tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52402121074289697872024-03-05T19:56:24.313+00:00Arc InsolublyArc Insolublyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05698284399511062377noreply@blogger.comBlogger25125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5240212107428969787.post-74263391424541389312016-11-30T20:21:00.001+00:002016-11-30T20:21:02.065+00:00<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-align: center;">
<span lang="en-GB" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 18.0pt; font-weight: bold; language: en-GB; line-height: 119%; mso-ansi-language: en-GB; mso-ligatures: none;">ALF&BETH<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-GB" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 18.0pt; language: en-GB; line-height: 119%; mso-ansi-language: en-GB; mso-ligatures: none;">Alpha and Omega;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-GB" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 18.0pt; language: en-GB; line-height: 119%; mso-ansi-language: en-GB; mso-ligatures: none;"> Know what I am?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-GB" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 18.0pt; language: en-GB; line-height: 119%; mso-ansi-language: en-GB; mso-ligatures: none;"> No permutational stringing of characters<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 18pt;"> may fully describe divine being -</span></div>
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<span lang="en-GB" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 18.0pt; language: en-GB; line-height: 119%; mso-ansi-language: en-GB; mso-ligatures: none;">A to Z:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-GB" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 18.0pt; language: en-GB; line-height: 119%; mso-ansi-language: en-GB; mso-ligatures: none;"> Know your way around?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-GB" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 18.0pt; language: en-GB; line-height: 119%; mso-ansi-language: en-GB; mso-ligatures: none;"> No list of streets or indexed maps<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-GB" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 18.0pt; language: en-GB; line-height: 119%; mso-ansi-language: en-GB; mso-ligatures: none;"> define the pilgrim path - <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-GB" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 18.0pt; language: en-GB; line-height: 119%; mso-ansi-language: en-GB; mso-ligatures: none;">Aleph, Beth, Gimel:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-GB" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 18.0pt; language: en-GB; line-height: 119%; mso-ansi-language: en-GB; mso-ligatures: none;"> Know the mathematical infinities?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-GB" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 18.0pt; language: en-GB; line-height: 119%; mso-ansi-language: en-GB; mso-ligatures: none;"> No measure even they <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-GB" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 18.0pt; language: en-GB; line-height: 119%; mso-ansi-language: en-GB; mso-ligatures: none;"> of redeeming grace - <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-GB" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 18.0pt; language: en-GB; line-height: 119%; mso-ansi-language: en-GB; mso-ligatures: none;">Alpha and Omega…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-GB" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 18.0pt; language: en-GB; line-height: 119%; mso-ansi-language: en-GB; mso-ligatures: none;">A to Z…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-GB" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 18.0pt; language: en-GB; line-height: 119%; mso-ansi-language: en-GB; mso-ligatures: none;">Alphabets proliferate - <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-GB" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 18.0pt; language: en-GB; line-height: 119%; mso-ansi-language: en-GB; mso-ligatures: none;"> Yet impotent all to measure faith<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-GB" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 18.0pt; language: en-GB; line-height: 119%; mso-ansi-language: en-GB; mso-ligatures: none;"> As at Babel, all unable to comprehend - <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-GB" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 18.0pt; language: en-GB; line-height: 119%; mso-ansi-language: en-GB; mso-ligatures: none;">And yet…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-GB" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 18.0pt; language: en-GB; line-height: 119%; mso-ansi-language: en-GB; mso-ligatures: none;">Alf, and Beth, and so many more<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-GB" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 18.0pt; language: en-GB; line-height: 119%; mso-ansi-language: en-GB; mso-ligatures: none;"> Know me quite well,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-GB" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 18.0pt; language: en-GB; line-height: 119%; mso-ansi-language: en-GB; mso-ligatures: none;"> Tread with familiarity the pilgrim path,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-GB" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 18.0pt; language: en-GB; line-height: 119%; mso-ansi-language: en-GB; mso-ligatures: none;"> and are, by unspeakable grace, redeemed.</span><span lang="en-GB" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 18.0pt; language: en-GB; line-height: 119%; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Arc Insolublyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05698284399511062377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5240212107428969787.post-54739549300128818142016-01-15T11:51:00.000+00:002016-01-15T11:51:53.954+00:00Primates2016<i>Too early to have reflected enough on the outcome of Primates 2016 and make any wise or astute observations - simply time to reflect on a feeling of intellectual and emotional numbness at the endless process of discernment that the Church subjects itself to: Progress towards inclusive ministry irrespective of gender has taken a generation and more, progress towards informed understanding and acceptance of the nature of gender and sexuality feels like it might take the church another generation - which may be too late.. the pews might be empty and gone by then.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>And no-one knew what to hope for from Primates2016 - but if you had asked me a decade or so ago where I thought we might be by now, then my answer might have been as follows:</i><br />
<i> </i><br />
<i>That we would see something like:</i><br />
<br />
<b>Resolution 26x - Church and LGBT+ individuals</b><br />
The Anglican Communion upholds monogamy as God's plan, and as the ideal relationship of love between husband and wife; nevertheless we recommend that LGBT+ individuals who respond to the Gospel and are within or wish to join the Anglican Church may be baptized and confirmed with their partner and children and enjoy full sacramental fellowship on the following conditions:<br />
(1) that the LGBT+ individuals shall promise to be faithful to their partner so long as they both are alive;<br />
(2) that the receiving of such LGBT+ individuals has the consent of the local Anglican community;<br />
(3) that such LGBT+ individuals shall not be compelled to put away any existing partner at the time of conversion;<br />
(4) and recommends that provinces are encouraged to share information of their pastoral approach to Christians who are LGBT+ individuals so that the most appropriate way of pastoring them can be found, and that the ACC be requested to facilitate the sharing of that information.<br />
<br />
<i> - given that Lambeth Conference 1988 came out with the following:</i><br />
<br />
<b> Resolution 26 - Church and Polygamy</b><br />
This Conference upholds monogamy as God's plan, and as the ideal relationship of love between husband and wife; nevertheless recommends that a polygamist who responds to the Gospel and wishes to join the Anglican Church may be baptized and confirmed with his believing wives and children on the following conditions:<br />
(1) that the polygamist shall promise not to marry again as long as any of his wives at the time of his conversion are alive;<br />
(2) that the receiving of such a polygamist has the consent of the local Anglican community;<br />
(3) that such a polygamist shall not be compelled to put away any of his wives, on account of the social deprivation they would suffer;<br />
(4) and recommends that provinces where the Churches face problems of polygamy are encouraged to share information of their pastoral approach to Christians who become polygamists so that the most appropriate way of disciplining and pastoring them can be found, and that the ACC be requested to facilitate the sharing of that information.
Arc Insolublyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05698284399511062377noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5240212107428969787.post-22179641145849315902015-02-11T20:59:00.000+00:002015-02-11T21:10:00.366+00:00Alphabet CricketI was recently given a copy of 'In Darkest England and The Way Out' by General Booth. Though I have skip read a few pages to sense the tone of Booth's concerns, my main interest has been in the missing title page and annotated fly leaf and front board.
On these pages are inscribed a code and game scores as follows:<BR>
<BR>
A = 2
E = 1
I = 0
O = 3
U = 2<BR>
B = Bowled
C = Caught
D = 4
F = 2
G = 3
H = L B W<BR>
J = 5
K = Caught
L = 6
M = Stumped
N = Run Out<BR>
O = 0
P = 4
Q = 6
R = 2
S = 1<BR>
T = 3
U = 6
V = Caught
W = L B W
X = 5<BR>
Y = 0
Z = 6
<BR><BR>
This game of cricket from text has repeated (different) entries for the vowels, O and U, and thus appears to have been improvised.
Remnants of games are also evident:
<BR>
*1 3 1 out 4<BR>
*2 out 0<BR>
*3 0 1 6 2 out 9<BR>
*4 1 3 2 3 out 9<BR>
*5 3 3 1 0 2 out 9<BR>
*6 3 0 out 3<BR>
*7 0 3 out 3<BR>
*8 1 0 out 1<BR>
*9 0 6 1 4 6 out 17<BR>
*10 0 0 1 out 1<BR>
11 0 2 4 not out 6<BR>
<BR><BR>
*1 0 1 out 1<BR>
*2 0 2 0 out 2<BR>
*3 1 out 1<BR>
*4 0 1 4 2 2 out 11<BR>
*5 1 0 1 0 2 out 4<BR>
*6 0 0 out 0<BR>
*7 1 0 out 1<BR>
*8 3 2 0 6 2 2 2 1 2 out 20<BR>
*9 2 0 1 1 1 3 6 1 0 3 2 0 1 0 out 21<BR>
*10 1 4 2 2 3 0 1 13<BR>
*11 0 out 0<BR>
<BR><BR>
*1 3 1 1 2 6 2 18<BR>
*2 0 0<BR>
*3 1 2 0 3<BR>
*4 2 4 0 6<BR>
*5 0 2 4 out 6<BR>
*6 3 1 2 3 3 out 12<BR>
*7 1 0 0 6 1 out 8<BR>
*8 2 3 2 3 out 10<BR>
*9 2 out 2<BR>
*10 3 3 2 out 8<BR>
*11 2 3 3 8<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
What these annotations represent is a form of alphabet cricket as popularised in the Eagle Annual number 5
<BR><BR>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNQCBiiWWM7OpYej1lJ43fZU-stwBbV7OO7sYMpK2RJcL8S32LEip8tgORoL4i0U28OZxptbnZ4ADn9FhczZRe-kGa9jRXdu16TON6werjRQa2mzP9cbqd-rFShzKf1GM3FicB8n1wjSlv/s1600/cricket+fireside_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNQCBiiWWM7OpYej1lJ43fZU-stwBbV7OO7sYMpK2RJcL8S32LEip8tgORoL4i0U28OZxptbnZ4ADn9FhczZRe-kGa9jRXdu16TON6werjRQa2mzP9cbqd-rFShzKf1GM3FicB8n1wjSlv/s320/cricket+fireside_1.jpg" /></a></div>
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Arc Insolublyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05698284399511062377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5240212107428969787.post-4351350132542683012014-05-02T10:42:00.002+01:002014-05-02T10:44:34.333+01:00With news that the new Bishop of Bath and Wells will live in the Palace, a comment from the episcopal doormat:
<BR><BR>
<BR>
<b>THE EPISCOPAL DOORMAT</b>
<BR><BR>
I hear that they know my threshold - the one where in future I’ll serve:
<BR>
The place of coming and going, of greetings and farewells.
<BR>
<BR>
‘Beautiful feet’ shall know my fibres taking the damp, the muck, the grit
<BR>
From their soles as they enter in to meet my Bishop, and his Lord -
<BR>
<BR>
Who washed the feet of His friends: the one’s He called to serve.
<BR>
To people, all coming and going, my greeting shall be in Wells.
<BR><BR>
My Bishop shall show his fibre: sharing the tears, the hopes, the fears
<BR>
Of the souls who enter in to meet with him, and his Lord.
<BR><BR>
I’m only a humble doormat: offering a practical welcome,
<BR>
A simple role of service that’s all that I can do.
<BR><BR>
I have no beauty or attraction, many will not notice me at all,
<BR>
Taking the damp, the muck, the grit of greetings and farewells.
<BR><BR>
And caressing the daily rhythm as my Bishop walks to prayer:
<BR>
Spending time with his Lord and with his servant friends.
<BR><BR>
<i>“The Lord defend his going out and his coming in, now and always”</i>
<BR>Arc Insolublyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05698284399511062377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5240212107428969787.post-5972827978938021042014-02-15T16:35:00.002+00:002014-02-15T16:35:56.493+00:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigyW1ssv98srD_a4TC-ZBT1QZClUtqDViZ1Esx7DFp8LTJyLvXpR_qMPZvANBRuA3sSLcUv0P2FJuwHZSvY7nU9KOkza7czlQ0GcVuV9_skp0NXCoSePs7HzdBVWhm7K-1s5LjHIF3y7Uh/s1600/bishops+move+not.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigyW1ssv98srD_a4TC-ZBT1QZClUtqDViZ1Esx7DFp8LTJyLvXpR_qMPZvANBRuA3sSLcUv0P2FJuwHZSvY7nU9KOkza7czlQ0GcVuV9_skp0NXCoSePs7HzdBVWhm7K-1s5LjHIF3y7Uh/s1600/bishops+move+not.jpg" /></a></div>
http://www.churchofengland.org/media-centre/news/2014/02/house-of-bishops-pastoral-guidance-on-same-sex-marriage.aspxArc Insolublyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05698284399511062377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5240212107428969787.post-887374413945354222013-11-30T15:08:00.000+00:002013-11-30T15:08:03.228+00:00Pilling...The publication of the Pilling Report signals the beginning of an important period of listening and conversation in and by the Church of England about relationships - a period during which there will need to be some seriously gracious listening and careful reflection. As with this comment, which is personal, we need to be careful in distinguishing between what we individually may feel or believe and what can in any sense be owned as common or shared belief.
I was particularly drawn by the remarks of the Bishop of Buckingham, Alan Wilson, on his blog <a href="http://bishopalan.blogspot.com/">http://bishopalan.blogspot.com/</a> where he writes: "I have been asked by various people, however, for some resources to inform, enrich and enlarge intelligent conversations on this subject. Such conversations carry their own risks. It can exacerbate the problem when straight twosomes talk, even well-meaningly, about gay people rather than with them. I also realise how weird it seems to the majority of people younger than me who have sorted this subject and moved on that we are still talking about it at all. They feel as though they had strayed into a Saudi discussion of whether women should be allowed to drive."Arc Insolublyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05698284399511062377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5240212107428969787.post-54596309022844887352012-11-23T15:51:00.002+00:002012-11-23T15:51:37.433+00:00Twitter conversation: Re #SynodTwitter conversation:
@O...D...
How many #Synod members does it take to change a lightbulb? - CHANGE???!
@A……..
What's a lightbulb?
@C….A…...
#synod might sit in dark & not change lightbulb
- debating type and size of candle acceptable for non lightbulb users
@O...D...
That may not be too far from the truth!Arc Insolublyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05698284399511062377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5240212107428969787.post-48977534147338990822012-11-23T15:50:00.003+00:002012-11-23T15:50:56.134+00:00AN OPEN LETTER TO OUR DIOCESAN BISHOP 21 November 2012 - In response to General SynodAN OPEN LETTER TO OUR DIOCESAN BISHOP
21 November 2012 - In response to General Synod
Dear Bishop Peter
A deep sadness… but also a very thin wearing of patience is where I stand at present following yesterday's vote.
The over riding will of the Church has been frustrated by the unrepresentative House of Laity. There will be women whose full gifts are not able to be delighted in by the church in a way they might have done - just when in South Africa a Woman Bishop is consecrated.
But above all I do feel the need to share the feeling that in the long long process of dialogue my patience and that of many others is wearing thin. We have walked a journey of goodwill and compromise with resolutions A, B and C available - we have attempted to compromise over Women Bishops. But still the minority stick out for an uncertain more.
Meanwhile small parishes with resolutions force benefices that would rejoice in a female incumbent not to have one - and I know that the patience of the real 'laos' (as distinct from the House of Laity) is very tried by that limitation.
In terms of the Mennonite ways of approaching conflict of which we spoke the other week it is as if we have been walking the route of taking the issue and the
relationship seriously - working the time consuming route of seeking the win-win solution only to find that for a significant enough few the path that they have been walking is all about the issue and they do not value the relationship as much.
Today it is not only women with gifts for ministry and leadership in the church who feel hurt but also all those of us who have tried to walk the extra mile with those with whom we disagree. We who now find that their actions and voting imply that they do not respect or value those with whom they disagree as much as we have valued and will continue to try to value them.
Our missional credibility, many of our ministers and our unity all suffer as a result of yesterday.
In this context the role of any Bishop is unenviable.
Be assured of our prayersArc Insolublyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05698284399511062377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5240212107428969787.post-21677202355638437082011-04-05T19:52:00.003+01:002011-04-05T19:56:06.102+01:00Creation<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJlNKgZXwLwyPLWes6Cxn8gqW4Y3m6gQj0lAwDu0exLI1fFjW88Pk5jo_4GXv1oaBWkgjKuJ7YQOSwwGvGQs8MSPmoxxvhpEz-qc-sp7ZhcbX-Xs5I5WHELnjXSPQoD7wwYGfLjZcqYnup/s1600/creation_christ.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 166px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJlNKgZXwLwyPLWes6Cxn8gqW4Y3m6gQj0lAwDu0exLI1fFjW88Pk5jo_4GXv1oaBWkgjKuJ7YQOSwwGvGQs8MSPmoxxvhpEz-qc-sp7ZhcbX-Xs5I5WHELnjXSPQoD7wwYGfLjZcqYnup/s320/creation_christ.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5592175185930743922" /></a><br />Today I attended an 'Early good Friday' at Wells led by Melvyn Matthews. During this he said that "The cross essentially focuses in one event what has been going on all of the time in Jesus life and, I would add, in the life of God. God pours himself out in sacrificial love from the beginning."<br />The image picks up on this and the hymn verse: <br />"Come, see His hands and His feet, The scars that speak of sacrifice;<br />Hands that flung stars into space, to cruel nails surrendered."Arc Insolublyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05698284399511062377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5240212107428969787.post-77795336362271308432011-03-30T10:13:00.001+01:002011-03-30T10:13:42.786+01:00Advent poem - written Nov 2009Sentinel stands …<br /><br /> Expectant father ...<br /> Hospice nurse …<br /><br />Awaiting … Awaiting …<br /> Life or death bearing moment<br /> That is yet to come<br /><br />Watching … Watching …<br /> Over family, ward or city<br /> <br /> Scanning farther horizons<br /><br />Seeing … Seeing …<br /> Beyond the parapets<br /> That limit others' vision<br /><br />Discerning … Discerning …<br /> The signs of hope or fear<br /> <br /> Untroubled, unshaken<br /> By familiar sounds and sights<br /><br />Guarding … Guarding …<br /> The Peace …<br /> Awaiting ShalomArc Insolublyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05698284399511062377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5240212107428969787.post-64166854680331540572011-03-30T10:05:00.000+01:002011-03-30T10:08:07.352+01:00Poem - The Clown<span style="font-weight:bold;">The Clown…</span><br /><br /> Furtive in the escape I make from all that has to be<br /><br /> Wanting to reassure, and seem at set at peace<br /><br /> I trust and share in the honesty of mirrored laughter<br /><br /> But the clown, the fool has in time to come off-stage<br /><br /> And as the weariness of life's journey is felt in one's feet<br /><br /> So their embrace in warming water softens the heart<br /><br /> And the clownish smile, the makeup and pretence<br /><br /> Are washed away, soothed and disturbed into tears<br /><br /> Then the gentle touch in drying affirms and values<br /><br /> Meets the tension and ticklishness of fears and doubts<br /><br /> And patiently brings them from death to life<br /><br /> So now the clown's tears are real and free<br /><br /> The act, the script, the audience, the stage<br /><br /> All are vanished away<br /><br /> And there is no more script to play the fool<br /><br /> Vulnerable, himself, the clown does not know who he is,<br /><br /> And all the cheers, the smiles, seem far away<br /><br /> Silent, restless, I feel the pain of compromise,<br /><br /> The death-dealing self-annihilation of performance<br /><br /> The anger of walking paths that others choose<br /><br /> The frustration in wanting freedom to improvise,<br /><br /> The hypocrisy of living ill at ease with gut-feeling,<br /><br /> And knowing that death seems easier than change.<br /><br /> And in the pain, the anguish that churns the soul<br /><br /> Death to one's self, life to the script, seems the answer<br /><br /> Till gentle, caring lips that have met with feeling<br /><br /> Speak in tender poetic words and touch deep<br /><br /> Deeper than the most passionate embrace<br /><br /> Until the clown knows that he must be himself<br /><br /> Lay aside the make-up, costume and ruddy nose<br /><br /> And cry no more painted tears, but only my own.Arc Insolublyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05698284399511062377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5240212107428969787.post-57673261382442289072011-03-30T10:03:00.000+01:002011-03-30T10:04:07.834+01:00Poem - You are the prisoner of yourselfYou are the prisoner of yourself,<br /><br /> You hold the key<br /><br /> and you want to throw it away<br /><br /> To remain secure in your hell<br /><br /> Tried, convicted and sentenced<br /><br /> By yourself as prosecution,<br /><br /> Judge and jury<br /><br /> But because you hold the key<br /><br /> We on the other side<br /><br /> Of your prison walls<br /><br /> Who forgive and love you<br /><br /> Feel prisoners too<br /><br /> We long to see you free<br /><br /> Not of memory by denial<br /><br /> But free to be wise<br /><br /> As only we who have failed can be<br /><br /> Free to risk the tears<br /><br /> Of pain and grief and anger<br /><br /> At all that has been<br /><br /> Could have been<br /><br /> And was not<br /><br /> Free to risk the joy<br /><br /> Of all that can be<br /><br /> Free to laugh with your eyes<br /><br /> To show the raw emotion that tells<br /><br /> of how you have faced the edge of life<br /><br /> - hopelessness, fear, rage and death -<br /><br /> and to show that love which rages still<br /><br /> that won't give up<br /><br /> Dare then to lay hold of the key<br /><br /> dare to open wide the prison door<br /><br /> Dare to accept yourself<br /><br /> As we accept you.Arc Insolublyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05698284399511062377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5240212107428969787.post-75125293718855088072011-03-30T10:01:00.001+01:002011-03-30T10:01:32.878+01:00Poem - Winter<span style="font-weight:bold;">Winter</span><br /><br /> Like a garden<br /><br /> Cleared of a seasons glory of growth now past<br /><br /> Dug over deep and opened to the harshness<br /><br /> Of penetrating frost and icy cold<br /><br /> Bearing no fruit and dying in the hope of spring<br /><br /> Winters waiting and wounding time is nowArc Insolublyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05698284399511062377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5240212107428969787.post-90736585627966970582011-03-30T09:57:00.000+01:002011-03-30T09:58:17.347+01:00Rudolf - Latin lyricsRudolf<br /><br />Rubriconasus reno<br />Nasum habuit rubrum,<br />Siquandoque videres<br />Diceres et igneum.<br /><br />Et ceteri renones<br />Hilares irridebant;<br />Rubriconasum ludos<br />Ludere suos vetant.<br />(Sed) Christi nataliciis<br />Santa “Nebulis”<br />Inquit “naso ludico,<br />Duc mi traham, obsecro”.<br /><br />Tum ceteri renones<br />Cacchinnant hilariter<br />“Rubriconase Reno,<br />Celebraberis semper”.<br /><br />Lyrics sourced by a student teacher at my secondary school ca 1970Arc Insolublyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05698284399511062377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5240212107428969787.post-31649327276768816752011-03-30T09:56:00.000+01:002011-03-30T09:57:18.616+01:00Bill Bailey - Latin lyricsBill Bailey<br /><br />Veni domum Bill Bailey,<br />Veni domum,<br />Diutius abes.<br />Lances lavabo ipsa,<br />Mercedulam<br />Dabo, iniusta sum.<br />Ubi nocte pluebat,<br />Te expuli<br />Cum pectine solum.<br />Nocens fui,<br />Vae mihi,<br />Bill Bailey veni iam domum<br /><br />Lyrics sourced by a student teacher at my secondary school ca 1970Arc Insolublyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05698284399511062377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5240212107428969787.post-83309442508351177732011-03-30T09:55:00.000+01:002011-03-30T09:56:09.404+01:00Roll over Beethoven - Latin lyricsRoll over Beethoven<br /><br />Epistulam scripturus tum missurus sum ad poetam;<br />Nam cupio moventem cantare cantiunculam;<br />Revolve Beethoven,<br />Iamdudum eam audiam.<br /><br />Fervescit mihi sanguen at confracta mihi cithara;<br />Cor rapide pulsatur, canit anima caerulea;<br />Revolve Beethoven,<br />Accipe nova carmina.<br /><br />Oriente sole, moneo, mihi calcare<br />Soleas caeruleas noli;<br />Tatarantara, modulaber cithara,<br />Nil necessarium mi;<br />Revolve Beethoven,<br />Certiorem fac Tchaikovsky.<br /><br />Lyrics sourced by a student teacher at my secondary school ca 1970Arc Insolublyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05698284399511062377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5240212107428969787.post-64332294114805202262011-03-30T09:53:00.000+01:002011-03-30T09:55:05.726+01:00Till there was you - Latin lyricsTill there was you<br /><br />Tinnitus in colle<br />Erant, nec sonare novi,<br />Ita, nequaquam novi dum<br />Venisti tu.<br /><br />Et stellae in caelo<br />Erant, nec micare vidi,<br />Ita, nequaquam vidi dum<br />Venisti tu.<br /><br />Et erant cantus, rosaeque pulchrae,<br />Mi dicunt<br />Et dulcia mane prata rore.<br /><br />Aves in foliis<br />Erant, nec cantare novi,<br />Ita, nequaquam novi dum<br />Venisti tu.<br /><br />Et erant cantus, rosaeque pulchrae,<br />Mi dicunt<br />Et dulcia mane prata rore.<br /><br />Et amor ubique<br />Erat nec cantare novi,<br />Ita, nequaquam novi dum<br />Venisti tu.<br /><br />Lyrics sourced by a student teacher at my secondary school ca 1970Arc Insolublyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05698284399511062377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5240212107428969787.post-56619416455524656842011-03-30T09:52:00.000+01:002011-03-30T09:53:34.478+01:00From me to you - Latin lyricsFrom me to you<br /><br />Si quid habeo quod cupis,<br />Si quid opus auxilii,<br />Vocanti mi tibi id mittem<br />Amore a me tibi.<br /><br />Cuncta habeo quae cupis;<br />Fidelissimum cor mihi;<br />Vocanti mi tibi id mittam,<br />Amore a me tibi.<br /><br />Bracchia volunt tenere<br />Te ne tu abeas,<br />Et labra basiare,<br />Dum satis habeas.<br /><br />Si quid habeo quod cupis,<br />Si quid opus auxilii,<br />Vocanti mi tibi id mittem<br />Amore a me tibi.<br /><br />Lyrics sourced by a student teacher at my secondary school ca 1970Arc Insolublyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05698284399511062377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5240212107428969787.post-75506399309525871452011-03-30T09:51:00.000+01:002011-03-30T09:52:29.551+01:00Can't buy me love - Latin lyricsCan’t buy me love<br /><br />Gemmas emam, amica,<br />Si tibi placebit;<br />Debo quodvis amica,<br />Si tibi placebit;<br />Non amo nimis pecuniam -<br />Non dat amorem.<br /><br />Quidquid est dabo si te<br />Dices favere mi;<br />Non sunt multa mi quae dem,<br />Sed quod est dabo tibi;<br />Non amo nimis pecuniam - <br />Non dat amorem.<br /><br />Non dat amorem,<br />Semper audio;<br />Non dat amorem,<br />Nullo modo.<br /><br />Gemmas velle te nega,<br />Et mihi placebit;<br />Dic te velle talia<br />Quae nummi non parent;<br />Non amo nimis pecuniam - <br />Non dat amorem.<br /><br />Lyrics sourced by a student teacher at my secondary school ca 1970Arc Insolublyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05698284399511062377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5240212107428969787.post-1255740033780584872011-03-30T09:49:00.001+01:002011-03-30T09:51:03.915+01:00All my loving - Latin lyricsAll my loving<br /><br />Claude oculos, te basiabo,<br />Cras desiderabo,<br />Et semper fidelis ero,<br />Et tum dum redeam<br />Domum saepe scribam,<br />Et totum amorem dabo.<br /><br />Oscula simulabo,<br />Quae desiderabo,<br />Spem fore bonam sperabo,<br />Et tum dum redeam<br />Domum saepe scribam,<br />Et totum amorem dabo.<br /><br />Ita totum amorem dabo,<br />Tibi totum, numquam cessabo.<br /><br />Lyrics sourced by a student teacher at my secondary school ca 1970Arc Insolublyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05698284399511062377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5240212107428969787.post-65109072359008594432011-03-30T09:26:00.000+01:002011-03-30T09:27:09.859+01:00Poem on Baptism<span style="font-weight:bold;">Baptism</span><br /> <br /> The gentleness with which I wash them,<br /> Welcoming each in the name of threefold God<br /> To life, that they may have it in abundance;<br /> How that gentle trickle, token gesture,<br /> Betrays the depth, the power, of waters flow.<br /><br /> Still tepid fontfuls, tap or kettle fresh,<br /> Speak little of the awesome mysteries - of life<br /> and death - within each glistening drop<br /> That falls from freshfaced forehead as names<br /> are given and life launched upon.<br /><br /> Praying God to bless that vessel and all who sail in her,<br /> they let the mighty frame created of man slide,<br /> accelerate and rush anchor chain clattering <br /> towards waters edge..<br /> And floating now free from lands firm hold<br /> ...the venture of life begins.<br /><br /> Not the youthful bubbling of mountain fresh spring,<br /> nor its trickle 'cross welly-trodden bog of peat;<br /><br /> Not the village brook whose fords and delicate bridges<br /> respect even such shallow flow,<br /> nor the great meanders of angler-populated riverbank;<br /><br /> But on beyond the weirs where tidal mud and sandbanks<br /> witness ocean's mighty surge and fall,<br /> where even from the salt rich air,<br /> men’s bones may sense the hours of ebb and flow.<br /><br /> There in the life teeming, shorecrashing,<br /> whitehorseridden, grey thundering roar of open sea,<br /> Lies the majesty of life.<br /><br /> Hidden beneath the waves in richness beyond<br /> imagination from man who looking the other way<br /> reaches beyond stars to find life<br /> that was already so close at hand.<br /><br /><br /> And that inner space whose depths outreach eyes scan,<br /> as it is pulled about by moon, sun, planets, stars;<br /><br /> As it in each movement and flow witnesses <br /> to the shape and being of all that is;<br /><br /> That inner space gives life as its vapours soften the air.<br /> Gives life that it may also receive...<br /> Not only of mans waste to decay and pollute,<br /> but of man also who ventures to cross those buoyant,<br /> perilous depths in peace, at work, at war.<br /><br /> Giggling bathers fill summer pools and beaches,<br /> but wise salt cracked faces whose eyes have seen<br /> the mountainous swell and whose legs feel uneasy<br /> on the firm land respect the blue smile of summer seas<br /> They know also the grey cruel ashen face of storm thrashed sea<br /> offering final embrace to their lives.<br /><br /> And shall we see in that gentle washing,<br /> child cradled in my arm, <br /> the embrace of the sea, of death,<br /> that calls to us all ?<br /><br /> And shall we discern in those token droplets<br /> the rich abundance of life, the whole universe<br /> speaking through each glistening fall and splash ?<br /><br /> Droplets that make their splash and cease to be<br /> yet remain, lost, forever in puddle in flood.<br /><br /> And shall we be as those who go down to sea in ships;<br /> Learning from the wave and storm as from the calm,<br /> that bone-marrow piercing regard, <br /> fear and love of waters clasp ?<br /><br /> This alone I can tell;<br /><br /> That I have felt oceans mighty roar,<br /> and child's baptismal wash,<br /> United as one in tears that flowed,<br /> of anger, bitterness, exhaustion, fear,<br /> and of gentlest love ... even to death.Arc Insolublyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05698284399511062377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5240212107428969787.post-3190768170776937892011-03-30T09:23:00.001+01:002011-03-30T09:23:50.582+01:00Poem written Nov 2008<span style="font-weight:bold;">Parent and Child estranged</span><br /><br /><br />Keeping busy…<br /> ..numbs the pain of remembering<br /><br />Silence…<br /> ...is a voyage through inner and outer darkness<br /><br />Waiting…<br /> …to hear some still small calming voice<br /><br />Enduring…<br /> ...hopes that crucify yet will not die<br /><br />Neither laughter nor tears…<br /> ...belong in this place<br /><br />Waiting…<br /> ...for the time and place you may choose<br /><br />The beautiful moment…<br /> ...when we might meet againArc Insolublyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05698284399511062377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5240212107428969787.post-33347812419929228132011-03-30T09:04:00.000+01:002011-03-30T09:06:49.877+01:00Ken300 HymnAs part of the 300th anniversary of the death of Thomas Ken, Bishop of Bath & Wells from 1684 to 1691, I've written a hymn commemorating his life.<br /><br />The hymn was first sung in public at St John the Baptist in Frome, the parish church where Thomas Ken was buried, at a service led by Bishop Peter Price on 20th March 2011. <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">KEN 300 Hymn</span><br />Metre: 88.88 (LM) Tune: Winchester New<br /><br />We sing with thanks for Thomas Ken,<br />His legacy of life and pen;<br />Who showed no false respect for Kings<br />But cherished only heavenly things;<br /><br />Who made his converse most sincere<br />And sought all conscience to keep clear;<br />Who with the world, himself and Thee<br />When e'er he slept at peace would be.<br /><br />His heart of love could not be bound:<br />The prisoner Jeffreys guilty found,<br />The poor he welcomed home to dine,<br />Were equally a child of thine.<br /><br />Through College days, a man of prayers,<br />But then within the world's affairs<br />In sad Tangiers, and at The Hague,<br />He knows their morals far too vague.<br /><br />The truth, however hard, he tells<br />And when deprived of Bath and Wells,<br />His palace and cathedral seat,<br />Found welcome solace at Longleat.<br /><br />He wrote and lived to give thee praise:<br />His hymns begin and end our days.<br />Our thanks for Ken to thee we bring<br />And so with him thy praise we sing:<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow;<br />Praise Him, all creatures here below;<br />Praise Him above, ye Heavenly Host;<br />Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.</span><br /><br />© Colin Alsbury 2011Arc Insolublyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05698284399511062377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5240212107428969787.post-40297081837791601022010-06-01T20:17:00.000+01:002010-06-01T20:20:38.524+01:00Haaretz & Gaza ConvoyPleasing to see a writer in Haaretz making an interesting connection -<br />Between the Gaza Convoy and the story of the Exodus [not Moses!]:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/analysis-israel-has-forgotten-the-lessons-of-the-exodus-1.293391" target="_blank">http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/analysis-israel-has-forgotten-the-lessons-of-the-exodus-1.293391</A>Arc Insolublyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05698284399511062377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5240212107428969787.post-65938155650576875082010-06-01T19:42:00.001+01:002010-06-01T19:44:58.491+01:00Welcome!<span style="font-family: verdana;">OK, so the name is just an anagram...<br /><br />But an 'Arc' is a connection - sometimes shocking!<br /><br />And life is sometimes 'Insolubly' complex...<br /><br />So it seemed a good title for a space in which to share a few thoughts about connections in the world and to contemplate the insoluble from time to time..<br /><br /><br /><br /></span>Arc Insolublyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05698284399511062377noreply@blogger.com0