What is in Kelvin's Head?

  • Back from Retreat (all perky and ready to go)

    Just back from a week on retreat in a Jesuit house in sunny Spain.

    It is a while since I’ve made a retreat and four years since I went to this particular place. Like before, I’ve come back all perky and ready to go.

    I realise as I look back over the last few weeks that much of the blogging has been quite technical church synod stuff. Normal service begins again here.

    It has been interesting reflecting on my life here at St Mary’s recently. I didn’t particularly go on retreat to do this but inevitably, one thinks about where one is coming from and in conversation with other retreatants, you do find yourself thinking a lot about the life you have as you hear of the lives of others.

    This retreat wasn’t a silent one – it consisted of mostly imaginative Ignation exercises and group sharing in the morning, siesta/sun/snooze in the afternoon heat and then a Jesuit examine style of prayer in the evening before mass. Quieter in the mornings. Chatter later in the day. It was just what I needed and I’m very grateful to those who make this kind of thing happen. The theme, by the way, was Mentoring.

    No doubt I’ll have lots of emails and messages to deal with when I get back into the office this afternoon.

    I’ve just checked the cathedral website to realise that this Sunday is one of those bumper ones which make life around here so wonderful. It is the last blast of the West End Festival this week and so we’ve a special Choral Service in the morning (Darke in E) and then the extraordinary spectacle of an Orchestral Choral Evensong in the evening.

    Yes, you heard that right – Orchestral Choral Evensong. A very big choir and an orchestra and music that you know and love:

    Orchestral Choral Evensong
    sung by the Cathedral Choir and St Mary’s Festival Chorus,
    accompanied by St Mary’s Festival Orchestra
    Introit: I was glad – Parry
    Responses: Rose
    Psalm: The Lord is my shepherd – Howard Goodall
    Canticles: Stanford in A
    Anthem: Greater Love – Ireland

    , ,

5 responses to “Predictions for 2020”

  1. Meg Rosenfeld Avatar
    Meg Rosenfeld

    As an American of the Democratic persuasion, I hope you’re right about the upcoming presidential election . . . and fear that you’re right about the division of the country. Having gay friends who are devout Roman Catholics, I desperately hope you’re right about the Roman church becoming more supportive of LGBT folks. And I guess we can only keep praying about Equal Marriage in the Church of England. Probably it’s just a good idea to keep praying, eh?!

    Reply
  2. Rosemary Hannah Avatar
    Rosemary Hannah

    I think 6 is a certainty. I hope 8 isn’t. I think Starmer is the better choice.

    Reply
  3. Robert McLean Avatar
    Robert McLean

    Re No. 5, what is COP?

    Reply
    1. Kelvin Avatar
      Kelvin

      COP is the Conference of the Parties which will be held in Glasgow this year. It is the largest international conference on Climate Change at which governments and many other organisations are present.

      Reply
  4. Chris Avatar
    Chris

    I find myself wondering which reason will lie behind 1 – because a referendum won’t be called, or because people will still, for some reason, think it’s a good idea to hang on to Westminster rule. And I agree with 6 and with Rosemary about Starmer – who would seem to have emerged as the front runner.

    Reply

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