Scrubology Day....

"Scrubology" was a term used during my Church Army Training for the chores the students had to perform each morning. Short straw was cleaning the men's bathrooms! I recall one of my 1st Year contemporaries being told by the 3rd Year Student put with him on bathroom duty that he shouldn't rely on him being around that much as he was only there "in an advisory capacity" - didn't go down to well.


However, the term has tended to stick and we use it here in these parishes when we have major cleaning days and today in St Mary & St Giles 3 hours worth of cleaning took place this morning. The chairs were all moved and the floors polished with our Church Aided School's buffing machine. Kieran was a dab hand at this, but then he is also a headteacher so he has seen them in operation before - and I suspect had to use one from time to time. Ian complained that it was running away with him. However, they both did a fantastic job as did everyone else who scrubbed, washed, polished and swept the church now that the Restoration/Reordering works are finally complete.


The next photograph to post with regard to this work is that of the Confessional furniture having been placed in its new position in the north aisle. The wall panel behind it has been decorated and the Crucifix left us by Molly Foxley was put in situ today. Molly had been an SPG Missionary in Tanganyika and when she left the indigenous people carved her this crucifix as a gift to express their gratitude for all she had done for them. It was her express desire that we find a use for it in the Parish Church and I am very pleased that at last we have been able to fulfil her desire.

Finally, there is the new "Prayer Request Board" which is situated in the north aisle recess. The Memorial Register has been placed beneath it and later this year the life-size Icon of St Giles will be placed in this recess along with a votive candle stand.

SHPE-NYC’s 3rd ANNUAL SKI TRIP

YOU’RE INVITED!
SHPE-NYC’s 3rd ANNUAL SKI TRIP

February 20-22, 2009

Black Bear DenHunter Mountain
29 Terns Road
Tannersville, NY 10003

Lodging: $110/2-Night StaySki/Snowboard: $60/1 Day
Price includes all applicable taxes and fees
Price DOES NOT include meal or transportation
A 2-night commitment is required
All payments are FINAL!
Only 22 spots available
Invitation is open to friends & family
SHPE-NYC will not be accepting personal checks or cash
Registration and payment is via PayPal at http://www.shpe-nyc.org/
If interested in carpooling send an email to info@shpe-nyc.org

First Come, First Served, so…
RSVP by Friday, February 6th , 2009

"Spem in alium" at St Mary & St Giles

Spem in alium nunquam habui

I have hope in none other than you, O God of Israel.

We invite you to a concert of exceptionally beautiful and rarely performed music in which singers from St Mary & St Giles Church, Quorum, Milton Keynes Chorale, Andante and other choirs in Milton Keynes sing Thomas Tallis’ 40 part motet Spem in alium. You will be surrounded by 8 choirs of 5 voices each in the Church balcony singing this heavenly music.

Saturday 6th June at 7.30pm – the first weekend of StonyLive!

Programme also includes 'I was glad' - Parry; 'Zadok the Priest' - Handel,

other well known choral items and organ solos.

Organ: Andrew Storer and James Wharton.

Director of Music – James Wharton.

In aid of the St Mary & St Giles Church Organ Refurbishment Fund.

Entry by programme, price £10 (£8 concessions)

Further details on request from r.northing@btinternet.com

Criminology 2

Oh boy. Finally something I've been anticipating. Criminology 2 off of OB4CL2. Ghost & Rae. Reunited and it feels so good.


OH BOY

Regeneration Project News....

Well... the workmen have finished and the parish now has the task of cleaning the Parish Church at our "Scrubology Day" on Saturday.

The restored Blessed Sacrament Chapel is ready for use and the Font is in situ on the new marble floor. The Confessional has been repositioned on the north side of the Nave opposite the image of Our Lady and all that remains to be done there is a little decoration and the installation of the Crucifix, which is being lovingly cleaned at the moment by June Wilde.

Once the Icon of St Giles is written and been put in place we will be having a major celebration.

Here are a few photo's:

The first photo is of the Font having been put in situ. The font area is still taped off to allow for the mortar to dry properly. I was told today that during the works many people had visited the church and engaged the workmen in conversation. Many, many appreciative comments have been made and no derogatory ones were received

Below is the restored Blessed Sacrament Chapel with the Reredos by Sir Ninian Comper, the altar and Lectern designed by Pugin (incidentally the pulpit is designed by Pugin as well):

Below is the image of St Michael, now positioned facing you as you enter the west door in the tower area. This photo was taken just as he was put in situ: hence the top of the step ladder being visible. Red light to be put in situ tomorrow - though at that height it will need to be a 7 day one!

Further reports will follow on the work will be posted on Saturday when final decorations and all the cleaning have been completed.

Report on the Bishop of Rochester's Lecture at the "Mere Anglican Conference"....

The following news as reported by David Virtue shows, if reported correctly, that we do have a few Bishops who can see with clarity the problems besetting the Anglican Movement:

UK: Bishop of Rochester Says Instruments of Unity Have Failed the Anglican Communion

By David W. Virtuewww.virtueonline.org 1/27/2009

The Evangelical Bishop of Rochester, England, The Rt. Rev. Michael Nazir-Ali, says the Instruments of Unity have failed the Anglican Communion.

The bishop singled out the Lambeth Conference as the worst offender when questioned at the recent Mere Anglican Conference in Charleston, SC, a gathering of theologians, clergy and concerned laity over the drift of the Anglican Communion, the rise of an aggressive Islam and the weakness of contemporary Christianity to confront it.

"On what possible basis, based on Acts 2:42 ("And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers"), can we have communion and where can we pray together when the apostles teaching is not upheld? In certain circumstances, it is not possible to have Acts 2:42. It is impossible to have it (communion).

"Singling out the Lambeth Conference, Bishop Nazir-Ali said the Windsor Report specifically asked that those who participated in the ordination and consecration of Bishop Gene Robinson not be present at the Anglican gathering. "Despite this, they were invited to the Anglican Consultative Council meeting and they were the dominant presence. They were then invited to the Lambeth Conference."

"I asked why were they invited. I have not ever been given a satisfactory response. My concern is about those who laid hands on him. I am being responsible in asking that question. Of course I am willing to sit with people who differ. The Lambeth Conference is the closest thing we have to a Magisterium. I could not gather Eucharistically to teach the common faith. I have attended two Lambeth conferences, 1988 and 1998. It would have been my third conference. However (in conscience) I could not be present.

"On marriage and the family, Nazir-Ali said, "Human sexuality is a first order issue because it is at the heart of the anthropology of the Bible. God created man and woman and they fulfill this common mission in this particular way. Marriage and the family...this teaching about the way men and women should behave is found throughout the bible.

"Bishop Nazir-Ali said Muslim women like the Christian teaching on marriage because it affords them safety and protection. "Marriage is a Sacrament of Christ to his church...that is why it must always be a first order issue." Calling the process of secularity and secularization a "double jeopardy", the bishop said they are related in such a way that affects our very survival.

"From the European and British point of view, communities have become segregated and isolated from one another. When you consider that northern Europe before Christianity consisted of mutually warring and hostile tribes, without the arrival of Christianity Britain would not have been a nation."

"The Christian Faith is the golden chain of social harmony of Europe and Britain. The Decalogue influenced the emergence of laws and institutions. The Enlightenment brought an evangelical consensus that said you could not enslave people and save people at the same time."The bishop ripped the present state of affairs in England saying, "Religion has stopped being a force in popular culture it had nothing to do with the elites. Politicians do not command enough respect to withstand the enormous challenges in the world."

"What are we going to do? Is it possible for the West and Europe to recover the Judeo-Christian discourse in its public life?

"We find overtly and covertly that there is an appeal to the tradition that has been set aside. Is there any situation of a living human where personhood is no longer attached to its human entity? Personhood can never been taken away. It is part of the Judeo-Christian image. Our nation needs Christian values."

The Bishop said faith can be a persuasive force, but not have a coercive place in public life. "We are not a theocracy. We want societies where public law has integrity and autonomy and has access to it. In England the Police don't go into certain areas where Muslims dominate so Muslim women don't get the same protection as women in other parts of the country. Religious communities should be able to practice their faith in their own integrity.

"What we need in the business of law making is increasing respect for conscience. Britain has a long respect for conscience. In recent legislation this has been neglected and denied and provision not been made for Christian believers. If we are going to have a strong tradition of public law we must respect conscience.

"Secularization and secularity are a reality, but we can see that in conducting the life of the nation today we still need the Judeo-Christian tradition to guide the nation. To be absolutely clear without it we have a serious threat of totalitarianism on one side or the other."

Holocaust Memorial Day....

In the last few days it has been reported that Auschwitz needs £13.2 million spending on it in order to preserve it. I have no doubt that there will be many who say that such a place ought to be raised to the ground and yet I would strongly disagree. If such places were erased from the face of the earth we would be ignoring that side of our nature that is evidence for our need of redemption and shows that we cannot achieve it ourselves.

In the same period we have heard of Bishop Richard Williamson who has said that the numbers killed in the Holocaust were no where near the well-documented figures and that no one was gassed. It is appalling statements like those that illustrate the very reason why Auschwitz should be preserved. To erase such places would play into the hands of such lunatic and possibly anti-Semitic views.

In the light of this I was pleased to read the following today from the Zenit News Agency:

"We Ask For the Forgiveness of the Supreme Pontiff"

MENZINGEN, Switzerland, JAN. 27, 2009 (Zenit.org).- Here is a translation of the communiqué made public today by the superior-general of the Society of St. Pius X, Bishop Bernard Fellay, in which he apologizes for statements made by Bishop Richard Williamson, a member of the society, in which he denied the extent of the Holocaust.

"On Saturday, the Pope lifted the excommunication of the four bishops ordained by Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre in 1988 without papal permission. Bishops Fellay and Williamson were among the four.

We have come to know of an interview given by Bishop Richard Williamson, a member of our Fraternity of St. Pius X, on Swedish television. In this interview he spoke of historical questions, in particular on the question of the genocide of the Jews by the Nazis.

It is evident that a Catholic bishop cannot speak with ecclesial authority if it is not a question of faith and morals. Our fraternity does not claim any authority over other questions. Its mission is the propagation and restoration of authentic Catholic doctrine, as found in the dogmas of the faith. It is for this that we are known, accepted and appreciated throughout the world.

With great sadness we acknowledge the extent to which the violation of this mandate has damaged our mission. The statements of Bishop Williamson do not reflect in any way the position of our society. For this, I have prohibited him, until further notice, from speaking publicly on these political and historical questions

We ask for the forgiveness of the Supreme Pontiff, and of all people of good will, for the dramatic consequences of this act. As we recognize how imprudent the statements were, we affirm with sadness that they have directly affected our fraternity by discrediting our mission.

This is not acceptable, and we declare that we will continue preaching Catholic doctrine and administering the sacraments of grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Menzingen, Jan. 27, 2009
Bishop Bernard Fellay
Superior General


[Translation by Karna Swanson]

Captain America #46

(click image to enlarge)
The above image brought to you courtesy of Captain America #46 - in stores today! If you're undecided, you can see a preview here.


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Feel the Reggaelution.

UK HIP-HOP IS DEAD? Part 1

"We might give out, but we will never give in" - Supar Nova



DJ Fingers outside The Spats Club.
Spats85'
DJ Fingers (of the Sindecut/Family Quest) and his Tottenham DJ Crew the Mixmasters took over the runnings of one of the first UK Hip Hop club. It was a daytime club, the age raged between 12-25, and many of the performers and party people became the cream of the UK Black music industry.

"A great club-night. The little sign about unlocking phones used to have the sign for the club on it, with a little pair of dancing feet in Spats on it. You could feel the bass from the street level on a Saturday afternoon." - Skore (TRC)

"I won a breakin comp on sataday afternoon her back in 83-5 won a tenner prize money.....tiny laminated dance floor...spinning on my elbow was the clinching move!! woz way under age too!" - Masika



Mr. Bongo's R.I.P.
One time Legendary London Hip Hop shop specialising in Underground Hip-Hop music, loads of re-issues and rares. Anyone who was anyone travelling to the UK did in stores or signing in here. Latin music upstairs.

"Sad man, I remember the mode2 on the celing" - Cruelvapours

"I wonder what happened to mine and mode2's celing pieces????
they was up in there for years...K-line-Mode2 memories" - KeenOne-Roc-Awe



Deal Real 2 R.I.P.
One time Legendary London Hip Hop shop, DJ MK (Kiss FM) and Tony Vegas (Scratch Perverts) worked here.


FIRST RATE, TONY VEGAS, MR THING, DJ RENAGADE AND PRIME CUTS
IN DEAL REAL RECORDS LONDON PRATICE SESSION

This used to be my saturday morning hang out, you couldnt get there too late or the best 12s were gone. A lot of paper round money got dropped in there. - Relay (ID)



Bond 2 R.I.P.
One time Legendary London Hip Hop clothes shop,Graffiti mags and up market Hip-Hop clothes were availiable here. A kool guy called Nicky worked here.

"Spent lots of my hard earned cash in there over the years" - 3RD Man

"I prefered that end of the street, you used to see more hunnies that end because of the studio round the corner." - Able214 (Galiss haha! The Kool Skool)



Uptown Records R.I.P.
One time Legendary London Hip Hop shop, specializing in R&B and Commercial Rap.



Scenario Records R.I.P.
One time Legendary London Hip Hop shop, selling Underground Hip-Hop.



The Beat Hut R.I.P.
One time Legendary London Hip Hop shop shop run by DJ Ill Out and his family
http://www.ishiphop.com
http://www.myspace.com/beathutltd


Dj Premier & Panchi from NYGZ @ Beat Hut London
DJ Premier MPC 2000xl Signing @ Beat Hut London



DealReal 3 R.I.P.
One time Legendary London Hip Hop shop specialising in Underground Hip-Hop music, loads of re-issues and rares. Anyone who was anyone travelling to the UK did in stores or signing in here.

"S%>ness, everytime we're up in London we make a stop in there." - Jannerisms

"This place looked well nice when it first opened . Shame it has gone." - AllStar$$


SuparNovar & Big Ben 'Never Give In' @ Deal Real with Speach

"The Hip, the hip, the Har-De-Har"

HIP HOP JOKES FOR ALL YOU SLOW POKES


T-Pain
"I sound like a robot from Africa!"


50 CENT
"I want some Pork"

Keithfromupdablock


Dipset The Movie!!! Part 1

Dipset The Movie!!! Part 2


"Stinky Stinky!"

BEP on YouTube
Broken Equipment Productions


"Ain't no muscle in your body that's bigger than mine..." 50 Cent
"LL Cool J never LL Fool J"


Jay-Z Jim Jones BEEF


Lil Wayne in the UK
"Garage, Gerage whatever you call it"


King Sun *Exclusive*
"Yeah Yeah"

KRS ONE & KING SUN @ ZULU NATION ANNIVERSARY 2003


Bert & Ernie - Ante Up

"And You Know I Can't Live Without My Radio!!!"

"These are some of our favourites!"


TJ Chill host of the Zulu Nation Rap Show (UK)
Mondays 10pm-12pm (GMT) or online @ Bang Radio

Bang Radio
Vibes FM
Genesis FM
Lightning FM
On Top
Point Blank


Podcast Action

The Kool Skool Radio
DJ Scratch (EPMD/Jay-Z)
DJ Evil-D (Black Moon/Beatminers)
DJ Toney Tone (not the Cold Crush Brothers one)
DJ Ready Cee
World Passport



Sensei FM

Some of the UK's top DJ's on the Hip-Hop and beat related Kulture Station with styles!!!




"Box!!!"

2nd Homily on the Real Presence....

In reserving the Blessed Sacrament we are essentially seeking to honour Christ. His presence among us under the veils of bread and wine is the most precious thing in any local Church. By reserving the Consecrated Host in the Tabernacle and placing it in a place of honour for all to see we are bringing honour to God. The Tabernacle is a witness to those who enter the Church that Christ reigns as King in this House. There is a true story of a Bishop who told a Parish Priest that he would not visit the Parish Church unless the priest “removed that” (meaning the Blessed Sacrament) from the church. The priest, quite rightly, replied, “Bishop, if I have to remove Jesus from this church for you to feel welcome don’t bother coming.”

That in a nutshell is what reservation is about; it’s about Jesus being present among us. It is often remarked that you can tell a church that doesn’t reserve the Blessed Sacrament because it feels empty. So many people are crying out for the presence of Christ and when they visit this House of Prayer we want them to know that God is present – and to know that we honour him enough by not bundling him off out of sight.

Honouring God is something that we are all called to do throughout our lives. In the Gospel reading today we heard of the preaching of the Gospel and the call of the first disciples. A disciple is one who follows his or her Master and follows their teaching and hands it on to others as they have received it. This calls for obedience to their Master and to the teaching they have received, it is this obedience that brings honour to Christ. From earliest times the Blessed Sacrament was reserved by Parish Priests safely and securely for taking to the Sick and Dying. Justin Martyr, St Ireneaus, Eusebius, Tertullian, Cyprian, St Basil and many, many others wrote about the practice of reservation. St Basil, who died in 379, divided the Eucharistic Bread into three parts when he celebrated Mass in the monastery. One part he consumed, the second part he gave to the monks, and the third he placed in a golden dove suspended over the altar.

The Council of Nicea even laid down that the Blessed Sacrament should be reserved so that no one who was dying should be denied it. At the turn of the first century, Ignatius of Antioch, on his way to martyrdom in Rome, had to warn the Christians not to be taken in by the Gnostic heretics who denied the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist. St Ignatius said these people abstained from the Eucharist because they did not accept what true Christians believe, that in the Eucharist is the same Jesus Christ who lived and died and rose from the dead for our salvation. This belief in the real, physical presence of Christ in the Eucharist grew out of the teaching of the evangelists and St. Paul. They made it plain to the apostolic Church that the Eucharistic elements were literally Jesus Christ continuing His saving mission among us. I mentioned in the last Homily of how many could not accept Jesus’ teaching on this, but St Paul also rebukes those, who in Corinth, had made the Lord’s Supper, which should have been a beautiful sign of unity, into an occasion of discord. He reminded them that the Eucharist is no ordinary food. It is actually the Body and Blood of Christ according to "the tradition which I handed on to you that came to me from the Lord Himself" (I Corinthians 2: 23-26).

It seems that at first the Blessed Sacrament was often kept in private houses, but at the Council of Toledo in 480, which denounced those who did not immediately consume the sacred species when they received them from the priest at the altar, very possibly marks a change in this regard. Various synods required parish priests to reserve the Blessed Sacrament for the use of the sick and dying, and at the same time required them to keep it reverently and securely, at the same time laying down rules as to how frequently it was to be renewed. Special containers in the form of a dove or of a tower, usually made of precious metals, were commonly used. It seems that after the tenth century the in England the customary practice was to suspend the Blessed Sacrament in a dove-shaped vessel by a cord over the high altar – what are usually called: Hanging Pyx’s. However, fixed and locked tabernacles were also in use and some bishops required them. Interestingly, our Tabernacle used to be a Hanging Pyx, and was suspended over the altar in the south aisle and was subsequently converted into the Tabernacle we have today.

In the Collect for Holy Thursday we hear: “grant us so to reverence the sacred mysteries of his body and blood”. What does it mean to reverence? “Hold in deep religious respect” is one definition, but the dictionary also shows that it “usually involves some physical sign of respect.” How then do we behave in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament? Perhaps the words of a well-loved Communion hymn may help us with a first attribute: “Let all mortal flesh keep silence.” There is something rather wonderful about spending time in silence before the Blessed Sacrament, and we will be fostering this practice here as people visit this House of the Church

However, there is also that dictionary definition about “some physical sign of respect” to think about. We are all used to bowing to the altar before we take our seats in church, but what do we do when the Blessed Sacrament is upon the altar? Of course, we genuflect: that is, we go down on the right knee and then rise again. Those who are infirm and are unable to genuflect usually make a profound bow. What is a profound bow and what is not a profound bow, and when do you do them some of you may be thinking? The bow we make to the altar is with the head and neck, but the profound bow we make to the Blessed Sacrament, when incapable of genuflecting, is a bow from the waist. It is customary to genuflect or make a profound bow when entering the aisle before going forward to receive Holy Communion, and also before returning to one’s place doing the same in the direction of the chalice, being careful not to knock anyone. Similarly, when entering a church in which the Blessed Sacrament is reserved it is Christian practice to genuflect towards the Tabernacle and to do the same before departing. These are simple ways of showing that we venerate the Lord’s Presence and at the same time acknowledge the kingship of Jesus in our lives. They are ways in which we honour Christ and venerate his presence among us.

In today’s First Reading we see the outcome of Jonah being obedient to God. Initially Jonah was disobedient. God wanted him to go to Nineveh and preach his message to the people there in order that they might repent and honour him. But Jonah didn’t want to go and tried to avoid God’s call to him and those of us who know the Book of Jonah in the Bible will know that he tried to sail across a sea to get away from God’s call and ended up being swallowed by a great fish. It was only when he decided to obey God’s call that he was spat out onto a beach. He then went to Nineveh and preached God’s message and in so doing he honoured God before the people of Nineveh and they in turn came to honour and venerate the Lord. The story is not literally true – it is an outlandish story which illustrates something quite profound about what was lacking in ancient Israel and that was its failure to draw other nations into the circle of God’s live. Israel after the exile became a nation that wanted to keep itself pure and uncontaminated by the nations and the peoples. In failing to draw other nations in Israel denied other people the knowledge of the Presence and the love of God, and his call to them.

As Jonah came to realise it was not for him to say who should or should not worship God. In restoring the Blessed Sacrament to the main body of the Church we are seeking to draw others into the worship of Christ that they may know his Presence, his love, and his call to them.

Like the disciples in the Gospel we are called to follow Christ. It may not mean leaving nets, or our present job, or our family and friends, but it will be with the intention of honouring him and venerating him. As we seek to honour him and give proper veneration to him in his Blessed Sacrament we will find ourselves impelled to witness to him before others with our lives to the fact that he is our King and that we love and adore him.

Let all mortal flesh keep silence,
And with fear and trembling stand;
Ponder nothing earthly minded,
For with blessing in His hand,
Christ our God to earth descendeth,
Our full homage to demand.

Regeneration Project News....

The pictures on today's post were taken on Friday. Today's developments have been frustrating in that the company doing the work decided to send the Stonemason's elsewhere for the day. Quite frustrating, but after a little putting down of the foot we have an agreement that the work should be finished on Wednesday.

The new Lectern arrived on Friday and is in Limed Oak. The picture doesn't do it justice as it doesn't clash as the picture seems to suggest. The idea of going for a different finish was that we wanted the Lectern to be a more obvious place for the Table of the Word. It can also double as an Ambo when using it rather than the pulpit might be pastorally more suitable.

The limed wax finish really does bring out the grain in the oak. The Lectern was solemnly blessed during the Parish Mass on Sunday Morning with the Rite from the Book of Blessings.

The new floor beneath the font has now been pointed and although the lime mortar pointing around the outside edge has to be completed and the grout film has to be washed off the floor it is now looking more complete.

The Font itself has been given a thorough cleaning by the application of a poultice and then being hosed down:

The final picture is of the decorator (though that term hardly does him justice as his work in bringing out the grain in the wood is first rate) and his apprentice staining the floor in the restored Chapel. Today it was given a coat of varnish and the benches received their final coat of stain before being polished tomorrow.

Tomorrow afternoon sees the transfer of the altar designed by Pugin to the restored Chapel in preparation for Mass on Wednesday morning. The carpenters will arrive to complete the works to the block flooring around the York stone paving, to put up the bracket to hold the image of St Michael the Archangel and to affix it in place. They will also install the Intercession Request Board which is going to be in the north aisle recess which awaits the arrival of the life-size image of St Giles of Provence, Hermit, later this year.

Sooooo...

I guess this is what "popular" fashion has come to.



...
"You and your friends versus Me and the Revolution"

Funky Fresh

Lykke Li - Hustlin

Fuck-a-Rick Ross.

Regeneration Project Update....

The font floor is now laid and there is only its final clean and the lime mortar pointing on the outer edge to complete.

The font has been cleaned, in preparation for being put in place on Monday. It was covered in soot from the 1964 fire on one side - this had not been so noticeable before as that side had been facing the wall, but in the new position it would have stuck out like a sore thumb.

The carpenter is arriving tomorrow to begin the final round of his work. This includes installing the new Intercession Request Board, finishing off the works to the wood block flooring and putting in a cork strip around the new York stone paving. He will also be putting up the bracket to hold the image of St Michael the Archangel.

The works to the Chapel and its furnishings should be finished this week. The Tabernacle will be securely fixed to the Gradine (the shelf beneath the Reredos) and next Sunday the Blessed Sacrament will be solemnly restored.

The new Lectern, in memory of Derek Savage, is to be used for the first time today. I hope to have news of the progress on the Icon of St Giles this week.

The Confessional furniture is now in its new position and all that remains is for the wall to be decorated this week in preparation for the Crucifix, left us by Molly Foxley and carved for her by those she was a missionary to in Tanganyika , to be affixed to the wall.

This coming Saturday, 31st January, is a major Scrubology day at St Mary & St Giles as all the works should be complete. The PCC at its meeting last week recorded in the minutes its gratitude to all those who have been cleaning over the last few Saturdays and to all those who did so much in the churchyard earlier in the month.

Bishop Andrew has sent us all the following message after I had sent him photographs of the new font area and explained to him our plans for restoring the Blessed Sacrament to the South Aisle Chapel:
“I am delighted to see progress made on the installing of the beautiful new font area. Adorning the place of baptism and making the focus of Christ’s presence in our midst more evident to worshippers and visitors are important signs of the centrality of the sacraments in our lives: baptised, we are admitted to eternal life; fed by the Eucharist, we are strengthened on the Way. + Andrew.”

SHPE-NYC CULTURAL EVENT 2009

SHPE-NYC CULTURAL EVENT 2009

BROOKLYN PHILHARMONIC
Nuevo Latino Festival



SHPE-NYC Cordially invites you to our 2nd Cultural Event!
Enjoy a powerful evening of music , which taps into the driving pulse of creative power ,
directly from Latin America and performed by the Brooklyn Philharmonic
Saturday, January 31, 2009
8:00pm – 10:00pm

BAM Howards Gilman Opera House
30 Lafayette Avenue
(between Ashland Pl & St. Felix St)
Brooklyn, NY 11217
Cost: $21

Prior the Event (6PM), join us at The Smoke Joint on 87 S Elliot Place, Brooklyn, NY
After the Event (10:30PM), join us at
Stonehome Wine Bar on 87 Lafayette Ave, Brooklyn, NY
For more information visit http://www.shpe-nyc.org/

Pass the Kushumpeng

Bishop Jack Iker of Fort Worth on the Future....

No Women Bishops in New Anglican Province, says Anglo-Catholic Bishop "There Will Never Be Another Traditionalist Bishop in TEC"By David W. Virtue in Charleston, SC www.virtueonline.org 1/16/2009

The Bishop of the Diocese of Ft. Worth, The Rt. Rev. Jack L. Iker said there will be no women bishops in the new province - the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA).

Speaking to participants at a three-day theological conference under the banner "Engaging Secularism and Islam, The Church's Global Challenge & Opportunity" at the Cathedral Church of St. Luke and St. Paul in Charleston, Iker said it is for this reason that he has given his support to the initiative of the Common Cause Partnership to form the new North American province.

"Though we have our continuing differences over the issue of the ordination of women, Bishop Duncan and the CCP lead bishops have given assurances that there will be no women bishops in the new Province and that the historic, traditional theological position on this matter will be protected, respected and welcomed."

The bishop said that Anglo-Catholic participants have called for a thorough theological and biblical study on the issue of the ordination of women as a top priority in the new province. "It must give due consideration to the reality that the Roman Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church, which together comprise over 80% of the world's Christians, have already spoken on this issue and that unilateral actions on our part have already seriously damaged ecumenical relations for the future. Are we willing to submit to the mind of the whole church? Are we really committed to abiding by common consent as determined by general councils?"

Iker said that The Diocese of Fort Worth believes that it has an ecclesial future in the new Province, a future that was denied them in The Episcopal Church. "This new provincial reality will mean the recognition of overlapping jurisdictions, under one College of Bishops, with affinity based networks, clusters and dioceses. With this comes for us the assurance of the continuation of a line of apostolic succession that upholds the historic, catholic position of an all male priesthood and episcopate. It means a freedom to hand on the apostolic tradition as we have received it, without addition or change.

"It will mean participation in the continuing GAFCON movement on an international basis, under the guidance of the Primates' Council - though Anglo- Catholics might confess to being somewhat uncomfortable with the evangelical predominance of the movement. Here in the (United) States it must also mean collaboration and ongoing communication with those who remain in TEC under the Communion Partners initiative. "While we recognize that some cannot leave or choose not to leave TEC for all kinds of reasons, we are reminded daily of many others among us who have decided that we cannot remain within TEC. Nonetheless, we must pray for one another and endeavor to cooperate together on mutual goals, and we must pursue a shared mission and witness in the world as fellow Anglicans.

"Iker said that while the Bishops of TEC continue to depose clergy for realigning with other Provinces of the Communion, "we must bridge the gap and refuse to recognize such depositions, affirming that they remain validly ordained clergy members of the Anglican Communion. With mutual respect and brotherly affection, Common Cause Bishops must extend the right hand of fellowship to the Communion Partners Bishops, with an invitation to work ever more closely together, not at odds with one another, in addressing the challenges that are before us."Citing former Archbishop of Canterbury Geoffrey Fisher, Iker said that the Anglican Church "has no faith of its own, but only the Catholic faith of the Catholic Church enshrined in the Catholic creeds.

"The traditionalist Bishop said that his recent decision to pull his diocese out of the Episcopal Church and bring it under the Province of the Southern Cone occurred because he had reached the sad conclusion that those who affirm the historic position of an all male priesthood and episcopate have no future in The Episcopal Church of the U.S., nor in the Anglican Church of Canada. He said it is likely to become the same in the Church of England in the near future.

"Instead of holding a position of integrity and respect, we have been outlawed in our own church. Conscience clauses have been rescinded, mandatory canons have been adopted, and the open process of reception declared at an end. There will never be another bishop who holds the traditional theological position in either TEC or the Canadian Church. Is there a future for us in Anglicanism? That remains to be seen.

"Iker said that at the 2008 Lambeth Conference, he attempted to have this concern recorded as a part of the official reflections of the conference without success. "I attempted to have the Reflections Group record a concern that the open process of reception be reaffirmed in Anglicanism. I spoke about it in my indaba group where the listener recorded it and handed it in. I spoke of it again at a plenary session of the whole conference. I then put it into writing and submitted it to the Reflections Group, which was charged with gathering and publishing the conversations and reflections from the conference, but all to no avail. "Iker said that when he inquired about this with one of the sixteen designated listeners, Gerry Wolf of Rhode Island, she told him that "they" had decided that my concern should be passed on to the Windsor Continuation Group or perhaps to the Covenant Design Group. Only Canon Gregory Cameron knows for sure what became of it (or where it was buried)."In the absence of any meaningful overtures from the official American and Canadian leadership, and no proposals for effective alternative oversight, and amid a determination to press on with scandalous and acrimonious litigation, there is probably no option now other than a third North American province.

"To Read Bishop Iker's full speech click here: http://tinyurl.com/8mduyu

Now the circle is complete.......

Sorry about the heading for this post - I couldn't resist yet another Star Wars quote!!!

The Stonemason and his apprentice have worked very hard today and the font floor marbles, purbeck and clipsham have all been laid. Pointing up will take place tomorrow along with the cleaning of the font in preparation for its being put in place next week.

Here are a couple of photos of the circle as it is at present:

Also tomorrow the Intercession Request Board should arrive as should the new lectern in memory of our former organist: Derek Savage.

The staining of woodwork continues in the what will be once more the south aisle chapel in preparation for its being brought back into use hopefully by the end of the month.

As we wanted to make the chapel different to the Nave we have gone for solid oak benches rather than chairs. These are being stained at present and will then have two coats of polish. The new oak panel made to raise the level of the Comper Reredos will shortly have its gilt edging applied now that it has been polished. The walls have been decorated today where the channels were cut for the electrical work. Once the benches and the panel are complete the floor will be stained and sealed, the Tabernacle will be fixed securely back on the gradine, and then the chapel can be brought into use after a gap of 41 years. Here are some photos of the benches and the Reredos:

Bye Bush Baby, Bye Bye!!!

The End of Political satire now that Obama is here??? Probably not but check these two sites for some Photoshop crazyness



The Art of David Dees

Interesting Info website Jeff Rense Program





dudehisattva

History Of The Black Mullet

At Complex Blog they posted up the History of the "Black Mullet". LOL let's see who decides to follow.

Read it here.

RE

Regeneration Project Update.....

As promised here are some images of work in progress on laying the new floor which will surround the Font.


First the section plan:





Second, all the individual pieces sorted into the right shapes in readiness to be laid apart from the Purbeck which arrived this morning:

Next the Clipsham stone circle being laid in the centre. The hollow within the Clipsham to be filled with Lime Mortar - the Font when put in place will be bedded with Lime Mortar just overlapping the inner edge of the Clipsham by about 25mm all round. As you can see the new York stone paving is now all pointed up. I offered the stonemason a kneeler - but he declined!

Next some images of the the marbles laid so far with the Purbeck outer band - the colours will stand out more clearly once the circle is complete, pointed up and washed.

More to follow tomorrow as the work continues to progress. Lots of staining of woodwork was done today for the restored Blessed Sacrament Chapel - images of which will follow when complete.

Erase Rascism

"Clockin'"
Portrait detail of Flava Flav (Public Enemy) by Shucks One (ID)
From The Kool Skool Presents: "Foundation Rocks" project
"Flava.... A rebel in his own mind!"


Big Dadday Kane & Public Enemy Live at an Anti Racism jam in 89'
"I see my man Delight from Stetsasonic, Clark Kent in the House"
Scoob & Scrap in effect

Check out some other old Graff/Hip Hop stuff from the original kings of N.Y.C Graff Videos: Video Graf

Reservoir Dogs

Great movie. Great cast.

The silly season - well one of the many....

I see according to the Daily Telegraph that a "Rev" (even the Torygraph has dumbed "Rev'd" down) Graham Dow is calling on all senior clergy in every denomination to agree a fixed date for Easter so that "the school holidays can be based around it".

I am sure that he means well - "but the road to........."

Every year we get a variety of silly seasons and this year the annual chestnut of the date of Easter is raised. Given the angst of the early Church (and later) over this one it is best left well alone - there is enough that divides us already. In the summer we will have the annual round of commentators saying that the exam results are only high because the system of marking has been dumbed down and then in the autumn we will have the annual round of thick politicians saying that Faith Schools cream off the best and that is why they have good results. Of course, there are many other silly seasons but these are just three of them.

But there is another, far more serious, error in this thinking that we need to grasp. The date of Easter is one of the last ways in which The Christian Calendar exerts it's authority over the secular. If we give in on this one we will regret it as the next to go will be the right to have time off to worship on Good Friday. The fools who colluded with Mrs Thatcher over Sunday Trading thought they had ensured that no one would be forced to work Sundays - now people wanting to work in retailing and the catering trade (I write as one who has retail management experience) will not get a job unless they sign a contract saying they are willing to work on Sundays - promises, promises...

Mr Dow needs to open his eyes to the systematic dismantling of our Christian Culture by this present administration. He also needs to take note of what happened in some Local Authority Areas like this one where last year, because Easter was very early in the year the LEA decided that everyone would have Good Friday and Easter Monday off and then two weeks in April. Sounds OK at first, doesn't it Mr Dow? That is until you realise that the teaching staff then had to have their summer break reduced by half a week. I know a goodly number of teachers and I can tell you that they value that 6 week summer break which they both need and deserve. Of course, there will be those, misinformed folk, who think that Teachers get far too many holidays as they only work from 9:00am - 3:00pm Monday to Friday but all the teachers I know work incredibly long hours and invariably give up part of their summer to be in school (and work at home) to prepare for the next term.

Leave the date of Easter (in the West that is Mr Dow, as I presume that is what you are talking about) as it is.

1960's and all that....

The marble, purbeck and clipsham stone arrived for the new circular floor beneath the font today. All pre-cut to shape by high-pressured fine water-jet - it could slice through flesh cleaner than a lightsaber - for all you Star Wars fans. The York stone paving was given its final pointing up today and all washed down - looking very good. The circular floor will be laid from tomorrow onwards.

Our architect arrived to inspect the works today and he and I noticed that, from a distance, the font was incredibly dirty. On closer inspection it transpired that the side facing us, had been placed facing the north wall in the 1960's and so the dirt was not noticed. Even more fascinating was the fact that the dirt is soot! It dates from the fire in the 1960's.... talk about cutting corners. Clearly that side of the font, which at the time of the fire was just inside the west door, was outermost and bore the brunt of the smoke damage, and yet it seems no one saw fit to conserve/restore it before it was moved. Putting that side towards the wall so as not to be seen really does seem bad form. I guess many a parish church has found similar examples of shoddy practice when they have come to restore/reorder, but I find it quite disturbing that such things can happen.

Cement, resin and fibre-glass may all have been in vogue in the 1960's (but mercifully are passing away), but cleanliness has surely never been out of fashion even though some rejoice in slovenly attire or a state of being unwashed!

So the font will be cleaned all over before being placed in it's new position so as not to detract from the pristine floor.

The new circular floor will be stunning. Inside the outer purbeck edge are white waves in marble followed by the green of the sea and as the bands get closer to the font the waves get calmer - thus symbolising God bringing order out of the primordial chaos and Christ stilling the storm. Through baptism we are rescued from chaos, confusion and destruction and brough into a safe haven. I hope to post some images tomorrow evening.

Captain America #49 Cover

(click image to enlarge)
Marvel's solicitations for April 2009 are now online, featuring Captain America #49. Here's how Marvel describes the issue:

CAPTAIN AMERICA #49
Written by ED BRUBAKER
Pencils by LUKE ROSS
Cover by STEVE EPTING
The most important issue of Captain America since issue 25 is finally here! Sharon Carter's dreams are forcing her to relive the death of Steve Rogers -- and her time under the control of Dr. Faustus. But will these dreams also reveal hidden secrets about what she saw and did the day Steve died? By Ed Brubaker and Luke Ross.
32 PGS./Rated T+ ...$2.99

This is my 28th cover painting, and it's certainly not in any way a departure of what I've been doing stylistically. I'm conflicted over my approach to the covers. I want to do more loose, expressive, painterly pieces (note Boba Fett's cape, for example), but I have established a certain look for the covers of Captain America, and I like the idea of keeping the run consistent. For now, this is the side that's winning.

Regeneration Project update....

For those who are following developments at St Mary & St Giles, Stony Stratford here are some images of the latest developments.

In the late 1960's the Blessed Sacrament was removed from the main body of the Parish Church and the Choir Vestry was turned into a Chapel. The following image shows the Tabernacle and Gradine with the Comper Reredos partially obscured as fixed in 1968:







After a gap of 41 years the Blessed Sacrament is being restored to the south aisle of the Nave and you can see the work in progress so far from the following image. The addition of the oak panel beneath the Reredos will mean that the Tabernacle when installed will no longer obscure the Reredos.






In 1968, as was fashionable, the font was repositioned near the altar rails in the south aisle where the chapel had formerly been situated. The font is now being restored to a traditional position at the west end of the Nave's central aisle. The following image shows the 1960's position with the Confessional nearby and the base of the Paschal Candle stand can be seen in what was the Sanctuary of the former Chapel in the south aisle which is being restored:

The next image shows the new floor at the west end of the Nave now prepared for the arrival of Italian marbles to form a new floor beneath the font. There will be no plinth beneath the font pedestal as the marble will be flush with the York stone paving, which has still to be pointed. The font, having been removed from the south aisle in preparation for its permanent position, can just be seen behind our new Organist, Mr Andrew Storer, who was taking a break from cleaning out the organ blower room (hence the overalls!).

The marble floor should arrive on Tuesday 20th January and will begin to be laid the same day - watch the blog for progress. If you want an idea of the quality look at the design by our architect, Mr Julian Limentani, for Peterborough Cathedral. The stonemasons working at St Mary & St Giles tell me that ours knocks spots of theirs!

Still to arrive is a new Prayer Request board for the North Aisle recess. The Memorial Register is to be repositioned beneath it and later this year a life-size Icon of St Giles will be placed in this recess.

Our Lady was restored to the main body of the Church from the former Choir Vestry in 2007 and very popular she is too. In the style of an English Madonna it is a fine carving.

The image of St Michael the Archangel, formerly in the Church of St Mary the Virgin before it closed to be merged with St Giles, was found dumped in the attic of the former Vicarage shed with damaged wings. Restored six years ago it will be positioned in the tower area facing the west door as is traditional for an image of St Michael:

Further updates will follow as work progresses.