What is in Kelvin's Head?

While the shepherds at night were a-watching

19/11/2021

While the shepherds at night were a-watching
Where their flocks in the fields were abiding
Th’angel of the Lord came and stood down beside them
Opened his mouth and then greatly surprised them:
“Shine Jesus shine. Shine Jesus shine”
[Chorus]

Fear not said he for dread had seized them mightily
Minds were troubled, they all worried frightfully
I bring you tidings of gladness eternally
Dance with joy and with me sing supernally…
“Shine Jesus Shine. Shine Jesus Shine.
[Chorus]

Unto you is born now a saviour
Who is Christ the Lord and he made you.
He’s of David’s line, a descendent
Sing now to him for his sign is transcendent:
“Shine Jesus Shine. Shine Jesus Shine.”
[Chorus]

You shall find the heavenly babe there
To human view he looks lovely and very fair
All simply wrapped in bands that are swaddling
Sing to the child in the manger, the Godling:
“Shine Jesus Shine. Shine Jesus Shine”.
[Chorus]

Thus the angel spoke and suddenly
Throngs of angels appeared singing utterly
Beautiful music, their praises lasted long
As they sang forth they repeated the glorious song:
“Shine Jesus Shine. Shine Jesus Shine”
[Chorus]

“Glory be now to God in the highest
Peace to God’s people” they sang without shyness
Unto those upon whom his favour rests
With goodwill, may this song be ever blessed:
“Shine Jesus Shine. Shine Jesus Shine”
[Chorus]

7 responses to “Well-meaning but homophobic”

June Butler

26/08/2014

Seems to me “well-meaning but homophobic” in these days and times implies vincible ignorance and is no longer useful as an excuse for homophobic language. The leaders of the C of E seem paralyzed, unable to articulate policies to move forward on equality for LGTB persons that are other than laughable. Think “deer in the headlights”.

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Lawrence Rosenfeld

26/08/2014

I suppose @RevArun might say that women are welcome for the same reason, eh?

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1. margaret of the sea of galilee
  
  27/08/2014
  
  Exactly what I thought.
  
  Reply
Kelvin

26/08/2014

I’ve removed a previous comment. I’d prefer to retain the focus on the institutional elements of this rather than speculating about an individual.

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Dharma Nicodemus Cuthbert

26/08/2014

As society changes many people are not sure of the new, and therefore condemn it, without thought. I am safe, with the Devil l know. It’s a way of life, not dealing with changes. If we think about how much has changed; homosexuality was illegal until 1969 in England; Scotland caught up in 1983; women have a right to equal pay; the only job that is still excluded from them is working down a mine:
There are men who are prepared to wait to see a male doctor, especially if it is the genitals.
Racism is not tolerated by most, but it is still used by people who want a reaction. There was, when the world and I were young, a shoe polish, called nigger brown. This wasn’t considered at the time as being wrong.

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John O’Leary

27/08/2014

I take your point, and I don’t disagree. If we look at another person and only see the gay part as ‘broken’, then that’s homophobic, no matter how well intentioned. Plus I always find something disturbingly patronising when people say ‘We’re all broken’, as if the speaker doesn’t quite believe it of him/herself, while seeing it very clearly in the other.

However, there’s another way of looking at it. The very fact that we are human means that we are broken. If being gay is part of that humanity, then it’s part also of that brokenness. It’s all part of the messy mixture that we struggle with, and build our rickety lives with, but for which we also should praise and thank God.

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Allan Ronald

27/08/2014

‘Thinking Anglicans’ has a post up about Vicky Beeching’s coming out but does not link to the discussion here. I asked why but they did not reply let alone publish my question.

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