Happy Christmas

I am in a bit of daze over Christmas preparations. I have lots of services to do before I have my dinner and the house is full of people. So, I am sorry if this posting will be brief. I just wanted to say Happy Christmas dear reader and I do hope you have a peaceful season.

the death of popular culture

I have had a bit of a bonkers 10 days - full of Christmas cheer, popular culture and a viva that nearly tipped me over the edge.

I missed a lot of the run up to Christmas last year because I was caught up in jury service but this year I am getting the full hit of being a priest at Christmas-time. There is so much to do - and advent has been a lively spiritual challenge for me. I am loving the waiting for Christmas and all the lead up to it. That said there have been a few things that have been quite disturbing - The X-Factor for one. I am not sure I can express my disdain for it without rude words but I will have a go. I once thought it was as innocuous as karaoke but now think it is destructive. You know, dear reader, that I love popular culture and can usually find some worth in nearly any of it (even Miley Cyrus has her good points) but xfactor is a cruel twisted popular culture that is sucking the life out of everything that is good about music. It is a vampire draining the life-blood from young people's talent and leaving them with nice teeth, lovely hair, shining legs and a look of vanity. I want it to stop - with all my of my heart I want it to stop. I want our young people to come back and stop following the nasty child catchers into the little box. I want them to run free and make pop music that is about them and not about a strange middle aged man who likes everything to be pretty. So there...

I am a bit tense at the moment (can you tell). I had my PhD thesis viva last Friday and whilst I am not knocking my achievements I still have some more work to do on it...work that I am disappointed about really. They are asking me to shift my work away from my practice and more toward the theory that underpins it. Of course my theory is completely sound and the work they are asking me to do is perfectly reasonable but I am gutted that I didn't express the worth of the practice clearly enough to validate it. It's not the end of the world but I do have to spend some time digesting their comments and working out what my response will be in terms of the work. It shouldn't take me too long to sort it out but at the moment I am not sure where the time will come from. Some reflection and careful prayer about time management, stress and workloads will also need to be done.

Anyway, I hope you are enjoying advent and that your Christmas preparations are bringing you joy. Remember Jesus isn't just for Christmas and that when the heavens and the earth are reunited there will be salvation from xfactor and all bad things. Until then it is up to us to make this world a better place and fight against injustice (wherever we find it) and seek the Lord in all things good and worthy. Lets get to it.

banana skins

We are starting to develop new routines since the arrival of Jacob in our lives. It hasn't been easy and there have been a few compromises (getting up in the night and early in the morning, picking up poo in little bags, chewed furniture, and lots of farting) but he is a lovely dog and he is very funny. One of the great things we are doing is going on lots of walks around the parish. Jacobs isn't all that keen really but I am hoping he will start to enjoy walking the streets of Everton with me. It seems the best bit (for Jacob) of wondering around are the tasty banana skins left by those who eat fruit and discard the inedible bits behind. Today I went out for an hour and saw 6 banana skins, the peelings of what seemed like 3 tangerines and a couple of apple cores. I am impressed by the quantity of fruit eating but disappointed by the litter bugging. I try to steer Jacob round the peelings but he does sometimes manage to get a bite - he is very cunning when it comes to eating pavement peelings. Other things he has managed to eat before I got to him include:
bubblegum
newspapers
lots of toilet roll
2 wicker baskets
the corner of the grandfather clock
the leg of the antique hall table
the foot of the rocking chair
the red rug (has two big holes in it now)
quite a lot of cat food
dishwasher scum
his own poo
my nibbles (on two occasions)
toast crust
Eva's dinner (once)
Isiah 26
the lectionary for year C

Carl Sagan - 'A Glorious Dawn' ft Stephen Hawking (Cosmos Remixed)

big thinking on a day off

bridlington beach huts

I am often jealous of people who live by the seaside (though to be honest I am a city dweller so perhaps it's best for it to continue as a holiday romance)...but, I am particularly impressed by this take on the advent calendar. Farli will know the answer to this - Is it possible that Bridlington Rocks!?

Jesus and Robbie Williams

I posted this on the re:jesus site a week or so ago...forgot to direct you to it from here.

international toilet day

everyday I get an email from Tear Fund with a daily prayer request. This was today's:

MAKE LIFE FLOW: 15 - 21 NOVEMBER

THURSDAY 19 NOVEMBER
Today is World Toilet Day. As you use the toilet today,
imagine not having any privacy. Having to go in the open,
getting up early to avoid being seen, fearing attack in
isolated locations. Pray for all those who will face this
humiliation today. Pray for the work of Tearfund partners
as they help people to build pit-latrine toilets.

john pilger

in a speech to mark his award of Australia's human rights prize, the Sydney Peace Prize, John Pilger describes the "unique features" of a political silence in Australia. In it he said:

I believe the key to our self respect - and our legacy to the next generation - is the inclusion and reparation of the First Australians. In other words, justice. There is no mystery about what has to be done. The first step is a treaty that guarantees universal land rights and a proper share of the resources of this country.

Only then can we solve, together, issues of health, poverty, housing, education, employment. Only then can we feel a pride that comes not from flags and war. Only then can we become a truly independent nation able to speak out for sanity and justice in the world, and be heard.

If you would like to read the whole of this moving and compelling speech click here.

they shall beat their swords into ploughshares

He shall judge between the nations,
and shall arbitrate for many peoples;
they shall beat their swords into ploughshares,
and their spears into pruning-hooks;
nation shall not lift up sword against nation,
neither shall they learn war any more.

Isaiah 2.4

Each Wednesday we share morning prayer at St John Chrysostom Church together at 10am. Those who are able to get there take it in turns to share a thought, read from the bible and pray together. The reading for Wednesday's morning prayer was from Isaiah 2.1-11. I was leading and shared a story that was mentioned in my reflections for daily prayer. It is a story of great hope and contains the vision that Isaiah creates for us i this reading - of people beating their weapons into ploughshares and spears into pruning-hooks. This is the Tree of Life (see picture) project - where the people of Mozambique can swop their weapons for farm machinery and tools. The weapons are then decommissioned and made into amazing pieces of art.

In the words of the curators at the British Museum:

The Tree of Life was made by four Mozambican artists: Cristovao Canhavato (Kester), Hilario Nhatugueja, Fiel dos Santos and Adelino Serafim Maté. It is a product of the Transforming Arms into Tools (TAE) project and is made from decommissioned weapons.

TAE was set up by Bishop Dom Dinis Sengulane in 1995 and is supported by Christian Aid. During Mozambique's civil war, which lasted from 1976 to 1992, millions of guns and other weapons poured into the country and most of them remain hidden or buried in the bush. The project is an attempt to eliminate the threat presented by the hidden weapons. Mozambicans are encouraged to hand them over in exchange for items like ploughs, bicycles and sewing machines. In one case a whole village gave up its weapons in exchange for a tractor.

Once the weapons are decommissioned, they are cut up and turned into sculptures by the artists in Maputo. This process has produced the Tree of Life and the Throne of Weapons, also created by Kester.

This is a vision worth holding onto as we come to our Remembrance Sunday services tomorrow. In the midst of the horror of war we should also cling on to the hope of transformation.

back blogging

Hello dear reader. Thanks for your patience whilst I have been away finishing off my PhD thesis - you'll be pleased to know it has been submitted to The University of Liverpool and I am now waiting for a viva date. So, I hope to be back here blogging on a regular basis. I am thinking about a re-brand (again) but I suspect that is a while off but in the meantime I will let you know about a few things that have been happening:
- Eva has started walking to school on her own
- We have adopted a puppy from Freshfields - his name is Jacob and he's very cute (as you can see above)
- Eva, mark and I have been to Belfast for a little jolly - which was great...lots of sitting about, chilling out, catching up with family and friends.
- I have had a cold - I feel much better now, though I am still very tired.
- I am at last feeling like I can get stuck in to parish life. I just hope nothing else comes along to get in the way of being able to be in the parish full time (apart from my more formal curacy training commitments of course).

So, with that in mind I had batter get back to parish life...

something has to give

I am in the later stages of preparing my PhD thesis for submission and am under quite a lot of pressure so something has to give. I am having a little sabbatical from my re:jesus blogging and unfortunately dear reader I also feel that I need to take a little break here too. I am still twittering and using facebook - there are links to those updates on here. I hope to be back blogging by the middle of October (after submission). In the meantime I would appreciate your prayers, positive vibes, cake and love. The final push in on...

would you adam and eve it?

I saw this on the BBC website and wondered if we might be able to have a scouse one here in the pool?

eternal earth bound pets

thanks to notbovvered for this link:

"You've committed your life to Jesus. You know you're saved. But when the Rapture comes what's to become of your loving pets who are left behind? Eternal Earth-Bound Pets takes that burden off your mind."

draft thesis to the proof reader

I have deposited a copy of the latest draft of my thesis with the proof reader today...and feel quite pleased with myself. I celebrated with a little visit to Waitrose and the hardware store in Formby and am considering a drink of nice white wine. But, just so you can enjoy the music hall moment with me I will post (again) this little film of Gus Elen singing 'It's a Great Big Shame'...enjoy (and don't forget to join in the chorus).

making mischief with the daily mail

...well they do ask for it don't they!!!?? If you have a few bored moments do have a go at today's stupid poll (scroll down to the bottom to find the poll) and mess up their statistics...

Don't worry they have one everyday so you'll never get bored countering their reactionary tripe.

a week

It has been a whole week since I last blogged and so much has happened...I can't even begin to start on the mad business of the week, the juggling I have done is week is exemplary and the mere fact that I have managed to get through without decking someone should been seen as a feat in itself.

Probably the main reason I have survived is that Becky has been here looking after Eva and keeping an eye on me - PhD fever has been quite bad and having someone to remind me that I am fine has been very useful. Also, Becky being about has helped me to keep up my parish commitments...of which there have been a few this week.

Anyway, I wish I could write more but I really must get on with preparing my latest thesis draft which is going to my favourite proof reader tomorrow...

run's house

Eva and I have most evenings to ourselves at the moment because Mark is off with Da Boyz...as a result we have been watching some rubbish TV. However, the best thing we have found to watch is Run's House 'an MTV reality series. It shows the family life of rapper and hip-hop music pioneer Joseph Simmons a.k.a. Rev Run.' We actually laugh out loud...

count arthur strong remembers his trip to egypt

Terry has been keeping me amused with comedy videos recently...which I really need in order to break the misery that is PhD writing. Today is the count in egypt

bad vicar

Jonathan Swales posted this on facebook today and it made me chuckle so I thought I would share it with you. I am still battling with my PhD tweeking (feels more like a rewrite at the moment)...and I also feel like a 'bad vicar' (though not in the same way as the vicar in the video). I am neglecting my flock with all this PhD stuff and it is making me all figetty widgetty. I want to get out there and do stuff but I am in here doing other stuff...anyway, best get on with that stuff!

stress and stuff

The stress of producing drafts of chapters and updating stuff is getting to me. I have taken to cake and other stress relievers. This week has been a mad time as it seems just as I get into writing I have another project on the go as well. Poor old Eva has had to go to our trusty childminders Heather and Eric for this week and next as both Mark and I are working. She is loving it though...it's just the having to get up for me to get her to south Liverpool by 9am that is hard (on both of us).

Monday was a PhD day that started wit an Every Child Matters group meeting to plan the playday event (which took place on Wednesday). So after and hour of sorting that out I came back to my office to crack on. I achieved quite a lot I think. Though I did have to do quite a lot of Greenbelt planning and got distracted by a few parish duties.

Tuesday was the day I shall refer to as Burger Day! I spent the morning with Henry and Mark (the reader at St Peter's church) planning the sermons and services for St Peters for Autumn and Winter. It was a great morning of sharing and panning. I had to then fix a puncture (we keep getting nails in the passenger tyre - not by accident I am afraid). Thankfully it just needed patching up and only cost £6 but I think I may have to deal with 'those that nail' because it is on its last patch. I then popped in to see the youth club and discovered that the BBQ for the playday hadn't been sorted so had to go to ASDA to get 200 burgers and then cook them. It took me 6 hours to pre-cook the burgers. The house stank of burgers, I stank of burgers and Joe managed to block the drain with the burger fat...so I had to get a plunger and industrial unblocker to free the yack. But it was all soothed by the lovely 3 course dinner Eva and Joe cooked Mark and I (and 2 guests). A lovely lovely treat.

Wednesday was the playday...we were opening a new playspace that has been created on derelict land near us. It is a nature play garden and has the potential to be fantastic. It all came together in the end - someone else took over the BBQ which meant I didn't have to stick of burger grease for 2 day running. The fire- engine turned up, the community police officers were positive, the housing associations were supporting and turned up with freebies and balloons, the street-dance group were great and the games (skipping workshop, drumming workshops, facepainting, flower arranging) that were organised for the kids went down well. The weather was great as well. I was very impressed by the whole event. But, I was cream crackered...and it was another day of low achievement on the PhD front.

Thursday I cleaned the church - the theatre company have vacated and it needed a good clean. Then cracked on with some work in the afternoon. Mainly prep for the 2 services I am leading and preaching for on Sunday.

Today is my day off... Eva has a friend over, I have just been to the shops and dropped off my sewing machine at the menders...now I am going to eat cake and read a book...Mark is off to set up the show for tonight at the old police station on Lark Lane. Joe is off out into town later and the girls are on a sleep over so it won't be a quiet night for me. Hey ho.

Just had a bit of time to look over my supervisors corrections of my latest chapter...it wasn't ALL bad. But there is a long way to go. Hey ho.

PhD - update

I am now on the home stretch...well, almost. I have to submit on the 6th October so, having completed a second draft and had it commented on by both internal examiners, I am now working on the final draft with my supervisor - chapter by chapter. We are having weekly meetings and I am workign to quite strict deadlines. It seems my content is 'very well researched' and I don't need to add anything to my argument. The outstanding issues are structural. Also, it seems I need to 'be a bit more boring'! So, I am working on that...stating arguments, flagging up methodologies, being more obvious about my questions and using some less racey terminology.

The current title is:
Performing The Popular: The Context, Composition and Creation of Liverpool Music Hall.

So, that's the update. I am struggling to keep my dyslexic symptoms under control (my brain is under strict instructions to 'just keep going for 2 more months). But, this is of particular concern so please do continue to pray, send chocolate, pass on special good writing vibes, etc.

art

I am very grateful to Gaby Malcolm for this fantastic piece of art which she so kindly gave to me as an ordination present. It is currently exhibited in my office on top of the filing cabinet.

Lillie's baptism

Lillie (my step-granddaughter) was baptized today...and I baptized her! What an amazing privilege. I had been looking forward to baptizing someone ever since we sat up in James Steven's office at Trinity college and had a hearty conversation about the pros and cons of infant baptism (obviously my baptist brothers and sisters have a different perspective on the practice and the theological college seminar debate was 'full and hearty' as a result!). At that point I had no idea my first baptism would be of a member of my family. So, there you go...

So, we have been feeding hoards of people since mid-day and now they are moving on to more food and the wine has come out...I have 2 more services to take so I am sitting in my office. As my office is the quietest place in the house Lillie is in here with me asleep in her pram - so the new Christian and I are spending some down time chilling in the curate's office.

Anyway, I have 2 services to put the finishing touches to so I'd best get off...

Dream - Guerrilla Worship - Crosby beach

The video (me at Eva at 1.54):

Guerrilla Worship - Crosby Beach Labyrinth

Mid-day prayers were very blowy today as I popped over to Crosby Beach to walk the Dream prayer Labyrinth. The wind was ferocious but I put my hood up and walked and prayed - actually the wind helped me focus and blocked out pretty much all other sound as I stepped gently round the Labyrinth. A much needed blowing out of the cobwebs! So, thanks Dream.

Mark and Eva fancied fish and chips (I had chips and steak and kidney pudding). Then off to St Margaret's church summer fair...which interestingly seemed to have attracted most of my congregation (we are neighbouring parishes so this is to be expected). So, I sat and chatted to people, spent money on bits and bobs that you can only buy at summer fairs (???!!!) and Eva won the big raffle prize - so we are all happy!

I have preparation for tomorrow's morning service (though no sermon to write) so I am at my desk doing stuff. And I feel really quite tired.

I have a surprisingly large amount of sand in my hair...

penguins

Not sure how I feel about this...super lamb bananas were bad enough but penguins might push us over the edge. Anyway, this is the press release for the penguin invasion of the city planned for the autumn/winter:

More than 100 six-foot birds will decorate the city centre in a public art event set to rival last year’s popular Go Superlambananas trail.

From mid-November, small groups of penguins will be on display for seven weeks in an effort to attract visitors and spread an eco-friendly message.

Artists are being invited to enter designs for the fibreglass penguins, with the winners chosen by businesses sponsoring the event for £3,000 a piece.

More than 50 schools have already signed up to adopt and decorate a 3ft penguin for £450 each.

They will be displayed in a city centre indoor venue and will be returned to the schools once the trail has finished.

Commissioned by Culture Liverpool, the event is being organised by Wild In Art, the team behind last year’s successful Go Superlambananas.

It is based around a story, written by former Culture Company vice-chairman Phil Redmond, in which a penguin called Patrick is rescued from the ocean by HMS Liverpool.

He said: “Penguins are cute and funny, and everywhere in popular culture.”

Designer Chris Wilkinson, who came up with the basic penguin shape in clay, said: “In the story, the penguins are from the Falklands, where there is a large range of different species, but we wanted these to be generic penguins.

“They are brought to Liverpool to see Patrick with the help of the Liver Birds. We wanted them to look young because Patrick is a teenager.”

Patrick, a rockhopper penguin with distinctive yellow eyebrows, will make his debut as a cartoon character before he is revealed to the public.

The initiative is a highlight of A Winter’s Trail, which runs from November to January

It will see a series of special penguin-themed events take place across the city, with the support of many of Liverpool’s cultural organisations.

Liverpool Council leader Warren Bradley said: “The Superlambananas were the icons of Capital of Culture and we hope Go Penguins will similarly capture the hearts and imaginations of everyone across the region this Christmas.

“Last year showed how cultural events can make a huge impact on the tourism economy.

“I am excited about the plans for the penguins. Everyone is pulling together to create a magical Christmas which will further cement Liverpool’s creative reputation and appeal to visitors.’’

The recyclable Go Penguins, produced by a firm in Kent, were inspired by Liverpool’s Year of the Environment.

The festive trail aims to raise awareness of climate change by reflecting on the melting of the ice caps in Antarctica.

Merchandising opportunities are also being looked at, with miniature versions of the penguins to go on sale later this year.

The deadline for artists’ designs is the end of August.

FURTHER details can be found at GO-PENGUINS.

hope not hate

If you blink you'll miss me but I am in this video just after Billy Bragg has spoken!




Do please join the Hope Not Hate campaign against the BNP.

pop crisis

I am having a pop crisis! The king of pop is dead and her 'mag'esty (madonna) has seriously lost the plot. I went to see Madonna last night at the MEN and it was a fright...she went on very late then she mimed her way effortlessly through the first section of the concert. She danced like a 12 year old (and dressing like one!), she even tried to fool us with costume changes and at one point we were supposed to believe it was her singing under a full cape whilst sat on a grand piano (I am pretty sure it was a body double whilst she put her feet up in the dressing room drinking pop). The most grotesque spectacle was the unpleasant display of wealth and bizarre obsession with showing us her pants. Though there was a pretty good middle section where she seemed to have joined the fair and became incorporated into a Hispanic gypsy family even this was marred by slightly a preoccupation with death and the 'cult of the child'. Madonna needs to spend some quality time coming to terms with her shift from youth to middle age, enjoy being an older woman and not see herself as having to prove herself as a sexual being...there is so much more to her than this but at the moment her pain at the loss of youth is unnerving and slightly disarming. As an audience member it makes for uncomfortable viewing (and not in a useful challenging way). Because she started so late we missed most of the last section - because we had to catch the last train home - which if she went on to demonstrate that she was in a transition and was seeking a new phase in life would have been encouraging - but I suspect it went on to be more of a cry for help!

I don't want to walk away from pop. I want to see something useful, challenging, musically inspiring in the mainstream but at the moment I am really struggling to find anything in the charts that makes me want to celebrate life. I know Philly J will help me through this crisis...but I have seriously hit a musical wall. We need Cathy Dennis to write a great pop song NOW!

back blogging

This was the very moment of priestly ordination (a highly illegal photograph taken by my lovely husband)


---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Well, it is good to be back...back here on my first web-blog (having left Diakonia behind - the website that is because 'once a deacon always a deacon!') and also back after a number of adventures.

So much has happened in the last few weeks, so here is a quick run down:

- I was ordained priest a few weeks back - which was an amazing event. I was far more relaxed than last year and felt a lot more confident about my place in the process this year. The diaconate year is so important in terms of getting my head round all the changes in my life and directing myself toward my new ministry. It was far from ordinary but it certainly prepared me for the shift to the priesthood.

- I presided at my first communion(s) - because I serve at two churches I got to do this twice! It is difficult to describe the remarkable privilege of presiding I was quite overwhelmed by the whole thing. I was very stressed about it and managed to mess up a few bits and bobs but I was drawn into the church community in a whole new way...supported, loved, cherished. Brilliant.

- I have been on clergy conference. I really didn't know what to expect but was actually quite pleasantly surprised by the 3 days of retreat to Swanwick with 300 vicars. We were entertained by Roger McGough and Hugh Dennis, spiritually challenged by Jim Wallis and June Osborne. I also attended a couple of great theological debates led by Ann Morisy and Paula Gooder . It as great to catch up with old friends and meet some new people. I came away feeling challenged and spiritually refreshed (but also a bit tired - too many late nights setting the world to rights).

- I have also been to Spain on holiday to a wonderful villa in the hills outside Malaga - Villa Victoria. It was a real treat to go away somewhere very hot, with a private pool and just sit about soaking in the sun. Spending time with Eva and Mark - just the 3 of us - was a real treat too. We have not had much time together this year and a whole week was great (though it did take some getting used to!). I have managed to become 'off-white' - a nice low level tan - for the first time in years. I also read some great books, ate some fantastic food and spent some time with my cousin Ian who lives in Torremolinos.

- I am now trying to get my head together for a busy week - including going to see Madonna at the MEN tomorrow . We also are off to John and Johanna's wedding on Saturday - which will be an exciting adventure.

So, best go and get on with living the life I blog - I will let you know how I get on with PillyJ at Madonna's egofest tomorrow...