Trans Jesus?

What utter stupidity. Not sure how long this video will stay up but a Dean has suggested that Jesus could have been 'Trans' and the video seems to be fair comment.

Trick or Treat

The meme below has appeared on Facebook in our local group. Clearly it seeks to defend those who trick or treat by making those who dislike the activity feel guilty (or something).

It is an American tradition which apparently came to the UK once peopke had seen it on the film "ET".

IMHO it is just an invasion of privacy and potentially a cause of anxiety and upset to older people. How do those who engage in the practice know whether or not someone has recently been bereaved, for example?

The church seems to do little to discourage children from embarking on this form of entertainment.

There are some silly people

I agree that a church bench should be repainted. One comment was that “It is inappropriate for mourners to be faced with an emotive symbol when respectful neutrality in such sacred surroundings is a reasonable sign of respect.”

So many things, these days, are done because they are flavour of the month and people like to jump on a bandwagon.

Before I read the story I thought it was in support of the LGBTQ+ community but it seems it was an NHS rainbow which the colours sought to convey.

So, if only because this colour combination can be misconstrued, it should be repainted.

Fed up

I admit to being a bit fed up with the C of E. By that I mean I am fed up with the pretence that people (and the church is the people) actually care. So, I am fed up with church people.

Why?

1. Bellringing. Still nobody has enquired as to my well-being after my departure from the ringing chamber some week ago. Of course, it does not follow that bellringers are Christians and so one cannot reasonably expect them to act in a Christian way: except that I know some of them profess to be practising Christians.
2. Organ playing. I have stuggled to understand what happened this weekend just gone when I found out by accident that there had been a wedding I was not asked to play for. One hopes that the reason is a good one but, had the book not gone missing I should never have known. Thus I feel there has been a lack of openness. How can a church claim it has no organist and yet one magically appears out of the blue?
3. Vicars and 'modern worship'. The current crop of incumbents are relatively young (compared to me) and have - probably - not been 'brought up' around organists and 'proper' church music. They do not know how to engage with professional musicians. I have been the 'victim' (for want of a better word) of a misunderstanding regarding a previous wedding and I fear the same thought processes have resulted in the current situation.
4. Silly season in church. The new idea in church is to have 'activity resources' or 'inclusivity packs'. Thus, on each pew, one church has a container of paper, crayons and pipe-cleaners for people (of all ages) to fiddle with - if they want to - during a service.
   

Why do I bother?

The missing hymn book

I played for two services yesterday: the last time I shall do so in the benefice.

When I arrived at church #2, I found that the organ copy of the hymn book was not there. A cupboard was located with spares and so this was not a disaster.

Later, I emailed a contact in the choir (the choir had not been at the cafe service) to say that the actual organ copy was missing. I was stunned by the reply which was:

"I think they all got swept up together and put back into the case after the wedding last week"

Hold on!

Who played the organ for the wedding? Not me: I had not even been offered it. As yet I have not had a reply to my query to this effect. I suppose the couple could have supplied their own organist. As I am not the officially appointed organist I suppose I was not due the 'bench fee' in lieu. If, however, the vicar had engaged someone else I do feel this is unfair.

I have been playing at that church for several months, for both the monthly services and they pay a fee which I have accepted but which is small in the grand scheme of things: £20 each service, on which I pay tax. Many organists would not get out of bed for that sum.

The cafe service yesterday was particulaly tedious and dragged on for a whole hour because it was taken by somebody different: the norm has been 45 minutes.

So, to have me turn up - reliably - and play for the run of the mill services and then not to offer me the perk of a wedding fee is rather unfair I feel.

Picturing God

I lost the thread of the sermon today. It seemed to be going OK although I cannot recall what it was about. Then, suddenly, white males were being berated as privileged.

After that we were asked how we pictured God. Did we view him as a white male, a black woman or a member of the LGBTQ community? I ask you!

What is wrong with the church?