Jesus and Gravity

No apologies for offering this song from the incomparable Dolly Parton, expressing some profound theological truths.

Bishop boost 2

No, the CL Blog has not developed an acute case of episco-fever. But we do believe in giving credit where the cause may easily be overlooked.

Check the link to hear Bishop Tom Wright (of Durham) talking about heaven - wittily, truthfully, intriguingly and winningly - on a popular US chat show.

Instant boost

'Think of three cows in a line. Left moo. Right moo. Centre moo.' Thus goes the Archbishop of York's standard response to inquiries regarding the correct pronunciation of 'Sentamu'.

Archbishop John's exuberant approach to church leadership has made him, hardly surpisingly, a bit of a 'media star'.

But there's no hint of self-aggrandisement to his public profile.

In fact, I find that a glance at any media-coverage of his activities always leaves me feeling challenged, encouraged and remarkably cheered up.

Click here for a recent example!

Hurrah!

They shall not grow old....

Great to receive positive comments regarding Steve Tilley's service for Remembrance Sunday in the brand-new issue of CL.

Steve mentions a clergy colleague who wanted to introduce change to this 'longstanding ceremonial occasion'.

He began by chatting to members of his local branch of the Royal British Legion, thereby gaining valuable perspective on what they viewed as key elements of Remebrance Sunday service..

Steve's friend emerged from the Legion with a list of 'essential' (in the opinion of those he'd been chatting to) items:

• some particular hymns
• well observed two-minute silence
• dignified wreath-placing
• good bugler to sound last post and reveille.

So, what would you, recommend as must-include items for Remembrance Sunday?

Hymns, songs, activities?

Over to you!

The editor will be away on holiday 9-13 June.
Brent Clark created the image above.

Route 66

Alert to to all Church Leadership subscribers. CL66 is being mailed out today and should be plunking onto your doormats in the first half of next week.

Contents include:

• brand-new service outlines for Harvest and Remembrance
• choosing an inquirers' course
• new book s for leaders
• pioneer ministry
• prayer stations
• book reviews
• and much more!

And, of course, there's plenty of extra material on the website.

Café Scientifique

Ever feel a wee bit 'challenged' when people start discussing human embryology / the genome project / GM crops - and so on?

Join the club! But thanks to the nationwide Café Scientifique network you may be nearer than you think to an enjoyable, inexpensive way of getting up to date on some of the key science/technolgy issues of our fast-changing world.

As the publicity says: 'Cafe Scientifique is a place where, for the price of a cup of coffee or a glass of wine, anyone can come to explore the latest ideas in science and technology. Meetings take place in cafes, bars, restaurants and even theatres, but always outside a traditional academic context.

'Cafe Scientifique is a forum for debating science issues, not a shopwindow for science. We are committed to promoting public engagementwith science and to making science accountable. '

Check out the website. And maybe think about turning up. And, hey, you may be in a postion to throw in a few worthwhile words from a faith perspective.

The trinitarian theology of the Jaffa Cake

Stumped for a missionary metaphor for the Trinity, St Patrick (according to legend) reached for a three-leafed shamrock. Perhaps today he'd have grabbed a passing Jaffa Cake....

Thanks to CL subscriber the Rev Ian Kennedy for the following suggestion for a short all-age talk for Trinity Sunday. 

(You don't need us to tell you that the talk will go down best if your listeners have access to the full, embodied reality of the Jaffa Cake experience.)

A Jaffa Cake is made of biscuit, jam and chocolate.

If one part is missing, it is not a Jaffa Cake.

• Biscuit missing, you have orange chocolate.
  
• Jam missing, you have a chocolate biscuit.
  
• Chocolate missing, you have a jam tart.
  

Same with the Trinity, all three persons need to be there for God to be the Trinity.

• God the Father covers all creation with his sovereign love and power.
  
• Jesus, like the biscuit base, shared our human life, basing himself on earth, God with us, for thirty-three years.
  
• The Holy Spirit, like the jam, expresses the dynamic relationship between Father and Son, and fills us with energy and power to live as Christ's body on earth.
  

If that's too hard to contemplate, just enjoy the Jaffa Cake.