One week of Plan B

 As I have said before, I regard myself as a permanent Plan B and October is definitely a Plan B month.  

On Sunday there were Harvest Festivals in quite a few churches so ministers had to be found for the churches which would normally have had their monthly service that day.  (Harvest Festivals are village events as well as church events so we need to fit in with village plans which often include a harvest supper or lunch.)  I was needed to take Morning Prayer.  

I am dog sitting this week so yesterday I needed a Plan B myself for someone to host a zoom.  

Today I am on stand-by as another priest may have to have her dog euthanised so may not be in a fit state to lead worship.  I shall make myself available as long as she needs.

Friday is another Harvest Festival and I have offered to preach as the minister conducting the service will have done about eight harvest festivals already.  I rather like that service as they have a brilliant harvest supper!

And that is just one week of being Plan B.  

Zoom!

 I really got into zoom meet-ups during lock down.  I really found it weird but five years on, I find it great.  I can chat “face to face” with people I’ve known for ever but no longer live nearby.  Today I’ve got a chat with S in Leicester.

We used to meet twice a year for lunch and we still do, but we can zoom every month and it is brilliant.  We talk about her grandchildren, my wandering, her photography, my crafting, and culinary experiments (always exciting) from both of us

S and I have a friendship which is like a personal time capsule.  I babysat her older boys while she went to hospital for the birth of the third.  She got excited with me when I was ordained.  We both have memories of wearing some pretty dodgy outfits, even though we thought we were the bee’s knees when we wore them!  “Remember when” is a favourite phrase.

We both look respectable on zoom but we each know that the other is probably sitting in the midst of chaos and we don’t care.  The top half of the outfit may be smart but we won’t even mention what we might be wearing below the waist.

That’s real friendship magic—being known fully and loved anyway.

Talking to God

 

I asked God to take away my habit.  God said, No. It is not for me to take away, but for you to give it up.

 I asked God to make my handicapped child whole.  God said, No. His spirit is whole, his body is only temporary

I asked God to grant me patience.   God said, No. Patience is a by-product of tribulations; it isn't granted, it is learned.

 I asked God to give me happiness.  God said, No. I give you blessings; Happiness is up to you.

 I asked God to spare me pain.  God said, No. Suffering draws you apart from worldly cares and brings you closer to me.

 I asked God to make my spirit grow.  God said, No. You must grow on your own! but I will prune you to make you fruitful.

 I asked God for all things that I might enjoy life.  God said, No.  I will give you life, so that you may enjoy all things.

 I ask God to help me LOVE others, as much as He loves me.  God said...Ahhhh, finally you have the idea.

 

THIS DAY IS YOURS DON'T THROW IT AWAY

 

May God Bless You, "To the world you might be one person, but to one person you just might be the world"

 

(Arch)Bishop Sarah

When I first worked for the church women couldn't be priests.  We had to have male incumbents in authority over us.  No matter how strongly we felt our call to priesthood was, the church couldn't/wouldn't ordain us.  (It was the laity, often women, who were the strongest opponents.)

Then things began to change.  In 1992 the General Synod of the Church of England voted (by a two thirds majority in each of three houses) to allow our ordinations.  It took a year and a half for that to pass into law and happen.

I was priested in 1994.  Women priests faced a lot of petty discrimination at that time.  All of us had to deal with childish behaviour.  

Last year "the 1994 cohort" was invited to a reception at Lambeth Palace and a service at St Paul's Cathedral to celebrate our thirtieth anniversaries.  Joining us were several women bishops, including Sarah Mullaly, the Bishop of London.

Speaking to our cohort Bishop Sarah said "Because you did what you did, I can do what I do."  

Yesterday she was named as the new Archbishop of Canterbury.  I feel very happy that I was part of the huge change which has happened.  And I pray for her as she prepares to take up her new role.