Dear all,Today I am writing this Stuff as a genuine 4D, present time, multisensory experience. I have a cup of honey and ginger tea in my 'Tea's a Saviour' mug, which also has a 3D image of Jesus on it. Jesus actually looks as if he might have been from Palestine rather than the blue-eyed, Aryan versions popular in 20th century Hollywood films. He is a touch orange, however, but as far as I know hasn't been asked to go on Strictly Come Dancing.I am also listening to the first of 3 Bob Dylan CDs that my oldest brother kindly sent me a few months ago. I was asking him about Bob's 'Christian Phase' and if there was anything appropriate for me to play in church services. I have been trying to introduce some different styles of music to broaden what we listen to in church and discourage people from singing. Those who were at Christchurch, Tean on 27th December for the annual Uttoxeter Area tradition of a finding an excuse to miss church, were treated to Bob's version of 'O Little Town of Bethlehem', which is the only listenable track on his otherwise appalling 2009 'Christmas in the Heart' album.The first song on Bob's 'Shot of Love' 1981 album is ..... 'Shot of Love', and starts with the lines,Don't need a shot of heroinTo kill my diseaseDon't need a shot of turpentineOnly bring me to my kneesDon't need a shot of codeineTo help me to repentDon't need a shot of whiskeyHelp me be president How I integrate that with 'Shine Jesus Shine' might be a bit of a problem for me. However, as my oldest brother also told me once (with tone and style at its wryest), "there is no such thing as a problem, only a solution opportunity".As I write I'm really rather enjoying Bob's album. It's a mix of folk, gospel and bluegrass, and I can actually hear his lyrics, which is a plus, as on the two occasions that I have seen Bob live it has just been an electric mash of incoherent noise. Another couple of lines I have heard are,'Never robbed any churches nor cut off any babies' heads,He just took the folks in high places and he shined a light in their face.' which I'm guessing partly refers to Herod's slaughter of the under two's in Bethlehem after Joseph and his family and fled to Egypt.I've enjoyed listening to other types of Christian music over the last few months. It's been one of the pluses of COVID restrictions. I have a bluegrass gospel collection to catch up with, which I was hoping to use at church this week but that will now have to wait. I think that the problem with some church music is that a) it's a bit cheesy, and b) it's a bit formulaic. There are many exceptions of course and much great church music. There is also background to some of the hymns we play that we are unaware of, such 'It is well with my soul', where both the writer of the music and the words met with great tragedy, and Horatio's Spafford's experiences are reflected in the lyrics.That is why I am keen to listen to music by Christians which is not necessarily standard church music. Bob Dylan's songs no doubt reflect his experiences of fame, fortune, sadness and social dissent, as well as his faith experience. Some of the images used might challenge our starched expectations from the hymnal, but they also reflect what seemed to be deeply felt experiences,'you were closer to me than my next of kinWhen they didn't want to know or see'and dramatic changes in approach. Compare Bob's 1960s protest songs to this lyric from 'Trouble','Revolution even ain't no solution for trouble.' Strangely enough, the song from 'Shot of Love' that immediately struck me as the most likely one to acceptably play in church is probably the cheesiest, but most beautiful. 'Every Grain of Sand' is a gentle song that talks of Bob at his lowest but also where God was close to him. Here is the final verse,I hear the ancient footsteps like the motion of the seaSometimes I turn, there's someone there, other times it's only me.I am hanging in the balance of the reality of manLike every sparrow falling, like every grain of sand. Pure gospel. Faith, doubt, hope.Peace and prayers, Joe
Dear all,Today I am writing this Stuff as a genuine 4D, present time, multisensory experience. I have a cup of honey and ginger tea in my 'Tea's a Saviour' mug, which also has a 3D image of Jesus on it. Jesus actually looks as if he might have been from Palestine rather than the blue-eyed, Aryan versions popular in 20th century Hollywood films. He is a touch orange, however, but as far as I know hasn't been asked to go on Strictly Come Dancing.I am also listening to the first of 3 Bob Dylan CDs that my oldest brother kindly sent me a few months ago. I was asking him about Bob's 'Christian Phase' and if there was anything appropriate for me to play in church services. I have been trying to introduce some different styles of music to broaden what we listen to in church and discourage people from singing. Those who were at Christchurch, Tean on 27th December for the annual Uttoxeter Area tradition of a finding an excuse to miss church, were treated to Bob's version of 'O Little Town of Bethlehem', which is the only listenable track on his otherwise appalling 2009 'Christmas in the Heart' album.The first song on Bob's 'Shot of Love' 1981 album is ..... 'Shot of Love', and starts with the lines,Don't need a shot of heroinTo kill my diseaseDon't need a shot of turpentineOnly bring me to my kneesDon't need a shot of codeineTo help me to repentDon't need a shot of whiskeyHelp me be president How I integrate that with 'Shine Jesus Shine' might be a bit of a problem for me. However, as my oldest brother also told me once (with tone and style at its wryest), "there is no such thing as a problem, only a solution opportunity".As I write I'm really rather enjoying Bob's album. It's a mix of folk, gospel and bluegrass, and I can actually hear his lyrics, which is a plus, as on the two occasions that I have seen Bob live it has just been an electric mash of incoherent noise. Another couple of lines I have heard are,'Never robbed any churches nor cut off any babies' heads,He just took the folks in high places and he shined a light in their face.' which I'm guessing partly refers to Herod's slaughter of the under two's in Bethlehem after Joseph and his family and fled to Egypt.I've enjoyed listening to other types of Christian music over the last few months. It's been one of the pluses of COVID restrictions. I have a bluegrass gospel collection to catch up with, which I was hoping to use at church this week but that will now have to wait. I think that the problem with some church music is that a) it's a bit cheesy, and b) it's a bit formulaic. There are many exceptions of course and much great church music. There is also background to some of the hymns we play that we are unaware of, such 'It is well with my soul', where both the writer of the music and the words met with great tragedy, and Horatio's Spafford's experiences are reflected in the lyrics.That is why I am keen to listen to music by Christians which is not necessarily standard church music. Bob Dylan's songs no doubt reflect his experiences of fame, fortune, sadness and social dissent, as well as his faith experience. Some of the images used might challenge our starched expectations from the hymnal, but they also reflect what seemed to be deeply felt experiences,'you were closer to me than my next of kinWhen they didn't want to know or see'and dramatic changes in approach. Compare Bob's 1960s protest songs to this lyric from 'Trouble','Revolution even ain't no solution for trouble.' Strangely enough, the song from 'Shot of Love' that immediately struck me as the most likely one to acceptably play in church is probably the cheesiest, but most beautiful. 'Every Grain of Sand' is a gentle song that talks of Bob at his lowest but also where God was close to him. Here is the final verse,I hear the ancient footsteps like the motion of the seaSometimes I turn, there's someone there, other times it's only me.I am hanging in the balance of the reality of manLike every sparrow falling, like every grain of sand. Pure gospel. Faith, doubt, hope.Peace and prayers, Joe
1 NovemberFather, we pray for all the parishes in the Uttoxeter Area of Parishes, from Tean to Marchington and Stramshall to Gratwich. We ask for wisdom, guidance, patience, insight, good humour, courage and a willingness to work together. Amen.8th NovemberWe give thanks for Annette Jinks and Noel Green, and Gill and Alan, who have contributed so much to our understanding of Tean in the two World Wars. Help us to learn to lessons from these and other wars, so we can resolve conflicts peacefully in our own lives and to campaign for peace wherever we can.15th NovemberFather, we give thanks for all the shops that make up our community, be it Tean Chippy and the Ru Yi takeaways, the Co-op, the hairdressers, the sandwich shop, the Post Office pharmacy, the bathroom emporium and whoever else. We give for the life and service they give to the village of Tean.22nd NovemberWe pray for the running of the church at Tean. We ask that you give a couple or three people a nudge to be Churchwarden's or Treasurer so that we can do the job well in your name. We give thanks for the team work at Tean over the years, which keeps it going and keeps the church alive in this place.29 NovemberWe pray for everyone in the community. For people who are isolated or isolating, for families struggling to keep going, for those who encourage people through phone calls and socially-distanced visits. Help us to serve the community of Tean better, and help all those in the Uttoxeter Area of Parishes to be true people of God in the months to come. Amen.
From Rev Charles Dale, Local Self-Supporting Minister. Well it’s July already! Where is the time going! It is a strange time we are in and life seems to be evermore complex by the continual changes in government strategies for coping with Covid 19 and more than a little unsettling. Time doesn’t stand still and in these days of semi lockdown I am left wondering what the next move will be. We are moving to open our churches gradually, but it seems things aren’t going to be as they were for some time to come. Some things may never be the same again and that can be even more unsettling…So what has kept me going?I think I’m really blessed to be living where I do, with open fields and woods and quiet lanes to wander around and get the exercise I need - Oh how I miss my swimming time at the leisure centre though! It’s been a good to be able to spend important quality time with Janet and together we’ve enjoyed our daily walks out.Since lockdown we’ve seen the daffodils, wood anemones, bluebells and a host of wildflowers come and go; all have been a great joy and the birdsong too, how delightful! We’ve been watching the robins in one of our nesting boxes rearing their young, and really proud of the mum and dad robins who raised at least three young ones and to see the youngsters clinging on to the nesting box opening before taking that first tentative flight …parents watching seemingly saying ‘come on you can do it’! The robins have been a fine example of patience, perseverance and loving care. They have bought much joy and pleasure, a God send you might say in these difficult times.We’ve also been gardening and our labours have already and will continue to bear fruit as the season goes on. However, we need to make sure we tend to the plants and vegetables in order for them to grow and produce good fruit for us. And then there’s the hoeing and weeding!!…keeping the plants and vegetables clear of competing weeds…it’s a continuous task if we are to benefit from our labours and the God given rain and sunshine which gives the growth. We need, like the robins, to persevere, never to give in, but to go on caring even when we don’t feel like it. It’s also been a joy and delight to be able to keep in contact with a number of people… via telephone, email and ZOOM! Who knew about that 12months ago? Friends and family are so important and through the technologies we have we are able to keep in touch, even at a distance!All this puts me in mind of how important my faith and trust in God our heavenly Father is to me, especially in these times and of the need to persevere in giving thanks and to worship this great God of ours. Just like the continuous task of tending and caring for the plants and vegetables in order to get good fruits you only get out what you put in effort by clearing the weeds and tilling the soil. My faith has been a God send and a great anchor point for me in this time of semi isolation. Persevering in prayer and praise each day has brought peace and contentment and helped me to reflect on who and what I am and my calling to priestly ministry. A little like weeding and tilling! Having said that I do miss being at church with God’s people, worshipping and singing His praises together in community. For that is what we were meant for and I long for us to be together again. The signs are good, but all in God’s time and keeping.‘and lo, already on the hills the flags of dawn appear; gird up your loins, ye prophet souls, proclaim the day is near.’Blessings and peaceCharles
