Legally Blonde

The thinking and writing are relatively easy, compared with trying to make sure the writing lasts as long as the CD… I’m trying to time it and it’s starting to frustrate!

I suppose on the positive side, if/when I get round to following up the vocation thing (you may have noticed I haven’t mentioned it lots since getting back from Bristol just after Easter), I will at least have had experience of being involved in running services before I have to do it on my own…

Our 18-30 group (not what you’re thinking! it’s the equivalent of youth group, or something for someone too old for creche or sunday school and too young for mothers’ union or churchwomen’s guild to fit slightly more comfortably into!) is leading Alternative Worship on Sudnay night. We’ve had a couple of planning meetings, hashed out a running order and who’ll do what, and spoken to the music man, so the practicalities aren’t a problem.

I think what’s worrying me more at this stage is how far “alternative” actually gives us rein to go. Yes, it’s alternative, in a sense – it’s a very different style from the usual weekly prayer book or common worship set services. Once a month there’s an 8 pm extra service where there is – in theory – no pattern, set words, rules etc. It’s a really good idea. The trouble is that over the 2(?) years it’s been running, it has almost grown its own pattern and rules, so that it ends up defeating the object of its reason for being!

When we were planning the service (yes, even alternative needs some sort of planning, otherwise it isn’t worship, it’s a mess!) there were those that said we had to stick to the usual way alternative is done. ?! I’m sorry but “we usually” and “alternative worship” aren’t that close friends! “We usually” belongs with choral mattins traditional services, you can’t change our building, even to keep the church alive, ’cause it’s the building we grew up in, our parents worshipped in etc. “We usually” doesn’t fit comfortably with the one service that sets out to experiment with, confront and do things differently.

I don’t want to scare people, and I don’t want to turn church into something completely divorced from music, worship etc. But the way I understand it, if you can’t challenge the status quo and do things slightly differently in an “alternative worship” slot, then when on earth can you?!

The Vicar has been supportive and said it will be good to do things a bit differently – I just hope and pray that tomorrow night the group has the courage to do just that. The Jesus in my Bible was prepared to buck the trend, turn convention on it’s head, challenge and confront those who stick to “but we usually…”

I know there will be criticism. I know some people may find parts of it uncomfortable. But I don’t feel apologetic for that. If something is different, unexpected, even a little shocking, it’s not necessarily a bad thing if it makes people think.

Or is it? Do I have completely the wrong end of the stick here? Flame away in comments.

After a long hot day in the Clinic I was determined to see a bit of this gorgeous weather I’d heard about from nearly every patient today – and took off for one of the less busy beaches.

I collected some company on the way, kidnapping a couple of friends from their revision (they’d earned a break!) and heading out to Langland for a glorious hour’s swim and flop and relax and ice-cream as the tide came in. Now have pink shoulders to show for it!

On days like these I remember why I love living here so much – 20 minutes after leaving work I was out of town and in the sea, no commute or sweaty dark time in the tube in between (yes, I used to live and work in London lots).

Something wonderful about fresh air and exercise – it’s a different sort of tired completely.

Thank you!

And I’ve not updated in ages again. Apologies.

I’ve had a lot on the last few weeks – I’m dealing with things, and will be more forthcoming when I can. I’ll do my best, but don’t hold your breath – thanks for reading anyway!