Simon Says ...

Last night we went to see The Magician's Nephew , performed by some very talented young people. The whole thing was a delight, from the silent movie at the beginning to the radio controlled hamster. The leads were excellent (including one whose hair I could envy!). But the whole cast were superb - during the interval they moved among the audience and stayed in character for the whole time. No mean feat! I particularly enjoyed the scene that they had improvised to facilitate set changes, which had some of the best comedy of the whole night. All this and a thoroughly enjoyable story, well told and well acted. On last night's showing you wouldn't think it was one of CS Lewis' weaker tales! If you're in the Bristol area, there are still a few tickets left for Sunday night. A must see. As Aslan said, "Laugh and fear not"!

The Vestry, who look after SMR's investments, meet on the Tuesday after Easter. Normally, the Vestry meetings are like any other committee meeting. But the Easter Vestry is different - much more funny. I'm probably breaking the official secrets act (or SMR's equivalent) by blogging about this, but what the heck ... We all went up to a special room in the rafters of the church, only ever used for the Vestry at their Easter meeting. The Vestrymen, some of whom are women, sit in strict order of seniority. Vestrymen who have been churchwardens are Senior Vestrymen, and consequently out-rank those who have not been churchwarden. I was done up in a certain amount of finery - cassock, gown and hood (which didn't match, not that anyone noticed!). At a small table to one end of the room sits the current churchwarden, with the vicar (or priest in charge) on her left and the Vestry Clerk on her right. The churchwarden then turns over an hour glass and the Vestry Clerk reads...

There has been a lot of media excitement about the ' Gospel of Judas ' that was discovered about thirty years ago, but which has only just been translated into English and published. You can find details from National Geographic and from the BBC . Steve Tomkins has also written a very sensible article about it. The text of the Gospel of Judas can also be downloaded as a pdf file. Judas is a Gnostic gospel, that is it originated at the hand of Christians who believed in gnosis , knowledge. Gnosticism is not one group, but a whole series with some common themes. First they believed that matter is evil, some going so far as to suggest that the world was created by a lesser or even an evil deity. The true God saves us from the world of matter. Second, they believed that the teaching of the saviour (Jesus for Christian gnostics) consists in secrets told to an elite. The Gospel of Judas has both these two themes - Jesus tells Judas that 'it is impossible to sow seed on...

It is reputed that Queen Elizabeth I once described SMR as "the fairest, goodliest and most famous parish church in England." It has adorned the church's literature ever since. That is until today when we had a group of about 60 young people in church to sing a Roger Jones musical, Jerusalem Joy . Around rehearsal and performance, they explored the church. Some wrote in the book we keep open for people to write prayers in. In the book is the new strapline which I think we should add to all the church's publicity from here on in: "It is a spectacular church and good for sining in". Money can't buy advertising like that!!!

One of the new things I have to get used to here is being verged (or should that be virged?). SMR has vergers, who do very good things looking after the church, preparing for services and many other things besides. During the services, they carry sticks (called wands, I think) and lead the processions. Basically this means that the right people get to the fight places. I'm getting used to the etiquette that goes with this, and I think I'm doing alright. But on a Sunday morning I am verged, with all due ceremony and reverence, from my stall to the pulpit, a grand total of ten paces (if that). Perhaps they're worried I'll get lost. And then once I've finished preaching I'm left to find my own way back. Note to self - don't get so caught up in preaching that you forget from whence you came!