Following the leadings of love and truth, to joyful action in the world
#MonthOfMinistry Day 7 The wonderful XKCD comic reminded us recently that we are related to stromatolites (https://xkcd.com/3046). As the cartoon says, stromatolites are basically mats of bacteria, which build up over time into clumps. Some of these are fossilised as lumps of rock, and some of these are among the earliest traces of living organisms … Read more
#MonthOfMinistry Day 6 I know you’re scared And I’m scared too But here I am Right next to you African-American singer/songwriter and activist Melanie DeMore reminds us to lead with love in these times of fear and chaos: Lead With Love – Melanie DeMoreYou gotta put one foot in front of the otherAnd lead with … Read more
#MonthOfMinistry Day 4 The image shows St Nicholas (definitely not channelling his cosy Santa Claus persona!) about to slap Arius at the First Council of Nicaea. They’re disagreeing about whether Christ the Son is of the same substance as God the Father. A highly technical point about the nature of the Trinity, but enough for … Read more
#MonthOfMinistry Day 3 A couple came to me for a wedding ceremony recently, and I asked the what vows or promises they wanted to make to each other. “No vows!” they said, and I was momentarily at a loss. What, after all, makes a wedding ceremony if it’s not the chance to tell your partner … Read more
#MonthOfMinistry Day 2 To tell the truth, I’m rather wary of the word “service”. It has too many connotations of unequal relationship, situations where work isn’t offered freely (military service, domestic service, …). The word is related to the Latin servus meaning a slave. When we use this word to describe our activity, particularly in … Read more
#MonthOfMinistry Day 1 Hello, I’m Chris, outdoor swimmer, peace activist, interfaith celebrant, web developer, Work That Reconnects facilitator… I’m passionate about addressing the causes of conflict, injustice, suffering, and environmental damage, and building radical communities to sustain us in this work. Walking in the mountains and swimming in the sea, the beauty, energy and wildness in … Read more
The title ‘Reverend’ sits easily/reluctantly with me because… #MonthOfMinistry Day 16: When I and my Onespirit Interfaith Minister colleagues completed our training, we were ‘ordained’ (another odd word), and told that we were now entitled to use the title ‘Reverend’. I really found this quite problematic! Firstly, it’s a title mainly used by Christian clerics. … Read more
#MonthOfMinistry Day 10 There are quite a few different things that I’d consider to be “spiritual practice”. What does that even mean? For me it covers all those things that I do, with intention, to help me stop, rest in the present moment, connect with The first is Quaker Meeting for Worship, our equivalent, perhaps, … Read more
#MonthOfMinistry Day 13 Our supper is plain, but we are very wonderful. It’s a line from the poem 23rd Street Runs into Heaven by Kenneth Patchen, and it speaks to me of the joys that can be found in simplicity. (The photo is a rather fancy supper: the lovely thali my housemates cooked for my … Read more
#MonthOfMinistry Day 8 Coming home to a tasty dish of roast vegetables, cooked by my dear Jane!