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.

Do NOT send me any so-called 'large letters' with 'letter 'stamps affixed, otherwise I will be sending you a bill for excess postage and waste of ministerial time!

Today my postie put a card through the door addressed to the church (I live next door to the defunct building) to tell me there was a letter to collect with excess postage required.  I dutifully headed off to the sorting office, fortunately only a mile away, and a good excuse for an early lunch, to discover it was a one page unsolicited letter in a 'large' A4 envelope with a 'letter' first class stamp affixed.  This wasn't even enough to cover the second class 'large letter' postage.  As a result I had to pay 6p excess postage plus a £1 handling fee for a letter I didn't even want.

I will be posting the letter back whence it came and assuring the sender that I am not even remotely interested in their services. I will even be suggesting that they may like to refund the excess fees and subsequent postage.

Churches are meant to be loving and forgiving, but not doormats.

How many temptations did Jesus face in his 40 days in the wilderness between his baptism and the start of his ministry?  No, I'm not playing games with the idea that a whole heap were unrecorded, rather just working with the three incidents listed in Matthew/Luke and ignoring discrepancies in order.

I came up with at least six this morning as I was preparing the sermon for Sunday, but as most operated at more than one level, I suspect I could have counted differently.

The first one (though I indentified it last) is egocentrism - this is all about me.  Certainly the temptations are personal, and their first referent is Jesus himself, but there must have been a temptation to self-centredness: my will be done...

Others, which can be read as personal or with universal application are...

Materialism - to make all the bread he needs/wants, and by inference anything else material.

Avoidance of risk - leap off the Temple and you won't get hurt - no risk of pain, injury or failure

Fame - leaping off the Temple as a stunt and/or to end world hunger or poverty at a stroke

Power - the whole world at his feet

Quick fix - instant change, now this minute

Abuse of scripture - finding a verse to say what you want, rather than thinking what the 'bigger picture is'

These temptations are ones we all face, to some degree, both at personal and at global levels, and it is useful to reflect on my own responses to them.  Not comfortable, but useful.