ancient faith, future mission - update

The book in which I co-wrote a chapter with Ian Mobsby on new monasticism - Ancient faith, Future Mission - is selling very well apparently and getting good reviews.

mayBe weekend away: farewells

Great time at the mayBe weekend away - but emotional too - the last mayBe gathering for Gail and I in our current roles, with lots of farewells. Community goes deep, and we can't have the joy without the cost. The community organised a really good farewell ritual for us. Here's some pics from Andrea taken at the eucharist on Sunday morning.

Wildworks: the beautiful journey

Down in Devon this week getting stuff ready for the move, and went to a brilliant piece of improvised and interactive theatre last night at Devonport Dockyard with our friend Jackie. Wildworks are based in Cornwall, and this wild work called 'the beautiful journey' is wonderful - fun, beautiful, moving, strange and ultimately hopeful. The story is part inspired by Homer's Odyssey - which I haven't read since I was at school - must revisit it. The dockyard setting is brilliant. Really tempted to go a second time!

imagine a world without fish

It's world oceans day and I'm marking it by going to see the documentary-film end of the line [imagine a world without fish] tonight. We have been over-fishing around the world for decades, and the message of this film is that we must take decisive action now. I understand that there are, finally, plans being made in the EU to stop the crazy policy of throwing [inconveniently caught but of course since-expired] fish back into the sea to keep to landed quotas.

The pic is of the sea on the north coast of Mull, from the place where I did my bit for fish stocks by catching nothing when I went fishing for our supper last month. The cormorant in flight seemed happy and healthy enough [as did my other visitors - diving gannets, a seal and an otter] so I'm pleased to say that not all the fish have gone yet. But this is a really serious issue.

flowing

It's Trinity Sunday, and again Rublev's icon is worth our deep attention, icon of community, presence and life, flowing of God's life for all being...

sustainable energy - without the hot air

This is interesting. Cambridge University scientist David MacKay is offering his book sustainable energy - without the hot air free to download either in chapters or in synopsis form - which is what I have read. He seems to be getting plaudits from all sides - environmentalists, energy specialists, media and government - so I think his work needs attention. One of the simple but brilliant things he has done is break all energy use down into one format that is easily understood and applicable across all forms of energy use - Kilowatt hours per person. Some of his findings are striking and challenging. For example: He says that roof-mounted micro-wind turbines [which I like the idea of] are 'an utter waste of resources. They never pay for themselves'. In contrast he says that, 'roof-mounted solarwater heaters are a no-brainer. They really work: even in Britain, where the sunniness is only about 30%, a modest 3m2 panel can supply half of a typical family’s hot water'.

mission in a consumer culture

This should be a good event at CMS with Kathy Ross, Jonny Baker and Pete Ward: mission in a consumer culture