Saturday, 8 October 2011
GRAND TUFTI'S GRAND PLAN
GOES STRAIGHT TO VIDEO
Those of us opposed to the Anglican Covenant should take heart from the fact that it appears to have only managed a rating of a lousy one out of five on "The Radio Times" website.
Friday, 7 October 2011
WHERE DOES HE FIND THEM?
Not only is this really, really dreadful it also goes on (and on and on and on...) for over five minutes. As I can't imagine anyone getting all the way through it I am giving away a massive 10000 days off purgatory to any fool who does.
GUMBY OF THE DAY
This is classic gumbyism. The executive director of The Minnesota Catholic Conference, Jason Adkins, was certainly born quite a few branches down on the tree of evolution when it comes to the development of human thought and reasoning.
ADKINS: It’s about preserving an important institution. When you’re talking about marriage and changing the definition of marriage, you’re not creating a separate institution called same-sex marriage. You’re in fact redefining marriage for everyone. There’s little reason why you’d limit it to two people at all. What if a bisexual wants a partner of each kind, a man and a woman? Are you leaving that group out?
Full story at
THINK PROGRESS.
Full story at
THINK PROGRESS.
Thursday, 6 October 2011
LONG HAIRED FREAKY PEOPLE NEED NOT APPLY
- WHY SHOULD THE DEVIL
HAVE ALL THE GOOD MUSIC? (4)
There are some rules which will be applied strictly:
1) There must be words (instrumentals will not be accepted).
2) Songs written to be hymns or worship songs are excluded (but not songs that have been later adopted as such).
3) No settings of previously written texts will be accepted (e.g. a classical composer's setting of a latin mass).
Here is today's selection. The first track, "Signs," was suggested by Tracie. Actually she suggested "Signs" as performed by Tesla. Unfortunately I own an Apple Mac computer and it simply won't lower itself to download a Tesla track. To play it I would have to find an internet cafe, download it on one their PCs, burn it to CD and then import it from the CD onto my iTunes programme. Even then I expect my computer will take offence and probably refuse to play anything other than Wagner operas for the next two weeks. But, I do own the original version of the song by the Canadian group, Five Man Electrical Band. So, I've included that instead. I also own a Fatboy Slim record where he samples the song. Both Fatboy's mash up and the original are very good. I have no idea if the Tesla version is good or not as I have never heard a single Tesla track in my whole life.
"Signs" by Five Man Electrical Band. Suggested by Tracie and MadPriest
"Hey World (Don't Give Up)" by Michael Franti And Spearhead. Suggested by Lori.
"My Sweet Lord" by George Harrison. Suggested by That Other Jean.
"Jubilee" by Mary Chapin Carpenter. Suggested by John L.
"Hurt" by Johnny Cash. Suggested by Aggi.
MADPRIEST'S THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
You cannot change your opinion if
you never had one in the first place.
you never had one in the first place.
THINGS BISHOPS SAY (1)
"I cannot possibly comment on that."
This common episcopal utterance is particularly infuriating and it has been said to me on numerous occasions, not just by bishops but by archdeacons and rural deans as well. They gossip about you amongst themselves (correction: they exchange information about you amongst themselves) and come to conclusions, but when you attempt to put your side of the story to them they say, "I cannot possibly comment on that as I wasn't there." It really is a discussion killer. Which, I assume, is why they say it.
This common episcopal utterance is particularly infuriating and it has been said to me on numerous occasions, not just by bishops but by archdeacons and rural deans as well. They gossip about you amongst themselves (correction: they exchange information about you amongst themselves) and come to conclusions, but when you attempt to put your side of the story to them they say, "I cannot possibly comment on that as I wasn't there." It really is a discussion killer. Which, I assume, is why they say it.
BRITISH SOVEREIGNTY UNDER ATTACK
From THE TELEGRAPH:
The Most Rev Peter Smith, the Archbishop of Southwark and one of the most senior Roman Catholics in the country, said the state must not attempt to redefine marriage.
"Whilst we welcome the Prime Minister's support of marriage, family life and especially the care of children, the proposed redefinition of marriage cannot be right," he said.
"Marriage by its very nature is between a man and a woman and it is the essential foundation of family life. The state should uphold this common understanding of marriage rather than attempting to change its meaning."
The Catholic Bishop of Arundel and Brighton, the Rt Rev Kieran Conry, warned that Mr Cameron would not be given "an easy ride on this”.
“I think the Church will have to do something. We can’t just let this slide by and say we are not interested," he said.
COMMENT: I think that if the Vatican Nation has problems with the ethics of my country's decision to change the law in this respect they should pursue their complaint through the European Court for Human Rights.
Oh no, they can't do that, of course. Although the Vatican is stuck in the middle of a modern European city it is still a tin pot dictatorship and is not signed up to the democratic institutions of the European Union. They'll just have to resort to threatening British citizens with excommunication again, although that hasn't been a very successful ploy in Britain up to now. In fact, as a plan of action it is prone to backfiring. What can I say? Xenophobia is in our blood. That's not a nice thing but it does have its advantages especially when another European nation decides that they are going to invade us.
The Most Rev Peter Smith, the Archbishop of Southwark and one of the most senior Roman Catholics in the country, said the state must not attempt to redefine marriage.
"Whilst we welcome the Prime Minister's support of marriage, family life and especially the care of children, the proposed redefinition of marriage cannot be right," he said.
"Marriage by its very nature is between a man and a woman and it is the essential foundation of family life. The state should uphold this common understanding of marriage rather than attempting to change its meaning."
The Catholic Bishop of Arundel and Brighton, the Rt Rev Kieran Conry, warned that Mr Cameron would not be given "an easy ride on this”.
“I think the Church will have to do something. We can’t just let this slide by and say we are not interested," he said.
COMMENT: I think that if the Vatican Nation has problems with the ethics of my country's decision to change the law in this respect they should pursue their complaint through the European Court for Human Rights.
Oh no, they can't do that, of course. Although the Vatican is stuck in the middle of a modern European city it is still a tin pot dictatorship and is not signed up to the democratic institutions of the European Union. They'll just have to resort to threatening British citizens with excommunication again, although that hasn't been a very successful ploy in Britain up to now. In fact, as a plan of action it is prone to backfiring. What can I say? Xenophobia is in our blood. That's not a nice thing but it does have its advantages especially when another European nation decides that they are going to invade us.
JUST A REMINDER
OCICBW... is, was and always will be a conversation and not a series of stand alone statements. Heck, that's why I called it "Of Course, I Could Be Wrong..." in the first place.
WE WIN!
From PINK NEWS:
Giving his keynote speech at the Conservative party conference in Manchester, Prime minister David Cameron urged the delegates to support gay marriage.
Last month, ministers announced that a consultation would be held on how to introduce same-sex marriage before 2015.
The prime minister, who backed committment between same-sex couples in his 2005 speech, told supporters today: “I stood before a Conservative conference once and I said it shouldn’t matter whether commitment was between a man and a woman, a man and another man or a woman and a woman. You applauded me for that. Five years on, we’re consulting on legalising gay marriage. And to anyone who has reservations, I say this: Yes, it’s about equality, but it’s also about something else: commitment. Conservatives believe in the ties that bind us; that society is stronger when we make vows to each other and support each other. So I don’t support gay marriage in spite of being a Conservative. I support gay marriage because I am a Conservative.”
The camera then cut to Samantha Cameron applauding her husband’s remarks as members cheered and clapped.
From THE POST AND COURIER:
The Episcopal Church has launched an investigation of Bishop Mark J. Lawrence a year after the Diocese of South Carolina voted to distance itself from the national church because of disagreements stemming from the 2003 consecration of an openly gay bishop.
Two years ago, the diocese, under the leadership of Lawrence, voted to strengthen its autonomy and "begin withdrawing" from the church. In February, it changed its constitution, asserting the authority of the local diocese over the national church. The national church's accusation of abandonment sets the stage for disciplinary action.
From THE WASHINGTON POST:
The Bishop Seabury Church in Groton, a 135-year-old parish that broke away from the Episcopal Church after it consecrated its first openly gay bishop, cannot keep its building and land, the Connecticut Supreme Court ruled Friday.
COMMENT: Both in the world and in the church the haters have lost. Yes, they have. They have lost the moral argument and it is now just a matter of time before that fact is reflected in law and in culture. That a Conservative (capital "C") party in a conservative (small "c") nation is now committed to ensuring in law that there is absolutely no difference between same sex marriages and marriage between a man and a woman is conclusive proof that homophobia ("the worst disease") is rapidly joining racism and misogyny in becoming unacceptable. Of course, it will simmer on in the minds of bigots for many years (maybe forever), just as racism still persists. But those who remain prejudice will become the "lepers" and will be reduced to making jokes about how they are "politically incorrect" and whinging on about their "martyrdom.".
The fight against the terrible injustice of institutionalised homophobia was fought (is still being fought) on two fronts, again, both in the secular world and within the religions of the world. At the end of the day it will be the calm, patient campaigners against the hatred who will carry the ball across the goal line. But we must not forget the impatient and the angry who screamed "foul" from the sidelines and who were prepared to risk everything, even unto death, to make sure the issue was never out of the general public's minds over the last four or so decades.
Calm debate won the day but anger started the debate. If it wasn't for the well pissed off ladies of Stonewall dragging the mild-mannered gays out onto the streets to confront the police and the hatred of most of America, David Cameron would not be, this week, telling a British nation that enough is enough.
Keeping anger righteous is incredibly difficult (it's like working with nitro-glycerine) and those of us who embrace anger and regard it as a God given weapon to use against the oppressors of this world are always failing in our attempts not to cross the line into being just plain nasty and, therefore, no better than the haters themselves. But if it wasn't for us the rest of the world would do nothing and absolutely nothing would ever change.
Earlier in the week I asked the question, "Was Jesus a wimp?" No he wasn't. Jesus kicked butt both metaphorically and physically. Christ's anger at injustice, which was God's anger at injustice, will, in the end, change the world far more than all the mild mannered Jesus stuff. Even if religion disappears from the world completely, Christ's humanism is now so ingrained within the moral zeitgeist of the good that there can be no turning back. It has taken two thousand years but Christ's supreme sacrifice is, at last, beginning to pay off.
Giving his keynote speech at the Conservative party conference in Manchester, Prime minister David Cameron urged the delegates to support gay marriage.
Last month, ministers announced that a consultation would be held on how to introduce same-sex marriage before 2015.
The prime minister, who backed committment between same-sex couples in his 2005 speech, told supporters today: “I stood before a Conservative conference once and I said it shouldn’t matter whether commitment was between a man and a woman, a man and another man or a woman and a woman. You applauded me for that. Five years on, we’re consulting on legalising gay marriage. And to anyone who has reservations, I say this: Yes, it’s about equality, but it’s also about something else: commitment. Conservatives believe in the ties that bind us; that society is stronger when we make vows to each other and support each other. So I don’t support gay marriage in spite of being a Conservative. I support gay marriage because I am a Conservative.”
The camera then cut to Samantha Cameron applauding her husband’s remarks as members cheered and clapped.
From THE POST AND COURIER:
The Episcopal Church has launched an investigation of Bishop Mark J. Lawrence a year after the Diocese of South Carolina voted to distance itself from the national church because of disagreements stemming from the 2003 consecration of an openly gay bishop.
Two years ago, the diocese, under the leadership of Lawrence, voted to strengthen its autonomy and "begin withdrawing" from the church. In February, it changed its constitution, asserting the authority of the local diocese over the national church. The national church's accusation of abandonment sets the stage for disciplinary action.
From THE WASHINGTON POST:
The Bishop Seabury Church in Groton, a 135-year-old parish that broke away from the Episcopal Church after it consecrated its first openly gay bishop, cannot keep its building and land, the Connecticut Supreme Court ruled Friday.
COMMENT: Both in the world and in the church the haters have lost. Yes, they have. They have lost the moral argument and it is now just a matter of time before that fact is reflected in law and in culture. That a Conservative (capital "C") party in a conservative (small "c") nation is now committed to ensuring in law that there is absolutely no difference between same sex marriages and marriage between a man and a woman is conclusive proof that homophobia ("the worst disease") is rapidly joining racism and misogyny in becoming unacceptable. Of course, it will simmer on in the minds of bigots for many years (maybe forever), just as racism still persists. But those who remain prejudice will become the "lepers" and will be reduced to making jokes about how they are "politically incorrect" and whinging on about their "martyrdom.".
The fight against the terrible injustice of institutionalised homophobia was fought (is still being fought) on two fronts, again, both in the secular world and within the religions of the world. At the end of the day it will be the calm, patient campaigners against the hatred who will carry the ball across the goal line. But we must not forget the impatient and the angry who screamed "foul" from the sidelines and who were prepared to risk everything, even unto death, to make sure the issue was never out of the general public's minds over the last four or so decades.
Calm debate won the day but anger started the debate. If it wasn't for the well pissed off ladies of Stonewall dragging the mild-mannered gays out onto the streets to confront the police and the hatred of most of America, David Cameron would not be, this week, telling a British nation that enough is enough.
Keeping anger righteous is incredibly difficult (it's like working with nitro-glycerine) and those of us who embrace anger and regard it as a God given weapon to use against the oppressors of this world are always failing in our attempts not to cross the line into being just plain nasty and, therefore, no better than the haters themselves. But if it wasn't for us the rest of the world would do nothing and absolutely nothing would ever change.
Earlier in the week I asked the question, "Was Jesus a wimp?" No he wasn't. Jesus kicked butt both metaphorically and physically. Christ's anger at injustice, which was God's anger at injustice, will, in the end, change the world far more than all the mild mannered Jesus stuff. Even if religion disappears from the world completely, Christ's humanism is now so ingrained within the moral zeitgeist of the good that there can be no turning back. It has taken two thousand years but Christ's supreme sacrifice is, at last, beginning to pay off.
THE FRUIT OF KNOWLEDGE
We live at a moment in time when we can squeeze
all the knowledge and all the art of the world into
a cell phone but still we cannot cure cancer.
all the knowledge and all the art of the world into
a cell phone but still we cannot cure cancer.
THE PRAYER LIST: 6TH. OCTOBER 2011
The Prayer List is a daily feature at OCICBW... with an option to light a candle as you pray. If anybody has any concerns they would like included on tomorrow's list please email me with details or leave your request in the comments to this post. I will include relevant photos if provided.
FOR YOUR PRAYERS
Posted by Sally at ETERNAL ECHOES:
I am struggling with a re-occurrence of depression at the moment, it is not the first time I have suffered this and it probably won't be the last. Over the last couple of years life has brought with it all sorts of pressures and problems, and this summer when I really needed a rest and a break life proved to be anything but restful. The result was that I hit the beginning of the Methodist Church year in September feeling utterly exhausted. It didn't take many more things for me to find myself in the G.P's office with the result of being signed off for a couple of weeks.
***
Posted by Ellie at CHILD OF ILLUSION:
So sorry for the lack of posting. I'm down with a really bad cold, I'm sorry to say, and will be back to normal posting when I'm feeling a bit better.
***
Posted at DIOBETH NEWSPIN:
Pray for our young men and women who have died in Iraq and Afghanistan, and for their families:
Spc. James A. Butz, 21, of Porter, Ind.
Lance Cpl. John R. Wimpey Cagle, 19, of Tucker, Ga.
Pvt. Danny Chen, 19, of New York, N.Y.
Sgt. Christopher Diaz, 27, of Albuquerque, N.M
Pfc. David A. Drake, 21, of Lumberton, Texas
Spc. Garrett A. Fant, 21, of American Canyon, Calif.
Spc. Steven E. Gutowski, 24, of Plymouth, Mass.
1st Lt. Ivan D. Lechowich, 27, of Valrico, Fla.
Petty Officer 1st Class (SEAL) Caleb A. Nelson, 26, of Omaha, Neb.
First Sgt. Billy J. Siercks, 32, of Velda Village, Mo.
Staff Sgt. Nicholas A. Sprovtsoff, 28, of Davison, Mich.
1st. Lt. Andres Zermeno, 26, of San Antonio, Texas
Pray also for the fallen heroes also of our coalition partners, and for the citizens of Iraq and Afghanistan who have died, unnamed and unknown to us, and for those who mourn ... and for an end to this endless war.
If you would like to light
a candle as part of your
prayer, please click HERE,
then click on BEGIN and
follow the instructions.
Our group name is
Laika (case sensitive);
please type this into
the appropriate box
when requested.
FOR YOUR PRAYERS
Posted by Sally at ETERNAL ECHOES:
***
Posted by Ellie at CHILD OF ILLUSION:So sorry for the lack of posting. I'm down with a really bad cold, I'm sorry to say, and will be back to normal posting when I'm feeling a bit better.
***
Posted at DIOBETH NEWSPIN:
Pray for our young men and women who have died in Iraq and Afghanistan, and for their families:
Spc. James A. Butz, 21, of Porter, Ind.
Lance Cpl. John R. Wimpey Cagle, 19, of Tucker, Ga.
Pvt. Danny Chen, 19, of New York, N.Y.
Sgt. Christopher Diaz, 27, of Albuquerque, N.M
Pfc. David A. Drake, 21, of Lumberton, Texas
Spc. Garrett A. Fant, 21, of American Canyon, Calif.
Spc. Steven E. Gutowski, 24, of Plymouth, Mass.
1st Lt. Ivan D. Lechowich, 27, of Valrico, Fla.
Petty Officer 1st Class (SEAL) Caleb A. Nelson, 26, of Omaha, Neb.
First Sgt. Billy J. Siercks, 32, of Velda Village, Mo.
Staff Sgt. Nicholas A. Sprovtsoff, 28, of Davison, Mich.
1st. Lt. Andres Zermeno, 26, of San Antonio, Texas
Pray also for the fallen heroes also of our coalition partners, and for the citizens of Iraq and Afghanistan who have died, unnamed and unknown to us, and for those who mourn ... and for an end to this endless war.
If you would like to light
a candle as part of your
prayer, please click HERE,
then click on BEGIN and
follow the instructions.
Our group name is
Laika (case sensitive);
please type this into
the appropriate box
when requested.
Wednesday, 5 October 2011
SHOUT THE SONG OF FREEDOM NOW!
WHY SHOULD THE DEVIL HAVE
ALL THE GOOD MUSIC? DAY 3
There are some rules which will be applied strictly:
1) There must be words (instrumentals will not be accepted).
2) Songs written to be hymns or worship songs are excluded (but not songs that have been later adopted as such).
3) No settings of previously written texts will be accepted (e.g. a classical composer's setting of a latin mass).
Your suggestions have been flooding in and there have been some crackers. We shall be featuring as many of them as possible over the next week or so. Here is today's selection:
"Graceland" by Paul Simon. Suggested by Tim.
"The Rivers of Babylon" by The Melodians. Suggested by Robert.
"O Parvardigar" (Live In India 1972) by Pete Townshend. Suggested by Caminante.
"If" by Paul Heaton. Suggested by +Clumber.
"Fuckups Of The World Unite" by The Gena Rowlands Band. MadPriest's choice.
THERE'S AN EVIL PELL IN THE AIR
From THE AGE (Australia):
South Melbourne is again fighting to keep its beloved priest, Father Bob Maguire, after the Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne secretly signed a contract with the Capuchin religious order to run the parish from February. The charismatic Father Maguire, 2011 Victorian of the Year and a noted media personality, yesterday blamed Sydney's Cardinal George Pell, saying his removal was part of the cardinal's battle to enforce his own highly conservative view of Catholicism.
Two years ago, the high-profile priest won a battle of wills with Melbourne Archbishop Denis Hart, who wanted him to stand down at the optional retirement age of 75 and suggested Father Maguire was not financially competent. After a public outcry, a compromise was reached whereby Father Maguire would retire next February, but South Melbourne Parish Council chairman Tony Long said yesterday the parishioners wanted him to stay on.
Mr Long said the archdiocese signed up the Capuchins without a word to the parish, an approach he said was contemptible, tawdry and distressing.
"We were shocked. We were working towards asking for an extension [for Father Maguire]. Given the shortage of parish priests, why wouldn't they use someone who is active and able?"
In South Melbourne, they see it as part of Catholicism's culture wars, in which a threatened hierarchy is trying to enforce a rigid uniformity.
"The deal is done without a word to anyone. That's the Roman model," stated Father Bob.
In a separate news report it has been announced that Australian scientists have discovered that global warming is not caused, primarily, by farting cows, but by the incredible amount of heat that comes off, arch-global warming sceptic, Cardinal Pell's red face every time somebody refuses to do exactly as he tells them.
South Melbourne is again fighting to keep its beloved priest, Father Bob Maguire, after the Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne secretly signed a contract with the Capuchin religious order to run the parish from February. The charismatic Father Maguire, 2011 Victorian of the Year and a noted media personality, yesterday blamed Sydney's Cardinal George Pell, saying his removal was part of the cardinal's battle to enforce his own highly conservative view of Catholicism.
Two years ago, the high-profile priest won a battle of wills with Melbourne Archbishop Denis Hart, who wanted him to stand down at the optional retirement age of 75 and suggested Father Maguire was not financially competent. After a public outcry, a compromise was reached whereby Father Maguire would retire next February, but South Melbourne Parish Council chairman Tony Long said yesterday the parishioners wanted him to stay on.
Mr Long said the archdiocese signed up the Capuchins without a word to the parish, an approach he said was contemptible, tawdry and distressing.
"We were shocked. We were working towards asking for an extension [for Father Maguire]. Given the shortage of parish priests, why wouldn't they use someone who is active and able?"
In South Melbourne, they see it as part of Catholicism's culture wars, in which a threatened hierarchy is trying to enforce a rigid uniformity.
"The deal is done without a word to anyone. That's the Roman model," stated Father Bob.
In a separate news report it has been announced that Australian scientists have discovered that global warming is not caused, primarily, by farting cows, but by the incredible amount of heat that comes off, arch-global warming sceptic, Cardinal Pell's red face every time somebody refuses to do exactly as he tells them.
VERY NEARLY A SQUASHED WESTIE
I saved a little dog's life yesterday.
Opposite where I park my car at the end of the close lives an elderly gentleman and his West Highland terrier called Mollie. She is a typical Scot, naturally agressive and always telling visitors to go away (which she does very loudly and with great enthusiasm). Having been a lorry driver and, on a couple of occasions, suffered shin wounds inflicted by little dogs whilst attempting a delivery, I made friends with Mollie as soon as we moved in (I know how to get round Scots, you just tickle their tummies and tell them they're wonderful). This means that I get greeted with a waggy stump of a tail rather than a litany of Celtic obscenities.
Yesterday lunchtime, when I arrived home from a trip down the village for provisions, Mollie was standing at the end of her drive. She looked at me and wagged her tail. I smiled at her. Then I noticed that her owner was reversing his car down the drive. It's only a very short drive and soon the back of the car was above the back of Mollie. She didn't notice. I screamed "Oh, no!" But then immediately crouched down and shouted "Mollie, Moliie, Mollie!" as enthusiastically as I could. Thanks be to God, the little dog immediately ran across the road towards me as her owner's car continued to trundle backwards.
For doing the right thing when the chips were almost down without thinking about it for weeks on end first and discussing it endlessly on this blog, MadPriest is OCICBW...'s
BRICK OF THE DAY
Oh, thank you. But it was only what anybody would have done.
Opposite where I park my car at the end of the close lives an elderly gentleman and his West Highland terrier called Mollie. She is a typical Scot, naturally agressive and always telling visitors to go away (which she does very loudly and with great enthusiasm). Having been a lorry driver and, on a couple of occasions, suffered shin wounds inflicted by little dogs whilst attempting a delivery, I made friends with Mollie as soon as we moved in (I know how to get round Scots, you just tickle their tummies and tell them they're wonderful). This means that I get greeted with a waggy stump of a tail rather than a litany of Celtic obscenities.
Yesterday lunchtime, when I arrived home from a trip down the village for provisions, Mollie was standing at the end of her drive. She looked at me and wagged her tail. I smiled at her. Then I noticed that her owner was reversing his car down the drive. It's only a very short drive and soon the back of the car was above the back of Mollie. She didn't notice. I screamed "Oh, no!" But then immediately crouched down and shouted "Mollie, Moliie, Mollie!" as enthusiastically as I could. Thanks be to God, the little dog immediately ran across the road towards me as her owner's car continued to trundle backwards.
For doing the right thing when the chips were almost down without thinking about it for weeks on end first and discussing it endlessly on this blog, MadPriest is OCICBW...'s
BRICK OF THE DAY
Oh, thank you. But it was only what anybody would have done.
MAD DAD'S JOKE OF THE DAY
A young New York woman was so depressed that she decided to end her life by throwing herself into the ocean, but just before she could throw herself from the docks, a handsome young man stopped her.
"You have so much to live for," said the man. "I'm a sailor, and we are off to Italy tomorrow.
I can stow you away on my ship. I'll take care of you, bring you food every day, and keep you happy."
With nothing to lose, combined with the fact that she had always wanted to go to Italy, the woman accepted.
That night the sailor brought her aboard and hid her in a small but comfortable compartment in the hold. From then on, every night he would bring her three sandwiches, a bottle of red wine, and make love to her until dawn.
Two weeks later she was discovered by the captain during a routine inspection. “What are you doing here?" asked the captain.
"I have an arrangement with one of the sailors," she replied. "He brings me food and I get a free trip to Italy..."
"I see," the captain says.
Her conscience got the best of her and she added, "Plus, he's screwing me."
"He certainly is," replied the captain. "This is the Staten Island Ferry."
"You have so much to live for," said the man. "I'm a sailor, and we are off to Italy tomorrow.
I can stow you away on my ship. I'll take care of you, bring you food every day, and keep you happy."
With nothing to lose, combined with the fact that she had always wanted to go to Italy, the woman accepted.
That night the sailor brought her aboard and hid her in a small but comfortable compartment in the hold. From then on, every night he would bring her three sandwiches, a bottle of red wine, and make love to her until dawn.
Two weeks later she was discovered by the captain during a routine inspection. “What are you doing here?" asked the captain.
"I have an arrangement with one of the sailors," she replied. "He brings me food and I get a free trip to Italy..."
"I see," the captain says.
Her conscience got the best of her and she added, "Plus, he's screwing me."
"He certainly is," replied the captain. "This is the Staten Island Ferry."
INVASION OF UNITED STATES CONTINUES
I see that, once again, the lifetime president of the Vatican Nation (a small independent state in the middle of Rome, Italy) has instructed his ambassadors in the USA to tell one quarter of the citizens of the United States how they must vote in the next round of elections. Of course, the first commandment, as usual, is not to vote for any candidate who supports abortion in any form and for any reason.
It's so typical of so-called Christian institutions to tell their members what not to do. The ministry of propaganda in Rome has just issued a statement that it is no longer permissible for a Roman Catholic to be in favour of the death penalty in any circumstance. Now that is good news. But do Rome's minions in the USA get told to vote for candidates who want to rid their land of this barbaric practice. No, they don't. It's don't do this and don't do that and if you do you'll be damned to hell.
The Christian life should be based on the desire to do good born out of the freedom Christ has won for us. But, with good reason, non-believers see the Christian life as a straightjacket made up of don't dos and tied up with compulsion and fear.
It's so typical of so-called Christian institutions to tell their members what not to do. The ministry of propaganda in Rome has just issued a statement that it is no longer permissible for a Roman Catholic to be in favour of the death penalty in any circumstance. Now that is good news. But do Rome's minions in the USA get told to vote for candidates who want to rid their land of this barbaric practice. No, they don't. It's don't do this and don't do that and if you do you'll be damned to hell.
The Christian life should be based on the desire to do good born out of the freedom Christ has won for us. But, with good reason, non-believers see the Christian life as a straightjacket made up of don't dos and tied up with compulsion and fear.
THE PRAYER LIST: 5TH. OCTOBER 2011
The Prayer List is a daily feature at OCICBW... with an option to light a candle as you pray. If anybody has any concerns they would like included on tomorrow's list please email me with details or leave your request in the comments to this post. I will include relevant photos if provided.
THANKSGIVING
Happy Birthday to Jack
(WHY DO WE HAVE TO DO THIS, SIR?)
Happy Birthday to David G. and Will C.
***
Posted by Jay at BAILEY'S BUDDY:
I went to see my endocrinologist today and for the most part I am in pretty good shape. I don't have to go back to see him for nine months and I got weighed and have lost 34 pounds since June. So I am feeling on top of things and am looking forward to driving again.
FOR YOUR PRAYERS
From Robert (THE RADICAL METHODIST):
Please pray for my daughter Olakumbi, who's been in hospital with anemia.
Please pray for the food bank opening at my church today.
***
From ABC NEWS:
Human rights activists in Pakistan are demanding action after a brutal attack killed at least 13 Shia Muslims who were members of the ethnic Hazara group. Gunmen opened fire on passengers on a bus near the south-western city of Quetta.
Hazaras have been targeted in a series of killings. Many of the Hazaras fled from neighbouring Afghanistan and are regarded as outsiders by their enemies in Pakistan's Balochistan province. They are also condemned by Sunni Muslim extremists for practising Shia Islam.
If you would like to light
a candle as part of your
prayer, please click HERE,
then click on BEGIN and
follow the instructions.
Our group name is
Laika (case sensitive);
please type this into
the appropriate box
when requested.
THANKSGIVING
Happy Birthday to Jack
(WHY DO WE HAVE TO DO THIS, SIR?)
Happy Birthday to David G. and Will C.
***
Posted by Jay at BAILEY'S BUDDY:
I went to see my endocrinologist today and for the most part I am in pretty good shape. I don't have to go back to see him for nine months and I got weighed and have lost 34 pounds since June. So I am feeling on top of things and am looking forward to driving again.
FOR YOUR PRAYERS
From Robert (THE RADICAL METHODIST):
Please pray for my daughter Olakumbi, who's been in hospital with anemia.
Please pray for the food bank opening at my church today.
***
From ABC NEWS:
Human rights activists in Pakistan are demanding action after a brutal attack killed at least 13 Shia Muslims who were members of the ethnic Hazara group. Gunmen opened fire on passengers on a bus near the south-western city of Quetta.
Hazaras have been targeted in a series of killings. Many of the Hazaras fled from neighbouring Afghanistan and are regarded as outsiders by their enemies in Pakistan's Balochistan province. They are also condemned by Sunni Muslim extremists for practising Shia Islam.
If you would like to light
a candle as part of your
prayer, please click HERE,
then click on BEGIN and
follow the instructions.
Our group name is
Laika (case sensitive);
please type this into
the appropriate box
when requested.
WHY SHOULD THE DEVIL HAVE
ALL THE GOOD MUSIC? (2)
THIS POST
you have so far
been sending
me some first
class, truly
excellent
suggestions.
Here is the first
batch.
There will be
more, I promise
you, in the
coming days.
"Hallelujah"by Jeff Buckley. Suggested by Fr. Jim Pappas.
"Little Lambs" by Marc Jordan. Suggested by Boaz.
"One Of Us" by Joan Osborne. Suggested by Laura.
"Outside of the Inside" by Richard Thompson. Suggested by Justin.
"The Cross" by Prince. MadPriest's choice.
Please keep sending your ideas in.
Tuesday, 4 October 2011
WAS JESUS A WIMP?
I used to lie awake at night imagining myself following the bishop of Newcastle around his diocesan church appearances and shouting "Hypocrite!" at strategic points during the services. It was probably only the thought of having to sit through the same, whispered sermon (with compulsory joke) over and over and over again that stopped me. Even though said bishop has followed me into the diocese of Durham thanks to the unrecorded "lines of communication" between our fathers in Christ (illegal under secular law), I am not so obsessed with revenge now. Most of my friends will say this is a good thing as anger destroys the angry. I understand this, but I still have a problem. I can't let go of the fact that it seems obvious to me that if Christians constantly turn the other cheek and forget about the hurt done to them then the abusers and bullies will just keep on abusing and bullying.
A couple of days ago I received a Facebook message from Fr. Jim Pappas. It was wise and good and Jim has agreed to let me post it in full at OCICBW.....
Jim wants to emphasise that he is "not saying to let people get away with things." He is "talking about how we respond and from where. We must respond to those who commit injustice, and we must do all that we can to protect others from injustice."
After you have read Jim's words I would appreciate your comments. This conundrum has been bugging me for a long time now and I would like to put it to bed. But it's not just my problem. It effects all those who try to follow Christ's example and avoid doing violence against those who happily do violence to others, and yet desire with all their hearts to stop injustice and oppression.
My spiritual director likes to say that anger is a costly emotion. Sure, it might give us energy for a time to get something accomplished, but while it does it is also burning us up. Better to listen to our anger and then let it go. The anger has many important things to tell us, especially about needs that are not being met and about injustices that are being perpetrated. But after we hear its story, what then? Anger too easily moves to violence, or if we are too vigilant for that, it moves to resentment. It tears at us and eats us. And while we think that we are crusading for righteousness, we too often become the very thing that made us angry in the first place. But when we have really listened to our anger and responded to it with compassion, somehow it transforms in us. Then we can act for change from a place of peace. This work of transformation is not a fast thing - it can even take a lifetime. But in little fits and starts we can find ourselves acting not from anger, but from compassion.
The first time I saw a bishop who had wronged me with compassion instead of anger, it brought me to my knees in tears. What he had done to me had not gone away, and my desire to see that he didn't do it to others hadn't gone away. But I no longer wanted revenge or even just payback. I wanted his transformation. I was looking at him with love, and the anger melted away into deep sorrow. In these tiny ways, I learn to walk the via crucis, to become, as St. Paul says it, crucified to the world.
At its root, living in anger is about power. Under the anger is our experience of being powerless. We are the victim of some injustice, or we witness some injustice, and we are powerless to stop it. We do not like being powerless. Anger promises us that we can seize power back. But the way of the Cross is the way of kenosis, of self-emptying. The paradox of our way is that to gain power, you must let it go. If we can let go of our anger and allow ourselves to be powerful, then we can begin to heal. We can allow ourselves the deep sorrow and fear and even despair that comes from powerlessness (Psalm 22?). And then as we shower compassion on those pains that we feel, we can begin to heal and find ourselves in a place to accept compassion from others. It probably won't come from the people we'd like to see offering it. Idiot bishops don't often turn around and show compassion to those they have stepped on like bugs. But others around us can and will show compassion if we let them.
This compassion is healing - not because it undoes the wrongs we have experienced, but because it sits with us in the place of pain. True compassion doesn't try to make everything better; it doesn't attempt to exercise power for us. True compassion becomes powerless with us, empties itself and suffers alongside of us. And when we are ready, true compassion is transformed alongside us. From the emptying of power, new power is resurrected. We go out to confront injustice with compassion for ourselves and for the one committing injustice.
This is not an easy lesson. I go from compassion one moment back to anger too easily. And sometimes I stay angry for days or weeks and resist the work that I know I must do. But resurrection is only found on the other side of a tomb. And no matter how much I try to force it to stand between me and the Cross, I know that I must bear that Cross if I am to embrace the Risen One.
(Fr. Jim Pappas)
A couple of days ago I received a Facebook message from Fr. Jim Pappas. It was wise and good and Jim has agreed to let me post it in full at OCICBW.....
Jim wants to emphasise that he is "not saying to let people get away with things." He is "talking about how we respond and from where. We must respond to those who commit injustice, and we must do all that we can to protect others from injustice."
After you have read Jim's words I would appreciate your comments. This conundrum has been bugging me for a long time now and I would like to put it to bed. But it's not just my problem. It effects all those who try to follow Christ's example and avoid doing violence against those who happily do violence to others, and yet desire with all their hearts to stop injustice and oppression.
My spiritual director likes to say that anger is a costly emotion. Sure, it might give us energy for a time to get something accomplished, but while it does it is also burning us up. Better to listen to our anger and then let it go. The anger has many important things to tell us, especially about needs that are not being met and about injustices that are being perpetrated. But after we hear its story, what then? Anger too easily moves to violence, or if we are too vigilant for that, it moves to resentment. It tears at us and eats us. And while we think that we are crusading for righteousness, we too often become the very thing that made us angry in the first place. But when we have really listened to our anger and responded to it with compassion, somehow it transforms in us. Then we can act for change from a place of peace. This work of transformation is not a fast thing - it can even take a lifetime. But in little fits and starts we can find ourselves acting not from anger, but from compassion.
The first time I saw a bishop who had wronged me with compassion instead of anger, it brought me to my knees in tears. What he had done to me had not gone away, and my desire to see that he didn't do it to others hadn't gone away. But I no longer wanted revenge or even just payback. I wanted his transformation. I was looking at him with love, and the anger melted away into deep sorrow. In these tiny ways, I learn to walk the via crucis, to become, as St. Paul says it, crucified to the world.
At its root, living in anger is about power. Under the anger is our experience of being powerless. We are the victim of some injustice, or we witness some injustice, and we are powerless to stop it. We do not like being powerless. Anger promises us that we can seize power back. But the way of the Cross is the way of kenosis, of self-emptying. The paradox of our way is that to gain power, you must let it go. If we can let go of our anger and allow ourselves to be powerful, then we can begin to heal. We can allow ourselves the deep sorrow and fear and even despair that comes from powerlessness (Psalm 22?). And then as we shower compassion on those pains that we feel, we can begin to heal and find ourselves in a place to accept compassion from others. It probably won't come from the people we'd like to see offering it. Idiot bishops don't often turn around and show compassion to those they have stepped on like bugs. But others around us can and will show compassion if we let them.
This compassion is healing - not because it undoes the wrongs we have experienced, but because it sits with us in the place of pain. True compassion doesn't try to make everything better; it doesn't attempt to exercise power for us. True compassion becomes powerless with us, empties itself and suffers alongside of us. And when we are ready, true compassion is transformed alongside us. From the emptying of power, new power is resurrected. We go out to confront injustice with compassion for ourselves and for the one committing injustice.
This is not an easy lesson. I go from compassion one moment back to anger too easily. And sometimes I stay angry for days or weeks and resist the work that I know I must do. But resurrection is only found on the other side of a tomb. And no matter how much I try to force it to stand between me and the Cross, I know that I must bear that Cross if I am to embrace the Risen One.
(Fr. Jim Pappas)
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
Mark has a right go at Saint Paul on his blog
ENOUGH ABOUT ME: AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY.
Good. Paul deserves it.
ENOUGH ABOUT ME: AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY.
Good. Paul deserves it.
THE PRAYER LIST: 4TH. OCTOBER 2011
The Prayer List is a daily feature at OCICBW... with an option to light a candle as you pray. If anybody has any concerns they would like included on tomorrow's list please email me with details or leave your request in the comments to this post. I will include relevant photos if provided.
FOR YOUR PRAYERS
From Strangelove:
Jeffrey Pierce, an oblate in the Order of Julian of Norwich and long-time member of the Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration in Dallas, TX, died at 1:30PM CDT, surrounded by family and friends. He fought the good fight and accepted that the time had come to say goodbye. Rest in peace, and may light perpetual shine upon him.
***
From Robert:
Please pray for Gladys and Hans; they're good friends who are moving to Birmingham (England) and need jobs.
***
From CHRISTIAN TODAY:
In Egypt a mob of several thousand Muslims from the village of Elmarinab in Edfu, Aswan province, demolished and torched St George's (Coptic) church, which was being renovated. They demolished the dome, walls and columns, after Friday prayers then went to the church depot where the lumber to be used for construction was stored and torched it. The fire lasted 2 hours, but the attack continued until 7.00p.m..
Father Salib of St. George's Church said: "The Imam of one of the village mosques, (Sheikh Sabry), called on the people to take matters in their own hands."
The Muslims also torched a large depot of electrical goods owned by a Coptic Christian, a supermarket and four Coptic homes. Muslims prevented the fire brigade from entering the village. Security forces, which were present, "stood there watching," said Mr.Michael Ramzy, a social worker at the church.
***
From THE BBC:
Japan has confirmed it will go ahead with its annual whale hunt. There has been a ban on commercial whaling for 25 years, but Japan catches about 1,000 whales each year in what it says is a scientific research programme. Critics say it is commercial whaling in another guise.
***
From ASSOCIATED PRESS:
Crops are wilting, schools have shut their bathrooms and government officials are bathing in lagoons because of a severe shortage of fresh water in a swath of the South Pacific. The island groups of Tuvalu and Tokelau have declared emergencies, relying on bottled water and seeking more desalination machines. Parts of Samoa are starting to ration water. Supplies are precariously low after a severe lack of rain in a region where underground reserves have been fouled by saltwater from rising seas that scientists have linked to climate change.
***
From AFP:
The Dalai Lama has cancelled a trip to South Africa this week, his office said on Tuesday, accusing authorities of deliberately failing to grant him a visa in time. Desmond Tutu had invited the Tibetan spiritual leader, a fellow Nobel Peace Prize winner, to give an inaugural peace lecture as part of celebrations for Tutu's 80th birthday.
***
From THE GUARDIAN:
An explosion outside government buildings in Mogadishu (Somalia) has killed at least 65 people and wounded 50.
From XINHUA NEWS AGENCY:
A total of 17 people were killed Monday in separate attacks in Iraq, including a hostage-taking attack at a police station in the country's western province of Anbar.
From VOICE OF AMERICA:
Gunmen killed at least 13 people early Tuesday in an apparent sectarian attack on a passenger bus carrying Shi'ite Muslims near the restive southwestern city of Quetta (Pakistan).
If you would like to light
a candle as part of your
prayer, please click HERE,
then click on BEGIN and
follow the instructions.
Our group name is
Laika (case sensitive);
please type this into
the appropriate box
when requested.
FOR YOUR PRAYERS
From Strangelove:
Jeffrey Pierce, an oblate in the Order of Julian of Norwich and long-time member of the Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration in Dallas, TX, died at 1:30PM CDT, surrounded by family and friends. He fought the good fight and accepted that the time had come to say goodbye. Rest in peace, and may light perpetual shine upon him.
***
From Robert:
Please pray for Gladys and Hans; they're good friends who are moving to Birmingham (England) and need jobs.
***
From CHRISTIAN TODAY:
In Egypt a mob of several thousand Muslims from the village of Elmarinab in Edfu, Aswan province, demolished and torched St George's (Coptic) church, which was being renovated. They demolished the dome, walls and columns, after Friday prayers then went to the church depot where the lumber to be used for construction was stored and torched it. The fire lasted 2 hours, but the attack continued until 7.00p.m..
Father Salib of St. George's Church said: "The Imam of one of the village mosques, (Sheikh Sabry), called on the people to take matters in their own hands."
The Muslims also torched a large depot of electrical goods owned by a Coptic Christian, a supermarket and four Coptic homes. Muslims prevented the fire brigade from entering the village. Security forces, which were present, "stood there watching," said Mr.Michael Ramzy, a social worker at the church.
***
From THE BBC:
Japan has confirmed it will go ahead with its annual whale hunt. There has been a ban on commercial whaling for 25 years, but Japan catches about 1,000 whales each year in what it says is a scientific research programme. Critics say it is commercial whaling in another guise.
***
From ASSOCIATED PRESS:
Crops are wilting, schools have shut their bathrooms and government officials are bathing in lagoons because of a severe shortage of fresh water in a swath of the South Pacific. The island groups of Tuvalu and Tokelau have declared emergencies, relying on bottled water and seeking more desalination machines. Parts of Samoa are starting to ration water. Supplies are precariously low after a severe lack of rain in a region where underground reserves have been fouled by saltwater from rising seas that scientists have linked to climate change.
***
From AFP:
The Dalai Lama has cancelled a trip to South Africa this week, his office said on Tuesday, accusing authorities of deliberately failing to grant him a visa in time. Desmond Tutu had invited the Tibetan spiritual leader, a fellow Nobel Peace Prize winner, to give an inaugural peace lecture as part of celebrations for Tutu's 80th birthday.
***
From THE GUARDIAN:
An explosion outside government buildings in Mogadishu (Somalia) has killed at least 65 people and wounded 50.
From XINHUA NEWS AGENCY:
A total of 17 people were killed Monday in separate attacks in Iraq, including a hostage-taking attack at a police station in the country's western province of Anbar.
From VOICE OF AMERICA:
Gunmen killed at least 13 people early Tuesday in an apparent sectarian attack on a passenger bus carrying Shi'ite Muslims near the restive southwestern city of Quetta (Pakistan).
If you would like to light
a candle as part of your
prayer, please click HERE,
then click on BEGIN and
follow the instructions.
Our group name is
Laika (case sensitive);
please type this into
the appropriate box
when requested.
Monday, 3 October 2011
PROVOST KELVIN HOLDSWORTH'S
ACCEPTANCE SPEECH IN FULL
Click HERE for details.
Ooh, ooh, I'm so moved to accept this award. This is the most humble day of my life! I'd like to thank all the production team, the people who made this possible, the dogs, the cats, the guinea fowl...
This is so emotional. I had no idea. *gasps* I'd just like to thank the people of St Mary's, the Vestry, the Bishop and my parents for making it all possible. *wipes away tear*
I accept this award not for myself but for all the talented animals. I love you. I love every one of you.
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you all. *waves to crowd*
He is such a star!
Ooh, ooh, I'm so moved to accept this award. This is the most humble day of my life! I'd like to thank all the production team, the people who made this possible, the dogs, the cats, the guinea fowl...
This is so emotional. I had no idea. *gasps* I'd just like to thank the people of St Mary's, the Vestry, the Bishop and my parents for making it all possible. *wipes away tear*
I accept this award not for myself but for all the talented animals. I love you. I love every one of you.
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you all. *waves to crowd*
He is such a star!
HERETIC IN CHARGE OF WORLD'S
LARGEST CHRISTIAN DENOMINATION
From ROME REPORTS:
Oooh! No, no, no, NO!
I'm a believer in guardian angels (although mine is off my Christmas list until she gets her act together), but this is 100% heresy. Why? Because Jesus would have kittens if he heard the successor of his main man, Peter, saying it.
Oooh! No, no, no, NO!
I'm a believer in guardian angels (although mine is off my Christmas list until she gets her act together), but this is 100% heresy. Why? Because Jesus would have kittens if he heard the successor of his main man, Peter, saying it.
WHY SHOULD THE DEVIL HAVE
ALL THE GOOD MUSIC?
What I want to do is compile a definitive list of the greatest songs of all time that have some kind of religious content. And I need your suggestions. They can be from any genre and any religion. They most certainly don't have to be restricted to just the Christian music business but suggestions of Christian music that is actually not painful to listen to would be interesting.
There are some rules which will be applied strictly:
1) There must be words (instrumentals will not be accepted).
2) Songs written to be hymns or worship songs are excluded (but not songs that have been later adopted as such).
3) No settings of previously written texts will be accepted (e.g. a classical composer's setting of a latin mass).
Here are four (off the top of my head) suggestions from me.
"In The Garden" - Van Morrison
"In The Falling Dark" - Bruce Cockburn
"Redemption Song" - Bob Marley And The Wailers
"Good News" - The Waterboys
Now it's your turn. I will try and post audios of as many of your suggestions as possible. The more interesting they are, the more likely they will feature on the jukebox.
Off you go then!
I WISH THEY ALL COULD BE CALIFORNIAN DOGS
Full story and load more soggy doggy photos at LAIST.
Thanks to OCICBW...'s number one beach boy, Paul(A)
for sending me the link to this story.
LICKING THE BULLY PROBLEM
From USA TODAY:
Sweet-natured dogs lolling about classrooms are helping take a bite out of bullying — and other bad behaviours in Kansas City schools. "No More Bullies" teaches, with dogs' help, responsibility, compassion, self-control and integrity. Since its small launch five years ago, teachers and counselors have become so convinced of the positive impact on kids' behaviour that it's booked into the 80-classroom max it can handle, and there's a long waiting list of requests for next year.
Thanks to Tracie for sending this story in to The MadPriest Mansion who says, "Wish we’d had this when I was in school."
Sweet-natured dogs lolling about classrooms are helping take a bite out of bullying — and other bad behaviours in Kansas City schools. "No More Bullies" teaches, with dogs' help, responsibility, compassion, self-control and integrity. Since its small launch five years ago, teachers and counselors have become so convinced of the positive impact on kids' behaviour that it's booked into the 80-classroom max it can handle, and there's a long waiting list of requests for next year.
Thanks to Tracie for sending this story in to The MadPriest Mansion who says, "Wish we’d had this when I was in school."
KYRA - "THE HAPPIEST DOG EVER"
From Lori:
She was a feral puppy adopted from the Greek SPCA. Thought you and every one who visits your page might enjoy this.
She was a feral puppy adopted from the Greek SPCA. Thought you and every one who visits your page might enjoy this.
APPROPRIATE LANGUAGE?
From TYPICALLY SPANISH:
And calling a Spanish judge a tosser is fine if it is to
describe "a pig that flips a coin in the air."
And calling a Spanish judge a tosser is fine if it is to
describe "a pig that flips a coin in the air."
WHY THE NAZIS DIDN'T BOTHER
TO ATTACK SWITZERLAND
From TAGES-ANZIGER:
Newcomers to the quiet town of Birmensdorf near Zurich, are generally lead on a pleasant walk through town. Large yellow signs point out the way to the city’s barracks and to the treasured “Paradiesliweg” that goes through the Reppisch river valley. The guide will usually lead the visitor through a residential neighborhood on the way. But for 19 new arrivals, who recently moved into two trailers right next to the barracks, there is a completely different route. For them, the town expanded an old trail that connected the two trailers directly to the somewhat uninteresting main street, passing though a small piece of the forest. City workers cleared the trees and did the planning. The trail is now a roomy gravel path, lit up at night. The idea: Thanks to this path, the 19 asylum seekers can go “directly from the train station to the trailers without passing through the neighborhood,” as Annegret Grossen, head of social services, said of the town’s hopes for the asylum trailers.
The agreement with the town’s residents is that the asylum seekers should remain as invisible as possible. Not only are they building the new pathway, they are planting bushes in front of the asylum seekers’ lodging - “to disguise the the building from outsiders,” as Mayor Steiner put it. As as far as furnishing the homes, the community insisted that they would not offer any “unnecessary luxuries.” So the residents there sleep in bunk beds and sit on used sofas. Televisions are second hand. A part of the $627,000 spent on construction went towards an outdoor sitting area decorated with tree trunks, which are “strong and easy to clean.”
Not everyone in Birmensdorf thinks the asylum seekers are being treated fairly. One long time resident said that the “Refugee trail” is reminiscent of the “Jewish trails” that existed in European ghettos. He says he is particularly bothered by the fact that the loudest protests came from new arrivals in the town. “And half of them are foreigners themselves,” he says.
COMMENT: It's not so much the fact that was local opposition to the refugee centre that is disturbing as such protests would happen pretty much everywhere (people are just like that). It's the fact that the Swiss legal system actually allows such blatant discrimination and, well, fascism, that's the really scary thing.
Newcomers to the quiet town of Birmensdorf near Zurich, are generally lead on a pleasant walk through town. Large yellow signs point out the way to the city’s barracks and to the treasured “Paradiesliweg” that goes through the Reppisch river valley. The guide will usually lead the visitor through a residential neighborhood on the way. But for 19 new arrivals, who recently moved into two trailers right next to the barracks, there is a completely different route. For them, the town expanded an old trail that connected the two trailers directly to the somewhat uninteresting main street, passing though a small piece of the forest. City workers cleared the trees and did the planning. The trail is now a roomy gravel path, lit up at night. The idea: Thanks to this path, the 19 asylum seekers can go “directly from the train station to the trailers without passing through the neighborhood,” as Annegret Grossen, head of social services, said of the town’s hopes for the asylum trailers.
The agreement with the town’s residents is that the asylum seekers should remain as invisible as possible. Not only are they building the new pathway, they are planting bushes in front of the asylum seekers’ lodging - “to disguise the the building from outsiders,” as Mayor Steiner put it. As as far as furnishing the homes, the community insisted that they would not offer any “unnecessary luxuries.” So the residents there sleep in bunk beds and sit on used sofas. Televisions are second hand. A part of the $627,000 spent on construction went towards an outdoor sitting area decorated with tree trunks, which are “strong and easy to clean.”
Not everyone in Birmensdorf thinks the asylum seekers are being treated fairly. One long time resident said that the “Refugee trail” is reminiscent of the “Jewish trails” that existed in European ghettos. He says he is particularly bothered by the fact that the loudest protests came from new arrivals in the town. “And half of them are foreigners themselves,” he says.
COMMENT: It's not so much the fact that was local opposition to the refugee centre that is disturbing as such protests would happen pretty much everywhere (people are just like that). It's the fact that the Swiss legal system actually allows such blatant discrimination and, well, fascism, that's the really scary thing.
WHAT'S ON
If you are in or around the Diocese of Wenchoster today you should check out the annual, vulgar vegetable fair at Crutch. It's always a lot of fun and all proceeds from the event go towards funding hip replacements for church wardens who have fallen on hard times (or just fallen over because they have dodgy hips).
IF BISHOP JENKINS WAS DEAD
HE WOULD TURN IN HIS GRAVE
According to the always accurate LESLEY'S BLOG the diocese of Durham has voted in favour of the Anglican Covenant. It seems the meeting was persuaded to convert to Roman Catholicism by an impassioned speech by the suffragan bishop of the diocese. It's all a bit iffy, if you ask me. The new diocesan bishop takes up his throne in a months time. Couldn't they have waited? Shouldn't they have waited? Especially as the bishop designate has told me personally that he is undecided on the matter.
Fortunately, as an inhibited priest (and along with all the retired priests in the Church of England) nobody can blame me as I am not allowed to vote in any of the democratic processes of the church. This also means that I can condemn without any possibility of being hypocritical in doing so. And I most probably will.
Fortunately, as an inhibited priest (and along with all the retired priests in the Church of England) nobody can blame me as I am not allowed to vote in any of the democratic processes of the church. This also means that I can condemn without any possibility of being hypocritical in doing so. And I most probably will.
AND THE OSCAR FOR BEST DIRECTOR
OF A ST. FRANCIS DAY VIDEO GOES TO...
... Kelvin Holdsworth, of course. He is such a star!
SEABIRD OF THE DAY
This excellent photograph was taken by Penelope and posted on her ONE CANNOT HAVE TOO LARGE A PARTY blog.
THE PRAYER LIST: 3RD. OCTOBER 2011
The Prayer List is a daily feature at OCICBW... with an option to light a candle as you pray. If anybody has any concerns they would like included on tomorrow's list please email me with details or leave your request in the comments to this post. I will include relevant photos if provided.
THANKSGIVING
Posted by one of THE TWO AUNTEES:
My ex wife had asked us to make her a baby blanket for a niece's new arrival and she came over yesterday to pick it up. We had a nice discussion about how family is doing and it was all pleasant. She had talked with my sister who is taking care of our mother almost full time, my sister asked my ex to ask me if we could watch mother one day a week so they could do yoga. I was floored to say the least. I will say it again, when you pray for things to happen you can be specific because you just never know how far your prayers can go or take you.
Friends of Kay and Sarah will realise just how wonderful this, on the surface mundane, piece of news is.
***
Congratulations to Bosco Peters of the LITURGY website. With circa 75000 followers he is now officially New Zealand's most popular Twitterer (or whatever those who hang around Twitter call themselves).
***
Alan has got a new job which means a move for the Neighbourhood's newlyweds. Read all about it at LESLEY'S BLOG.
FOR YOUR PRAYERS
Three of our friends need to be included in our prayers even though they cannot give full details of their predicaments.
Whiteycat writes:
I am in the midst of a serious household crisis that directly involves the cats and our entire home. We are desperately in need of prayers from the OCICBW... community. I know this group has worked some miracles. Do I ever need one now!
Grandmère Mimi spends most of her energy caring about other people and there are a lot of other people at the moment about whom she is greatly concerned. This has made our normally chirpy septuagenerian friend feel rather low and stressed out.
Viv at ZEN AND THE ART OF TIGHTROPE WALKING suffered "a blow" yesterday which kept her awake all night.
***
From Michael Merriman:
Please add to the prayer list, Jeff Pierce, member of the Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration, Dallas TX. His muscular dystrophy has progressed to the point that he can only breathe with a machine. He choses not to live that want and entered hospice care today, surrounded by friends and family praying the Litany for the Dying. A love of Jesus and a fierce fighter for the rights of the LGBT community. May this stage of his journey be brief and comfortable.
***
From UKPA:
Jewish settlers or their supporters are suspected of setting a mosque in an Arab village in northern Israel on fire. A carpet was burned and interior walls damaged at the mosque in Tuba-Zangria in the Galilee region. The words "price tag" were spray painted on the building - a reference to a settler practice of attacking Palestinians and their property in retaliation for government operations against settlements. Several weeks ago the government destroyed unauthorised structures in an illegal settlement outpost in the West Bank - an operation that was followed immediately by another mosque blaze.
***
From BLOOMBERG:
Syrian security forces killed at least 10 protesters demanding the ouster of President Bashar al- Assad as dissidents created a council to coordinate efforts to end his 11-year rule. The killings occurred yesterday in the central governorate of Homs, the northern province of Idlib and the southern area of Daraa, where the uprising against Assad began in March. Government agents carried out raids on homes overnight and into the early morning, arresting many in the suburbs of the capital Damascus.
For a extremely saddening report on the plight of those trying to escape the terror in Syria check out REUTERS.
If you would like to light
a candle as part of your
prayer, please click HERE,
then click on BEGIN and
follow the instructions.
Our group name is
Laika (case sensitive);
please type this into
the appropriate box
when requested.
THANKSGIVING
Posted by one of THE TWO AUNTEES:
My ex wife had asked us to make her a baby blanket for a niece's new arrival and she came over yesterday to pick it up. We had a nice discussion about how family is doing and it was all pleasant. She had talked with my sister who is taking care of our mother almost full time, my sister asked my ex to ask me if we could watch mother one day a week so they could do yoga. I was floored to say the least. I will say it again, when you pray for things to happen you can be specific because you just never know how far your prayers can go or take you.
Friends of Kay and Sarah will realise just how wonderful this, on the surface mundane, piece of news is.
***
Congratulations to Bosco Peters of the LITURGY website. With circa 75000 followers he is now officially New Zealand's most popular Twitterer (or whatever those who hang around Twitter call themselves).
***
Alan has got a new job which means a move for the Neighbourhood's newlyweds. Read all about it at LESLEY'S BLOG.
FOR YOUR PRAYERS
Three of our friends need to be included in our prayers even though they cannot give full details of their predicaments.
Whiteycat writes:
I am in the midst of a serious household crisis that directly involves the cats and our entire home. We are desperately in need of prayers from the OCICBW... community. I know this group has worked some miracles. Do I ever need one now!
Grandmère Mimi spends most of her energy caring about other people and there are a lot of other people at the moment about whom she is greatly concerned. This has made our normally chirpy septuagenerian friend feel rather low and stressed out.
Viv at ZEN AND THE ART OF TIGHTROPE WALKING suffered "a blow" yesterday which kept her awake all night.
***
From Michael Merriman:
Please add to the prayer list, Jeff Pierce, member of the Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration, Dallas TX. His muscular dystrophy has progressed to the point that he can only breathe with a machine. He choses not to live that want and entered hospice care today, surrounded by friends and family praying the Litany for the Dying. A love of Jesus and a fierce fighter for the rights of the LGBT community. May this stage of his journey be brief and comfortable.
***
From UKPA:
Jewish settlers or their supporters are suspected of setting a mosque in an Arab village in northern Israel on fire. A carpet was burned and interior walls damaged at the mosque in Tuba-Zangria in the Galilee region. The words "price tag" were spray painted on the building - a reference to a settler practice of attacking Palestinians and their property in retaliation for government operations against settlements. Several weeks ago the government destroyed unauthorised structures in an illegal settlement outpost in the West Bank - an operation that was followed immediately by another mosque blaze.
***
From BLOOMBERG:
Syrian security forces killed at least 10 protesters demanding the ouster of President Bashar al- Assad as dissidents created a council to coordinate efforts to end his 11-year rule. The killings occurred yesterday in the central governorate of Homs, the northern province of Idlib and the southern area of Daraa, where the uprising against Assad began in March. Government agents carried out raids on homes overnight and into the early morning, arresting many in the suburbs of the capital Damascus.
For a extremely saddening report on the plight of those trying to escape the terror in Syria check out REUTERS.
If you would like to light
a candle as part of your
prayer, please click HERE,
then click on BEGIN and
follow the instructions.
Our group name is
Laika (case sensitive);
please type this into
the appropriate box
when requested.
Sunday, 2 October 2011
WORSHIP AT ST. LAIKA'S
This is voluntary and is not expected from those who already donate to my ministry. You can download the podcast whether you pay for it or not.
All are welcome to join me in taking communion. There are no exceptions.
The order of service is posted beneath the audio file so that you can join in with the service. The words in bold type are the ones we say together.
If you want to physically partake of communion you will require a small piece of bread and a small amount of drink (preferably made from grapes and containing alcohol). You eat the bread after I say “The body of CClick on the arrow on the player to stream.
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MP3 File
"Londinium Surprise Maximus"
- St. Michael (Cornhill) Bell Ringing Team
INTRODUCTION
"Angel" - Jimi Hendrix
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
"Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise him in the heights.
Praise him, all you his angels; praise him, all his host."
Grace, mercy and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
Almighty God, to whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hidden: cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy name; through Christ our Lord. Amen.
We have come to Mount Zion, the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to myriads of angels, to God, the judge of all, and to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant. Let us confess our sins in penitence and faith.
Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory.
Lord, have mercy.
Woe is me, for I am lost; I am a person of unclean lips.
Christ, have mercy.
Our guilt is taken away, and our sin is forgiven.
Lord have mercy.
"Holy, Holy, Holy" - Collingsworth Family
COLLECT
"Psalm 103" - Andrew And John Eastmond
FIRST READING
"Angels Watching Over Me"
- Jonathan Richman And The Modern Lovers
Alleluia, alleluia.
Bless the Lord, all you his hosts, you ministers of his who do his will.
Alleluia.
Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John.
Glory to you, O Lord.
GOSPEL
This is the Gospel of the Lord
Praise to you, O Christ.
SERMON
We believe in God the Father,
from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named.
We believe in God the Son,
who lives in our hearts through faith, and fills us with his love.
We believe in God the Holy Spirit,
who strengthens us with power from on high.
We believe in God; Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.
INTERCESSIONS
"St. Michael's Isle" - Rick Wakeman
THE PEACE
"Christ, The Fair Glory Of The Holy Angels"
- The Choir Of The Abbey School Tewkesbury
Christ, the fair glory of the holy angels,
Thou who hast made us, Thou who o’er us rulest,
Grant of Thy mercy unto us Thy servants
Steps up to Heaven.
Send Thy archangel, Michael, to our succor;
Peacemaker blessèd, may he banish from us
Striving and hatred, so that for the peaceful
All things may prosper.
Send Thy archangel, Gabriel, the mighty;
Herald of Heaven, may he from us mortals
Spurn the old serpent, watching o’er the temples
Where Thou art worshipped.
Send thy archangel, Raphael, the restorer
Of the misguided ways of men who wander,
Who at Thy bidding strengthens soul and body
With Thine anointing.
Father almighty, Son and Holy Spirit,
God ever blessèd, be Thou our Preserver;
Thine is the glory which the angels worship,
Veiling their faces.
PRAYER OVER THE GIFT
The Lord is here.
God's Spirit is with us.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give thanks and praise.
It is indeed right and good…
…ageless hymn of your praise:
Holy, holy, holy Lord! God of power and might. Heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest!
We ask that your Holy Spirit
… beyond all words can hold.
Great is the mystery of faith.
Christ has died,
Christ is risen,
Christ will come again.
Therefore, in our eating and drinking…
…Mother of blessings, for ever and ever. Amen.
Let us pray with confidence as our Saviour has taught us:
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done; on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.< We break this bread to share in the body of Christ. Though we are many, we are one body, because we all share in one bread.
Lamb of God,
you take away the sin of the world,
have mercy on us.
Lamb of God,
you take away the sin of the world,
have mercy on us.
Lamb of God,
you take away the sin of the world,
grant us peace.
This is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.
Blessed are those who are called to his supper.
Lord, I am not worthy to receive you,
but only say the word, and I shall be healed.
Most merciful Lord, your love compels us to come in. Our hands were unclean, our hearts were unprepared; we were not fit; even to eat the crumbs from under your table. But you, Lord, are the God of our salvation, and share your bread with sinners. So cleanse and feed us with the precious body and blood of your Son, that he may live in us and we in him; and that we, with the whole company of Christ, may sit and eat in your kingdom. Amen.
The body of Christ.
The blood of Christ.
"Mikaelidagen" - Frifot
POST COMMUNION PRAYER
"Ye Holy Angels Bright" - The Choir Of Selwyn College
Ye holy angels bright,
who wait at God's right hand,
or through the realms of light
fly at your Lord's command,
assist our song,
for else the theme
too high doth seem
for mortal tongue.
Ye blessed souls at rest,
who ran this earthly race
and now, from sin released,
behold your Saviour's face,
his praises sound,
as in his sight
with sweet delight
ye do abound.
Ye saints, who toil below,
adore your heavenly King,
and onward as ye go
some joyful anthem sing;
take what he gives
and praise him still,
through good or ill,
who ever lives!
My soul, bear thou thy part,
triumph in God above:
and with a well-tuned heart
sing thou the songs of love!
Let all thy days
till life shall end,
whate'er he send,
be filled with praise!
THE BLESSING
My sisters and brothers, go in the peace of Christ.
Thanks be to God.
"Michael Row The Boat Ashore" - Skye Blue (Sesame Street)
CREDITS:
Service from "Festivals" ("Common Worship," Church of England)
Sermon by Jonathan Hagger
Eucharistic prayer by Steven Shakespeare
Readings from the N.R.S.V.
IN WHICH MADPRIEST TRIES, AND FAILS (AGAIN)
I tried to go to church this morning. In fact, I tried to go to two churches. I got up early, washed (yes, washed), put on my "go to church Sunday" best, got in the car and drove eight miles to a church I thought might be friendly. But when I got there I couldn't walk through the door. So I drived another eight miles to a church quite close to where I live. But again I could not walk through the door. This is by no means the first time this has happened. It's happened so many times that Mrs MP doesn't even bother locking the front door behind me as she assumes I will be back very quickly indeed.
It's difficult to walk into a church for the first time. I think it is actually even more difficult to walk into a church if you went to church in the past. When you haven't been going to church because the people of the church have hurt or abused you in some way it gets nigh on impossible. When, like me, the important people of the church have made it perfectly clear to you that they would rather you just disappear and not darken the doors of the church ever again it is one of the most terrifying things in the world, especially if you are a wimp like me. And, yes, they did make it obvious that I was out on my own. When the bishop of Newcastle ended my ministry he did not mention anything about my spiritual wellbeing after I left his employ and he certainly didn't get in touch afterwards. Nor did the archdeacon. I asked him much later why he hadn't been in touch and he told me that it was because he thought I might be angry. And the only one of my colleagues who invited me to his church was an evangelical. All the others, even those I regarded as my good friends, even those I still keep in touch with, were very careful not to mention the subject of where I was supposed to worship from then on.
When I was a parish priest I often came across people who had left the church for one reason or another (usually because of some perceived, often real, offense). I would always try and persuade them to return. But I never, ever expected them to just walk in on their own. If they showed any interest in returning I would arrange for some trusted member of the congregation to make contact with them first who would actually walk into church with them. In fact, if possible I would do that job myself as I had already formed a friendship with them.
When I went to see the bishop of Jarrow last Monday I asked him to send me to a church. He would have none of it (do bishops promise never to make a definite decision about anything, or answer a straight question with a straight answer, when they are ordained?) I had to twist his arm to give me the name of a church that might be appropriate and, even then, he would only suggest the Cathedral. (I like cathedral services but it's not church. A cathedral eucharist is a concert with a buffet at the end.) It was obvious that I was supposed to sort myself out even though I had made it perfectly clear that I was having huge problems about returning to church. Even though he had refused to give me the one thing that might have made it easier for me, his blessing by way of permission to officiate.
So, if there is anyone out there who worships at an Anglican church within a radius of about ten miles from Chester-Le-Street (the higher the better but free from misogyny and homophobia) and who is prepared to hold my hand, please drop me an email.
It's difficult to walk into a church for the first time. I think it is actually even more difficult to walk into a church if you went to church in the past. When you haven't been going to church because the people of the church have hurt or abused you in some way it gets nigh on impossible. When, like me, the important people of the church have made it perfectly clear to you that they would rather you just disappear and not darken the doors of the church ever again it is one of the most terrifying things in the world, especially if you are a wimp like me. And, yes, they did make it obvious that I was out on my own. When the bishop of Newcastle ended my ministry he did not mention anything about my spiritual wellbeing after I left his employ and he certainly didn't get in touch afterwards. Nor did the archdeacon. I asked him much later why he hadn't been in touch and he told me that it was because he thought I might be angry. And the only one of my colleagues who invited me to his church was an evangelical. All the others, even those I regarded as my good friends, even those I still keep in touch with, were very careful not to mention the subject of where I was supposed to worship from then on.
When I was a parish priest I often came across people who had left the church for one reason or another (usually because of some perceived, often real, offense). I would always try and persuade them to return. But I never, ever expected them to just walk in on their own. If they showed any interest in returning I would arrange for some trusted member of the congregation to make contact with them first who would actually walk into church with them. In fact, if possible I would do that job myself as I had already formed a friendship with them.
When I went to see the bishop of Jarrow last Monday I asked him to send me to a church. He would have none of it (do bishops promise never to make a definite decision about anything, or answer a straight question with a straight answer, when they are ordained?) I had to twist his arm to give me the name of a church that might be appropriate and, even then, he would only suggest the Cathedral. (I like cathedral services but it's not church. A cathedral eucharist is a concert with a buffet at the end.) It was obvious that I was supposed to sort myself out even though I had made it perfectly clear that I was having huge problems about returning to church. Even though he had refused to give me the one thing that might have made it easier for me, his blessing by way of permission to officiate.
So, if there is anyone out there who worships at an Anglican church within a radius of about ten miles from Chester-Le-Street (the higher the better but free from misogyny and homophobia) and who is prepared to hold my hand, please drop me an email.
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