Mike's musings

St Paul's

(backposting) Left very early, and got to work by around 0802. So early that I thought I'd pop round to St Paul's to see if it was open. I turned up, and discovered that there was a service going on. It was Eucharist, and although I arrived after the confession, I decided to communicate, though I prayed a confession beforehand. A difficult one: sounds silly, but I really feel awkward about receiving communication without confession, and preferably absolution, too. Something I need to think about.

It's been a long time since I visited St Paul's: given that it's only about 5 minutes' walk from the office, that seems silly.

Labels: communion

My first Midnight Mass

(backposting) Lunchtime with Si, D, Morgs, Boo and Simon, Jo's godfather. Good to see everyone: we need to find a time to get together for some child-free time to chat, eat and drink with Si and D. Simon spent some great quality time with Jo: I suspect he's a very good teacher.

Well, the afternoon brought us the Halstead crib service, which I was attending with the girls. The church was pretty full, and the girls were sheep, which was very sweet. Got them to bed afterwards - as before, took rather a while to get them to sleep. Mum, Dad and Moo went to bed, and I headed off to the Midnight service at St Andrew's, Halstead, where I was to preside at the altar.

We had about 138 people, including choir and clergy, and it was one of the most joyous experiences of my life. Sharing the great gift, as He was shared for the first time with us, was just so special. I just can't begin to explain the emotion, I really can't.

Labels: Christmas, communion, eucharist, god, joy

Plans for the future

Not the long-term future, but it looks like I'm going to be starting a project in Finland next week. It'll probably be for a month and a half, and I'm very pleased to discover that Miguel, a colleague, will be joining me. We'll probably do a week on site (in Finland), and then a week off, through the term of the project. It's going to be be interesting, and I'm glad it won't just be me on site.

I discovered that St Mary Aldermary holds a Holy Communion service ("Mass") on Mondays, at lunchtime, and went along. It was a BCP service, with the priest (in dalmatic, rather than chasuble, I think), a sacristan/server (in cotta) at the front, and around 8 other people, including a nun. It was a lovely haven of quiet and peace in the middle of the day, and I'm very glad I made it. I'm usually in London on Mondays, and I'm going to try to make a habit of it.

Labels: communion, travel, work

And nobody came (well, a few)

(backposting) Today I stood in for my boss, who wasn't able to take the 1900 Holy Communion. It was St Matthew's day yesterday, and as we'd not transferred it to Sunday, I thought it would be a good idea to celebrate it today, so rather than use an altar in one of the side chapels, I prepared the high altar, and although I didn't change the altar frontal to red, I vested in red stole and chasuble and got ready to take the service.

I sat down to ready myself, and waited, but after 5 minutes noone had come. I certainly wasn't going to celebrate Holy Communion on my own (quite apart from not being at all happy about the theology, it's forbidden by canon law), so I took a service on ante-communion, going through all the Holy Communion until the beginning of the Eucharistic Prayer, and then stopping, finishing with the Grace. Just me. But I was very aware that I wasn't alone, but surrounded by the heavenly host. It was a fantastic experience.

Labels: communion, saint

Haircut, and lots of hours, and Communion

You know when you just _have_ to get a set of work done? Well, that was today. Unluckily, it was for two different pieces of work. But they're both done, even if I wasn't finished before 2000. I also managed to get a haircut, which was useful (what with my hair being too long).

And took part in a very interesting discussion on the Eucharist over at Sally's Journey. Feel free to pop over and join in.

Labels: communion, work

Services, and holiday

(backposting) I presided at two services today: an 0800 at Halstead, and a 1000 team service at Greenstead Green. I preached on the what the basics of Christianity might be at the 0800, and was just presiding at the 1000. Every time presiding is different, and that's still really exciting.

Then, after lunch, we headed off towards Diss. On the way, we stopped off at Bressingham Steam and Gardens, which Malcolm, Halstead PCC treasurer, had suggested as a good day out. The girls loved the Galloper (a carousel), and some of the steam exhibits. They also loved going round the gardens on a narrow gauge (or mini-something) steam train. As we were headed off, we found a big warehouse with lots of trains and carriages in it. Jo's first reaction was "boring, boring, boring" (spot the aspiring teenager), but she almost immediately got really into it. Of particular interest was a royal carriage with a bath in it.

We got to the hotel, whose main attraction for us was that they had one room with an adjoining side room which the girls could sleep in. We watched some of The Wizard of Oz, which Jo really got into, and then we headed down to supper. A proper, grown-up supper. With both girls. They did really well, and we were proud of them.

Labels: communion, girls, holiday

Leaving on a jet plane

(backposting) Off at 0730, and very sad to be leaving the girls. I'm not sure whether their waving me off from the sitting room window helps or not. Clear run to the airport, and quick check in (thanks to the Star Alliance gold card). Did some shopping - books and single malt - and then to the lounge, which was relaxing.

Got the gate early-ish, and when we were called up to the desk to embark, I'd been upgraded. This always makes me glad. Oh yes.

Tried watching Watchmen, but really couldn't get into it. Tried reading a novel I'd bought, but it was just terrible, so in the end, I just slept and read a book on NLP (Neuro Linguistic Programming - one of the worst names ever), which was interesting.

We arrived early, and I managed to make it to a very informal Communion service at St Anne's Reston, a really welcoming, inclusive, family-based church. I had a great, great time, and was so pleased to be able to take Communion. I'd already been in touch with the incumbent, James, who'd been very friendly over email, but it was great to receive such a lovely welcome.

Back to the hotel, did some working out in the gym - I really want to get into the habit of doing this when I'm travelling - some food (1 beer) and to bed. Tired.

Labels: communion, family, travel

Preparing for my first communion

A ten-mile bike ride, having pumped up the tyres with my new stirrup pump (Father's Day present). Nice to be riding it again - I started at the end of the autumn, I think - getting the pump (which I'd asked for) was an incentive to get back into it.

I also had quite a long session with my incumbent, John, where we prepared for my first Communion service on Sunday. We walked through the whole service, and had lots of discussion about various aspects. The bit we spent most time on (unsurprisingly) was the Eucharist prayer, and in particular the gestures that he uses. I'd previously spent quite a lot of time talking to my Dad about what he does, and we also had discussion about it during the CME day the other week. Part of the discussion, I'm pleased to say, was about the theology being expressed by the gestures, and John is very happy for my practice to be different to his (as is my Dad). I'm pleased to have spent so much time thinking and talking about this: I'm sure my practice will change, but it should be firmly based in my theology.

As part of the walk-through, I said most of the service. It was interesting to note which bits of the Eucharist prayer I didn't want to say. It was also interesting to note that I think that I'll find giving the Absolution for the first time as affecting, in its own way, as my first prayer of consecration. It's going to be a very emotionally charged day on Sunday, but I'm looking forward to it very much indeed.

On a lighter note, John's the one with the beard...

Labels: communion, ordination, theology

Preparation for my priesting and first Eucharist

Scarily, these two events are only 2 and a half months away, and I really have to start thinking about them. The ordination will kind of just happen (God willing, of course - the bishop already seems willing), although we need to choose some music. My first Eucharist (does that sound like "My First Pony" to anyone else?), however, requires quite a lot of planning. They're both going to happen on the same day - Sunday, 28th June, 2009 - the first at 1030, the second at 1500. I'd love to welcome any readers of this blog who would like to come, but please let me know first, as I need to plan numbers for the different services.

Today, I booked a preacher for my first Eucharist: Ian McIntosh, principal of my theological course, ERMC. He's an excellent preacher ("I'm an excellent driver..."), and I really look forward to seeing him there. I'd considered a number of other people, but rejected them for a variety of reasons, and I know that he'll preach very well, which really matters to me. Also to be arranged:

• organist
• choir
• music
• hymns (this is not the same as immediately preceding item)
• deacon
• ?sub-deacon
• readings

Labels: communion, ordination

Communion helps

Wasn't feeling great. Took the girls to the 1000, taking communion and having a pray helps. Hmmm.

Labels: communion

Having children ...

... tends - in our case, at least - to prevent one from over-indulging _too_ much of an evening, as you know you're likely to be up far too early in the morning, and, what's more, that you'll have to deal with them when they get up. Well, we all got up before 0700, as Ruth and James had to get away, but at least there were no loud children around.

Later on in the day, James very kindly walked me through the deacon's role at Holy Communion in Halstead, which is different to what I've done before. He's quite high church, and takes these things pretty seriously, so was a good teacher.

Forgot to post on yesterday's blog that both Ruth and James are planning to try out SecondLife. James has already popped in and has an av: Ruth not yet.

Labels: children, communion

Serving

(backposting) Today was my first church engagement since ordination: a Area Team Meeting, held in Halstead. I went to a service of Holy Communion in the church first, with just me, James (the other curate, presiding) and one of the people going to the meeting. So, "when two or three are gathered in my name", indeed. A lovely, intimate service: it made me think about how I'll be taking communion services in a year's time.

The meeting went on till 2115, and then I drove up to Loughborough. This is service. My mother-in-law's ADSL router had died, and she really needs to have Internet access for some work she does. Moo and I looked at possible dates to go up, but decided that just doing it might make most sense. So, I left the Halstead around 2130, and got to East Leake around 2345: a good, fast trip. Said the evening office, had a glass and a half of wine, and went to bed.

Labels: church, communion, diaconate, family, service

Communion - twice

(backposting) I went to communion at the 0800 service in Great Yeldham this morning, as I wanted to take the girls to the Palm Sunday benefice service at Toppesfield at 1100. Quiet service, got home, made waffles, got ready, and then went out again.

Having to the girls out of the car, I put Miri in the pushchair and walked with Jo along the street to where we were starting the procession with Pebbles the donkey (which is why I thought I'd take them along). After 10 minutes, about 40 of us, including a (robed) choir (with their coats over their robes) walked the 250 metres to the church, singing in the driving rain. I couldn't stop smiling: it was so English, and so Christian. I kept being reminded of what St Paul had to say about the foolishness of the world. It turned out to be another Communion service - if I'd known, I wouldn't have gone to the 0800 as well - but I decided to receive Communion again, as I didn't want to confuse Jo, who would have been expecting me to take it.

A really boring service for the girls, but they were brilliant, and in the afternoon we went swimming, partly as a reward for Jo. We'd bought her some swimming goggles yesterday at Freeport, and it really helped her. She was putting her face completely underwater, doing some actual swimming, and even managing to float on her back unaided by the end. The lessons are paying off.

Labels: communion, Jo, swimming

ERMC day 3 - "And we shall be changed. We _shall_ be changed"

We had one session yesterday on ministry in schools by on of the people on the course, who's an expert in this field, and we had two more today. Managed to stay awake: they were very interesting, and I know that I'm going to be doing at least one in the next month or two, so paying attention was a good plan.

A good service, in the charismatic tradition - the quote (which, in that form, is from Handel's Messiah) was my response to the weekend. Some good songs/choruses (I'm learning not to refer to them as "hymns"), and I was administering one of the chalices today. This was fantastic: it can be good administering the chalice anyway, but it was such a privilege today, when I know those receiving well, and know that they are staff or ordinands like me. It was just very special.

Labels: communion, ERMC, theology

Infant Communion

I've never felt even vaguely happy about infant communion. Although I realise that there's an argument to say that it's good to involve children early on, and not to leave them out of a particular part of the service, but I've always taken the view that you shouldn't be taking communion until you're of an age to understand the seriousness and importance of what it's about.

I was reading Jo some stories from the excellent My Very First Bible today. We'd done Jesus in the storm (twice), the hole in the roof (once), and Jo wanted another story, so I read the Passion narrative and then finished with the Resurrection. When we got to the Last Supper, I read along the lines of "Jesus shared bread and wine with his friends, and told them to do the same to remember him."

Jo said, "you have bread and wine, don't you?" I said, "yes." And then she said, "but you don't share it with me, do you? I have a biscuit, don't I?"

She knows that she can't have the bread and the wine, but if she's patient, after a service, she can have a biscuit with the coffee/tea afterwards. I've tried very hard to make it clear that the biscuits aren't an equivalent, or alternative, and I think she gets that. What was heart-breaking was the tone with which she accepted that I don't share the bread and the wine with her. She really understands sharing and how important it is. It's a really difficult thing for a toddler, but she's getting quite good at doing it with Miri and with us: sometimes she'll even offer us her food if she really likes it. And I really believe that she understood the importance of Jesus sharing the bread and the wine with his friends. She made the leap from that to the Eucharist service completely on her own, and I was astonished. And heart-broken.

I have some serious thinking to do about my theology of the Eucharist. "Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings...": Matthew 21:16.

Labels: communion, Jo, theology