Following the last blog about the European Championships, it took a matter of minutes for a commentator to mention a Premier League Club and a few seconds more to mention England.

It’s only a matter of time before England win the competition…..

Best return shot was heard on Five Live today. Michael Stich was asked to comment on a Germand girl who had just lost to Brit, and he said that he ‘didn’t mind the odd defeat at Wimbledon as long as Germany kept winning…. oh, and were England playing ? No, oh dear…..’

Nice one Michael ! 

It is becoming increasingly the case that wedding bookings evaporate into the void. Couples make a booking and then disappear to some exotic location on a package deal without letter clergy know, or, for that matter, photographers and other people whose livelihoods are connected with their big day.

Is it just me, or are people becoming less considerate ? Or is it down to selfishness ?

Non returnable deposits whittle down the number of matrimonial absconders, but not all of them. I wonder if they ever realise the turmoil they leave behind ?

And before anyone says so, I am well aware that relationships change and some break up. It doesn’t excuse the lack of a phone call or two…..

This refers to an annual golf (the course) match (handicapped) between the Church of Scotland and the Church of England (the ecumenical dimension).

Played at North Hants Golf Club near Fleet, this encounter was a tough tussle where rivalry was keen and competition close. As in any fixture between Scotland and England both sides were determined to win, and after the morning foursomes England led 4-2. The afternoon singles went Scotland’s way 9-3 giving a result of 11-7 to Scotland.

My two games both ended as victories by 1 hole and I have to say a word about my opponent Rev. Tom Honey. A singles match that was closely fought, but always in good grace, following the spirit of the game that allowed us to laugh together as we competed. Thanks for the game, Tom, and I look forward to a rematch in Scotland next year.

My opponents in the morning foursomes game were not the kind who lie down and accept defeat. They fought well and kept us going right to the end. Thanks to Hugh Wickner and Paul Nash for a great match. I look forward to meeting you again next year.

Following my brief last posting, I didn’t have to wait long before the good old English media got stuck in.

The number of times I have heard the question asked about which of the players on view would make it into the England team is becoming embarrassing. England are not there people ! Deal with it ! It is almost acceptable to hear English teams mentioned as having bought the players on show and the ‘wonderful’ deals they have made, but really….

As for the actual football…. you need to be right up to date with offside definitions and interpretations, and most of the early games were something of chess matches, but there, thankfully, have been a few crackers like Holland/Italy, Spain/Russia, and Portugal/Czech Republic. As for the Switzerland Turkey swimming gala….

And when will referees finally clamp down on the blatant diving and shirt pulling ? A few more red cards would sort that out.

Rant over, but I suspect there will be more anon.

Just a passing thought/fear…. How long will it be for the UK pundits to mention the fact that England would have easily beaten which ever team they are talking about, blissfully ignoring their failure to get there ?

I know Scotland aren’t there, but they were expected to even get close from their group ! Unlike …

It’s over once again and all the predictable voting happened. UK got votes from San Marino and the Republic of Ireland !! If it ever was truly a song contest, it sure ain’t now !

Time for the UK to pull out of this ridiculous waste of space !

The Scotsman newspaper quoted an unnamed source stating that this year’s Assembly was ‘dull’.

I don’t recognise that at all. I’ll preach diligence on June 1st in my church with some more considered comments, but I have to say that there were some seismic shifts in thinking this year. The church finally lifted its head from the sand on issues like the bullying of ministers, the way the church looks at finance, the difference between maintenance and mission, to name just three.

Of course, for the press, this isn’t newsy. They want the controversy. They want the church to implode (or explode), they don’t care which, and they quite happily push the secular agenda of falling numbers and supposed irrelevance at the church.

Given that this Assembly has been outspoken on Burma, Zimbabwe and Iran as well as the internal matters mentioned already, along with support for the forces chaplains, one of whose stories had many members in tears, there were also tears shed over CEOP (child protection) after a  short DVD was shown about the abuse some kids suffer.

No, this wasn’t a dull Assembly, and I haven’t even mentioned the worship, which was superb (my comments on the Sunday notwithstanding).

The closing of the Assembly saw a typically thoughtful and challenging address by the Moderator, challenging the church to get its act together for the children, and it was followed by the best Lord High Commissioner speech I have ever heard given at the Assembly. I hope the Church of Scotland Website has an audio/or visual version available. It’s worth considering.

Time is now needed to reflect on the week and to rally the troops in due course. I hope I can find the words to do that (with God’s help).

Two services today. One in St. Giles, the other in the Assembly rooms. Chalk and cheese.

St.Giles had all its pomp and ceremony, a lot of choral singing and loud organ music. All very professional and of a great standard, but strangely uninvolving. Rather like a concert with some community singing. It was good but uninspiring.

The evning, on the other hand, was led by musicians who were good (but not as good as St Giles) and there were songs led by John Bell. Now, I am not a fan of Iona, but have come to appreciate their contribution to liturgy and worship. Tonight, with Zimbabwe, Malawi and the Middle East sharply in focus, they were in their element. Talks by the Malawian and Palestinian commissioners, coupled with reminders of the 40th Anniversary of the ordination of women, it proved to be a moving evening.

It would be good to get hold of the transcripts of the two sermons given by David Lunan. One quite safe in St. Giles, the other more challenging and daring in the halls.

Monday sees the debates I mentioned in the last blog and also the communion service, something the General Assembly is very good at.

Saturday saw some very inspiring things at the Assembly.

We had a visit from the PM. If only the rest of the country could have seen his passion and his genuine faith ! I am NOT a Labour voter, but warmed to the sincerity of the man, as, I think, the Assembly did too.

Second, was the active involvement of the children’s ambassadors. These were primary kids (P6/7) who had held their assembly and were bringing their questions (which were very blunt, honest and challenging) to the relevant council of the church. They also led us in prayer and song, and the last part led to a tear in the eye !!

Both different and both uplifting.

Tomorrow sees the service in St. Giles, which tends to be formal and rather stilted. Still worth being at, though.

Monday sees what could be quite a significant report or two. One deals with one of the ‘Articles Declaratory’, the defining statements about who and what the church is and stands for, with the third one being called into question. It refers to national ministry and the Church of Scotland’s self declared ministry to all parts of the country. Given nearly 200 vacancies, and the likelihood that this will double in the next few years, such a statement is untenable. Also, the nature of a ministerial placement, ‘tenure’, will be debated. Most ministers have unrestricted tenure, which means they can stay put until they retire or do something dreadful (or go insane). There is a suggestion that all ministers should head towards contracts and be answerable to Presbytery (as they currently are) or to the Ministries Council (aka the Kremlin = 121 George Street). It is likely to be a fiery debate with passions aroused. Some may see this as a kind of self preservation, others will see it as a defence of the right to congregations to call a minister (which will be affected) and the right of a minister to have security in their vocation.

Something else… there is mention of a code of practice for ministry. Lots of suggestions for ministers… but what of those people who take delight in believing themselves to be the minister’s conscience/thorn in the side/pain the the neck/enemy ?? Would that we could sometimes get away with the Vicar of Dibley’s asides in reality.

More anon.

Today (Friday) had a couple of challenging and moving moments at the General Assembly.

Some one from CEOP (to do with safeguarding and the internet) showed a video that had been taken into schools showing the hazards of the internet. It was quite graphic, and the Assembly was stunned into silence.

The second was regarding a deliverance to do with Zimbabwe. Two letters were read from Zimbabwean ministers who told of beatings and of services being decimated because of the requirement to attend political rallies. One commissioner asked for prayers to be said, and they were. The only (minor) blot was that the Moderator didn’t do it immediately as others have done. I may be being too picky.

Still…. tomorrow we reach the dizzy heights of the PM and the FM. Gordon and Alec are supposed to be there….only one is being asked to speak (I think) and it ain’t the FM ! I suspect some sparks may fly.

Hopefully they may start this after the children’s commissioners leave having given their report.