{"id":2286,"date":"2023-12-26T15:07:00","date_gmt":"2023-12-26T15:07:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/occamstypewriter.org\/erikacule\/?p=2286"},"modified":"2025-01-30T07:46:44","modified_gmt":"2025-01-30T07:46:44","slug":"surprises-notes-from-my-first-year-as-a-practicing-christian","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/occamstypewriter.org\/erikacule\/2023\/12\/26\/surprises-notes-from-my-first-year-as-a-practicing-christian\/","title":{"rendered":"Surprises: Notes from my first year as a practicing Christian"},"content":{"rendered":"<ol>\n<li style=\"margin-bottom: 10px\">Christmas 2022, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.christchurchharpenden.org.uk\/\">Christ Church<\/a>, Harpenden: a riot of 200 people in a school hall.<\/li>\n<li style=\"margin-bottom: 10px\">An invitation to join <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Cell_group\">home group<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li style=\"margin-bottom: 10px\">Joining the Teas and Coffees Rota. Learning the drill, and the importance of the ministry of hospitality.\n<p><div style=\"width: 410px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/cartoonchurch.com\/content\/cc\/tea-rota\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-thumbnail\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/53419541671_174eeb16c0_w.jpg\" alt=\"The Tea Rota Dave Walker\" width=\"400\" height=\"322\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Tea Rota \u00a9 Dave Walker<\/p><\/div><\/li>\n<li style=\"margin-bottom: 10px\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Contemporary_Christian_music\">Contemporary Christian Music<\/a>. Commercially obvious melodies, catchy drum beats, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/ReformedHumor\/comments\/u1mkvz\/this_is_a_joke_about_contemporary_christian_music\/\">repetitive choruses<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thebereantest.com\/about-the-berean-test\">frequently dubious theology<\/a>. I love pop music so this was a natural intersection. <a href=\"https:\/\/terryscotttaylor.bandcamp.com\/\">Terry Scott Taylor<\/a> hits harder than most. He gets the video with his supergroup <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thelostdogs.com\/\">The Lost Dogs<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"The Lost Dogs - That&#039;s Where Jesus Is\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/_aiH5EGZ6I4?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><em>\u2026He wants our faith,<br \/>\nBut that&#8217;s never enough;<br \/>\nHe wants our hearts,<br \/>\nThat&#8217;s how He Lo-o-oves\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"margin-bottom: 10px\">\n<p>My phobia of cut flowers got cured.<\/li>\n<div style=\"width: 360px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-thumbnail\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/53422067474_4cf98b8d03_w.jpg\" alt=\"Flowers a gift from my lockdown neighbour.\" width=\"350\" height=\"242.375\" \/><p class=\"wp-caption-text\">A gift from my neighbour in Lockdown<\/p><\/div>\n<li style=\"margin-bottom: 10px\">Easter<\/li>\n<li style=\"margin-bottom: 10px\"><a href=\"https:\/\/bb.ringingworld.co.uk\/view.php?id=1618211\">Ringing<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/bb.ringingworld.co.uk\/view.php?id=1623961\"> for the<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/ringingteachers.org\/get-involved\/ring-for-the-king\"> King<\/a>.<\/li>\n<div style=\"width: 330px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/bb.ringingworld.co.uk\/view.php?id=1618211\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-thumbnail\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/53420842202_5782e55f67_n.jpg\" alt=\"Holloway Ringers and Friends\" width=\"320\" height=\"240\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\">Holloway ringers and friends ring for the Coronation, 6 May 2023. Photo: Claire Lorenc<\/p><\/div>\n<li style=\"margin-bottom: 10px\">The Feast of <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Feast_of_Corpus_Christi\">Corpus Christi<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/asms.uk\/about\/news\/corpus-christi-2\/\">All Saints Margaret Street<\/a>. Processing the Blessed Sacrament round Oxford Circus.<\/li>\n<li style=\"margin-bottom: 10px\">Spending my Saturday afternoon Googling \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/christianity.stackexchange.com\/questions\/9580\/why-was-peter-fishing-naked-john-217\">Why was Simon Peter fishing naked?<\/a>\u201d I was reading from scripture that weekend (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=John+21%3A1-14&amp;version=NRSVA\">John 21:1-14, NRSV<\/a>). Why did he put his clothes <em>on<\/em> to swim to the shore?<\/li>\n<li style=\"margin-bottom: 10px\">\n<p><strong>Surprising conversations with the Vicar<\/strong> Part I:<\/p>\n<p>Erika: Tell me you really need bellringers for the Ordinations. (<em>The Ordination of Priests in Stepney and Two Cities was taking place at St Mary\u2019s, a sell-out event. I wanted to be there. &#8211; EC<\/em>.)<\/p>\n<p>Vicar: You know, actually we do need bellringers for the Ordinations.<\/p>\n<p><div style=\"width: 650px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/53422115154_1076cfd1d0_o.jpg\" width=\"640\" height=\"234\" alt=\"Ordinations 2023\" class=\"size-thumbnail\" \/><p class=\"wp-caption-text\">Ordinations 2023<\/p><\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"margin-bottom: 10px\">I now have the same <a href=\"http:\/\/www.tuskhair.co.uk\/index.php\">hairdresser<\/a> as <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Rosemary_Lain-Priestley\">Rosemary Lain-Priestly<\/a>. It is a <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/erikacule\/status\/1637147765976317954?s=20\">funny story<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li style=\"margin-bottom: 10px\">\n<p><strong>Surprising conversations with the Vicar<\/strong> Part II:<\/p>\n<p>Erika: Why does Paul talk about the gift of exhortion? Doesn\u2019t that mean beating someone up and taking all of their money? (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=Romans+12%3A8&amp;version=NRSVA\">Romans 12:8, NRSV<\/a>).<\/p>\n<p>Vicar, patiently: No, Erika. That\u2019s extortion.<\/li>\n<li style=\"margin-bottom: 10px\"><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/What%27s_So_Amazing_About_Grace%3F\">Grace<\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"margin-bottom: 10px\">\n<p><strong>Surprising conversations with the Vicar<\/strong> Part III:<\/p>\n<p>Vicar: What did you make of today\u2019s Bible Readings? (The Gospel Reading was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=Matthew+14%3A1-12&amp;version=NRSVA\">Matthew 14:1-12, NRSV<\/a>, \u201cBring me the head of John the Baptist\u201d)<\/p>\n<p>Erika: Well, it makes me sad, because I like the <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Benedictus_(canticle)\">Benedictus<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Vicar: Oh, you like the Benedictus?<\/p>\n<p>Erika: Yeah\u2026<\/li>\n<li style=\"margin-bottom: 10px\"> Helping to run the Study Group. We taught <a href=\"https:\/\/unanswered.prayercourse.org\/\">The Prayer Course 2: Unanswered Prayer<\/a>. Incidentally <a href=\"https:\/\/www.24-7prayer.com\/team\/pete-greig\/\">Pete Greig<\/a> runs a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.emmausrd.com\/\">church<\/a> in my hometown of Guildford.<\/li>\n<li style=\"margin-bottom: 10px\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bellringing.london\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Bell-News-116.pdf#page4\">Ringing the Bells<\/a> in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.stmartin-in-the-fields.org\/\">St Martin in the Fields<\/a>. We also visited the Ringing Room and Bell Tower in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.stpauls.co.uk\/\">St Paul\u2019s Cathedral<\/a>.<div style=\"width: 250px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/53422092286_cd438f016e_m.jpg\" width=\"240\" height=\"240\" alt=\"The Bells of St Paul\u2019s.\" class=\"size-thumbnail\" \/><p class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Bells of St Paul\u2019s.<\/p><\/div><\/li>\n<li style=\"margin-bottom: 10px\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/prayercourse.org\/home\/\">Prayer<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li style=\"margin-bottom: 10px\"> That I no longer flinch when conversations end with \u201cWell, that\u2019s something to pray about.\u201d<\/li>\n<li style=\"margin-bottom: 10px\"> Reading the Bible on the bus. I used to wonder, years ago, about the proportion of people reading religious texts to people reading other sorts of material, on public transport. Is the ratio higher on trains than in homes? Now I am the one reading the Bible on the bus. Gotta get my <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youversion.com\/\">daily dose<\/a> in.<\/li>\n<li style=\"margin-bottom: 10px\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/spckpublishing.co.uk\/the-meal-jesus-gave-us\">Communion<\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"margin-bottom: 10px\"> How certain things make sense in hindsight.<\/li>\n<li style=\"margin-bottom: 10px\"> That one time I was asked to lead <a href=\"https:\/\/www.churchofengland.org\/prayer-and-worship\/worship-texts-and-resources\/common-worship\/daily-prayer\/morning-and-evening\">Morning Prayer<\/a>. It felt funny, with the responsories the wrong way around, and having to pray the intercessions on the fly. (If I know I am to lead the prayers, I write them ahead of time.)<\/li>\n<li style=\"margin-bottom: 10px\"> How many calf-length dresses and skirts got added to my wardrobe. Sunday best, anyone? <\/li>\n<li style=\"margin-bottom: 10px\"> My <a href=\"https:\/\/occamstypewriter.org\/erikacule\/2012\/08\/11\/londoners-by-craig-taylor-and-the-a-to-z\/\">mental map of London<\/a> got overlaid with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.achurchnearyou.com\/\">churches<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li style=\"margin-bottom: 10px\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenbelt.org.uk\/communion\/\">Ten thousand Christians in a field<\/a>, what\u2019s not to like? <a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenbelt.org.uk\/volunteer\/\">Volunteering<\/a> with the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenbelt.org.uk\/info\/access\/\">Access Team<\/a> at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenbelt.org.uk\/\">Greenbelt<\/a>, August 2023.<\/li>\n<li style=\"margin-bottom: 10px\"> Failing my way through eight job interviews and several more applications. The first church-based role, they gave me the feedback that I \u201cdidn\u2019t talk about God enough\u201d in the interview. Rookie error, I thought. Rookie error.<\/li>\n<li style=\"margin-bottom: 10px\"> Getting stuck in with the children\u2019s ministry: a gentle start manning the craft table at the <a href=\"https:\/\/content.scriptureunion.org.uk\/light-parties\">light party<\/a> and then the same duty again at the Christmas Fair so that their parents could shop. Being invited to help <a href=\"https:\/\/jumpingfishpublications.co.uk\/product\/experiencechristmas\/\">teach the Nativity<\/a> to local schoolchildren was a bit of a jolt, and felt like quite a step up. But if I don\u2019t say yes, what am I doing here?<\/li>\n<div style=\"width: 330px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/53422111556_4ffaf8cc00_n.jpg\" width=\"320\" height=\"320\" alt=\"Making monsters using stickers at the Light Party \" class=\"size-thumbnail\" \/><p class=\"wp-caption-text\">Making monsters using stickers at the Light Party<\/p><\/div>\n<li style=\"margin-bottom: 10px\"> My sister-in-law telling me that I seem like a down-to-Earth Christian.<\/li>\n<li style=\"margin-bottom: 10px\"> Getting a selfie with the Bishop: Confirmation, October 2023. How enthusiastic my fellow bellringers were about assembling a band to ring for the occasion, once they realised I was the one getting confirmed. Explaining I couldn\u2019t join in the ringing because at the time they will be ringing, I will be being prayed for. Being prayed for as the bells rang.<\/li>\n<div style=\"width: 410px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/53422420969_5d4cd95aa1_n.jpg\" width=\"400\" height=\"300\" alt=\"Selfie with the Bishop.\" class=\"size-thumbnail\" \/><p class=\"wp-caption-text\">Selfie with the Bishop. Confirmations at St Mary\u2019s, October 2023.<\/p><\/div>\n<li style=\"margin-bottom: 10px\"> How far one can travel in a year.<br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 330px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/53422441994_8238d10438_m.jpg\" width=\"320\" height=\"109\" alt=\"The best Christmas present?\" class=\"size-thumbnail\" \/><p class=\"wp-caption-text\">The best Christmas present?<\/p><\/div><\/p>\n<p><div style=\"width: 330px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/53422279523_fb52a51b4d_n.jpg\" width=\"320\" height=\"320\" alt=\"Leading the prayers, St Mary\u2019s Islington, Christmas 2023.\" class=\"size-thumbnail\" \/><p class=\"wp-caption-text\">Leading the prayers, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.stmaryislington.org\/\">St Mary\u2019s Islington<\/a>, Christmas 2023.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>With thanks to the good people of St Mary\u2019s Islington and elsewhere, for walking with me on the journey. And to God, walking with us too. <\/p>\n<div style=\"width: 510px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/53422561245_75b58d7288.jpg\" width=\"500\" height=\"311\" alt=\"Stepping out in faith, I guess.\" class=\"size-thumbnail\" \/><p class=\"wp-caption-text\">Stepping out in faith, I guess. Confirmation Day at St Mary\u2019s, October 2023.<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Christmas 2022, Christ Church, Harpenden: a riot of 200 people in a school hall. An invitation to join home group. Joining the Teas and Coffees Rota. Learning the drill, and the importance of the ministry of hospitality. Contemporary Christian Music. &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/occamstypewriter.org\/erikacule\/2023\/12\/26\/surprises-notes-from-my-first-year-as-a-practicing-christian\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[191,152,5,7],"tags":[170,157,171,148,172],"class_list":["post-2286","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-blogging-by-candlelight","category-faith","category-fun","category-life","tag-bellringing","tag-faith","tag-fun","tag-life","tag-lists"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/occamstypewriter.org\/erikacule\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2286","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/occamstypewriter.org\/erikacule\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/occamstypewriter.org\/erikacule\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/occamstypewriter.org\/erikacule\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/12"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/occamstypewriter.org\/erikacule\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2286"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/occamstypewriter.org\/erikacule\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2286\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3136,"href":"https:\/\/occamstypewriter.org\/erikacule\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2286\/revisions\/3136"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/occamstypewriter.org\/erikacule\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2286"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/occamstypewriter.org\/erikacule\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2286"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/occamstypewriter.org\/erikacule\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2286"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}