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 we sing here. Fr Vice Provost will be preaching on the Prodigal Child. And we’re adding one or two guest choristers into the mix.
Expect something special.
Personally, I’ve never had a problem with churches – my last church knew my son as a person and if anybody did have reservations they were not going to voice them about one of their own to one of their own – most members of the congregation were totally OK as one would expect.
What I have occasionally had problems with: the occasional Christian saying something which made me yearn for a pick axe, like ‘but one day we will cure homosexuals’ (over my dead body do you cure my son of being himself. Take this literally for the good of your own health.)
‘Most of this congregation are wholly accepting of gay Christians. Of course I can see it is more difficult if it is your own child’. (Only different in so far as it is better, sonny)
It should not be an issue. Except perhaps outside the church. I clean for a lovely elderly couple. Mrs is eagerly awaiting further news of my outfit for son’s civil union in the summer – she lives in terror of Mr saying something crashingly tactless. I wish I could say something to reassure her that I know Mr is just about as tactful as I am, and he is forgiven beforehand. No offence meant and none taken as ’twere.
Of course, I am blogging elsewhere too at the moment:http://www.kelvin-holdsworth.co.uk
It occurs to me that perhaps an application of deer poo to the garden would keep the lions out.
Today is one of those long days. A meeting at 0930 to discuss the organ project kicks it off, and it won’t be over until after the Area Council tonight. The Area Council is the forum for local Episcopal churches and this month is discussing the pastoral issues arising from the welcome that the Episcopal…
I spent part of yesterday in the company of someone who believed that she is called to the priesthood in the Roman Catholic church. All eyes were on Rome yesterday. Today, most of my Catholic friends are lifting their eyes and looking into the future.
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