The MP, Grahame Morris, and the Daily fascist (along with oh so many others) get it totally wrong. Then again what can I say but no surprise there. Morris in a totally uniformed kneejerk response (if the newspapers are to be believed) has called for tighter 'gun control' but thankfully David Cameron has come back with the right response in his assessment that this is not necessary.
Seems to me that the Prime Minister has got it absolutely right. Mind you the same boring and overbearing people who successfully called for the removal of handguns after Dunblane (and if he'd run them over with a car they would have called for a ban on motor vehicles I suppose?) are now trying, once again, to peddle their ignorance and take away the 'oh so scary' firearms from people who have a legitimate right to have them.
Now for those who will witter on about those who have the right to hold firearms (with the ambition of seeing this right removed) let me tell you what being a shooter means.
First and foremost it must be taken as a given that those who have rights also have responsibilities (whoops, there goes the animal rights lobby I guess) and there is no place where this is more true than the area of shooting. Had I a gun cabinet at home then I would have the responsibility to ensure it was safely affixed to walls such that it could not be jemmied off. Not only that but the cabinet would be of a design that resisted being forced open and were you successful in so doing would have to repeat the arduous task of breaking doors open at least a couple more times before you had the actions and the ammunition in the same place such that you might use the illegally accessed weapons held within it (and do it whilst the alarm got on your nerves to boot!). Now, picture a set of really nice Sabatier knives of a chunky set of golf clubs, which are potentially more lethal as the former could be hidden and the latter could be taken along a street without much consternation and people running away (well not until you started swinging anyway).
Secondly, being a shooter means that there are people in the community who are weapons savvy and it has been my experience that it is these very people who got a knock when granddad's 'war memento' was found wrapped in an oilskin up in the loft (and I know this to be true). It is also these people who spot the 'nutters' long before they can ever get anywhere near being issued with an FAC and it is because of this that some, who would have been problems, never make it to the front pages.
Thirdly, rather than call for increased measures and yet also saying that the use of psychiatrists as anything other than exceptional circumstances (as Mr Morris has done) many of the shooters I know from past contact were most happy for this if it proved helpful in keeping the sport/hobby of shooting more secure.
Lastly, when you consider the common denominator in pretty much all of the 'mad shooter' incidents in this country is maladministration by our overworked and under-resourced Police and ask why a man who was reported for an obvious metal health problem, or had come out of prison and was known to be dangerous (even without weapons) and yet was allowed to keep his weapons - this tells you where the real problems lie.
SOME FACTS
Shooters (generally) aren't in love with weapons in weird and wacky ways and those who came into my club and drooled at magazine pictures whilst mumbling, "Heckler & Koch MP7, oooh want one!" were destined never to shoot in our, or any other club and their cards were marked with the excellent Police officers what did firearms related work.
Six weapons in the possession of a shooter isn't 'an arsenal' any more than a bag of golf clubs, a box of Sabatier or a set of Le Creuset kitchenware is a collection of lethal weapons. Mind you, in the wrong hands and with the wrong intent all of these can be exactly that (and add the cooking of some as a credible fourth option in some cases).
Six weapons in a gun cabinet, especially when some are shotguns represents lots of firepower if there were six people, but not a lot when there is but one pair of hands available, but for one person it can be legitimised quite quickly by pointing to the different disciplines that different weapons are fit for. Target shooting, vermin, game, clays and the like quickly make the list as rational as having many clubs in your bag (or can you play with just a sand wedge?).
The idea of getting all the weapons and storing them in one place is great until you realise you have created a mega-arsenal and where there might be six (I used to have but four) there are now sixty! Rationalise that one for me.
My last point is the Ryan (Hungerford) wasn't such a non-shooter that all he managed to hit with his automatic weapons was road signs and yet they were taken away because of what he'd done (road sign protectionism?). Handguns were taken away because of Hamilton (Dunblane) and yet (a few odd practical pistol sorts aside) I would have said that these were treated with more security consciousness and greater control within shooting that even the most strict weapons banning type would have required. The reason for this is purely and simply ignorance and because they don't know they legislate.
So here's a bit more for you and a plea to politicians to actually understand what the needs and the realities are regarding shooters i.e. why not go to a club and ask questions (an MP would get you if they knocked, an ordinary mortal generally wouldn't unless they'd made appointments and stuff!
Pax
ps. Sorry it's long but I just had to keep sucking until the spaghetti was gone :)
Tuesday, 3 January 2012
Daily Office - Jan 3
People continually ask me what passages to read each day and so I thought I would post the Daily Office readings each morning, starting today. I hope this blesses and helps.
Psalm 127:
Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labour in vain. Unless the Lord keeps the city, the guard keeps watch in vain. It is in vain that you hasten to rise up early and go so late to rest, eating the bread of toil, for he gives his beloved sleep.
Children are a heritage from the Lord and the fruit of the womb is his gift. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one’s youth. Happy are those who have their quiver full of them:
they shall not be put to shame when they dispute with their enemies in the gate.
Psalm 128
Blessed are all those who fear the Lord, and walk in his ways.
You shall eat the fruit of the toil of your hands; it shall go well with you, and happy shall you be.
Your wife within your house shall be like a fruitful vine; your children round your table, like fresh olive branches. Thus shall the one be blest who fears the Lord.
The Lord from out of Zion bless you, that you may see Jerusalem in prosperity all the days of your life. May you see your children’s children, and may there be peace upon Israel.
Psalm 131
O Lord, my heart is not proud; my eyes are not raised in haughty looks.
I do not occupy myself with great matters, with things that are too high for me.
But I have quieted and stilled my soul, like a weaned child on its mother’s breast; so my soul is quieted within me.
O Israel, trust in the Lord, from this time forth for evermore.
Ruth 2
Now Naomi had a kinsman on her husband’s side, a prominent rich man, of the family of Elimelech, whose name was Boaz. And Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, ‘Let me go to the field and glean among the ears of grain, behind someone in whose sight I may find favour.’ She said to her, ‘Go, my daughter.’ So she went. She came and gleaned in the field behind the reapers. As it happened, she came to the part of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the family of Elimelech. Just then Boaz came from Bethlehem. He said to the reapers, ‘The Lord be with you.’ They answered, ‘The Lord bless you.’ Then Boaz said to his servant who was in charge of the reapers, ‘To whom does this young woman belong?’ The servant who was in charge of the reapers answered, ‘She is the Moabite who came back with Naomi from the country of Moab. She said, “Please let me glean and gather among the sheaves behind the reapers.” So she came, and she has been on her feet from early this morning until now, without resting even for a moment.’
Then Boaz said to Ruth, ‘Now listen, my daughter, do not go to glean in another field or leave this one, but keep close to my young women. Keep your eyes on the field that is being reaped, and follow behind them. I have ordered the young men not to bother you. If you get thirsty, go to the vessels and drink from what the young men have drawn.’ Then she fell prostrate, with her face to the ground, and said to him, ‘Why have I found favour in your sight, that you should take notice of me, when I am a foreigner?’ But Boaz answered her, ‘All that you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband has been fully told me, and how you left your father and mother and your native land and came to a people that you did not know before. May the Lord reward you for your deeds, and may you have a full reward from the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come for refuge!’ Then she said, ‘May I continue to find favour in your sight, my lord, for you have comforted me and spoken kindly to your servant, even though I am not one of your servants.’
At mealtime Boaz said to her, ‘Come here, and eat some of this bread, and dip your morsel in the sour wine.’ So she sat beside the reapers, and he heaped up for her some parched grain. She ate until she was satisfied, and she had some left over. When she got up to glean, Boaz instructed his young men, ‘Let her glean even among the standing sheaves, and do not reproach her. You must also pull out some handfuls for her from the bundles, and leave them for her to glean, and do not rebuke her.’
So she gleaned in the field until evening. Then she beat out what she had gleaned, and it was about an ephah of barley. She picked it up and came into the town, and her mother-in-law saw how much she had gleaned. Then she took out and gave her what was left over after she herself had been satisfied. Her mother-in-law said to her, ‘Where did you glean today? And where have you worked? Blessed be the man who took notice of you.’ So she told her mother-in-law with whom she had worked, and said, ‘The name of the man with whom I worked today is Boaz.’ Then Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, ‘Blessed be he by the Lord, whose kindness has not forsaken the living or the dead!’ Naomi also said to her, ‘The man is a relative of ours, one of our nearest kin.’ Then Ruth the Moabite said, ‘He even said to me, “Stay close by my servants, until they have finished all my harvest.” ’ Naomi said to Ruth, her daughter-in-law, ‘It is better, my daughter, that you go out with his young women, otherwise you might be bothered in another field.’ So she stayed close to the young women of Boaz, gleaning until the end of the barley and wheat harvests; and she lived with her mother-in-law.
Colossians 3: 1 - 11
So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth, for you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory.
Put to death, therefore, whatever in you is earthly: fornication, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed (which is idolatry). On account of these the wrath of God is coming on those who are disobedient. These are the ways you also once followed, when you were living that life. But now you must get rid of all such things—anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive language from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have stripped off the old self with its practices and have clothed yourselves with the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of its creator. In that renewal there is no longer Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and free; but Christ is all and in all!
Collect for today
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.
Happy Tuesday
Full versions of the Daily Office can be found here: Morning and Evening
Psalm 127:
Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labour in vain. Unless the Lord keeps the city, the guard keeps watch in vain. It is in vain that you hasten to rise up early and go so late to rest, eating the bread of toil, for he gives his beloved sleep.
Children are a heritage from the Lord and the fruit of the womb is his gift. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one’s youth. Happy are those who have their quiver full of them:
they shall not be put to shame when they dispute with their enemies in the gate.
Psalm 128
Blessed are all those who fear the Lord, and walk in his ways.
You shall eat the fruit of the toil of your hands; it shall go well with you, and happy shall you be.
Your wife within your house shall be like a fruitful vine; your children round your table, like fresh olive branches. Thus shall the one be blest who fears the Lord.
The Lord from out of Zion bless you, that you may see Jerusalem in prosperity all the days of your life. May you see your children’s children, and may there be peace upon Israel.
Psalm 131
O Lord, my heart is not proud; my eyes are not raised in haughty looks.
I do not occupy myself with great matters, with things that are too high for me.
But I have quieted and stilled my soul, like a weaned child on its mother’s breast; so my soul is quieted within me.
O Israel, trust in the Lord, from this time forth for evermore.
Ruth 2
Now Naomi had a kinsman on her husband’s side, a prominent rich man, of the family of Elimelech, whose name was Boaz. And Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, ‘Let me go to the field and glean among the ears of grain, behind someone in whose sight I may find favour.’ She said to her, ‘Go, my daughter.’ So she went. She came and gleaned in the field behind the reapers. As it happened, she came to the part of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the family of Elimelech. Just then Boaz came from Bethlehem. He said to the reapers, ‘The Lord be with you.’ They answered, ‘The Lord bless you.’ Then Boaz said to his servant who was in charge of the reapers, ‘To whom does this young woman belong?’ The servant who was in charge of the reapers answered, ‘She is the Moabite who came back with Naomi from the country of Moab. She said, “Please let me glean and gather among the sheaves behind the reapers.” So she came, and she has been on her feet from early this morning until now, without resting even for a moment.’
Then Boaz said to Ruth, ‘Now listen, my daughter, do not go to glean in another field or leave this one, but keep close to my young women. Keep your eyes on the field that is being reaped, and follow behind them. I have ordered the young men not to bother you. If you get thirsty, go to the vessels and drink from what the young men have drawn.’ Then she fell prostrate, with her face to the ground, and said to him, ‘Why have I found favour in your sight, that you should take notice of me, when I am a foreigner?’ But Boaz answered her, ‘All that you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband has been fully told me, and how you left your father and mother and your native land and came to a people that you did not know before. May the Lord reward you for your deeds, and may you have a full reward from the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come for refuge!’ Then she said, ‘May I continue to find favour in your sight, my lord, for you have comforted me and spoken kindly to your servant, even though I am not one of your servants.’
At mealtime Boaz said to her, ‘Come here, and eat some of this bread, and dip your morsel in the sour wine.’ So she sat beside the reapers, and he heaped up for her some parched grain. She ate until she was satisfied, and she had some left over. When she got up to glean, Boaz instructed his young men, ‘Let her glean even among the standing sheaves, and do not reproach her. You must also pull out some handfuls for her from the bundles, and leave them for her to glean, and do not rebuke her.’
So she gleaned in the field until evening. Then she beat out what she had gleaned, and it was about an ephah of barley. She picked it up and came into the town, and her mother-in-law saw how much she had gleaned. Then she took out and gave her what was left over after she herself had been satisfied. Her mother-in-law said to her, ‘Where did you glean today? And where have you worked? Blessed be the man who took notice of you.’ So she told her mother-in-law with whom she had worked, and said, ‘The name of the man with whom I worked today is Boaz.’ Then Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, ‘Blessed be he by the Lord, whose kindness has not forsaken the living or the dead!’ Naomi also said to her, ‘The man is a relative of ours, one of our nearest kin.’ Then Ruth the Moabite said, ‘He even said to me, “Stay close by my servants, until they have finished all my harvest.” ’ Naomi said to Ruth, her daughter-in-law, ‘It is better, my daughter, that you go out with his young women, otherwise you might be bothered in another field.’ So she stayed close to the young women of Boaz, gleaning until the end of the barley and wheat harvests; and she lived with her mother-in-law.
Colossians 3: 1 - 11
So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth, for you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory.
Put to death, therefore, whatever in you is earthly: fornication, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed (which is idolatry). On account of these the wrath of God is coming on those who are disobedient. These are the ways you also once followed, when you were living that life. But now you must get rid of all such things—anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive language from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have stripped off the old self with its practices and have clothed yourselves with the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of its creator. In that renewal there is no longer Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and free; but Christ is all and in all!
Collect for today
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.
Happy Tuesday
Full versions of the Daily Office can be found here: Morning and Evening
Another Firearms incident
And undoubtedly there will be more people pointing fingers and muttering about those who engage in shooting as a hobby and calling for further firearm restrictions just as they did with William Hamilton (Dunblane) Michael Ryan (Hungerford) and of course Raoul Moat (Northumberland). My problem with this is that there are a number of pre-programmed attitudes that shape the response and an equal number of factors which appear to come down, time and time again, to failings on the part of those who are called upon to monitor and manage the shooting community.
Now before we get into this more deeply I think I might need to explain the differences between those who shoot in that we have:
Shotgun owners - these people split into two distinct groups in that we have target shooters (clays, etc), game shooters (as it sounds, ie. stuff you can eat what runs around in the wild) and those who use it for vermin (rabbits and other things that are considered a nuisance). Need a shotgun certificate/licence to hold one.
Firearms owners - This group has target shooters (shooting at different distances and in different positions to put a bit of lead through a piece of paper), hunters (as it sounds) and vermin shooters (squirrels, rats, rabbits, foxes, etc.). Needs a Fire Arms Certificate (FAC) to legally hold any of these.
Air-powered weapon owners - (rifles and hand guns) which can be as powerful as the proper (goes bang) weapons and range from free to hold through to firearms certificate required (depending upon muzzle velocity).
It seems to me that in each and every case of firearms abuse the common factor has been the way that the Police have managed, controlled or otherwise being involved with the disaster that followed.
With Hungerford, Ryan was not a member of a club (and this is important as you will, hopefully, see shortly) and the paperwork was, if the people I knew who were involved, done without full checks, proper homes visit and a number of other failings. Local shooters knew the man to be suspect and had refused to support the application.
With Dunblane, once again the local shooters knew the man to be something worrying and had made this known to the people who manage firearms (the Police). The Police did visit the man's home and found illegally held weapons, loaded hand guns lying around the house and other breaches of firearm security and good practice. So what did the copper do when he discovered this (remembering the warnings of other shooters?), he put them on his ticket (FAC). It was these, now legal, weapons that did the damage!
In today's incident, Michael Atherton, held what sounds like five shotguns and one FAC weapon (although some reposts claim it is three of each!) and had apparently been reported as being unstable some time during 2008 and yet the man kept his weapons. Seems to me that once again the problem features the same people once again and this indicates some form of revision to the role and the responsibility of the Police!
Now some will merely start sounding off about 'removing all weapons' and some of these will include the Salford (illegally held murder last week) as a good reason to ban all on the premise that all illegally held weapons begin life as legally manufactured and held weapons. Of course this is true and on that premise all those who murder begin life as sweet little kids so if we extrapolate their logic into the human situation, culling all before the age of cognisance would remove murderers and other criminals! Of course both are pretty stupid aren't they? So what do we need to do?
Well first and foremost we need to understand that the best people to control the shooting fraternity itself. A for instance being that when I was a committee member of a shooting club the first thing that happened with a newcomer was safety training and assessment of the person. If the person gave any hint of concern they found they never got near a weapon and their card was marked with the local, excellent, coppers who did the Firearms role. When someone had an FAC and appeared to be dangerous they were managed and if it seemed that they couldn't be considered to be safe then, once again, the local coppers were given a call and home visits were done, often resulting in a ticking off, removal of weapons and sometimes removal of the person's ticket.
Secondly we need to realise that shooters generally aren't weird (O.K. if they are they were before they got into shooting and should have been picked up early on if that weirdness was threatening). A golf club is an equally dangerous weapon and just as it is used to propel a ball into a hole as accurately as possible, a shooter uses a weapon to propel a bit of lead into the centre of a target. Same game, different modes of operation!
Lastly we need to understand that we have more than adequate gun control laws, what we need is for them to be enforced and that with the pressures on the Police and a degree of general incompetence that has apparently existed if history is anything to go on and these shortcomings need to be addressed.
And of course, having come out of prison, why and how did Raoul Moat manage to still have weapons licensed to him? The same question lies on the table for Atherton today and for Hamilton when Dunblane took place.
Thank you for reading this - I hope it helps bring some clarity to the situation and some realism to the fatuous stuff that will be flying around after this sad and tragic situation.
Pax
ps. and there is still gun crime to be considered - perhaps we will do this later (tea drunk, daily office awaits)
Now before we get into this more deeply I think I might need to explain the differences between those who shoot in that we have:
Shotgun owners - these people split into two distinct groups in that we have target shooters (clays, etc), game shooters (as it sounds, ie. stuff you can eat what runs around in the wild) and those who use it for vermin (rabbits and other things that are considered a nuisance). Need a shotgun certificate/licence to hold one.
Firearms owners - This group has target shooters (shooting at different distances and in different positions to put a bit of lead through a piece of paper), hunters (as it sounds) and vermin shooters (squirrels, rats, rabbits, foxes, etc.). Needs a Fire Arms Certificate (FAC) to legally hold any of these.
Air-powered weapon owners - (rifles and hand guns) which can be as powerful as the proper (goes bang) weapons and range from free to hold through to firearms certificate required (depending upon muzzle velocity).
It seems to me that in each and every case of firearms abuse the common factor has been the way that the Police have managed, controlled or otherwise being involved with the disaster that followed.
With Hungerford, Ryan was not a member of a club (and this is important as you will, hopefully, see shortly) and the paperwork was, if the people I knew who were involved, done without full checks, proper homes visit and a number of other failings. Local shooters knew the man to be suspect and had refused to support the application.
With Dunblane, once again the local shooters knew the man to be something worrying and had made this known to the people who manage firearms (the Police). The Police did visit the man's home and found illegally held weapons, loaded hand guns lying around the house and other breaches of firearm security and good practice. So what did the copper do when he discovered this (remembering the warnings of other shooters?), he put them on his ticket (FAC). It was these, now legal, weapons that did the damage!
In today's incident, Michael Atherton, held what sounds like five shotguns and one FAC weapon (although some reposts claim it is three of each!) and had apparently been reported as being unstable some time during 2008 and yet the man kept his weapons. Seems to me that once again the problem features the same people once again and this indicates some form of revision to the role and the responsibility of the Police!
Now some will merely start sounding off about 'removing all weapons' and some of these will include the Salford (illegally held murder last week) as a good reason to ban all on the premise that all illegally held weapons begin life as legally manufactured and held weapons. Of course this is true and on that premise all those who murder begin life as sweet little kids so if we extrapolate their logic into the human situation, culling all before the age of cognisance would remove murderers and other criminals! Of course both are pretty stupid aren't they? So what do we need to do?
Well first and foremost we need to understand that the best people to control the shooting fraternity itself. A for instance being that when I was a committee member of a shooting club the first thing that happened with a newcomer was safety training and assessment of the person. If the person gave any hint of concern they found they never got near a weapon and their card was marked with the local, excellent, coppers who did the Firearms role. When someone had an FAC and appeared to be dangerous they were managed and if it seemed that they couldn't be considered to be safe then, once again, the local coppers were given a call and home visits were done, often resulting in a ticking off, removal of weapons and sometimes removal of the person's ticket.
Secondly we need to realise that shooters generally aren't weird (O.K. if they are they were before they got into shooting and should have been picked up early on if that weirdness was threatening). A golf club is an equally dangerous weapon and just as it is used to propel a ball into a hole as accurately as possible, a shooter uses a weapon to propel a bit of lead into the centre of a target. Same game, different modes of operation!
Lastly we need to understand that we have more than adequate gun control laws, what we need is for them to be enforced and that with the pressures on the Police and a degree of general incompetence that has apparently existed if history is anything to go on and these shortcomings need to be addressed.
And of course, having come out of prison, why and how did Raoul Moat manage to still have weapons licensed to him? The same question lies on the table for Atherton today and for Hamilton when Dunblane took place.
Thank you for reading this - I hope it helps bring some clarity to the situation and some realism to the fatuous stuff that will be flying around after this sad and tragic situation.
Pax
ps. and there is still gun crime to be considered - perhaps we will do this later (tea drunk, daily office awaits)
Monday, 2 January 2012
The old year has passed - the new lies open before us
If we were ever looking for a prayer to end all prayers I guess this has to be it for it offers new beginnings, fresh opportunities and the potential for so very much. It is with this thought that this morning's time before the keyboard has focussed on everything that is before us this year in the little family that I am privileged to pastor.
The church has reached a fork in the road and we need to make some very important decisions over the next week or so, choices have to be made and the type of church that we are has to be decided upon. As we approach this there are many things to thank God for where and who we are and some areas where we need to look at what we offer too!). Some of these are:
The 'Don't be home alone' Christmas lunch saw forty-eight people fed and given a good time. This meal, which we do with and for many of the churches within our town was, in my book, another great success and an opportunity to be really blessed (and I was, hope the rest were). A 'give thanks' area.
Kid's Club has been another blessing. The realisation that some of the children we started with five years ago are now adults is a bit frightening (yes, we are all getting older!). The format appears to be set but we need to look at ways we can help support those coming and perhaps extend what we do. A 'give thanks' and a 'new direction' area this one.
Friday Friends, our provision for the older generation continues to flourish and the team who work here are committed and so totally engaged that it is an ever continuing source of joy and inspiration. Another 'give thanks' area.
The Mental Health support group, an autonomous group who offer support and friendship to those who have had mental health issues, is one of the great blessings of 2011. Another 'give thanks' area which beggars the question, "What more should we be doing to support those with mental health needs?"
Drop-in - the free tea, coffee, cake and biscuits sessions which operate on Monday and Thursday ending with lunch for those who wish to stay and have it has seen the highest numbers yet over the past year. A gentle place where people can come and relax secure in the knowledge that they aren't going to be pressurised into 'being Christian'. A place where we can offer friendship without strings. Another 'give thanks' area.
Messy Church has been a mixed bag. Now in its second year we have seen some great days and have seen some where the attendance left us all a bit low. That said the opportunity to take it into other places and do it where the people are (rather than drag them into the fearsome 'Church' building) is proving to be a great opportunity to engaged and sow seeds of awareness - who can ask for more than that? Another 'give thanks' with a bit of 'fresh direction' area.
The midweek communion - a relatively new service which provides an opportunity for those who wouldn't otherwise be able to make church happen, happen! Lightweight, accessible and so informal as to be horizontal, this is a service which promises so much and for which praise and direction need to be sought.
Community engagement is one of the jewels in the life and mission of the church and this, along with the love and lack of acrimony within it, is probably the greatest source of continuous joy. We have seen some great community events and have received much encouragement from many. The only downside is the lack of space that wer can offer and this is the place whereby we begin our considerations as to the direction we take along the road.
There are other areas and things that are happening, about to happen, would like to see happening but that's enough for now. Please pray for us as we shuffle along behind Christ trying to discern His footsteps and 'do the stuff'. Please pray for me as I seek to lead but not direct and be part of the family rather than the man with the megaphone.
Happy New Year to one and all
The church has reached a fork in the road and we need to make some very important decisions over the next week or so, choices have to be made and the type of church that we are has to be decided upon. As we approach this there are many things to thank God for where and who we are and some areas where we need to look at what we offer too!). Some of these are:
The 'Don't be home alone' Christmas lunch saw forty-eight people fed and given a good time. This meal, which we do with and for many of the churches within our town was, in my book, another great success and an opportunity to be really blessed (and I was, hope the rest were). A 'give thanks' area.
Kid's Club has been another blessing. The realisation that some of the children we started with five years ago are now adults is a bit frightening (yes, we are all getting older!). The format appears to be set but we need to look at ways we can help support those coming and perhaps extend what we do. A 'give thanks' and a 'new direction' area this one.
Friday Friends, our provision for the older generation continues to flourish and the team who work here are committed and so totally engaged that it is an ever continuing source of joy and inspiration. Another 'give thanks' area.
The Mental Health support group, an autonomous group who offer support and friendship to those who have had mental health issues, is one of the great blessings of 2011. Another 'give thanks' area which beggars the question, "What more should we be doing to support those with mental health needs?"
Drop-in - the free tea, coffee, cake and biscuits sessions which operate on Monday and Thursday ending with lunch for those who wish to stay and have it has seen the highest numbers yet over the past year. A gentle place where people can come and relax secure in the knowledge that they aren't going to be pressurised into 'being Christian'. A place where we can offer friendship without strings. Another 'give thanks' area.
Messy Church has been a mixed bag. Now in its second year we have seen some great days and have seen some where the attendance left us all a bit low. That said the opportunity to take it into other places and do it where the people are (rather than drag them into the fearsome 'Church' building) is proving to be a great opportunity to engaged and sow seeds of awareness - who can ask for more than that? Another 'give thanks' with a bit of 'fresh direction' area.
The midweek communion - a relatively new service which provides an opportunity for those who wouldn't otherwise be able to make church happen, happen! Lightweight, accessible and so informal as to be horizontal, this is a service which promises so much and for which praise and direction need to be sought.
Community engagement is one of the jewels in the life and mission of the church and this, along with the love and lack of acrimony within it, is probably the greatest source of continuous joy. We have seen some great community events and have received much encouragement from many. The only downside is the lack of space that wer can offer and this is the place whereby we begin our considerations as to the direction we take along the road.
There are other areas and things that are happening, about to happen, would like to see happening but that's enough for now. Please pray for us as we shuffle along behind Christ trying to discern His footsteps and 'do the stuff'. Please pray for me as I seek to lead but not direct and be part of the family rather than the man with the megaphone.
Happy New Year to one and all
Sunday, 1 January 2012
Dear Vicar - Comments
Having sought to answer the questions I will now turn my attention to the comments:
"You appear to be very frustrated by many above you and even more alongside you."
Well I suppose this is true to some degree but isn't this true for everyone regardless of what they do wherever it is that they do it? I am frustrated by those senior types who miss the pastoral, evangelistic and grounded theological opportunities and am even more frustrated by those who fail to pastor because they are otherwise distracted, but they are few and far between (and so even more frustrating when they turn up). Of course we all get distracted, tired, disillusioned and negative at times I guess and so this is probably a weakness in me as much, if not more, than them.
"It would seem from the way that you write that you are very much a polymath in that you have myriad strands to your ministry and your experience both prior to ordination and since appears to indicate great width and almost multiple-lived lives."
I guess a polymath is someone who knows stuff about a lot of different and so I can but plead guilty as charged as long as I don't have to be an expert, or the authority, that is. I have indeed lived a number of lives and have a pretty wide-ranging ministry thanks to my inability to never say the dreaded word 'No' that is. I have a number of chaplaincy roles and do a fair few deanery and diocesan type roles as well and these add up to something rather different I guess. Thus far I've been a techie, scientist, IT person, flyer, sporty type, embryonic theologian, musician, poet, trainer, pastor, Anglican dog-collar (apologies if this offends, not my intention), soldier and much more besides. All this conspires that even when the life has passed the memories carry on and their resonances colour the rest of the portrait in progress.
"I hope you do not think this communication offensive or too pressing but I am confused as you write as if you don't want to be quoted, as so many do, or seen to be an authority, the last word' or from a place of fame (sought or gained)."
As I have said before, I don't write to be the authority but for myself in the hope that others may glean something of worth, and am happy to leave the task of writing for the sake of being whatever they seek to those who seek it. I am happy to be quoted and am equally happy to be challenged because either act brings further thinking and dialogue, internally and externally, and this can only be good. I don't write sound bytes or take up a topic to be noted and quoted, but good luck to those that do, I hope it works for them and they achieve whatever it is that floats their boat - but it's not me.
"You don't quote yourself like so many with their tiresome 'best of nnnn' or a 'my greatest blogs' link and do not mention those who have quoted you either. Is this some self-effacing part of your personality or is it intended?"
I guess I have answered this but I can't post, "As quoted by Ruth Gledhill," or claim to have been the specialist source for the Guardian, BBC or anything else as, as far as I know Ms Gledhill and all the other media don't know I exist and have never quoted me either. So not false pride, just living in the reality that few know who I am and more probably wouldn't care if they did. As for producing lists of my best post, comment or whatever - don't suppose you can have a list with one or less items in it and this explains my reluctance to so do this :)
"I look forward to hearing your response and wish you and your family a Happy New Year for 2012."
Well here it is and I hope it has explained enough about me to answer your questions and to give you some the desired insight, understanding and whatever it is that you were looking for and a very Happy New Year to you and yours (and those who read this) too!
Pax
"You appear to be very frustrated by many above you and even more alongside you."
Well I suppose this is true to some degree but isn't this true for everyone regardless of what they do wherever it is that they do it? I am frustrated by those senior types who miss the pastoral, evangelistic and grounded theological opportunities and am even more frustrated by those who fail to pastor because they are otherwise distracted, but they are few and far between (and so even more frustrating when they turn up). Of course we all get distracted, tired, disillusioned and negative at times I guess and so this is probably a weakness in me as much, if not more, than them.
"It would seem from the way that you write that you are very much a polymath in that you have myriad strands to your ministry and your experience both prior to ordination and since appears to indicate great width and almost multiple-lived lives."
I guess a polymath is someone who knows stuff about a lot of different and so I can but plead guilty as charged as long as I don't have to be an expert, or the authority, that is. I have indeed lived a number of lives and have a pretty wide-ranging ministry thanks to my inability to never say the dreaded word 'No' that is. I have a number of chaplaincy roles and do a fair few deanery and diocesan type roles as well and these add up to something rather different I guess. Thus far I've been a techie, scientist, IT person, flyer, sporty type, embryonic theologian, musician, poet, trainer, pastor, Anglican dog-collar (apologies if this offends, not my intention), soldier and much more besides. All this conspires that even when the life has passed the memories carry on and their resonances colour the rest of the portrait in progress.
"I hope you do not think this communication offensive or too pressing but I am confused as you write as if you don't want to be quoted, as so many do, or seen to be an authority, the last word' or from a place of fame (sought or gained)."
As I have said before, I don't write to be the authority but for myself in the hope that others may glean something of worth, and am happy to leave the task of writing for the sake of being whatever they seek to those who seek it. I am happy to be quoted and am equally happy to be challenged because either act brings further thinking and dialogue, internally and externally, and this can only be good. I don't write sound bytes or take up a topic to be noted and quoted, but good luck to those that do, I hope it works for them and they achieve whatever it is that floats their boat - but it's not me.
"You don't quote yourself like so many with their tiresome 'best of nnnn' or a 'my greatest blogs' link and do not mention those who have quoted you either. Is this some self-effacing part of your personality or is it intended?"
I guess I have answered this but I can't post, "As quoted by Ruth Gledhill," or claim to have been the specialist source for the Guardian, BBC or anything else as, as far as I know Ms Gledhill and all the other media don't know I exist and have never quoted me either. So not false pride, just living in the reality that few know who I am and more probably wouldn't care if they did. As for producing lists of my best post, comment or whatever - don't suppose you can have a list with one or less items in it and this explains my reluctance to so do this :)
"I look forward to hearing your response and wish you and your family a Happy New Year for 2012."
Well here it is and I hope it has explained enough about me to answer your questions and to give you some the desired insight, understanding and whatever it is that you were looking for and a very Happy New Year to you and yours (and those who read this) too!
Pax
'Dear Vicar' - Answers
So here goes:
Is most of the material you post yours? I ask this because you post poetry and images which I am unable to find elsewhere and wonder if this means that it has originated with you or perhaps that you are good at concealing sources.
The majority of the stuff is mine, when it's not I try to make sure that I post credits and links to the it. Some of the stuff is sent to me by people but the poetry, writing and many of the images are indeed generally mine.
When you write do you do so to impress people, become a source for others or write for yourself? I ask this because at time it appears that I am nestling inside your mind rather that watching you on the big screen (something I rather like if I am honest in my own assessment).
I don't write to impress people, which is good because it isn't that impressive, but to fulfill my own need to dialogue internally, This means that the blog is a sort of scratchpad for me to hang ideas, situations and other 'stuff' that is going on around me in my various bits of ministry and life. So your assessment of 'being inside my head' is pretty well spot on. It's not a performance, it's my reality.
Do you mean it when you claim to be 'an average Church of England priest'? It appears to me that you are very different from the majority of Church of England priests and your ability to engage with often quite complex thinking and produce something simple is either a gift or the result of more, or perhaps different, education from many of your colleagues.
Indeed I do mean it. I don't see myself as being anything but one of the many Anglican Priests who are out there doing the stuff and pastoring the flock. I am different from the others because I am me and my journey to ministry was, I assume, different to everyone else (even though I'm sure there are common areas as well)and everyone else is different too! With the thinking bit, my interests and theological training and study do all shape how I engage and it was one of the courses I've done that pushed the idea of trying to make theology accessible rather than use all the 'theology speak' stuff and make it high sounding and generally inaccessible. I assume (well I hope) that this is what is going on. Of course it could just be that I don't understand it :)
So there we have it, the questions answered as best I can. I hope that this meets some of the demands (undemanding though they were) of your mail to me and hope that this will help others understand me and the blog a little better.
V
Is most of the material you post yours? I ask this because you post poetry and images which I am unable to find elsewhere and wonder if this means that it has originated with you or perhaps that you are good at concealing sources.
The majority of the stuff is mine, when it's not I try to make sure that I post credits and links to the it. Some of the stuff is sent to me by people but the poetry, writing and many of the images are indeed generally mine.
When you write do you do so to impress people, become a source for others or write for yourself? I ask this because at time it appears that I am nestling inside your mind rather that watching you on the big screen (something I rather like if I am honest in my own assessment).
I don't write to impress people, which is good because it isn't that impressive, but to fulfill my own need to dialogue internally, This means that the blog is a sort of scratchpad for me to hang ideas, situations and other 'stuff' that is going on around me in my various bits of ministry and life. So your assessment of 'being inside my head' is pretty well spot on. It's not a performance, it's my reality.
Do you mean it when you claim to be 'an average Church of England priest'? It appears to me that you are very different from the majority of Church of England priests and your ability to engage with often quite complex thinking and produce something simple is either a gift or the result of more, or perhaps different, education from many of your colleagues.
Indeed I do mean it. I don't see myself as being anything but one of the many Anglican Priests who are out there doing the stuff and pastoring the flock. I am different from the others because I am me and my journey to ministry was, I assume, different to everyone else (even though I'm sure there are common areas as well)and everyone else is different too! With the thinking bit, my interests and theological training and study do all shape how I engage and it was one of the courses I've done that pushed the idea of trying to make theology accessible rather than use all the 'theology speak' stuff and make it high sounding and generally inaccessible. I assume (well I hope) that this is what is going on. Of course it could just be that I don't understand it :)
So there we have it, the questions answered as best I can. I hope that this meets some of the demands (undemanding though they were) of your mail to me and hope that this will help others understand me and the blog a little better.
V
A 'Dear Vicar'
I have had a lovely email regarding 2011 and the VtV blog and so I thought I'd post it here (with permission gained and anonymity maintained as promised). So here goes:
"Dear Vicar,
I thought I would write and pose some questions and offer some comments regarding your blog which I find myself reading on a fairly regular basis these day. My questions are:
Is most of the material you post yours? I ask this because you post poetry and images which I am unable to find elsewhere and wonder if this means that it has originated with you or perhaps that you are good at concealing sources.
When you write do you do so to impress people, become a source for others or write for yourself? I ask this because at time it appears that I am nestling inside your mind rather that watching you on the big screen (something I rather like if I am honest in my own assessment).
Do you mean it when you claim to be 'an average Church of England priest'? It appears to me that you are very different from the majority of Church of England priests and your ability to engage with often quite complex thinking and produce something simple is either a gift or the result of more, or perhaps different, education from many of your colleagues.
Additional comments are that you appear to be very frustrated by many above you and even more alongside you. It would seem from the way that you write that you are very much a polymath in that you have myriad strands to your ministry and your experience both prior to ordination and since appears to indicate great width and almost multiple-lived lives.
I hope you do not think this communication offensive or too pressing but I am confused as you write as if you don't want to be quoted, as so many do, or seen to be an authority, the last word' or from a place of fame (sought or gained). You don't quote yourself like so many with their tiresome 'best of nnnn' or a 'my greatest blogs' link and do not mention those who have quoted you either. Is this some self-effacing part of your personality or is it intended?
I look forward to hearing your response and wish you and your family a Happy New Year for 2012."
The response is on the way - as for anyone else, I'm always happy to try and explain the weirdness that is me - I just love to Panda to people's needs:
Pax
"Dear Vicar,
I thought I would write and pose some questions and offer some comments regarding your blog which I find myself reading on a fairly regular basis these day. My questions are:
Is most of the material you post yours? I ask this because you post poetry and images which I am unable to find elsewhere and wonder if this means that it has originated with you or perhaps that you are good at concealing sources.
When you write do you do so to impress people, become a source for others or write for yourself? I ask this because at time it appears that I am nestling inside your mind rather that watching you on the big screen (something I rather like if I am honest in my own assessment).
Do you mean it when you claim to be 'an average Church of England priest'? It appears to me that you are very different from the majority of Church of England priests and your ability to engage with often quite complex thinking and produce something simple is either a gift or the result of more, or perhaps different, education from many of your colleagues.
Additional comments are that you appear to be very frustrated by many above you and even more alongside you. It would seem from the way that you write that you are very much a polymath in that you have myriad strands to your ministry and your experience both prior to ordination and since appears to indicate great width and almost multiple-lived lives.
I hope you do not think this communication offensive or too pressing but I am confused as you write as if you don't want to be quoted, as so many do, or seen to be an authority, the last word' or from a place of fame (sought or gained). You don't quote yourself like so many with their tiresome 'best of nnnn' or a 'my greatest blogs' link and do not mention those who have quoted you either. Is this some self-effacing part of your personality or is it intended?
I look forward to hearing your response and wish you and your family a Happy New Year for 2012."
The response is on the way - as for anyone else, I'm always happy to try and explain the weirdness that is me - I just love to Panda to people's needs:
Pax
A year in prospect
Whoo Hoo! It's another new year and the register of services book stands open with a clean page and '2012' boldly written at the top. As the first service is about to kick off I look at the pitch, chairs neatly placed, carpet a lush shade of brown, the walls and ceiling painted and the table laid up and there is a spring in my step.
Will this morning be the first six of the year when it comes to the service and will I manage not to drop any of the catches, unlike last year, and play as well in the outfield as I do at the crease?
Will this be the year when we get bumper crowds and find the pavilion buzzing with happy, engaged, and committed supporters after the match?
Will we actually manage to build new stands to accomodate those who are turned away because of our limited capacity and will we find that by doing so we can do more to get involved in the community that surrounds our sporting venue?
Goodness me I just love Church!
Happy New Year
Will this morning be the first six of the year when it comes to the service and will I manage not to drop any of the catches, unlike last year, and play as well in the outfield as I do at the crease?
Will this be the year when we get bumper crowds and find the pavilion buzzing with happy, engaged, and committed supporters after the match?
Will we actually manage to build new stands to accomodate those who are turned away because of our limited capacity and will we find that by doing so we can do more to get involved in the community that surrounds our sporting venue?
Goodness me I just love Church!
Happy New Year
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