Firstly, a reminder that Monday morning at 10 is our Minsters in Conversation Hour on ZOOM– it being the first Monday of the Month.
Secondly: Funeral Training: Funeral ministry training morning for Readers on Saturday 7th March at the Old Cathedral School. 9.45am-12.30pm. All Readers are welcome.
Thirdly: Thoughts.
Recently I watched “Pilgrimage with Simon Reed” Pilgrimage with Simon Reeve – BBC iPlayer a really good set of three programmes that got me thinking about a number of issues. Reeve declares that he does not have a faith but h is open-minded approach and easy conversation makes his exploration a fascinating and thought-provoking watch.
‘Pilgrimage’ is a three‑part documentary series in which Simon Reeve retraces historic pilgrimage routes across Britain, Europe, and the Middle East, exploring the history, spirituality, dangers, and human stories behind these ancient journeys.
- In Episode 1 – ‘Britain’, Reeve begins on Holy Island (Lindisfarne) and follows routes linked to Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales and he explores how pilgrimage shaped early British spirituality and culture.
- In Episode 2 – ‘Western Europe’ the journey continues across the Pyrenees, through Alpine monasteries, and onward to Rome. He examines the hardships and motivations of medieval European pilgrims.
- And in Episode 3 – ‘The Holy Land’ he starts in Istanbul, and travels to Jerusalem, tracing routes taken by pilgrims for centuries. He reflects on what pilgrimage means today, including for those who are not religious.
The series highlights the vices, thrills, dangers, and spiritual longing that shaped pilgrimage traditions and uncovers many forgotten aspects of pilgrimage, blending history, travel, and personal reflection.
So here is the thinking bit…..
Many of the more widely publicised pilgrimages conclude at huge edifices with relics, statues, fine art and gold leaf enough to satisfy the needs of microchip builders for years to come!
Into my head as I saw the cameras pan around these huge places came the story of the Happy Prince by Oscar Wild…. The Happy Prince by Oscar Wilde (click here if you have not come across it)
The last poke into the thoughts was preparing for our Redruth Team Lent Course this year… which focusses on generosity…. My Rector writes “This course has a really whole life approach to generosity, not just finance, so it develops healthy habits!! But hopefully challenges the idea of giving what’s easy to give. “
https://exeter.anglican.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/All-Small-group-resources.pdf
https://exeter.anglican.org/resources/generous-giving/generositybiblestudy/
So the thoughts were around the riches of the church, where the money came from to build those edifices, the place of relics, the ‘Widow’s Mite’ and the Happy Prince’s Heart… where do we go from here?