Saturday, December 19, 2009
Apparently the only difference between Christians, Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses is their awareness of how annoying they are....
Thursday, December 17, 2009
It's that season again... the impending appearence of the relatives, way too much food/drink and snow.
OK, maybe not the snow....
Merry christmas!
It's that season again... the impending appearence of the relatives, way too much food/drink and snow. OK, maybe not the snow....
Merry christmas!
Wednesday, December 09, 2009
The blog may look odd at the moment, but we're tweaking a few doodahs and flanging a few sprockets.
Normal service will be resumed as soon as the hypergrobbit goes 'ding'. In other words, we're spring blog-cleaning.
Technical blog talk, y'know.
Normal service will be resumed as soon as the hypergrobbit goes 'ding'. In other words, we're spring blog-cleaning.
Technical blog talk, y'know.
Labels: blogs
Sunday, December 06, 2009
Once again, the happy snapper may find themselves happily snapped, holding a board with their name and prison number.
Regular readers will know that I occasionally rant about people being stopped and searched or having equipment confiscated by police and (more usually) PCSOs for taking snapshots in the street. Things seem to be getting strange, with cases of people being sttopped and searched for taking photos of St Paul's Cathedral, Christmas lights and a street party in Liverpool.
The reason is Section 44 of the Terrorism Act, which allows police to stop anyone they want in a pre-designated area. These areas are chosen based on their perceived likelihood of being a target for terrorists, and include every railway station in the country. However, the exact list is considered sensitive, and is therefore secret. Brilliant.
Even with these draconian powers, there are still things that police cannot do, although it seems several still try: they cannot confiscate cameras, films, or memory cards, and they cannot require anybody to delete images from their cameras. And, of course, PCSOs do not have any power of arrest, search, or anything else that you or I can't do.
Stay vigilant, and keep taking photos.
Tuesday, November 03, 2009
I've just bought an advent calendar from Beyond, a group in Brighton. Last year they had a fantastic advent art installation, with a different display in 24 different beach huts along Brighton beach. As I didn't get to see the installation first hand, I can't wait for the 1st December!
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
It's my final day working with Sanctus1 and I can think of no better way to start it than posting on this blog. It's interesting how this blog has evolved over the last five years, It basically grew and grew till late 2007 then numbers of people slowed down a bit and now there are 1000 less visitors a month than in 2007. This reflects the shift to facebook, twitter and lack of activity on the blog...
So I'm leaving, it feel strange but thanks for the memories. Sanctus1 has been a great place for me, a place where my faith has grown and be challenged. Thanks for the laughter an the intimacy - I'll miss Sanctus. There have been challenges, nights that I have been kept awake worring about sanctus and people within sanctus, times when I've wondered if we'll still be going in six months time, times where I've come home and cried due to the hurts that people have shared with me - thank you for sharing them.
But I know its the right time to move on, new things beckon, and you're in the very capable hands of Al. You can keep up with me on my blog: benedson.co.uk, if you've been emailing me on ben@sanctus1.co.uk then you'll have to email me in the next 24hrs to get my new email address or look on my blog!
Thank you for the days...ok time to kill this google account.
So I'm leaving, it feel strange but thanks for the memories. Sanctus1 has been a great place for me, a place where my faith has grown and be challenged. Thanks for the laughter an the intimacy - I'll miss Sanctus. There have been challenges, nights that I have been kept awake worring about sanctus and people within sanctus, times when I've wondered if we'll still be going in six months time, times where I've come home and cried due to the hurts that people have shared with me - thank you for sharing them.
But I know its the right time to move on, new things beckon, and you're in the very capable hands of Al. You can keep up with me on my blog: benedson.co.uk, if you've been emailing me on ben@sanctus1.co.uk then you'll have to email me in the next 24hrs to get my new email address or look on my blog!
Thank you for the days...ok time to kill this google account.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Here is the latest Sanctus1 e-news. If you want to sign up to receive the quarterlyish updates then do so by clicking here.
Here is the latest Sanctus1 e-news. If you want to sign up to receive the quarterlyish updates then do so by clicking here.
Thursday, October 01, 2009
On Saturday 3rd October, the last train will run from Manchester to Rochdale via Oldham, on the "Oldham loop".
This is to pave the way for it's rebirth as the Rochdale branch of Metrolink, in 2012. Hooray for the Metrolink. What a shame we have to sacrifice yet another railway line to feed this behemoth. If the Altrincham service is anything to go by, the good folk of Rochdale will (in three years time) have the choice of a train to Manchester, or a bumpier*, more expensive tram ride. The denziens of Oldham won't get that choice.
Heaven forbid that we should convert a road into a tramline.
* Light rail tracks require less maintenance than mainline tracks, hence the bumpier ride on the tram.
Labels: manchester, travel
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Labyrinths are quite a cool way of taking time out, giving you time to reflect, prayer, meditate as you move around the space. Manchester monastery has recently had a huge refurbishment and ongoing plans include a labyrinth installed into the floor of the main space. In the meantime they regularly have a temporary labyrinth in the space, which a couple of us walked around today.
It's great to see that such an amazing building is being used as a centre for the community and exploration of a range of spiritual ideas and expressions - and you can even rent the space for parties!
It's great to see that such an amazing building is being used as a centre for the community and exploration of a range of spiritual ideas and expressions - and you can even rent the space for parties!
Wednesday, September 02, 2009
Tonight's Sanctus is our traditional post-greenbelt gathering. We'll simply be going to the pub to catch up with one another, we'll meet at Nexus at 19:30 before going onto Bar Fringe for about 8:00.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Sanctus1 will be leading two service at Greenbelt this year.
The first one is on Sunday at 19:00 in New Forms and called 'The Infinite Service - Part 0031, The second one is in The Shelter in the Youth Area at 11:00 on Monday and called 'The infinite Service - Part 8563. Here is what the programme will say about them:
A service that revolves at nine hundred miles an hour, orbits at nineteen miles a second and is three thousand light years wide. Come early – limited to 6.5 billion participants.
We'll be camping in our usual place, so come and find us!!
The first one is on Sunday at 19:00 in New Forms and called 'The Infinite Service - Part 0031, The second one is in The Shelter in the Youth Area at 11:00 on Monday and called 'The infinite Service - Part 8563. Here is what the programme will say about them:
A service that revolves at nine hundred miles an hour, orbits at nineteen miles a second and is three thousand light years wide. Come early – limited to 6.5 billion participants.
We'll be camping in our usual place, so come and find us!!
Labels: greenbelt
Monday, August 24, 2009
The rather lovely and excellent Michael Volland has shared his and feig's journey over the last few years in a book, published just as he's left to move on to Durham. (see his new blog through the link above)
I bet there'll be copies at GB on the book stand, or via Amazon...
Labels: emerging church
Saturday, August 01, 2009
"A God box is an object of intense beauty used for manifesting goodness in your life....
"You can adorn it with faux finishes, faux lapis, strings soaked in glue, making loops, like spaghetti rococco, then paint it, varnish it, maybe gluing on many sparkling, faux jewels or pearls."
Faux fish? No, thanks - when I make mine, I'm using real fish.
As Judith says on this website: "My God box calls to me. My God box is ever ready to receive my needs. If I forget to ask for miracles, it wonders why I don't use it more often.
"It patiently awaits my heart vibrations”.
Here's how you can make your God box.
"You can adorn it with faux finishes, faux lapis, strings soaked in glue, making loops, like spaghetti rococco, then paint it, varnish it, maybe gluing on many sparkling, faux jewels or pearls."
Faux fish? No, thanks - when I make mine, I'm using real fish.
As Judith says on this website: "My God box calls to me. My God box is ever ready to receive my needs. If I forget to ask for miracles, it wonders why I don't use it more often.
"It patiently awaits my heart vibrations”.
Here's how you can make your God box.
Labels: inspiration, nonsense
Monday, July 27, 2009
Well it looks like the GB weather's going to be pretty memorable!!
http://metcheck.com/V40/UK/FREE/event_forecast.asp?eventID=697
http://metcheck.com/V40/UK/FREE/event_forecast.asp?eventID=697
