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White Smoke
Love and prayers to friends in the Roman Catholic church on the election of the new pope. It was lovely to see the people in Rome greet him. The airwaves are going to be full of speculation about what he will be like and full of things he has said in the past. The truth…
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Generation Self
There’s a fascinating piece in the Guardian this morning about Generation Self – that’s the name being given to those who are around the age of 20 at the moment. It seems to some pollsters that as they enquire about the values that people who are that age hold they are being surprised at how…
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Yesterday
When I came to St Mary’s (yes, nearly 7 years ago) I was installed at a splendid service at which my former bishop, the Rt Rev David Chillingworth (now our Primus) preached. In his sermon, he referred to my time at Bridge of Allan and how the people there described my ministry when he went…
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Refreshment coming up
The fourth Sunday in Lent is sometimes referred to as Refreshment Sunday – a day when the strictures of Lent are relaxed a bit. (It is also Mothering Sunday for those who keep that festival). At St Mary’s tomorrow, our refreshment is coming in the form of some of the most lovely choral must that…
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Our Cynicism
I think we had a reasonably good day at the Diocesan Synod last weekend. A large part of the day was given over to discussion about poverty, welfare reforms and the consequences of government policy. The only thing that started to make me feel a little uncomfortable is something which has been getting to me…
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Is this what the approaching great feast is all about?
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Culture Catch Up
I’ve been on annual leave for the last week. It was my (rather late) post-Christmas break. Just after Christmas, I didn’t want to be away from either home or St Mary’s, probably due to having just come back from my three-month sabbatical. Hence, I put off taking time off until now. This year I threw…
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The Hope of my Roman Catholic Friends
I know so many Roman Catholics. I minister to a lot of Roman Catholics. A number of Roman Catholics minister to me, bringing me life and joy and love. Those relationships mean that I live with their hope. The news that the pope was going to retire brought that hope out into the open. It…
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St Andrews Debates
Great night last night in Lower Parliament Hall in St Andrews. I’d been invited to join a panel debate (a bit like Question Time) on LGBT issues at the invitation of the Debating Society and the LGBT Society of St Andrews University. I like going back to St Andrews, which was where I read theology…
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Review: Werther – Scottish Opera
This review appeared first at Opera Britannia The start of Scottish Opera’s new production of Massenet’s Werther is deceptive. As the curtain goes up we have a pleasant enough scene. A wooden structure is present with what look like rickety stairs. Snow soon starts to fall at the rear of the stage – snow that…