Nativity Short Film

Each year, film makers are invited to submit a short film telling the story of the Nativity. Nativity Factor is supported by ITN and Jerusalem Productions. I think all the flims are great, but this is one of my favourites.

Having the last laugh

This week is Dying Matters Awareness Week.

As part of the week, there is this very good short video, made my Alexei Sayle

 

There is much more on the Dying Matters web site  including details of the book Where there's a will.

The next step....

COUNTDOWN WIDGETS

I have just entered the last time table into my diary. In a few weeks time, I will start the Leaver's Course, and then take the next big step. I thought this counter might help me focus on what I really need to be doing....

Funny Video - God versus the Devil on ITV

There is not much that I really look forward to on TV, but I do like watching Harry Hill's TV Burp. Watching a recorded programme tonight, this caught my eye. It is worth the minute it takes to watch it.





If you enjoyed that you might also enjoy this

The Guardian

Back in 1986, I thought the advert The Guardian did - about seeing the whole view - was very powerful.


Now they have brought the same idea upto date, with an advert showing how they would cover the Three Little Pigs story. Well worth watching.

Interesting video

Econ 4 - Introduction from Softbox on Vimeo. This is a short but interesting video about the economy and greed. Good to watch. But what to do about it?

Meditation - Friday 4 November

Here are the notes from this morning's meditation. They are not exactly as delivered, but pretty close.


The readings were:
Psalm 16
Isaiah 3: 1-15
Matthew 4:1-11


In the temptation of Christ, it seems to me that Jesus, in resisting the Devil, is waiting on God. Jesus is not taking control of His own destiny.

He is not procrastinating but He is content to wait, trusting patiently on God, for the outcome that God wants. Even in Gethsemane, Jesus could have refused, taken charge, speeded things up.

How often have I, or you, sought to give God a helping hand, impatient in the wait, eager for the conclusion. I might have been confident I was doing the right thing, resisting temptation, yet impatient waiting.

I know that God is all powerful, but it is almost as if He could do it quicker – and dare I say better - with a bit of help from me. I jump in with a solution to a problem that might not even exist.

Yet Jesus, even in the barren wilderness, is accepting of the wait on God, that God is in control.

In the Psalm, we are reminded The Lord is at my right hand, I shall not fail. He understands and somehow walks alongside as well as in front and behind.

As we wait now for breakfast, for curacy news, for information, for essay results, for family news, for difficult roads to become less of a struggle, for the path to become clearer, let us reflect on waiting in the knowledge that the Lord is at our right hand.

Ways to Simplify your Life

One of the books I have on the coffee table is Joyce Meyer's 100 ways to Simplify your Life. I usually pick it up and flick through to find some hint or tip which I think about that day. Each idea has a title, a Biblical reference and a supporting quote, plus about one page of easy to read reflection.

I have now made a few posters, based on some of the tips, which I have put in my study to help me think about them. There is a PDF here in case they might help you.

If you want to get the book, you can order it here

A beautiful sunset

A beautiful sunset, taken from Ripon College Cuddesdon, looking towards Oxford.

Vicar Fight on Harry Hill's TV Burb

I just watched an on Harry Hill TV Burb. We all rolled around laughing at this...

Cuddesdon in the Snow

A beautiful location, even more beautiful in the snow.

THE DIGITAL STORY OF THE NATIVITY

This is a great video. Worth two minutes of your time.

Happy Christmas

End of term - new things....

Again, I have left it rather long between posts on this blog. The consequence is that for the last few weeks I have been trying to think of something significant enough to write about to break my silence. But I have been lacking ideas and time.

Today we had the last of the first terms lectures. Being at Ripon College Cuddesdon, of course, it is not actually the end of term - we have a Theme Study Week next week. I am studying Liturgy.

Anyway, I have reflected on some of the things I have learnt this term which I had not expected.

• Poetry - A couple of lectures have used poetry to illustrate their points. As I read new books, I am findings that some poetry really resonates with me. Not just in a 'Oh, that is nice' but in a 'Of, now I get it' way.
• Art. We went to the pre-Raphelite exhibition at The Ashmolean which showed me a previously under nourished area of my soul. There was some really good (excellent) art work that was inspiring and moving - that told a story deeper than the first glance of the picture. It reminded me of the importance of taking time out - taking a pause. There is an irony here - being at Theological College is one of the busiest things I have done, and it is too easy to forget to take time, a pause to reflect. I wrote and talked about this before - see here.
• Drama. We did an unusual session where we had to make a tableau of a feeling or incident. I was pretty sceptical about this - what would it tell us about a situation, but it turned out to be really useful and enlightening. Feelings were exposed that were not previously identified, and people were able to identify other feelings and issues just from a still tableau.
• Being in Oxford. I had not expected to be so in awe about going to Oxford University for the lectures on Tuesday morning. However, waling in to the Examination Rooms in a morning still feels a privilege. At the start of term, walking into Oxford in the sun was special, and it remains special in the ice and snow.
• New worship experiences. Over the last few years, I have been hit time and time again by the Spirit moving when I have least expected it. Coming to Ripon College Cuddesdon was designed to give me a whole range of new experiences that I would not have other wise experienced. And that has happened. I have led a number of worship events, including the Book of Common Prayer Evensong (and am learning to sing!). Whilst I was incredibly nervous beforehand, I was very pleased afterwards to have completed it. The same for Compline, our Group reflective worship. I have been to more BCP services than I would have ever expected, and I am just about getting used to them!

Next week I will spend the whole week on Liturgy, and then I will be catching up with essays before Christmas. The New Year will bring a new term and a new timetable. Bring it on.

Of course, there are many things that have also confirmed previous expectations, about my preferred types of worship

It was a year ago...

It is hard to believe, but I first visited Ripon College Cuddesdon a year ago. Little did I really know that one year later I would be at college having experienced a Bishop's Advisory Panel. It all started .. well, no it started a long time before, but I took it seriously after a dream and a promise from God to take my somewhere beautiful yet frightening. I feel I have been through all those experiences already, and I am certainly somewhere beautiful now.

My diary entry for the two days is somewhat revealing about the pattern of college here at Cuddesdon.

12.00: Meet at reception
1.00: Lunch
4.00: Tea
5.15: College Eucharist
6.00: Dinner

7.30: Morning Prayer
8.30: Breakfast

Of course, we ended up doing far more than that, having interviews with both Martyn Percy and Michael Lakey, meeting students and being shown round the college.

More revealing is my journal entry (written a week later, when we were on holiday in Tuscany). It reads

A week ago we went, as a whole family, to Ripon College in Cuddesdon. It was to have a look around the college. I felt at home. I could have stayed there - I would go back now, it felt right. The people, the building, the place. Even (!) the worship felt good..... Visiting made it feel real, but also made the barriers feel real. We have a number of hoops to jump through - God willing.

 (Interesting notes from the same journal entry, I have recalled our meal we had that night - steak from a Tuscan butchers, fresh figs, grapes and plums, and Italian Ice Cream. The next day we went to Assisi - a fantastic day.)

The start of something new...

Well, it has arrived at last. The new college term has started. This evening we had a great Welcome and college Eucharist (and renewal of Baptism vows). During the service there was a phenomenal rain storm, and a most spectacular double rainbow over All Saints Church welcomed us as we all left.

Tea afterwards was equally spectacular and it was great to start meeting new friends, and chat over coffee (and later a glass of wine).

There is a week of induction - where we get to know what is expected and get used to the format of each day. We start at 7.30 with Morning Prayer (Hilary and I will alternate on this), breakfast at 8.30 and then a morning of lectures and seminars. Afternoons are generally free for studying, with tea at 4.00, followed by Evening Prayer and Dinner (although I am not sure how many dinners we will get to). In addition, there are a variety of tasks and duties we complete as part of a team, including leading worship, security, bar duties, hospitality, etc. Plus, there are practical bits I would like to learn - things that I will probably never get the opportunity to do - I might even learn to sing!

Greenbelt 2010 (#gb10)

Last year we all went to Greenbelt, and it must have been some what of a success, because we returned again this year.

So much has happened, that is seems like a lot longer than a year has passed. Last year, whilst we went on our own, this year we went with a group of existing students from college.

Of course, we had a great time - even better because of camping with friends. And of course, the queues were the same as ever - but having been before meant that we were better prepared. So, when my wife wanted to go and see the interview with those behind Rev. (James Woods and Tom Hollander), we arranged to meet for tea in the queue. And we had a great curry picnic, before all going off to do our own things again - it made the queue part of the excitement rather than an ordeal.

Our experience was considerably different from last year.  But here are my Top Five from Greenbelt 2010.

1 - The entertainment

- it was in the Top 5 last year, but I enjoyed it even more this year. Jars of Clay, The London Gospel Community Choir, SHLOMO, and a whole range of bands / singers from The Performance Cafe.

2. The Tiny Tea Tent - we managed to miss this last year and the kids voted The Tank as their favourite coffee bar. But this year, whilst we still loved The Tank, we decided that The Tiny Tea Tent was our favourite. The aroma of different teas and the wood burner made it a wonderful place to sit and unwind.

3. Last Orders - okay, I only made it once, but I thought it was incredibly well put together, entertaining, and it meant I got to see Milton Jones withour having to queue up for ages.  Bunny belt was a great take on the festival as well (see the videos on Vimeo), together with Dave Walker's* insight on the activities of Greenbelters.
4. Beer and Hymns - better than last year. Okay, so with only one slot (come on Greenbelt) there were more people sat outside The Jesus Arms than inside (doing the 'and hymns' bit). Never the less, the atmosphere was fantastic and the belting out of favourite hymns is soul stiring and a great reminder that choirs are not needed. There was a warning at the end - that Beer and Hymns is there to promote hymns to people who like beer, bot to promote beer to people who like to sing hymns!

5. The overall atmosphere. Despite mixed weather, and the frustration of having to carry all our camping gear onto the site (from the car park which was almost a mile away), and some of the coldest August nights I care to remember, it was just fantastic, and summed up by the fantatsic rainbow over the site (there are better versions available, but this was my attempt at photographing it).

* note: I spotted Dave Walker on the site (although I don't think he saw me. He took what looked like a random photo, so I took the same photo. I am holding onto it incase it turns into some great inspiration for a cartoon at some point).

Rainbow over the Greenbelt Festival

Relay for Life

I am just about recovering from the Relay for Life 2010 in Kibworth. By the close of 24 hours, ove £65,000 had been rasied which is staggering achievement for our village. Well done to all those involved, especially the committee for organising it.

I was involved in the music/sound again. Here are a few pictures I took throughout the day.



It started with a warm up. About 500 people warming up before embarking on a 24 walking relay, comprised of 27 teams.

By 6 o'clock, I was shattered, and managed to get a short break and tea with the kids.





In the evening, there was a very moving Candle of Hope ceremony during which everybody walked round the course lit just by candles in memory of somebody who has suffered from cancer.

Following this, there were a number of bands. Combine Skavester did some excellent cover versions, including a ska version of Poker Face.



On Sunday, Christ Church (Smeeton), St Wilfrid's (Kibworth) and the Kibworth Methodist Church all closed their doors and joined together for an open air service at the Relay for Life.

Proof that God exists?

Some people may take this as proof that God exists. Certainly the Church Mouse does.

 In June, the Lord Mayor of Leicester confirmed that he was cancelling prayers before council meetings. 

And then, about a month later, his trouser's fell down at a children's event.

It is worth reading the comments. I particualrly like

Forty years from now, the kids who were present will be telling their grand-children about "The day the Mayor's trousers fell down".

EDIT:
This has gone global.

National Papers - here is The Guardian
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2010/jun/30/lord-mayor-leicester-trousers

In India
http://news.oneindia.in/2010/07/01/dietingbritish-lord-mayors-pants-fall-down-inpublic.html

USA
http://www.myfoxtwincities.com/dpps/news/offbeat/uk-mayor-apologizes-after-pants-fall-down-dpgonc-20100701-fc_8432221

Associated Press
http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5h0VuqbcEa8FHOSRs2FM6mWpqD-zA

The Next Steps...

Later this year, we (that is me, my wife, children and assorted pets that we have not mis-laid on the way) are moving.

We are all going to Cuddesdon, in Oxfordshire, where both my wife and I will be studying for Ministry Training, as part of approaching Ordination in the Church of England.

This is a big move for the family and there are many questions which remain unanswered. Over the next few weeks we have to:

• decide what to do with the house - this has been the family home where both the children have spent most of their lives;
• sort out new schools;
• sort out the clutter that grows up around a family; and
• complete what seems like endless amounts of forms.

But I have now handed in my notice at work, and it has been announced at church what we will be doing. And this is not a recent development. Due to many years of dithering of mybehalf, and the long discernment process the church embarks upon, we have known that this may happen. And it was back in February that I attended the Bishops Advisory Panel (Hilary attended her panel a month later).

Happy St. George's Day

Today we celebrate St. George - he of the slaying dragon fame.

Now there are lots of debates about St. George, and the myth of the dragon, which almost certainly came back to England after the Crusades.

But at this moment, we ought to remember that St. George was a Palestinian Christian. At the time, there was a great amount of persecution (something which remains to this day), and when George was a Christian soldier, an edict was issued that all Christian Soldiers should be rounded up, and half of them 'sacrificed to pagan Gods'.  It was at this time that George stepped forward and proudly proclaimed his faith - a proclamation that results in his death. Before his death, he gave all his wealth to the poor and needy.

George never visited England, but he is a real example of the diversity that makes our country.

We share him, as a patron saint, with a number of other countries including Palestine, Russia, Greece and Ethiopia (which provides a good link to the youth groups sleep Ethiopian sleep over tonight).