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 A NEW YEAR

It really did feel like a new year.  The monthly discussions will no longer focus on the Bible but on broader and more edgy questions about religion, which is exactly what I am exploring in my proposed book “Has the Church got a Future?  Being Credible in a Post-Modern World”.  It feels that my brain is no longer trying to ride two horses at once.  So what has been going on this month?

BOOKS

Book Proposal.  I have spent two to three months writing a “Book Proposal” for my agent to take with her to the London Book fair in March in search of `a publisher.  What took the time was the section on ‘Competitive Titles’, i.e. books which covered similar ground to what I was writing.  The closest one I found was Harari’s ’21 Lessons for the 21st Century’, fascinating, though written from an atheistic point of view.  Christian books I found took far too much for granted. One for instance was entitled “What’s Still Right with the Church of England?’ – very niche!  The nearest I think is ‘Honest to God’ by John Robinson, 1964.  It asks all the right questions, but gives all the wrong answers – far too theological – and out of print.  Anyway, I finally sent it off on 13th. 

Editing.  I finally finished editing the second edition of ‘Discovering Psalms as Prayer’ (almost).  The last step was to make a small section of music to enable people to sing short parts of the prayers.  My friend John writes music on his computer regularly. We spent an hour on Sunday 12th sorting that out on the backs of envelopes at the Cock Pit pub (near Blackfriars) with the aid of whiskey and Guinness after the Moot evening service at St Mary Aldermary.  

When it is ready I will print a few copies to get copyright permission and to send to s significant people to offer a few kind words about it.  I met the Coptic Archbishop Angaelos at the Week of Prayer for Christina Unity – literally bumped into him – and I hope he will write something encouraging.

Book signing.  Also during the Week of Prayer I did a book signing of my book ‘A Week of Prayer in Jerusalem’.  It was at St Mary Abbot’s, Kensington,  the church where I go to communion and lunch every Monday.  The new rector Emma Smith is really supportive.  The evening started with Palestinian snacks of bread and za’atar, followed by a quick resume of the eight sermons I heard that week in various churches.  Not many came, but two Palestinians came, having heard of it from eventbrite which was wonderful!  And I sold two books

Writing.  Finally I actually started writing again!  Over two days I managed to write two paragraphs on religion in the 21st century, one on Islam, the other on mindfulness.  Do any of you know where a meditation pod has been set up, either in a school or a business?

NO HOLDS BARRED 

Having ended up with the Book of Revelation at St Cuthbert’s in December, I am starting a new series of discussions in an excellent upstairs space at the Bolton pub at the bottom of Earls Court Road, thanks to the very helpful landlord Eric, who is Dutch and so stocks over 200 Dutch beers!  The discussions will be on the first Wednesdays of each month, and I will produce a blog giving ideas about the forthcoming topic a couple of weeks beforehand.  So the first one will be on “Religion – good, bad or both? – the natural history of religion”.  I am thrilled to say that ten young people have said they will be coming from the Lee Abbey International Students’ Club.  Exciting! 

TRIP TO ISRAEL

Not enough people had signed up for the 12-day trip to Israel I had planned, so it has had to be cancelled.  However, I am arranging a shorter 8 day trip based in Jerusalem and Bethlehem, costing under £1,000 for flight and accommodation.  

The dates are Saturday 21st to Sunday 29th March. Here is the itinerary:Saturday Fly to Ben Gurion.  Transfer to Jerusalem Sunday Service at  Christchurch, Holy Sepulchre, Tower of David, Evening at St G George’s Monday Mount of Olives & Via Dolorosa Tuesday Muslim & Jewish Quarters Wed’day Israel Museum Thursday Free day.  Travel to Bethlehem Friday Masada, Ein-Gedi, Qumran, Saturday Manger Square, Herodion, Shepherds Fields Sunday Fly home after church in Bethlehem

It’s obviously getting late, but if anyone would like to come, can you email me within the next two weeks please?

God bless

Andy