Saturday, 7 April 2012
WORSHIP AT ST. LAIKA'S
A SERVICE OF TENEBRAE
HOLY SATURDAY
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.
Click on the arrow on the player to stream.
Download via the MP3 icon below the player.
Download podcast via iTUNES.MP3 File
CLICK HERE for order of service and credits.
Friday, 6 April 2012
WORSHIP AT ST. LAIKA'S
A SERVICE OF THE WORD
GOOD FRIDAY 2012
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.
Click on the arrow on the player to stream.
Download via the MP3 icon below the player.
Download podcast via iTUNES.MP3 File
CLICK HERE for order of service and credits.
NIGERIAN BISHOP BACKS
UNBIBLICAL BRIBE TAKING
From ALL AFRICA:
Primate of the Anglican Church, Most Reverend Nicholas Okoh, Thursday took a swipe at the leadership of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) over its recent call on the National Assembly to commence impeachment proceedings against President Goodluck Jonathan over the recent church building donated to his Otuoke community in Bayelsa by an Italian Construction Company.
Okoh, who addressed newsmen in Enugu, said the call by the opposition party was not only satanic and barbaric, but equally ungodly as it was a direct attack on Christianity in the country.
Yesterday, OCICBW... proved conclusively that God hates bribe takers more than he hates gays. Okoh's defence of bribery and corruption is yet more proof that the once traditionalist and fervently orthodox Anglican church in Nigerian is slipping away from Biblical truth and becoming more and more like the Roman Catholic Church of the Middle Ages. We wouldn't be surprised if they don't start charging for masses to be said next and selling indulgences.
Primate of the Anglican Church, Most Reverend Nicholas Okoh, Thursday took a swipe at the leadership of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) over its recent call on the National Assembly to commence impeachment proceedings against President Goodluck Jonathan over the recent church building donated to his Otuoke community in Bayelsa by an Italian Construction Company.
Okoh, who addressed newsmen in Enugu, said the call by the opposition party was not only satanic and barbaric, but equally ungodly as it was a direct attack on Christianity in the country.
Yesterday, OCICBW... proved conclusively that God hates bribe takers more than he hates gays. Okoh's defence of bribery and corruption is yet more proof that the once traditionalist and fervently orthodox Anglican church in Nigerian is slipping away from Biblical truth and becoming more and more like the Roman Catholic Church of the Middle Ages. We wouldn't be surprised if they don't start charging for masses to be said next and selling indulgences.
Thursday, 5 April 2012
WORSHIP AT ST. LAIKA'S
THE LITURGY OF MAUNDY THURSDAY
All are welcome to join me in taking communion.
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). How you view the nature of this part of the service is completely up to you.
Click on the arrow on the player to stream.
Download via the MP3 icon below the player.
Download podcast via iTUNES
MP3 File
CLICK HERE for order of service and credits
BIBLICAL CHRISTIANITY - NIGERIAN STYLE
From ALL AFRICA:
President Goodluck Jonathan has described the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and other opposition parties and groups in the country condemning and inkling for his impeachment over his admittance that the new Anglican Church building in Otuoke, his home community was donated to him by a foreign construction film, as irresponsible desperados who peddle baseless and unsubstantiated lies to malign him.
The ACN had in a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, on Tuesday joined other political elements in the country in condemning the president's acceptance openly, saying that he solicited 'a bribe' from the foreign construction company, in violation of the Constitution, just as it asked the National Assembly to commence impeachment proceedings against Jonathan.
Jonathan, who spoke through his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, in a statement yesterday, asked Nigerians to crosscheck properly that these allegations are nothing other than another mischievous attempt to denigrate him and cast unjustifiable aspersions on his personal integrity and distract him from the serious business of governance.
Okay, let's see what the inerrant word of God has to say about this:
And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment. (1 Samuel 8: 3)
Thou shalt not wrest judgment; thou shalt not respect persons, neither take a gift: for a gift doth blind the eyes of the wise, and pervert the words of the righteous. (Deuteronomy 16: 19)
Wherefore now let the fear of the LORD be upon you; take heed and do it: for there is no iniquity with the LORD our God, nor respect of persons, nor taking of gifts. (2 Chronicles 19: 7)
Gather not my soul with sinners, nor my life with bloody men: n whose hands is mischief, and their right hand is full of bribes. (Psalm 26: 9-10)
He that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house; but he that hateth gifts shall live. (Proverbs 15: 27)
And thou shalt take no gift: for the gift blindeth the wise, and perverteth the words of the righteous. (Exodus 23: 8)
A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom to pervert the ways of judgment. (Proverbs 17: 23)
Thy princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves: every one loveth gifts, and followeth after rewards: they judge not the fatherless, neither doth the cause of the widow come unto them. (Isaiah 1: 23)
For I know your manifold transgressions and your mighty sins: they afflict the just, they take a bribe, and they turn aside the poor in the gate from their right. (Amos 5: 12)
Now, mathematics was never my strongest subject at school but I can confidently say that this very basic word search ("bribe" and "bribes") very clearly shows that there are a damn sight more verses in the Bible that condemn the taking of bribes than there are verses condemning same sex sexual relationships. When you add the word "hypocrisy," which I am most certainly condemning those leaders in the Nigerian Anglican Church, who were in on this, of being, then it would appear that the Anglican Church in Nigeria has, most definitely, strayed away from the truth. Perhaps we should set up a missionary province in that troubled, Sodom and Gomorrah of a nation, to bring the people of God corrupted by the false, unscriptural actions of the Anglican hierarchy and its political allies, back into the true faith.
Oh, and if you add the word "bribery" to the word search, you get the following:
For the congregation of hypocrites shall be desolate, and fire shall consume the tabernacles of bribery. (Job 15: 34)
Oh dear.
POSTSCRIPT: And there will be one very nasty outcome of President Goodluck Jonathan and his Anglican disciple's corruption and hypocrisy. It will give Nigerian muslims a valid reason to distrust the Christian president of their country and regard him as partisan. The terrorists will latch on to this and more bloodshed will result.
President Goodluck Jonathan has described the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and other opposition parties and groups in the country condemning and inkling for his impeachment over his admittance that the new Anglican Church building in Otuoke, his home community was donated to him by a foreign construction film, as irresponsible desperados who peddle baseless and unsubstantiated lies to malign him.
The ACN had in a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, on Tuesday joined other political elements in the country in condemning the president's acceptance openly, saying that he solicited 'a bribe' from the foreign construction company, in violation of the Constitution, just as it asked the National Assembly to commence impeachment proceedings against Jonathan.
Jonathan, who spoke through his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, in a statement yesterday, asked Nigerians to crosscheck properly that these allegations are nothing other than another mischievous attempt to denigrate him and cast unjustifiable aspersions on his personal integrity and distract him from the serious business of governance.
Okay, let's see what the inerrant word of God has to say about this:
And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment. (1 Samuel 8: 3)
Thou shalt not wrest judgment; thou shalt not respect persons, neither take a gift: for a gift doth blind the eyes of the wise, and pervert the words of the righteous. (Deuteronomy 16: 19)
Wherefore now let the fear of the LORD be upon you; take heed and do it: for there is no iniquity with the LORD our God, nor respect of persons, nor taking of gifts. (2 Chronicles 19: 7)
Gather not my soul with sinners, nor my life with bloody men: n whose hands is mischief, and their right hand is full of bribes. (Psalm 26: 9-10)
He that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house; but he that hateth gifts shall live. (Proverbs 15: 27)
And thou shalt take no gift: for the gift blindeth the wise, and perverteth the words of the righteous. (Exodus 23: 8)
A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom to pervert the ways of judgment. (Proverbs 17: 23)
Thy princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves: every one loveth gifts, and followeth after rewards: they judge not the fatherless, neither doth the cause of the widow come unto them. (Isaiah 1: 23)
For I know your manifold transgressions and your mighty sins: they afflict the just, they take a bribe, and they turn aside the poor in the gate from their right. (Amos 5: 12)
Now, mathematics was never my strongest subject at school but I can confidently say that this very basic word search ("bribe" and "bribes") very clearly shows that there are a damn sight more verses in the Bible that condemn the taking of bribes than there are verses condemning same sex sexual relationships. When you add the word "hypocrisy," which I am most certainly condemning those leaders in the Nigerian Anglican Church, who were in on this, of being, then it would appear that the Anglican Church in Nigeria has, most definitely, strayed away from the truth. Perhaps we should set up a missionary province in that troubled, Sodom and Gomorrah of a nation, to bring the people of God corrupted by the false, unscriptural actions of the Anglican hierarchy and its political allies, back into the true faith.
Oh, and if you add the word "bribery" to the word search, you get the following:
For the congregation of hypocrites shall be desolate, and fire shall consume the tabernacles of bribery. (Job 15: 34)
Oh dear.
POSTSCRIPT: And there will be one very nasty outcome of President Goodluck Jonathan and his Anglican disciple's corruption and hypocrisy. It will give Nigerian muslims a valid reason to distrust the Christian president of their country and regard him as partisan. The terrorists will latch on to this and more bloodshed will result.
WHOOPS!
It has been brought to my attention that the "BUY NOW" buttons for purchasing a single copy of "New Words for Holy Communion" still show the current issue as April as opposed to May.
My apologies. I have altered the buttons in the left hand side bar, the post below and at St. Laika's.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
Do check out Jendi's post, "Adoptive Families Are Queer Families," over at REITER'S BLOCK. Our friend makes some perceptive observations.
And do go read the rest of the poem that begins...
Our Lord of Flaked Paint freckling
sallow skin and emerald robes,
Our Lord of Mudpuddle Eyes
that look away in weary irritation,
no one can touch your loneliness,
God cut off from God.
... on the YEARNING FOR GOD blog.
And do go read the rest of the poem that begins...
Our Lord of Flaked Paint freckling
sallow skin and emerald robes,
Our Lord of Mudpuddle Eyes
that look away in weary irritation,
no one can touch your loneliness,
God cut off from God.
... on the YEARNING FOR GOD blog.
GOD BOTHERING: THURSDAY 5TH. APRIL 2012
The prayer list for today is now up at SAINT LAIKA'S. The world seems a particularly violent place at this moment in time.
If you have a moment please pop over there and do light a virtual candle as it shows those we are praying for that we do care.
If you have a prayer request that you want including on tomorrow's prayer list, please let me know in the comments to this post, go to St. Laika's and leave it on the Our Prayers forum or drop me an email at madpriestx@sky.com.
THE MIDNIGHT JUKEBOX
Now this truly is a marriage made in heaven: Kevn Kinney, from Drivin' N Cryin,' and Anton Fier, from The Golden Palominos, together on one rootsy, country, rocky album that delivers all that you could possibly want from a rootsy, country, rocky album. Don't take my word for it. Give it a listen.
KEVN'S WEBSITE
PURCHASE FROM AMAZON USA
PURCHASE FROM AMAZON UK
Wednesday, 4 April 2012
HE'LL CONTACT YOU WHEN HE GETS BACK
Mrs MP tells me this is true in all "professions." I think it's to do with power but Mrs MP believes it is just a matter of making sure everyone knows "how busy and overworked" they are.
Mrs MP is a nicer, less cynical person than me. Of course, that does not mean that she is necessarily right. Sometimes the cynical are cynical because they are right.
NAG, NAG, NAG
Oh, come on, you lot. Help me out here, will you?!
Last week I told you about a new page, GOLDEN TAILS, that I have just spent a lot of time and effort creating at Saint Laika's. This is a place for you to post memorials for your animal companions who have passed on.
"Oh, brilliant," you said.
"What a good idea," you commented.
Yet, with the exception of Jay, who kicked the whole thing off, nobody has yet sent anything in.
Look, I know you're busy with work and Holy Week and all that jazz, but I also know that you love your departed friends. So please, get onto it immediately! I really do not want to have to remind you again.
(Master MadPriest, Headteacher)
Last week I told you about a new page, GOLDEN TAILS, that I have just spent a lot of time and effort creating at Saint Laika's. This is a place for you to post memorials for your animal companions who have passed on.
"Oh, brilliant," you said.
"What a good idea," you commented.
Yet, with the exception of Jay, who kicked the whole thing off, nobody has yet sent anything in.
Look, I know you're busy with work and Holy Week and all that jazz, but I also know that you love your departed friends. So please, get onto it immediately! I really do not want to have to remind you again.
(Master MadPriest, Headteacher)
EXCAVATING GÖBEKLI TEPE
See also my post THE EGG CAME FIRST.
I am fascinated by the 12000 year old temple complex at Göbelki Tepe in Turkey. I am not a scientist, archaeologist or historian, I am of a more philosophical bent. So I am free to suppose and search for meaning that is not provable. One thing that immediately stood out for me when I watched a documentary on the discoveries at this ancient site recently was the similarity between the megaliths at Göbelki Tepe (see photo above) and the tau cross (see photo of tau cross in Ireland below). The tau cross predates the Christian cross. It was placed on the lips of Egyptian kings when they were initiated into the mysteries, was used symbolically in many other pre-Christian cultures and even gets a mention in the Old Testament, in Ezekiel and, possibly, Job. I think it is extremely probable that Christ was crucified on a tau shaped cross (it's much easier to construct than the traditional Christian cross) and that early Christians changed the shape of the symbol to distance themselves from paganism. That the tau cross was employed by those parts of the church more closely linked to paganism and esoteric religion may be a reference back to a far more ancient symbolism. I certainly believe that cultural symbolism is very persistent. I see no reason why the megaliths at Göbelki Tepe should not be the original manifestation of a symbol that would enter the mythology of subsequent cultures and be carried forward in time right up to the present day.
There may be another religious first at Göbelki Tepe. Archaeologists have discovered that, at the time that the complex was first constructed, when people died they were buried and then, later, dug up. At this point their skulls would be carefully removed from the rest of the skeletal remains and kept in places of religious activity and within homes. We cannot know what reason the perpetrators of this ritual had for their actions but it could well be the first example we have come across of a belief in resurrection, a belief that became the central concern of many religions, especially those which, like Christianity, were connected to the mystery cults of antiquity.
I am fascinated by the 12000 year old temple complex at Göbelki Tepe in Turkey. I am not a scientist, archaeologist or historian, I am of a more philosophical bent. So I am free to suppose and search for meaning that is not provable. One thing that immediately stood out for me when I watched a documentary on the discoveries at this ancient site recently was the similarity between the megaliths at Göbelki Tepe (see photo above) and the tau cross (see photo of tau cross in Ireland below). The tau cross predates the Christian cross. It was placed on the lips of Egyptian kings when they were initiated into the mysteries, was used symbolically in many other pre-Christian cultures and even gets a mention in the Old Testament, in Ezekiel and, possibly, Job. I think it is extremely probable that Christ was crucified on a tau shaped cross (it's much easier to construct than the traditional Christian cross) and that early Christians changed the shape of the symbol to distance themselves from paganism. That the tau cross was employed by those parts of the church more closely linked to paganism and esoteric religion may be a reference back to a far more ancient symbolism. I certainly believe that cultural symbolism is very persistent. I see no reason why the megaliths at Göbelki Tepe should not be the original manifestation of a symbol that would enter the mythology of subsequent cultures and be carried forward in time right up to the present day.
There may be another religious first at Göbelki Tepe. Archaeologists have discovered that, at the time that the complex was first constructed, when people died they were buried and then, later, dug up. At this point their skulls would be carefully removed from the rest of the skeletal remains and kept in places of religious activity and within homes. We cannot know what reason the perpetrators of this ritual had for their actions but it could well be the first example we have come across of a belief in resurrection, a belief that became the central concern of many religions, especially those which, like Christianity, were connected to the mystery cults of antiquity.
GOD BOTHERING: WEDNESDAY 4TH. APRIL 2012
If you have a prayer request that you want including on tomorrow's prayer list, please let me know in the comments to this post, go to St. Laika's and leave it on the Our Prayers forum or drop me an email at madpriestx@sky.com.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
Check out Jim's post at JIM'S THOUGHTS about new attempts by Rowan Williams to grab more power for the hierarchical elite, especially for the holder of the Canterbury post.
PRAYING FOR OUR BETTERS
Here is a lovely prayer, composed by MR. CATOLICK, for the Crown Nominations Committee as they seek God's guidance in their search for the next archbishop of Canterbury.
Dear Father, help the CNC members to put away their own agendas and let them know that they, and their tribes have had their time. Help them to listen to people outside of London and not to just give lip service to the northern folk.
Father, we just ask that you show them how to get their secretarial work right and pass on information. Father, put your protecting power around their photocopier so that documents can be read.
Father, help them to remember more and more that Oxford and Cambridge are not the only universities in England. Father, help them to show compassion and love, cast out any spot of arrogance and high handedness, and protect them from snobbery and pomposity.
Father, let your Holy spirit come down and work amongst them. Let them know that you know the secrets of all our hearts and know even the secrets of the CNC. Amen.
Dear Father, help the CNC members to put away their own agendas and let them know that they, and their tribes have had their time. Help them to listen to people outside of London and not to just give lip service to the northern folk.
Father, we just ask that you show them how to get their secretarial work right and pass on information. Father, put your protecting power around their photocopier so that documents can be read.
Father, help them to remember more and more that Oxford and Cambridge are not the only universities in England. Father, help them to show compassion and love, cast out any spot of arrogance and high handedness, and protect them from snobbery and pomposity.
Father, let your Holy spirit come down and work amongst them. Let them know that you know the secrets of all our hearts and know even the secrets of the CNC. Amen.
BEST NEWS IN THE WORLD EVER
You're not going to believe this. I didn't at first. In fact I checked to make sure the email wasn't sent on April 1st.
But it's true.
Tracie and Joe got themselves married yesterday - to each other.
About bloody time in my opinion.
May all the gods watch over them and protect them. May their lives be full of happiness.
Oh, and good luck to Joe.
But it's true.
Tracie and Joe got themselves married yesterday - to each other.
About bloody time in my opinion.
May all the gods watch over them and protect them. May their lives be full of happiness.
Oh, and good luck to Joe.
Tuesday, 3 April 2012
THE RETURN OF THE MONTHLY SCROUNGE
I haven't mentioned donations for a couple of months. I was really hoping that "New Words for Holy Communion" would take off and that I would eventually be able to live off the earnings from it. But, to be honest, it hasn't done very well at all. In fact, I'm selling fewer copies this month than last month. The reviews have been great, darlings! But they haven't translated into sales unfortunately. On top of this disappointment I have lost a few regular monthly donations recently and I'm running out of CDs to sell on eBay.
So, as it is the beginning of the month, when the bills land on my doormat, I would be grateful for any small change you may have to help me keep my head above water. I received a generous gift from a friend recently which means that, for the first time since August 2012, Mrs MP and me will be able to get away for a weekend (maybe two) in our old caravan this summer. I am really looking forward to that even though it will only be to a site forty miles down the road. The problem is that, before we can tow the caravan anywhere it needs to be serviced (£100 plus parts) and its floor needs relaminating (£150) or we will fall through it. I can just about survive on the donations I receive each month (about £450 now) but any surprise costs or luxuries like a weekend break are beyond our financial resources.
I will be carrying on with the writing of "New Words." Maybe the word will get round eventually and, anyway, I find it useful myself when I am putting together St. Laika's Sunday services.
Another way to help me financially is to buy Amazon products via my Amazon shop. Details of how to do this can be found on the right hand side bar.
"New Words for Holy Communion" is a monthly resource of all new prayers, intercessions, acclamations, biddings and blessings for use in the Eucharist on each Sunday and principal feast of the church year.
For a sample CLICK HERE
It is available by monthly subscription at a cost of just £2.49 (slightly less than $4.00 U.S.) per issue. Subscriptions can be cancelled at any time. Click on the button below to order. You do not need your own PayPal account to do so.
For a single copy (also priced at £2.49) use this widget:
NOW AVAILABLE IN KINDLE FORMAT
For those of you who are technologically advanced this format is ideal for church services as it reduces the paperwork you have to carry around in church to zero.
For the US edition CLICK HERE.
For the UK edition CLICK HERE.
It should also be available on other Amazon sites. Just go to the Kindle section and type "New Words For Holy Communion" in the search box.
MORE DETAILS AT SAINTLAIKA.COM
THE EGG CAME FIRST
It seems certain that when the temples were built there was no agriculture, but the demands of running the complex led to the invention of agriculture and the building of cities. This completely turns the previously accepted chronology of human cultural development on it's head. Previously, it had been assumed that the discovery of agriculture led to the building of cities and the invention of religion. Göbekli Tepe shows that religion came first. That agriculture, civilisation, technology, writing and science came about because man first believed.
Oh dear, Mr Dawkins. It would appear that it is not just your enormous wealth that is the direct result of the religious practices of the faithful over the millennia. Your entire career, all the science that you worship as your deity, would not exist exist if it wasn't for us god-botherers.
And there is a serious side to this. If our culture came from the religious tendency of our race, what happens when some fool kills religion? In my opinion it will be "goodbye culture." And we have proof of this. The only great art that came out of the atheistic, communist states during the 20th. Century was produced by artists who, usually secretly, believed the regimes to be stifling of all true creativity because of their mechanistic view of humankind.
You don't have to believe in the gods. But unless you want to go back to gathering berries and roots, it might be a very good idea to believe in the benefit to society that believing in the gods can give rise to.
MEMORY STICK PRIEST'S CONGREGATION
QUADRUPLES OVER NIGHT
Completely unreliable sources have informed OCICBW... that the Roman Catholic priest who inadvertently gave a powerpoint presentation of naked hunks to the mothers of his first communion class, has been inundated by requests from parents asking him to prepare their children for first communion and confirmation. Apparently the public disclosure of his healthy interest in naked grown ups makes him the safest Catholic priest in the whole of Ireland, if not Europe.
ROWIN' WILLIAMS
I said he would be sitting on his arse having deep thoughts in his new job. Well, he will be sitting on his arse but who'd have thought that under those shapeless cassocks there lie the rippling muscles of an athlete?
CARDINAL VIRTUE
From THE ASSOCIATED PRESS:
Austria's cardinal has overruled one of his priests and is allowing a gay Catholic to serve on a parish council.
Florian Stangl lives in a registered domestic partnership. The 26-year-old was overwhelmingly elected to the council recently, but it was overruled by the priest - a decision initially backed by the archdiocese. Such councils include lay people and discuss local church and parish affairs.
Cardinal Christoph Schoenborn changed his mind over the weekend after hosting Stangl and his partner for lunch, declaring Stangl to be "at the right place." Despite his close ties to his one-time professor, Pope Benedict XVI, Schoenborn has voiced an open mind to such taboo issues as priestly celibacy.
For daring to change his mind and being in the right place himself, Christoph is our:
BRICK OF THE DAY
Thanks to Susan for sending this story in.
Austria's cardinal has overruled one of his priests and is allowing a gay Catholic to serve on a parish council.
Florian Stangl lives in a registered domestic partnership. The 26-year-old was overwhelmingly elected to the council recently, but it was overruled by the priest - a decision initially backed by the archdiocese. Such councils include lay people and discuss local church and parish affairs.
Cardinal Christoph Schoenborn changed his mind over the weekend after hosting Stangl and his partner for lunch, declaring Stangl to be "at the right place." Despite his close ties to his one-time professor, Pope Benedict XVI, Schoenborn has voiced an open mind to such taboo issues as priestly celibacy.
For daring to change his mind and being in the right place himself, Christoph is our:
BRICK OF THE DAY
Thanks to Susan for sending this story in.
GOD BOTHERING - TUESDAY 3RD. APRIL 2012
The prayer list for today is now up at SAINT LAIKA'S. If you have a moment please pop over there and do light a virtual candle as it shows those we are praying for that we do care. If you have a prayer request that you want including on tomorrow's prayer list, please let me know in the comments to this post, go to St. Laika's and leave it on the Our Prayers forum or drop me an email at madpriestx@sky.com.
Monday, 2 April 2012
DON'T YOU JUST HATE IT
WHEN THAT HAPPENS
From THE BBC:
An investigation is under way after indecent images were "inadvertently" shown by a Catholic priest during a presentation at a primary school in County Tyrone. The priest projected the images onto a screen during a meeting for parents in Pomeroy in preparation for First Holy Communion. One child was also present.
Parents said 16 indecent images of men were displayed. The priest said he had no knowledge of the offending imagery.
According to a statement from the parents, the images were projected onto the screen from a memory stick the parish priest had inserted into a computer before the presentation. He quickly removed the memory stick.
"He was visibly shaken and flustered," said the parents. "He gave no explanation or apology to the group and bolted out of the room."
Oh my goodness! Poor man. That's worse than getting lost in the ladies underwear department.
An investigation is under way after indecent images were "inadvertently" shown by a Catholic priest during a presentation at a primary school in County Tyrone. The priest projected the images onto a screen during a meeting for parents in Pomeroy in preparation for First Holy Communion. One child was also present.
Parents said 16 indecent images of men were displayed. The priest said he had no knowledge of the offending imagery.
According to a statement from the parents, the images were projected onto the screen from a memory stick the parish priest had inserted into a computer before the presentation. He quickly removed the memory stick.
"He was visibly shaken and flustered," said the parents. "He gave no explanation or apology to the group and bolted out of the room."
Oh my goodness! Poor man. That's worse than getting lost in the ladies underwear department.
HEY, SEÑORITA!
From THE SIERRA VISTA HERALD:
The presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church will visit the U.S.-Mexico border to give an address on border and immigration issues and to participate in the seventh “God Has No Borders” Naco Border Procession in April.
The presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church will visit the U.S.-Mexico border to give an address on border and immigration issues and to participate in the seventh “God Has No Borders” Naco Border Procession in April.
BISHOPS - BUSY DOING NOTHING,
WORKING THE WHOLE DAY THROUGH
In an excellent post on his blog, ELIZAPHANIAN, Sam Norton highlights and comments on the present disconnection between bishops and clergy/laity in the Church of England. Do check it out!
I picked up on his comment that bishops are overworked with my usual lack of sympathy. I left this comment:
Overworked but not doing the work they were ordained to do. And, of course, this attitude will trickle down to the clergy. When they see their bishops spending most of their time on administration, attending meetings and conferences, and getting honours for their contribution to urban regeneration rather than spiritual regeneration, then the clergy will follow suit. If bishops stopped regarding themselves as CEOs full of Alan Sugar attitude and inhumanity, and started looking after their priests and walking among their people, then they would probably become more in tune with what the grass roots of the Church are thinking and worrying about.
I believe that the view of the priesthood as being an administrative function, is exactly the reason why the priesthood, at all levels, is out of touch with the culture of their local and national cultures and has lost the respect it once, more fully, enjoyed, and which gave it the opportunity to speak out prophetically.
I picked up on his comment that bishops are overworked with my usual lack of sympathy. I left this comment:
Overworked but not doing the work they were ordained to do. And, of course, this attitude will trickle down to the clergy. When they see their bishops spending most of their time on administration, attending meetings and conferences, and getting honours for their contribution to urban regeneration rather than spiritual regeneration, then the clergy will follow suit. If bishops stopped regarding themselves as CEOs full of Alan Sugar attitude and inhumanity, and started looking after their priests and walking among their people, then they would probably become more in tune with what the grass roots of the Church are thinking and worrying about.
I believe that the view of the priesthood as being an administrative function, is exactly the reason why the priesthood, at all levels, is out of touch with the culture of their local and national cultures and has lost the respect it once, more fully, enjoyed, and which gave it the opportunity to speak out prophetically.
Sunday, 1 April 2012
IT MUST BE SO GREAT TO HAVE FRIENDS
From THE GUARDIAN:
The Rev Dr Giles Fraser, who resigned as canon chancellor of St Paul's Cathedral last year over plans to forcibly remove Occupy protesters from its steps, has been appointed parish priest of an inner-city church in south London.
Fraser will begin his new job at St Mary's Newington, in Elephant & Castle, later this month. He will chronicle his experiences in the parish in a regular column for the Guardian, which begins on Sunday.
Fraser said he was looking forward to starting work after a difficult few months. "After I resigned there was no plan B whatsoever. It was just a total principled decision. It has been a very dark period thinking about what I'm supposed to be doing with my life."
Despite being shortlisted for jobs as a bishop and a dean...
I make no secret of the fact that I am jealous of the Giles Frasers of this world. I said when he resigned from St. Pauls that he would be looked after and that he would probably get a bishop's job out of it. Kudos to him for taking the lesser path although, as a bishop, he might not have had so much time for all his other stuff. You know, when I was a lorry driver nobody gave a toss which school I went to. All they cared about was whether or not I got the job done. I really wished somebody had warned me about how much "who you know" mattered in the Church of England instead of lying to me about how much they needed working people in the priesthood.
The Rev Dr Giles Fraser, who resigned as canon chancellor of St Paul's Cathedral last year over plans to forcibly remove Occupy protesters from its steps, has been appointed parish priest of an inner-city church in south London.
Fraser will begin his new job at St Mary's Newington, in Elephant & Castle, later this month. He will chronicle his experiences in the parish in a regular column for the Guardian, which begins on Sunday.
Fraser said he was looking forward to starting work after a difficult few months. "After I resigned there was no plan B whatsoever. It was just a total principled decision. It has been a very dark period thinking about what I'm supposed to be doing with my life."
Despite being shortlisted for jobs as a bishop and a dean...
I make no secret of the fact that I am jealous of the Giles Frasers of this world. I said when he resigned from St. Pauls that he would be looked after and that he would probably get a bishop's job out of it. Kudos to him for taking the lesser path although, as a bishop, he might not have had so much time for all his other stuff. You know, when I was a lorry driver nobody gave a toss which school I went to. All they cared about was whether or not I got the job done. I really wished somebody had warned me about how much "who you know" mattered in the Church of England instead of lying to me about how much they needed working people in the priesthood.
WORSHIP AT ST. LAIKA'S
A SERVICE OF HOLY COMMUNION
PALM SUNDAY
All are welcome to join me in taking communion.
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). How you view the nature of this part of the service is completely up to you.
Click on the arrow on the player to stream.
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MP3 File
CLICK HERE for order of service and credits
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