don’t miss this post, over at Theolog.
For the record, the diocese of St Andrews Dunkeld and Dunblane probably did better with dessert than the bar, but that was probably due more to lack of time than lack of will.
Category: church
contrary influences
Molly has a plan. She thinks that if she sits between clock and carol books, lap time will come sooner. She may be right.
Today was filled with children. Newton Primary Christmas service at the Cathedral, followed by a delightful hour with H. and her class at Dunblane Primary playing priestly-dress-up, then a meeting with our Lay-Reader-Young-Church-leader-title-defying-community-worker and the headteacher of St Mary’s Primary to cross t’s and dot i’s for next week’s service and to devise a strategy for the rest of the year.
My diary couldn’t have been kinder to me today. I woke up knowing that I had reached that point before Christmas where there is too much to do and too little time but just enough time that one mustn’t go into triple speed yet. And knowing too that it was going to be one of those days that I just wanted to play ostrich and bury my head in the sand.
That is much harder to do amidst the laughter and curiosity of the middle-schoolers (a good American phrase…)
It was not the most productive ‘work’ day ever, but there were many blessings on the way.
And if anyone can think of a good short hand way of naming what N does, do let us know, won’t you?
righteous peace, godly glory
Each Friday in Advent, we’re taking time to reflect on some of the themes of the season and prepare something to put in the church.
This arose out of a desire named by several people in the congregation to ‘show that something was happen’ during Advent, that made it clear to those who moved from the Christmas-lit town, to the Advent-stark church that we were on a different journey, and not simply ignoring the fact that Christmas was fast approaching.
And of course it is a good excuse to gather, talk, and create something together.
So, this week it was Baruch:
Take off the garment of your sorrow and affliction, O Jerusalem,
and put on for ever the beauty of the glory from God.
Put on the robe of the righteousness that comes from God;
put on your head the diadem of the glory of the Everlasting;
for God will show your splendour everywhere under heaven.
For God will give you evermore the name,
‘Righteous Peace, Godly Glory’.
Arise, O Jerusalem, stand upon the height;
look towards the east,
and see your children gathered from west and east
at the word of the Holy One,
rejoicing that God has remembered them.
For they went out from you on foot,
led away by their enemies;
but God will bring them back to you,
carried in glory, as on a royal throne.
For God has ordered that every high mountain and the everlasting hills be made low
and the valleys filled up, to make level ground,
so that Israel may walk safely in the glory of God.
The woods and every fragrant tree
have shaded Israel at God’s command.
For God will lead Israel with joy,
in the light of his glory,
with the mercy and righteousness that come from him.
I suspect the more complex the theology, the more abstract the result. But it’s all there if you look closely.
ta-da
Several months later than expected, the new St Mary’s web page is almost ready.
It’s still hidden from search engines, but it’s time for an in-house show.
I would value constrictive feedback through the comments here (not on the web page). My photo stock is very limited right now (so, you needn’t tell me that the header should have people in it), and there are a few things not quite done.
I’m counting on the congregation to tell me about the things I’ve forgotten to include or misrepresented. But from my blog readers, I’m hoping for more general help: is it clear, does it work, are there glaring errors?
It’s done in the free version of WordPress, as always, but this time I’ve pushed it well beyond any of previous attempts.
oh yes, and here’s the old one, by way of comparison. I’m so grateful to the person who has been managing it for giving me much good will, practical support and a free conscience as I redesigned it.
and (p.s.) — I know the link to the Hall Calendar is broken. Not sure why it’s coming up blank, but working on it.
wonderful exchange 