Yes, prime minister

Some of the staff at 10 Downing St work as volunteers at the breakfast club at St James's School and this link led to a party of children from the school visiting Number 10 to tour the building yesterday as a special end of term treat.

Bermondsey's got talent

Where else could you see such talent, except at the Bermondsey Deanery social in St James's Church tonight.

With just seven parishes we are one of the smallest deaneries in the Diocese, but what talent.

After a wonderful meal we began Bermondsey's Got Talent. There was St Katharine's impromptu gospel choir (left); Anna's beautiful singing; Richard's wonderful playing on the violin; Nick playing St James's mighty organ;  Old Time musical favourites from Johnny and Adrian including Maybe it's because I'm a Londoner and Daisy, Daisy, give me your answer, do), followed by Mandy and Ruth from St Anne's leading us in a medley of worship songs, including We are marching in the light of God with special Rotherhithe and Bermondsey verses ('we are serving God in Bermondsey' etc)

And if you think St Katharine's are good singers: you should see them dance!

General synod - day five

Synod's snazzy new backdrop

I knew something was afoot when I saw the Archbishop of York get out of the car clutching his drums.

Sure enough morning worship in the Central Hall took a radically new turn today, led by a worship band composed of members of the house of clergy, accompanied by the Archbishop on his bongos.

A further highlight was the joyful sight of the synod members of Deaf Anglicans Together signing the words of 'Lord I lift your name on high.'

It was a wonderful start to the day.

The rest of the morning was taken up with legislative business of a fairly detailled and technical nature. It made me think this would be better done in a committee rather than the full synod.

Later came farewells to the bishops of Burnley and Oxford who were retiring. Then the Archbishop of York prorogued us. It sounds painful but it just meant we could go home.

If this morning was synod at its worst, then yesterday was the synod at its best - not because the decision pleased everyone (which clearly it did not), but because of the gracious, respectful way the debate was conducted. Excellent speeches were made on all sides of the argument.

The debate closed with a moving speech from John Spence, chair of the Finance Committee of Archbishops’ Council. He told us of going blind at the age of 40 and the prospect of losing his employment. He had had to trust people and that trust had been repaid, and now we Christians in the Synod had to trust one another.

He concluded “Your faith is my faith, is all of our faith, and every one of us has a vital role to ensure that the searing vision of the risen Christ is taken out into this country, trust not misplaced. You, like me, will come to see … I am confident that we can walk hand in hand, and return the risen Christ to his rightful place at the centre of this country, its conscience and its culture.”

He was given a prolonged standing  ovation and he brought us back to what is really important: proclaiming Christ to the nation.

Synod day four

It was strange to be sitting in the university dining room this morning eating breakfast and watching BBC  news on the telly reporting live from Central Hall just a few yards away.

The media does take an inordinate interest in the debate about women bishops. Partly I think this is because it confirms its image of the Church as an old fashioned, slightly dotty institution, struggling to catch up with the rest of 21st century Britain.

 As it happens our day started with something quite different from women in the episcopate, namely the armed forces covenant. With growing numbers of veterans from recent conflicts, the nation (and the church's) care for the armed force becomes more and more important.

With that rare synod phenomenon taking place outside - a queue to get into the public gallery - synod settled down to what would be a four-hour debate. At the beginning the Archbishop of York gave us the alarming news that no less than 85 members had signalled that they wished to speak in the debate, though he warned us that the rules gave him the power to halt speeches that were tediously repetitive.

In the event it was an excellent debate and the measure received the required two thirds majority in each of three houses of bishops, clergy and laity.

Cheers from the public gallery produced a frown from the Archbishop because it is the custom of the synod to receive the results of votes in silence. Earlier he had said 'we are not the House of Commons but the church of Jesus Christ' in a pointed reference to that disorderly assembly in Westminster.

A great British institution then followed, a tea break, before we considered another great British institution which is 800 years old next year, Magna Carta.

The Diocese in which Runnymede is located, Guildford, had brought a motion calling for a commemoration of the event which recognised the part the church played in drawing up the great charter of English liberty. The Synod agreed and approved the motion approved by a large majority.

Synod day three

Synod decamped to York Minster this morning for Holy Communion presided over by the Archbishop of York with Jim Wallis preaching, with some great hymns, including we have a gospel to proclaim and And Can It Be?

The afternoon we began with a report from the body which looks after redundant historic church buildings.

Next up was a first consideration of a new simplified baptism service for use in inner city areas. When the press got wind off it they said we had abolished the devil and sin. The former had quite a few supporters this afternoon. Overall verdict: good first try but we would like to hear from you again.

Now Synod members can send in suggestions for amendments to the revision committee.

Next up was the Southwark supper, which turned into an impromptu mini theological seminar between a few of us with the result that your blogger missed altogether the evening session of synod. We were due to receive the annual report of the Church Commissioners and agree national church expenditure of £30m. Given that the synod can often make heavy weather of minor matters, it is ironic that we can usually agree this expenditure in 15 minutes flat.

Tomorrow we come to the final debate on women bishops and the TV cameras are already in place outside Central Hall. Watch this space..

Synod day two

Today's business began with a wonderful gospel saturated presidential address by the Archbishop of York. Next up was some quite detailed legislative business on synod membership for theologians at universities and theological colleges.

In the midst of this debate we paused to welcome a bishop from the church in Sudan, a suffering church, the Archbishop of York reminded us. Synod greeted him with prolonged applause and a standing ovation. It was a moving and sobering moment.

 Over lunch I attended a fascinating fringe meeting about funerals and funeral ministry. About a hundred thousand people attend a funeral conducted by a CofE minister every week. The opportunities are enormous.

After lunch American theologan and social activist Jim Wallis addressed the Synod in a scintillating address on the common good. Following group work, there was a debate on the common good and a near unanimous vote. After supper in a private members motion (an idea from a synod member thast has to attract the support of 100 members to get on the agenda) we discussed relaxing the rules on wearing robes in services.

This was about the rules catching up with reality on the ground, especially in new fresh expressions of church. I had a speech ready but didn't get called. Had I been I would have talked about walking through the Blue at funerals where robes are all part of it, and other times when robes are less appropriate for worship in 2014.

It was a good debate and the motion comfortably passed. Well done to Chris Hobbs for bringing it.

The day ended with community singing of nursery rhymes at the General Synod quiz night, the end of a long but productive synodical day.

it's hot up north

Central Hall, York University

The northern heat hits you the minute you get off the train.

Welcome to another sweltering York meeting of General Synod, the CofE's parliament

Each summer we meet at the University of York. Here I was a biology student in the late 70s. The trees have grown a bit and the campus has expanded but its  all still recognisable and I'm one of the few synod members that isn't wandering around lost wondering where exactly their next meeting is located amongst the university's bewildering maze of buildings.

After opening prayers and a hymn, the Synod began at 3pm with a welcome to new members and ecumenical guests. We had a first go at the legislation to  permit women to become bishops. The final approval for this will come on Monday.

Tonight's business finished with question time, an opportunity to ask questions of facts (but not of opinion). Before that was the meeting of EGGS, the evangelical group of General Synod: we had supper together and went through the main items on the agenda over the next few days.

Curates at the Blue

A bunch of curates - or trainee vicars - descended on Bermondsey today.

They were taking part in 'IME' a kind of three year training course for newly-ordained trainee-vicars, and today was their very last IME session ever and for a special treat they were allowed to escape the Diocesan Offices, usual location of IME, for a fun-packed day in Bermondsey.

Its what we call ending on a high note - not least because instead of the usual bought-in sandwiches, our happy bunch of curates munched their lunch at one of Bermondsey's very best cafes, the excellent Dun's Deli at the Blue.

IME days take place once a month and always start with Morning Prayer, followed by Bible Study. Today wee looked at Mark 6 where Jesus looks at the crowd with compassion 'because they were like sheep without a shepherd' and comes up with a truly radical solution to their predicament: 'he taught them many things.'

There were lessons here for us about looking at our communities through the compassionate eyes of Jesus and about the importance of teaching the faith.

Next up was a session entitled 'Beginning to Grow the Urban Church', a kind of case study based on our churches of St James & St Anne, followed by a walk around Bermondsey and lunch at Duns, before our final session entitled 'Mission Shaped Incumbency.'

An incumbent is a vicar, and shortly our trainee vicars will be come vicars of parishes in their own right. The aim of IME has been to help prepare them for that day. I hope our day together in Bermondsey will have been part of that.

May God bless them..

Receive this Book...

Twenty-five years ago today I was ordained deacon in Southwark Cathedral.

A copy of the New Testament (left) was given to me on that day (which I still use on parochial visits).

As he gave it to me, the Bishop of Southwark said: ' Receive this Book, as a sign of the authority given you this day to speak God's word to his people. Build them up in his truth and serve them in his name.'

That's a good a description as you'll ever get of the job of a pastor-teacher. There's lots of other stuff you have to do of course, but that's your core task as an under-shepherd of the flock of God, ministering the truth, building them up, always mindful that they are his, bought with his blood, and infinitely precious to him (even, if at times, quite irritating).

The years have sped by and we have been privileged to serve in four wonderful churches: St Luke's, West Norwood; St Peter's, St Helier (Morden); Holy Trinity, Redhill and St James & St Anne's, Bermondsey. Each has a special place in our hearts.

St Luke's, West Norwood

By a curious coincidence the first and fourth were/are Waterloo churches with a certain resemblance in design. But there are other resemblances, too, between St James & St Anne's and St Luke's.

I began ministry in inner city south London and have now returned there. It's one of the many reason why coming to Bermondsey has been a bit like coming home.

A verse that has long meant a lot to me during all this time - and the one I quoted on my first day as Vicar of St Helier - is Romans 10 verse 1 where the Apostle Paul says of his people: 'Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved.'

And that, of course, is the greatest thrill of all: when that happens.

Defend, O Lord....

(Click on the picture to see the larger version)

An amazing weekend concluded with our confirmation service in St James with Bishop Michael, where twelve candidates from St Anne's & St James and two from Holy Trinity, Rotherhithe, were confirmed.

'Defend O Lord,' we prayed 'these your servants with your heavenly grace, that they may continue yours for ever, and daily increase in your Holy Spirit more and more until they come to your everlasting kingdom.'

Congratulations to Geron, Nariah, John, Alistair, Scarlett, Kim, Jean, Adeyemi, Joakim, John, Tina, Scarlett, Sade and Sarah. May God bless them.

And finally, how's this for a confirmation cake:

Happy day - in the churchyard

Oh Happy day, happy day
You washed my sin away
Oh happy day, happy day
I'll never be the same
Forever I am changed

We used every chair we owned and every adult-sized chair the school owned to seat the congregation in the churchyard as St James joined with St Anne's for our open air baptism service at which six members of St James and St Anne's were baptised.

Here's Sarah (above), and here is John (below) and Joakim (also known as Joe). Also baptised were Nariah, Samuel, Rachel, (all under 16, not shown for safeguarding

reasons).

Tonight four of the candidates will be confirmed, alongside a further eight candidates from St James and St Anne's and two from Holy Trinity, Rotherhithe.

It was good to be out in the open, welcoming neighbours and passersby. It was good to be singing God's praise. And it was good to be reminded of  God's grace changing lives as Jesus builds his church.

The song quoted at the top of this post, The Greatest Day in History, seemed particularly poignant. It speaks of the day death was beaten and Jesus rescued us on the cross, and then it says

Oh what a glorious day
What a glorious way
That You have saved me
Oh what a glorious day
What a glorious name

 No one ever baptises themselves. It's something that has to be done to you. And that reminds us that the 'glorious way' that God choses to save us is to do it all Himself. God saves us. We believe.

We are baptised. We believe.


That's God's way and it's the most glorious way in the world. Its the way God offers a fresh start, and the slate wiped clean, to everyone who comes to him.

As we sung at the end of the service: To God be the glory!

 

St James' & St Anne's Musicians in the Portico

Joy in the churchyard

Thanks to Pat O. for the photos, and here's Tim Hughes, singing The Greatest Day

New Rev 'n' Chas 'n' Dave

Fifteen new curates were ordained this morning in Southwark Cathedral, and here are the four from our episcopal area with the Bishop of Woolwich.

The photo was tweeted via the Church of England's hashtag '#newrevs' designed to celebrate the one thousand men and women who are being ordained this summer in the CofE.

First on the left is Jos Downey, the latest addition to our staff team at St James and St Anne's. He comes to us from Ridley Hall, Cambridge where he trained for the ministry. Welcome to Bermondsey, Jos.

It was in fact a good day to arrive in Bermondsey because today was the day of the Bermondsey Carnival in Southwark Park, an event that has taken place every year since 1900.

'I'm Bermondsey and proud' the Pearly King of Bermonsey told us, before Chas 'n' Dave came on the main stage to round  the day off with  a real south London, Cockney-style, knees-up.

Thanks to Southwark Council for sponsoring a great community event and for providing the first item in the induction programme of our freshly-minted BermondseyCurate.

Chas 'n' Dave headline the Bermondsey Carnival

Bermondsey boy off to Egypt

It's not every day that a member of the congregation is made an Ambassador, but yesterday it was officially announced that St Anne's member, John Casson (left), is to be Her Majesty's Ambassador to Egypt.

Last Sunday we had a special farewell and commissioning service for John and Kat at St Anne's as they prepare to move from Bermondsey to Cairo, from their terraced house round the corner from St Anne's to the British Amabassador's rather  palatial residence in Cairo.

The reading (Matthew 10.24-39) set for the day seemed to be very relevant and in my sermon I drew these three points for John and Kat and for us all as we follow Christ: (1) Be like your master; (2) Know that your Father's loving protection surrounds you wherever you go; (3) Never be ashamed to say you belong to Jesus Christ.

The Government website says about John: 'His career has had a strong focus on the Arab world, including as Deputy Ambassador in Jordan, as Head of the FCO’s Near East and North Africa Department, and accompanying the Prime Minister on his visit to Egypt in 2011.

From 2002-2005 he held the high profile role leading the US political outreach of the British Embassy in Washington. He has also worked in the UK Representation to the EU in Brussels and as Senior Policy Adviser in HM Treasury.

John & Kat at St Anne's: Farewell and Godspeed

Before entering Government he worked as a Research Assistant at Cambridge University and in the House of Commons. He moves to Cairo with his wife Kathryn Casson, who has been Private Secretary to the Development Secretary from 2011 to 2014.'

At St Anne's we shall miss them greatly, but we're keep praying for them and we look forward to their eventual return.

We know for John and Kat its a new adventure in God's service and, as for us: we're proud of them.

St James at your convenience

They didn't call it Bermondsey New Church for nothing. When St James's Church was built in 1829 it contained a new, daring, and controversial innovation: a church loo.

Spending a penny was no longer just about putting money in the collection. Congregants caught short during an over-long sermon could nip out to the state-of-the-art Water Closet, thoughtfully installed by architect, James Savage.

But not everyone was happy with the new arrangements, in fact, according to a recent article in the Daily Telegraph which featured a prominent photo of St James (thanks Nick), a whole campaign was fought in early Victorian England against the  the installation of  lavatories in churches, especially those sited near 'to the altar.'

The Ecclesiologist magazine drew particular attention to the appalling 'desecration' that had taken place at St James, Bermondsey where they reported the dismal news that “there are two water-closets, one on each side of, and adjoining the Altar: the one being for the use of the vestry, and the other for the congregation.'

Now at this point your blogger could descend into a series of poor taste puns (we are not known as a Waterloo church for nothing etc etc), but I will just say that I am glad, as the Telegraph article points out, that there are 'toilet facilities' in St James to this very day.

And if we led the way in that regard, well, so be it.

The Telegraph's photo of St James

Dancin' in the churchyard

They were dancing in the churchyard today for St James joint church and school summer fair.

Coconut shies (very popular with the year 5 and year 6 lads), the Salmon Bouncing Castle, DJ Danny, the stocks, Jean's plant stall, Debbie's homemade bread, Ken's bookstall,  face-painting, cakes, & teas, brilliant sunshine and a good time was had by all. A really good community event.

Just what we need in school to burn off some of that energy

DJ Danny. He got married at St James

Macarena in the churchyard

 

This was the deal: Bring a bottle for the stall and you didn't have to wear school  uniform for a day

 

                                                                        

Paxo bows out in Bermondsey

What better way of concluding twenty-five years presenting BBC's Newsnight, than to go on a bike ride through Bermondsey with the Mayor of London?

Yesterday local residents were treated to the sight of the dynamic duo wobbling through the streets of Bermondsey on a century-old tandem as Paxman attempted to interview Boris, while the latter attempted to dodge the traffic.

The two are old sparring partners. In a 2009 interview Boris asked Paxman “Why don’t you get yourself a proper job instead of just sitting around telling politicians what to do all the time?”and Paxman replied “The usual convention, Boris, is that I ask the questions.”

From Bermondsey, On Her Majesty's Service

For three years this has been his place of work.

St Anne's member, John Casson, has been the Prime Minister's adviser on foreign affairs but now he is getting ready for a new posting with the Foreign Office, but first he came to speak to today's Men's Breakfast on the theme 'On Her Majesty's Service.'

It was our fourth breakfast and the best attended yet, filling the south lounge at St James, as the men tucked into a full English and heard how John lives out his life as a Christian in the Government service.

The really great point that John made was that wherever you work, whatever your calling, you can serve God there and you can be a witness for him.

For John it was the daily time with the Lord at the beginning of the day that made the crucial difference to him personally. It was an opportunity to seek God's wisdom and grace for his highly responsible job at the heart of Government.

Next week at St Anne's we are praying for John and Kat and commissioning them as they prepare for their next posting. More about that soon...

John Casson speaking at the men's breakfast

Great was the company of the preachers

Last night it made me think of Psalm 68.11 (immortalised by Handel in Messiah): 'The Lord gave the word and great was the company of the preachers.'

It was our second to last evening of our latest Bermondsey Christian Training Course, Ready to Serve, and our theme was how to handle the Bible and give talks.

Bermondsey Christian Training

After a bit of input from me - from the Bible - and some suggestions of how to give a talk on a verse of Scripture, everyone got going, in five separate groups dotted around the church, to produce the outline of a talk on the verse they had been given - and great was the company of the preachers.

Each group had to choose one point they would make from their verse; think of an illustration of that point; and come up with an application.

Then we came back together and each group shared with the whole group the outline of their talk.

They were all brilliant. No wonder everyone applauded at the end of each talk.

As for Psalm 68.11 that gets it about right (well it would do,  it's in the Bible after all): the Lord gives the Word, and the natural and necessary outcome of that is a great army of preachers, teachers, bible-explainers, and good-news-tellers spreading out all over the world, just like the swarm of would-be preachers who descended on Bermondsey last night.

'Does anyone want to give the sermon on Sunday?' I asked at the end of the evening.

Walking in the light, sailing down the river

It was Pentecost Sunday and an opportunity at St James to welcome back former vicar, Henry Whyte.

Henry was celebrating 40 years since he arrived in Bermondsey with his wife, Liz. It was great to hear his memories of forty years ago, of a growing church and deep friendships that have lasted half a lifetime.

Henry remembers that when the congregation was much smaller, a curtain divided the church to create a more intimate space - and then he remembers the day when the curtain had to be moved further back to make room for an expanding  congregation.

And if you think St James's can be a little bit chilly in winter today, he remembers the time before the present wall heaters were even installed.

The Whytes cutting a 40th anniversary cake

In 'retirement' he remains active as ever, full of the joy of the Lord, enthusiastically ministering the word of God as he did today at St James for our Pentecost Celebration.

Next up was the Diocesan Pentecost Service at the Cathedral and for the Woolwich Episcopal Area a boat had been hired to convey us from Woolwich, Greenwich, or Bermondsey piers to the Cathedral.

Only ten people per parish could be accommodated. Our allotted number embarked  at Cherry Garden Pier for the trip down river to the Millenium Bridge Pier, just past the Cathedral. (In the event a kindly captain extended the cruise to just beyondWestminster Pier).

On the way we were entertained by a Gospel choir, sang hymns, shouted hallelujahs, waved banners, and exchanged greetings with the passers-by who stopped to wave to us from the various Thames bridges.

The Cathedral service itself was a rich feast with worship led by the worship band at Holy Trinity, Clapham, testimonies from a number of parishes and one deanery about mission projects they have been involved in, and a sermon by Bishop Christopher based on the Emmaus Road story on the theme 'hearts on fire', and an opportunity for everyone to be anointed with oil as the gospel choir of St Martin-in-the-Fields School sang.

College of canons

Eagle-eyed members of the congregation will have noticed this badge on my black preaching scarf.

It is the emblem of Southwark Cathedral and, worn on my scarf, it denotes that I am a canon of the Cathedral..

Our task is to be 'ambassadors' for the cathedral and once a year we gather for the annual meeting of the College of Canons, a service of Holy Communion and a rather nice dinner.

All this took place last night. It was good to have an update on the life of the Cathedral in an increasingly busy part of London, to catch up with old friends and to enjoy the Cathedral's hospitality.

The new handbook for honorary canons says there have been canons in the church since the eighth century, and there have been canons in Southwark since 1106.

Nowadays we still have the job of electing the bishop of the Diocese. This task is made easier by the fact that there is only ever one candidate - the one nominated by Her Majesty the Queen. Nonetheless we are all required to say 'aye' and duly elect the Queen's choice after the reading of the royal warrant commanding us to do so.  (These days the chosen name comes to Buckingham Palace via 10 Downing Street and a committee drawn from the diocese and the national church).

Nonetheless, any canon who fails to turn up for the bishop's election is is publically declared by the Dean to be 'contumacious.' I had to look that one up in the dictionary.  

It means 'stubbornly perverse or rebellious' (ie an awkward so-and-so).