Ecumenism as she is spoke.

I was leafing through my parents' Life and Work (the magazine of the Church of Scotland - a bit like the Church Times, but a glossy monthly), and - in between an enjoyably snark correspondence about Latin grammar, I noticed an ad for guided retreats for clergy (and indeed for laity) conducted by Jesuits on Iona.

It's tempting to wring one's hands about the state of ecumenism - I was feeling depressed about it myself. after reading correspondence in the Church Times about ARCIC and the ordination of women - but for all the scandalous divisions afflicting us and the small likelihood of reunion this millenium, it's worth remembering things have changed.  It's not so long, really, since it would never have occurred to any of the SJ to place an ad there.  And it's also, in the grand scheme of things, striking that they think there's a market for guided retreats in the Kirk...

As I mentioned, at the moment I am learning NT Greek, having been told to get cracking on it before arriving at college.  For various reasons I'd been putting this off, so I am still at the stage of very simple sentences.  Most of the examples and exercises in the textbook (Duff's Elements of New Testament Greek) are - not unreasonably - drawn from the Bible, which means that you get a lot of useful Scriptural vocabulary.  It also gives them a rather pious flavour - the crowds see the angels, the brothers untie the slaves (for some reason the first verb you learn is "to untie"), the Lord Christ frees people, etc.

However, one sentence that came up recently was "They are throwing bread."

Shades of Bertie Wooster and the Drones Club!

I must admit it makes a pleasant change from wall-to-wall stained glass.

Welcome!

I would write something more substantial - but at the moment I'm learning Greek, and finding it rather heavy going.  (Despite the subtitle, I haven't actually got to theological college yet; I go in Septemebr and am just doing the pre-reading).

I'm also reflecting on the Church of Scotland ordination and induction service I attended at the weekend.  The Kirk's take on ministry is naturally a bit different to Anglican ideas about the priesthood - but it was a moving event.  The minister was charged to love the people of his parish and be faithful, which is certainly something every priest has to take to heart...

But while that's the most central - and at times most difficult, I'd imagine - aspect of ministry, I think it's also reassuring to be reminded that human measures of 'success' are not always appropriate.  Indeed, they can be a snare and a delusion: what God requires is first and foremost that we make ourselves open to him, and open to others.  And he can work with the tiniest opening; the danger is that we get so caught up in managing ourselves and others, and striving for whatever our image of perfection is, that we close ourselves off.

Which is, perhaps, why Julian was right to say "sin is necessary, but all shall be well"... but that's a story for another day.