Last night a few of us trotted off to the local C of S church where one of our minister friends was being 'introduced to the RAF' as a chaplain.  We had guessed it would entail a fair degree of formality and other stuff that Baptists don't do but I for one had not anticipated quite so much nationalistic stuff... it would be interesting to talk to a Baptist military chaplain and see if they had as much of this in their services.

The C of S may not be 'established' in the same way as the C of E but the feel was pretty similar.

Before the service began a statement was read out a bit like 'bans' syaing that if anyone knew any just cause or impediment to this person's appointment they must let the Presbytery know at a given address - the deadline was ten minutes before the announcement was made and all the officials were at the church not the given address. Hmmm.

It's always a funny one for Baptists when a service inclcudes a creedal declaration, last night the Apostles creed.  Part of Baptist heritage is that we 'don't do creeds' not because we don't have orthodox beliefs (the BUS website clearly affirms "Baptists believe in the truths expressed in the historic creeds of the Church") but because our forebears saw how doctrinal statements divided, excluded and schismed the church (even if, of course, they were a schism in their own right).  I know some Baptist churches do use the historic creeds in worship, but most don't.  What holds us together in our weird and wonderful diversity is the Declaration of Principle e.g. here

Separation of church and state has always been a big thing for Baptists so it was kind of odd being in a service that included 'I vow to Thee my Country' and 'God save the Queen.'  Evidently it did not go unnoticed that the Baptist contingent didn't sing the latter (and most of us mumbled the former; one (not me) had the courage to abstain).  It would be fair to say that we don't have identical views of royalty but we do share a Baptist view that our allegiance is not to the Crown nor to Scotland nor to Great Britain but to Christ.

It was really good to see our friend move on to his new calling, and I'm sure he'll be a great chaplain to those he serves.  I'm just reminded why I am a Baptist.

This morning's guest preacher used John 11:55 - 12:8 as his text.  What he said was quite wide ranging but among other things he noted that there were three main characters: Jesus, Judas and Mary.  One of the things I wound up pondering was the juxtaposition of Mary (good) and Judas (bad).

The Fourth Gospel shows pretty clear evidence of dualism with such contrasts as above/below, light/dark, etc.  My understanding is that the dualism of the time would have allied 'good' with 'male' and 'bad' with 'female' in which case this story becomes more than a little subversive.  Interesting.

The preacher also mentioned that 'some people' try to rehabilitate Judas and I have to confess to being someone who would love to.  I found myself recalling how he is sometimes called 'the son of perdition' (lostness) and began thinking about all times the word 'lost' gets used in the gospels inrelation to Jesus mission ...

I would dispute the preacher's claim that the same annointing story appears in all four gospels; as I understand it most commentators would recognise at least two stories - different women, different parts of Jesus anointed (head or feet).  But then how many times do I make claims that others would dispute?

Above all, the sermon made me think, and that has to be a good thing.

It's funny how sometimes you hear something new (to you anyway) and then it keeps popping up all over the place.  Recently in a conversation about 'one song to the tune of another' someone mentioned singing Amazing Grace to the tune of the House of the Rising Sun.  Today I heard it on the radio... and it keeps being mentioned.

I found a version of it here, accompanied by images that juxtapose KJV texts with images of 'the House of the Rising Sun'.  There is a poignancy and profundity to setting words about 'grace' to a tune associated with a song about 'failure and regret'.  See what you think

... and very large, and glowingly golden, and extremely beautiful.

Yesterday I heard on the radio that the moon would unusually large last night because it was especially close to earth and also full.  It was a very cloudy night but the moon deigned to peep out briefly in all its shiny loveliness.

I love to look at the moon.  To do so connects me with my own past and with the ancients who also gazed in wonder at this orb in the sky.  It connects me with people I know and love in other places on this strange and wonderful planet we call home.  And it connects me with the future, when, long after I am forgotten, new generations will look skywards and see its simple beauty.

All of which reminds me of a rather twee Sunday school song of yesteryear...

I love the sun

It shines on me

God made the sun

And God made me

I love the stars

They twinkle on me

God made the stars

And God made me

I love the rain

It splashes round me

God made the rain

And God made me

I love the wind

It blows round me

God made the wind

And God made me

I love the birds

They sing to me

God made the birds

And God made me

Gwen F. Smith

To which I'll add...

I love the moon

In its beauteous mystery

God made the moon

And God made me

Of course I don't think many under fives would know what 'beauteous mystery' mean in words but they'd sure as anything get the concept.

I have set myself a challenge... to complete the half marathon walk called Shine Glasgow to raise money for research into breast cancer.  Having learned how to put a widget on my blog you can sponsor me directly if that is something you'd like to do.  The walk is not until September - ages away - so I have plenty of time to build up strength and stamina before then.  If and when I reach/exceed the target I will just revise it upwards!

Shine is an event organised by Cancer Research UK, and I am pleased to support this UK wide charity.  At a later date I would also like to do something for local initiatives and have a few tentative ideas to be explored in due course.  When that happens I'll be backwith my begging bowl.