Lambeth Blog 10

Tuesday 29th July

Welcome to Tuesday! Here I am much later than usual as my Puppet Woman has been causing me some difficulties. Poor thing arrived here on Sunday night with her arm in a sling but really up for doing her workshop yesterday and some Fringe Events during the week even though she works alone and couldn't lift her arm up above shoulder height. All was going well untill she fell down a slope and twisted her ankle. Soooo yesterday she was in hospital whilst I was fending off the customers for her spot and finding other equally interesting things for them to do. The medics, in their wisdom, sent her home after discovering there were no bones broken. Modern medicine seems to think, no strapping or bandage and because of the shoulder problem no stick or crutch!! So guess who is the crutch?! Today we are trying to get her an early flight home ..... Thursday I think.

Mothers Union puppet Yvonne Naylor from Belfast

"Going Deeper" into Christian Peacemaking

Last night I went to hear the Chief Rabbi Sir Jonathan Sacks speaking. He was ACE. I expect you all knew that already but I think I had only heard him on Thought for the Day and that isn't long enough to really get to grips with the Anglican Communion issues of the day! His talk will be on the Anglican website; suffice to say he spoke about lots of things but came to Covenants. The difference between a Contract and a Covenant: CONTRACT is an agreement between individuals pursuing their own interests; COVENANT is an agreement between two people or groups, respecting each others' integrity to share their interests, even maybe their lives. There was lots more about Covenants in the Old Testament. I can give lectures on it if anyone is interested. Summing up, he was amazingly encouraging and supportive of Rowan and of all us Anglicans, got two standing ovations both for the talk and the answers to questions and sent us off to Compline feeling it is all worthwhile and far from a lost cause!

Today is a shared day, Spouses and Bishops together discussing " Equal in God's sight: When power is abused". We were all in the Big Top. The "Riding Lights Theatre Group" performed again including the woman caught in Adultery, Jairus' daughter, the woman with the issue of blood, and the Prodigal son (although it was a daughter this time) in their dramatisation. Things got a bit heated especially when the Stewards reported that around a hundred men had left the hall early and only one or two women! The men were feeling got at I guess.

"I am the Well from whose fresh springs
Life giving water flows
And on each side a tree of life
With leaves for healing grows."

It thundered and rained last evening. Today everywhere is fresh and cool. I hope you had some cooling rain in Ashtead.
Blessings.