Liturgical Common Sense

In the midst of all the liturgical talk from Rome thse days comes some common sense from an Australian Source.

Elizabeth Harrington writes an excellent article here about how to interpret Liturgical documents in these times of much pain and confusion.

I especially like this bit:

The way that some people use these documents to attack others causes me great concern.

“Love one another as I have loved you”... if we’re not prepared to act by this commandment, what good will all the liturgical laws in the world do us.

Hmmm

Ever get tired of being grown up?

Another Universe?

Last night watching Dr Who I had a thought about the church.

Maybe the church runs at two levels.

The established church of formality, programmes and professional clergy and a broad underground church of grassroots community care love and transformation. I am pretty sure our little community walks a line between the two.

How I got this out of watching the Dr fight against the Daleks I don't know!

But browsing the net this morning I came across this great book

"Radical Compassion: Finding Christ in the Heart of the Poor" which seemed to give more credence to my thinking.

This would seem to be an issue across denominations and theological viewpoints.

The big questions are:

Does it matter?

Where do we fit? and

If we are wanting to live on the edges of church life, what are we doing about it?

Still thinking about answers to this one.

Benedicitine Vows

Fr Dwight Longenecker writes a cool little series here.
http://gkupsidedown.blogspot.com/search/label/The%20Benedictine%20Way

Kids in Church

As a community, we have changed from having couples and singles to now also having children from 7 years old and downwards with us.

A question we have discussed is "How do we best meet their needs as part of our community?"

I think we have taken a very Benedictine route, by incorporating them into our prayer and community life so that there is no adults vs children's meeting, but merely families and singles meeting, eating, praying and travelling together. We learn and teach faith by participation, discussing, rite, routine, observation, practice and love.

I hope that as they get older, the unique relationships which my children will form in our community will help them to travel along life's journey with some additional security and more wisdom than just mum and dad's.

Interestingly, Andrew Hamilton and Alan Creech have also written about raising children in the faith at their sites. Check 'em out here

http://www.backyardmissionary.com/2007/07/but-what-about-your-kids.html

http://www.backyardmissionary.com/2007/07/but-what-about-your-kids-ii.html

http://www.backyardmissionary.com/2007/07/if-you-dont-believe-me-then-listen-to-an-expert.html

http://www.alancreech.com/2007/07/train-up-child.html

More blooging

by Chris here.
(Although of an arty farty nature...)

Linkage

Chris has written some birthday and music refelctions here

An Anglican View of the Motu Proprio

Good little Article here - worth checking out.
A few great remarks, many of which echo my own beginning and unformed thoughts on the subject.

"In an increasingly secular would, there is a drastic need to rediscover a sense of the numinous, an echo of the power of the wind which blew over the waters at the beginning of time."

"What I am suggesting is that HOC EST ENIM CORPUS MEAM, this IS my body, is a real and true statement, as we Catholics in the CofE believe, and therefore what we have is the life of the world as the centre of our lives, so we need to find a way to celebrate that."

"The Motu Proprio is, in essence, about tolerance and sharing the central truth of the resurrection with as many people as possible, in a way which brings them close to the Wellspring of Truth."

"The Mass is the Mass is the Mass, whether Book of Common Prayer, Common Worship, Novus Ordo, English Missal, the focus is Christ. We know this, because we have seen,like Thomas. Let us show our unity in diversity of expressions of Faith, but let the Christ be evident in our actions and in our worship and in our lives - and stop bickering about stylistics! "

Happy St. Benedicts Day

Happy St. Benedict's Day!

It is a day of celebration in monastic circles, with whiskey, ice cream and chocolate been the order of the day at my favourite monastery!

What does St Benedict, and the order he inspired, mean to me, and us, as a community?

Primarily, for me, it gives us the outline for living the Christian life. In a world which shouts persistently to "do it my way", St Benedict's words speak clearly and persistently - with a lot of common sense.

Listen. Pray. Listen. Work. Listen. Sleep. Listen. Study. Listen. Eat. Listen. Drink. Listen. Speak. Listen. Be silent.

Secondly, it gives me tools for exploring the mystery of God.
The office and liturgy. Being Humble. Lectio Divina. Spiritual Direction. Living in community with all the hard work that entails. Centuries of thinking, delving, reading and writing into the reality of God.

Lastly, St Benedict connects us to a world wide community of people who are seeking after God. My relationship with the monks, and what they have taught me, is strengthened by meeting and talking with people of like mind. Being present at a monastery has introduced me to a world of authors and thinkers previously unknown.

It is Christianity which is deep, and relevant, and fun.

I wonder if Alan, NWC, Dom John or Bryan have anything to say on the matter?

God bless you!

Thoughts in the quiet

Hello friends!

Still here, but insane times of manic buisiness with the end of term upon us all.
I've also been busy applying for a new Job as a campus minister at a local Roman Catholic school, so prayers would be appreciated!

Links for today

Anglo-Catholic Socialism an awesome resource of links and articles from the Anglican left.

If anyone knows of similar groups operating out of the Catholic Left, could you let us know?

Pax Christi the international Catholic peace organization

St Benedicts table a groovy church from somewhere in Canada (Thanks AH!) .... Great name!

and the of course the Pope has let the Latin Mass be used a bit more.
Not sure what I think about this

Bless you!

Spirituality and Pastoral Care

I have just finished reading this excellent book. I know it was excellent because apart from making me critique my inner life, it made we want to research and read about other writers, prayers and places mentioned in the book. If you've read Kenneth Leech before, you know that he is an incredibly sane and well educated voice on the social justice and spirituality junction point. If you haven't read anything by Ken, do yourself a favour and seek out his works. Enough review. A few short quotes which captured me:

Prayer and meditation ... are not some species of personal hygiene by which individuals isolate themselves from anything that might ruffle the still waters of their inner tranquility. It involves undertaking that inner struggle which is our personal share of the search for the wholeness in its corporate living by the community at large.

Much contemporary spirituality is non-biblical, and it is important to read- the Scriptures in an attitude of silence and struggle. Struggle: so that the Word of contradiction, the Word which is sharper than a two edged sword, may cut through the illusion, the falsehood, the idolatry of our culture and ourselves. Silence: so that we may taste the Word,
digest it, absorb it until it becomes part of our being and transforms us.

Sleep and Prayer are closely realted.
Both call for slowing down, a relaxed conditon, an abandonment to trust.

The Tree of Contemplative Practices

I thought this was kinda cool. You can check out the site it came from by clicking the post title. (Click on Pictures for a larger view!)

Whats your Theological World View?

You scored as Roman Catholic, You are Roman Catholic. Church tradition and ecclesial authority are hugely important, and the most important part of worship for you is mass. As the Mother of God, Mary is important in your theology, and as the communion of saints includes the living and the dead, you can also ask the saints to intercede for you. Roman Catholic 96% Emergent/Postmodern 71% Neo orthodox 68% Classical Liberal 54% Evangelical Holiness/Wesleyan 50% Modern Liberal 39% Reformed Evangelical 29% Charismatic/Pentecostal 11% Fundamentalist 11% What's your theological worldview? created with QuizFarm.com

Catholic then Emergent! Sounds Like me, er, us!

After Mass

Feast of Corpus Christi (Body and Blood of Christ) today.

Simple, beautiful High Mass (as in with incense, procession, organ and cantor, sung responses) with a great homily from Abbot Bernard, linking all the readings with the contemporary celebration of the Eucharist.

Much reading and borrowing books about the Jesus Prayer/Prayer of the Heart. I have found it welling up in me lately, and almost praying itself. So I need to understand what is happening.

Blessings and Love

New Norcia Round Up

Very quiet here in the Monastery.

We came up at short notice and the guesthouse was full for Saturday night but having being fairly regular visitors here the Prior gave us "The Deluxe Rooms!" (as he called them) - the Bishops rooms.
Lovely large spaces with an en suite and shutters overlooking the enclosure, which was covered with mist this morning.
Talk about being spoilt!!

Apart from the retreat group (who aren't coming to the office or eating in the Ref.) there are only five monks, two observers and my friend and I here.
Liturgy in this setting is intimate, gentle and kind.
Exactly what my friend needs and not bad for me either....

I've raided the Library, being for a walk with my friend Dom John, prayed lots and just about finished my reports.

More in the morning.

A Quick Round Up

Not much on the site at the moment but lots happening...

I am applying to Study my MATS degree (Master of Arts in Theological Studies) here - with a double major in Pastoral Theology and Monastic Spirituality.


Earlier this week I spent two days with brain guru John Joseph. If you have kids, check out his site. If you teach, check out his site. If you want to live smarter and deeper, check out ... you get the idea!

On the second day we heard from local mega church pastor Phil Baker (hmmmm) who was OK, and then an integrated health expert, Ian Wee. As above, check out his stuff as it is life changing.

Finally I have been ploughing my way through "Mary for Evangelicals" which is an excellent introduction to Mariology and the history of Marian thought from scripture through patristic writers up to later Vatican pronouncements.

and tonight I am off to visit the Monks in New Norcia with a friend who is having a difficult time of late.

Pray for us.

Hope all is well in your worlds.

Still Alive and Kicking

We are still alive and kicking!

Congrats to Matt and Linda on the birth of there baby boy Levi - born this afternoon after 20 hours of trying!
4.5 kg and lots of hair!
Mum and son doing excendingly well!

God around the House

A Nice Story

A story of a conversion to Catholicism is by Alec Guinness, known to most of us as Obi-Wan Kenobi in the mega-hit Star Wars. While acting the role of a priest in Father Brown in Burgundy, France, he tells the story of a late-evening shoot that attracted a fair number of local folk, including children. In his autobiography he writes:

A room had been put at my disposal in the little station hotel three kilometres away. By the time dusk fell I was bored and, dressed in my priestly black, I climbed the gritty winding road to the village.

In the square children were squealing, having mock battles with sticks for swords and dustbin lids for shields; and in a café Peter Finch, Bernard Lee and Robert Hamer were sampling their first Pernod of the evening. I joined them for a modest Kir, then discovering I wouldn’t be needed for at least four hours turned back towards the station.

By now it was dark. I hadn’t gone far when I heard scampering footsteps and a piping voice calling, “Mon père!” My hand was seized by a boy of seven or eight, who clutched it tightly, swung it and kept up a non-stop prattle. He was full of excitement, hops, skips and jumps, but never let go of me. I didn’t dare speak in case my excruciating French should scare him. Although I was a total stranger he obviously took me for a priest and so to be trusted.

Suddenly with a “Bonsoir, mon père,” and a hurried sideways sort of bow, he disappeared through a hole in a hedge. He had had a happy, reassuring walk home, and I was left with an odd calm sense of elation.

Continuing my walk I reflected that a Church which could inspire such confidence in a child, making its priests, even when unknown, so easily approachable could not be as scheming and creepy as so often made out. I began to shake off my long-taught, longabsorbed prejudices.


From a link here

I quite like this...

The rosary becomes a bond between heaven and earth.

One learns to see earth with the eyes of heaven, and heaven seems as near as earth.

The Mother of god prevents one from looking at one's whole life as a failure,

from grieving over the mistakes made,

the opportunities missed

the things not accomplished.

Adrienne Von Speyr.

Singing, Liturgy, Worship and Feelings

Great discussion on the way home in the car today from the Anglican Church where my wife works.

I commented (in a stirring sort of way!) that I didn't enjoy singing three songs at the start of church, and wondered why we needed to do it. Our travelling companion Michelle said she found it helpful to sing for an extended period as a way of settling into worship.

I retorted that if we followed the liturgy, which is not often followed in its completeness at this particular church, the opening rites of hymn, greeting, confession, and collect lead us into worship better than three songs.

Michelle quite rightly shot back that she felt that different ways appealed to different people, and that Church should be able to accommodate this.

To which I replied, we put aside the Liturgy of the Church, as inspired by the Holy Spirit, at our peril, especially if it just to include 15 minutes of singing at the start of the Liturgy.

Two different approaches, two different answers.

What you think? Can the two co-exist?

I enjoyed these comments on Elizaphanian on "Why Liturgy?" which seemed to reinforce MY position!!!! (I've edited it a bit, so check out the post for the whole thing...)

Why liturgy?

So that I can learn how to speak; and pray; and praise.

So that I can be taught the truth.

So that I can be shaped by the church; so that I can be made into a disciple.

So that the centre of gravity does not lie in my own feelings and vocabulary but in the expression of the church.It is not important how I feel when I say 'Glory be to the Father...'; nor is it important how wholeheartedly I believe what I say. It is a question of obedience - feelings and thought will ebb and flow in my life, but the persistence of discipleship is primarily manifested through obedience.

The point is to maintain the faith and trust in the pillar of fire and pillar of cloud, whether it is day or night within me.

Liturgy assumes
a) that I don't yet know all that I need to know about Christianity,

and b) that the church has learnt some of what it needs to know about Christianity.

Liturgy is how that learning is passed on, and developed.

Liturgy is a whole body activity; when done correctly, liturgy is also an ecstatic, out-of-body activity.

There is no greater tyranny than the tyranny of choice.

I need to fall in with something that is more important than my own perspectives, within which I can find myself.

Liturgy is the spacious room in which the Lord has set my feet.

Liturgy is mystery.

Becoming Catholic causes BIG trouble...

Apparently, the head of the Evangelical Theological Society, Dr. Francis Beckwith, has re-entered the Roman Catholic Church, in which he was raised as a child.
You can read the story here at his website. I wish him well.

As you can imagine, the members of the ETS are NOT pleased.
James White posted his reactions here.
Hmmm.

Apparently everyone seems to have forgotten Jesus' injunction to "love one another".

Some good blogging opinions here and here.

I am very aware that in posting this sort of thing I will just stir the pot more, but I truly believe events like this are a wake up for ALL Christians to be vigilant to pray for unity, and for love and respect between denominations of Christians to be on all of our agendas.

Odds and Ends

Into Great Silence start here in Perth on May 17th.
You can be sure we will all be going along to Cinema Paradiso to see it!

I have really been enjoying the writing at Hypersync.
Anglocatholic, thinking, concerned and relevant.

I have been reading lots of sites about the Book of Common Prayer, especially the 1928 edition.
I am also experimenting with praying Morning and Evening Prayer using these offices - but they sure are longer than the Roman ones..!
Tracing the journey of John Henry Cardinal Newman, I have been wondering what would happen to me if I prayed in some of that language for a while, and perhaps even read the same readings he did on the same day...
This is a work still in progress, but I am intrigued as to what exposing myself to Elizabethan English daily over a long period of time will do my thinking, praying and being...
Some great BCP sites here, here and here.

Oh, and according to one community member, there are no knobs in the Book of Common Prayer...

Hmmm

Apparently, Someone was going to post about the language of the 1662 Book of Common Prayer...

Hospitality

I have been reading "Radical Hospitality: Benedict's way of love" since I got back from the Abbey.

It is a relaxed and chatty book, two authors writing their shared story, as well as their own monastic and lay experience of living out a spirit of hospitality. A great example:

"When we create a life surrounded by people exactly like us, it is a very narrow life. We will not be challenged by such a life ... letting ourselves believe that our experience constitutes normality and that other ways of life (and I add, belief) are abnormal, is both delusional and dangerous"

I love the idea of hospitality. It is easy to open my door to the people on our street, the community, to family. To people I agree with. But to those with whom I disagree? To those who make me uncomfortable? Where do I draw the line?

The Benedictine way is to welcome the stranger, the other, and to care for them as if you are seeing Christ in them, which of course, if we look the right way, we are. By meeting their needs, making them comfortable, feeding them, speaking kind words, we show hospitality, and love.
We need not go out of our way to find the stranger, the other. Our lives throw up opportunities for care every day. Our spouse. Our children. Our neighbour. The postman. All can be welcomed in their way as Christ.

But what a Challenge!

Overheard Yesterday...

An older lady to a young inquirer..

"Are you going to be a nobbit in the munkery?"

Maybe she meant hobbit?

A word with the Abbot

This afternoon with the Abbot...

A good shooting the breeze conversation about Catholic Traditionalists, Jon Sobrino, raising children, Olivetan Benedictines, my dad, praying when you feel disconnected etc

You know, a good ole yarn which is great for the soul.

Actually, I think this was perfect spiritual direction today. Just being. No Agenda. Hanging out.

Cool.

This morning

Up at 5 for Vigils, rudely awakened by by alarm.

Breakfast, Lauds, Mass and then a few hours of good reading and writing, puntuated by a mid morning nap.

Off to Sext now.

Reading afternoon

First, Humility Matters by Meg Funk

then another chapter of Oxford Apostles ( A Book form the 1930's trying to psychoanalyse the Tractarian movement)

and now some Lectio on Ecclesiastes..

At the Abbey

Off at New Norcia for a few days time out.

A note from the abbot, lovely quiet novice room, fabulous fish lunch and the throwing out of my readng plans and agenda.

Seems God wants me just to rest a while.

Pax,

Chris

We all belong together

Antony has been reading and commenting on the Charles de Foucauld posts, as has a lovely lady called Maria.

Interestingly, Antony quite rightly notes that Carlo Caretto is the foremost of writers/monks following on in the Foucauld tradition.

And in the 1970's Carretto got together with a young French Catholic priest to bring the desert to "the heart of the city" - it was Père Pierre-Marie Delfieux and the order which came for their thinking was Fraternité Monastique de Jérusalem - whom you know I love.

And the order based its structure on?
A modified Benedictine rule!

See how it all fits together!

All Over the Place

In a physical sense we are all over the place this weekend and next week.

Coralie is off singing at the fairbridge folk festival this weekend, so I have taken my kids to visit my parents in the near by city of Mandurah.

Michelle has been working on Kids Camps.

On Monday, Coralie and kids drive four hours south to her parents in Augusta, and on Tuesday morning Chris goes to spend a few special days with the monks in New Norcia (Link on the left).

Pray for safe travel and arrival.

Meanwhile, for the rest of the community, children have to be cared for, babies are ready to be born, jobs and houses need attending to....

And more on Charles de Foucauld in the near future...

Day 3 with Charles de Foucauld

Evangelical preference for the poor

Let us not worry about those who want for nothing, those who people think of, let us worry and be concerned about those who lack everything, those nobody thinks of. Let us be the friends of those who have no friends. (Letter to Louis Massignon, April 1916)

How do I behave towards someone whose physical appearance put me off?

What sort of interest do I take in people in need of others ... the elderly, sick people, those with no fiends or acquaintances?

Who does this refer to in our society?

Who are the little, the poor, the disenfranchised?

Who misses out on goodness merely because of who they are, what they look like, where they live, their ethnic background?

My immediate reaction as a teacher, and parent, is children. Although in the West at least, children have never been more materially wealthy, the reverse is that they have never been lonelier nor more rejected. Homes packed with everything but love. Foods of every description available, but more obese and under nourished children than ever. Educational opportunities only dreamed of a century ago, yet dissatisfaction and anti-social behaviour continue to grow.

Loving children as the poor, really listening to them as little ones through whom God can speak, requires my openness and readiness to become little myself. Their openness to themselves can speak to me, casting aside my adult mask and sophistication. To listen to children is to bring in the kingdom of God, the place where real love and communication can take place, where openness and transparency can begin.

Day 2 with Charles de Foucauld

To be poor with Jesus

"Even if God desires us to remain rich, it is solely to allow us to become the treasurer of the poor, to live as one of the poor, and only to make use of our possessions in the service of souls and bodies"

What are the attachments that prevent me from allowing God to act in me?
Responding to the appeals of my brothers and sisters?
How do I imitate Jesus poor in my life?
What are my relationships with other people?

An at the keyboard meditation.

Oh dear, I can be a little hidden one, but today it is right "in the face" time.
Does what I/we own, what I fleetingly possess, bring me closer to God through it use, or drive me further away?
Is my/our life style cutting me off from others, or opening doors?

In our affluent west, these questions are of urgent importance.
What do I have to offer someone in Dafour, Iran, East Timor - apart from my gift of aid?
But is this too easy?
Send off some excess cash and feel better.

What about the poor and needy in my neighbourhood,or in my own family?
What about those in our affluent west who are spiritually poor?
How do I respond to these people?
Do my possessions, my lifestyle, hinder my connections, or the possibilities of contact?

Not much more than questions today, and a pricked conscience.
Allowing Jesus to act with my hands, my lips, my heart.
This requires some emptiness, some putting aside.

And all of this requires some thought and prayer.

Chris

Day 1 with Charles de Foucauld

In the footsteps of Jesus of Nazareth?

"We ought to work for the salvation of souls, go out and meet them, involve ourselves with them, live with them in familiar and close contact"
(Tamanrasset Notebooks, 1903)

How do I/We live in the imitation of Nazareth - in our family, in our work, in a non-Christian environment, in my behaviour?

I have always loved the days after Easter, and looking over the blog entries of the last few years, it has been a time for me to do a lot of reflecting on my own life, and our life as a community. This may be because it is holiday time here, or because usually we have been up at the monastery and I have come home with a slew of new books. But I suspect it is because, in the light of the Resurrection, I can see who I am, and how I am going, and head into that light, trusting and trying.

Our Nazareth is our daily life.
Our family. Our work. Shopping. Cooking. Washing. Consuming. Struggling with prayer. Paying bills. Normal stuff for normal folks. The Scriptures of Jesus' life in Nazareth point to the same reality - Visiting family, Travelling to the temple, reading and learning, fishing and probably working with dad in the tool shed.

Yet this simple, hidden family life becomes the building block for a universe changing kairos event - God entering our world and transforming it in this seemingly ordinary and quiet man.

My Nazareth experience needs to be to be a normal, little one, a hidden one of God.
"Taking the humblest place" St Benedict would call it.

Not seeking attention, but paying attention.
Not talking on endlessly about God, but listening to him in silence, in scripture, in Liturgy, and in others.
Caring for my family and things as gifts.
Not killing myself in pursuit of "vain and empty things".
being able to say know.
Loving those who cross my path.
Being happy with what is.

Working in the Arts does not always make this easy -as we pursue individuality instead of anonymity, seek to make OUR contribution or make OUR statement.

But for us to be fully human, we need moments of self negation, of renunciation and above all, of simplicity, to keep us centered with each other. And as St Benedict shows us, and Br Charles echoes, we do this is our ordinary life, day by day.

That will be our Nazareth.

Living Easter Joy

Lent is over and Easter Joy has begun!

How to enter into this joy?

How to bring this joy to those around us?

My reading of the Jerusalem Communities (See the links all through this site) and the communities who follow the work Charles de Foucauld has awakened my spiritual senses, to think again why we as a community follow Christ in this way.

We meet together because we know that we find Christ in each other, in joining in simply being with each other, sharing the journey, encouraging, crying, rejoicing, living the mystery day by day.

We pray together with ancient words and rites, connecting to the generations of Christians before us. We strive to make our prayer silent, simple and beautiful, as silence, simplicity and beauty can evangelize and bring others, as well as ourselves, into God's presence.

We reach out to others by sharing their journeys with love.

What will happen, will happen in God's own time.

We simple speak of Christ with love and respect and openness.

Over these Easter weeks, I am going to be reading and studying a reading paper produced by the Lay Fraternities of Charles de Foucauld. Feel free to enter into dialogue with me/us about it!

Blessings

Easter

Day by day we bless you, Lord: we praise you for ever and for ever
(From the Te Deum)

Happy Easter to all our friends and visitors from all of the community.
May the light of the Risen Christ be with truly with you this Easter season.

Today we celebrated a lovely picnic in Kings Park with extended family and friends.

And you know we love them!
The Jerusalem Communities have a lovely Icon mediation in French here - but it is worth watching just to get to the lovely hymn at the end.

Blessings rich and abundant to you all.

Holy Saturday

Something strange is happening – there is a great silence on earth today, a great silence and stillness. The whole earth keeps silence because the King is asleep. The earth trembled and is still because God has fallen asleep in the flesh and he has raised up all who have slept ever since the world began. God has died in the flesh and hell trembles with fear...

From Vigils.

I feel very alone today. Spiritually, emotionally, liturgically.

Ready for resurrection.

Maundy Thursday

Did you know what "Maundy" meant?

As I cruised around this afternoon I came across this definition:

The Holy Thursday liturgy, celebrated in the evening because Passover began at sundown, shows both the worth God ascribes to the humility of service, and the need for cleansing with water (a symbol of baptism) in the Mandatum, or washing in Jesus' washing the feet of His disciples, and in the priest's stripping and washing of the altar.

Cleansing, in fact, gave this day of Holy Week the name Maundy Thursday.

Deep within us all is the desire to be cleansed, to be washed and restored.
To be made new.
This is a major theme of the action on the cross - Jesus, as the saying goes, "Washes us whiter than snow" (Or as "white as the inside of a coconut" - but that's a long story...).

I need these three days to be cleansed, to be washed, to experience, through the power of liturgy, word and sacrament, the power of Jesus in the mystery of his death, and resurrection.

God Bless you.

Have you downloaded a Holy Week Background yet from the Jerusalem Communities?
Go on - You know you should!!

Passover communion and us

Today I celebrate passover twice:

Once with my children at school - as a teaching tool about the last supper, and a way into beginning the great three days.

And tonight with the community gathered, we celebrate a more detailed ritual, with our children, a lamb roast, and at least four glasses of wine...

Tuesday of Holy Week

The apparent failure of Jesus, this seeming end, brings me to my own failures, my own hurts, my own struggles, and to cry "Into your hands, I commit my spirit".

Faced with my own littleness, I see the littleness and longing in others.
I become the excluded one. The disenfranchised one. The outsider.
I see how much I don't belong.

After the cross, no longer is there in or out.

Merely our vocation to be fully human, through our littleness and weakness, with the whole world, living out of love for Christ.

The passion of Christ forces me to see humanity, the whole of creation, with new eyes.

When he was placed on the level of evil-doers, definitively excluded on pain of death, I was also there, watching from afar. Who was still thinking of the Kingdom on that day? He was erased from the list of the living:
"Not my will, but yours be done. Father, forgive them, they know not what they do. Why have you abandoned me?"
But another excluded person who still believed in it, gave the only word of consolation,"Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom". (Here)


Jerusalem Communities have some lovely screen backgrounds available for holy week
(One for each important day) here.

Monday of Holy Week

Holy week, culimnating in our Lord's passion, is a chance for me to experience my own littleness, my own weakness and powerlessness.

We desire to share the life of the poor, the little ones, to be with them as 'one of them', not first of all in order to help them out, but because Jesus was poor, because littleness is the condition to know Jesus (Here).

Pray for us.

neo monastic bloggerama list 2

Thanks to Bryan, Mark and Beth who helped add some links.
Heres an updated list! Please keep playing along.
Chris

Coming to the Quiet
Bryan Sherwood
ThPM
Alan Creech
Christianity Today The New Monasticism
Houston Catholic The New Lay Monasticism!
The New Lay Monasticism
Fides Quaerens Intellectum, Credo Ut Intellegam
Sant'Egidio
Elm Grove Community
Jerusalem Communities
The Grandchamps Community
Brothers and Sisters of Saint John.
Taize
Beatitudes Community
Until Translucent
Vineyard Central
the simple way
Abbey Way
the ashram (Communality)
Greensboro Abbey
Reba Place
Eleuthero
Community of Celebration
Community of Jesus
Northumbria
Lindisfarne
Steve Taylor
Brothers and Sisters of Charity
Lay Cistercians of Gethsemani Abbey
International Lay Cistercians
Missio Dei
InnerChange
Monkfish Abbey
www.mustardseedhouse.wordpress.com

Lets keep it rolling folks!!

Sharing in God's preference for the little ones

If you read this blog regularly you might notice our slightly split personality.

On the one half, very monastic. valuing silence and liturgy, valuing times apart and a contemplative sense, as well as community life.

But there is another side, and it is not the dark side!
Our other side is being close to our suburban communities, our neighbours and, as they cross our path, the stranger.

Bringing Christ to them is the other half of our community life. By our sharing of their life, joys and struggles, and when the moment arrives, to discuss the Love of God, without pressure or fear.

The last post focused on the monastic tradition, new and old, and people who draw great riches from it.

I thought it may be good to also list some of the other ideas which have influenced us/me in gentle ways as we seek to be authentically Christ like.

The Jerusalem Communities live in inner city rental accomodation, work part time, and bring contmeplative space to the urban sprawl.

French Worker Priests (three links there!) were an awesome experiment which should have probably continued...

The communities inspired by Charles de Foucauld spend life with the poor and in contemplation. Their approach of spending an hour before the blessed sacrament, or an icon, is a key element of their spirituality. I have been beginning to pray this way for a while.

Hope you find all of this interesting!

In the diverse ways of life ... BEING WITH may become a simple presence, among people who surround us, commitment to the liberation of humanity and/or the proclamation of the Word of God.

Neo Monastic emerging bloggerama

Over at Prodigal Kiwis they're doing a link fest to emerging/ missional bloggers who may have shot under the radar. I thought it would be cool to do the same with the neo monastic communities groups and individuals, but also including some interesting links to articles etc.

To participate, copy this list into a new post on your own blog, and add the names you have to the bottom of the list, and encourage others to do the same.

When you’ve done that, leave a comment here so I can keep track of who ends up participating.


As you can see I am desperately out of the loop!

Chris

Coming to the Quiet
Bryan Sherwood
ThPM
Alan Creech
Christianity Today The New Monasticism
Houston Catholic The New Lay Monasticism!
The New Lay Monasticism
Fides Quaerens Intellectum, Credo Ut Intellegam

Favourite Monastic Sites
Community of Sant'Egidio
Elm Grove Community
Jerusalem Communities
The Grandchamps Community
Brothers and Sisters of Saint John.
Taize
Beatitudes Community

Helpful?

The Latin Theology likes to put everything in its proper place and keep it there. It touches nothing that it does not petrify. It is forever distinguishing, isolating, antagonizing what are really complementary. It must have things fixed and settled for good - - else it feels that all is confusion and uncertainty. It holds to Tradition - - which is the Inspiration of the past, handed on - - in such a way that it cannot recognize Inspiration in the present. Growth is alien to its spirit; every change seems a disturbance; every movement of new life an evil wrecking of a comfortable and settled balance, or an intrusion of a hostile force.

Gilbert Binyon in The Christian Socialist Movement in England

Ten Years

Me and the missus have been married ten years today!

You can check out her very un -up -to-date blog here.

I'll write about us over at afternoons soon.

Last post...

No this is not the last one!

The Litugy Wars post has caused some to defend their position quite strongly so comments moderation is on.

It has all made me a little sad that Christians are getting stuck into each other over this stuff, which to my mind seems a lot less important than trying to follow Jesus...

More later as I am feeling abit down about alot today.

C

Liturgy Wars

With the release of Pope Benedict's Apostolic Exhortation " Sacramentum Caritatis" (sacrament of charity) this week, the blog debate has been absolutely full on. I may be new to this, but the vitriol on both sides of the debate is incredible - especially in a church where we should be able to be truly "Catholic" and have reasoned discussion without constantly criticizing each other meaninglessly and questioning the "validity"of whatever rite, ritual or service we are discussing. And of course, I have probably just identified myself as a raving liberal (which I'm not) and half of the people I am about to link to, and/or discuss, will ignore me ( which is too bad really...)

The argument seems to go like this. Since Vatican II, Liturgy has fallen into a woeful state - mainly because of secular liberalism and other such nasties creeping into how priests and liturgists approach the liturgy. Everything has gone wrong - not enough silence ( I agree) , Bad Music (I am still agreeing), Clergy not sticking to the rite down to the letter of the law (Sometimes good, usually bland), Liturgical Dance (Never seen it done well, but heard about a ballerina who blew peoples minds as an after communion reflection), using glass eucharistic vessels (seem to be missing the point with this one...) - and so the list of supposed, and real, atrocities, continues.

The solution offered by many is simple. Back to the Tridentine rite. Only "Classical" music (especially chant). Use Latin more often (if not all the time). Celebrate the Eucharist with the Priests back facing the people. Its out with the "Community" approach to Liturgy and in with an older "God-ward one" (Personally I think we can have both). Punish those who don't think or do like we do, who ignore the rubrics of the rite, especially because obviously we are the holders of the truth...

True and ... Not true. I became a Catholic because of my experience with the New rite. Not the Tridentine. I have heard truly bad "classical " music at a mass which left me angry and shaken, and been lifted by a simple folk trio who performed with love, skill and reverence. I have yet to hear consistently good homilies anywhere. And I can't imagine trying to take a 5 and 7 year old to a Latin Mass...

So the truth continues to be that we can exist with a multitude of practices, but that all of us should be willing to try and improve our celebrations. And Sacramentum Caritatis gives good guidance in that respect.

I love what Amy Welborn wrote about it "There's a sense in which we are being asked to think about these things at a different level, to focus on the central doctrines, and most especially on the Person at the center of it all." So true - and necessary.

My main concern is how the two sides don't seem to able to communicate without really digging the knife in - not that I don't agree with some of what they say (on both sides), just how upset and angry they seem to get with each other, and then do a blanket exclusion of "Them and their kind"

Check out some of these and let me know what you think.

http://amywelborn.typepad.com/openbook/

http://closedcafeteria.blogspot.com/2007/03/fr-rohrs-approximation-of-mass-at-re.html

http://paramedicgoldengirl.blogspot.com/2007/03/from-mail-mahony-conference.html

http://marymagdalen.blogspot.com/2007/03/emphasis-on-personality.html

Our Friend, Mike Done

Mike Done, legendery local music artist (he once sang with Chris De Burgh!) is running three websites at the moment

Michael Done's Extremely Creatively Named Blog

"Snoggie the Snail & Jesus" - A Slow Moving Story

and

"The Five Dangerous Graces"

Especially check out this last one for Mikes spiritual journey.

Thanks for sharing Mike!

Mass Reflection

Two great thing at Mass today (I finally made it - with three kids!)

Firstly, Father preached probably the best homliyI have ever heard him give . He compared the Old Testament reading about Moses and the burning bush with the gifts of Scripture and the Eucharist. All three of them keep giving without being depleted, and they increase our faith by realizing we are standing on holy ground when we encounter them.

Secondly, the powerpoint was used VERY effectively to lead the faithful in a self-examination after the homily. It used images and phrases from the readings to stimulate our reflection.

Glad I went.

Slow Down

The golden moments in the stream of life rush past us,
and we see nothing but sand;
the angels come to visit us,
and we only know them when they are gone.

George Eliot

(Hat tip Maggie)

The buzz

All busy here.

Using a terrifc Lenten resource called "Everyday with Jesus" - but don't think of Selwyn Hughes. It is a lovely, prayerful, well prepared study of the Lenten Sunday Scriptures.
You can look at it here.

Check out Chris' site for his thinking on ritual, rite anglocatholisicm and other thriling stuff!

Fasting, Taking, Loving and Living.

Ash Wednesday had three very different impacts this year:

(1) The community was split into different groups, as we often are at major Festivals.

It is sad that we are apart, but we do connect with the wider Christian community, and all of us seemed to have some liturgical role last night, from music, to ashes giving, to liturgy preparation.

(2) I had a phone call from a friend of the community asking what I knew about eating Kosher food. After bring stumped, she revealed that she was keen to give something up for Lent and thought that might be a way to go. We had a marvellous chat about how Lent should be a time of taking up (more prayer, balance, exercise) and making space for God in a realignment sense, rather than giving up in an arbitrary way (like chocolate). It was a Kairos moment, and I hope that I helped!

(3) Both with my class, and the St Philips community, we celebrated the beginning of Lent with ashes, silence, and song. It was amazing to see all of my kids, some Protestant, some no faith, two catholic, come forward and receive crosses and pray for each other. In the evening, the prayer of the people was powerful, the lighting of candles and Taize Chants awesome. God was truly present!

I hope your Ash Wednesday was as full of Depth as ours!

The ABC's of me - er, us.

Tagged by Alan, here's a little more about me (and us!)

A - Available or Married? Married.

B - Best Moment? Probably becoming a Catholic, but in another sense releasing my first CD was immensely satisfying.

C - Cake or Pie? Pie. Blueberry. With Ice Cream.

D - Drink of choice? Usually G and T (How Anglican!) Or beer on a hot day. Red Wine anytime. If no alcohol - I am rather fond of a Citron Presse. Coffee 24/7.

E - Essential Item? Music. Definitely. Paul Weller or The Church.

F - Favorite Colour? Blue. Or Red. With Stripes.

G - Gummi Bears or Worms? What? BBQ Chips thanks.

H - Hometown? Melbourne, Victoria. But I've lived in Perth for the last 25 years.

I - Indulgence? Books. And wine.

J - January or February? January for sure. School in back in Feb and that means work.

K - Kids & Names? 2: Eliza Rose Nicolette and Noah Willem.

L - Life is incomplete without? Community. And sold chunks of hanging out time.

M - Marriage Date? March 22nd, 1997.

N - Number of Siblings? One. Phil..

O - Oranges or apples? Apples. But must be COLD and CRISP.

P - Phobias/Fears: Heights. Failure. Success.

Q - Favorite Quotation?
I sat here thinking of a good one to write. I thought Of Nouwen, De Mello, Merton, Griffiths -who I all love, but all that felt right was a song lyric:

"The past is knowledge, the present our mistake
- and the future we always leave too late.
I wish we'd come to our senses
and see there is no truth
in those who promote the confusion
for this ever changing mood"

Paul Weller, My Ever Changing Moods.

R - Reason to Smile? Watching my kids play. Seeing our extended community gathered. Realizing how lucky I truly am. Playing music.

S - Season? Spring. I'd like to try it in Paris actually.

T - Tag three people! Phil, Shelle, Matt J.

U - Unknown fact about me: I am a MASSSIVE Dr Who fan. Love it. Live it.

V - Vegetable you hate? Brussel Sprouts. Just can;t do it -even with Garlic, Cream and Bacon.

W - Worst habit? Stewing about things and then letting off steam by being difficult or exploding. Not very helpful or mature.

Y - Your favorite food? Curry. Not TOO hot but enough spice to really get you going. With Rice and poppadoms.

Z - Zodiac? Cancer,but that's a disease and lets not bring the tone of this down any further...

The Music of My Mind

On a day where I feel slightly better than I have in a while, I did this for a laugh.
If you LINK to us, have a go too.
Oh the bizarre Wisdom!!!

Instructions: Go to your music player of choice and put it on shuffle. Say the following questions aloud, and press play.Use the song title as the answer to the questions. NO CHEATING.

How does the world see you?
Blessed Be Your Name (Newsboys)
See - I knew I was feeling better ...

Will I have a happy life?
Conversation. Joni Mitchell.
Yep. Love a good natter.

What do my friends really think of me?
She will have her way (Neil Finn).
So finally the Cross dressing secret is out ...

What do people secretly think of me?
If I Like it I do it (Jamiroqui)
OK. Enough of the cross dressing theme ... !

How can I be happy?
Hooked up. (Jamiroqui).
Don't quite get this. More conversations? Drugs? Heart By Pass ?

What should I do with my life?
Utterly Simple (Traffic).
Great song. Great Band. Great Advice.

What is some good advice for me?
Idiot Wind. (Bob Dylan)
OK. Bob. Thanks.

How will I be remembered?
Get Yourself together (The Small Faces)
Sounds fair given the last month...

!What is my signature dancing song?
Already Yesterday (The Church)
Cool. Not dancing song. Like me.

What do I think my current theme song is?
You're a big Girl (Bob Dylan)
Bob - You're not quite getting it here. I need some help. Am I a big girl? Probably.

What does everyone else think my current theme song is?
Only talking sense. (Finn Brothers)
Good choice - if I could understand it...

What song will play at my funeral?
Rainy Night House (Joni Mitchell)
Rain. Night. Funeral. Nice dark theme.

What type of men/women do you like?
Coloured Rain (Traffic)
I like you all!!!!

What is my day going to be like?
All Mod Cons (The Jam)
Nice to finish with Paul Weller. A Mod day would be fab.

Bless ya

C

Posting

Chris writes about the fate of the world, fear and CS Lewis here.

Anyone having trouble leaving a comment?
(Not that you'll be able to if you are!)

The Silent Life Chapter 1 The Monastic Peace

Purity of Heart

Solitude, poverty, obedience, silence ad prayer dispose the soul for (its) destiny in God. Asceticism itself does not produce Divine union. It only disposes the soul for union, The carious practices of monastic asceticism are more or less valuable to the monk in proportion as they help him to accomplish the inner and spiritual work that needs to be done to make his soul poor, and humble and empty, in the mystery of the presence of God. When ascetic practices are misused, they serve only to fill the monk with himself and to harden his heart is resistance to grace. That is why all monastic asceticism centers in the two great virtues of humility and obedience which cannot be practiced as they ought to be practiced, if they do not empty a man of himself.

The Silent Life by Thomas Merton - Part 1.

A series of quotes (and possibly reflections) as we pursue this text.



From the Prologue:


The monk is one who leaves behind the fictions and illusions of a merely human spirituality in order to plunge himself into the faith of Christ. Faith is the light which seizes upon the inner depths of his soul na delivers him up to the action of the Spirit, the Spirit of liberty, the Spirit of Love. Faith takes him, as the power of God took the ancient prophets, and "Stands him on his feet (Ezch. 2:2) befor the Lord. The monastic life is a life in the Spirit of Christ, a life in which the Christian gives themselves entirely to the love of God which transforms him in the light of Christ.

updates

Have updated some of the books and CD's we've been listening to lately -
right hand side, just scroll down..

And yes, now some of them are finally done!

he's here

Peter Waller, artist and sculptor extra-ordinary, is staying with us a few days. Pete was a member of the community last couple of years,while he was studying Fine Arts at Curtin University. Last year he moved to Tasmania (sob sob!) to do honours, and now, post graduate work in scultpture, using the university's excellent wood working studios.

Pete is in WA for his first solo Exhibition at Gallery East. Click on the link and check out his beautiful work, and the lovely 15th Century Zen prints which and being co - exhibited.

Pete is also reading Thomas Mertons "Mystics and Zen Masters"
Anyone had a read? It looks amazing!!!

The Best Spiritual Advice You've Ever Been Given...

Lets put together a compendium of advice we've been given that REALLY helped us grow.Email me or comment and I'll put it up.



Chris:
I'd like to say it was "Shut up!" but in fact it was from a Benedictine monk and was "You must attend to all the dimensions of your life - physical, emotional, spiritual, sexual, psychological, relational - if any of these are out of balance, then its tough going".
This stopped me worrying about alot of things, taught me to take one thing at a time, and look at myself with honesty.

Vows from the past

Thining about the year again, here's some of the promises we made as a community 18 months ago. Worth remonding ourselves of these again...
(If you want to read the original post it is here)

Although we have been meeting together for the last 7 years - can you believe it? - last night we celebrated our First anniversary as the Transfiguration Community. To mark this occasion, we made promises, not vows, to support our community life. Here is what we promised:

We will honor:T
he light of our Benedictine Heritage.
May we always value silence, stillness and prayer

The light of Hospitality.
May we always nourish one another.

The light of Relationship.
May we always remember to value one another, married or Single.

The light of compassion.
May we always be generous in our care for one another.

The light of work.
May we always value each others occupations and activities.

The light of our children.
May we always see them as gifts from God.

The light of faithfulness
May we continue to be faithful to our community life.

The light of honesty
May we continue to share with humor and truthfulness.

The light of Openness.
May we always be open to the work of the Spirit within us.

The light of newness
May our minds not be closed to the adventure of faith.

Can we be killed by the hero's we love? Authentic Spiritual life and finding our own way...

Right folks. January seems a good time for this sort of reflection as we ponder the year ahead as individuals and as a community...

No one is a Christian in isolation. We are all instructed in the way of Christ in someway. For some, it is a personal contact, for others it is growing up in a family of faith where many points of contacts are made. Others may pick up a book which changes their life and want to find more, or an Internet page, or radio broadcast or an mp3 or in fact anything where we dialogue with someones experience in some way and allow it to speak. whatever the medium, somehow we here the message of Gods love from another and it changes us. And we keep on this road until we take our final breath...

This is all wonderful and appropriate and absolutely necessary (as we all know). And a Christian community like ours, where questions are the bread and butter of our life together, are essential. But there is a danger, and it worries me from time to time when i come across certain web pages, or articles, or books. It is the matter of Adoration. Let me explain. It is way to easy too read about the "Giants " of the faith (whatever that means to us - whether it be Augustine, Frances de Sales, Merton or John Paul 2, our minister or priest, or even another Christian...) and think to ourselves "They did x, y and z and that led them to holiness. by copying them i will too...".

Now imitation is the most sincere more of flattery, and of great use as we start our journey, but at some point we have to say "I am me. This is my way. God is with me. So be it" and use the skills and lessons we have learnt from others. Now, please don't get me wrong, I am not against the church setting up guidelines which point out what is helpful - eg the Eucharist, Reading the Bible, the Liturgical year - but all of these things need to take place within the context of our own slow and steady "working out our salvation in fear the trembling". None of this is an excuse to not do our homework theologically speaking. All of our thinking needss to be a balance of head and heart, with a good pinch of risk taking!

I suppose I am thinking about this year ahead as a community. We need not be anything other than we are, and part of that is a discovery! We have a wonderful set of ecumenical menotrs to guide and love us. We need to see what is us, and what isn't, who we are, and above all, pray and trust, and move forward.

Lets Dialogue.

latest sites

Heres a few interesting Sites checked out lately

Louis Louis Exploring contemplative awareness in daily life, drawing from and with much discussion of the writings of Thomas Merton, aka "Father Louie".

CathNews Catholic Headlines from around the world. A wonderful Australian site.

JC Girls This is a little bizzare, but worth a look. Three women from California created JC's Girls as an outreach to the adult entertainment industry. Being mistaken for porn stars is actually part of their strategy...

Hope ya all well

Community New Years Eve

We only took a few photos but hopefully you get the idea it was a fun night!

Ritual and Rite

To Dance with God
Gertrud Mueller Nelson

Have being flipping through this book, and using its incredible wisdom, for years.

Has any one else out there heard of it, used it, or read it?

happy christmas

happy christmas (how to have one)

(Ht tip, Jonny)

Sentence for Midnight

Let us all rejoice in the Lord
for our saviour is born
to the world

true peace
has descended
from heaven

Antiphon for midnight mass

Merry Christmas Everyone.
Love
us

Ten Things I love Starting with The Letter T

Antony asked us to tag ourselves and play this game.

He gave us the letter and we fill in the blanks.

I actually found this quite hard…

I tried to do the first 10 things that came into my mind:

Time. Love it. Need it. Use it. Never seem to have enough of it to do the things I want. I am trying desperately these days to hallow time with prayer – Liturgy of the hours, meditation, writing, but the trap of being a sort of creative, in-the-moment, sort of fellow is that time slips away quickly when the inspiration strikes.

Tradition: It would be all too easy to just think of this in terms of Church Tradition, although I love that. I adore the idea of praying in ancient words, of celebrating vigils and rituals which Christians have observed for centuries (and I don’t find anything tired in rites or rituals…). I also love more folk traditions: Christmas trees, wreaths, St Nicholas Day biscuits, marking the date of Epiphany with chalk, family holidays, the whole shebang.

Talk. Nothing I like more than a good natter (although Coralie would call it a gossip…!)

Transfiguration Community: You Knew this was coming! I love this motley crew of travellers. We meet, we eat and drink, we pray, we love one another. We bring our experiences, our day, our selves, and healing and holiness is begun. A Privilege.

Test Cricket. I grow in appreciation of this game every summer. Strategy, courage, grit, luck, tactics. Up to five days of magic. And this year Australia won the ashes (Yesterday!) which is the equivalent of the world cup – but only Australia and England can play.

“The” Bands: I tried really hard to avoid any “The” ‘s but at least its at number 6. The Beatles, The Jam, The Style Council, The Church, The Small Faces, The Police, The Who, The Byrds, The Smiths – all some of my favourite bands. Just looking at that list tells me fair bit about myself. I like OLD music and my tastes are a fairly wide …

Thomas Merton: The patron saint of the emerging church movement, given many recent blogsphere posts in his memory. I love Tom’s work – some of the more edgy stuff especially, like his oriental interests (Te Ching???), his letters, outlines for monasteries and hermitages, and especially his notebook he kept when he visited Our Lady of The Redwood monastery. Merton also stands for a whole lot of monastic authors I love like Jean Le Clerq, Ester De Waal, Abhishiktananda, Bede Griffiths, Lawrence Freeman and so the list goes on. Helpful, heavy and hopeful.

Tea. Now hear me, I am a coffee drinker. Plunger in the morning, maccihato when I am out, espresso after a large dinner. But in true thirty something fashion, I am rediscovering the things of my youth – and tea is one of them. It took me to read an interview with the current heir to the Twinnings family about matching tea with food to get me started. He suggested having a large plate of bacon and eggs on thick toast with a cup of their English Breakfast, made to the specific instructions. Being a good little camper, I did as I was told and I was hooked.

Tonsils: I don’t have any, neither does my little boy. He breaths a lot easier at night (less like a freight train) and so do we…

Travel: I’ve only made some tentative steps with this activity, but I love it. I have travelled around a lot of Australia and to New Zealand and some other places. I can’t wait to take the family and explore the world together. Maybe I’ll come and visit some of you!

nearly there

and to help you on your journey, a few helpful links

Andrew Dowsett has been keeping a lovely reflective journey to advent

Ron Rohlheiser writes brilliantly Christmas, Myth, Naivety and Faith

Pray as You go keep on offering great stuff

Blessings

Chris

Quiz

Our friend Bryan was playing this today….

Thought we’d have a go!

1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate?
Australia. HOT at Christmas. Maybe Hot Chocolate if its cool (like, when would that be…) .
More likely cold beer, cold wine, cold chocolate milk.

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree?
Wrapped. But that doesn’t stop them being shaken, felt and explored…

3. Coloured lights on tree/house or white?
Lights on tree thanks. House too much trouble actually…

4. Do you hang mistletoe?
No.

5. When do you put your decorations up?
First of December. Kids and Coralie put them up. I “supervise” and stalk the corridors feeling stressed!

6. What is your favorite holiday dish?
BBQ seafood. Cooked outside. With a Nice Semillon.

7. Favorite Holiday memory as a child?
Mum and Dad went to midnight mass. When they came home, far from being asleep, y brother and I had snuck out of room, opened allof the presents, and as a masterstroke, had convinced grandma that this was what was supposed to happen!

8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa?
There’s NO Santa? Or is there more about him I don’t know yet?????

9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve?
Only one, after Mass and a glass of Frozen Butterscotch Schnapps.

10. How do you decorate your Christmas Tree?
Lots of home and school made decorations, with other stuff we have. Its fun.

11. Snow! Love it or Dread it?
Its 36°C here – snow would be fab!!

12. Can you ice skate?
Yep. Inside only.

13. Do you remember your favorite gift?
My parents relieving a rather large debt I owed them.

14. What’s the most important thing about the Holidays for you?
Rejocing in Gods goodness. Family. Friends. Slowing down.

15. What is your favorite Holiday Dessert?
Frozen “lollies and chocolate Christmas pudding”!

16. What is your favorite holiday tradition?
Midnight mass. Singing Carols. By Candlelight. Incense. Magic. Mystery

17. What tops your tree?
A Star.

18.Which do you prefer giving or Receiving?
I LOVE being given gifts,but watching other recive and appreciate yours is a special magic...

19. What is your favorite Christmas Song?
Once in Royal Davids City OR O Come O Come Emmanuel Bring me to tears actually…

20. Candy Canes! Yuck or Yum?
I give ‘em out. I don’t eat ‘em!

Play along fans!!!

Advent Reflections

Still here.
Still praying together.
Still eating together.
Still caring for one another.
Loving each other.
Sharing life.

Tonight is a chance for all of us to celebrate the joy of Christmas and share gifts with the children. It is a fitting end to a long year (as those of you who read my stream of consciousness poetry blog will know!). Over the remaining time of Advent, we will meet in various combinations and forms, celebrating the mysteries of this time of year.

Bless you all.


Chris

A time to
Delve deeper into
the loVe of God-
Emmanuel-
Not spending
Too much money

(From Iona)