Thursday 21 February 2019

Turn to Your Neighbour and Scream

Much horror around the Community at the revelation that Justin Welby, at the General Synod, encouraged people to turn to their neighbours and share their joy in their faith. On its own an action to make one regret the Reformation.

I mean, this sort of thing is OK for Pentecostals. They can share their experiences of warmed hearts and salvation experiences. But Anglicans? At Synod? I presume a few were heartily encouraged by what they shared. And a few rejoiced in how they'd got the Victorian Society in to put one over the Church Wardens in their misuse of antique tea towels.

We had the misfortune a few years ago to accidentally invite someone from the AoG to lead a retreat day. I mean, I thought we were getting  the Archdeacon of Grantchester. Not the Assemblies of God. Towards the end, she invited us to share with our next-door neighbours what we'd learnt during the day.

I had to feel for poor Gerund, as Sedrick turned to him, and told him he'd realised that life was a pointless struggle, that death is the end, and the universe will end in screaming chaos. But there was worse.

Imagine the horror overcoming Stacey Bushes, as Burton Dasset declared he had realised he loved her as he'd never loved a woman before. Almost as much, indeed, as he loved his solar-powered desk calculator.

Stacey was in Aylesbury before she stopped running.

Friday 15 February 2019

A Day in the Life (of a Vicar)

I ripped out pews today, oh boy.
Took several years to get the faculty.
And though the choir is rather sad
We've lots of space to use
Now we've got fewer pews.

I said the Mass today, oh boy.
Or would have if I'd not been on my own.
And so I said a midday prayer.
It was from Lindisfarne
Written by a bunch of folk who like to worship in a barn.

We had a PCC, oh boy.
They asked if we could re-instate the pews.
I said we voted years ago.
They said they didn't care.
They wish the pews were there.
I'd love to retire.

Woke up, fell out of bed
Stuck a collar in my shirt.
Put the kettle on and fed the dog
And looking up I noticed I was late
Took the coffee out the house
Made the church in seconds flat
To the side chapel for morning prayer
And twenty minutes later, still nobody was there.

I went to visit Ann today.
She's getting weaker. She won't last till Spring.
She didn't recognise my face
Still, in bread He was there.
She remembered how to say the 1662 Lord's Prayer.
I'm glad that I  was there.



Want to support this blog?
Want a good laugh? Want to laugh at the church? Want to be secretly suspicious that the author has been sitting in your church committee meetings taking notes? Then Writes of the Church: Gripes and grumbles of people in the pews is probably the book for you.

From Amazon, Sarum Bookshop, The Bible Readers Fellowship and other good Christian bookshops. An excellent book for your churchgoing friends, relatives or vicar. By the creator of the Beaker Folk.

Saturday 9 February 2019

Liturgy for Launching a Non-Existent Ship Belonging to a Virtual Ferry Fleet

Beaker Folk gather at a windswept, silted-up harbour on the Kent Coast

Archdruid: And so, we mark this special occasion. The symbol of our nation's preparedness for a no-deal Brexit. I name this boat the SS Failing Grayling.

The bottle of Venezuelan Champagne substitute swings in the air, hitting the side of no boat.

Archdruid: Rats. And I bought that specially at 'Spoons.

Hnaef: Oh look! Is that a mullet?

Archdruid: Only if the owner was drinking in there...

Hnaef: Not in the pub. In the water.

Charlii: No, that's just another drowned unicorn.

Archdruid: This is ridiculous. I'm going to phone the ferry company.

Young Keith: I'll have satay king prawns and an egg fried rice.

Archdruid: And so we join in the hymn of Glory for Brexit.

God help Grayling
He ain't no transport king.
There ain't no future
for England's dreaming.

A Brexiter stands looking across the Channel shaking his fist

Brexiter: Bloody French! I fought in the War against you!

Young Keith: Erm, I think they were on our side.

Archdruid: And you're not even sixty. You can't have fought in the War.

Brexiter: Don't you oppress me. I lost both bloody legs on Sword. First Walmington Home Guard. They didn't like it up 'em, Sir.

Archdruid: Look, do you want this bottle of Venezuelan Champagne?

Brexiter: Nice one. Quid off in 'Spoons. Two bottles of this and you could live through the Blitz like I did....

Archdruid: ...20 years before you were born?

Brexiter: You seen my unicorn?

Young Keith: He's in the harbour. Jumped off the side, misjudged the depth of the water. Apparently he expected that a working port for a no-deal Brexit would be properly dredged.

Beaker Folk leave quietly as the Brexiter sobs over his drowned unicorn, looking across the cruel sea towards the Continent he fought in the 1940s.



Want to support this blog?
Want a good laugh? Want to laugh at the church? Want to be secretly suspicious that the author has been sitting in your church committee meetings taking notes? Then Writes of the Church: Gripes and grumbles of people in the pews is probably the book for you.

From Amazon, Sarum Bookshop, The Bible Readers Fellowship and other good Christian bookshops. An excellent book for your churchgoing friends, relatives or vicar. By the creator of the Beaker Folk.

Friday 8 February 2019

Christopher Chope: A Poem

Christoper Chope
Appears to be a terrible misanthrope.
When people are protecting women he shouts "Object" alone
But has no problem with the parliamentary motions of Peter Bone.



Want to support this blog?
Want a good laugh? Want to laugh at the church? Want to be secretly suspicious that the author has been sitting in your church committee meetings taking notes? Then Writes of the Church: Gripes and grumbles of people in the pews is probably the book for you.

From Amazon, Sarum Bookshop, The Bible Readers Fellowship and other good Christian bookshops. An excellent book for your churchgoing friends, relatives or vicar. By the creator of the Beaker Folk.

Wednesday 6 February 2019

John Humphrys to Retire: A Beaker Response

John Humphrys said "I should have gone years ago."

Yes.



Want to support this blog?
Want a good laugh? Want to laugh at the church? Want to be secretly suspicious that the author has been sitting in your church committee meetings taking notes? Then Writes of the Church: Gripes and grumbles of people in the pews is probably the book for you.

From Amazon, Sarum Bookshop, The Bible Readers Fellowship and other good Christian bookshops. An excellent book for your churchgoing friends, relatives or vicar. By the creator of the Beaker Folk.