Reignite

(I know, I know, you wait a month for a blog post, then five come along in a weekend) I was just watching Desperate Housewives. Almost at random I chose an episode on 4 On Demand. And it happened to be one that mentioned Unitarians (season 4, episode 11). The episode begins when one character, Lynette, suddenly decides to go to church one Sunday morning. The character recently survived cancer and a tornado and decides that she has much to be thankful for, and many questions, and so asks her neighbour, Bree, to take her to her church. Bree happily does so and they go to a middle-class Presbyterian church. Lynette listens to the sermon attentively and then after the sermon has finished, puts her hand in the air to ask a question. This is much to the embarasment of Bree. The minister lets Lynette ask the question, (in which she uses the word "dumb-ass" in church - again to Bree's embarasment) which is about the possibility of a loving God in a world of suffering. The preache...

A liturgical question: What is the best equipment to use for candles of joy and concern? (I'll leave other questions about the best way of doing this aside for now) I've used tea lights on a metal tray before, but I'm not sure that's the best way. I think a better way is probably taller candles in a bowl of sand like this: Is that the best way to do it? It needs to be something that is safe and easy for people to use, especially elderly people. And something that looks good. But where do you get a good bowl like that? Come to think of it, where do you get a big lot of sand? Any thoughts?

Apparently today is Back to Church Sunday. Hmm. Not the most amazing evangelical idea. Now, don't get me wrong, I think it's a good idea to contact people who are on the periphery of the church and give them a personal invitation to pop back in sometime. It's certainly something worth doing at the start of a new ministry. It's something I'm planning on doing very soon. But I don't really see the need for a national campaign. It doesn't seem the best use of resourses, and the best way to empower local congregations for evangelism. For one thing it doesn't really address the legitimate reasons why some people might have left the church in the first place. Spirited Exchanges is one place to engage with those issues. Plus it's not very ambitious. It's only aiming at the 'churched' who have drifted away rather than a genuine missionary engagement with the unchurched western culture. Plus it's a very "come to us" strategy, rather ...

I was waiting in the queue at my local delivery office today (picking up a package of printer ink cartiridges - they run out fast) and reading all the posters on the wall. I find myself unable not to read something if its in front of me and I have nothing else to do. At the bottom of one poster I found this in small print: "Royal Mail, the Cruciform and the colour red are registered trademarks of Royal Mail plc." The colour red? The colour red is owned by Royal Mail? How does that work? Do I have to ask permission before I use a crayon? I'm scared and confused.

Well I've been in Bolton for nearly four weeks now. I only got the internet connected a few days ago, which is why it's been quiet on here lately. I still hardly have any furiture. I'm spending time getting lost on the roads of Bolton and thinking about what kind of wardrobe I want... as well as all that ministry jazz of course. I'm still thoroughly enjoying being a full time minister. Nothing very profound to say at the moment.