I saw this painting recently in London. It purports to be St Monica being handed her newly born son who was to become Augustine of Hippo.
It seems to me that this painting explains much.
I saw this painting recently in London. It purports to be St Monica being handed her newly born son who was to become Augustine of Hippo.
It seems to me that this painting explains much.
Out of interest, is there a proper churchy rule or convention on the right time for Christmas trees to go up? Don’t know if the grumpiness in your post is personal or praepostorial
A properly churchy time for the Christmas tree to go up is at Chrismas. i.e. after the fourth Sunday of Advent and in time for the Midnight Mass.
Grumpiness about Christmas in October is natural and appropriate, surely.
On a sliding scale of grumpiness which is worse, harumph or bah humbug?[PS M and S had hot cross buns in their bakery today]
Ah, Kelvin…….. I wonder, is there a link between the demoralising ‘Facebook’ notices bewailed in your last post and your enticing sentiments expressed in this ?
Perhaps you need to create a little sunshine to tempt them – a little progressive development of the fly-fishing technique, the swish and flick of the wrist, the fleeting glimpse of temptation just enough in sight to, er, arouse interest……
Maybe your own bedecked seasonal tree (call it an ‘Advent Tree’ to thwart the Christmas Tree Traditionalists – thereby launching yourself as a trend-setter) – such tree selected and styled with eagerness in longing anticipation of future festivities……..
(You could call it ‘forward planning par excellence’, even, to gain bonus brownie points and thwart critics)…..
Then, perchance, the ‘Facebook Fanatics’ may clamour to, er, beat a path to your door ?
(Tho……. more to the point……. would you honestly be wanting them to ?……….is that really where Everyman finds his bosom buddies ?)
PS. Put your dazzling Advent Tree prominently in your window and WE’ll all come round so’s you’re not lonely – how’s that for a Gloom-Buster to tweak the morale, eh ?
I think that facebook is just another meeting place and similar patterns of community seem to play out there though sometimes at a faster rate than in face to face communication. Certainly, the flirting, fighting and flummery as well as thoughtful the slow conversation that I recognise from off-line communication, is all present there too.
Would I want to entice those who would be enticed by early Christmas trees, albeit dressed up in another name.
I’d rather not.
[BTW Anne – three Harumphs certainly trump a single Bah Humbug]
I think it is just attention seeking.
Your new hair looks lovely incidently. Am sure you’re turning heads at that clergy conference.
Ryan, your faith in my hair is almost unbearably touching. At this clergy conference, however, it was trumped by the hair of the Rector of St Margaret’s, Newlands.
He came to the conference whilst his hair did not, his having been shaved completely bald the day before.
Tomorrow is a glorious feast – it is Ascension Day. It is one of my favourites and celebrates one of those stories from the Bible (like the talking snake with legs in Genesis) that you instinctively know is true. Services at 11 am, 1.05 pm (in Glasgow University Chapel) and 7.30 pm. The evening one…
I recently hosted an LGBT Group meeting at church on what books I might recommend to people looking for something to read about the church and the various sexuality issues that are around at the moment. I think that there was some surprise amongst those present as to how many books there were to talk…
Christ is risen for our orthodox friends. The silliness of the churches having two different Easter days bothers me more as the years go by. We waste our time on other silly controversies when the date of Easter remains unresolved. There was a plan some years ago to unite the churches by those who currently…
Just to note that I’m preaching tomorrow evening in Ayr at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church. They are celebrating 100 years since the church was consecrated. Kick off is at 6.30 pm. All welcome.
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