Nipped into a pub near the library I was working in for a quick bite to eat at lunchtime on Friday. Heard an interesting series of statements spoken by a guy, I'm guessing not too much different in age to myself, for all to hear as he sat at the bar with a pint. Went something like this:
"I love alcohol! It's the best thing God created."
"I'd be permanently drunk if I could effing well afford it, it's just too damn expensive; effing government and their taxes."
"I'm a better person when I'm drunk..."
Without wanting to be patronising this made me feel sad - the last bit especially. Maybe it was just bravado / drink speaking, but I think there was more to it than that. He sounded like he genuinely meant it, and it said a lot to me about his own self-worth. Self-worth - such a big issue, that underlies so much, causes so many problems, for so many people. Hmmm...sad and thought provoking.
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Post-Easter blues...
Why do things have a tendency to go wrong after something's been really good?!! Feel like having a little moan on here for a change!
After a great Easter weekend (see previous entry below), we've had a really rubbishy week. Having really wanted a complete break from everything for a week, we'd decided to treat ourselves to a couple of nights B & B up on the North Norfolk coast - 1 of those parts of the country that we've been meaning to explore a bit while we're within reach, but not quite got around to it yet. But Lisa got knocked for 6 by a really heavy cold / flu and we weren't able to travel. Things like this always seem to happen to her in school holidays - though this was particularly bad, for a couple of days she was as ill as I've ever known her to be! So instead of heading for Norfolk I ended up spending a couple of days trying to get started on my penultimate essay in the library, while Lisa was recovering - not the week I had in mind!
Shouldn't moan too much 'cos fortunately I seem to have avoided coming down with it as well. Also we've only lost out on a small deposit for the cancelled B & B, and have just taken the risk of re-booking (though different B & B this time) and so barring any mishaps we're heading off in the morning for a couple of nights to a place called Wells-next-the-Sea. Might get a few pics up here at some point.
...and having said all that the last few days haven't all been that bad - just enjoyed a visit from my Aunt and Uncle for the last couple of days, which gave me yet another excuse to play Cambridge tour guide (still not bored of that, despite doing it countless times now!), and have just got back from the pub where I enjoyed Liverpool's victory in the derby match against Everton. Maybe things are looking up again...
After a great Easter weekend (see previous entry below), we've had a really rubbishy week. Having really wanted a complete break from everything for a week, we'd decided to treat ourselves to a couple of nights B & B up on the North Norfolk coast - 1 of those parts of the country that we've been meaning to explore a bit while we're within reach, but not quite got around to it yet. But Lisa got knocked for 6 by a really heavy cold / flu and we weren't able to travel. Things like this always seem to happen to her in school holidays - though this was particularly bad, for a couple of days she was as ill as I've ever known her to be! So instead of heading for Norfolk I ended up spending a couple of days trying to get started on my penultimate essay in the library, while Lisa was recovering - not the week I had in mind!
Shouldn't moan too much 'cos fortunately I seem to have avoided coming down with it as well. Also we've only lost out on a small deposit for the cancelled B & B, and have just taken the risk of re-booking (though different B & B this time) and so barring any mishaps we're heading off in the morning for a couple of nights to a place called Wells-next-the-Sea. Might get a few pics up here at some point.
...and having said all that the last few days haven't all been that bad - just enjoyed a visit from my Aunt and Uncle for the last couple of days, which gave me yet another excuse to play Cambridge tour guide (still not bored of that, despite doing it countless times now!), and have just got back from the pub where I enjoyed Liverpool's victory in the derby match against Everton. Maybe things are looking up again...
Monday, March 24, 2008
Holy Week / Easter 2008...
...A Holy Week and Easter Sunday with a difference this year! Due to Easter being so early it meant that Holy Week fell within the Ridley term. This doesn't happen very often so it was decided it should be marked in style with a series of services and events over the whole week. Morning prayer each day with a series of talks from Richard Bauckham on 'the pattern of the cross in Genesis' and optional daily Holy Communion services. Then a really poignant and special series of services:
Maundy Thursday - a dramatic, lively, funny, meaningful all age ceder (agape) service / meal, and a far quieter, extremely moving footwashing / chapel stripping service later in the evening;
Good Friday - thought provoking morning prayer with various Crucifixion images and then an amazingly creative, well thought out 'liquid worship style' Stations of the Cross service making use of all kinds of things: handcuffs (!), music, artwork, film, hammers and nails, clay and much more besides;
Holy Saturday - an impressive performance of the Passion story put on by people from various Cambridge churches in the town centre in nightmare-ish weather conditions unfortunately;
Easter Sunday - just a fantastic time, starting pre-dawn with a vigil from 5am (even Lisa made it into college with me for this) and going on to include lighting a fire; processing to chapel behind the Easter 'paschal' candle; remembrance and renewal of baptismal vows and promises; music such as Eastern Orthodox style chants, Taize music, trad Easter hymns, modern worship songs, all done amazingly well; celebration of Holy Communion; all of which was then followed by 'optional' sparkling wine, a fry up and then a snowball fight (not sure I ever remember an Easter snowball fight before)! Just an amazing celebration of the risen Christ!
Like I say - a Holy Week and Easter Sunday with a difference, a time I will never forget. I feel more than ever this year that I've been taken on an incredible journey of remembrance of, and focus on, the amazingness of the Easter story and what God has done for us all in Christ - in a way that's made it all more real and more meaningful than ever for me. Alleluia, Christ is Risen - He is risen indeed, Alleluia!!
Here's a few photo's - though unfortunately I've only got a selection from the Saturday passion play and Easter Day celebrations:
Maundy Thursday - a dramatic, lively, funny, meaningful all age ceder (agape) service / meal, and a far quieter, extremely moving footwashing / chapel stripping service later in the evening;
Good Friday - thought provoking morning prayer with various Crucifixion images and then an amazingly creative, well thought out 'liquid worship style' Stations of the Cross service making use of all kinds of things: handcuffs (!), music, artwork, film, hammers and nails, clay and much more besides;
Holy Saturday - an impressive performance of the Passion story put on by people from various Cambridge churches in the town centre in nightmare-ish weather conditions unfortunately;
Easter Sunday - just a fantastic time, starting pre-dawn with a vigil from 5am (even Lisa made it into college with me for this) and going on to include lighting a fire; processing to chapel behind the Easter 'paschal' candle; remembrance and renewal of baptismal vows and promises; music such as Eastern Orthodox style chants, Taize music, trad Easter hymns, modern worship songs, all done amazingly well; celebration of Holy Communion; all of which was then followed by 'optional' sparkling wine, a fry up and then a snowball fight (not sure I ever remember an Easter snowball fight before)! Just an amazing celebration of the risen Christ!
Like I say - a Holy Week and Easter Sunday with a difference, a time I will never forget. I feel more than ever this year that I've been taken on an incredible journey of remembrance of, and focus on, the amazingness of the Easter story and what God has done for us all in Christ - in a way that's made it all more real and more meaningful than ever for me. Alleluia, Christ is Risen - He is risen indeed, Alleluia!!
Here's a few photo's - though unfortunately I've only got a selection from the Saturday passion play and Easter Day celebrations:
Holy Saturday
Getting Ridley chapel ready for Easter Sunday
Easter Sunday
Sunday, March 23, 2008
He Has Risen - Jesus is Alive!
"Woman," he said, "why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?" Thinking he was the gardener, she said, "Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him." Jesus said to her, "Mary." She turned towards him and cried out in Aramaic, "Rabboni!" (which means Teacher). (John 19:15-16)
HE HAS RISEN, He has risen,
He has risen, Jesus is alive.
When the life flowed from His body,
Seemed like Jesus’ mission failed.
But His sacrifice accomplished,
Victory over sin and hell.
In the grave God did not leave Him,
For His body to decay;
Raised to life, the great awakening,
Satan’s power He overcame.
HE HAS RISEN, He has risen,
He has risen, Jesus is alive.
Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, was not with the other disciples when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord!" But he said to them, "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it." A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!" Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe." Thomas said to him, "My Lord and my God!" (John 19:24-28)
Saturday, March 22, 2008
Holy Saturday
Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance...The next day...the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate. "Sir," they said, "we remember that while he was still alive the deceiver said, 'After three days I will rise again.' So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the body and tell the people that he has been raised from the dead. This last deception will be worse than the first." "Take a guard," Pilate answered. "Go make the tomb as secure as you know how." So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard. (Matthew 27:59, 60, 62-66)
Friday, March 21, 2008
Good Friday
Come and see, come and see
Come and see the King of love
See the purple robe and crown of thorns he wears
Soldiers mock, rulers sneer as he lifts the cruel cross
Lone and friendless now he climbs towards the hill
We worship at your feet
Where wrath and mercy meet
And a guilty world is washed by love’s pure stream
For us he was made sin
Oh, help me take it in
Deep wounds of love cry out “Father, forgive”
I worship, I worship the lamb that was slain
Come and see the King of love
See the purple robe and crown of thorns he wears
Soldiers mock, rulers sneer as he lifts the cruel cross
Lone and friendless now he climbs towards the hill
We worship at your feet
Where wrath and mercy meet
And a guilty world is washed by love’s pure stream
For us he was made sin
Oh, help me take it in
Deep wounds of love cry out “Father, forgive”
I worship, I worship the lamb that was slain
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Maundy Thursday
...so Jesus got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel round his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel... (John 13:4-5)Meekness and majesty
Manhood and Deity
Manhood and Deity
In perfect harmony
The Man who is God
Lord of eternity
Dwells in humanity
Kneels in humility
And washes our feet
The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, "This is my body, which is for you; do this in
remembrance of me." In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me." (1 Corinthians 11:23-25)
Sunday, March 16, 2008
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