Merry Christmas everyone from me and the beardy one.

Don’t be offended if you didnt get a card – our Christmas tradition seems to be buying a box at the beginning of November and then forgetting where we’ve put them until they turn up in the fridge or the tumble dryer sometime in January…

peace, love, and happiness to you wherever you are

if you’re in Glasgow over Christmas and wish to join us, you would be welcome :

Sunday 20 December 6.30pm  All Saints “Remembering those we miss at Christmas” – a meditative service for those who are separated from their loved ones through illness, death, divorce or distance

Christmas Eve Midnight Communion 11.30pm All Saints,

Christmas Day Carols & Communion 10.30am  Holy Cross,

Sunday 27  December Carols & Communion 10.30am Holy Cross

Midweek Services as normal on 22 Dec (7pm All Saints) and 23 Dec (10am Holy Cross)

All Saints Episcopal Church 10 Woodend Drive, Jordanhill, G13,  & Holy Cross Episcopal Church 2064 Great Western Road, Knightswood G13 (opposite the top of Lincoln Avenue)

Barack Obama today recieved his Nobel Peace Prize. His speech, broken into segments (the limitations of youtube demand it) is below.  It can also be read online here

I am by no means a pacifist (although I find violent solutions to conflict detestable), but some of his comments both delighted and dismayed me.

wars between nations have increasingly given way to wars within nations. The resurgence of ethnic or sectarian conflicts; the growth of secessionist movements, insurgencies, and failed states; have increasingly trapped civilians in unending chaos. In today’s wars, many more civilians are killed than soldiers; the seeds of future conflict are sown, economies are wrecked, civil societies torn asunder, refugees amassed, and children scarred.

He rightly describes the trauma and pain of war, the true human cost  – civillian (and combatant) lives lost, nations forever altered by the scars.  He speaks of the history of Europe and the US, of conflicts, of diplomacy, of hope despite the odds. However, the dismay (or cynicism, or hope against the odds; call it what you will) set in as he spoke of the limits of  diplomacy and negotiation, acknowledging the strengh of the non-violent approach of Ghandi and Martin Luther King jr., and continuing:

…as a head of state sworn to protect and defend my nation, I cannot be guided by their examples aloneI face the world as it is, and cannot stand idle in the face of threats to the American people. For make no mistake: evil does exist in the world. A non-violent movement could not have halted Hitler’s armies. Negotiations cannot convince al-Qaeda’s leaders to lay down their arms. To say that force is sometimes necessary is not a call to cynicism – it is a recognition of history; the imperfections of man and the limits of reason.

It was non-voilent discussion and mediated negotiation which ended 10 years of warfare in the western Balkan states, and enabled Macedonia and Serbia to flourish, despite the bloody and horendous nature of the conflict throughout the western Balkan states, although Kosovo required NATO intervention. It was  agreement to lay down arms and meet diplomatically which brought the end to a lifetime of  troubles in Ireland. It was a willingness to enter into mediated repentance and forgiveness at the heart of the Truth and Reconcilliation in South Africa which put an end to state-sponsored apartheid in that nation.

There can be opportunity to lay down arms and work for peace. It is an opportunity which has to be created, nurtured, given space.  To be sure, it is a high risk strategy, but one which can be richly rewarding. There are no easy answers, no easy routes, but often we take the easiest route of hitting out, rather than stepping back.  War has not solved the issue in the Gulf – whether it be the “WMD debate” or  revenge for 9/11 or some other reason.  Maybe its time for serious, committed, risky diplomacy?

In his own words: 

We do not have to live in an idealized world to still reach for those ideals that will make it a better place. The non-violence practiced by men like Gandhi and King may not have been practical or possible in every circumstance, but the love that they preached – their faith in human progress – must always be the North Star that guides us on our journey.

For if we lose that faith – if we dismiss it as silly or naïve; if we divorce it from the decisions that we make on issues of war and peace – then we lose what is best about humanity. We lose our sense of possibility. We lose our moral compass.

Every situation in our world which has been resolved by word more than weapon has at one time or another been seen as one in which the practicality or possibility of non-violence was non-existant. Strive for the impossible, the impractical, the downright bonkers hope of peace from peaceful means, lest we breed more seeds of warfare in our future generations.

Lord Jesus Christ,
who is, who was, and who is to come,
we pray for the virtue of hope,
that amidst the trials and difficulties
of this world,
we may keep our hearts fixed
upon you, who reigns over the cosmos.
May your grace enliven us,
strengthen us,
and defend us,
as we await your coming in glory. Amen

David Bennett

with thanks to uberpix.com

One of my wee pleasures is taking the occasional wander up Buchanan St and into Forbidden Planet – for a Sci-fi geek it is the nearest thing to heaven this side of eternity – books, games, graphic novels, various collectibles from the sublime to the ridiculous, the well-recognised and the most obscure tat of the sci-fi kind crammed together on semi-organised shelves.

It seemed an obvious place to pre-order a book i wanted last month – a new Star Wars novel, which was also providing a major update to Star Wars Galaxies, which i play on a regular basis with pals from all over the world.  Both the book and the game update shared the same international release date, co-inciding with my birthday. A nice wee treat for myself then  – or so i thought when i logged on to their website and placed a pre-order

I left ordering the book a little late – only 2 days before release, so wasnt too concerned when it didnt turn up on release day (as usually happens with pre-orders).  A couple of weeks in however, I get a bit frustrated, contact FP, and am told release date isnt until 30 October, and it should be with me around that date (a complete lie! by this time other players have already read the book and put reviews on the SWG forums, and I’ve played a chunk of the new game content).  However the generous and non-complaining side of me wins out, until this week.  I email them again, point out their lie, and the fact that the price (which i’ve paid in full at the time of the order) has been reduced on their website.  I cancelled the order.  I suspect they hadnt received enough pre-orders to warrant their costs in ordering it, and were trying to cover themselves.  They could have just been honest with me. but no, those silly people at FP lied to a StarWars geek about a Star Wars book!  GRRRRRR bad FP!  I may still take pleasure in wandering around the wee shop in Buchanan St from time to time, but buy anything from thier website again?  nae chance!

…as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.

so often with small churches, everything seems to be “us” – the need to raise finance to keep a roof over our heads, etc. We contribute to local charities at Christmas and harvest, and do the usual Christian Aid stuff, but the bulk of our energies seems to be maintenance rather than mission and aid.   So it was fantastic to be approached by members of the congregation wanting to support external charities and do some fundraising for others.

The vestry and congregation decided at the AGM to support African Steps, working to provide healthcare for the 10,000 residents of Likoma Island in Lake Malawi, and another 70,000 people from Tanzania and Mozambique who live on the edges of the lake.  Good Stuff!

Sounds like Beirut outside, with fireworks from Glasgow High School behind us, and Jordanhill School along the road.  School firework celebrations, delayed from Guy Fawkes night yesterday.

Never quite understood why we celebrate a failed terrorist attack on the Houses of parliament by sending colourful little bombs into the air and burning effigies.  maybe its just me, but i dont get it

nope – not the state of my desk or office floor (for a change!).

Lunch with our esteemed Ministry Development Officer today.  She’s asked me to consider writing a paper for the Thursday evening lectures at Glasgow Uni (for early in the new year) , so i’m looking at “personhood and community in an online age“.  See where i get with it. The other option is Sci-fi and the ethics of technology.  Both subjects are close to my heart (and imagination) and both are swimming around in my head right now.

She even suggested i think about a PhD!  me of all people!

I’ve contacted the Community manager of an online game I play, maybe get a little insight from the professionals!