean you can watch almost anything on TV at any time, and what you can't watch on TV you can always watch 24/7 on the computer or Mobile Phone.

Sundays – porridge and runny boiled egg, with bread and scrape, polishing shoes, cycling to church, Sunday lunch sat down with the family (of variable quality) being allowed to go in the lounge after lunch – the only time we were as far as I recall. Sundays were different, we weren't allowed to buy sweets on a Sunday and if we did they were confiscated. Jimmy Saville's Old Time Record Club on the radio at lunchtime introduced me to music from the 50s 60s and 70s. What are your memories of Sunday? Time together at home with the family was part of what made a weekend what it was, though with a vicar for a father that was far from guaranteed.

Were pubs ever open on Sundays? I don't recall seeing them open, though we never seemed to go out on a Sunday apart from Church. There were no such things as garden centres where so many flock nowadays. Was football played on a Sunday? I recall players refusing to do so, when Sunday games were first brought in.

Sundays were different from other days. Now it is a day much the same as any other day, you can go to church, to the pub, garden centre or car boot sale, to the cinema, restaurant or sports event. Sundays are just like any other day. Is the world better now Sundays are the same as any other day, or worse?

Your friend and vicar,

Adrian

Road Safety
How safe it it to cycle on our roads?

As children our family had one car, and as my dad was out preaching each week in different churches we had to cycle to church. Were the roads less busy then? Was driving better? Both seem to be the case to my recollection. Safety standards have increased though, with cars being designed to protect pedestrians or cyclists, and with emphasis on wearing helmets and bright or reflective clothing.

How safe are our roads? Think of people riding horses - pass slow and wide, avoiding revving the engine, see if it is safe to stop and allow the horse to pass you. Please be considerate of other road users. The road is not just for the motor car.

Almost half of people questioned think that shopping on a Sunday can add to people's overall stress levels at the weekend.
NOP Consumer Poll 2004

New website for Wentbridge Church

2009-02-02T15:14:00.000Z

Well, here it is, a new website for Wentbridge Church online and live in time for the wedding fayre:

http://www.wentbridgechurch.co.uk

It is solely a website for enquiring wedding couples.

The Vicar goes to a Wedding Fayre

2009-01-22T11:57:00.000Z

The vicar and his wife, Sylvia will be going to the wedding fayre at Rogerthorpe Manor on Feb 22nd to try to drum up some wedding business.

Why not get married in Church?
It's much easier to get married in Church now than it ever has been.

Woman Bishops and the Church of England

2009-01-21T14:55:00.000Z

The General Synod will soon be debating the draft Woman Bishop's Measure.

This has been developed under the leadership of the Rt Rev Nigel McCullough, Lord Bishop of Manchester, and former Bishop of Wakefield.

This will challenge the status quo in the Church of England and the 'two integrities' though 'The Church of England remains committed to Resolution III. 2 of the Lambeth Conference 1998 “that those who dissent from, as well as those who assent to, the ordination of women to the priesthood and episcopate are both loyal Anglicans.” '.

The proposed code of practice includes proposals relevant to multi-parish benefices, including a proposal for a benefice meeting with representatives of each parish to consider the issues of woman bishops, with the option to be able, after the appropriate legal niceties, for a PCC to ask for complementary episcopal oversight* and the ability for any PCC in a benefice to rescind Resolutions A and B passed in another parish within that benefice:

'in the case of a resolution passed by the PCC of a parish in a multi-parish benefice, the PCC of any other parish in that benefice passes a resolution stating that it wishes the resolution to cease to have effect;'

*Note the following clause: The diocesan bishop would not be expected to act upon a petition, or a decision to rescind a petition, unless satisfied that: 'the incumbent or priest-in-charge was in favour of the resolution in question, whether or not he had been present and voted.'

The relationships between parishes would change under the new draft proposed code of conduct.
That is a huge proposed change, and reflects the changing nature of the Church of England and some of the very real challenges that clergy who minister in multi-parish-benefices have to face.

What is a Pastoral Scheme?

2009-01-21T08:17:00.000Z

A pastoral scheme is a way of managing change. Full details of the relevant law can be found on the government's websites such as here.

2009-01-20T23:26:00.002Z

Draft Pontefract Deanery Plan 2009

2009-01-20T23:23:00.000Z

The draft Pontefract deanery plan 2009 proposes alterations to the Benefice of the Went Valley, and to Knottingley Team Parish, and the Parish of Badsworth. More details later. These proposals are due to come into effect sometime before, or after 2013. It will be considered by every PCC, then the deanery standing committee will present it in the same or an altered form either back to PCCs or to the Deanery Synod for approval.