The CSM discusses family values

On By Gareth Gilbert-HughesIn ChristianityLeave a comment
The CSM badgeYesterday evening, I was down at Westminster Central Hall for the Christian Socialist Movement AGM and the following Tawney Dialogue. Unlike other sections of the Labour Party, the CSM still uses the word ‘socialist’, and is actually proud to do so. It makes a refreshing change to hear people talking openly about praying for socialism, or interceding for the renationalisation of the railways. Although the CSM does not represent the left wing of the party, it does bring a radical commitment to social justice that often seems to be absent from the discourse of the party’s right.

This year’s Tawney Dialogue was titled ‘Will the general election make any difference to the family?’ with Ann Holt, Director of Programme at the Bible Society, Elaine Storkey, philosopher, sociologist and theologian, and Ed Balls, Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families.

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Meals with Jesus I: The Wrong Wedding?

On By Gareth Gilbert-HughesIn BibleLeave a comment

This article is the first of a series on Meals with Jesus which formed part of this year’s Lent course. This first is on the pericope of the Wedding at Cana, John 2·1–11.

Water into wine
Jesus turning water into wine. Mosaic from the exonarthex of the Chora Church (Kariye Camii), İstanbul.

Let us begin at the end!

“On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee.”

That could mean Tuesday, but it doesn’t. It means Sunday: Easter Sunday, the third day when our Lord was risen! And so we begin at the end, for the end is the beginning, a new beginning. But shouldn’t the wedding be the happy-ever-after at the end? Whose wedding is it? Even that’s the wrong way round: invitations are usually sent before the wedding feast, not after it. We’re told the name of the groom in chapter three, and, as for the bride, try the next chapter.

This wedding at Cana seems all wrong; it’s one big question mark. It’s odd how we hear of a miracle of transmutating liquids and find that easier to cope with and understand than the grand narrative that this unsettling gospel is unfolding for us.

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The White Rose: We will not keep silent

On By Gareth Gilbert-HughesIn Christianity2 Comments
White Rose monument
Monument to the White Rose members in front of Munich University

On 22 February 1943, three students of Munich University were executed for their opposition to the Nazi government — Hans Scholl, his sister Sophie Scholl and Christoph Probst, prominent members of die Weiße Rose. They were all in their early twenties, and the material of their ‘treason’ consisted of small student debates, some graffiti and, most prominently, a series of hard-hitting pamphlets. Motivated by their Christian faith, these members of the little White Rose student group felt compelled to take a stand and make the voice of opposition heard.

In a period of eight months, these students wrote and distributed six pamphlets that tore into the words and actions of the Nazi state, and proclaimed that they spoke for those who, from fear or apathy, will not speak up.

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Smudge Thursday

On By Gareth Gilbert-HughesIn ChristianityLeave a comment

I decided to call today Smudge Thursday, the day after Ash Wednesday. Though, for many clergy, it will be Still-Got-Ash-Under-My-Fingernails Thursday.

Lent is well begun, and the candle-lit evening liturgy for Ash Wednesday was a beautiful start. Even fasting felt good today. Although, I fell spectacularly by having two glasses of champagne on the second day of Lent. In mitigation, it was in celebration of a friend’s leaving to take up a big, shiny new job. It’s far better to fall in style! Continue reading “Smudge Thursday” →

Remember you are dust

On By Gareth Gilbert-HughesIn Christianity, LiturgyLeave a comment
Cross of ash
Cross of ash

Today is Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent. This morning we had communion and received crosses of ash on our foreheads, and we shall be doing the same this evening for those who cannot make the usual morning liturgy.

I am always deeply moved by the words that we say as we sign people with the ash

“Remember you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”

These words cut through the messages of individualism, self-image, success and prosperity that are all-pervasive in our society, with the unnerving message, ‘You’re going to die and then your body will decay to nothing’. I find it a difficult thing to say to the congregants I have come to love. It is like a sledgehammer to the soul. Continue reading “Remember you are dust” →

Free fonts!

On By Gareth Gilbert-HughesIn UncategorizedLeave a comment
I have been using Linux for a good few years now, and being free of Microsoft and Apple has opened to me a world of free fonts. Like all Linux stuff these can be a little rough around the edges, but there is enough quality for that not matter, and also there is that Linux phenomenon of the creative enthusiast who gives away their software.

If you fancy breaking out of the Times–Helvetica (or Times–Arial) mold, you might want to take a look at this PDF that displays usable text fonts (not the decorative stuff) and links to the websites from which each is downloadable. All the fonts will work on Linux, Microsoft and the latest Apple machines and are offered gratis by their creators; many of them are also libre, but some are restricted by licence.

The PDF guide to free fonts is available from http://www.garzo.co.uk/documents/freefonts.pdf.

Syriac numerals

On By Gareth Gilbert-HughesIn Syriac4 Comments
Recently, I found that some people working with Syriac had little idea of how numerals are written in the language, so I wrote a little PDF manual to describe what is only briefly touched upon in the standard grammars.

The manual covers the various forms of numerals used in Syriac: the alphabetic numerals and the various systems of marking higher alphabetic numerals, Eastern Arabic numerals and Aramaic sign–value numerals.

The PDF can be downloaded from http://www.garzo.co.uk/documents/syriac-numerals.pdf.

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Candlemasse Eve

On By Gareth Gilbert-HughesIn ChristianityLeave a comment
At one time, the Christmas decorations stayed up till Candlemas Eve (1 February). Here’s Robert Herrick’s poem about the decorations of the house for the seasons of the year.

Candlemasse Eve

Down with the Rosemary and Bayes,
Down with the Mistleto;
In stead of Holly, now up-raise
The greener Box (for show.)

The Holly hitherto did sway;
Let Box now domineere;
Until the dancing Easter-day,
Or Easters Eve appeare.

Then youthfull Box which now hath grace,
Your houses to renew;
Grown old, surrender must his place,
Unto the crisped Yew.

When Yew is out, then Birch comes in,
And many Flowers beside;
Both of a fresh, and fragrant kinne
To honour Whitsontide.

Green Rushes then, and sweetest Bents,
With cooler Oken boughs;
Come in for comely ornaments,
To re-adorn the house.
Thus times do shift; each thing his turne do’s hold;
New things succeed, as former things grow old.

— Robert Herrick

Florence Li Tim-Oi

On By Gareth Gilbert-HughesIn Anglicanism, FeaturedLeave a comment
On 25 January 1944, Florence Li Tim-Oi (李添嬡, 1907–92) was ordained priest by Ronald Hall, the Bishop of Hong Kong, to assist in the ministry of the church during the chaos of the Japanese invasion. Previously, she had been made a deaconess in 1931, and made deacon a decade later to minister among the refugees from war-ravaged Mainland China fleeing to Macau. After the occupation, Li resigned her license, but not her orders, so as to assuage controversy surrounding her irregular ordination. When, in 1971, the Diocese of Hong Kong ordained two other women to the presbyterate, Li Tim-Oi was officially recognised as a priest.

The General Convention of the Episcopal Church of the USA added a commemoration of the eve of her ordination, 24 January, to their calendar in 2003. A year later, the sixtieth anniversary of her ordination, the Church of St Martin-in-the-Fields, London, celebrated with the dedication of her icon. Continue reading “Florence Li Tim-Oi” →