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