What is in Kelvin's Head?

  • Sermon preached on 4 August 2013

    I used to work in a church with murals. Well one mural. It wasn’t this church and it wasn’t these glorious murals. It was somewhere else entirely.

    (By which I mean Edinburgh).

    Throughout the late fifties, the sixties and early seventies, a sustained period of liturgical reform had happened. The altar had been pulled away from the wall. The priest now faced the people. The peace was shared and communion started to happen every Sunday. Those of you who have been around for a bit might remember that story from all kinds of contexts. Those who are new to Episcopal worship might be surprised to learn that how we do things is not in fact as old as the hills at all.

    Anyway, these liturgical reforms in this church had left a big space to fill. Somewhere along the way, the East Window had been bricked up and whitewashed over and now there was a giant wall to fill.

    And, of course, just as we can be sure that someone was heartily trying to encourage the congregation to sing Kum By Yah. so, inevitably, someone got to paint a mural.

    Unlike Gwyneth Leech’s paintings, which surround me here in this church. this was a rather less successful piece. (more…)

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4 responses to “In praise of Easyjet staff on a very bad flight home”

  1. Robin Avatar
    Robin

    I’m sure I should have reacted in the same way as Mr Angry, which is why I never fly. It’s a form of claustrophobia – I also never travel by train if I can possibly avoid it, because passengers these days are powerless to open the windows and doors, and even to travel in a car with central locking is an ordeal. So, in effect, I can’t travel nowadays.

    Reply
  2. Rosemary Hannah Avatar
    Rosemary Hannah

    The last time I had a Mr Angry he was sat next to me in a very public place where my reputation was at stake. Also I have a professional connection with him. Inevitably I felt it all reflected on me. It was a bad experience. A really bad experience. Anger of that kind is, I suspect, needing professional help of some kind.

    Reply
  3. Beth Routledge Avatar
    Beth Routledge

    I’ve done the getting off the plane and spending the night in a hotel business, and I do not recommend it. 22 hours late. Our families were interviewed on local news.

    Still not sure I wouldn’t rather do that again than sit through what sounds like one of the worst non-crashing flights in commercial aviation history.

    Reply
  4. Christine McIntosh Avatar
    Christine McIntosh

    Wonderful tale, Kelvin – we’re enjoying it as we sit with our feet up looking out over The Minch at the end of a perfect day on Berneray …(sorry!)

    Reply

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