It’s not enough to know we’re in an ecological crisis. You have to feel it. It’s a question of the story you tell yourself about who you are. It’s a question of meaning and of spirituality – a question of being who you are in relation to all the life (human and otherwise) that is.Continue reading “Spirituality in an Ecological Crisis”
Tag Archives: worship
Starlings
These past two days, starlings have been gathering in the little oak tree in our garden. Individually, they’re not very attractive birds. They often look scruffy and they sound terrible – and they make a lot of sound. But when they soar and wheel in a murmuration out to sea at dusk, there is littleContinue reading “Starlings”
Moses the Eco-Warrior
A couple of things I’ve read recently have mentioned the Exodus story in relation to climate change. Move over Genesis – you’re just too clichéd, with your garden and your God saying creation is good and, by the way, let’s not mention filling the earth and having mastery over it. We need liberation songs. WeContinue reading “Moses the Eco-Warrior”
Baptism
Last Sunday, our eldest child, Zac, was baptized. It was a great occasion for us all, especially for him, of course, and especially for me as I got to perform the baptism. The baptism happened in the sea. By the scheduled time of 6.30pm, a sunny day had turned cloudy with a chilly strong wind,Continue reading “Baptism”
Greenbelt
We all went to the Greenbelt festival last weekend and had a great time. Highlights for me were hearing Graham Kendrick singing – on our wedding anniversary – one of the songs we had in our wedding service; night prayer under the night sky, accompanied by a celtic harp; doing some Sacred Harp singing (beautiful!);Continue reading “Greenbelt”
Listen!
Today is World Listening Day. Sponsored by the World Listening Project and celebrating the birthday (80 today) of Canadian composer R. Murray Schafer, one of the day’s purposes is “to celebrate the practice of listening as it relates to the world around us, environmental awareness, and acoustic ecology” (from http://www.worldlisteningproject.org). Schafer is one ofContinue reading “Listen!”
Pet Service
It was my first ever pet service today. We did the story of Noah’s Ark. It’s tough, because this is a service aimed at little kids and Noah’s Ark is such a dark story that I’m not sure it’s suitable for children. Anyway, I kept it at the level of a nice man who savedContinue reading “Pet Service”
Candlemas
A couple of weeks ago, I was on a course in Salisbury and went to choral evensong at the cathedral (which is one of my favourite cathedrals). One evening, the girls’ choir sang as an anthem Dorothy Parker’s poem, Prayer For A New Mother, set to music by Richard Shephard. I found it very moving.Continue reading “Candlemas”
Out with the old, in with the new
This past week I had to say goodbye to two faithful old companions. The first was my fault. At Easter, I took my lovely 6-string guitar out into the driving rain to play at an early morning outdoor service. It’s never been the same since, and in particular, won’t keep tune. So, after 25 yearsContinue reading “Out with the old, in with the new”
The Christmas Wolf
There’s a little voice in my head asking what’s wrong with the Christmas stories in the Bible, that I feel the need to write new ones. But I can hardly hear that little voice, because of a much louder voice howling like a wolf – “Aarroooooo!” Here’s this year’s story … (The biblicalContinue reading “The Christmas Wolf”
Alex Mabbs 