Owner: Scream Without Raising Your Voice URL:http://swryv.wrdpress.com Join Date: Thu, 22 Mar 2007 13:13:29 -0500 Rating:0 Site Description: Thoughts on God, life, church and other stuff Site statistics:Click here
back to school 2007-09-18 16:15:12 Some 7 years ago I began a Masters course in Applied Social Science. For lots of reasons I dropped out 2/3 of the way through the first year. This year I decided to go back and pick up the course and at least get enough credits to get a Post Graduate Certificate.
Today was the day I went back to Glasgow Caledonian University. I had been away for so long that the course I started no longer exists so I’m now doing an Masters in Research. The course looks great and I think I might even stay on and perhaps do the research to get the Masters. It also turns out I have more credits than I thought, 45 rather than 30 so I don’t need to do as many classes to get to the Post Grad Certificate point.
Small Rituals 2007-09-17 15:46:52 Danah Boyd has written a thought provoking piece about social scripts and the place of ritual following her experience at her friend and mentor’s recent memorial service. It’s a great exploration of how ritual is so important to us and it resonated deeply.
We followed a home liturgy over Easter this year and it was really moving and great to have something to do each day of Holy Week which would tell the easter story and involve the whole family.
We have a friend, Fyona, who has been drawn to Judaism and part of the attraction in that is the structure and ritual. I often feel that is one of Christianity’s weaknesses. We can do liturgy well, particularly in the Anglican tradition I think, but we miss so many opportunities to engage in stories and actions, rituals if you like. I think we should take a leaf from the faith of Jesus and think about how we pass our stories from generation to generation through symbol and word and action.
Read more:Small
, Rituals
Dullness 2007-09-17 13:48:41 Mike Yaconelli wrote in his book ‘Dangerous Wonder’:
The most critical issue facing Christians is not abortion, pornography, the disintegration of the family, moral absolutes, MTV, drugs, racism, sexuality or school prayer. The critcal issue today is dullness. We have lost our astonishment. The Good News is no longer good news, it is ok news. Christianity is not longer life changing, it is life enhancing. Jesus doesn’t change people in to wild-eyed radicals anymore, He changes them into ‘nice people’.
I think he’s right. I often wonder what has happened to amazement at God and at the world. How did we ever get to a place where Jesus was tame, safe and predictable?
Synod Reflections 2007-09-16 05:39:39 Synod is coming to an end. Soon we will share in Communion then head our separate ways back home.
Synod always seems like a long weekend with lots to talk about and hard decisions to make but I like the sense of shared responsibility that seems to pervade these decisions. There is a sense of community which maybe stems from familiarity. We are a small group of churches so people meet often but it also seems that newcomers are welcomed and included in a way that doesn’t seem forced or false.
There are some interesting and some odd things happening around the United Reformed Church in Scotland. What does seem clear is that people are keen to link up with each other and to share in each other’s ministries and mission. That has to be a hopeful thing.
Read more:Reflections
Synod 2007-09-15 06:49:56 It’s that time of year again! I’m at the URC Synod of Scotland until Sunday. It’s always an interesting weekend with reports and debates and discussions about our church and its work in the world.
I led a couple of workshops this morning on the Child Friendly Church Award that were really well attended and those there were enthusiastic. Hopefully that will translate into some of their churches working through the process of thinking about their church and its work with children and young people.
Later I’m reverting back to my past life, hosting Stewart’s Pub Quiz!
Christian Art? 2007-09-11 14:51:23 I met with an old friend (as in someone I’ve been friends with for ages not that he is old) I haven’t seen in years today. Clive was a student of mine, then a colleague for a while, then someone who’s band I booked and told people about and then we lost touch. Facebook to the rescue!
We met, interestingly, at Edinburgh’s National Gallery of Modern Art. I say interestingly because Clive now works for UCCF working with students around issues of art and theology and culture. We got talking about the Christian
artistic ghetto and the oddity that is contemporary christian music (CCM).
I have to say I’ve never understood CCM. It is a niche marketing ploy as far as I’m concerned, usually by people who aren’t good enough to cut it in the real music business. Harsh? I don’t think so.
Why do ‘Christian’ artists, not just musicians but lots of artists too, feel the need to explain their work? Surely as soon as you start
TV and Scotland’s International Matches 2007-09-10 13:18:58 Scotland’s international football games are all on Sky. I don’t have Sky, I don’t want Sky. I sure don’t want to pay to have Sky Sports. I know I can probably pay per view online but I want Scotland’s International
football and rugby games to be on the BBC or ITV. Is that too much to ask?
So on Wednesday night as Scotland take the field at the Stade de France, top of their qualifying group for Euro 2008, that majority of Scots won’t be able to watch their heroes because they don’t have Sky Sports.
So, who’s to blame? The SFA? They sold the rights. Or is it BBC or STV? Too cheap to buy the rights?
There is a rule in the UK that certain events MUST be shown on terrestrial tv. The Open Golf, Wimbledon, the World Cup. Why on earth are national team games not on that list?
Oh, never mind. It’s ok. The ENGLAND game is on BBC. Of course we’ll all want to watch that!!!
Read more:Scotland
Harvest 2007-09-27 05:21:13 I’m leading worship in Clydebank on Sunday, and it’s Harvest
. It’s an all age service and this is the first time I’ve led worship there.
Any thoughts? Ideas? HELP!!!
My past experiences of harvest services have been a little ‘unreal’. They tend to be jolly occasions when we sing songs about sewing and ploughing and generally thank God that we have lots of food. I don’t want to play that down because I am grateful that we have enough food but I’m thinking that Harvest should make some reference to how difficult life is for farmers just now, how difficult life is for millions of people around the world who don’t have enough.
I’d be happy to go at it in a sermon but it’s an all age service and that makes that message a little trickier. Or does it?
Baseball down to the wire 2007-10-01 03:29:03 To end my Sport-fest weekend I watched some brilliant baseball last night. I saw the Rockies grind out a win (just) to make it to a one game play off with the Padres to get into the post season. 160 games and they are still tied. Amazing! How the tie-breaker is on NASN!!!
Sporting Day! 2007-09-29 16:14:13 Today has been a day of sports! I’ve watched:
some golf - the President’s Cup - c’mon the rest of the world!
2 games of football (soccer) with Motherwell playing pretty well against Rangers, ending up with a 1-1 draw and Man United beating Birmingham 1-0
a college (American) football game which the Bulls won
the F1 grand prix qualifying where Lewis Hamilton is on pole for tomorrow’s race
half of the Wales v Fiji game from the Rugby World Cup where Fiji won to knock Wales out and all of Scotland’s game against Italy where we won by 2 points to proceed to the quarter finals
and I’m now watching the Phillies v Nationals in the MLB.
Who says Saturdays aren’t fun!
Read more:Sporting
Nairn 2007-10-15 14:10:42 I was up in Nairn on Sunday, leading worship and enrolling John into the Pilots company there. Unfortunately the enrolment service had been organised for the school holidays so the 6 other new Pilots were on holiday! John was great and we got to wave to his mum who was watching from the balcony!
It was great to meet with some people I’ve met at Synod and to meet face to face with others I’ve spoken to on the phone or by email. It looks like I could be going back regularly!
We also had the chance to see my sister Jillian, hubby Scott, their two boys Calum and Ewan and Jillian’s growing bump. Ben and Jack came with us and were delighted to see their cousins! Avril managed to pop over to see her pal Jane and her fiance John in Inverness while I was at church. I joined them for a quick lunch later. It was good to catch up and to see Jane looking so happy!
It’s a long way but it was well worth the 450mile round trip to see everyone!
Lanark Greyfriars Podcast 2007-10-12 05:01:57 Lanark Greyfriars Church have a new addition to their website… a podcast of part of the morning service. Now you can listen online or download some of the talky bits; the readings and sermon and stuff. They are available on the church website by clicking the link above and will be on iTunes shortly.
Read more:Podcast
busy busy 2007-10-08 06:34:47 Sorry for the lack of blogging recently. It has been a pretty hectic few weeks and this week looks just as busy. The autumn seems to be one of those busy times in the Church year when all the organisations start back after a summer break and people want to move ahead.
I’m running some basic youth work training over the next few months on the first Wednesday of the month.
Organising a training day called Connected on 24th November in Edinburgh on Digital Church with Ewan McIntosh leading a day of learning to blog and podcast and stuff. Get in touch using the contact page if you want more details.
Teaching a Communication module at ICC
Doing my own Master in Research
Leading worship lots - Nairn this Sunday with a visit to my sister too
And trying to have a life including swimming with Ben and Jack yesterday, watching Scotland get beat at rugby and watching the Baseball playoffs. I think I need a lie down!
Communication Class 2007-10-04 11:02:29 Today was the first of my new class at ICC on Communication. It’s a first year class on the Youth Work and Theology course so Today was one of their first classes! We talked about (well I talked most) the internet and some tools for keeping in touch with their young people like Bebo and Facebook but also about blogging, texting and Flickr.
We’ve started our own class blog at http://y141.wordpress.com so feel free to pay us a wee visit as we try to work out what communication is and how it works.
A very long day in the big smoke 2007-10-19 03:36:29 The alarm went off at 4am yesterday morning, and it wasn’t an accident. It was probably a little earlier than necessary but even at that time of the day I’m a little paranoid about getting to Glasgow airport on time from my house.
Why the airport at that hour? A trip to London to meet with my some of my colleagues and take our part in an ongoing review of what we do.
To get to London for 10am I had to get the 6am flight, be in Luton for just after 7am and get the train into King’s Cross for just after 8. A stroll up Euston Road with a leisurely stop at McDonalds for a McHeartattack with fresh orange juice and a further wander up to the Methodist Offices in the very posh Marylebone Road and I was still almost an hour early!
The upside of my visit to the Big Smoke was spending the day with Doug, my former colleague and still my very good friend. It was great to see him and I have to say he was very professional in his reviewing r
a very civil partnership 2007-10-22 08:16:01 Saturday was another first for me. Avril and I were guests at a Civil Partnership ceremony. Karen and Angela formalised their relationship in a lovely ceremony at Hamilton’s refurbished Town House in front of their family and friends.
I had been concerned that the ceremony would be brief, cold and soulless but it was none of those. The registrar made the ceremony meaningful and warm.
Afterwards we spent the evening eating, drinking, listening to great speeches, laughing and dancing with friends old and new. A great day for a special couple.
Read more:partnership
Together @ MCT 2007-10-26 07:16:45
I’m helping out with a new worship (delete as appropriate) experience/community/opportunity/group/experiment/thing
on Sunday night with Murrayfield Churches Together at Saughtonhall United Reformed Church. (directions) We start at 5.30pm with coffee and people are welcome to walk a journey of interactive and reflective stations following the theme of the parable of the sower. I’m really looking forward to it!!! Hope to see you there. You are very welcome!
something to say? 2007-10-25 17:04:53 Do you ever find that you don’t have much to say? I’m kind of there at the moment. I’ve been busy working but nothing of great note and getting on with my masters but again nothing much to write about.
I taught my communication class today at ICC. It was an interesting discussion about the ‘ethics’ of communication. We talked a bit about freedom of speech, censorship and the right to information. Some good discussion about what you should and should not be allowed to say and watch and who should decide, you or a censor.
I’ll spend most of tomorrow thinking about Sunday when I’ll be leading worship at Morison Memorial in Clydebank and I’ll spend all day Saturday at a meeting.
That’s about it though. I need to read more. I always have more to say when I’ve read what other people think.
Oh, well done to the Red Sox who won game 1 of the World Series in baseball last night.
Read more:something
sick and tired 2007-11-01 05:27:29 I’ve been both, perhaps the former being the result of the later, but more likely just the seasonal sore throat that is doing the rounds.
I’ve had a pretty busy time at work over the past few days being in Perth, Edinburgh (twice in 12 hours), Fraserburgh and Clydebank in 3 days. So, feeling lousy, I cancelled my meeting with Jan (sorry Jan, it would have been great to see you) and spent a day doing nothing!
When I say nothing I really mean watching 3 episodes of season 1 of Lost which I didn’t watch when it came out. I liked it lots but it seems to have disappeared from my Virgin on demand service which sucks cause I have 22 episodes to go!!! I didn’t even check my email!!!
Anyway, back to work today! I’m feeling a bit better so on with the show.
Read more:tired
Remember, Remember… 2007-11-05 11:45:36 It’s Guy Fawkes Night here in Britain so lots of fireworks tonight. We’re celebrating someone trying to blow up the seat of democracy. I’ll just leave that hanging&hellip
;
It’s also Armistice Sunday on the 11th, when we pause and remember the men and women who laid down their lives in wars gone by so we could be free. But free from what? Oppression, tyranny, denials of freedoms and rights.
A good time to pause I think, and to remember.
Read more:Remember
Remember Them 2007-11-10 13:21:02
Frail, old men with weathered hands stand,
Alone, lost on the wide sandy beaches,
Each turning back his rusty mind clock
Piercing the veil of memories
When they were young, anxious and terrified,
Boy-soldiers in battle fighting for their lives,
Experiencing the gamut of fear and death
Watching friends died horribly,
Scarring their young minds.forever.
Blue beaches murmur waves
Splashing old, rusted war remnants.
A sea bird flaps wet beaches
Where the sea swells and crashes gently on wet sand,
Retreating back erasing all footprints.
The men stare the distance,
At blurred memories through tears.
Trickling down their cheeks dripping softly,
To merge with the sea like before.
They came to say good-bye to their friends,
To a confused past which has no answers.
The graveyard crosses watch in stony silence,
Stoically from tree shadows on soft meadows,
In eternal military formation fronted by small, flags,
Wind-shivering in the hush of silence.
Marching the stillness in quiet precision
Prot Read more:Remember
Glasgow Wins 2014 Commonwealth Games 2007-11-09 07:17:20 Glasgow
has won the race to host the 2014 CommonwealthGames
. It will mean a massive regeneration programme for the city’s troubled East End and mean world class sporting facilities for our athletes.
Well done Glasgow!!!
Dreams 2007-11-08 14:43:18 I first posted this just over a year ago just after I began blogging. I came across it again as I prepared for this Sunday’s Remembrance Service and think it is worth sharing again.
‘I’m only an old man now – my hair is grey, my face lined and my back bent. Only an old man. But I’ve got memories. I remember the wars. I remember how we fought to rid the earth of evil, to make the world a better place. I remember the blackouts and rationing, newspapers filled with battles lost and won, ships sunk and planes missing. Countless millions dead, dying on foreign fields and in strange waters.
And yet – there was a dream. After the war things would be different – things would be better. We won. The war, as all wars must eventually do, ended. We won, and now, looking back, I wonder?
Did we lose that for which we fought? Were we simply swept along powerless on the tide of history? Did we try to control events, shape them for a better, finer world? Or di Read more:Dreams
Kant you tell it’s different in church now? 2007-11-13 15:32:59 I had Ethics class today at Uni. A quick spin through feminist and postmodern ethics. It was hard work but fascinating. One of the many thoughts that struck me was that these ethical theories explain clearly the differences in Traditional Church and Emerging Church. I’ll try to explain. For me the main differences in the two forms of church would seem to be something like this:
Traditional Church
Meta narrative, justice, generalisation, rules, preaching, structure, right and wrong, telling, creeds, liturgy
Emerging Church
personalisation, discovery, engagement, how does that work for me?, collective decisions, creative.
I wondered if it was about taste, preference, what you are used to. People say that old people like church as it is because they are comfortable with it. I don’t disagree, but why do they engage more easily with traditional church and why are there exceptions?
I think it’s all about ethics. Traditional church was born out of the Enligh Read more:different
notebooks dreams 2007-11-20 14:29:05 I’ve got a notebook for work. It’s an A5 hardback plain paper book (from W H Smith as it happens… Moleskine next time) and I have set it out with tabs. It was/is a key part of my plan to Get Things Done. It works for work. I write stuff I have to do from meetings in it, draw little boxes next to ‘to do’ items and tick them off when I do them. All good.
I also have sections for ‘Someday’, ‘Blog’, ‘Projects’ and ‘Training’. I don’t seem to write much in these. I’ve written 2 things in the ‘blog’ bit, 1 page of stunning ideas in the ‘training’ bit and nothing in the ’someday’ section.
Is this normal? Should I have dreams and visions that I record in my nice notebook? Just wondering…
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