tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-72821168112825689232024-03-13T02:46:29.091+00:00WomenBishops BlogPassionate about pointy hats and purple shirts. Mother of 5 - children, that is, not the flock. Curate at St Mary Islington - Revd Martine Oborne. All views and comments personal.Segghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02246152651688816746noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7282116811282568923.post-84284243785294387792018-03-27T12:45:00.001+01:002018-03-27T12:48:27.914+01:00A richer life than this?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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John Cadbury was a Quaker.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He was a Christian and he was deeply concerned about poverty and social
injustice in England in the 19<sup>th</sup> century.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He had a business selling tea and coffee and he
decided to make a new product - drinking chocolate - in the hope that this
would be popular and an alternative to drinking alcohol.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Which Cadbury saw as being at the root of
much suffering.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And so, this was the start of Cadbury’s chocolate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And led to Dairy Milk, Crunchie, Flake,
Curlywurly and all our other favourites – not least, the Creme egg!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
John Cadbury and his sons were exceptional employers for their
times – building the Bourneville estate for their workers where they had
schools, medical care, gardens and sports facilities (but no pubs!)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They paid good wages including pensions,
maintained safe and humane working conditions and provided paid holidays.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In the light of all this, I can’t help wondering what John
Cadbury would think if he were alive today – seeing how sugar consumption has
rocketed in the last 150 years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How,
according to a recent survey, children in the UK receive, on average, eight chocolate
Easter eggs each year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And how alcohol
consumption per capita - despite dips during the two twentieth century world
wars – has stayed much the same as ever.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As we gather with friends and family this Easter, let’s
remember John Cadbury – the man behind the egg – and his vision for a better,
fairer world.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And where that vision came from.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Because the vision came from Cadbury’s Christian faith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It came from his faith in Jesus Christ, who
gave his life on the cross two thousand years ago - that we might have new life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A richer, more abundant life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And, by that, he didn’t just mean more
chocolate!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A rich life is cross shaped not egg shaped. CLICK TO TWEET</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Let’s have a rich, abundant life by doing more to enrich the
lives of others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let’s remember the
social injustice that continues in this country and around the world, that we
are all truly complicit with – as we snap up the 3 for 2 offers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Without questioning the work and trade
conditions of those who have sold the global confectioners their chocolate and
labour.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Let’s make sure we give something to charity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or buy Fairtrade.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or do something to support our community and
build relationships with our neighbours.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Local churches are a great place to get involved in this
kind of thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So do seek yours out, go
along to an Easter service and find out what they are up to.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
At my church, St Michael’s in Elmwood Road, you can help us
get ready for our annual community street party in June – by giving something
for our fundraising Auction on Saturday 14 April.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or come along to this event.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can get involved with fundraising
lunches, our community choir and the youth band we are starting up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do get in touch to find out more.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In the meantime, enjoy the chocolate and have a Happy
Easter!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Posted by Martine
Oborne<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "georgia";">An Easter Sunday
service with Easter egg hunt in the gardens will be on Sunday 1 April at 11am
at St Michael’s Elmwood Road W4 3DZ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There
will also be a dawn service on Easter Day by the river – meet at 6.30am at the
point where Grove Park Road becomes Thames Road and share breakfast together
afterwards.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "georgia";">Usual Sunday services
at St Michael’s Elmwood Road are at 9.30am and 11am – with groups and
activities for children.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">St Michael’s Church: </i><a href="http://www.stmichael-elmwoodroad.org/"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">www.stmichael-elmwoodroad.org</i></a><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Subscribe to Martine
Oborne’s blog here: </i><a href="http://www.martineoborne.com/"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">www.martineoborne.com</i></a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<!--EndFragment--><br />M Obornehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06580460344455882038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7282116811282568923.post-80459583339077966162018-03-13T08:39:00.002+00:002018-03-13T08:40:21.365+00:00Be yourself. Everyone else is taken..<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkutAszr_JOPEBtvKcWzO6PXzVJuVH6ItehgBxPWYgV117KCL6nqj5FYUGNXb8fqJQWOnhpYj7paE6amTqLFZrW26gcOCACZ6Oq0JZPNJ5vUastKjnO1AQymn0g9yxyy4GHSmRdptFANc/s1600/Photo+on+13-03-2018+at+08.22+%25232.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1080" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkutAszr_JOPEBtvKcWzO6PXzVJuVH6ItehgBxPWYgV117KCL6nqj5FYUGNXb8fqJQWOnhpYj7paE6amTqLFZrW26gcOCACZ6Oq0JZPNJ5vUastKjnO1AQymn0g9yxyy4GHSmRdptFANc/s320/Photo+on+13-03-2018+at+08.22+%25232.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Our twenty year old Youth Minister is studying for a degree
in Theology and Youth Ministry and she was talking to me the other day about a
lecture she’d had at college.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
lecture was about the general personality differences between the
generations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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She said that, unlike Generation X (my lot) and Generation Y
(her lot), the Millennials (our youth club kids) are looking for authenticity.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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I was surprised to hear this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And pushed back on what she was saying – in a
typical Generation X way.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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My point was not to dispute that Millennials want to see
authenticity in people around them, but to say that surely <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">all</i> generations want this too?<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Look up authentic in a dictionary and it speaks of something
being of undisputed origin, not a copy, something accurate and reliable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Surely these are qualities we all look for in
other people?<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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But how authentic are we really?<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Or how much are we bullied by convention into being or
trying to be something other than our true selves?<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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I remember a talk once about burn out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And the speaker saying that the most
important question to ask (and to know the answer to) if you want to avoid burn
out – is the question <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Who are you?<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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Not being ourselves is not only inauthentic – it’s a huge
cause of stress.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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I remember, years ago, when I was my Youth Minister’s age
and at university – feeling agonisingly embarrassed that I came from far less
privileged background than my colleagues.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I never invited my ‘friends’ to my home or introduced them to my
family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And this was an incredibly
stressful way to live.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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As I grew older, I began to accept who I was and what my
story was.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I’d say that God had a
big part in helping me to do this – affirming that I was loved just the way I
was.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That I didn’t need to be
different.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I could simply be myself.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Nonetheless, there’s still the temptation to want to fit in,
to compromise, to try hard to be like others. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I remember when I was training to be a Vicar.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had a brilliant training incumbent and I admired
this Vicar so much – that I wanted to be an exact copy of him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But again I heard God say – <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">be yourself.</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Learn from this person, of course - but be
yourself.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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If Millennials are truly calling people to be themselves, to
be authentic, then we all should listen up.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Because being authentic is not easy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It makes us vulnerable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It means being unconventional.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It means inviting criticism and even being
mocked and ostracised.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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In the church, we are coming up to Palm Sunday – when we
remember how Jesus came into Jerusalem riding on a donkey.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was greeted by the crowds with great
cheers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But a few days later Jesus had
upset everyone – by turning over the tables in the Temple - by not being the
person other people expected and wanted him to be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And, as you know, he ended up being
crucified.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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But Jesus triumphed over death.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because he was fully himself, fully God – he
could not be defeated by death.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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We, of course, are not Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But the more we are fully our true selves, the more
authentic we are – the more we too will triumph over those who seek to put us
down.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Trying to be someone other than your true self is exhausting
and a worthless way to live.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We can
never manage it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And our attempts to do
this simply diminish our lives.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So be yourself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Or, as my teenage daughter (a Millennial) put it to me the
other day, <a href="https://ctt.ec/UDP7T">‘Be yourself, Mum. Everyone else is taken.’</a> CLICK TO TWEET<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<!--EndFragment--><br />M Obornehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06580460344455882038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7282116811282568923.post-23875499963426591052012-05-03T19:59:00.002+01:002012-05-03T20:05:40.799+01:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaAIp1sEVcvGkDGFCCBauyV9fdEuaI4USrbYcKJrYH1Nx2r0Hv9eAIsCSm_wd9dVhrWtR1cS4c0Uf4vXratVde4l_yAg354XLD8djzMb_0kuDvd1NNjPUVCL8up5mzauh8g2WK8c5HJFk/s1600/120503+%25282%2529+festival+poster.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 226px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaAIp1sEVcvGkDGFCCBauyV9fdEuaI4USrbYcKJrYH1Nx2r0Hv9eAIsCSm_wd9dVhrWtR1cS4c0Uf4vXratVde4l_yAg354XLD8djzMb_0kuDvd1NNjPUVCL8up5mzauh8g2WK8c5HJFk/s320/120503+%25282%2529+festival+poster.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5738385069448700418" /></a><br />How exciting is this? Our Jubilee Festival @StMichaelElmwdM Obornehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06580460344455882038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7282116811282568923.post-61843086635991293662011-11-07T08:54:00.001+00:002011-11-07T08:54:16.363+00:00WWJD or WIJD?What would Jesus do? Or what is Jesus doing? Both good questions. But, for me, the second is more important than the first. <br />
<br />
It really comes down to whether you live your life by 'quandary ethics' ie trying to decide what the right thing to do is on each separate difficult occasion. Or whether you focus on building 'character' so that you automatically do the right thing. <br />
<br />
I wd argue that sticking close to Jesus, observing what He is doing day by day in everything, even little things, means that we grow in His likeness becoming more generous, courageous, tolerant, self controlled, loving etc. Then, when a 'difficult situation' arises, we will naturally respond the way Jesus would because we have grown in the character of Jesus. <br />
<br />
Think for example of a situation where you are asked to give for some worthy cause. You might deliberate on whether this is best use of yr spare cash, how much you shd give, you might ask WWJD? Ultimately you might give and this would be an act of generosity but not the act of a generous person. The generous person would already have given. That's just the way he is. M Obornehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06580460344455882038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7282116811282568923.post-45987772157666646332011-11-06T14:05:00.001+00:002011-11-06T14:26:46.445+00:00Swimming lessons for Church..<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigVJcTaXUvDH7Ht5HdaXnXcNoiQe-bkhsFyjdCeGmTtbRJf1ZvcGTt_ANeFhlZ4oWMgmejSgZyDsHFF8JTQNVwY8YmiGbMG01ZR5ILoI4ylX1ihrX4DUMeIRQNp5bBEOPTwbg4SFNv94o/s1600/Swimmer+competitive.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 226px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigVJcTaXUvDH7Ht5HdaXnXcNoiQe-bkhsFyjdCeGmTtbRJf1ZvcGTt_ANeFhlZ4oWMgmejSgZyDsHFF8JTQNVwY8YmiGbMG01ZR5ILoI4ylX1ihrX4DUMeIRQNp5bBEOPTwbg4SFNv94o/s320/Swimmer+competitive.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5671889007020972114" /></a><div><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; ">Every morning for the past year I have been swimming first thing in the morning at the swimming pool across the road from my house. I can't say I enjoy this exercise particularly (just doing it to stave off galloping senility that little while longer) nor am I particularly communicative at that time in the day. So I get changed, get in the pool, do my thirty lengths, get out, get dressed again and go home. I don't stop and chat with fellow swimmers. I go swimming for a purpose and I'm not there, I have to admit, to make new friends.</span></p></div><div><br /></div><div>Nonetheless, it's impossible not to notice that there are a dozen or so regulars who also go swimming daily at the same time as me. I recognise each one of them. And, in an odd way, although we've never had a conversation, I've come to <i>know </i>them. We generally exchange a brief smile or nod, even sometimes a 'Hi' or 'Good morning' but never more than this.</div><div><br /></div><div>And yet, although I know almost nothing about my fellow swimmers (except they are regular swimmers), there is a strange bond between us - just because we share this same ritual together every day. I'd even venture to suggest that we all feel rather like <i>friends.</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div>All this has made me wonder about those church goers who really like to keep themselves to themselves. It's good to have a team of welcomers at church - most people appreciate the offer of friendship - but maybe we should be more relaxed about just letting alone those who want to be let alone. If we simply come together for the same purpose - to worship God - every week then will we not necessarily become bound together - as I have become bound to my fellow swimmers?</div><div><br /></div><div>Maybe it's not so much about getting to know each other in a lot of detail and having a lot of conversation. Maybe it's more about remembering why we have come to church and, well, just - being there.</div>M Obornehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06580460344455882038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7282116811282568923.post-77921863684284394632011-09-12T08:07:00.001+01:002011-09-12T08:07:42.208+01:00The vulture tweets between his meals...And that's the reason why<br />
He very very rarely feels<br />
As well as you or I. <br />
<br />
His eye is dull, his head is bald<br />
His neck is growing thinner. <br />
Oh, what a lesson to us all -<br />
To only tweet at dinner!M Obornehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06580460344455882038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7282116811282568923.post-73881051027102590122011-09-09T20:33:00.002+01:002011-09-09T20:44:17.640+01:00Small is Beautiful by Schumacher<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdheCUka2DjEH6ir15eAy7wQwNxzz0tLJOIY39guR8TtNpXyI_2-DBR4gd73KrA4tCKbll9kQlqeZACiigLrWFhyphenhyphenNsbicDR0jIZeH2IgM7cZ4p_pFjJ6qxEzxaQ-xXbq69UO_vAYISqew/s1600/smallisbeautiful.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 94px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdheCUka2DjEH6ir15eAy7wQwNxzz0tLJOIY39guR8TtNpXyI_2-DBR4gd73KrA4tCKbll9kQlqeZACiigLrWFhyphenhyphenNsbicDR0jIZeH2IgM7cZ4p_pFjJ6qxEzxaQ-xXbq69UO_vAYISqew/s320/smallisbeautiful.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5650447846379949650" border="0" /></a>Having read Tim Jackson's brilliant book 'Prosperity without Growth' over the summer, it's interesting to see that Schumacher was prophetically saying many of the same things nearly forty years ago. 'Small is Beautiful' is still very much worth reading.<br /><br />'The substance of man cannot be measured by Gross National Product. Perhaps, it cannot be measured at all, except for certain symptoms of loss...such as crime, drug addiction, vandalism, mental breakdown, rebellion etc...There are poor societies which have too little; but where is the rich society that says: 'Halt! We have enough?' Where indeed?M Obornehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06580460344455882038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7282116811282568923.post-7222738308081555452011-09-09T14:58:00.000+01:002011-09-09T15:13:44.306+01:00Waste Collection Sans Frontieres...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_TiJOmdePVgI1jj2g9wG-FrMMM0Vyo2rZa6dahO_Z0cEywSzCni5hWPtGkOmBGbjPPxPh-i98feng3L2qhV5TUegoiKE6Io78woP1hiiTGiT-vwvIKjIqgfvF8hWXim1ooCaa1gNYqvI/s1600/waste+vehicle.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 259px; height: 194px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_TiJOmdePVgI1jj2g9wG-FrMMM0Vyo2rZa6dahO_Z0cEywSzCni5hWPtGkOmBGbjPPxPh-i98feng3L2qhV5TUegoiKE6Io78woP1hiiTGiT-vwvIKjIqgfvF8hWXim1ooCaa1gNYqvI/s320/waste+vehicle.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5650362786652780610" border="0" /></a>Anyone feel like starting this up?<br />Having just been travelling in the Middle East, I'm amazed at the beauty of the region, the kindness and warm spirituality of the people and - despite all the recent concerns over security - the great sense of peace and quiet there.<br />Nonetheless, one of the biggest shocks was seeing so much rubbish both in cities and in the desert and sourrounding country - just piled up everywhere. Our guide was careful to warn us not to drink the local water - 'even the locals drink bottled water,' he said proudly. And the evidence to back up this claim was everywhere - even in the smartest streets and locations. And, of course, in poorer parts of the cities and in the rivers - things were far worse. And no one seems to care.<br />One night we climbed Mount Sinai (took me over 4 hours - even with assistance of v charming young Bedouin) and the scenery by moonlight was amazing. Coming down again the following morning after sunrise, however, I was dismayed to see that, even on Mount Sinai, plastic bottles were strewn everywhere.<br />It's not just unhealthy, unsightly and generally demeaning - but none of this plastic can be recycled.<br />We desperately need to help developing countries get access to clean drinking water on tap and clear up all this terrible mess.M Obornehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06580460344455882038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7282116811282568923.post-63810584769622547412011-09-09T13:50:00.000+01:002011-09-09T13:52:16.257+01:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs1rKHr79N-7z557DWuIz8e_tNcsM5vSmKreon9IhRKKljBHiQzOHAmywIGyphz4vVomJltbqU2E4qnbMAP7r6q6yy4VRM9phZ2YQrpbZ0w9BVokVlZOyyzqRBE3-HMbsOs-rfKZNs2NM/s1600/LWL_flyer_2%255B1%255D.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 246px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs1rKHr79N-7z557DWuIz8e_tNcsM5vSmKreon9IhRKKljBHiQzOHAmywIGyphz4vVomJltbqU2E4qnbMAP7r6q6yy4VRM9phZ2YQrpbZ0w9BVokVlZOyyzqRBE3-HMbsOs-rfKZNs2NM/s320/LWL_flyer_2%255B1%255D.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5650341753666550546" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--> <div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid #4F81BD 1.0pt; padding:0cm 0cm 4.0pt 0cm"><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoTitle"><a name="_GoBack"></a><strong><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span style="font-size:22.0pt;mso-bidi- font-family:Helvetica;font-size:26.0pt;color:#0070C0;" lang="EN-GB">A Life Worth Living</span></i></strong><strong><span style="font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi- letter-spacing:0pt;mso-font-kerning:0ptfont-family:Calibri;font-size:26.0pt;color:windowtext;" lang="EN-GB"></span></strong></p> </div> <p style="text-align:justify;line-height:20.4pt"><span lang="EN-GB"><a href="http://www.awareness-foundation.com/course/leading-the-awareness-course"><strong><span style="font-size:16.0pt;mso-bidi- text-decoration:none;text-underline:nonefont-family:Helvetica;font-size:12.0pt;color:#0070C0;" >A Life Worth Living</span></strong></a></span><span style="font-size:16.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12.0pt;" lang="EN-GB"> i<span style="color:black;">s an exciting and practical seven session course that helps people explore our innate calling to live a virtuous life and how this is embodied in </span>the Christian <span style="color:black;">faith.</span></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify;line-height:20.4pt"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;mso-bidi- font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12.0pt;color:black;" lang="EN-GB">Each week we will </span></p> <p style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:0cm;margin-left:54.0pt; margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:-18.0pt;line-height:20.4pt; mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;font-size:12.0pt;color:black;" lang="EN-GB"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12.0pt;color:black;" lang="EN-GB">Share a meal</span></p> <p style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:0cm;margin-left:54.0pt; margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:-18.0pt;line-height:20.4pt; mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;font-size:12.0pt;color:black;" lang="EN-GB"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12.0pt;color:black;" lang="EN-GB">Share feedback from our journals on practice and reflection over the preceding week</span></p> <p style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:0cm;margin-left:54.0pt; margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:-18.0pt;line-height:20.4pt; mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;font-size:12.0pt;color:black;" lang="EN-GB"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12.0pt;color:black;" lang="EN-GB">Explore a particular virtue - such as justice, generosity, courage - through a story from one of the books in the Bible that tells the story of Jesus - Luke’s gospel</span></p> <p style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:0cm;margin-left:54.0pt; margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:-18.0pt;line-height:20.4pt; mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;font-size:12.0pt;color:black;" lang="EN-GB"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12.0pt;color:black;" lang="EN-GB">Listen to a short talk on this</span></p> <p style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:0cm;margin-left:54.0pt; margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:-18.0pt;line-height:20.4pt; mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;font-size:12.0pt;color:black;" lang="EN-GB"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12.0pt;color:black;" lang="EN-GB">Have a time of silent meditation or prayer</span></p> <p style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:0cm;margin-left:54.0pt; margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:-18.0pt;line-height:20.4pt; mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;font-size:12.0pt;color:black;" lang="EN-GB"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12.0pt;color:black;" lang="EN-GB">Make notes in our journals and reflect in small groups</span></p> <p style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:0cm;margin-left:54.0pt; margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:-18.0pt;line-height:20.4pt; mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;font-size:12.0pt;color:black;" lang="EN-GB"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12.0pt;color:black;" lang="EN-GB">Take away a specific practice to work on over the next week</span></p> <h2><span style="font-size:16.0pt;mso-bidi- font-family:Helvetica;font-size:24.0pt;color:#0070C0;" lang="EN-GB"> </span></h2> <h2><span style="font-size:16.0pt;mso-bidi- font-family:Helvetica;font-size:24.0pt;color:#0070C0;" lang="EN-GB">Is A Life Worth Living for me?</span></h2> <p style="line-height:20.4pt"><span style="font-size:16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12.0pt;color:black;" lang="EN-GB">If you would like to learn more about how Christ makes life worth living, then <strong><span style="font-family:Helvetica;">YES</span></strong> this course is for you!</span></p> <ul style="margin-top:0cm" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt; line-height:20.4pt;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list 36.0ptcolor:black;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica;font-size:11.0pt;" lang="EN-GB">You do NOT need to have studied theology</span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt; line-height:20.4pt;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list 36.0ptcolor:black;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica;font-size:11.0pt;" lang="EN-GB">You do NOT need to go to church</span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt; line-height:20.4pt;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list 36.0ptcolor:black;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica;font-size:11.0pt;" lang="EN-GB">You do NOT need to know anything about Christianity</span></li></ul> <p style="text-align:justify;line-height:20.4pt"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;mso-bidi- font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12.0pt;color:#0070C0;" lang="EN-GB"> </span></b></p> <p style="text-align:justify;line-height:20.4pt"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;mso-bidi- font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12.0pt;color:#0070C0;" lang="EN-GB">Where?</span></b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;mso-bidi- font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12.0pt;color:#0070C0;" lang="EN-GB"><span style="mso-tab-count:2"> </span></span><span style="font-size:16.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12.0pt;" lang="EN-GB">The Crypt, St Mary’s Church, Upper Street, N1 2TX</span></p> <p style="text-align:justify;line-height:20.4pt"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;mso-bidi- font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12.0pt;color:#0070C0;" lang="EN-GB">When?</span></b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;mso-bidi- font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12.0pt;color:#0070C0;" lang="EN-GB"><span style="mso-tab-count:2"> </span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12.0pt;" lang="EN-GB">Wednesdays 7.30-9.30pm from 12 Oct to 23 Nov 2011</span></b><span style="font-size:16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12.0pt;" lang="EN-GB"></span></p> <p style="margin-left:108.0pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:-108.0pt; line-height:20.4pt"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;mso-bidi- font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12.0pt;color:#0070C0;" lang="EN-GB">How much?<span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span></span></b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12.0pt;" lang="EN-GB">The course is free but you will be invited to make a contribution to the cost of the meal</span></p> <p style="text-align:justify;line-height:20.4pt"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;mso-bidi- font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12.0pt;color:#0070C0;" lang="EN-GB">To register</span></b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;mso-bidi- font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12.0pt;color:#0070C0;" lang="EN-GB"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span></span><span style="font-size:16.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12.0pt;" lang="EN-GB">Call or text Revd Martine Oborne on <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">07950 743 878</b><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></span></p> <p style="text-align:center;line-height:20.4pt" align="center"><span lang="EN-GB"><a href="http://www.stmaryislington.org/"><span style="font-size:16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12.0pt;" >www.stmaryislington.org</span></a></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12.0pt;" lang="EN-GB"></span></p> <p style="text-align:center;line-height:20.4pt" align="center"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12.0pt;" lang="EN-GB"> </span></p>M Obornehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06580460344455882038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7282116811282568923.post-19384406349009982042011-09-09T11:56:00.000+01:002011-09-09T12:06:35.385+01:00Advice on building up your following on Twitter?Believe it or not - it's in the Bible! Matthew 4:18-19. Jesus goes down to Lake Galilee and invites 2 people to follow him, then a few more and then he asks them to make more followers and here we are now - Jesus with a top following of over 2 billion. Certainly beats Lady Gaga on a mere 13.3 million.M Obornehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06580460344455882038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7282116811282568923.post-5409153526573818382011-09-09T11:41:00.000+01:002011-09-09T11:49:45.312+01:00OK - Test 3...Really think I may have done it this time...M Obornehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06580460344455882038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7282116811282568923.post-12025238265856861352011-09-09T11:36:00.001+01:002011-09-09T11:37:55.728+01:00Another testIt seems I can update the blog from phone. Good. But how do I do automatic link to twitter when I post?M Obornehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06580460344455882038noreply@blogger.com0Highbury Fields Islington51.547717 -0.102353tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7282116811282568923.post-73623816470154643902011-09-09T10:49:00.000+01:002011-09-09T10:50:12.605+01:00This is a Test!Trying to link my resurrected blog to Twitter...Segghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02246152651688816746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7282116811282568923.post-29225775004791165652011-09-09T10:08:00.000+01:002011-09-09T10:37:00.725+01:00Time to Resurrect My BlogCrikey, it's been over TWO YEARS since I set up this blog and posted a few posts. Time to resurrect it, I think. Let's hope it proves to be more vital and long lasting in its second life.Segghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02246152651688816746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7282116811282568923.post-43505982356193404202009-05-27T15:26:00.000+01:002009-05-27T15:33:40.941+01:00Of course all our current disputes in the Church of England boil down to how we interpret scripture. Interestingly, Jesus gives us a lesson on interpreting scripture in Luke 10. He quotes scripture saying 'Love your neighbour as yourself' and is then asked what the word neighbour means. If you look the word up in the dictionary you get 'a person who lives near or next to another' but Jesus, through the parable of the Good Samaritan, gives the word the broadest and most big-hearted definition imaginable - to include any fellow human being including our enemies. Surely there is something we might learn here with respect to interpretation - and apply ourselves?Segghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02246152651688816746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7282116811282568923.post-5063943810555218802009-05-13T09:35:00.000+01:002009-05-13T09:39:10.945+01:00How to win Friends and influence People...I was listening to my 4 year old chatting to her friend in the back of the car yesterday. D says, 'I like my teacher...because she smiles at me.'<div><br /></div><div>Perhaps it really is that simple! I think it probably is...</div>Segghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02246152651688816746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7282116811282568923.post-12168112257309042432009-05-01T09:49:00.000+01:002009-05-01T09:54:09.768+01:00I am the way, the truth, the ground on which you walk...to Godi've been reflecting on John 14:6 - the infamous verse that has been interpreted to mean that non-Christians have no hope of salvation. (whatever salvation is - but that's another matter.)<div><br /></div><div>An image came to mind of Christ saying 'i am the way, the truth, the ground on which you walk to God' and a picture of Christ physically laying down His life and becoming the ground for us to walk to God on. this felt quite powerful - in underlining the sacrificial nature of Christ's love for us. And also leaving things much more open in terms or who and how different people might be making their way towards God.</div>Segghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02246152651688816746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7282116811282568923.post-29608797725114852732009-05-01T09:26:00.000+01:002009-05-01T09:40:21.330+01:00My name is LegionI meet Andrew on Monday. He tells me he has been visiting Adam and i immediately feel guilty.<div><br /></div><div>Adam is someone i put Andrew in touch with. He has some serious problems and needs a lot of pastoral care - something i realise i could not, or did not want to, give myself. Andrew, i think, has found it equally difficult to do this. But he has. He has been visiting Adam weekly. they read the Bible together. Nothing miraculous has happened yet. progress is painfully slow. A man who has not been loved for decades, who has no real friends, cannot be healed in an instant. But the love of Christ - shown to him by Andrew - is the only hope and i believe will be bringing healing. obviously at some considerable cost to Andrew.</div><div><br /></div><div>we talked about it and Andrew said the story of Legion comes to his mind. Legion is an outcast. everyone has given up on him. He is tormented by many demons and quite frankly he is scary - and so has been chained up. Nonetheless, Christ heals him. He is not beyond hope.</div><div><br /></div><div>this experience has shown me clearly that our calling to help the oppressed and marginalised is not all about visiting nice old ladies and tea and sympathy. it's about doing things we really don't want to do - like, perhaps, befriending people we don't even like much at first. But bringing the love of Christ into their lives. And ultimately learning ourselves that Christ lovesus all, even (and perhaps, especially) the man called Legion. </div><div><br /></div><div>Andrew said, 'You know he's had a rotten life. And he can be really difficult and angry. But i've actually come to like him.'</div><div><br /></div><div>what can i say? But thank God for Andrew - for Andrew being Christ in this situation. And praying for the courage and the open-heartedness to do the same - next time God presents me with such a challenge. As He surely will!</div>Segghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02246152651688816746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7282116811282568923.post-77435679625186564342009-02-03T21:54:00.000+00:002009-02-03T22:09:44.455+00:00How NOT to do the children's talk...oh dear, worst experience since my first Junior Church class when i had to do the story of the conversion of the Ethiopian eunuch - explaining what a eunuch is to a group of 11 year old boys...<div><br /></div><div>I was telling the story of Abraham and Sarah waiting and hoping to have a baby. Somehow I managed to ask how long it takes to make a baby...which got some interesting answers (from both the children and the adults in the congregation). I also suggested that A & S were quite old, perhaps as old as the children's grannies and grandpas - only to be corrected by one child who informed me that her granny was very young and could easily have a baby...</div><div><br /></div><div>All this reminded me of something I once said to O - that it would be a good idea to invite feedback from the congregation during sermons. I can understand now his reluctance to embrace this suggestion...</div>Segghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02246152651688816746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7282116811282568923.post-31567801378278215682009-01-26T10:09:00.000+00:002009-01-26T13:10:00.761+00:00Feedback on SundayArrived at church ready to do my v challenging evangelistic sermon (with altar call at end) but when I tell O about this he looks alarmed. We need more prayer and preparation to do an altar call, he says. And he's probably right. I mean, it would be the first in years at St D's. Nonetheless, I'm a bit thrown. O suggests we just ask people to stand and I go with this, although it's not the picture I'd had in my mind.<div><br /></div><div>I wanted people to get themselves feeling in the position of Paul - through the sermon - and then to have an 'Ananias experience' at the end with O and I laying hands on them, the scales falling from their eyes, the Holy Spirit descending etc etc. (I think if I'd explained all this in advance O would have been truly alarmed!)</div><div><br /></div><div>Nonetheless the lesson of all this is better communication. I really should have discussed it with O in detail before.</div><div><br /></div><div>As it was, there was a lot of positive feedback on the sermon. Two people stood but many more said they had been really challenged afterwards. And three others signed up for next Alpha course.</div><div><br /></div><div>So quite a success really. thank God.</div>Segghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02246152651688816746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7282116811282568923.post-38670054233341868732009-01-23T17:09:00.000+00:002009-01-23T17:21:18.952+00:00Conversion of St PaulI am preaching on this on Sunday. <div><br /></div><div>O has suggested that I should be more challenging to the congregation - it's not enough just muddling along doing our best, with broadly Christian values, we need to recognise the call of Christ and make a firm decision for Christ.</div><div><br /></div><div>Hmmm. </div><div><br /></div><div>I can see there IS a difference between being a 'good person' and being a disciple of Christ. I mean it's a question of control. In the former - no matter how 'good' you might be - it's still YOU in control. Whereas in the latter, it's Christ in control and you are just following Him. That really is a challenge.</div><div><br /></div><div>I mean, Paul had a good career going for him at the Jewish temple before he set foot on the road to Damascus. Then he had to kiss all that goodbye for a life of flogging around Asia Minor preaching the gospel and suffering a huge amount of persecution and ultimately death. I'm sure if he'd just been trying to be a good person rather than following Christ he could have easily justified staying in Jerusalem.</div><div><br /></div><div>We want to be good but we want to stay in charge. The challenge is to give up that control to Christ and see what happens. If we really trust that God loves us, should that really be such a scary thing?</div>Segghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02246152651688816746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7282116811282568923.post-88090836321001086332009-01-23T16:45:00.000+00:002009-01-23T17:02:32.155+00:00Publish and be damned?<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">I've been strongly advised not to do this blog. And I can see why.</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">I mean, clergy are not supposed to be blabbing to the whole world about the things they do and things they hear. Things that are private and confidential.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">But this blog is not going to do that.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">The point of this blog is to share with others what it is like to be a Church of England curate in a major city in the UK - the trials, the tribulations and, of course, the many many moments of inspiration.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">I am in the final months of my ordination training and will take up my curacy at St A's in July. So there is quite a journey ahead. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">I hope you enjoy sharing that journey with me - through this blog.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">p.s. It seems somewhat ominous that I write this with this Sunday's reading open on my desk before me - the conversion of St Paul on the road to Damascus(Acts 9:1-22). Let's hope and pray the scales fall from our eyes!</span></div>Segghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02246152651688816746noreply@blogger.com0