ArnoldWe met Arnold last week officially though we suspected he was an unwelcome guest a week earlier but had to wait for confirmation. We now have a date, the last day of May for his eviction – then it will be the slow mopping up operation. The little, roughly drawn, illustration is from my prayer journal late last week after my wife’s breast cancer was confirmed – she named it Arnold. She had a dream that she had either a reluctant dog on a lead or possibly a small child on reins, or possibly both as they seemed to merge. Whatever they were / it was, through a convoluted narrative in which she was supposed to go places and get things done, Arnold was holding her back and making her rather cross with frustration. As a metaphor it seems to work rather well. The prognosis is good and it seems to be caught quite early though treatment will include surgery, radiotherapy and some sort of hormone reduction medication. It has been wonderful with folks rallying around to tell us positive recovery stories and the more positive stories we can hear the better. The prayer support has likewise been wonderful and though I feel very stretched and have been somewhat melancholic, we feel the security of Gods loving embrace.So ‘Lez’ is another name on my lengthy prayer list that I rehearse in my head several times a day – when I wake, when I walk, before I sleep or sitting in a waiting room. She slots in nicely with Lesley M and Lesley B – what is it with Cancer and the name Lesley? (that’s not to do a disservice to Margaret and Anna and Paul and the rest who are also living with an Arnold of their own – or trying to make sure he does not come back!)The thing about this sort of intrusion into one’s life which was totally unexpected as it followed a routine screening rather than the discovery of symptoms, is that it that it does present a challenge to faith when it comes to healing and miracles. I thought it might be more tricky than it is…My own personal mantra is that ‘stuff’ happens, bad things happen to good people. Occasionally there are visibly tangible miraculous healings but I suspect that most of the time it is down to the health service backed up with the positive attitude of those who have a deep belief in the love and power of Jesus.The temptation is to be a bit like the bloke dangling from a cliff shouting to God for help. When God tells him to let go and trust in him he yells, “Is there anybody else up there?” The staff at the Mermaid Centre at Treliske were wonderful, and we are thankful that we have the wonderful NHS and don’t have to worry of we have medical insurance that will actually cover us as one continually reads in the USA.So thank you Lord for…
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.
Elizabeth Rowe was inspired by the description of light through the stained glass windows in my story. Beatrice Goodden painted this work drawing togther a number of themes from the opening worship including the roots of the Chaplain's Cross. Beatrice says "Here is a photo of the painting I made today called ‘make clean our hearts within us’ " Beatrice writes, "another image I began last year at the end of a retreat and am still working on "
Click to go to The Barnabus Fund Website This morning at the Reader Training Day School, Matt Frost who is in his second year of training led a thought-provoking service of prayer for persecuted Christians. As you might expect the main focus was on Christians persecuted around the world and especially in highlighted trouble-spots. Matt concluded with a reading from a Tweet he received earlier from the @BarnabusFundHis service sheet is below followed by my reflection and thoughts which went a little wider as my brain began to wander through the subject. A Service of Prayer for Persecuted ChristiansGREETINGThe grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. And also with you.(from Isaiah 49) Sing for joy, O heavens, and exult, O earth; break forth, O mountains, into singing!For the Lord has comforted his people, and will have compassion on his suffering ones INVITATION TO PRAYERLet us pray for the persecuted church, for their oppressors, for nations that foster persecution, and for those who ignore it.Let us read the Holy Scriptures, finding there the stories and witness of hope borne by those who lived through ordeals to the glory of God, and hear the promises of the gospel for all who are persecuted for righteousness' sake.In our prayer for persecuted Christians, let us not narrow our compassion for all who suffer, whatever their profession or creed; let no hatred or prejudice enter our hearts for anyone.Called by the Holy Spirit to unity with the persecuted, let us enter into their suffering, repenting of our ignorance, refusing to be silent, ready to reach out to them in their isolation.SCRIPTURE READINGSREADING 1. Nothing Can Separate Us From God's Love: Romans 8:31-39Reader: We also recognise all the martyrs and persecuted Christians who have gone before us. Hear the account of the persecution and martyrdom the young woman Perpetua.A violent persecution being set on foot by the emperor Severus, in 202 {AD}, it reached Africa the following year; when, by order of Minutius Timinianus, (or Firminianus,) five catechumens {new Christians being instructed in preparation for baptism} were apprehended {and jailed} at Carthage for the faith: {among them} Felicitas and Vibia Perpetua. Felicitas was seven months {pregnant}; and Perpetua had an infant at her breast, was of a good family, twenty-two years of age, and married to a person of quality in the city. The father of Perpetua, who was a pagan, {wanted her to offer sacrifice to "the well-being of the emperor."} Perpetua, before her death, wrote: "We were in the hands of our persecutors, when my father, out of the affection he bore me, made new efforts to shake my resolution. I said to him: 'Can that vessel, which you see, change its name?' He said: 'No.' I replied: 'Nor can I call myself any other than I am, that is to say, a Christian.'"Perpetua and Felicitas and the others refused to offer sacrifice and they willingly accepted death in the amphitheater at the hands of gladiators and wild animals.READING 2: A Vision of the…
This October for the Readers Service I have been asked to preach which is a huge privilege. So I said I would of course! Then a week went by and I started thinking about readings and a sense of mild panic set in- a blank sheet - what readings? I don't usually choose my own - I have always preached whatever the lectionary has allotted for the week. So I asked the Readers in training who initially suggested Isaiah 6:1-8 or 1 Samuel 3:1-21 but while excellent choices for those about to be licensed I wondered if they were a tad obvious. I asked the Readers in Training Management Group and Derek suggested on of the old testament harvest readings.... but he couldn't remember exactly what it was.... So what are your thoughts? Any good suggestions serious or teasing, challenging or comforting, suitable or the opposite? Let me know!
The Subject was raised at the last committee meeting and is connected with workload, working agreements, performance reviews and the wider issues of whether Readers are used well. there follows som views from Readers to get you started on the issues- we'd be delighted to hear from you! An Email Discussion.... Re licensing As suggested, I think that Readers simply just get re-licensed every 3 years from the age of 70. Forget about the PTO and confusing use of that term in relation to Readers & Clergy. (WE) I think you have pinpointed an Anglican strength which is at the same time a weakness, namely a reluctance to change. I have long agreed with Wendy's observation that Readers/ LLM's could still be licensed on a 3 or 5 years basis after 70 without the change to PTO. This change as far as I can see does nothing to improve anything, so why? The fact that it was, as far as I can see, designed to reflect the clergy model does not mean that it should automatically be adopted for Readers. If a reader falls below an acceptable standard and is not able to self diagnose the decline, then the clergy simply cease to use them. The current system is an expensive additional administrative burden and the fact that this is the way it is currently does not mean it has to be the way for the future. Psychologically, there is shift at this 70 point in the way Readers see themselves and the way they can be viewed by the system. Some believe, rightly or wrongly that they are consigned to the back shelf at this point and only have routine to contribute. I have met many high qualified multi-talented Readers whose skills are often overlooked. After all 70 was set at a time when life expectancy was much lower than it is now. I am certain that there are other things I want to mention but I will have to wait until I have had my morning coffee. Wendy makes a good point, which is reinforced by Don. Don also makes some good points. I am in favour of change, but not change for changes sake. The name we call ourselves should generate or create respect. Does it? We were pushed to consider changing our name to Licensed Lay Minister because others were doing it. I agree that 'Reader' is an inappropriate, even an inadequate name. It has a 150 years behind it and people have come to know what it means even though it is inaccurate as a label. I advocated using a word, which is more descriptive and equally brief. I tried and offered some original names and which was 'kicked into the long grass'. The use of Licensed Lay Minister is an inadequate job description, not a name and should not be used even though it has become popular in other diocese. Do we call Vicars, Rectors, clergy 'Licensed Ordained minister'? No, of course not - that would be silly. But we do not hesitate to use…
There is much work going on to design Reader Training that will be relevant and useful in coming years. The current cohorts of trainees are in different stages of the Truro Course amalgamating with SWMTC and the links with training ordinands. The draft outline of the new course looks very exciting and is sure to appeal to those who feel a sense of calling to ministry of one sort or another. It is envisaged that there will be a new Foundations in Christian Ministry course run locally for all interested that may well serve as the first year of the Reader Course. During that course students will discern whether they want to go on to Reader Ministry, ordination or do something else. The Reader course itself has seven residential weekends in Plymouth with the ordinands. Readers would finish on Friday tea time and the ordainees would stay another night and have an extra session on Sunday. There are other local seminars, online modules, blog writing and so on which have all to be agreed and slotted in but huge progress has been made and I am sure that new Readers are going to benefit significantly along with their sponsoring churches. The course is closely tied in with the Durham University requirements for ratification so the position as Reader as LAy Theologian in underpinned. Watch this space for more news......
Reader Geoff Cox writes, " just a few minutes ago (7:24 ) I was listening to an interview on radio 4 with Canon Stephen Pye on the above subject. He had 8 churches in the North of England and was saying the new ruling only accepts what’s happening now which I can understand in some cases. (radio 4 7:25 "Today" Saturday 23rd Feb) http://keswickstjohn.org.uk/stephen-pye/ However all he could talk about was communion services which he could not do. There was no talk of lay led services at all I feel sure that there would have been some lay led services in a cluster of 8 churches.Is it just that some of our ordained colleagues do not see a lay contribution as valid services. I could not believe that the lay contribution was not mentioned.On a more positive not I was very taken by an article in the Reader magazine by a focal Minister in Wales. It seems that at least some places see the value of making a lay minister a focal point of contact in a parish and the fact that he takes baptisms was interesting."The annual survey and my conversations with Readers across the diocese shows a very mixed picture, sometimes in the same benefice, with Readers not used or relied upon too heavily and some places where life seems rosey! If you would like to comment or add to the discussion please drop me a line! Jim