Where is a decent whip made of chords when you need one?

Ok. I'm a bit cross. Rant incoming.

This weekend, I was in London with relatives, and we decided to go in to St Paul's Cathedral.
At the time, i was so pleased - I was feeling really rubbish, and the prospect of being able to go and sit in the house of God, find some space and pray and try and get my head together and spend a bit of time in private worship really, really appealed. I just wanted to go and be with my Father, in a quiet way that is quite hard in the bustle of central London.

As we went in, we went through a revolving door, which had emblazoned in bold letters,

"YOU ARE ENTERING THE HOUSE OF GOD; THE MEETING PLACE OF HEAVEN AND EARTH." I admit, i did have a little shiver of anticipation.

However, it seems that in order to enter the house of God, a fee of nine pounds per person is applicable.

NINE POUNDS!!!!! This is me being incenced and furious!!!!!

I understand that it is an historic building, with architectural significance that is important - and expensive - to maintain. But to put a stroppy woman (not in this instance me, I'd like to clarify!!) on the door and to refuse people entry if they won't pay seems WRONG WRONG WRONG.
I'm pleased to say I resisted the impulse to tell them Christ had already paid the price.

I know, I know. Cheese.

Anyhow, we DIDn't go in - it was way to expensive for us to justify, either in terms of what we could pay - and I really BAULK at having to pay nine pounds to go and spend time in prayer in a Church. What kind of message does that give people? There are barriers and everything!!

We left through the same revolving doors we had gone in by, as as we left to go out into God's creation, with the noise, the smell, the rubbish, the grandure, the beauty, the tourists, the door told us,
"YOU ARE ENTERING THE HOUSE OF GOD; THE MEETING PLACE OF HEAVEN AND EARTH."

Fanfare, please!!

Sarah and I are proud to announce the birth of our new blog, FeminYM.

We're looking forward to some thought provoking contributions from men and women alike, reflecting on the role gender plays in youth ministry, along with some stories, some practical advice, and support for women who need it!

Go on, go and check it out!

An alt (ermerging??) to do list

Blatently nicked from one of my vicars, Rev Andrew Marsden, but i liked it, so thought I'd pass it on.

All of us, at sometime, will make 'to do lists,' be it written on a bit of paper, filed in outlook, or just a mental summary of the tasks approaching in the day ahead.

When Jesus summed up the greatest commandment, he said this, "Love the Lord your God, with all your heart, soul, mind and strength. Love your neighbour as you love yourself."

Interestingly, he didn't seem to say ' go and accomplish lots, finish the filing, make sure the house is tidy, and everything is in order and then love the Lord your God..."

Would it make a change to the world, and to how people experienced Christians and Christianity, if our thoughts at the start of each day were not focussed around the tasks we all have in our busy busy lives; would it make a change if instead of starting the day with a 'to do' list, we started with a 'to love,' list?
How can I love God with all my heart, soul, might and strength today?
How can I love those I encounter in such a way that expresses God's love?

I've gone all ecclesiastes.

Apologies for those who found my last post on the scary side, and thanks to those who joined me in my cynicism!

I suppose I've been feeling that 'there is nothing new under the Sun,' and also, having a few moments of 'meaningless, meaningless, everything is meaningless.'

I can now say why I've been like this -and it goes into the 'everything has it's season' categry of Ecclesiastes. My season at my two Churches is coming to an end. My husband has landed a job in Glasgow, and at Easter I will be leaving to move up to be with him in Glasgow, and start a new life together. It's even possible that my season as a full time youthworker is coming to an end. So I'm excited for Colin, I'm excited for our future together, but I'm also very unsure about what I'm going to end up doing - and I'm feeling a bit scared, a bit unsettled, and quite cynical. It's probably a protective coating, but there you go.