Archbishop Rowan busts a move...

Another advert and although it's a rip-off of the famous original YouTube wedding entrance video still made me laugh! Plus I used to live in E17... and we will get a holy day...

P (h/t Pat Kirby)

Benedictus Benedicat... Amazing Graces!

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In my upbringing saying Grace before meals was never missed. I have tried to maintain the tradition and am pleased to say, on the whole, have managed to keep it going. I feel it is an important moment to take in our day as we effectively break bread together and to give thanks for our daily manna.

Love this one for brevity:

Good food, Good meat, Good Lord, Let's eat. Amen!

(attributed to Rick Edmondson)

And a poignant one:

For food in a world where many walk in hunger;
For faith in a world where many walk in fear;
For friends in a world where many walk alone;
We give you thanks, O Lord. Amen.

(Source: Huron Hunger Fund, Anglican Church of Canada)

The world without us...

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While holidaying in Nova Scotia this summer I couldn't help notice how quickly nature reclaimed her own when land and buildings had been left for a while. So seeing this link promoting Alan Weisman's intriuging book about what would happen if the world was without human presence immediately struck a chord!

Under Grace...

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At the age of 70 the sculptor William E. deGarthe set about 'releasing' the figures contained in this massive block of granite (~100 feet wide) in his back yard in Peggy's Cove, Nova Scotia. He named it the 'Fisherman's Monument' and reading from Right to Left (click to enlarge so you can check the detail) the piece is in three joined sections. The first section represents WORK, all about the fishermen and depicts them all working together. The second, middle part he called BOUNTY showing the riches of the sea and the final area is dominated by the angel figure, GRACE, the 'guardian angel watching over a fisherman and his family'.

Fresh Icepressions...

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... and looking the other way, on the left is the Ice Cream Hut (yes, that's me at the front of the line-up ordering a Caramel Cowmotion!), in the middle is the Café and on the right hand side is the entrance to the church itself... so glad they don't call it the 'Christian Ice Cream Hut' along with a 'Christian Café'!

One of the most exciting parts for me, as well as the taste of my selection, is that the surrounding community has labelled it 'The Ice Cream Church' rather than some obscure title coming from inside the church community... but when you see the sign (previous post) then there is still some thinking that needs redeeming and forgiving ;-)

The Ice Cream Church!

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A brilliant place near Halifax in Nova Scotia. Not at all comfortable with the naff Christianese jargon wording on the sign but the ice cream was yummy! This place is known throughout the area as 'The Ice Cream Church' and folk come from miles away and queue up (sorry, line up) to sample the delights. The Avodah bit is a café with chowder and coffee where diners are encouraged to hang around and chill. When I asked why the big sign was branded differently from 'The Ice Cream Church' there was a stunned silence followed by 'I don't know'. The good thing is because of the impact of this hip and happening place in the neighbourhood it does encourage new folk through the door of the church. Love it!

Come all this way....

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... and who should be holidaying just 3 miles away? Great to meet up with Nick Page and family, he of the excellent book 'And Now Let's Move into a Time of Nonsense', good to have a chat and a beer together!