Last night I went with a couple of folk from church to see Amazing Grace at the 'Century Theatre' which is part of the local mining heritage centre where it functions primarily as an historical artefact.  Once a month they put on second-run and other 'worthy' films at the princely price of £2.50 all seats.  As it only seats 210, even a full house is not going to make a mint.

The programme we saw proved a hilarious combination...

Firstly from you tube, a humourous little offering here along with a reminder that it is dangerous to play on railways!!

Then a 1959 short called An Artist Looks at Churches (colour!) here I have to conclude that either life was very dull in the late 1950's or boring commentary was a sign of worth.  The churches themselves and the selection of examples shown were quite interesting but the commentator was soooo dull.

The main feature  Amazing Grace which was worth seeing, if inaccurate in places (e.g the tune used for the hymn) and quite challenging when we realise how little as really changed in all that time.  The forerunner of Fairtrade with sugar suppliers, people being trafficked, complex queastions about balance of justice for other nations with the needs of the poorer in our own land, or of those employed by oppressive or ethically questionable industries, the consequences for military persons sent overseas to fight in political wars...  How much of this was screen play writing in and how much was historically based I don't know but it made me think.

All in all a fascinating, and in expensive, evening out that seemed to speak to me on many levels about anachronisms, timelessness and determination.

Now I'm off (from Monday) to stroll along Hadrian's Wall, so it will be peace and quiet in this corner of blogland.

Yestersday the Baptist e-sweep sent unsuspecting people to my corner of the 'Food Court' and having looked at the stats for yesterday, I guess quite a few came for a peep.  Special thanks to Anne for her generous and encouraging comments.  It made me think a bit about blogging (I do from time to time, when I'm not just writing reams of stuff) and what I might want to say to someone setting out into this way of reflecting and sharing.

The first and foremost thing has to be that you own the blog, it doesn't own you.  It sounds obvious but lots of people end up feeling guilty because what they write is not ever so erudite or because they get 'bloggers block' or they just get fed up and want to do something else.  I suspect blogging has a natural lifetime and I'm quite surprised after almost two years that I haven't got bored of it, but maybe that's because, at least most of the time, I feel I do own it.

Be respectful - a bit careful not only what you say but how you say it. it sounds obvious, but once the 'save' or 'send' button has been pressed it's gone and out of your control.  I try to avoid using names of people or churches and usually disguise them when I do.  Now and then I regret the comments I leave - we're all fallible, and blogging reflects that.  So if you later regret something, well don't beat yourself up over it.

Be careful with pictures pinched from the web - we all do it, but there are some money-hungry folk out there who use software to track down their images and send you bills.  I have no problem paying for things that are for sale but it's easy to get caught out.  That said, most people are lovely, would work out you are not costing them any money, are maybe giving them free advertising (e.g. images of book covers) and an acknowledgement of sources goes a long way. there are also some good sources of free or cheap stockphotos (see Tim Hyde's blog for details)

Comments can be wonderful - a great way to have a discussion with other people - and most people are incredibly generous and gracious.  Now and then we all get abusive or spam comments; I delete these, other people find that the frequency and nature causes them to restrict or close commenting.  Some blog platforms have security features to guard against spam.

Have fun!  Don't feel that this has to be "a blog about deadly serious theology" (or whatever) all the time (or any of it).  Share jokes, holiday photos, children's antics, pet's foibles, even what you had for tea!  Take a few risks now and then - but stay in control, and always try to be respectful.  Just like our preaching, our blogging is a 'face of Jesus' that people see.  I'd like to hope that we present a tolerant, respectful, generous, engaging, humourous, risk-taking, issue-contemplating, not taking itself too seriously, generally loving (ever getting cool fizzing)* image.

* Giving my age away there!!

Saw this on Jim Gordon's blog and had to pinch it! 

Lord grant me the senility to forget the people I never liked, the good fortune to run into the ones I do, and the eyesight to tell the difference

Today my 'middle' Godson turns 18.  He has been in church I reckon around half a dozen times - his Baptism, mine (!) my ordination and the odd wedding.  I have been invited to share a family meal in honour of the occasion.

Today our lunch club ends its second year.  If everyone who is booked in turns up we will have over 60 people sitting down to share food and fellowship.  In two years, I've 'buried' about half a dozen.  A good half of them have been to our carol service teas and other events but as yet no one has joined a church (some are already members of our or other churches)

Tomorrow I'm having lunch with one of my deacons (one of the few folk of around my age!) and our pub-based 'Church Plant' (sounds awfully trifid like to me) has a rock band and will serve food in the interval.

On Friday I take my Mum out for a birthday lunch, and I can be fairly sure that conversation will include the Salvation Army (of which she is an offcial Adherent) and my sister's URC training (along with news of my brothers, nephews and nieces of course).

When each of my three Godsons was "done", I made it clear to the parents that I, at least, would take my responsibilties seriously.  But I find myself wondering - as I watch lifestyles and values that trouble me - what difference I've actually made. granted, I am now a 'tame vicar' useful for Bible questions in trivia quizzes but even so...

Our lunch club does a fantastic job, but there are those little niggles within the fellowship about "them" and the odd mutterings if we put club members' names on the prayer list.  Likewise with the plant, there is a sense that some people see this as 'bringing people into church' rather than into faith.

Being with my own highly ecumenical family is always challenging!  Sometimes I find myself having to take the middle ground when arguments erupt , recently over Christology and prayer: should you pray 'to or 'through' Jesus?  Discuss!(my Mum has a low Chrisology, consistent with her Jewish heritage I guess; my sister has  a much higher view - I recently wound up trying to explain the ontological significance of 'Son of God' in lay language - a great challenge!)

One of my greatest realisations, many years back,  was that I'm not repsonsible for how other people respond to the Gospel or how other people think it should be 'delivered,' all I am responsible for is fulfilling (or trying to) God's call on my life.  This released me from a lot of guilt and anxiety over those who had, visibly at any rate, not responded 'favourably.'  I also know that through the work I do, in some small way Gospel is expressed to 60 or so senior citizens, restaurant and pub staff, coach drivers and maybe even to my Godsons and their families, who, let's face it, would never abandon a well paid job to follow a call to eat with those who can never invite you back...

By the weekend I will undoubtedly be a few pounds heavier (good job I'm walking Hadrian's Wall next week) but as I chew over the things of this week, and recall Jesus the 'friend of sinners and tax-collectors' I dare to conclude that maybe, just maybe, I have something about right.

Three come along at once.

I posted a few days back about the closure of the chapel at Center Parcs, and I had hoped to attend the final service.

Now I have the date, and it clashes with a joint service at D+1, a morning service we had to work hard to get them to agree to...

Then I discover that the closure service at St Smells and Bells is also the same day and time...

Which to go to...?

Sadly, Center Parcs has to take lowest priority and will have to be missed.

Of the two remaining, my preference is to go St Smells and Bells as we have endeavoured to stand alongside them during the last year as they waited for the powers that be to formulate closure plans.  Further, this is obviously a 'one off', there will be more opportunities to go to D+1, none for St S&B.

Trouble is, of course D+1 may read something into me opting out of this service that we had specifically requested...

Life is complicated!