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Swedish Rite for Blessing Same-Sex Couples
I’ve lost count of the number of people who have asked me for a copy of the Swedish Rite for blessing registered partnerships. Here is a taster: Love comes from God. The ability to love is God’s gift to humankind. Entering into partnership is a shared undertaking to preserve and deepen your love for each…
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Highlight
Just to let the world know that the highlight of my day, so far, has been a black kilt. Worn by a very smart (and very professional) undertaker. Excellent.
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Diocesan Synod
Back now from today’s Diocesan Synod which was held in an Agricultural College in the middle of nowhere. It began with a description of the automatic milking of cows, which seems to have caught Fr Gadgetvicar’s imagination. It did not capture my interest, but then one man’s milk is an udder man’s poison as the…
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What makes a listening process?
There has been quite a lot of chatter that I am aware of, regarding the Changing Attitude Scotland Statement that was posted earlier in the week. It has provoked some interest from the world of journalism with regard to the link with the Church of Sweden, and the statement itself was featured in the Church…
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Erratums
Two things need correction from Magnificat Monthly that I handed out on Sunday morning. Firstly, the reference to the arrival of a Swedish Candelabra has caused pain and vexation to those of a classical education. It should have been a Swedish Candelabrum. My apologies. Secondly, the work that the choir will sing on Good Friday…
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4 March Statement
Let us just pause for a moment or two and re-read the College of Bishops’ statement of 4 March 2005 – two years ago today.
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Blackbird singing in the dead of night
One of the things that we were given to do on last week’s congregational weekend was to think of things that make us happy. There is a theory that if you make a habit of recalling three happy things that have happened to you each day, then it improves your mood. We used to call…
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The Queer Bible Commentary – Book Review
This book brings together the work of many different writers who are known for their interest in the area of gender, sexuality and Biblical Studies. Whilst the Anglican Communion ties itself in knots over one gay bishop, gay theologians, writers and pastors are at work all over the world reading biblical texts in both radically…
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All is vanity
All, as we know from Quohelet, is vanity. Lo, I looked into a mirror and I beheld my father’s eyebrows growing upon my own face. This, as anyone knows is not a desirable thing, so I took myself off into town to look for a trimming implement. Little did I know how many male trimming…
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Apologia
Kudos to Mother Ruth for spotting Bishop Ted Gulick’s apology to gay and lesbian members of the church. However, I think she has missed the fact that Bishop Ted is bishop of Glasgow and Galloway’s companion diocese in the US. “In his annual report to the diocese’s convention Saturday, Bishop Ted Gulick said he’s trying…