Transcendence comes of age

Many of you will know that I spend some of my time working on a monthly service called Transcendence in York Minster, a blending of traditional high church worship with modern ambient music, mood lighting and interactive prayer activities. For all its newness, Transcendence is threatening to become routine, or it was until last Sunday.

St Therese of Lisieux

I write this sat in the Chapter House of York Minster at half midnight, have spent an hour watching and praying a few meters from the relics of St Therese. Aware that I’m somewhat beyond my own comfort zone, the whole thing is a learning experience. But if this event is about reconcilliation, then one thing is for certain: it cannot ‘work’ without give and take from both sides.

Are Dog Collars on Vicars outdated?

This is the question that seems to be gripping my workplace at the moment. Its been argued, as I understand it, that its an outdated fashion and that it makes relating to others more difficult and less obvious. But is there more to Dog Collar wearing than meets the eye of today’s fashion critic?

Liberals, Evangelicals and Deep Church

A year ago I read Amy and Frog Orr-Ewing’s book, “Deep”. I realised recently I never wrote anything on my blog about it, even though it provoked some useful thoughts. Their assessment of the state of the Church in Britain today is often very useful, inspired amongst other things, by work in deprived areas and mission trips to repressive Islamic regimes, including Afghanistan.

Don’t send this postcard!

This was the slogan on a post card being handed out at Greenbelt. Just in case you didn’t know, Greenbelt is the busiest festival by-attendance (2nd after Glasto overall) for postcard signing, that NGO term for getting people to write their name on a pre-written message to whoever they’re lobbying. Was this some kind of radical statement against the lobbying mentality? A call to arms for something more radical?

For SCM: Vision and Mission

Student Christian Movement have begun a group blog, and are asking people to contribute their thoughts on the concept of “Mission” to get the ball rolling. I was wondering what to write, until my sister preached her first ever sermon, at which I’m both impressed and slightly envious. It was very interesting to hear her link Justice to Mission work, and Mission to Vision.

Finding faith in Social Media

Several weeks ago a Roman Catholic Archbishop said one of the most regrettable, misguided and short sighted things I’ve heard from a church leader in a very long time. Did it concern the role of women, or gay marriage, or perhaps even abortion? No, none of these. It concerned the internet, social media and new communication technologies. (Warning, this post may contain unwarranted levels of bitterness).

So, what exactly is Social Action?

Its not so much a crises, a moment of panic, indeed, anything dramatic at all. I’m just slightly dazed by the enormity of what I could choose to consider my “patch” in this new job. There’s an awful lot of it! As Social Action Parish Assistant, I could be said to cover campaigning, volunteering or indeed anything justice related, but none of these seems to fit. And there is only one of me, a lesson I may have to learn extra well this year.

Majority of US Gays Still Interested in God

I recently stumbled upon an article on USA Today’s website reporting the release of research comparing faith across the Gay/Straight divide. I think it says something most in the church, and many outside of it, should probably take note of: that even though numbers are lower, there is still a huge interest in the Christianity, let alone spirituality, amongst those the church has most often sought to demonise.

What if demons existed?

It has become clear that the post I originally made under this title, which is still available below, caused considerable upset to certain readers. I took as my point of departure a news story concerning a condition which appears to have become prevalent in Nicaragua recently, referred to locally as Grisi Siknis. There were some clearly badly communicated points and these need clearing up.