So, there I am, reading chapter 2 of Life Conquers Death (which is proving a good read) and the author refers (page 37) to the picture on the front cover, used with permission, as being Rembrandt's Holy Family With Angels. No!  My paperback copy has a rather striking photograph of a tree with the sun just skimming the uppermost branches (I don't seem to be able to track down a hardback version, if there is one, to see if this is different).

Fortunately the author of the book (John Arnold) includes a detailed description of the painting, so the book still works.  What was intriguing was to compare the image as I imagined it from his description with the relaity when I found it online.

Just in case anyone else is likely to be in the same predicament, here is a version as a soviet postage stamp (I liked the irony of this) from 1976...

Earlier in the week, I had decided that rather than me writing and leading prayers of approach, I would use 'open prayer' allowing people to offer their own praise and thanks.  By the time I got to worship this afternoon, I had changed my mind, and decided I would do what I sometimes do with the girls in Brigade, and ask everyone in turn to offer a one sentence 'thank you prayer.'

I duly introduced the idea, warned the person who would be asked to start us off, and told people they had to use the (hand held) microphone so that everyone would be able to hear.  I wasn't sure if people would play ball or not.  But, miraculously everyone did - and I feel the mike as a prop probably helped.  Some prayers were unintelligble because they were bellowed or mumbled into the mike, but everyone made an attempt

The prayers were no more, and no less, profound than those my five year olds offer.  Thanks for family and friends, for church, for freedom of worship, for Jesus, for the sunshine (which was gorgeous), for the school building where we meet.

It would be lovely to think that suddenly everyone would be confident to offer extempore prayers, but I think that would be a little optimistic.  But at least now we've done this once, we can do it again, and people will hopefully feel a little less intimidated by prayer.

Pay back came in the form of the duty intercessions leader forgetting all about it, so I had to step into the breach - my turn to be put on the spot and pray extempore with no chance to think about it first.

Still, overall I think the service went quite well and allowed us to think afresh about the theme of temptation, sin and forgiveness.

Ideas for Good Friday are slowly coming together.  I found some good ones here which include both a labyrinth and some 'stations' or 'installations' whatever you might like to call them.  There is also a fairly useful thing on Stations of the Cross here which offers 'Protestant' versions with 8 and 14  stations for those of us who are not so comfortable with St Veronica or multiple stumblings.

Tonight at 'thing in a pub' one of my folk decided to grill me as to whether or not I had participated in the 'ashing' at yesterday's Ash Wednesday service.  I hadn't, it doesn't 'do it' for me, but I can't make a very robust theological objection given the ritualisation of all manner of other Biblical practices that go on in churches of all persuasions.  Ashes as a sign of penitence have a good Biblical mandate, whatever might have happened in the intervening years.

It was clearly vital to this person that I hadn't taken part in that ritual, judging by the dogged determination with which it was persued - asking me if I'd burned the crosses (which didn't/doesn't happen in the service anyway) - and by the strength and emphasis of the 'good' when I said 'no.'

I decided I was more annoyed about this than was perhaps justified, and need(ed) to work out why.

Firstly, it would not contravene Baptist discipline if I had taken part, and I do know Baptist ministers who both participate as recipients and do whatever you call the people who do the ashing.

Secondly, actually that decision is between me and God anyway.  It is God, not my congregation, to whom I am ultimately accountable.  This should probably be item (1) because being right with God must 'trump' Baptist discipline, but I'm being honest in my recording.

Thirdly, and probably mainly, I felt that the whole enterprise was being treated glibly, and that the service was a source of comedic amusement.  I made the mistake of saying that I was disappointed that more people hadn't chosen to come when I had specifically requested their support, which seemed to make it all the more acute that so few had come along.

What was so sad, was that it was actually a very lovely service, with a great atmosphere and where everyone participated in as much or as little as they were comfortable with and no one minded.  The few Methodists who were there chose to be 'ashed,' we few Baptists chose not to be.  No one quizzed us about why not, they just appreciated our presence.  Most of us went forward for communion, but a few chose not to, and, again, no one queried or ridiculed the decision.  My experimental sermon was really well received, with people saying they had found it moving and powerful - far more feedback than I ever get on a Sunday.

The Ash Wednesday service isn't something I would choose to emulate, but that doesn't mean it is valueless mumbo jumbo upon which good Baptists can look down in disdain.

Well, having posted and pondered whether to publish, my annoyance has abated.  I stand by my decision to participate in the service to the extent I did, and do not believe I am required to give account of myself other than God, who, I suspect, quite frankly has bigger fish to fry.

We are planning our Good Friday outreach evnets - a kind of drop in with activities for children and space to reflect, meditate or chill out for adults.  This means lots of upfront work so that we can all chill a bit on the day (method in the madness I hope!).

One of the ideas is to use a prayer labyrinth, and I'd hoped to be able to borrow the one that belongs to EMBA - alas someone else thought of it first and it is booked out.

A quick trawl of cyberspace hasn't come up with any alternative sources, so do any of you lovely poeple know where I can borrow or hire one from?  We do not have the time to make our own for this year.