Yesterday I wore jeans and a teeshirt to lead worship, we made bread, we were very informal, and it was fun.

Today I wore a black suit and a clerical shirt for a funeral, we sang lovely old hymns, we remembered and it was sobre.

Each is part of the ministerial task and each is a privilege and, in its own way, a pleasure.

I am sure I drive people nuts with the amount of faffing I do to make sure the place looks its best for a funeral, but I like it to be 'just so'

I know some people really don't like the fact that a minister might lead worship in jeans and a teeshirt (though most are very generous about it on the rare occasioans when I do)

Being a chameleon, blending with the surroundings, being part of what makes the experience safe and effective, this is an important part of ministry.  Perhaps the contrast is most stark when it is beween scruffs and a smart black suit, but it feels right to be able to do these things.  Can't help feeling the Apostle Paul might agree.

Today's 6 a.m. news included this about the benefits of exercise in reducing the risk of recurrence of cancer.  It's very good and very fine but...

• People who've had cancer treatment may not be able to slot into 'normal' exercise programme
• People who've had lymph node clearance (for example) shouldn't be doing certain repetitive exercises
• Lots of people aren't fortunate enough to be fit and well to start with, so it's a big thing

I'm lucky, there are two pilot schemes running in Glasgow, and I am in one of them.  We have specially trained instructors who know about the impact of chemo, surgery and radiation on our ability to exercise, who can adapt things to meet our abilities and needs... and who make us work til we sweat!  But the funding for the courses is very precarious - currently the programme I'm with has had a six month extension to its funding, which means, in practice, until the end of Decemebr 2011.  Then what?

There are ways forward - it could be NHS endorsed, but would then become a rehab programme with a strict 6/12 week attendance and then you'd be 'on your own'.  It could be one that you pay for - it is free at the moment, and I'd certainly be happy to pay just for the reassurance that my instructor knows my limitations and can adapt things for me.  I am pretty fit, I get plenty of walking exercise blah di blah.  Not everyone starts at that place, not everyone feels confident to go to a class when they worry their wig/scarf might fall off, their 'fake boob' shift or fall out or their reconstruction twitch or jump.  Not everyone can afford to pay, and not everyone lives near a sports centre or hospital (my class is run at the former, the other scheme runs in a hospital physio gym).

Breast Cancer Care and the Prostate Cancer Charity are now doing some stuff together on this aspect of their work - but of course funding exercise classes is always going to be a pretty low priority.

PS If anyone wonders, to my knowledge there are NHS rehab exercise programmes for cardiac patients and some for people with mobility or balance issues, all of which are run by specialist instructors such as the 'girl' who runs my class.

Just a very quick report on this morning's service - the bread was made, and baked and shared in communion.  It worked (phew) and I think it was meaningful for most people.

Definitely worth trying if you have a very small congregation and access to a kitchen, as you wouldn't need to cheat and prepare a few earlier.  Entirely feasible with a medium sized congregation (we were about 50) with a bit of careful planning, or a even large one if you have enough people 'in the know' able to do some advance preparation.  Go on, give it a go, you know you want to...

 (Photo (c) Sam Olowu)

Thanks to A & S who sent me this by post.

The wonders of photo twirling meant I didn't have to do handstands... which is just as well as even if I could, I'm not allowed to!

Two down, one to go!

Clever people who read Greek know that the words translated as 'daily bread' in the Lord' Prayer can equally well be translated as 'for tomorrow' or even as 'sufficient.'  When I found that out, some years back, it gave me a new insight to the LP - all we ask for is enough to get through the next day, enough and no more.

Luke and Matthew, the two gosels which contain this prayer offer variants.  If I have remembered correctly, Matthew has 'give us today...' whereas Luke has 'give us every day' - the difference is quite striking, and I wonder if Luke's variant reflects his interest in 'the poor' for whom such a prayer would be more real than for us wealthy folk in the west today.

Anyway, yesterday I made bread for tomorrow (i.e. today) which is simple, unglazed mini-rolls, to be warmed up at church for sharing at the appropriate point.  One of the ways I understand the role of church is as anticipating the eschaton, or as Brian Wren puts it 'live tomorrow's life today' i.e. living the life of the Kingdom as best we can.  If that's so, then 'bread for tomorrow' takes on a theological significance as anticipating the eternal banquet...