Lady said to me yesterday, "Oooh, you're very approachable, aren't you?" One of those "Oh blimey, I'm a vicar" moments. She was comparing me to one of my predecessors, a Canon Mitchell, who ruled Wavertree with a cold eye for over fifty years. His picture dominates our vestry, a stiff-necked man frowning down at the current incumbents who're always in his shadow. He presided over this woman's wedding in 1943. Canon Mitchell wouldn't have any small-talk with she and her husband-to-be. Severe.
Leadership's changed. Thankfully. Even the Iona Community, known round these parts as a progressive sort-of organisation, began dustily. It had its justice and peace activity and its creative approach to worship but it was men-only for many years, until 'the wives' put their collective feet down, got their way. And founder George MacLeod had the bearing of a Mitchell about him. On my wall is a framed cover of the special edition of Coracle commemorating his life, and he carries that same steely look in his eye as the old Canon had. Hard men.
Spent this evening with our local Iona Community 'family group', eating, chatting, laughing and thinking about the direction of the Community in the company of our guest for the day, the Community's newish leader Kathy Galloway. She spoke about the process of evaluation we're going through, not a bad idea for an organisation sixty years old and in a very different world to the one which triggered its foundation. And the process she and her steering group have created - open, listening, truly communal - is one I imagine MacLeod wouldn't have had too much truck with. "Only one way left" he trumpeted in the nineteen-forties, and steered many people in his direction.
A leader trying that approach today would be derided. But as another great leader, Arsene Wenger, said on BBC1 today, "Tradition is important. It teaches you values. And you need values..." And while MacLeod's method may be outdated the structure he established on that Scottish island remains at the core of the Community. We members live a five-fold rule: daily prayer and bible reading, accountability for our use of time, money and action for justice and peace, and meeting together regularly. The values this instils seem to transcend time, and mean we have time still for memories of that truculent old leader and his inspirational words, even while very much enjoying the freshness a new leader brings.
Having returned from pizza and cinema with friends (To Kill a King – not great, but not bad), the chilled out sounds of Goldfrapp are now washing over me as I pour over the workings of the Greenbelt Risk Assessment Compiler database. A year ago I knew what all the links and macros did, but now, trying to update it, all knowledge seems lost in the mists of time. Still it’s hard to get flustered when Alison Goldfrapp’s luscious vocals are caressing your ear drums.
Soon I’ll switch it for one of the Billy Bragg CDs that my neighbour brought over earlier. On hearing from me that Billy will be playing Greenbelt, he has decided to make it his one-man mission to acquaint me fully with the Bragg back catalogue. Based on the pile of CD’s that have arrived I’d say my neighbour is something of a fan.
So I guess I’ll have to make sure I get a few minutes off to check out some of the gig – neighbourhood relations could depend on it…
................... dropping through the letter box ...."don't ask me for the answer, I only have one, a man leaves the darkness when he follows the son ........."
yes the new cd by martyn joseph .....a man I love. He covers the Larry Norman track 'the great american novel' ........so NOW ! .....buy it buy it ....
bhp
this is late night .....always is ........listening to 'jazzanova remixes' cd .....new blessings! I get them in stereo you know! Have experiences that stretch my soul .......people who are 'to die for' .........anyway that was the Jesus thought and did with a strategic act ......no messing ....
...one experience which is personal ......I had to have blood test and the wise old Doc ,I saw this week , said all was ok .......that is checking stuff I have never had checked ....ever ..... so I am still as hard as nails and tab free ....
.... I am pleased about that because my Dad died when I was 16/17 and when he was early 50's ..... and my Mother had to have both legs amputated in her 70's due to 'sugar' but never lost her 'spice' for life ......corny eh? ...
....I was at her bedside when she died. All her four sons, and it was great. I will post a pic of her on my website gallery and you will love her vibe! I'm off zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz-bhp-
Well, The Church of Stop Shopping was in Liverpool today. They're ministered-unto by Reverend Billy (who once led his congregation and a gospel choir into Starbucks for an impromptu sermon on the evils of the transnational bean and hormone-injected milk). The Church sees Starbucks as a prime mission field, aiming to convert the corporation whose sinister banner is a mermaid with no nipples.
Their show - I mean, service - also features Whirl-Mart, a silent trolley procession which mesmerizes shoppers, and My Dad's Strip Club, an absurdist look at subliminal messages spelled out in supermarket receipts. Or so it said on the publicity. Unfortunately I had to miss it, stuck at home preparing a workshop on celtic spirituality instead. Look out though, for Revd Billy, who may be appearing at a mall near you soon.
Just had a week-end in Cornwall with the humans I love and am closest to. Joan, Joy, Ann ......a secret w/e planned by three for one called Joan for her special birthday. Joan and I have not been here since Joan was pregnant with Joy and she is 36 now ......I remember coming here and surfing on the amazing waves while Joan read on the beach ......... and we both discovered the delights of ice cream with clotted cream ........hmmmmm.
A the same time I am in touch by text with the 40 people in Prague doing the crucial planning for the www.2003.eay.org event on August. I miss the team there and I belong with them ,and I am with them even though apart. They are my 'Liquid Church' ......a book I am reading at the moment. Our daughters give us a great time as they are so good to be with. I
respect them. Many other feelings. I have neglected them in the past BUT I have asked their forgiveness and they have said yes.
Still in my soul I carry the pain of people I work with, this week, and it is good I carry them with me. Not as oppression but as an act of hope in human kind ......their development is driving my own ......and hope and faith and communication and love glands .............so ' the Hefner Remixes' cd ends my day as I laptop this. As always, more to say than I can type ........hope you are ok and trust that you too stretch yourself in communication with others and strive to live life to the full.
-live-life-in-wonder-
-bhp-
Just home from a Greenbelt meeting ...... www.greenbelt.org.uk ......for those off the planet.
It is my spiritual home. The place where, as a battered inner city youth worker, I found direction, refreshment, inspiration, hope, passion, and a determination to follow the God road ......a place where I am reminded that He loves and loves and loves me.
no conditions.
no doubt
inspired to serve .........that could be a good theme you know .....if it was rocked up a bit.
Like........ inspired to hurt
inspired to kick the darkness until it bleeds daylight
inspired to work within a yard of hell instead of the chapel bell !!
So the meeting ......proceeded by a starbuckes cafe with an angel ......no hotspot working free sad to say .........and after .....a pint with a heavenly host of greenbelt board members and theology weeping from our laughter and gritty banter. Tonight it was:-
what if we moved gb to the mainline europe for one year?
what about staying in the city and not doing an exodus like so many christians ..........................
so I end the day with a blog and a glass of COINTREAU........never any need to think what I want for a present ............and Gilles Peterson on internet radio ...
'this revolution will not happen between these thighs'
says sara jones as I listen to the best music outsidaheaven !!!
so tomorrow I need to deliver a session and have not prepared yet ........with a group of bhp's who are still looking at me with caution .......... ok ! but ...a bit of .....'who is this guy who wants to talk and 'do life' ........'
what will I do eh?
I have faith it will come out of the soul ..........
so goodnight you beautifuls ......
bhp