Goodhand in Banbury

This year's Christmas present to our two eldest grandchildren was to take them to see Mama Mia at the Novello Theatre London.  By chance after Christmas, while at church, I was explaining to one of our members over coffee after the service, what we were up to in the next few days.  "Oh when we are back down in London we are off to see Mama Mia with the grandchildren" Well the response surprised me.  "My grandson is one of the performers I bet he will be willing to take them back stage."  By the end of the day she had spoken to her daughter, who in turn spoke to her son Luke, who then texted us to arrange the event.  So Saturday came round. At 1.10 with two excited grandchildren we were at the stage door being let in. Well Luke plays one of the key roles, that of Sam Carmichael (played by Pierce Brosnan in the film). Luke was an overwhelmingly better singer! What a super individual Luke proved to be. He was great with our six and eight year olds. Taken first to h...

An Iona Associate friend asked have you had opportunity to watch and listen to the conversation between the leader of the Iona Community Ruth Harvey and Brian McLaren.  So having a bit of time to hand, I typed into YouTube 'Iona Community and Brian McLaren' (well worth a watch), and now I find myself reading his book  'Life after Doom".  So one thing certainly leads to another. It's not an easy read. By that I mean while his style, as always is accessible, the subject matter gives rise to a variety of very uncomfortable emotions. He paints four possible scenarios as to our future, and to be frank none of them are great.  He is facing up to the greatest threat to human civilisation, namely climate change. This has been brought on by  our consumption of the planet which is unsustainable,  the destruction of the eco systems on which we depend as we continue to pollute our way into the future,  the reality of consumerism on which capitalism depends  ...