Tuesday, August 27, 2013

Stream of consciousness thoughts from Greenbelt

The common good - Jim Wallis - what does this mean, how do I aim for it. The need for some more pragmatic tips for all talks

Dementia in Churches - how do I respond, what can we do - Need more specifics, off to check the liveability website.

Steve Chalke - God can't leave prayer meetings, no matter how boring,  need to be providing better administration so people can get on with doing stuff, post welfare state coming, not necessarily right, but how will we respond. Repentance - wake up and live differently. Bring good news to people - not letting them live in Hell on earth. Want to know what I can do right away - feeling impatient

Divine Feminine Eucharist - found active exclusion of men in first section really uncomfortable, could have had whole service without that element, blokes at Greenbelt coming to that kind of service already converted, liked rest of liturgy, would use in some circumstances, want to look at gender neutral language where we can, think service was trying to highlight something specific, using gender neautral language all the time could be considered silencing the feminine by omission.

Group communion - breaking bread with friends in a field - like the feeding of the 5000? Range of ages amazing, felt very safe and secure.

Beer and Hymns - can't sing Here I am Lord - too emotional. Love being surrounded by people singing, is this what heaven is like? Biggest moment of doubt, what if this all nonsense? Can't deny the social justice bit, just know that's right. Want to build Kingdom of Heaven on earth, can't always reconcile God with suffering I see, or the point of the resurrection. Can't deny the presence of God when people raise their glasses singing their hearts out - lost my voice.

Best conversation - Tom and I half cut walking on the way to something talking about the theology of Now, all that people with dementia have, very Orthodox theology (not sure we were right on this one), incarnation, passion, resurrection all happening now, why I love advent, God is coming to earth right at this minute.

Thursday, August 22, 2013

Soon cute can’t resist!

















Soon cute can’t resist!






via Tumblr http://alexetarling.tumblr.com/post/59032763524

Thursday, August 15, 2013

Alliums at the weald and down museum / on Instagram...





Alliums at the weald and down museum / on Instagram http://bit.ly/19wjRhO






via Tumblr http://alexetarling.tumblr.com/post/58368678056

Monday, August 12, 2013

Questions 1 to 10

The lovely Adam posted these questions which I am borrowing.

1: During which decade of the 20th century would you feel most comfortable living?

Pragmatic me says rather than the 20th Century, this century is best, as woman, I have so many more opportunities than my foremothers. The romantic me says the 1960s, as the design, music, fashion and politics are a huge influence on me.

2: Which university would you choose to go to given the chance?

Given I met my darling husband whilst studying at Southampton, I'm fairly happy with my choice. I also met some dear friends and got to study under some very inspiring people. In a parallel universe, I think I should have liked someone to explain what engineering was when I was a teenager and made me better at maths so I could have done something really useful like being a computer or civil engineer. But I'm very happy with how this universe is working out.

3: If forced to live in a rural cottage what kind of landscape would you prefer to be surrounded by?

I like landscapes that have a sense of the edge of the world.  I like craggy bleak places, so some where coastal, far back enough from the cliff edge for coastal erosion not to bother me. Perhaps the North West coast of Ireland? I fell in love with Co.Leitrim when we went on honeymoon there.

4: If forced to live in the centre of a large city which would you choose?

Another cliche I'm afraid. I would pick London. To live in the Barbican, or on the South Bank somewhere, so close to myriad possibilities.

5: Is there more value in an architect or a writer?

Again with the pragmatism. In the purest form, the architect provides shelter, where as one can always make ones own entertainment. But now I doubt myself, surely the journalist exposing corruption is more useful today than the folly builders. Ugh I don't know.

6: Which is your favourite style of architecture and would you live in a house designed in that style?
For domestic buildings I like Arts and Crafts style houses, for public spaces I love Brutalist or over the top ornate Victorian buildings. I know that's two extreme but there you go. I would love to live in an Arts and Crafts house, full of both useful and beautiful things.

7: Given the chance to manage a cathedral, a coffee shop or a national park information centre which would you choose?

I think I would be best suited to running a coffeeshop, but I would love to manage a cathedral and hold in the balance the tension between worship, community, history, tourism and space for radical social action. Homeless shelter in the crypt anyone?

8: If you could only read one magazine or newspaper for the rest of your life which would it be?
The Guardian would do me nicely, as long as I could also have the Observer on Sunday.

9: What is your favourite bridge?
The Pont de Normandie. We cross it on our way to see my father-in-law, and it's a hazy, high up, glorious hill of we're nearly on holiday feelings for me.

10: What would be your perfect five-city itinerary of Europe?

London, Paris, Leiden, Cologne, Strasbourg, Zurich

#sunflower / on Instagram http://bit.ly/1eEBMjr





#sunflower / on Instagram http://bit.ly/1eEBMjr






via Tumblr http://alexetarling.tumblr.com/post/58069527075

My happy sunflower / on Instagram http://bit.ly/1d08opy





My happy sunflower / on Instagram http://bit.ly/1d08opy






via Tumblr http://alexetarling.tumblr.com/post/58069522599

Thursday, August 01, 2013