I like reading Nevermind The Bricolage and this is a particularly good post, IMHO...

NTB says about himself:
I am a great believer that all things are connected, and that there is much value to be found in the detritus of popular culture. I enjoy living in a pick and mix world and think it is good for humanity to exist with plurality, complexity, and chaos as major shapers of how we live with each other--too much trouble has come from our isolated thinking. I don't want any heroes, don't believe in an interventionist god, don't think all the good music was made years ago, don't support the war, do support Manchester United. I drink PG Tips and Cote du Rhone, and, as Brian Ferry once sang, 'love is the drug.'

Couldn't agree more. Ok, not the football or PG Tips, but almost all of the rest...

Labels: blogs

Read and discuss...

At the start of the year Fresh Expressions asked me to write a piece about sanctus1 for their newspaper, expressions. It's been published now, so here it is:

A few days ago my two-year old son came home from nursery and proudly told me that ‘J is for Jude’. I was surprised - we’d not started to teach him about words and letters so how did he know? He then told me that ‘C is for Curly Carol’, it all became clear - Carol is his key worker at nursery and had taught him these letters. My son was learning without me; there will be a time when he can teach me and a time when our relationship will be one of reciprocal learning.

The challenge now for Sanctus1 – a Fresh Expression in Manchester City Centre that has been established for six years – is to develop relationships of reciprocal learning both internally and externally. Relationships that move beyond the excitement of childhood, through the liminal period of adolescence and into an adult relationship of mutual respect and learning.

Over the last few years Sanctus1 has sought to do this externally by actively seeking a way in which we can be more fully involved in the life of the local Diocese and District. This has meant financially contributing to the Diocese, proactively working towards greater structural recognition and being positive advocates of Fresh Expressions in the local Diocese and District.

Internally Sanctus1 has established a number of teams and adopted a set of values. The teams aim to encourage indigenous members of Sanctus1 to take positions of responsibility within the community. We now have an elected planning team and an AGM where decisions are taken regarding the future direction of Sanctus1, the values affirmed and the relationship with the Churches is nurtured.

Some have found the development of structures antithetic to Sanctus1, preferring to remain in the exciting stage of childhood. The first word and the first step are momentous occasions, yet the challenge is to keep growing, walking, learning and developing, as childhood – whilst exciting and fun – is not a period of reciprocal learning. It is a time of dependence and of gentle nurture and, whilst this is vital in all forms of life, to remain in it would not only be frustrating for the parent but also damaging to the child.

How's your Lent going?

I know that giving things up isn't really the point of Lent, but that doesn't stop people doing terrible things to themselves like abstaining from chocolate, alcohol or scuba diving.

A couple of plucky bishops have challenged us to give up carbon, maybe to make up for the trees cut down for all those screaming column inches about Sharia law.

It seems ironic that a cardinal has called for people to give up bottled water in Venice of all places.

And maybe giving up your iPod may help you to lead, literally, a less random life.

All of this is nothing compared to what some may consider as a step too far, a devastating act of self-denial. Yes - some devotees, I am told in hushed tones, have made the ultimate sacrifice for Lent.

Now that's commitment.

Labels: lent

Despite – perhaps because of – the Bishop of Manchester’s comments, last night I took up my invite to the launch of the Body Worlds show at MOSI. My main reason was to see what all the fuss was about for myself. And I wasn’t alone – there were upwards of 350 other people there, seemingly for pretty similar reasons.

Having started downstairs with drinks and finger food (not on a theme, thankfully), we were then invited to go upstairs and view the show – housed in the grade 1 listed 1830 warehouse. As soon as we shuffled in, a reverent hush descended. People read carefully, walked slowly, studied closely. I wasn’t sure what to expect or how I’d feel, I suspect others were the same. But mostly, it’s case after case of bones and organs, laid out and labelled as if this was an old school medical building (not dissimilar to Surgeon’s Hall in Edinburgh).

There are actually very few posed “plastinated” figures – maybe half a dozen or so. Some are not exactly to my taste (playing poker) but all of them are fascinating in terms of their displayed anatomy and physiology - detailed, beautiful, complex. Literally peeling away the skin has allowed me to see what's underneath - and it's pretty darn amazing. So no, there’s no gore, nothing to be squeamish about, no sensationalism - just freaks like me.

And while I’m about it, let’s clear up a widely-misquoted “fact”: these bodies are willingly donated to Von Hagens in the full knowledge of how they’ll be used and presented. So if you were thinking about donating your body to medical science, don’t fear – you won’t end up in here like this. You’re more likely end up as some junior med students’ cadaver… (probably a much worse fate knowing some med students!).

The worst bit about it? Honestly? The plastic plants throughout the space. Why were they thought to be necessary? Maybe the good doctor “did” them too. Oh, and the gorilla – wrong, just wrong (has to be seen to be believed).

But apart from that, it was not nearly as sensational, or possibly even as creative, as I thought it might be. And no, there wasn’t a single protester or placard in sight…


technorati tag: gunther von hagens, body worlds 4, mosi

Labels: art, science

Just a quick reminder that there's a simple sacred service this Sunday at Sacred Trinity at 8pm (like the aliteration?).

The title for the service is "So far from home".

You'd be very welcome.

Labels: sanctus1, service

Interesting article in the guardian over the weekend. See here

There have been two interesting press pieces in the last few days. The first one relates to Bishop James Jones apologising for his opposition to the appointment of Jeffrey John as Bishop.

The second one is our local Bishop, who has been in the Manchester Evening News attacking the Body Worlds 4 exhibition by German anatomist Gunther von Hagens that is due to be an MoSI. He labeled it a 'body snatch' show.

What do people think?

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