We will remember them

Ten years ago I visited the war graves in Belgium with a group of other theological students. It was a trip that has stayed with me since and which I shall never forget. The organisers were Toc-H and we stayed in a house in Poperinge, the first resting place for soldiers behind the trenches. It was a week of stories.

We heard of Tubby Clayton, the Chaplain, and why the sign above the house (Abandon Rank All Ye Who Enter Here) was so important. We heard of the people of Poperinge and how they kept the story alive during WW2 and looked after the contents of the house.  We sat in the hop loft which had become a chapel with a carpenter’s bench for an altar and banners embroidered by the men.

We visited Hill 69 and walked silently through the trenches. Even the schoolchildren were quiet that day. We looked at sepia photographs of death, giving thanks that red blood doesn’t show in sepia.  I remember horses dying in trees. A horse up a tree? It defied logic.

We visited war graves, row upon row of white crosses, name upon name engraved.  Some with no names – Known to God Alone.  And the German cemetery, solemn in the shade that day, and we wondered at the Jewish names who fought for Germany in WW1 but how things would change.  We stood at the Menin Gate while the last post was played and we wept.

We visited the Pool of Peace, once a bomb crater and now a place of harmony and birdsong. Did we see frogs too or have I imagined that? We went round the most amazing museum with sounds and smells and drama.

And at the end of each day we gathered to pray and to talk and learn from one another. I remember wondering about the women, for our days had been filled with masculine images. What of those women who waited at home, who had to take on difficult jobs because there were no men to do them? The mothers, the wives and girlfriends, and the children. What were their stories? How were their lives affected when their men didn’t come home?

I have no war stories to tell. My grandfathers were too young for WW1 and too old for WW2. I don’t know of any other relatives who fought or died. But although these stories are not part of my history, I now feel that I have dipped my toe in the war narrative and will tell the stories that I have learned to all who will listen.

Pitlochry Conference

Once a year the Edinburgh stipendiary (paid) clergy get together for a few days in the Atholl Palace hotel in Pitlochry. We have a speaker and listen, absorb, reflect, talk, eat, pray and drink together. Each year is very different from the year before because of the topic and because of the people. I always get something valuable from it.

This year our speaker was Ann Morisey on Mission in Troubled Times and she was very good. We also continued our previous discussions about a College of Clergy providing informal and formal support structures. The latter has been a contentious issue with some clergy feeling that they don’t need or want any help whatsoever and others, like me, feeling that any opportunities to learn and meet with others for support and friendship is a good thing.  I think we managed to hear one another in our final discussions today and I look forward to seeing how things develop.

Yesterday we had some free time and Fr F took me to the House of Bruar which was a new experience for me. Oh my word. Pink gun socks. Why? There were some beautiful things and my new wish is for a tweed covered chair for my study.  Beautiful things indeed.

Pitlochry and the surrounding area is always stunning at this time of year with the changing colours. The heavy rain at the weekend had taken a lot of the leaves down so some trees were prematurely bare.  I’m afraid I just couldn’t get a photo of the view from our conference room window to show you how splendid it looked but here is some heather from the gardens instead.

Today I’m home and very tired. But good tired. As ever, being with people was fun and some new friends made too.

A day of encounters

Wouldn’t you know it?  You sit bemoaning the fact that you’ve nobody to talk to except poor Son #1, who has taken to locking himself in the Ann Frank suite, when everyone calls at the same time.

So thank you Fr A & A who popped in for a coffee at the same time as my CMD 4+ interview with the lovely C.  But with the Pisky church it didn’t take long before we were all chatting about mutual friends and events.  My interview went well and I remembered most things I wanted to ask for in terms of ongoing training. Only a dozen emails were needed after to add to the list.

In the evening I was ministered to by Nikki who was really practising on me if truth be known. Nikki does degrees and doctorates like other people do shopping lists and she is also training for ministry in the Church of Scotland. I was ‘Sick Visit No 9 who Will Not Let Me Go’.  We analysed the church(es) as you do, caught up on who’s doing what to whom, and reflected on ministry.

It was such a lovely day full of people. And today I am setting off for Pitlochry for our clergy conference. I wasn’t sure whether to go or not, being off work as I still am, but have decided that my mental health is at risk if I don’t. Our speaker this year is Ann Morisey who I have heard before and was very impressed. And it’s not like the conference is hard work – some worship, some listening, some talking, some eating, some walking and some drinking. I might give the walking a miss.

Prayers ascending for a busy weekend

It has been a busy week and this weekend is going to be even busier. So take a deep breath and plunge in, why don’t you?

Firstly, you could come and admire our new signs. Yes, finally they are up and looking gorgeous (photo to follow). Now perhaps Nikki will get off my back as every time we meet for a coffee in the Blue Bean she has a go about those tatty old ones.

Secondly, we will be interring the ashes of Canon John Paul, past Rector of this parish. John and Susan have been a great support to me over the years and I have got to know them better since I came here and they popped in from time to time. Rest eternal, grant unto him O Lord, and let light perpetual shine upon him.

Thirdly, the day has dawned on the WOTY (Wedding Of The Year) which has been in the planning for what seems like a very long time indeed.  The date was moved to accommodate the Provincial Conference which never happened.  And should the Rapture happen, or a very large fire at St Mark’s this afternoon, there will be no young people left in the Scottish Episcopal Church. For yes, I think every member of the Provincial Youth Network will be seen hobnobbing with a Bishop and a number of clergy and a whole host of family and friends to Caroline and Andrew today at 1pm.

Note: the incense is brought to you by Rose Mystica today so you have been warned.

So let us pray for those who mourn the passing of a loved one after a full and loving life together.

And let us pray for those who are beginning their life together that God may bless them and keep them ever loving.

Amen

Exploring our Faith

Our new course began on Wednesday evening and this term we are looking at worship. There will indeed be six sessions (not ’sex’ as the notice said) and we’d love to see you.

This week we looked at pictures of places of worship and what they said about God and the style of worship. We shared why we felt the need to worship. And we looked at what Jesus had to say about worship (mostly praying alone but a bit of synagogue work).  It was a good discussion and I think next week’s session on the Eucharist will be equally good.

So, for those of you who didn’t make it and for anyone who wants to join in…

1. Do you have a favourite experience of worship?  Where, when and why was it special?
2. Why do you go to worship each week?

Shame of the overlong Vestry meeting

Yes, dear Reader, I hang my head in shame for last night our Vestry meeting lasted for 2 hours and 10 minutes.  I think I can safely say that this is the first time in my ministry that this has ever happened and I am suitably ashamed and mortified.  She who brags to all and sundry about the 30 minute Vestry meeting now must go back to Clergy Chairing of Vestries School – yeh, right, like we ever got taught anything remotely useful like that!

Harvest and an Auction

Harvest Sunday today. I’d do away with it, if it were left up to me. Some of you will be familiar with my love of all things rural – NOT! But some folk are terribly sentimental about ploughing fields and scattering and all that jazz. Of course nobody wants your week old neeps and fusty apples these days for Health & Safety reasons but people still like to bring something.  This year we chose St Catharine’s Convent who do a great job feeding the homeless every day and collected tins of corned beef, tuna, sweetcorn and bags of sugar for them. It was a great success.

After the Family Service we shared a lunch and had an Auction of Talents. The bidding was high for Chose 5 hymns for a Sunday, and Have your Portrait Painted, or Have a Watercolour Painted. I successfully bid for a home-made card, home-made rolls to be baked for me, some computer help, and an afternoon out with AC.  Looking forward to it!  There are still some un-bid offers which are begging for a bid. Let me get back to you with the list!

Back to Church Sunday 2009

This year we were one of six churches in the Diocese of Edinburgh asked to take part in a pilot for Back To Church Sunday.  Throughout September we heard stories from people who’d first come to church with a friend, and thought about why we might want to invite someone along.  So there has been 4 weeks of a build-up and the danger with that sort of thing is that nobody turns up, including the normal congregation, and its all a bit of a damp squib.  Really I should have had more faith.  Lots of new friends and great singing and delicious muffins.  Want to see some photos?

Messy Church

On Saturday I ventured along the road to St Philip’s CofS to see Messy Church and how it works. St P’s have just started doing it (this was their 2nd) with the help of Reuben and Rosie who are passionate about it.  Messy Church is one of those things that you keep hearing about and think you know what it is but are just not quite sure.  So now I know. Shall I tell you?

Messy Church is not about your existing church and children. It is about new people coming in to church that doesn’t happen on Sunday morning. You might need your existing children and parents to kick-start it but ideally it is about getting new folk to come to church and finding out that it needn’t be stuffy and regimented like it may be on Sunday mornings with tutting when kids make a noise. St P’s are doing it monthly on a Saturday afternoon.

We began with a welcome in the hall (paying £1) and the kids ran off to paint on the grafitti wall, or play giant floor Ludo, or make a train set up, or draw and stencil. There was juice and healthy snacks too (and hot stuff for grown-ups).  The hall was partioned off so this all happened in one third. Parents were joining in or chatting to one another. The theme was Harvest.  After a while we got into 2 teams and played a game, and then had to guess how far some fruit had travelled. (Our team won!) Then someone told us a story about food miles.  I met a nice CofS candidate from St Christopher’s whose name I forget but she was helping too.

Then we all moved to the other part of the hall where the Crafts were. There were a few stations that children could choose: making pics from seeds, beans etc; making fruit and veg with readyrolled icing; making flans with custard, toffee sauce and fruit; and fishing with a magnet.  All the time the Harvest theme popped up. Children moved around at will and had a go at everything.

After about an hour we all moved through to church for some quiet time. First we had a Fischy music song and then Rev Stewart sat us all in a circle on the floor and asked the kids what they’d enjoyed most.  Lots of highlights. Then he told us a story in Godly Play style and then we had some chill out time with more music and a prayer.

Back to the hall and the pixies had been busy and set the tables for a shared meal. I didn’t stay but I think it was soup and the flans that the kids had made.

My observations were that it was an exciting way of being church for children and parents. No worries about kids making a mess or making a noise.  It was a good way of getting to know other parents in the area and for kids too. The ‘religion’ was gentle and not threatening too. I can see that non-church goers might find this surprising but really warm to it. Someone said that ‘Sunday people’ kept asking when they were going to come to proper church but of course Messy Church is proper church for them.  They may feed in to trad church but they may not, and that’s fine.

Issues are: lots of resources in terms of people (musical, crafty, confident to tell stories) and finance needed; whole church needs to be committed to it; works well with a hall and church so not sure how we would manage.  Need to pray and think about it.

It was excellent though and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Thanks St P’s and Rosie and Reuben.

Water, water everywhere

Glorious Sunday, if a little wet.  No, not the weather but the content of the service.  First of all we had Bishop Brian to bless the new Wyvern organ – and Andrew the organist as it happened. There was water everywhere! Thereafter we had some great hymns and some rather nifty footwork for the last hymn’s last verse (O praise ye the Lord!).

Then we had the baptism of baby Callum which was a glorious event for family,  friends and congregation who are so fond of D & K.  Callum was not too chuffed about hanging upside down over the water, but that may have been because there was a shark bobbing about in the water. (You had to be there.)

You know, it was just such a great service and why weren’t you there? You missed a great gig. It is always good to have the Bishop in attendance and yesterday was no different. He is so cool.

Then later on I ventured up the hill to the Robin Chapel to preach at Evensong. Forgot that it was Evensnog so missed a chance to wear choir dress and my academic hood. That’s the one with a bit of fluff on it, as one young server once pointed out. (The ‘fluff’ being fake ermine.) And one of my little flock came along to swell the ranks which was lovely and I felt very supported.

It has been a busy old weekend full to the brim of church and my To Do List is piling up with things that have been shoved aside.  So I promise to get on with them now.