ANGLICAN CAFE EXPRESSO

Death and the Maiden

noreply@blogger.com (The Anglican) — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 12:00:00 +0100

Foreign affairs are really not what Cafe Expresso's all about, but, in a way there is a connexion as St. Paul’s is the only Anglican church in downtown Tehran. This is part of the diocese of Jerusalem ( I think).

Last week, we witnessed the senseless murder of Neda Agha Soltan on the streets of Tehran. This brutal killing of a young woman has shocked us to our very core. Now it appears that her family are being hounded by the Iranian regime. Already hagiographied by the media as the "Angel of Freedom" this kind of mythologising bodes ill for the regime.

I really don’t think anything could have prepared us for this kind of existential evil. What is signally obnoxious is that the regime purports to be theocratic. Ali Khamenei’s provenance as an Ayatolah is of course a moot point: but now, for the first time, he has crossed the line of no return by legitimising state sanctioned murder he has moved from being head of state to something altogether more venal.

What we can do to assist our Anglican brethren who are now by proxy in the firing line of Khamenie’s predictable xenophobic hatred of Britain, I do not know.

What we see in Iran is what we have come to see in all dictatorships: the blaming of external forces as the way to go when your regime you seek to impose stands revealed in singularity as act of evil: another black hole in which whole societies are eventually consumed. We pray for Iran.

Beer and Bacon Sandwiches To Entice Men To Church

noreply@blogger.com (The Anglican) — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 00:41:00 +0100

Anglican thought that he had one too many on reading today's Daily Telegraph. The gang at COFE have hit on a winning wheeze to get some in. Ummm, itsa slight mod for our "Casting the Net": beer and sarnies; cool: why didn't we think of that? I reckon that every charge should insist that all clergy have hospitality training down the local pub. So 'stead of "I'll have a milky cup of tea please" its now sure to be something like GEEZAPINTPAL. Perhaps the Vestry may provide suitable showgirls to guide the boistrous to the nearest bus stop.
Yes, picture the ladies, if you will in their finery ministering to the male inebriate: "would you like another dear" she clucks enthusiastically? "Aye, ah don't mind if a dae like: angezzasarnietoo when yer at it hen". Ah... innovation is ever the way of progress, yes? but not quite all seem to agree as one doughty Bishop has drily noted in The Church Times.

Time and Social Costruction of Realty

noreply@blogger.com (The Anglican) — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 11:48:00 +0100

When blogger Anglican was a kid back in the post war era of rationing, castor oil and film noir auotomobiles, reality was pretty much what we were told in "the media" ( wassssat? I cry supping my retro bottle of Coca-Cola: cue Saturday Evening Post; Norman Rockwell and visual jingles of 1950's rural America).

Now we are all media savy avatars in a brave new world of smartphones and twitterers; we tend to worry less about standing for the National Anthem or straining over our Christmas Day Turkey to watch intravenous retro televison flicker the Christmas Day Message from her Majesty: a kind of Narnian otherworldness tablieu of marble halls and kind benificent folk.

No: today the cynical anti-utopian fog is inexorably creeping upon our folk-village hinterlands as we become assimilated into the Borgian cube shaped world of automaton machine ideology.

Wet morning Monday: your sitting in the train with your Telegraph reading about the malfeasant shenanigans of MPs and their duck pond house-world of sybaritic self indulgence: "moats" and rafters you say? I'm in the wrong lifeworld. Reprogram? Yes.

Photopolitico: "Rules are ok; media witch hunt-trust me "I'm a pretty straight kinda guy". The insolent rictus gazes back at you in a banal stare of self-referencing benign indifference.

Nope: staying safe in a provocative anti-utopian world means that we need to keep examining ourselves ( as St. Paul roundly chastens) that we too have not slipped into that happy delusional state of the Garden Party in Alice in Wonderland.

Croquet anyone?

Press caught a sad arraviste on a manicured lawn; sunshot vistas, more photos. This construction of reality is that what we hope we think we are, is what we hope the gallery may infer from our those insignificant signifieds we think are so important.

"Off with his head"might be the madrigal of the tabloid media Sans-culotes; but in the Anglican Church we try to take the more measured view: not for us is the broad road of censorious vituperation: we are generally more understanding of human fraility in a world full of sound and fury and a disillusioned demos.

The problem with politics is that its rather like having an delusonally sociopathic mother in law who insists on cringeworthy self-referencing homilies with the fixed rictus of one who as quite as ease withal. "We know best dear! don't make a fuss-we all work within she rules- our rules that is," she purrs contendedly".

The real challenge for us all is that for Christians the essential eternal verities really do not change. Our social construction of reality adapts to the new millenium, but Christ remains the loadstone in our brief sojourn in our multiverse hinterland: unsuprisingly, we are challenged and at times, the existential pathway delving into the canyons of human egotism and veniality is oftentimes arduous and dispiriting: but then, we "have a house not made with hands..."

Well I'm off to bed now with my warm milk and my Saturday Evening Post to read of a happier, less intellectually arduous world of svelte factotum moms caught, tabieu vivant, in riddiculously clean kitchens: and 30 a day father benignly smiling into his Daily Telegraph.

Being Still in The Storms of Life

noreply@blogger.com (The Anglican) — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 14:58:00 +0100

Sunday 21st June 2009

As we are currently in Interregnum, we have a variety of visiting Clergy. Today we had Malcolm. He presented a most interesting discourse on Mark 4/5. He began with the Jesus Calms The Storm section of Mark 4 and built his sermon around Jesus’ words: “ Quiet be still”
Being still is absolutely essential for our Christian belief in the jarring tumult of the world. It is something that we ought to practice daily. We can do this either in structured way through daily prayer, or perhaps in the way of the early church by way of the Divine Office. In the 1929 prayer book, we have a wonderful resource to build up that spiritual head of steam in the mornings and evening.
Stillness is something that we really need to practice and it’s a good idea to meditate around a scripture. Psalm 46:10 advises: “Be still and know that I am God” or Isaiah 26:3. “perfect peace is to those whose mind is stayed on thee”. If we make those kind of scriptures part of our daily consciousness we can, like Jesus, still the storm and squalls that assail us as we pass through the world.

THE MUSTARD SEED AS THE MIND OF FAITH

noreply@blogger.com (The Anglican) — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 00:34:00 +0100

In the Anglican church, we have such a rich drawer treasures and resources on which we can enrich our lives and worship.

I noticed, while thumbing through the Alternative Service Book, in the section that is rather grandly listed as The Commemoration of Lesser Festivals there, listed for today, June 14th, is the feast of St. Basil the Great

St. Basil, was one of the great theologians of the Middle Ages, who was much involved with the Development of our Nicene Creed and the early Christian Liturgy. He was himself a very devout monk who lived his most of his life in a monastery where he set out the beginnings of our Christian worship today.

He was also, interestingly, tough on politicians which I suppose earns him an extra brownie point as political greed remains- very much with us.
How little some things change!
Greed and violence are still part of our world.

Only recently, we witnessed an appalling act of violence not a few metres from our front door.
I suppose that few of us can really get inside the head of those who commit acts of violence:
they seem to have lost all sense of moral value leaving heartache and devastation in the families robbed of their loved ones.
Perhaps there is some connexion between the absence of moral leadership in politicians and the

The Lord Jesus also lived in a violent society and ultimately was murdered by those who had also lost their moral compass.
In Mark’s Gospel we see one of the most quoted statements that he would ever make about having hope: the hope of FAITH in a world that denies hope. His wonderful parable of the Mustard seed that grows into a large tree
that in turn provides shelter and feeds the birds bringing life
and energy to our world:

That is something that makes the difference between hope and despair: the difference between giving up on life and finding FAITH and the will to go on.
Many people live entirely without hope: they are alone; they may have no friends; they may be struggling daily to exist in this recession.
Others may have lost their partner and may just be struggling with loneliness. Indeed, I remember one lovely lady whom Jan and I met one day who told us that her world was a daily struggle without her husband.

But, this delightful woman has the ability to set her mind on the right track ever morning as prayer plays a vital part in her Christian.
When I met her, she had just returned from IONA and you could just see she was filled with the holy spirit. But this day she was crying;
she had suddenly thought of her late husband; and so I took her hand and we just stood in the Street and I prayed with her and then she prayed too.
You see, she is a woman of FAITH: and FAITH fills her life. She is really inspirational. Jan and I love her: she is a real motivator in the darkness of this world.

Jesus’ reference to the Mustard seed occurs in all three Gospels: so we know that its inclusion has a special significance for us.
To the Jews, the mustard seed was the smallest of seeds. The reference to it becoming the tallest of trees isn’t quite accurate,

Jesus was attempting to make the point that out of these small seeds, grows our awareness of the kingdom of God.
Jesus offers us the certainty of living with him forever in a heavenly paradise.
This is his promise to us, based on the need to have FAITH that we believe in him and the holy Gospels which tell of his life and ministry.
So what exactly is elusive wonder that we call FAITH.

FAITH? What is it?

Well, I’m sure most of us have our own views on what faith actually is, but actually, Jesus, and later St. Paul make clear what Faith Actually as I will explain in a moment or two.
I recall many years ago Jan and I knew a very nice young man called Jim. We used to have him along to the house and we would sit chatting in the dusk of the Evening on Christian Topics. Ian was at that time in a Fundamentalist Group: We loved Jim.

I asked him a question: it appears on the surface to be a very simple question: and it’s this:
What is FAITH?
He looked at me as if I was an Islamic terrorist about to unload a suspicious parcel in a church service:
Why you Just BELIEVE! He said.

He looked genuinely shocked that I should have asked such an OBVIOUS question.
Ah, I said: But,what about the Mustard Seed with its emphasis on trust, growth and renewal?

Now, as I said, its quoted in the three Gospels, but in Mathew, it’s actually quoted twice.
There Jesus tells us that “If you have FAITH as small as a Mustard seed nothing will be impossible to you” Faith is actually abut TRUST: the word FAITH comes from the Latin Fides meaning to trust

So it’s not about what we think we can see: St. Paul tells us that it’s really about what we Actually do in our lives as Christians and less about what we think about what our personal belief actually is. Now, clearly, we all believe in God. But there is much more expected of us as I will explain in a moment.

St. Paul looked at what Jesus had said about Faith and he attempted to develop a core meaning to What he understood FAITH to be
(Now this is, about 20 years after the Death of Lord Jesus).

He tells us TWO things about FAITH. In our Reading this morning he tells us that in our life we

1.Walk by FAITH and not by Sight.
2. The Mustard seed is Something that Grows and sends out many Branches.
To Walk in this way means we need to worship God through ACTION
in What Paul calls “buying Out The Time” by doing everything we can to help those around us.
WE can do this because we have Certainty through What we actually do with our FAITH.
The Mustard seed of FAITH has to be planted. It needs to be watered. Nourished and cared for.
So how can we do this? What motivates us to do this?
St. Paul sets out to tell us. He tells us that “Faith is the sure expectation of things hoped for”.
He says that though Faith in Christ Jesus, FAITH is built on what we do with the Grace and Talent God gives us. (remember The Parable of the Talents?)

FAITH exists though we may see we have no visible evidence of God.
For St. Paul, FAITH is the “Sure Expectation of what we hope for” is what we do without visible evidence of actually seeing God ( as Paul surely Did).
Interestingly, the original Greek text has also another meaning as well: the idea of FAITH as a title deed or ticket which entitles us to heavenly life based on the idea that we trust in God
But this Title deed does have conditions attached:

Jesus’ parable of the Mustard Seed makes clear that he sees our faith to be something Growing; something almost organic.
While the grace of God, is God’s Free Gift to us as the opportunity to worship him, by FAITH, but Though we are given the Mustard Seed of FAITH in God’s grace, it’s not, what you might say, and I mean no disrespect, a supermarket Bogof: a buy one get one free.

FAITH is an ACT which we do: which is why the early Church used the prayer called The ACT OF FAITH which is still used by our Roman Catholic brethren today. Moreover, this action is not about the act of believing but it is about what we actually do for others in our lives as Christians.
Through Churches Together we have a wonderful opportunity to mix with folk from other Churches.
I want to tell you that some we have met are truly unforgettable. One Lady I know is truly remarkable: Her whole aspect is one of love and kindness. When she speaks everything she seems to say is something you need to hear she sparkle in her eyes that she is a truly loving and FAITH centred individual.

One afternoon I met her and she began to Pray.
I was so deeply moved by this woman that I prayed with her too. When she prayed, her face lit up with Joy: She had a stillness and calm that was so wonderful to behold.
This woman had absolute FAITH and total conviction of God working in her life. She made things happen. Her kindness to others is deeply humbling. When she speaks, it loving, supportive and upbuilding Her faith is something that just hits you. It makes you want to be around her.

Truly, I would rather spend five minutes in her company than all the rather stodgy Academics that I have known over the Years: perhaps with one exception, my Late Friend Gordon who was always inspirational as was his father who was someone who lived by faith every day of his life.
Kenneth’s take on Faith was that every day we need to practice feeling good.

Here then is a great truth:

If we feel good about others, then we feel good about ourselves
Gordon began every day of his Life with the Psalms:
in the heat of the day seek out the Psalm For in that peace; your rest and calm
So what can we do to apply Jesus’ view of FAITH as Something vibrant, positive Loving and ACTION-CENTRED?

Well Casting the Net is upon us and its going to be provocative and challenging. But in this new Mission Shaped Church, there are going to be people who’s’ lives are turned around in the richness of Faith.
One truly Awesome practitioner of Faith was an American minister from New York; Norman Peale:
And I want to leave you with three of his best FAITH take-aways. So here they are:
To get anywhere with faith learn to pray big prayers.

The bigger your problems, the bigger your prayer should be. Drive your prayers deep into your doubts fears. That’s Walking by FAITH and not By Sight

What you do-and do for others is far more important than what you think about yourself.

If you Show kindness, Love and are supporting of others

This will always be the test of what people really think of you. Are you a Joy or are you a bit of a misery? So Speak thoughtfully and kindly and feelingly and you too will be Loved and you will always be an effective ambassador for Christ

3.Finally, and most importantly, affirm your Love of God in the Deeps of prayer: And at the close of the day Empting your mind of all your problems
unburdening yourself In the Suggestive power of words that suggest tranquillity:
serenity and Calm; picture it in Your mind.
And in the night watches when your head is on the pillow you have the peace and calm of a FAITH filled mind.

We might recall the familiar words of the Psalmist who would say:
I laid me down to Peace And Sleep,
for only the Lord God Makes me dwell in Safety.

"Casting The Net" Now At A Church Near You

noreply@blogger.com (The Anglican) — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 23:53:00 +0100

"Casting the Net" is upon us: The Scottish Episcopalian Church launched its new get some in intiative on whitsunday. In our church, we have symbolic fishing nets arranged with enmeshed little fishes: a tablieu redolent of the Tate Modern. Cool stuff for the kids.

Last week The Anglican gave a sermon on same: "We need to get out there" he urged in a particularly assuasive aside. They gazed back enthusiastically. We can do this he added confidently; why St. *** in the next town have got it all sown up: they have a committee; a CTN resource person: they even have a new diary of events! Isn't that just great!

An elderly lady in a large black hat with a feather smiles back reassuringly: Anglican thinks he's really got them fired up now.

Standing at the door gladhanding the troops; kid comes up and says: "when are ye goin fishen then ?

But things have a way of coming together: Next week it's the Children's Service and we have lots of little fishes to place on our little net. Anyone got a Jelly Baby?

noreply@blogger.com (The Anglican) — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 22:53:00 GMT

noreply@blogger.com (The Anglican) — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 01:09:00 GMT

Welcome to the Anglican Cafe Expresso a new venue for those who enjoy good coffee and intelligent discourse on all matters relating to Anglicans in the world