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