Thursday, July 29, 2010

Being a Godparent

I have an Auntie Myra, an Auntie Lorraine, and an Uncle Kelvin. They
are my godparents, and we turned up at their houses at Christmas to
catch up, and funny cards and cute presents appeared from them in the
post for birthdays.

I knew that my godparents were special to me, because when my sisters
were baptised, they got different ones. It wasn't until my sister's
godparents had their own children, and asked my parents to be
godparents that I connected this intricate family web.

In our house the children of a godparent, and our parent's godchildren
had become our god siblings. A flowing extended family of lots of
ages. We wouldn't see them often, but they were still part of the
fabric of our lives, something special and apart from the normal
nuclear family As a child, I grew up with these random children called
"god sisters" or "god brothers" turning up at our house semi annually
or coming on days out at National Trust houses, holidays at each
others houses.

Growing up in a church attending family, I watched many other children
get baptised as part of the regular weekly service, and each time a
set of these godparents would pop up, agreeing to be reponsible for
the spiritual upbringing of the child in question. In days gone by
there was an expectation that godparents would take in their
godchildren should anything dreadful happen to the parents.

I think that actually parents often choose to be godparents the
friends that they want to bring closer into their family. I know that
my dad doesn't keep in touch with many of his university friends, but
Uncle Kelvin being my godparent means they share one more bond and do
end up catching up at least once a year. Some people seem to pick the
most spiritual people they know, in order to bring a touch of the
religious to their otherwise social only gathering.

Whatever the reasons, one of the best things about having godparents
is that they are as mentioned before, special and individual to the
child and an adult apart from their parents but involved in their
lives. You won't find many godparents testing their under 10
godchildren on their prayers these days, but providing spiritual
guidance and ensuring they stay away from the dark of this world takes
many forms.

Having someone you don't have to share, who you can mark out as yours
helps with a child's sense of self esteem. I am worthy enough to own
the rights to bend this person's ear anytime. As for keeping
children's lives in the light of this world, this would seem to come
into its own in the teenage years. My god parents helped me find work
experience placements, had me come to stay with them, introduced me to
the delights of Star Wars and Blade Runner, and listened to the angsty
ramblings of a confused teenage girl. They took me out to dinner when
I was a starving student and helped me move house. A godparent is in
an excellent person to offer grown up advice away from prying parental
ears on a range of slightly delicate topics too I think.

Now old enough to be a grown up myself, I find myself the proud
godmother of two small boys. One is my youngest cousin, the other the
child of a university friend. When I was asked to be a godparent, I
researched to see what my responibilities would be. There doesn't seem
to be any biblical basis for having godparents, another one of these
traditions in Christianity like candles at Christmas. Nevertheless, as
a practicing Christian, I pray for them regularly, and as they get
older I wil try and make myself approachable so they can ask me any
difficult questions they can't ask their parents, and occasionally
whisk them away for special days out.

Oh and remember to send the obligatory Christmas and Birthday presents.

Posted via email from Alex E Jones

Being a Godparent

I have an Auntie Myra, an Auntie Lorraine, and an Uncle Kelvin. They
are my godparents, and we turned up at their houses at Christmas to
catch up, and funny cards and cute presents appeared from them in the
post for birthdays.

I knew that my godparents were special to me, because when my sisters
were baptised, they got different ones. It wasn't until my sister's
godparents had their own children, and asked my parents to be
godparents that I connected this intricate family web.

In our house the children of a godparent, and our parent's godchildren
had become our god siblings. A flowing extended family of lots of
ages. We wouldn't see them often, but they were still part of the
fabric of our lives, something special and apart from the normal
nuclear family As a child, I grew up with these random children called
"god sisters" or "god brothers" turning up at our house semi annually
or coming on days out at National Trust houses, holidays at each
others houses.

Growing up in a church attending family, I watched many other children
get baptised as part of the regular weekly service, and each time a
set of these godparents would pop up, agreeing to be reponsible for
the spiritual upbringing of the child in question. In days gone by
there was an expectation that godparents would take in their
godchildren should anything dreadful happen to the parents.

I think that actually parents often choose to be godparents the
friends that they want to bring closer into their family. I know that
my dad doesn't keep in touch with many of his university friends, but
Uncle Kelvin being my godparent means they share one more bond and do
end up catching up at least once a year. Some people seem to pick the
most spiritual people they know, in order to bring a touch of the
religious to their otherwise social only gathering.

Whatever the reasons, one of the best things about having godparents
is that they are as mentioned before, special and individual to the
child and an adult apart from their parents but involved in their
lives. You won't find many godparents testing their under 10
godchildren on their prayers these days, but providing spiritual
guidance and ensuring they stay away from the dark of this world takes
many forms.

Having someone you don't have to share, who you can mark out as yours
helps with a child's sense of self esteem. I am worthy enough to own
the rights to bend this person's ear anytime. As for keeping
children's lives in the light of this world, this would seem to come
into its own in the teenage years. My god parents helped me find work
experience placements, had me come to stay with them, introduced me to
the delights of Star Wars and Blade Runner, and listened to the angsty
ramblings of a confused teenage girl. They took me out to dinner when
I was a starving student and helped me move house. A godparent is in
an excellent person to offer grown up advice away from prying parental
ears on a range of slightly delicate topics too I think.

Now old enough to be a grown up myself, I find myself the proud
godmother of two small boys. One is my youngest cousin, the other the
child of a university friend. When I was asked to be a godparent, I
researched to see what my responibilities would be. There doesn't seem
to be any biblical basis for having godparents, another one of these
traditions in Christianity like candles at Christmas. Nevertheless, as
a practicing Christian, I pray for them regularly, and as they get
older I wil try and make myself approachable so they can ask me any
difficult questions they can't ask their parents, and occasionally
whisk them away for special days out.

Oh and remember to send the obligatory Christmas and Birthday presents.

Monday, July 26, 2010

Write a limerick about the colour green

There was a great colour of green
Who looked for a spot to be seen
It sat next to blue
and then it looked poo
Oh poor little colour of green!

Write a limerick about the colour green

There was a great colour of green
Who looked for a spot to be seen
It sat next to blue
and then it looked poo
Oh poor little colour of green!

Posted via email from Alex E Jones

Write a poem (doesn't have to rhyme) in which each line starts with the last letter of the line before.

Somewhere used to be a small
little tiny fluttering thing that
there never was space for.
Reality likes to throw out
these spanners in the works.

Write a poem (doesn't have to rhyme) in which each line starts with the last letter of the line before.

Somewhere used to be a small
little tiny fluttering thing that
there never was space for.
Reality likes to throw out
these spanners in the works.

Posted via email from Alex E Jones

Sunday, July 25, 2010

Set me a writing task - go on!

I feel the need to try and encourage my creativity again. So faithful
readers, if there are any, set me a writing task. It can be creative
or factual. Just some thing to start from.

Also, if anyone would like some non scary post, you can email your
address to ax at room 42 dot ath dot cx and I'll create snail mail
extraordinaire.

Set me a writing task - go on!

I feel the need to try and encourage my creativity again. So faithful
readers, if there are any, set me a writing task. It can be creative
or factual. Just some thing to start from.

Also, if anyone would like some non scary post, you can email your
address to ax at room 42 dot ath dot cx and I'll create snail mail
extraordinaire.

Posted via email from Alex E Jones

when can wedding guests start dancing

Now surely this depends on the style of the reception? If its a big formal affair, you would normally wait until the bride and groom have had their first dance.

But if it's a more informal do, they may not be having one at all. As I love dancing, I would say get up and start dancing as soon as there is a song you like. Party!

Ask me anything

Thursday, July 22, 2010

How to Build a CSS Web Site ?? Introduction ?? Green-Beast.com ?? Powered by AutoRun

Important Disclaimer

Notice: If you are accessing this tutorial by a non-visual browser or a device which doesn???t support style sheets ??? meaning you???ll be able to read this message ??? you will not be able to enjoy this tutorial since it requires style sheet support and visual browser usage. Sorry about this but it is completely out of my hands.

Let???s Make a CSS Web Page

Make a what, you may be asking? Well a CSS, or Cascading Style Sheet, is a file used to style a single web page ??? or an entire site ??? and position its elements. CSS is supported by the vast majority of visual browsers and offers many specific advantages (keep reading). In this tutorial I will begin with a simple Extensible Hypertext Markup Language, XHTML, layout and, using CSS, without hacks, I will position its elements and style it to make it look nice ??? and once done, it will remain accessible.

The Advantages of CSS

CSS, treated as a separate layer, is very beneficial as it simplifies updating or changing page styles and it reduces page load times since the browser can employ styles before it is fully rendered. Using CSS also allows the underlying web page to render in an order that makes the most sense for people who cannot support style sheets for whatever reason. You will see this on the first example page. Due to this linear layout, the page is more accessible and usable for people using assistive technologies such as screen readers and text browsers. In other words, using CSS enhances accessibility for the disabled user, for users who cannot use style sheets, and for search engine indexing spiders as well.

Remember this for future use

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Where are you at?

Today I have one of those aching tight headaches that you feel when
you move your eyes.

How are you doing? Where are you at?

In between the hum of aircon and the tubthumping crappy RnB I am
swirling thoughts around my head.

We've been decorating our dining room, or rather Tom has been
decorating our dining room. It's nearly done and I want our house back
so we can put everything away into a nice order. He's done an
excellent job.

I made pillowcases last night and finished knitting a hat.

I feel like a bad person because I can't seem to keep on top of
keeping everything tidy.

I need to update the church website.

I seem to have lost the ability to write anything meaningful or good.

Let's try again. How are you? Where are you at?

Where are you at?

Today I have one of those aching tight headaches that you feel when
you move your eyes.

How are you doing? Where are you at?

In between the hum of aircon and the tubthumping crappy RnB I am
swirling thoughts around my head.

We've been decorating our dining room, or rather Tom has been
decorating our dining room. It's nearly done and I want our house back
so we can put everything away into a nice order. He's done an
excellent job.

I made pillowcases last night and finished knitting a hat.

I feel like a bad person because I can't seem to keep on top of
keeping everything tidy.

I need to update the church website.

I seem to have lost the ability to write anything meaningful or good.

Let's try again. How are you? Where are you at?

Posted via email from Alex E Jones

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

paper.li - Daily on Twitter as shared by Alexandra Jones

Have you tried making a newspaper out of your twitter stream?

Posted via email from Alex E Jones

paper.li - Daily on Twitter as shared by Alexandra Jones

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Have you tried making a newspaper out of your twitter stream?

Holding up a corner - Fidelia's Sisters: The Soprano and Alto Section

One of the gifts the Young Clergy Women Project has given me is a whole chorus of voices, young and female, like me and not like me, different accents, different theologies, different approaches, but the soprano and alto section of the clergy choir, sounding full-voiced and clear and harmonious when it all blends together. It has been easier to find my voice among these women, and then to bring my voice home to the congregation I serve.

At our conference in July, worship was the most vivid illustration of this chorus. Six of us led worship, each taking our own direction with the morning or evening prayers we were assigned. There were some great moments of liturgical give and take. Maria accommodated our lack of ability with Swedish and used the English language ELCA vespers service. High church and beautiful. Suzanne creatively planned, and then integrated the misfortune into the meaning when a vase for a creative project broke. Simple, calm, and artsy to the core. I was humored by the group when I insisted that my Calvinist sensibilities were not going to allow me to officiate over the Lord's Supper if the table was set up against the back wall like a (gasp) altar! (Thanks again to Sarah for tolerating that moment of liturgical discomfort!) Suzy transformed a lecture hall into a veritable pilgrimage site, filled with prayer stations, seeing the potential for the space that few of us could have expected.

We marveled all week at how different every time of worship was. The voices, the planning, the actions, the singing. The preaching, from woman to woman, was everything from carefully polished to off the cuff to completely focused on the congregation's response. And it was all beautiful.

There is not one voice for women pastors. There are many. I remember a seminary professor telling us that each one of us would have, essentially, one sermon, one corner of the gospel, that our preaching would circle back to over and over. "But that's OK," he said, "because each of us will hold up a corner of a the whole sheet and together we'll keep the whole thing going."

I am more than honored to hold a corner with these women. And more than blessed by the ways their voices mix and meld and bless me over and over and over again. 

Erica Schemper is Associate Pastor for Children and Youth at Fox Valley Presbyterian Church in Geneva, IL. This is her last column as editor for Sunday Morning and Beyond, which means that reading Fidelia's Sisters is about to turn into an incredible delight without the stress of impending deadlines!

I love the image used here "But that's OK," he said, "because each of us will hold up a corner of a the whole sheet and together we'll keep the whole thing going."

All these rich traditions are but the edges of the quilt of our faith.

Posted via email from Alex E Jones

Holding up a corner - Fidelia's Sisters: The Soprano and Alto Section





One of the gifts the Young Clergy Women Project has given me is a whole chorus of voices, young and female, like me and not like me, different accents, different theologies, different approaches, but the soprano and alto section of the clergy choir, sounding full-voiced and clear and harmonious when it all blends together. It has been easier to find my voice among these women, and then to bring my voice home to the congregation I serve.

At our conference in July, worship was the most vivid illustration of this chorus. Six of us led worship, each taking our own direction with the morning or evening prayers we were assigned. There were some great moments of liturgical give and take. Maria accommodated our lack of ability with Swedish and used the English language ELCA vespers service. High church and beautiful. Suzanne creatively planned, and then integrated the misfortune into the meaning when a vase for a creative project broke. Simple, calm, and artsy to the core. I was humored by the group when I insisted that my Calvinist sensibilities were not going to allow me to officiate over the Lord's Supper if the table was set up against the back wall like a (gasp) altar! (Thanks again to Sarah for tolerating that moment of liturgical discomfort!) Suzy transformed a lecture hall into a veritable pilgrimage site, filled with prayer stations, seeing the potential for the space that few of us could have expected.

We marveled all week at how different every time of worship was. The voices, the planning, the actions, the singing. The preaching, from woman to woman, was everything from carefully polished to off the cuff to completely focused on the congregation's response. And it was all beautiful.

There is not one voice for women pastors. There are many. I remember a seminary professor telling us that each one of us would have, essentially, one sermon, one corner of the gospel, that our preaching would circle back to over and over. "But that's OK," he said, "because each of us will hold up a corner of a the whole sheet and together we'll keep the whole thing going."

I am more than honored to hold a corner with these women. And more than blessed by the ways their voices mix and meld and bless me over and over and over again.??

Erica Schemper is Associate Pastor for Children and Youth at Fox Valley Presbyterian Church in Geneva, IL. This is her last column as editor for Sunday Morning and Beyond, which means that reading Fidelia's Sisters is about to turn into an incredible delight without the stress of impending deadlines!




I love the image used here "But that's OK," he said, "because each of us will hold up a corner of a the whole sheet and together we'll keep the whole thing going."

All these rich traditions are but the edges of the quilt of our faith.

Saturday, July 10, 2010

can I wear a hat to a wedding at 4:30 pm?

You many wear a hat to a late afternoon wedding, and usually you remove your hat when the mother of the bride removed hers, or when you sit down for dinner.

This will of course apply to a formal wedding. If it's a more informal wedding, I would suggest a fascinator or smaller hat.

Ask me anything

Friday, July 09, 2010

Tuesday, July 06, 2010

Fuzzy but Happy

So after my period of convalescence after my illness am I am now back to work, all fuzzy brained and achy still but so much better than I was. Tom has been an amazing help. I am always a little bewildered by his capacity to care and work. It makes me feel both inadequate and so very very lucky.

I’m slowly working my way through the list of things I need to do for the wedding. I kind of need to make a big pile of all the stuff I need to take with me on the Friday, or write yet another master list, but that can wait till nearer the time.

I had my hair trial and I was very pleased with the results:



I’m also working on trying to ensure there is some pastoral care for students at the chaplaincy come September as Yellow has resigned, but more on that in another post. When I tap you all up for money again.

I tell you what, these days I don’t feel like I have anything of interest or note to write. It’s too hot to knit, and I seem to have no time to sew or paint. Maybe, maybe, if I tidy up the study, I will get out my sewing machine again.

So instead of useful or insightful words have some other pictures of June. We went to Tom’s nephew’s wedding. Rich and Clair are so very clearly well suited for each other, and I pray that they have a very blessed and happy life. I’m not normally one for civil ceremonies, I find them so short, but this was lovely, they had personalised vows, a reading from the Velveteen Rabbit, and Clair’s extremely talented sister sang for them. They also managed to get married on the hottest day of the year. That’s some well ordered weather!


















Posted via email from Alex E Jones

Fuzzy but Happy

So after my period of convalescence after my illness am I am now back to work, all fuzzy brained and achy still but so much better than I was. Tom has been an amazing help. I am always a little bewildered by his capacity to care and work. It makes me feel both inadequate and so very very lucky.

I???m slowly working my way through the list of things I need to do for the wedding. I kind of need to make a big pile of all the stuff I need to take with me on the Friday, or write yet another master list, but that can wait till nearer the time.

I had my hair trial and I was very pleased with the results:

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I???m also working on trying to ensure there is some pastoral care for students at the chaplaincy come September as Yellow has resigned, but more on that in another post. When I tap you all up for money again.

I tell you what, these days I don???t feel like I have anything of interest or note to write. It???s too hot to knit, and I seem to have no time to sew or paint. Maybe, maybe, if I tidy up the study, I will get out my sewing machine again.

So instead of useful or insightful words have some other pictures of June. We went to Tom???s nephew???s wedding. Rich and Clair are so very clearly well suited for each other, and I pray that they have a very blessed and happy life. I???m not normally one for civil ceremonies, I find them so short, but this was lovely, they had personalised vows, a reading from the Velveteen Rabbit, and Clair???s extremely talented sister sang for them. They also managed to get married on the hottest day of the year. That???s some well ordered weather!

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