On the sixth day of Christmas ...

Apple having put aside their Twelve Days of Christmas giveaway this year has given me the chance to get people thinking, praying, learning, listening (to some great music) and finding app's they might not have otherwise done: Day Six ...

The Church and the World
Today all is quiet in the Western Church - but one hundred years ago today things were just a little different and to mark the centenary of the 1914-18 conflict SGM (Lifewords) have created a facsimile of the New Testament that would have been carried by those engaged in the conflict (Active Service  John's Gospel):

SGM Lifewords

This conflict changed the world in so many ways and lasted some 244 weeks - perhaps 2015 might present an opportunity for churches (and individuals) to get hold of some of these and use them as part of remembrance and commemoration where you are. Why not take the opportunity to bring the Church and the World into relationship by looking at the war memorials in your buildings and create some links and mark those who marched away from your home town?


Karaoke and Church Resources

We have somehow developed a couple of traditions associated with New Year in our church. The first is that we pray until early into the next year and some how it has also become a bit of a standard feature for us to engage in the wonderful art of Karaoke. 

I'm about to start producing Christian CDG (music and video files) and wonder how many of you out there would like to experiment with this as a resource. I already have a place where service resources can be found and am happy to extend it to this if it would be helpful.

For what is on offer already, take a look here .

Something to listen to

Following a request for something instrumental:

And for the person who asked for another piece of music by Adrian Snell, here is one of my favourite pieces:

Almighty God, who wonderfully created us in your own image and yet more wonderfully restored us through your Son Jesus Christ: grant that, as he came to share in our humanity, so we may share the life of his divinity; who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

'The lamps are going out . . .

. . . all over Europe, we shall not see them lit again in our life-time.'

It is these words, attributed to Sir Edward Grey*, on the eve of the first world war that will be remembered as our nation commemorates the beginning of that war and some 244 weeks of remembrance, reflection and homage.

Please make the time and take the opportunity to visit one of the many 'Lights Out' services that will be happening across this nation of ours on the 4th August 2014.

For those in Tamworth there will be such a service from 10 - 11 pm at St Editha's church in the centre of town.

There is also a service at the National Memorial Arboretum which will run from 8 - 9pm - the climax coming as all lights having been extinguished and the sun sets (20:54) the service ends with the playing of the Last Post.

Please check to see where your 'Lights Out' service will be taking place (and for those who know - post details here as comments.

Thank You

* whose father was the 1st Earl Grey


and yes I will do you one of these with your badge on Nick :-)

St George's Church, Ypres

In 1927 the Menin Gate was consecrated and it was then that this the stone for this church was laid and dedicated. Designed by the same architect (Sir Reginald Blomfield) this is a meeting place for the families of those who gave their lives and a memorial to those who died in military service and their regiments.

An interesting aspect is the memorial plaques from schools commemorations masters, pupils and staff who lost their lives in the 1914-18 conflict (Eton having in excess of one thousand such men).

The question, for me at least is whether or not this was really a war in which we find 'lions led by donkeys'?


As the rain falls we make our way out of Wipers (Ypres) to what the Staffords called 'Gullivelt' and consider those who fought in the first World Ward from the Indian continent and their sacrifice and acheievements.



Doing so, the words of today's collect are calling me to discern God's likeness in those around me echo in my head as the outworking of what failure to do so surrounds me.



Almighty God,
you have created the heavens and the earth
and made us in your own image:
teach us to discern your hand in all your works
and your likeness in all your children;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who with you and the Holy Spirit reigns supreme over all things,
now and for ever.  Amen.

WWI poets - Wilfred Owen

4th August 2014 is the centenary of the beginning of the 1914-18 conflict.

Some people I have spoken to are thinking that this is it but in fact the four years, three months and eight days (or 223 weeks) that we cover from the first act of commemoration through the many (some one hundred and fifty) battles trough to the final act of thanks (and then a celebration for that war's end) on Armistice Day.

As I began to focus on what this marathon will mean for me I was led back to Wilfred Owen's poem:

'Anthem For Doomed Youth'
What passing-bells for these who die as cattle?
Only the monstrous anger of the guns.
Only the stuttering rifles' rapid rattle
Can patter out their hasty orisons.
No mockeries now for them; no prayers nor bells;
Nor any voice of mourning save the choirs,
The shrill, demented choirs of wailing shells;
And bugles calling for them from sad shires.
What candles may be held to speed them all?
Not in the hands of boys, but in their eyes
Shall shine the holy glimmers of good-byes.
The pallor of girls' brows shall be their pall;
Their flowers the tenderness of patient minds,
And each slow dusk a drawing-down of blinds.


Here in Tamworth we have a former Vicar in the form of Morris Berkeley Peel who died 'tending the wounded' in May 1917 to think about (plus a wall full of men from our community who marched away never to return).

What about where you are?