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Birthday of J the B
Midsummer Day, and the day that we keep as the Birthday of John the Baptist. John’s feast is moved to tomorrow because today is Sunday, but we are anticipating it with a special Evensong tonight. We celebrate only three birthdays in the Calendar of the church. (Well, four if you include my own). Jesus, Mary…
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Gregorian Chant Day
Just about to go off to the Gregorian Chant Day which is almost the last special event that we have on for the West End Festival. Not sure what it will be like. I’m putting it down as a Professional Development Day, not least because Plainsong is not my strong point. Neumes have always elided…
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Church News
In a surprise move, the Anglican Church in Canada seems to have elected a man to be its next archbishop. Fr Fred signed the same pastoral statement about the usual topic that the Scottish Bishops signed after the last Lambeth Conference. Fred Hiltz is married, [to a woman] and has one son.
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On buying new swimming trunks…
…”Thank you sir. Would you like to keep the hanger?”
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Silver Ring Thing
Looks like we have another Christianity vs School Uniform debacle, this time over a silver chastity ring from the programme known as the Silver Ring Thing. If the BBC report is anything to go by, the school is on pretty shaky ground in my view. The school seems to think that wearing the veil is…
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Solstice
Can someone remind me what I am supposed to do for summer solstice. I tried celebrating it this evening with a trip up the road to the Botanics which was open late for the occasion. Striking a pose in front of the glass-houses was all very well for 10 minutes but then the midges started…
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Exceptions
A long time ago, and in a land far away, I remember The Rev Rosemary Nixon saying something significant to me which I still think true today. (Just once, mind). She said, in the course of a conversation about my progress through the Scottish Episcopal Church’s exemplary education system, “The trouble is, Kelvin, everyone in…
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Tales of the City
A knock at the door. I answer it to find a young man wearing black T-shirt, black shorts (were they boxer shorts?) and no shoes or socks. Me: Hello Him: Er hello. Me: Can I help. Him: Er, I was just wondering if you had any white wine vinegar. Me: Oh, hang on a minute.…
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Sermon – 17 June 2007 – The woman with the perfume
When I was first in full time ministry, as a lay person, some fifteen years ago, I worked as a member of the chaplaincy team, in the University of London. The team that I worked in was a team of five people, four ordained, and me, a lay person. Four were men, and one a…
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Ahh, arrhh, arrrrhhhhh chooo!
I’m off work for a couple of days. I’ve picked up a sneezing lurgy. If I had company, I’m sure it would be a man-cold. However, as it is, I’m on my own, so it is merely an indisposition. Normal service will be resumed shortly.