So there we all were for Sunday lunch discussing who was to blame for the sinking of the Titanic with the four grandchildren. Not quite as random as you might think because Jonah had been doing the Titanic for a school project and that had been the subject for debate. So was it the designer, the owner or the captain? Ellie, aged 9, muses, "perhaps it was God that sunk the Titanic..."we look quizzically in her direction."Well God might have been cross with some people on board."Eyebrows are raised from the adults..."Think about Noah's Ark..."The looks on our faces convey the general feeling that all on the ark were saved.."Look..." says Ellie "God, he or she.... let's just say she shall we - killed everyone else who wasn't on the ark."Erm........
Lent and Easter Personal ReflectionI began this blog on Holy Saturday - -the Carn Brea Cross empty on the hillside – stark white fibreglass against the rocks and the heather reflecting the empty wooden cross of two millennia past. It is amazing how many people you see making their way up to it and around it and how many people ask about it and complain if it does not go up!Lent this year has been a difficult trudge with a chesty cough lingering through the weeks, the sort of thing, that always leads me to a state of morose melancholy. The latter, seems a good excuse for munching biscuits and eating extra helpings of pudding on at the basis that, if I feel miserable, I deserve physical comforts to make up for it! It of course ignores the fact that it is lent and that I should be persevering and focusing on things spiritual.Then of course I feel more miserable when I realise I have put on half a stone and feel fat and unfit – if not actually ill.I think the lowest point mood-wise was probably after a ministry team meeting discussing the Easter Sunday gospel which is surprising since it was the essence of the good news but there is no accounting for man-flu moodiness!Tuesday afternoon was rescued by a quite entertaining committee meeting about Bishop Philpott’s library. Alan Bashforth and Roger Bush on top form lending humour to an otherwise unremarkable, if important agenda. There will be more news on the library in the future with details of access.On Maundy Thursday I went to the Chrism mass at the cathedral where I had been asked to read the second lesson which I was delighted and very privileged to do. The Old Testament reader, Dr Michael Todd, is a worship leader amongst his many other jobs. I didn’t robe, which was fine by me although Michael and I did feel a little out of place surrounded by all those white albs in our little corner by the pillar. It was lovely that there was a bit in the service where those in lay ministry could reaffirm their promises - but it did cross my mind that it would have been even 'nicer' if the ranks of robed readers had also been there to make their re-commitment alongside Bishops and other clergy. I know we have the Readers’ service in October but there is surely a growing feeling about the need to bring ministry closer together. There is a tricky balance here about wanting to be closer to the clergy in terms of ministry and distinctive from Worship Leaders and Pastoral Ministers without upsetting someone!Thursday evening was my favourite and possibly the only social event I enjoy at St Andrews in the whole year- the Annual Seder Meal - with lamb stew, crumble, fellowship, worship and foot (or hand) washing. Over the years we have done it in a variety of ways from the highly traditional to this rather more…
Celtic Spirituality and Spiritual Direction The Highspot of recent weeks was the Spiritual Direction Training Day focussing on Celtic Spirituality with Canon Pat Robson. The St Crida website is well worth browsing https://stcrida.co.uk/ with details of quite days and pilgrimage activities.I bought a copy of one of Pat's books which is still avaialble on Amazon and worth a read! https://www.amazon.co.uk/Celtic-Heart-Anthology-Prayers-Tradition/dp/0281061912 Pat’s talks were both fascinating and compelling though by the end of the day most of us were looking at St Mawgan in a new light – he who to the Roman name Pelagian and had a heresy named after him. We were pretty sympathetic! Here’s a link to some of the letters of Pelagius to give you a taste. http://www.seanmultimedia.com/Pie_Pelagius_Letters.html The Wiki article is quite informative: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pelagius
Christian Bookshop Cornwall – sad news that SACREdplace is closing down. “We are very sad to announce that the Trustees have decided to close SACREdplace, as our financial situation is no longer tenable. The intention is to remain open to the public until 17th May, with a stock clearance sale beginning on 30th April.”15 High Cross Street St Austell Cornwall PL25 4AN • Map - Phone: 01726 63945 Contact: Kathy Pope or Carolyn Rowse sacredplace@btconnect.com Website: www.sacredonline.org.uk SACREdplace have provided a bookstall at Readers Day events- the service will be missed by those who used it.