Just an ordinary day in the country

A major rural funeral today for a young man in his 40's. The church, our largest in the Benefice, was packed to overflowing, and we estimate 400+ people in attendance. They were not only standing outside, but also had filled the choir and were standing in the sanctuary around the altar. An individual service in that he wasn't a church attender, and before his death had picked 5 pieces of 1970's rock music to be played instead of singing hymns. There was also no Bible reading, but the piece from Henry Scott Holland, "All is Well" instead. The tributes from his brother and from his two children were emotive.


In complete contrast, the village church opposite has been the scene of media activity all day with a film crew shooting a graveyard scene for an upcoming feature film. I'm sworn to silence. Vans and cars parked across the entrance, my patio being used as the refreshment area, and my back loo once more making vital provision for humanity's needs.

A wedding tomorrow, and 4 more funerals next week. It must be the weather .....

Grandmother, what big teeth you have!

This Guardian article is important reading for all Church of England people. It seems that there might actually be "something rotten in the state of Denmark" after all, and it's not their banning of Marmite.

It's a cover-up

Browsing through French property sites again I came across this rather fine example of the Gallic desire to wallpaper every surface in their home. I'm just not sure how you're supposed to light the fire.... or how you get out once the door is closed ....

I'm clearly not worthy enough

Well, it’s over three hours past the 6.00 p.m. deadline for the Rapture to take place across the U.K and it doesn’t seem to have happened. No earthquake, no fiery rain, no dead rising from their graves (unless you’re watching “The Walking Dead” on TV catch-up, or a DVD like “Shaun of the Dead”). It’s all rather an anti-climax, and it means I still have to preach at two services tomorrow morning!

Christmas Island, the first place that it would have occurred is still there, as are Australia and New Zealand where it’s already Sunday morning. Harold Camping’s prediction has been shown to be exactly what it is, the mutterings of a deluded person.

Camping, who is president of California-based Family Radio, predicted that today, May 21, 2011, would see Christians taken up to heaven at 6.00 p.m. local time. Although the overwhelming majority of Christians dismissed and ignored his claims, some of his followers have emptied their bank accounts to fund an advertising campaign warning about judgment day. Camping runs FamilyRadio.com which is worth an estimated $117 million, but which tonight seems to be mysteriously unavailable on the internet.

Over a decade ago, Camping made a similar prediction that the world would end in 1994. Responding to his wrong prediction, Camping said he got the maths wrong, but that this time he is certain that the May 21st 2011 rapture date is correct, “without a doubt.”

The 89-year-old Camping lives in one of the last time zones to hit the deadline. The eyes of the media are on him now and waiting for him to explain again why his calculations were wrong.

The End is Nigh

But as Von Smallhausen merrily shouted whilst marching across Nouvion town square wearing a sandwich board proclaiming that message .... "A little bit of what you fancy does you good!"

I may be silent ....

... for 'tis a Croquet weekend, and whilst all is quiet on this Blog, the sounds from the garden are far from subdued. I have warned the neighbours and apologised for the language!

ARCHDRAGON

'Tis the Archdeacon's Visitation this evening in nearby Beccles at which she will swear in, or at, our churchwardens for another year. I already know of 3 who won't be there from these parishes, so I shall have to stand in her stead at some forthcoming Sunday service and administer the oaths on her behalf. And since the Archdeacon already does it on behalf of the Bishop, I really am at the bottom of the pile!

Actually ....

... it's not so much "Who are you all?" It's more a question of why on earth do you bother to read this drivel?

Who are you all?

Out if idle curiosity I have just clicked on the Stats button for this Blog, and then on Viewers. The following graphic shows how many times these pages have been accessed since I began posting 0n 22nd August 2006. Not a vast number in the grand scheme of Blogging, but the spread across the northern hemisphere is interesting. Who are you in Moldova? (And where is it?) Who is it in Iran who is logging on? Over 1,000 views from Russia? And there was me thinking that I could count my readers on the fingers of one hand!

Full marks for effort

You have to give them credit for trying ....

This is a new angle - not Nigerian Lottery this time!


From the desk of Mr Jayson Ahern
Canadian Customs and Border Protection


Attn: Honourable Beneficiary

we hereby bring to your notice that a consignment which is to be delivered at your
residence by a diplomat had been stopped by us. This is a security measure
put in place by Canadian Government to check terrorism and money laundry
through the sale of illegal drugs locally and internationally.

Upon a proper examination, we found out that the content in the consignment contained the sum of
US$3.5 Million, which upon further investigation we found out that the fund was your inheritance.

So your mail response will determine the release and onward deliver of your consignment at your residence
after all protocols have been observed.

However, in order to proceed we need you to reconfirm the following information,

Full Name:

Your current Residential Address:

Telephone/Mobile Numbers:

Occupation:

We await your response.

Regards,

Jayson Ahern
Commissioner
Canadian Customs and Border Protection
Please get back to us on this email ahernjayson26@yahoo.com


Dear Mr. Ahern ...

Spot the Difference

One is dated 11th September 2001, whilst the other is dated 2nd May 2011.

The blogger at Dating God: Franciscan Spirituality for the 21st Century reminds his readers of some Scripture ( Proverbs 24:17-20: Do not rejoice when your enemies fall, and do not let your heart be glad when they stumble, or else the LORD will see it and be displeased, and turn away his anger from them.) and writes:

As I have already said elsewhere, this is not a moment for “triumph” or “celebration,” contrary to what so many television pundits and so-called patriots will suggest. It is indeed an important moment in our national and global history, something to take seriously and reflect upon, but the celebration of the death of a human being is not what Christians are called to do as Jesus makes quite clear above.

God does not desire vengeance and this is not God’s form of justice.

That's all white then

Ah - a Bank Holiday - and what more traditional way to spend part of it than to do some decorating? My guest toilet cum boiler room has today received a fresh coat of white paint, though how long it will stay that way with the boiler seemingly chucking out a film of grey soot every time it fires up is another matter.
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