Fashion Week, Ash Wednesday & Stations of the Egg

It is Fashion Week here in London and things are buzzing because of all the related activities.
You an learn more about it by checking out
 http://www.londonfashionweek.co.uk/
But check out these facts and figures from their website:
•   " Over 5,000 visitors are expected: buyers, TV & radio crews, journalists and photographers
•    Media coverage equals or exceeds most major news and international sporting events
•    UK media coverage each season exceeds £100m and media coverage from the International Guest Programme exceeds £61m (source: Precise)
•    It is estimated that orders of over £100m are placed during LFW each season; the International Guest Programme alone generates over £74m of orders 
•    The direct value of the UK fashion industry to the UK economy  is £21 billion (source: BFC Value of Fashion Report 2010)
•    Fashion’s wider contribution to the economy in influencing spending in other industries is estimated to stand at over £37 billion (source: BFC Value of Fashion Report 2010)
•    The UK fashion industry is estimated to support 816,000 jobs and is the largest employer of all the creative industries. The sector also provides opportunities to minority groups to a greater extent than most other creative industries (source: BFC Value of Fashion Report 2010)
•    The UK Fashion industry is similar in size to the food/beverages services and telecommunications industries and bigger than the wholesale and retail of automotives, sports activities, chemical manufacture and advertising/video sectors (source: BFC Value of Fashion Report 2010)
•    Major export markets are USA, Japan, Russia, France, Italy, Middle East, Hong Kong, China
•    The UK is renowned for having the best fashion colleges in the world"

ashes on the altar at St. Martin in the Fields

With all this emphasis on beauty and glamour the church begins the Season of Lent today by boldly declaring, "you are dust and to dust you shall return." I think the contrast and the connection between Fashion Week and Ash Wednesday is just marvelous. One has a great deal of hype, the other has a focus on holiness. Models put on "make-up." We have ashes applied to our foreheads and are called to "make-up" to seek reconciliation.
 And finally both events encourage people to "dress up." St. Paul wrote these words about put on our finest,
"As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." Col. 3
We practice, pray and get in shape during these 4o days so that we can fully rejoice in the glorious righteousness of Easter clothes.

http://bigbible.org.uk/big-read/bigread12/#.T0U8EyNuG1s


Sue Ann has been here for three weeks. She leave on Thursday the 23rd. We have committed to reading Lent for Everyone, MARK, all part of the BIGREAD12. There are lots of resources online to assist in this discipline. Sue Ann and I plan to SKYPE once or twice a week as we discuss this book by
Tom Wright. I encourage you to figure out a way to make a similar journey.

just two of the eggs, 198 to go

Fabrege has placed 200 eggs all over London. http://www.thebigegghunt.co.uk/

I figure these "eggs" are an amazing opportunity for people of faith to make "stations" with in some kind of worshipful, mindful and joyful celebration. It would be an "egg-salent" way to mark
new life and hope.
Blessings on your journey,
rtg

Bon Appetite'

RTGMTG update  Paris

Saturday the 11^th we headed off to Paris. Our destination was the American Church in Paris which is served by Senior Pastor Scott Herr. Scott  and the congregation proved to be very gracious hosts. http://www.acparis.org/

On Sunday morning we worshipped at the early 9am Communion Service. Throughout the worship our eyes were drawn to an amazing painting along the side of one of the walls. Following the service we met the artists, Lionel and Moncia (husband and wife).  

Lionel, one of the artists

We chatted with them and the wheels began to turn in my mind. What if, just “what if” we could get this painting sent to Bethany just in time for Lent 2013?  What if we could have some kind of exchange (via Skype or even in person?) I have found over the years that it is dreams like this that can and do become reality.

We then went to a great little café for brunch before heading off to a day at the Orsay.
http://www.musee-orsay.fr/en/home.html

Sainte- Chapelle

Time is on Sue Ann's side!

Then we made quick trips to the Sainte Chappelle, http://sainte-chapelle.monuments-nationaux.fr/en/  Delacroix Museum and St. Sulpice (a few scenes from the Da Vinici Code were shot here) But, what drew us here the most is two wonderful expressions of art:  (1) the organ http://bit.ly/zcd5f2

where Widor was appointed “provisional organist” for 63 years and (2) Delacroix has three large murals here.

Jacob wrestles with the Angel

On Monday, we did the Musee de l'Orangerie where there are fantastic water lilies by Monet in the round. Monet liked to call them “nymphs.”

St. Valentine’s Day found us with a quick trip to the Rodin Museum http://www.musee-rodin.fr/

and then to cooking class at La Cusine. We actually took two classes, one on cooking a traditional French meal and then everyone’s favorite, MACAROONS. http://lacuisineparis.com/

I definitely recommend that if you are coming to Paris that you sign-up for a class.

It’s fantastic. Bon Appetite’

Big Pants & Botox

On Monday, Sue Ann and I were on our way back to the flat having visited the Courtauld Gallery.
We stopped to look at the advert regarding Big Pants & Botox in front of a theatre.
 A gentleman came by and said to me, "you should go to that play, it's really good!" I said, "are you in it?" He said, "I'm the director and here's the writer, Louise Roche."
So, of course being the shy person I am, I then asked, "can I take your picture?"

Writer, Louise Roche and Director, Mark Randle

 Mark also told me about a great website on which to purchase tickets for the show (which we did immediately). We'll be in the front row on Friday night at 8pm.

Ms. Roche is also the author of the successful play, GIRLS NIGHT
http://www.bbc.co.uk/threecounties/content/articles/2006/04/06/girls_night_louise_roche_feature.shtml

You can learn more about her at http://www.doollee.com/PlaywrightsR/roche-louise.html

Sue Ann & Louise Roche

We'll update you after the show.
Blessings,
rtg

A "Dickens" of a Time!

We just returned home from early worship at St. Martin in the Fields. Today there was a service that was being broadcast live on BBC Radio 4 to celebrate the Queen's Jubilee. It was a very interesting service which weaved together the changes over the past 60 years during the Queen's reign as the UK has moved from "empire" to a multi-cultural society. Rev. Richard Carter did an amazing job of writing the text for this moving service.

The script for the service (and perhaps a re-broadcast of the service) can be found at http://t.co/LkkoAD9P . The Bishop of London http://www.london.anglican.org/BishopOfLondon

The Rt. Revd Richard Chartres was the guest preacher. 

The congregation was asked to come a little early before the service to "rehearse" with the choir, readers and participants.. Here you can see the "producer" and the Bishop.

I was quite lovely to be in the congregation for this service. Sue Ann and I both talked about the sense of continuity that the Queen has brought to a country and world which has experienced many significant changes during the past six decades.

Tuesday, February 7th is the 200th Birthday of Charles Dickens. http://www.dickens2012.org/

We plan on joining in on some of the birthday celebrations. The other day at the British Library we saw 

a grand exhibit featuring Dickens, his life, his work and his legacy.

Listen to an interview with Claire Tomalin, author a new biography of Dickens.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/audio/2011/dec/17/dickens-christmas-carol-book-club-podcast

As we left worship this morning there was snow on the streets, sidewalks and stair steps leading up to church. Outside St. Martin in the Fields is a fascinating sculpture  depicting the first few verses of
John 1- The Word becoming flesh

It's a striking image of the Child of God-cold in the snow

Yet, many children of God are cold in the snow. St. Martin in the Fields and lots of congregations and organizations work very intentionally and diligently with the resources given to them to be places of warmth, hospitality and hope.

I was thinking Isaiah 61 which Jesus understood as his "job description." A calling which would make a visionary charter for a congregation or any organization

The spirit of the Lord God is upon me,
   because the Lord has anointed me;
he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed,
   to bind up the broken-hearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
   and release to the prisoners;
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour,
   and the day of vengeance of our God;
   to comfort all who mourn;
to provide for those who mourn in Zion—
   to give them a garland instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness instead of mourning,
   the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
   the planting of the Lord, to display his glory.
They shall build up the ancient ruins,
   they shall raise up the former devastations;
they shall repair the ruined cities,
   the devastations of many generations. 

Blessings,

rtg