This photo of Hospederia San Martin Pinario is courtesy of TripAdvisor
The Church in Wales Lent course has details on page 13 on how to make a Pipe-Cleaner Person from a 12 inch pipe cleaner. Clear instructions are available at How to Make Bendable Figures Using Pipe Cleaners.
The course booklet suggests that if one Pipe-Cleaner Person is made each week through Lent, it can become a ‘symbol’ of "how we would like to become a more generous people, how we would like to become more generous stewards of God’s creation, and how we seek to welcome others into our churches with a generosity of heart and spirit."
A generous welcome is constantly extended to allegedly 'marginalised' people, especially lesbian, bisexual, gay and transexual (LGBT) people which is somewhat of a puzzle since they have been happily worshipping with the rest of us for as long as I can recall.
By comparison any whiff of orthodoxy has become as welcome in many churches as something stepped in before entering.
The Bible teaches that Marriage is sacred. If same sex marriage is permitted contrary to the official teaching of the Church in Wales as has been suggested by the Bishop of Bangor, a significant hurdle for LGBT people will be overcome leaving only a few inconvenient verses of Scripture to be revised or ignored as has become the custom of those who matter in the Church in Wales.
I have heard it suggested that generous stewards sitting in the pews who follow the Lent course could make pipe cleaner priests to substitute for their own clergy when they are away on June’s Santiago de Compostela jolly.
The bishop of Llandaff's generosity has been the focus of much attention in her desire to "train and equip priests to teach and lead pilgrimage in their own communities", something that could easily be achieved at minimal expense in the diocese of Llandaff drawing on the experience of clergy already well versed in leading pilgrimages.
Chartering an aircraft to fly all Llandaff's clergy to Santiago de Compostela is even more surprising since it is been reported that the Cathedral, the destination for Camino pilgrims, has been undergoing extensive renovations resulting in limited access and the suspension of the pilgrims' mass which may have been one of the few attractions of this compulsory jolly.
With no Camino walk and the main attraction in Santiago de Compostela closed for renovation, a few slides in a more accessible local venue should suffice instead of transporting all the diocesan clergy to Hospederia de San Martin de Pinario but that would lack the grandeur of a clergy school befitting the new breed of managers masquerading as bishops in the Church in Wales.
Might one suggest that a suitable posture for Lent bendable figures would be kneeling in prayer that the Church in Wales returns to orthodoxy before she fades into a distant memory of former glory.
'Teach and lead us in Pigrimage'? Like charter a jet and fly clergy - all expenses paid - to serviced accommodation in a holiday destination? June needs to find a face-saving exit from this debacle before the story gets out and discredits the whole Diocese.
ReplyDeleteLostwithiel
That horse bolted weeks ago Lostwithiel.
DeleteDid you miss John Pockett's letter last year and more recent articles in the Western Mail?
But disrepute seems to be of no concern to anyone in the Church in Wales nowadays.
Does anyone have links to the BBC Radio 4 Sunday Programme? Jolly June’s Spanish Jolly would make a good item for them to investigate.
ReplyDeleteBerty.
It is not 'the bishop' of LLandaff's genororsity. WE have given this money, the Pew Sitters. Shame on every cleric that attends. Close the food banks they manage and instead, cancel this disgraceful waste of money and donate the cost to the homeless. When will this madness end?
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
DeleteShame your remarks were deleted Ruth. I for one agreed with you
DeleteMO, I was in Cardiff last week, and was shocked and deeply troubled by the amount of homeless people on the streets. My thought at the time was, wouldn't it have been a better act of mission if the Diocese of Llandaff had rented out one of the larger empty shops in the city centre, put beds, table and chairs in it, and invited the homeless to have somewhere safe to sleep and a place to eat? This need not have been done by the Diocese on its own: it could have been done in conjunction with other agencies and churches.
DeleteWhat is sickening is that the Bishop is hot on social issues when it suits her - after all, gays and lesbian must have their rights - yet the least of Jesus' brothers and sisters can take a running jump.
As a matter of fairness in relation to the Santiago junket: I was talking to a friend of mine who works for a multinational company. One of his jobs is to organize conferences for the firm, and he told me that he always found it cheaper to charter a plane and fly people overseas for a conference, than to hold it in Britain. Spain is one of his favoured destinations: Madrid, in particular.
That being said, I still think the money would have been better spent dealing with a humanitarian crisis on the doorstep, than flying the clergy to Spain. It would certainly have Jesus' approval (Matthew 25: 31-46)
Seymour
Even the expense of renting out a hotel is unnecessary Seymour.
Delete39 Cathedral Road has been empty and unused for a year or so but it is clearly beyond the imagination and wit of the buffoons on the bench to put it to good charitable Christian use.
Seymour. I can't accept that a venue somewhere in the Diocese (and there are plenty to choose from) would cost as much as chartering a jet to Spain. Your friend has a vested interest and is talking about 'in Britain' and multinationals. Perhaps the lowly pewsitters could be told exactly how much this trip will actually cost us?
DeleteLostwithiel
How easy it is to replace conversion with social work,Seymour: the Anglican Church's tendency since the 1960s at least. 'Man shall not live by bread alone.'
ReplyDeleteRob
Do you honestly believe Rob, that preaching alone is going to win souls for Christ? If you were hungry, cold and homeless, would me telling you about the love of God, the cross or the resurrection change anything in your life? If I showed you the love of God by giving you a meal, and making sure that you are warm and that you are given the dignity that a child of God deserves; that would be better than ten thousand sermons - especially if people are aware of why we are doing it. We do it because the Lord's people matter to him - What you do for the least of these my brothers, you do for me. Whether we like it or not, words are cheap - and sermons consist of words. Actions take time, and sometimes it takes money too.
DeleteThe early Church grew at a phenomenal rate because people were taken care of. The role of the deacon came about because the apostles didn't have the time to wait on tables. The money collected in worship was handed to the deacons so that they could take care of the needs of the poor. The money wasn't put in a bank account to pay for ever increasing repairs to buildings, nor for the Bishop to take the clergy on holiday. The donations of the faithful was used for social action. Perhaps that is where the early Church got it right and the modern Church gets it wrong.
It is not about replacing conversion with social work, as you put it. St John states it quite clearly. If you have the means to help and see a brother in need and close your heart to him, how can you say: I love God. If you cannot love the brother whom you have seen, you cannot love God whom you have not seen. I have seen people become truly committed Christians simply because I listened to them or offered them practical help when their backs were against the wall. It wasn't conversion that came first - dealing with their situations came first - conversion followed later.
Seymour
Seymour, however well intentioned, how can you so misread the New Testament? St Paul may have brought material aid to some poor churches and to needy Christians, but dare you make this the main object of his missionary journeys? Similarly, Christ healed many and on occasions provided physical food for crowds, yet wished to offer spiritual food and drink (himself) because he was the world's Saviour and redeemer.
ReplyDeleteIf I were your tutor I should ask you to return to the text and rewrite your essay. Disappointing, your contributions are usually more sound.
Rob
Au contraire, Rob, I think you must be reading the same New Testament that Margaret Thatcher used to read. Why does Paul rail against the Corinthians' agape meals? It is because the poor were being ignored or excluded. Mark tells us that Jesus had compassion on the crowds "because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd." If it was good enough for Jesus, then it is good enough for me too. Having spent all day teaching, the good Lord told his disciples to "give them something to eat". The disciples couldn't do it, so Jesus stepped in. In the Acts of the Apostles, Luke consistently tells us of the fellowship that the Church enjoyed. It was that "fellowship" aspect, which won souls for Christ.
ReplyDeleteAsk any missionary organization today how they do mission, and you will find that the first thing they do is to deal with the initial situation that they find people in. It is why some missionaries are doctors or nurses or trained teachers, etc. When you show people that you believe wholly and completely that they are a child of God, worthy of the dignity of a child of God, it is amazing the response you get from them. I know because I have seen it over and over again. It is merely the practice of the New Testament Church.
On the streets of Cardiff, we have our own missionary opportunity. "Profligacy Prevails" has pointed out the existence of a premises, not far from the city centre which is vacant, and could be put to good use. As I see it, Rob, it is nothing more than showing the love of God to people who feel unloved and abandoned. If however, you wish to nip down to the city centre and preach at the homeless, then the best of luck to you, and I will pray for your endeavours; but I suspect that your efforts will be similar to those disciples "who toiled all night." Ultimately, they caught nothing.
Seymour
'And unto you is born this day '... a relief worker who (God help us! is Geldof), who will fill your belly ... but leave your spirit empty.
ReplyDeleteSeymour, the praiseworthy good works you describe will result from preaching the Gospel. It's a question of emphasis and where you begin. In his temptations Jesus rejected concentrating on the multiplication of bread and fish, indeed he was disappointed by the crowd's motive in coming to him - 'You seek me not because you saw the signs 'etc.
I fear you are experiencing a loss of nerve.
Rob
I do not see my actions as "praiseworthy good works", Rob, it is more a case of offering to others the grace which God has shown to me. As St Paul points out: "It is by grace that we are saved not by works, lest anyone should boast." That said, I can see that my prayers for you are bearing fruit. I am filled with such hope for your fullest conversion, now that you have come to realize "it is a question of emphasis and where you begin."
DeleteWe begin with God's grace to us, which deepens our faith in him, which in turn, is manifested in our actions. (We give shelter and sustenance to the homeless, not for people to praise us, but because God's grace is manifested in our lives.) Going on from there, our actions are a sign of God's grace to others, which deepens their faith in him, which is then manifested in their actions - and the cycle goes on.
Some want to claim that their position is the right one on the grounds of Pauline or Jacobite theology, but both theologies go hand in hand. It is not grace or works. It is grace and works.
Thank you for being concerned about my nerves, but the last time I looked, they were still there.
Seymour
Nerve not nerves, Seymour.
DeleteThank you for taking my criticism (which still stands) seriously, and for devoting time to trying to talk me round. I am touched.
However I maintain my thesis. The Anglican Church is soft pedalling spirituality and replacing it with social work.
Consider the following: if by channeling all its energies the Church could somehow eliminate poverty, provide full bellies, decent housing and good education for everyone (and no more), it would have betrayed its Lord as much as Judas did. 'Man shall not live by bread alone.' Elements of the Church - if NOT you - give the impression that it is praiseworthy to do so.
Was anyone at the Clergy 'briefing' in Sully? Apparently, June isn't bothered if the clergy are sat in Compostela drinking sangria all week. The important thing is that they are there. This will enable her to say that she's had 100% take-up from the stipendiary clergy. Any less would put a question-mark over her leadership and authority. So now we know. This is actually not about pilgrimage and equipping clergy to lead pilgrimage in their own communities (surely subordinate to leading worship, providing pastoral care and inspiring mission?). It is about June - and June's need to be obeyed. Surely there are better ways to spend £50,000+?
ReplyDeletePP. Some one suggested a journalist of note. Anyone contacted The Bureau of Investigative Journalists UK?
ReplyDeleteLink
https://www.thebureauinvestigates.com/
It would be a good idea to ask the Bishop to hold an open meeting for parishioners explaining her Spanish pilgrimage and why it is better than a Welsh pilgrimage - and how much extra it is costing.
ReplyDeleteJim
Caiaphas would fear an Inquisition into her profligacy and demands from those footing the bill for her to justify it.
DeleteAnd we already know it will cost over £100,000
An open meeting for parishioners, explaining her Spanish pilgrimage? That would be too much like accountability and consultation, not least with those who are actually funding this loss-making charabanc.
DeleteAs we are all beginning to realise, June is on the back foot, and that inevitably means she will fight like a cornered rodent. 'My leadership of the Diocese' becomes the greatest euphemism for 'obey or else.'
Still, not long to go. She has to resign the See by midnight on 9th June 2023. Once she announces her intention to resign (probably Advent 2022) she'll be a lame duck anyway. She will be 'winding down' in her own mind after Christmas 2021. So its just a matter of gritting teeth and getting through the 'Vision' charade, watching her collate the supposed 'outcomes' on a flip chart at another briefing in Sully, and then we'll be home and dry. Eighteen months, that's all, until an interesting footnote to the history of the Church in Wales will hit the buffers. Then it'll be off to a retirement among the wealthy and well-to-do on the other side of Offa's Dyke. Hwyl!
My dear Exodus, "Listen very carefully, I will say this only once". You should realize,the Bench Zitters take the oath of Canonical Fundamentalism and obedience to a bishop very seriously indeed (please stop laughing immediately. Light spanking will be an option chap x1) The High Priestess of Llandaf is correct when gently and lovingly she suggests - "Obey or else". See www.scandal and offence.com
DeleteWil ap Nefyn
I think I have done it again - not signed my last post. Sorry!
ReplyDeleteRob
Would Caiaphas like to take her coven here for the week as a prelude to Santiago?
ReplyDeletehttps://endtimeheadlines.org/2019/02/jesus-was-a-sorcerer-bible-a-book-of-magic-say-christian-witches-ahead-of-first-annual-convention/?fbclid=IwAR0p2G9K9Om7yxQ0JnTA5CENFvaGJzSZD0t1B_PK_qQPMSGDSF4-Y7_dYEQ