To my parents, married 45 years ago today.
Sunday, 30 December 2012
Friday, 28 December 2012
Sing like a Catholic by Jeffrey Tucker
here on Scribd.
A good read - I make that just shy of 2 hours.
Lots of common sense and no, I hadn't read it before, but if you have read some of my previous posts on music in church, you will think I have been plagiarising freely. Not so.
It got very spooky, when I got to the chapter entitled, 'Rip up the carpet.'
I kid you not...
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A good read - I make that just shy of 2 hours.
Lots of common sense and no, I hadn't read it before, but if you have read some of my previous posts on music in church, you will think I have been plagiarising freely. Not so.
It got very spooky, when I got to the chapter entitled, 'Rip up the carpet.'
I kid you not...
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Melinda Gates edits The Today Programme
It is interesting to note in a programme devoted to providing artificial contraception in the developing world and how everyone should have two children, that Thought for the Day with an Ursuline sister lauded the Mizens, who of course have nine children.
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Wednesday, 26 December 2012
Monday, 24 December 2012
Happy Christmas
Right back to the tricky task of wrapping that awkward shaped toy for my nephew. Mm...
Location:Everywhere
Thursday, 20 December 2012
Wednesday, 19 December 2012
Tuesday, 18 December 2012
Monday, 17 December 2012
A reply from my MP
Dear Miss Leutgeb
Thank you for contacting me about the Government’s proposals for same sex marriage. You will obviously be aware that the Government has now responded to the recent public consultation and has said that it will bring forward legislation in the New Year. I recognise the strength of feeling on this issue – particularly in respecting freedom of religious belief.
I believe that marriage is a hugely powerful institution underlining love, commitment and faithfulness. I also believe that a fundamental distinction should be drawn between civil marriage set out in law and statute and religious marriage forming part of a tenet of faith and religious observance. Provided this separation is properly observed, I struggle to see why the state should seek to exclude adults who are prepared to make vows of life-long fidelity and commitment simply because their partner is of the same sex. If we believe marriage is a good thing – which I do – then I believe that it will be strengthened, not weakened, by making it inclusive.
The Government has reflected carefully on the submissions it received during the public consultation and has made clear that in bringing proposals forward:
• The legislation will state explicitly that no religious organisation, or individual minister can be compelled to marry same sex couples or to permit this to happen on their premises;
• The Equality Act will be amended to ensure that no discrimination claims can be brought for refusing to marry a same-sex couple;
• It will be unlawful for religious organisations to marry same-sex couples unless they have expressly opted to do so and it will be clear that no law requires any religious organisation to opt-in; and
• It will be illegal for the Church of England to marry same sex couples or to opt-in to doing so. Only though a change to both Canon Law and further primary legislation could the Church of England conduct same sex marriages.
Religious freedom is guaranteed under Article 9 of the European Convention of Human Rights and recent case law underlines that same sex marriage is a matter for individual member states which are under no obligation to allow same-sex couples to marry. The proposals will not lead to any change in the way in which children are taught. The syllabus will not change nor will procedures for resolving conflicts with personal beliefs.
On the basis of these safeguards, I support the proposals for same sex civil marriage. I believe that it would promote a more tolerant, fairer and more inclusive society more at ease with itself and more genuinely focussed on equality of opportunity – something which I believe to be profoundly Conservative.
That said, I fully respect the legitimate and sincerely held belief that marriage should only be between one man and one woman. There are differences of view – indeed there are differences of view within individual Christian denominations. Faith is personal and the product of an individual religious journey. Whilst we may not agree on this issue, I hope you will equally respect my own personal views and my own Christian faith in supporting this change.
Yours sincerely,
James Brokenshire MP
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Thank you for contacting me about the Government’s proposals for same sex marriage. You will obviously be aware that the Government has now responded to the recent public consultation and has said that it will bring forward legislation in the New Year. I recognise the strength of feeling on this issue – particularly in respecting freedom of religious belief.
I believe that marriage is a hugely powerful institution underlining love, commitment and faithfulness. I also believe that a fundamental distinction should be drawn between civil marriage set out in law and statute and religious marriage forming part of a tenet of faith and religious observance. Provided this separation is properly observed, I struggle to see why the state should seek to exclude adults who are prepared to make vows of life-long fidelity and commitment simply because their partner is of the same sex. If we believe marriage is a good thing – which I do – then I believe that it will be strengthened, not weakened, by making it inclusive.
The Government has reflected carefully on the submissions it received during the public consultation and has made clear that in bringing proposals forward:
• The legislation will state explicitly that no religious organisation, or individual minister can be compelled to marry same sex couples or to permit this to happen on their premises;
• The Equality Act will be amended to ensure that no discrimination claims can be brought for refusing to marry a same-sex couple;
• It will be unlawful for religious organisations to marry same-sex couples unless they have expressly opted to do so and it will be clear that no law requires any religious organisation to opt-in; and
• It will be illegal for the Church of England to marry same sex couples or to opt-in to doing so. Only though a change to both Canon Law and further primary legislation could the Church of England conduct same sex marriages.
Religious freedom is guaranteed under Article 9 of the European Convention of Human Rights and recent case law underlines that same sex marriage is a matter for individual member states which are under no obligation to allow same-sex couples to marry. The proposals will not lead to any change in the way in which children are taught. The syllabus will not change nor will procedures for resolving conflicts with personal beliefs.
On the basis of these safeguards, I support the proposals for same sex civil marriage. I believe that it would promote a more tolerant, fairer and more inclusive society more at ease with itself and more genuinely focussed on equality of opportunity – something which I believe to be profoundly Conservative.
That said, I fully respect the legitimate and sincerely held belief that marriage should only be between one man and one woman. There are differences of view – indeed there are differences of view within individual Christian denominations. Faith is personal and the product of an individual religious journey. Whilst we may not agree on this issue, I hope you will equally respect my own personal views and my own Christian faith in supporting this change.
Yours sincerely,
James Brokenshire MP
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Sunday, 16 December 2012
Blackfen; a survey scientific like
After the Carol Service, the choir gave me some lovely flowers and a new fangled box of Ferrero Rochers. Thank you and yum and what what we do without the people who troop out every Sunday to practise and sing, not to mention the rarely seen or acknowledged armies of cleaners, flower arrangers and people who launder altar linens etc? You wanna see volunteering Coalition Government...? But I digress.
Anyway, I opened the box and offered them round. The random sample of people who were offered a chocolate ranged in age from 3, to, 'Don't you know it's rude to ask a gentleman or a lady their age?' male and female, married, engaged, single, lay and ordained. No religious. Tssh, should have done it after Mass.
On later inspection, there were only two dark chocolate ones and two white chocolate ones left. Most of the remaining chocs were original gold milk chocolate.
And what can we conclude from this?
People dressed as angels, kings and shepherds can easily embrace the new (and the old) with no special training.
Mm the experimental methods do need some refining since some people who refused a choc, were already well on into the other fun size chocs on offer and even aged 10, there are only so many you can take in one sitting.
Might have to have one, before pondering other refinements...
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Anyway, I opened the box and offered them round. The random sample of people who were offered a chocolate ranged in age from 3, to, 'Don't you know it's rude to ask a gentleman or a lady their age?' male and female, married, engaged, single, lay and ordained. No religious. Tssh, should have done it after Mass.
On later inspection, there were only two dark chocolate ones and two white chocolate ones left. Most of the remaining chocs were original gold milk chocolate.
And what can we conclude from this?
People dressed as angels, kings and shepherds can easily embrace the new (and the old) with no special training.
Mm the experimental methods do need some refining since some people who refused a choc, were already well on into the other fun size chocs on offer and even aged 10, there are only so many you can take in one sitting.
Might have to have one, before pondering other refinements...
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Wednesday, 12 December 2012
That amazing educational tool - YouTube
This got sung recently in a concert.
You Tube is great.
I have emailed my GCSE class a list of links to all the stuff we have listened to this term for revision, ( subject to parental approval.)
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You Tube is great.
I have emailed my GCSE class a list of links to all the stuff we have listened to this term for revision, ( subject to parental approval.)
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Tuesday, 11 December 2012
An arrogant, privileged, liberal elite
OK well I struck that out of my email to my MP, along with the threat to spoil my ballot paper at the next General Election. That's not actually a threat, it was an action at the last local elections.
The Ballot paper
Tory nope
Lib Dem nope
Labour 1million people march against the war in Iraq, you lie to Parliament and go to war anyway, and then there's the Catholic Adoption Agencies. Nope.
UKIP too wacky for me.
BNP. This being SE London. Don't vote for fascists.
Loony parties. Loony. Nope.
Don't need to worry about the economy, NHS, taxation, Europe etc.
Instead, I ended, thus,
Not great, but that's what happens when people rush legislation through.
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The Ballot paper
Tory nope
Lib Dem nope
Labour 1million people march against the war in Iraq, you lie to Parliament and go to war anyway, and then there's the Catholic Adoption Agencies. Nope.
UKIP too wacky for me.
BNP. This being SE London. Don't vote for fascists.
Loony parties. Loony. Nope.
Don't need to worry about the economy, NHS, taxation, Europe etc.
Instead, I ended, thus,
Rest assured, if your Government brings legislation before Parliament, to redefine marriage, I shall never vote Tory again, since your Party clearly holds the electorate in such contempt. No point reading a manifesto if once elected, the government can rip it up and impose whatever it likes.
Not great, but that's what happens when people rush legislation through.
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Sunday, 9 December 2012
Saturday, 8 December 2012
Thank you very much - Diolch yn fawr
Santa has come early! The Altar Servers have been in contact with Jones Crisps and now my parents will have crisps and crisps and crisps at Christmas.
thank you :-)
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Friday, 7 December 2012
Monitoring Participation and Praying the Prayers
Another fascinating discussion over at Pray Tell, trying to work out just what people are really doing at Mass.
In my family, Grandma enforced an unbending rule which said that you were never allowed to comment on other people's behaviour at Mass. Ever. She spent 18 of the first 20 years of her life living in a convent after her mother died, attending daily Mass at school etc, so it's not like there wasn't a big religious input in her upbringing.
So my immediate response is, don't know because I was trained never to look or to see. Nope. Still don't know.
How can you tell anything by how loudly people say things or how loudly they sing?
Why do you need to tell anything anyway?
If it's decibels that matter, you might want to consider how people talk to each other at the most intimate and loving moments of their lives. Generally not loud. Maybe people who answer loudly are very fervent or very insensitive. Who could possibly say?
How about minding your own business and saying your own prayers?
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In my family, Grandma enforced an unbending rule which said that you were never allowed to comment on other people's behaviour at Mass. Ever. She spent 18 of the first 20 years of her life living in a convent after her mother died, attending daily Mass at school etc, so it's not like there wasn't a big religious input in her upbringing.
So my immediate response is, don't know because I was trained never to look or to see. Nope. Still don't know.
How can you tell anything by how loudly people say things or how loudly they sing?
Why do you need to tell anything anyway?
If it's decibels that matter, you might want to consider how people talk to each other at the most intimate and loving moments of their lives. Generally not loud. Maybe people who answer loudly are very fervent or very insensitive. Who could possibly say?
How about minding your own business and saying your own prayers?
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Ticking the boxes
Just done The Tablet survey again.
Bit of a hoot. Forget those bland surveys. The questions are very loaded.
It reminds me of Blackadder and The Flanders Pigeon Murderer trial.
I declined to give my email address.
It's just a pity it doesn't give you some sort of a paragraph of waffle at the end à la a woman's magazine.
Mostly a? You'd prefer to go to an EF Mass if there is one, but think the new translation is perfectly fine thanks.
Mostly e? You hardly ever go to Mass and will be getting a surprise on Christmas Day.
In other news, there is a shop by the station advertising Exmas Trees.
Were they once in a church?
Reminds me of the notice by the till in the butcher's shop.
' Due to a large number of forgeries, we no longer except Scottish bank notes.'
Which in turn reminds me of the ( Catholic) teacher from N Ireland arguing at the till with the dinner lady about how his Ulster Bank tenner was valid, because N Ireland is part of the UK.
I'll stop now.
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Bit of a hoot. Forget those bland surveys. The questions are very loaded.
It reminds me of Blackadder and The Flanders Pigeon Murderer trial.
I declined to give my email address.
It's just a pity it doesn't give you some sort of a paragraph of waffle at the end à la a woman's magazine.
Mostly a? You'd prefer to go to an EF Mass if there is one, but think the new translation is perfectly fine thanks.
Mostly e? You hardly ever go to Mass and will be getting a surprise on Christmas Day.
In other news, there is a shop by the station advertising Exmas Trees.
Were they once in a church?
Reminds me of the notice by the till in the butcher's shop.
' Due to a large number of forgeries, we no longer except Scottish bank notes.'
Which in turn reminds me of the ( Catholic) teacher from N Ireland arguing at the till with the dinner lady about how his Ulster Bank tenner was valid, because N Ireland is part of the UK.
I'll stop now.
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Sunday, 2 December 2012
Turn to page one and the letter A
Yesterday at early o'clock (6.20am as it goes,) I wiped the ice off my bicycle seat and sped off in the dark to the station. Of course I knew that when I got to Ryde it would be sunny, because the weather is always good when we go to the IOW. Even when the fog descended as I approached Portsmouth.... all sunny on the seafront in Ryde.
This time we looked at the Introits for the four Sundays of Advent.
I reacquainted myself with the Triplex, which I am gradually covering in tiny pencil writing. Eventually, I will not only have written all over it, but I might have got a bit more of a hang of the squiggles as well as the squares.
From today's Introit, Ad te levavi we get the emphatic idea that those negatives are very important; 'let me NOT be put to shame; do NOT allow my enemies to laugh at me.
We also came away with an Advent shopping list of psalms to read; 24, 79, 84, for starters.
Sister, chanting all the psalms weekly, has only to sing a phrase to be transported into the whole psalm and a whole world of meaning.
The mix of modes, source notes, knowledge of the texts and the greater contexts of the texts is fantastic, so it's always a shame when the bell goes and it's time for her to disappear again.
In other news I was very pleased with Mass XVII and Rorate Caeli. People have been taking their books home to practise.
We also had a mighty sing of Adeste fidelis after Mass.
Puer natus in Bethlehem, here we come.
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Location:Ryde, Isle of Wight
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