There was a Service of Nine Lessons and Carols at All Saints Church at 4pm this afternoon.  The Service was by candlelight and told the story of Christmas and I was invited to speak and read one of the lessons.  Mount Primary School Singers did a fabulous job of singing ‘O little town of Bethlehem’ and other Christmas carols.  It was a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon with mince pies and mulled wine afterwards.  My thanks to John Tompkins and Rev Paul Rossiter - it was a lovely, very moving service and everyone was made welcome.

Winter roof repairs. All Saints Church in the community of Westboro in Ottawa, Ontario. Check the worker’s shadow on the left side of the roof.

Web site: www.robhuntley.ca
Click on the image to go straight to the same image on my website.

Author of seven pastoral booklets, eight books, and over 100 journal articles, Dr. Richard R. Gaillardetz is one of the most accomplished U.S. ecclesiologists of the current generation. He has been a member of the U.S. Catholic-Methodist dialogue, and his doctoral director was Dominican Father Thomas O’Meara at Notre Dame (who was also my systematics and ecclesiology professor as an undergrad). Rick is married, with four children, and currently serving as the Murray/Bacik Professor of Catholic Studies at the University of Toledo (Ohio, not Spain).

The Venerable Jonathan Boardman is an Anglican presbyter, rector (pastor) of All Saints parish in Rome, and Archdeacon of Italy and Malta for the Anglican diocese of Gibraltar, which covers all of continental Europe.

[An archdeacon in the Anglican Communion, as it once was in the Catholic Church, is basically the vicar general, and in this case one of several where each is assigned a geographic portion of a diocese. Though traditionally this was a role for a deacon, the eventual usurping of all diaconal ministries into the presbyterate included this high office.]

Having either one of these men as guests for dinner and conversation over tea would have been a treat, especially now in the wake of the apostolic constitution Anglicanorum Coetibus. To have both on the same night was a true privilege, especially for an ecumenist/ecclesiologist like me. I would have been happy just to sit back sipping my tea, and listen to them discuss the personal Ordinariates, the history of Anglicans in Rome, and the ecclesiologies of our communions today. Both men are as engaging as they are erudite, though, and welcomed questions and comments from those of us who decided to stay and converse rather than head across town for a party with the other lay students of Rome. (Still working on that bilocation thing)

Anglican Father Jonathan Boardman and Professor Richard Gaillardetz

Professor Gaillardetz has written a great deal in exactly the areas of ecclesiology that interest me, including ecumenism, the diaconate, lay ecclesial ministry and a wide range of other topics. I have no doubt that his work will make a significant contribution to my thesis and dissertation, and it is always a blessing to make a real-life connection with someone whose work informs your own.

Father Jonathan I have met on my two forays to All Saints, first for their dedication feast – the Sunday after the press announcement of the Personal Ordinariates – and for Stian’s debut as Evensong Acolyte Extraordinaire. His comments on the Personal Ordinariates, and his personal openness about his reactions since the first announcement and the subsequent publication of the constitution, were welcome, enlightening, and honest.

[In fact, as i write this, i suddenly realize who it is that Fr. Boardman reminds me of: Bishop Daniel Jenky, CSC! Some similar physical characteristics, spoken style and personality. Good preacher. hmmm....]

“I am not angry about all this… and yet, I’m surprised how angry I was!” probably best describes one of the most common reactions, echoed by Father Boardman while relating an incident where an innocent joke about “competition” [between Catholics and Anglicans] by a Vatican colleague touched a raw nerve.

While both the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Holy See’s own Council for Promoting Christian Unity had little notice before the public announcement, and many Anglicans and Catholics alike have seen this as either “arrogant” or at least “unilateral and insensitive”, some Anglicans have also noted that it is not as if the Anglican Communion or its constituent national churches have always consulted Rome or Constantinople before making a decision that had ecumenical ramifications (such as the ordination of women to the episcopate).

Further, as my friends remind me, there are probably more Catholics – including priests – who have “swam the Tiber” in the other direction than Anglicans who have come into communion with Rome over the last three or four decades.

We also spent some time discussing the theology of the episcopate – or lack thereof – in the apostolic constitution, and wondered why at least a “conditional” ordination wasn’t proposed given the development of Catholic theology on orders in general and Anglican orders specifically since Leo XIII issued Apostolicae Curae.

I have an upcoming post updating my thoughts on the constitution, and I am incorporating some of my gleanings from this conversation there, so I do not want to duplicate it here!

Having spent what has been suggested as over £60,000, recently on internal church refurbishments, whilst many are tightening their belts, and suffering hardship, the local church in Hale Barns (All Saints) has now been approached to sell its recently vacated vicarage, (a substantial property estimated at £2M plus), located on Wicker Lane. The vicarage building and land is situated behind Partington Farm and would, I am told, make an ideal car park for the farm which, has planning approval (Trafford MBC H/69959 – 28/7/08), for conversion to a synagogue. It remains to be seen if any agreement is reached; but, in these cash strapped times church authorities in Chester, sources tell me, may be extremely interested to explore such an offer.

I nearly forgot it was Halloween yesterday without all the candy and pumpkins in the stores; barely any orange or brown to be found in the city.

Apparently, it has not been a big holiday for Romans, or Italians in general. The big costume holidays are Epiphany, where they tend to dress up as La Befana, a gift-delivering witch who visits on January 6, and Carneval.

A small group of us went out for an evening passagata around the Pantheon and Piazza Navona, stopping for gelato en route, and finishing with a nice bottle of wine at a little wine bar/café. We saw a few Befana hats out early, but really it was only as we were heading home for the night, about midnight, that we saw more people in costume.

For the morning of All Saints, I opted for the Basilica San Paolo fuori la mura (St. Paul Outside the Walls). Rezart, one of my Muslim housemates, is working on a paper about the Eucharist, and he decided to join me so he could compare his first mass experience from Wednesday night here in the Lay Centre to a more formal experience at the Basilica. An added bonus is that Abbot Edmund was presiding at both liturgies, so the difference in personal presider styles could be taken out of the equation. Matthew joined us on location, in exchange for a visit to his parish next week, to which I am looking forward.

St. Paul’s is the huge basilica built over the tomb of St. Paul, outside the old city walls (hence the name), one of the four major basilicas. Until the new St. Peter’s was built (1506-1625), St. Paul’s was the largest church in the world. Along the walls are the images of the bishops of Rome going back to Peter – the source for those posters one finds all over the place.

St. Paul’s has also become significant in Rome’s ecumenical efforts, including being the location of the culminating liturgy for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity each year. In fact, it was from the steps of St. Paul’s that John XIII announced Vatican II at the end of the celebration for Christian Unity 50 years ago.

Afterwards, Abbot Edmund was generous enough to meet with Rezart and me to answer questions and show us around a little. It is a gift to share the liturgy with someone experiencing it for the first time, especially someone so interested in learning about our worship. The questions remind us of the theology and symbolism we take for granted, and push for better understanding of what we might do out of habit. His first question was like this, he wanted to know why, if the Eucharist itself was a sacrifice made for the forgiveness of sins, why we had a penitential rite just a little while before celebrating the once-and-for-all penitential act! From there we ventured into the symbolism of serving only one species or both, the meaning of incense, and expansion from the homily and so on. It was a blessing for me to just listen!

After returning to the Lay Centre for lunch and a little homework, we ventured out again to All Saints Anglican, to celebrate their patronal feast, and to cheer on Stian who had his acolyting debut. Nine of us in total joined the small English community fro Evensong, then ventured to a pizzeria founded in 1753 (according to the waitress’ t-shirt anyway) and located just down the road, near San Clemente. Donna assured us in advance it was the best pizza in Rome, and we were not disappointed!

I had two great experiences of church today. This morning, i had the priveledge to join my friend Eveline at the Dutch church in Rome for the Sunday Eucharist, and this evening we joined our friend Stian at an Anglican celebration of Evensong (Vespers) at All Saints.

Saint Michele dei Frisoni, National Church of the Netherlands in Rome

The Dutch church, San Michele dei Frisoni, is located just over the international border at Piazza San Pietro, on the Italy side – litteraly right out from the piazza, hang right and up the stairs. Voila! You are I the Kerk van de Friezen. The Friezen, apparently, are one of the regional cultural groups in the Netherlands, like Holland. (If that link does not work, or, more likely, if you cannot read Dutch, try this one.)

It is a beautiful language, especially when sung. I have the sense always of being just on the edge of comprehension. The common Germanic root of English and Dutch makes it as if listening to a conversation in another room, so that you feel like you can almost make out what is being said, but not quite.

After the liturgy, I was asked about differences with my experience of the mass in America and in Rome. Obviously, the language, and some small details (for example, almost no one made the small sign of the cross at the gospel). But, the mass is the mass, and coffee hour, apparently, is coffee hour.

More noticeably, though, was a real quality of the congregational singing; there was only a small choir yet every song was richly done. That and the assembly filled the church, but was on average noticeably older than what I am familiar with. They did announce a pilgrimage from the diocese of Tilburg coming next week, though, so it will be interesting to see if it is young people or older.

Speaking of pilgrimages, one of the members present was called forth for a special blessing and recognition. He had walked from the Netherlands to Rome, a journey that took him a little over three months, and about 2000 km/1400mi. I wish I knew more about his experience to share, but it was all in Dutch. Though Eveline was kind enough to translate the highlights of the homily, we decided the announcements were fine left in the original!

All Saints Anglican Church, the Church of England parish in Rome

In the evening Stian, Eveline and I trekked to All Saints for Festal Evensong (Vespers), one of two Anglican churches in Rome. All Saints is the Church of England parish, while St. Pauls-within-the-Walls is the (American) Episcopalian parish. The church was celebrating the feast of their dedication, so there was a choir from Hexam Abbey  and the guest preacher was British Monsignor Mark Langham who is the person responsible for relations with Anglicans in Rome, from the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity.

Father Mark opened his homily by admitting that, as he sat to begin writing his remarks this week, he found himself wishing that he had been invited to preach last week – before the press conference that has made such an impression on Anglican-Catholic relations. Without ignoring the challenges posed by the announcement, the reflections genuinely focused on the community of All Saints and on the community as one of the many expressions of the unity to which we are all called.

Whether this is an aspect of British culture I am not familiar with, I do not know, but several times he employed some very good humor, and it seemed as though the three of us were the only ones appreciating it. (At the beginning he said something about the news of the week causing ripples in the “normally tranquil waters of ecumenical dialogue.” Tranquil waters indeed!)

It was enough that we were wondering how much was perhaps some latent tension surrounding the presence of a guest preacher form the Holy See in such proximity to the announcement of the Personal Ordinariates. To his great credit, Father Langham neither sidestepped the question, nor did he dwell on it, focusing on the cause for celebration, the dedication feast of All Saints parish in Rome.

The prayers of the faithful were also interesting, “Let ecumenical dialogue be honest… and charitable,” being the most memorable among a list of prayers for unity.

As beautiful as the service was, it was difficult to fully participate. The songs were choral, rather than congregational, and often in unfamiliar settings. Though my internal liturgist recoils at the thought, I suppose there can be times to sit back and appreciate the beauty of liturgy without engaging more than the receptive senses!

No sooner have the summer fairs finished then everyone gets organised for autumn fairs!  Today I attended the 20th Wallasey Rainbow Guides Autumn Fair at All Saints Church Hall in Hoseside Road, Wallasey.  I went along with Cllr Paul Hayes who has just got back from London after being ‘called to the bar’ and is now a fully fledged barrister.  Congratulations Paul!

Paul left to go and help deliver our latest Newsline in Seacombe while I went to the autumn fair at Sacred Heart Primary School in Moreton, with our candidate for Moreton and Leasowe, Steve Smith.

The Parent’s Association had worked really hard and were out in force to help make the fair a success.  The fire engine in the school playground was a huge attraction.  It was really well attended – we met Stella an old friend of Steves, and her daughter.  Thanks to Joshua who had a great time taking photos with my camera!

By Katy

In God We Trust

God and Money. Doesn’t quite go together like a horse and carriage or love and marriage or a hot dog and a bun. Alright, that last one didn’t rhyme nor did it really have a reason for being there. I just wanted to think up a third.

Now, I have never been into religion, and I’m definitely not about to tell anyone what to believe. I’m just here to talk about my experiences with my own personal finance, and of course, that means, I will be sharing with you personal stories about my life. And this last week, I made a big life change.

I was baptized last Sunday. Although, it’s a big deal to me, I don’t expect it to be a big deal for anyone else. I know it’s something between God and me…and well, maybe 300 of my fellow All Saints Church-goers. But here’s where the personal finance issue comes in…along with getting my head soaked in water by the Rector, I also needed to commit to putting my hard-earned money into the offering basket every Sunday from now on. I received a form asking me to pledge how much I was willing to give to the church (and in so implying…God) for the rest of this year. So, what should I do?

I have already been giving 10% of my weekly net pay every Sunday I have attended church, but now, I need to put down on paper exactly how much I am willing to give and that makes me nervous. I don’t exactly make a regular paycheck. In fact, I just wrapped up a show and am looking for my next gig. So, how do I make this kind of commitment without knowing how much I will be bringing in? I haven’t filled out the pledge card yet. I want to sit down with the Fiance and figure out what our combined income and debt look like. But I also want to have faith. I want to think that if I made the commitment to pledge 10% of my weekly pay, that I will get back, even more, in abundance. Is that realistic? I’ve always prided myself on being realistic, and that is what has gotten me through all of my years of freelancing. But for the first time in my life, I am going to try and operate on faith. After all, God takes care of the birds and the wildflowers, right? They never go hungry, nor lose their splendor and beauty. What do you think? Am I acting like a fool and ignoring my head? Or do you think it’s right that I go with what my heart is telling me to do?

As many of you appreciate, my life as an artist is quite often filled with doing everything on my own from creating,to promoting, to selling, to problem solving, to anything and everything it often seems! It is part of what I love about being an artist but also keeps me from learning how to do things in new ways. This year I was taking part in Dulwich Open House 2009 in Bainbridge studio, which is not just a new studio for me but for all the artists there, Lucy is evolving a commercial space into studios, screen printing facilities and a gallery no less! I also was trying to create a presence of SLWA within the event. Moira Jarvis organized a group of SLWA into the lovely All Saints church on Rosendale rd, and many of the SLWA opened their studios and homes.I hope many of you saw our lovely bookmarks designed by Julie Bennett, (if anyone would like one I have some spare!) As you might expect from the open house I met and chatted to lots of interesting people, but what I learned was that I enjoyed working as part of a group doing small manageable tasks that added up to greater effect. Lucys private view was buzzing with the excitement of a new venture and the promise of a great addition to West Norwood, and I felt very proud when I heard over the weekend of how visitors had been to see a lovely church of artists up the road or had come clutching the work or fascination from a SLWA studio. As I tried to palm off another bookmark onto a visitor whose reply was they had seen more of those than the pink booklets, I felt then that SLWA had left their mark!!! Leonie Cronin

[Today's post is excerpted from the forthcoming book, Abide With Me, by acclaimed photographer Paul Seawright and Professor of English John Parker. The book and its CD with 20 classic hymns, will be released in April 2009 by New Leaf Press.]

On the coast of Devon, England, lies Lower Brixham, an ancient fishing village built on the inlet known as “Torbay.” Brilliant sunshine glitters like diamonds across azure blue calm water and pastel houses perch on terraces overlooking the harbor.

Henry Francis Lyte was born in Scotland in 1793 to a military officer and his wife and the family moved to Ireland during the Napoleonic Wars. By the time he was 9, Henry was orphaned but was befriended by several benefactors. Eventually he was admitted to Trinity College to study for the ministry where he demonstrated excellent scholarship, a lovable personality and notable skill as a poet. 

In 1823, having married Anne Maxwell, Henry became rector of All-Saints Church in Lower Brixham where he was beloved by fishermen’s families whom he and Anne served. His church was full on Sundays and he ensured a Bible was on every boat leaving the harbor. Henry also composed many hymns, including “Jesus, I My Cross Have Taken” and “Praise, My Soul, the King of Heaven.” 

Henry’s frail health deteriorated with tuberculosis, however, and he began spending winters in the warmer climate of the French Riviera. On Sunday, September 4, 1847, just before leaving his home of nearly 30 years, Henry painfully climbed the steps into his pulpit at All-Saints, probably knowing this could be his last sermon before the humble people of Brixham. Later that afternoon he walked the familiar shore below Berry Head, gazing fondly at the town and the quiet bay he had come to love. At last, returning to his room, he penned the hymn expressing his most fervent prayer as evening closed over him. Based on Luke 24:29, it began…

Abide with me; fast falls the eventide

The darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide.

When other helpers fail and comforts flee,

Help of the helpless, O abide with me.

A few days later Henry left Lower Brixham, crossed the choppy English Channel, and headed toward Rome. He carried with him his new hymn, continuing to revise it as he traveled. In Nice, France, Henry’s weary lungs succumbed to the racking tuberculosis and he died at the Hotel de Angleterre, attended by a minister also staying there. Henry was buried at Nice in the English cemetery of Holy Trinity Church, while his last and most enduring song was sent back to Lower Brixham and given to his son-in-law. “Abide With Me” was sung at Henry’s memorial service in All-Saints Church.

Today nets and fishing gear symbolic of the parishioners Henry and Anne served hang in the vestry of the large church built later at Brixham. Meanwhile, his hymn is sung throughout the world by believers seeking the Lord’s abiding presence, especially at eventide.

“God doesnt seem to call the qualified, but rather to qualify the called.”

Christians are called to be FAT: Faithful, Available and Teachable…

The Rev. Wilma Jakobsen – All Saints Church Pasadena, Good Friday Service.

I have to admit that although I have long known the general details of the 1994 Rwandan genocide, I have not at all actively sought to learn more.  Last week, All Saints Church (my church, a parish of the Anglican Mission in America, itself a mission of the Anglican province of Rwanda), the Duke Center for Reconciliation, and the Anglican Episcopal House of Studies (here at Duke Divinity) organized two showings of the documentary As We Forgive, which follows specific stories of attempts at repentance, forgiveness, and reconciliation in Rwanda in the years since the genocide:

After each showing, there was a panel discussion.  The first night the panel was officially made up of a Duke Divinity master’s student from Burundi, a Duke Ph.D. student whose project has to do with violence in East Africa (specifically in the Democratic Republic of Congo), Dr. Ellen Davis, and Rev. Dr. Steve Breedlove (rector at All Saints).  Two native Rwandans in the audience also quickly became de facto panelists (and were conscripted as official panelists for the second showing).  I was lucky enough to sit down with one of the two for brunch the next day.

He is a student in the States, a Rwandan citizen officially, but he grew up in Uganda.  He’s also a movie fan, specifically of The Godfather, and he likened East African politics to Corleone family politics, telling me that he is among that minority of East Africans whose legal status in the US is not due to some variety of political corruption (although it is still due to political connections).

The documentary seems to be endlessly hopeful, even as it shows the difficulty of forgiveness in particular lives.  I left in disbelief.  I am still in disbelief: how can you forgive the man who killed your entire family?  Is that the power of the Gospel or is it ridiculously naive?  And the idea of government-facilitated reconciliation between murderer and victim makes my mind reel.  If the US prison system had any interest in rehabilitation of individuals, what would might reconciliation with their victims look like?  And should governments be in the reconciliation business at all?  (I am Western with Western assumptions about the separation of church and state after all.)

I didn’t recognize it until this week, but April 6th was the 15th anniversary of the assassination of President Habyarimana, the event generally considered to have ignited the genocide.  Plenty of major news organizations have been talking.

The BBC takes a decidedly pessimistic take (or perhaps it is only a starkly realistic about the ongoing problems in Rwanda, something which the documentary sadly seemed to leave out): “Rwanda’s ghosts refuse to be buried“.

And then there’s the April 13 edition of Newsweek’s “A Message of Hope from a Pile of Bones.”  You really should read it, but it’s especially interesting to me because it follows Rwandan Anglican Bishop John Rucyuhana.  One thing which As We Forgive adds to the picture provided by the magazine is Rucyuhana speaking about how badly the Rwandan churches failed, and how much guilt they bear for the genocide.

I only pray that someday the American churches will repent of their guilt for not doing enough to get our government to do something in Rwanda (and in many elsewheres, past and present).  What would the American religious landscape (see also Newsweek’s newest cover story, “The Decline and Fall of Christian America,” for a decent-but-not-great picture of said landscape) look like if when we heard the word ‘church’ we thought ‘advocate on behalf of the poor, the suffering, the dying, the hungry, the wartorn, the broken-hearted’ rather than ‘pro-war, anti-freedom, judgmental, power-hungry political wolves in sheep’s clothing’?  (Okay, maybe people don’t think all of that, but that’s mostly because Christians have usually been political bunglers rather than cunningly strategic wolves.)

Join us Thursday, March 12th at 7 p.m. 

Conscientious Projector celebrates its fifth anniversary with a film we’ve been wanting to see since the series debuted in 2004.  Our long search for a definitive documentary on the topic of consumerism ended with the December 2008 release of Consume This Movie!  Bay area contractor Gene Brockoff also saw a need for such a film, so in the finest of the DIY tradition, he gathered a crew and crafted an impressive first effort, a thought-provoking examination of the history, psychology and impact of American materialism and consumer culture, and a film that also offers hopeful alternatives to help us through an era of resource depletion, environmental degradation and economic uncertainty.  

Actor/activist Ed Begley says, “Check out this movie when you want to make a huge difference.” On camera participants include Dr. Peter Whybrow, Director of UCLA’s Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, sociologist/author Juliet Schor, simplicity gurus Cecile Andrews and Duane Elgin, environmental philosopher Julian Darley and others. 

“Get Satisfied” co-author Michael Beck and Simple Living America co-founder Carol Holst will join us for a community discussion following the film.

The Armory is located at 145 North Raymond in Old Pasadena. Admission is free and the facility is accessible to disabled persons. For more information, contact Marty Coleman at 626.792.4941 or visit and preview a trailer at www.consumethismovie.com.

Consume This Movie will also screen at Pasadena’s Greening the Earth Day on April 25th.

Conscientious Projector is sponsored by Sustainable World,a Peace & Justice Ministry of All Saints Church, in association with The Center for the Theatre of the Oppressed and The Armory Center for the Arts.

Who could have foreseen what would happen between the Mormon filmmaker and the lesbian priest?

Not Douglas Hunter, even after he took a leap of faith and trained his camera on the Rev. Susan Russell.

Technology may have provided the bridge, but it was an ancient religious calling that drew Hunter to Russell, a senior associate priest at All Saints Episcopal Church in Pasadena.

Hunter felt a religious obligation to cross the same boundary Jesus is said to have traversed 2,000 years ago when he spoke of embracing the outsider.

No group was further outside Mormon circles, Hunter thought, than gays and lesbians. Mormonism, he knew, viewed homosexual acts as sins, and Mormons would become among the most generous supporters of California’s Proposition 8, the ban on same-sex marriage that was approved by voters last fall.

It was in early 2007, after the death of a close family friend, that Hunter decided it was time to put his religious ideals to the test.

Filmmaking provided the vehicle.

A freelance post-production supervisor for television shows, he had already made two films: a documentary about rock climbing and another short movie about a couple overcoming a marital infidelity.

His new film, he reasoned, would allow him to explore a subject considered taboo by many other Mormons but which he could no longer ignore.

“The engagement of the ‘other’ was so important in the teaching of Jesus that it had to have a place of centrality in my own faith,” he said. “What’s your reward if you only love people who already love you?”

Hunter didn’t know where to start, so he turned to his computer. He typed in random search terms — “Christian gay,” “gay theology.” The search led to a clip of Russell on YouTube and then to her personal blog, called An Inch at a Time.

“I was like, ‘Wow, she’s fabulous. She’s here in Pasadena. She’s practically a neighbor,’ ” he said.

Hunter sent an e-mail to Russell in June 2007, explaining that he wanted to make a short documentary about the personal and spiritual challenges of same-sex marriage. The finished product, he said, would be submitted to an international documentary project that would broadly address the meaning of citizenship.

Russell, 54, was accustomed to interview requests in her role as president of Integrity USA, an advocacy group for gay and transgender Episcopalians. She had few qualms about sharing the details of her personal story to further her cause.

With a command of Christian theology and a fearless streak, she had become a national emblem in the struggle for gay equality in the Episcopal Church, a spiky-haired priest in a clerical collar who turned up on CNN and such news programs as ABC’s “Good Morning America.”

A few weeks after Hunter’s e-mail arrived, Russell agreed to meet him in her office at All Saints.

“That first meeting was about getting my foot in the door and letting her know I was for real,” Hunter recalled.

By August 2007, Russell was sitting through several hours of interviews and camera shots at the church. That material — indeed, the priest herself — would become the heart of Hunter’s 19-minute film, “The Constant Process,” which also features family pictures, including a snapshot of a smiling Russell and her ex-husband on their wedding day, cutting their cake.

In the film, Russell tells how, after college, she settled into a privileged life in Ventura with her banker husband and two young sons. There was tennis and sailing and a golden retriever at home.

The turning point came during a religious conference on the East Coast, where Russell met a woman who also was struggling with a troubled relationship, in her case with a female partner.

Russell and her new friend talked at length about their lives. When the woman asked if Russell might be gay, Russell answered, “I’m quite sure I’m not gay.”

But the question weighed on her. Why hadn’t she ever entertained the possibility? Was there something inherently wrong with being gay?

The next day, during a service at the National Cathedral in Washington, Russell heard a voice in her head.

“This is how I made you,” it said. “Now I need you to go back and be the priest I made you to be.”

The words seemed so loud that Russell looked around to see if anyone else heard them.

“I walked out of that service . . . changed,” she says in the film. “It was just really clear to me that my life didn’t look like what I thought it did.

“So for me, the coming-out experience really had nothing to do with a sexual act or even a relationship or a person,” she adds. “It was about really, finally understanding my fullest, deepest self and getting all the pieces in place.”

As Russell told her story to Hunter, he realized that he wasn’t just filming, he was learning from her. He was especially moved by the priest’s concept of romantic love, with its emphasis on spiritual and emotional intimacy as a precursor to physical expression.

“That resonated with me and gave me a renewed appreciation of my relationship with my wife,” he said.

Hunter also felt his empathy growing for gays and lesbians, especially friends who felt compelled to hide their sexual orientation. Perhaps that was because he, too, held a secret: Hunter had been sexually abused as a child by two neighbors in his native Philadelphia.

He knew what it was like to hide a part of himself and pretend his life was in order. “I kept that locked away,” he said.

Something else was occurring: Hunter and Russell were becoming friends. As election day neared last November, Hunter began showing up at “No on 8″ rallies alongside his documentary subject.

Russell’s initial curiosity about Hunter gave way to admiration, particularly over his decision to vote against the same-sex marriage ban and to speak out against it. She realized that she was sharing in his transformation. And that filled her with a sense of wonder.

“It isn’t a risk for a priest from All Saints to go to a Prop. 8 demonstration, but it is for a devout, straight Mormon father of three,” Russell said. “It just speaks volumes about how deeply Douglas walks the talk in terms of really putting his faith into action.”

Hunter had to balance his new friendship against his obligation to his church, whose members, at the urging of church leaders, were contributing millions of dollars to help pass the ban.

Knowing he was walking the finest of lines, he told only a few close Mormon friends about his opposition to Proposition 8 and about his documentary, even as it debuted last fall at a gay and lesbian film festival in Chicago. The project also will be shown at a film festival in Pomona in April.

“As a Mormon, I have a responsibility and commitment to listen to my church leaders,” he said. “At the same time, listening to my church leaders does not absolve me of the ethical responsibility to listen to the voice of the other.”

Hunter said he hoped the film would spark a thoughtful conversation about acceptance. “There are some things that Mormons are going to find challenging in the film, such as a lesbian priest saying that God is working through her,” he said. “I think that is a good point of discussion.”

And so he stayed his course, but not without turmoil, as tensions grew over Mormon support for the same-sex marriage ban.

Just days before the Nov. 4 election, Hunter joined Russell for an interfaith service in the ornate sanctuary of St. John’s Episcopal Cathedral near USC. One by one, speakers took the stage to reflect on the proposed ban.

Finally, Hunter stepped forward. He spoke about compassion and about the universality of love.

“If as a straight man I find the tools for strengthening my marriage in the relationships of same-sex couples and of a dear friend, can I deny them a fundamental right that I benefit from and cherish?” he asked. “The answer is no.”

Sticks and Stones May Break my Bones, but Words Have the Power to Heal Me.

” Our job is to say words to everyone we meet that somehow can help each person feel like one of God’s children. Feeling God within and all around. Jesus it is said, taught with authority. The word authority – from the Greek  “exousia” meaning literally “coming out of ones own being” or “coming out of ones true self.” The English word authority derives from the word “Author” which means the power to originate, Jesus’ authority derived from Jesus’ relationship with the creator God, the originator of all life and the author of all healing, love and compassion.

Healing, authority and power that you and I are given by birth comes from our being aligned with the author of love and compassion, exorcising authority stems from living with the authority abiding within us the authority for liberating teaching springs from drinking deeply each day from the author of all freedom and life living inside our souls.

Every time any of us gets triggered by some spirit that is not our true self it is a signal that there is a deep wound that needs healing and God is coming to us right now to say my love can conquer any wound you have had the one who is within you is greater than the one who is in the world. May all our living and all our teaching and all our relating have the mark of this liberating cleansing authority that assures every human being that being beloved is the core truth of their existence. Amen…”

Rev. Ed Bacon, All Saint’s Church Pasadena

You can listen to the entire sermon at the hyperlink above.

Amarillo, Texas will be celebrating Veterans Day for days before November 11.  There will also be traveling replica of the Vietnam Veteran Memorial with over 58,000 names on it coming through the city.  This will definitely be an emotional day for many Amarillo residents.

Some of the events you can take advantage of and enjoy are:

November 7 -

• Take a Vet to School from 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. at Austin Middle School at 1808 Wimberly Road in Amarillo . 
•  Military Appreciation Night at 7:05 p.m. at the Amarillo Civic Center with the Amarillo Gorillas at 401 S. Buchanan Street .  All veterans will receive discount tickets.

November 8 -

• American Legion Post 54 Breakfast from 6:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at 617 S.W. Seventh Avenue in Amarillo .  They will be accepting donations at the breakfast.
• Hutchinson County Veterans Appreciation Dinner at 5:00 p.m. at Borger Elks Lodge.  Dinner will be free with feature speaker, state Rep. Warren Chisum.
• Veterans Day Cookout and Welcome Home from 11:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Thomas E. Creek VA Medical Center at 6010 W. Amarillo Blvd. 
• Veterans Day Parade to honor all who have served our country at 10 a.m. on Polk Street in downtown Amarillo .  They are asking for everyone to bring U.S. flags and wear the colors red, white and blue.

November 10 -

• Military and Family Appreciation Dinner at 5:30 p.m. at Leal’s Restaurant on Georgia Street and Interstate 40 in Amarillo .  The event will be sponsored by All Saints Church.  All active duty military personnel and family are welcome.  Please RSVP.

November 11 – Veterans Day -

• Veterans Day Program at 11:00 a.m. at the Texas Panhandle War Memorial at 4101 S. Georgia Street in Amarillo .  There will be a featured speaker, Andrew M. Welch, from the Amarillo VA Health Care System.
• Veterans Day Program from 2:00 p.m. – 3:30 pm. at Houston Middle School at 815 S. Independence Street in Amarillo .  There will be a featured speaker, Letus Lebow, a survivor of the USS Indianapolis.

November 17 -

• Free Military Appreciation Dinner from 5:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. at Golden Corrall on Coulter Street and Interstate 40 in Amarillo .

Whether you live in Amarillo , Texas or are looking to buy a home in  Amarillo ,  I  hope you will get to attend some of these great events.

Earlier today, Americans United for Separation of Church and State (“Americans United”) posted an article by Rob Boston on its Web site, indicating that it had reported six churches to the IRS for violating the Internal Revenue Code’s prohibition against “politicking from the pulpit.”

Boston cited the Internal Revenue Service’s Political Activities Compliance Initiative (“PACI”) as the organization that has traditionally investigated referrals related to politicking from the pulpit.

He quoted the PACI’s 2006 compliance report which indicated that, in regards to the 2004 election, PACI received 166 referrals alleging improper conduct by non-profits, of which 110 were investigated. Of the 110 investigated, more than 40% involved churches (that’s a total of 47 referrals). The remaining referrals related to non-church nonprofits.

What Boston doesn’t explain is that approximately 90% of the church-related political interventions were substantiated by the IRS. PACI confirmed political interventions in only 45% of the referrals by non-church nonprofits. So what were the consequences for the violators?

About 12% of the non-church nonprofits received either final revocations or proposed revocations of their tax exempt status. Not a single church received a revocation or proposed revocation of its tax-exempt status. Instead, the churches received written advisories.

I tried to find the text of the written advisories on the IRS Web site, but could not locate any. Thanks to National Public Radio, I was able to locate a copy of a June 9, 2005 letter from the Internal Revenue Service to All Saints Church in Pasadena, California. I don’t know if All Saints was one of the churches included in the referral statistics provided by PACI in its report. However, the IRS clearly states in its letter to All Saints:

“Our concerns are based on a November 1, 2004 newspaper article in the Los Angeles Times and a sermon presented at the All Saints Church discussed in the article. The article entitled, ‘THE RACE FOR THE WHITE HOUSE Pulpits Ring With Election Messages,’ states that the sermon, given on October 31, 2004 to a congregation of 3500, delivered a searing indictment of the Bush administration’s policies in Iraq, criticism of the drive to develop more nuclear weapons, and described tax cuts as inimical to the values of Jesus. The sermon is entitled, ‘IF JESUS DEBATED SENATOR KERRY AND PRESIDENT BUSH’.”

The letter also refers to a list of questions, but the questions were not attached to the copy I was able to read. So I’m not exactly sure what specific questions the IRS asked.

Regardless, Marcus S. Owens of the law firm Caplin & Drysdale responded to the IRS on behalf of All Saints on October 11, 2005. Owens frames the examination as a First Amendment issue of freedom of religion and freedom of speech. He states:

“While [All Saints Church] understands and respects that the mission of the IRS is to administer the federal tax laws, it trusts that you similarly appreciate that the tentative findings of the agency challenge the core values of the congregation of the Church, clearly placing its First Amendment principles at stake.”

I don’t know if there was any other correspondence that took place between the two entities from June 9 until October 11, but Owens’ October letter certainly doesn’t provide any answers to any questions. So I can only imagine the legal wrangling that might have happened in the interim.

In any event, I was not able to locate All Saints on an IRS list of organizations that have had their tax-exempt status revoked, so I can only assume that All Saints suffered nothing more than a written advisory.

My concern is that the IRS is not immune to the so called “sacredness” of the church when it comes down to it. After all, as the 2006 PACI report shows, of the entities investigated, church political interventions were far more common than those of non-church nonprofits. Yet it certainly appears that non-church nonprofits were far more likely to be sanctioned for their actions. Why?

More about this tomorrow.

3.40 p.m. – Just a brief stop at a local cafe’ before visiting All Saints’ Church, at Patcham. After the long walk that took me here today, a warmed scone with a touch of strawberry jam and a hot, frothy cup of cappuccino are just what I need to get my strength back and gather my thoughts about the churchyard I am about to visit. I have never seen it before, but the bits of information I found in the previous days sounds promising.

For a start, the church is one of the oldest in Brighton area, dating back the twelfth century. Although many parts of the building have been restored, with a disgraceful cement covering most of the exterior walls, the nave is still original. However, the one thing that really fascinated me is that apparently the place is hunted by ” a thin lady dressed in grey, who sits in the pews on frosty nights” (Carder, 2007). I hope to find out more about her story later, I am sure the vicar or the local villagers will know. In the meantime, I guess I’d better this scone before it gets cold!

Tombs near the church

All Saints Church, Patcham

Sadly, I could not get in the church as it is closed on Saturdays. So no ghost stories, yet. However, the churchyard is quite big and varied, so that got me back in my cheerful mood again.

The churchyard can be divided into two parts. The first one includes the church itself and the surrounding tombstones. These are mostly headstones nearer the church and mostly crosses on the further to the left. Some of the stones are broken, a few crosses have fallen off, but overall the tombs are well kept.

Also, even though, the majority of their inscriptions is gone or eroded by lychens, I was impressed by the variety of symbolism and the crafted designs of some markers [photo 1, photo 2, photo 3].

I was able however toread some beautiful inscriptions such as that for William Frederick(1884-1902):

“how sudden was the fall! / no time to say farwell: God’s purposes are wisely hid / he doeth all things well.”

and that for Alfred George Vernall (1878-1963):

“the kiss of the sun for pardon, / the song of the birds for mirth, / one is nearer to God’s heart in a garden, / than anywhere else on earth.”

I also found a tomb which, apart from the unsual way the inscription has been superimposed, struck me because it has been commissioned not by a family member, but by a friend of the dead. Furthermore, the couple who are buried there, May Marion Burford (1880-1964), (May is usually a nickname for Mary), and Isabelle Sarah Luxton (1890-1967) seem to have been lovers. It’s the first time that I find a homosexual relationship spelled out on a headstone. That’s the inscription for M. Burford:

“Sleep on beloved and take your rest for god has called when he thought best: the cross is great that we sustain, in heaven we hope to meet again.”

and below, that for I. Luxton: ” friend and companion of the abouve may burford. reunited.”

Beyond the green fence

The second part of the churchyard, is accessed by crossing an hallway, from an arch entry cut through the grass fence. Apparently this part contains the more recent tombs ( I suspect the churchyard is still open for burials as the last tomb dated back to 2005). One of the inscriptions that I found more poignant is the one for Albert Thornton (1869-1938):

” home at last thy labour done / safe and blest thy victory won; / jordan passed, from paint set free / jesus now has welcomed thee.”

It’s already 5 o’clock, time to make my way home. A few more pictures to the landscape and then, back to the road. [PIC of the church]

References

Carder (2007) My Brighton and Hove. Accessed on 16th Aug 2008:

http://www.mybrightonandhove.org.uk/page_id__8434_path__0p115p187p774p.aspx

Resources

All Saints’ Church website

http://www.aspawd.org.uk/aspawdcms/export/index.html

Headstone symbolism

http://www.prestigememorials.com/Headstones-Symbolism-information.php

http://www.everlifememorials.com/v/headstones/cemetery-symbolism.htm

http://www.vintageviews.org/vv-tl/pages/Cem_Symbolism.htm

All Saints Algarve

I know, it has been rather tricky persuading people that there is some work involved in the 16 days were are spending in the Algarve, but it is true!

All Saints is an Anglican Congregation under the oversight of Archbishop Emmanuel Kolini Rwanda (it’s quite a long story which you can read on their website www.allsaintsalgarve.org).  They are currently advertising for a full time Vicar to look after two congregation, one of which meets in near in Faro (in Almancil), the other meets in the small chapel of a lovely former nunnery in Lagoa.

During the three Sunday stay I shall preach at both services (sermons are being uploaded to my website www.Simonvibert.com) and take some midweek Bible studies, as well as seeking to be an encouragement to the Church leaders and congregation here.

Open Gardens, Fetes, Soapmaking, Fayres, Car boot Sales etc on this weekend

Chale School

ROSE FAYRE

Saturday 28th of JUNE
2.00-5.00pm
Church Place, Chale, Isle of Wight PO38 2HA

Including: MUSIC ON THE LAWN, PLANT STALLS, HOMEMADE GOODS, ROLL A COIN, HOOK A DUCK, COCONUT SHY, ELECTRIC SNAPPER, GRAND AUCTION, SCHOOL RAFFLE, TARGET BOARD, MAKE AND DO’S.

Auction items include: Black Gang family Pass, Butterfly paragliding tandem flight, Chessell pottery – gift voucher, Chicago rock – meal vouchers/ drink vouchers, Cine World – 4 tickets, Dinosaur Isle – family Pass, 2 x return tickets on hover travel, LA bowl, Merlins Dinning voucher, Godhill Organics voucher,
Pizza Express voucher.

For more details

At the fayre we will be encouraging people to enter three competitions

The Island Rose -
A single stem rose from your garden
A prize of £20 and to have a Rose named after you.

A painting of a Rose
Adult prize winning picture to be hung in Quay Arts
Children prize gardening equipment

A photograph of a Rose-
Adult prize winning picture to be hung in
Dimbola Lodge Photographic Museum and Galleries.
Children prize gardening equipment

Classes to be 0-5, 5-7, 8-11, 12 -18 and adults

If you or anyone you know would like to enter one or all of these competitions then all you have to do is have your entry at the school by 1.30pm on the day of the show. We will be providing vases for the roses as we have to be careful of glass with the children. We are asking 50p per entry which I am sure you will agree is well worth it for such great prizes. Come along and get those competitive juices going.

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Shalfleet School Summer Fayre & Car Boot Sale – Saturday 28th June
2pm – 4pm
Admission £1, children free

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Open Day and Summer Fete – Saturday 28th June
11am – 2pm
All Saints Church, Ryde
Traditional stalls, plants, raffle, climb the tower – see the view

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Ventnor Permaculture – Soapmaking - Sunday 29th June
10:30am
Nick’s place in Shanklin
Wendy and Nick are old hands at making soap, this should be an interesting demo. Soap is made by combining caustic soda (often called lye) and oils so that they react to produce soap and glycerin. Although glycerin is a by-product of the saponification process it stays in the soap so you benefit from it. In commercial soapmaking they take it out. For more details or directions Tel: 864054

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Arreton Open Gardens - Sunday 29th June 2008
11am – 5pm
Eight gardens will be open this year with the proceeds going to St Johns Ambulance and Relate, including Arreton Manor, Haseley Manor, the Old Vicarage, Horringford house. In the various gardens there will be a tombola, plant sales, possibly chipmunks, a garden railway, cream teas and refreshments. Free parking by White Lion, Arreton Barns,and Haseley Manor. Admission by programme £4.00 Family ticket £10
It is on Sunday not Saturday despite what is says in the local paper, I did check with Arreton Manor.

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Calbourne Open Gardens – Sunday 29th June
11am – 5pm
Free Parking on the Cricket Field
Entrance by Programme £3
Coffee – Lunches – Teas

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Brighstone Village Gardens – Sunday 29th June
12 noon – 5pm

The following gardens are open as part of the National Gardens Scheme: 2 Wilberforce Road; 3 St Mary’s Court; 6 St Mary’s Court; Greens Butt; Kiplings; Miller’s Cottage; St Mary’s House; Teapots; 9 St Mary’s Court, The Elms, The Old Rectory, Rectory Lane; Waytes Court Farm, Broad Lane;  Yultide.
Tickets from both village shops, The Elms and Yuletide.
Admission £4.00 Children free
Plants for sale
Teas at Brighstone Scout Hut in aid of the Sea Scouts.

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St Helens Village Fayre – Sunday 29th June
10am – 3:30pm
On the Green

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During the Week

Mottistone Manor Gardens – Tuesday 1st July
11am – 5:30pm
Open as part of the National Gardens Scheme
Admission £3.70, Children £1.90, Family Ticket £9.30
Teas and Plants

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Nunwell House and Gardens Now open every Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday until 3rd September
Coach Lane, Brading, Isle of Wight
1pm – 5pm
5-acres of beautifully set formal and shrub gardens with Cornus kousa and old-fashioned shrub roses prominent. Exceptional Solent views from the terraces. Small arboretum laid out by Vernon Russell Smith and walled garden with herbaceous borders.
Tours of the house at 2pm & 3:30pm

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If you are looking for some inexpensive plants and garden equipment it is worth checking out the car boot sales. Remember to reduce – reuse – recycle, whenever possible.

One offs

Chale Car Boot Sale – Sunday 29th June
Military Road, Chale
12 noon
No setting up before 11am
Cars £5/Vans£8

Every Week

New Venue Car Boot Sale Ryde
Every Sunday 10am
IOW Indoor Bowls Club
Drive between McDonalds & Saddlestone Garage, Brading Road, Ryde
Cars £5/Vans £8 from 9am
Tel: 0797 3906159

Bembridge Car Boot Sale – Steyne Park
Every Saturday 1pm – 4pm
Sellers 12 noon Cars £5/Vans£6
No dogs allowed

St Helens Car Boot – on the West Green
Every Sunday 7am (weather permitting)

Lushington Car Boot Sale
Lushington Hill
Every Saturday Cars £5, Vans £7, parking 20p

St George’s Park Newport
Saturdays 8am
Sundays 7am
No dogs allowed

Brickfields Outdoor Car boot sale
Every Monday 5pm
Tel: 01983 566801

Calbourne Car Boot Sale
Calbourne Recreation Field
5pm every Friday night
Strictly no admission before 4:30pm
£4 per pitch
Tel:01983 531523

Ryde Car Boot Sale
Quay Road, Next to LA Bowls
Every Sunday
Sellers may arrive from 10am but are not permitted to set up or sell until 11:45 or until instructed to do so by the organisers.
Cars £5, Vans £7
For further information phone 07960272726
Please note there is no need to book a space.
Dogs are allowed but must be kept on a lead at all times.

DATE/TIME:

Sunday, May 4

4:00pm-7:00pm

LOCATION:

All Saints’ Church

555 Waverley at the corner of Hamilton

Palo Alto, CA, 94301

650-322-4528

http://www.asaints.org/

COST & REGISTRATION:

$20/10 students with RSVP and $25/$12.50 students at the door.

http://www.topazmusic.org

MORE INFO:

Website: http://www.topazmusic.org

Email:   mimidye@aol.com

Phone:   650-380-0961

Contact: Mimi Dye

DESCRIPTION:

TOPAZ and the SUKAY Ensemble will perform “Sounds of South America II,” a benefit concert where net proceeds will benefit the victims of the recent Peruvian earthquake.

Mimi Dye, violist and Artistic Director of TOPAZ, along with Eddie Navia and the SUKAY Ensemble will present festive Andean music from Bolivia, Ecuador and Peru. The performance will feature pan flutes, Peruvian guitars, percussion, vocals and dancers, including talented, young performers from Castilleja School in Palo Alto.

About the Artists

Mimi Dye, violist, composer and Artistic Director of TOPAZ, is well known to Bay Area audiences as a soloist, chamber musician, and jazz performer.

Ms. Dye was a student of Itzhak Perlman.  Ms. Dye has appeared as soloist with the Carmel Bach Festival, San Francisco Chamber Players, New York String Ensemble, Nova Vista Symphony, Palo Alto Philharmonic and the Baroque Chamber Players and is an artist-in-residence at the Yachats Festival in Yachats, Oregon.  Ms. Dye has performed with jazz performers including Eddie Gale, Wayne Wallace, Terry Disley and Peter Barshay.  Her numerous orchestral credits include playing in the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, touring with Barbra Streisand and recording movie scores in Los Angeles.  Her compositions include an album of solo viola works, two chamber jazz suites, and a new jazz CD, “River in the Sun.”  Ms. Dye has also composed two other CDs.

Eddy Navia, born in Bolivia, is one of the greatest exponents and master virtuosos of the Charango, a traditional Bolivian stringed instrument. He became artistic director of Pachamama and Sukay in 1989, and writes most of their new material. Navia was a founding member of the legendary Bolivian group Savia Andina, with whom he has 35 recordings. Savia Andina was a major force in bringing Andean music into mainstream South American culture and toured throughout the world, even hitting the Top 40 charts.

Eddy Navia has 8 other solo recordings.

About Topaz Chamber Ensemble:

TOPAZ is a chamber ensemble committed to using the arts to build community spirit and awareness through benefit concerts for worthy organizations, in-the-school music programs for young people, and performances at Stanford Hospital and other institutions dedicated to healing and service.