Ok

By continuing your visit to this site, you accept the use of cookies. These ensure the smooth running of our services. Learn more.

A Skinny Fairtrade Latte in the Food Court of Life - Page 297

  • A Complete Time of Nonsense...

    On Sunday evening I had the privilege of going to visit a church in another city in an official capacity to hear a young man preach.  All went well, and I've been able to write what I hope is a positive affirming and encouraging repport.

    This post, which is deliberately mischievous, arises from the fact that during the service we stood for three extended periods of 'sung worship' that were musically unsatisfying, some of them theologically or linguistically iffy (in my view).  I can't stand still for 20 minutes any more, I even have to shift my feet around when I'm preaching, so blocks of 20, 15 and 15 minutes (the service was just under 2 hours long) was too much, and I sat the last one out.

    Depending on the repetoire of songs in your own church you will know which one I am plagiarsing/emulating.  Hopefully you won't take offence, and just maybe you will have a chuckle...

     

    Standing in a darkened church

    Singing endless worship songs

    Where the tunes all sound the same

    Every Sunday

     

    Lots of bad theology

    Lots of battle metaphors

    Lots of words I’d love to change

    Power language

     

    Guitarist has a three chord trick

    Drummer’s in a perspex shed

    Singer shuts their eyes…

     

    More than once, we must sing it all again

    Then the break, where we find the tune is changed

    It’s annoying,

    It’s annoying!

     

    Now my hips are getting sore

    So I’ll have to take a seat

    Just like many others do

    Every Sunday

     

    Yearning for a Taize chant,

    Iona, Wesley, Kaan or Wren…

    Different meters, different moods

    Or world music

     

    Organists who change the stops

    Choirs in four part harmony

    Congregations singing…

     

    Praising God, in diverse ways

    Saying sorry, saying please

    Hymns that tell a story…

     

    Only once, we can then sing something else

    That has links with the theme of the service

    It’s quite easy!

    It’s quite easy!

     

    Sitting, standing, singing, quiet,

    Crying, laughing, thinking, still,

    Listening, praying, speaking too

    All are worship

     

    God the Father,

    God the Son,

    God the Holy Spirit…

     

    Every week you must put up with our songs!

    Every week you receive our clumsy prayers

    Every time you accept our muddled worship

    You are faithful

    And we're grateful…

     

       

  • Tashnob - a Little Light Relief! ;-)

    This morning I took a little time to glance over the most recent BMS magazines, and found myself laughing out loud at a short article in the Summer 2016 issue of Engage, which focussed on language faux pas by mission personnel. Should you be in need of a few laughs yourself, have five minutes to spare, or are simply curious, go here and click through to page 16.  Happy reading!

  • Being blessed all over again

    Today I decided to have another go at decluttering - it's a long old process but each time I do make some progress.

    In the course of sifting through a box of papers, most of which went into the bin, I stumbled across various cards made for me by children when I left Manchester and when I arrived in Glasgow.  It was lovely to be reminded of those special moments, and makes me glad of my hoarder tendencies.  I read some old thank you cards - one referring to something I had done which evidently was a real help to the person who wrote it, and of which I have zero recollection.  That was nice too.

    Definitely being blessed all over again (as well as a few 'yikes' moments when I realise how many years have elapsed).

    I did eject six sacks of rubbish and fill a huge bag of recycling, as well as identifying loads more stuff that one day will find its way to a charity shop.

    Not exactly a relaxing day off, but a good one in many ways.

    (The picture in the photo was drawn by Edward who by now will be at least 18!)

  • The Courage of Honesty

    Once again we've had a week when it's hard to find the words for intercessory prayer, so I was especially proud of the person leading them this morning who stood up and said words to the effect of, "I tried to write a prayer but the words wouldn't come, so I'm sharing this poem instead."

    And the poem fitted the service perfectly, and touched on the key themes exactly, and said what was needful and helpful.

    And I hope that the courage of this one person to admit the struggle of creating prayers for public worship will encourage others both to be brave enough to have a go and realise that it is perfectly OK to borrow the words of others.

  • Demographics

    Our church age range is now 0 - 102. 

    This, among many other things, makes me very grateful.

    This, among many things, makes ministry hugely challenging and endlessly rewarding.

    Congratulations to E&J on the safe arrival of baby O (a couple of weeks ago) and to G on your 102nd birthday.

    Thank you God for these moments of joy and celebration.