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GOOSEgander 1 The newsletter of the Wild Goose Resource Group Spring 2017 no.39 EXTRACTED VERSION, 32 pages

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GOOSEgander Spring 2017 2 Note: JOHN L. BELL’s article below isn’t included in this extracted version of GOOSEgander 39 CONTENTS GOOSEgander is the newsletter of the WGRG, a 3 GOOSEeditorial semi-autonomous project of the Iona Community. 4 MAIRI MUNRO: A Tribute WGRG consists of three resource workers, John Bell, JOHN L. BELL & GRAHAM MAULE on the recent loss of our feisty friend ... Jo Love and Graham Maule. Gail Ullrich is the group’s administrator and Kirsty Campbell is the sales adminis- 7 COLUMBAFEST trator. News of weeWONDERBOX’s new summer festival. The WGRG exists to enable and equip congregations and clergy in the shaping and creation of new forms of 8 SHHON, The Sheepdog: A relevant, participative worship. Moving Tale (episode 1) Curious events during our recent move.

The WGRG has to find a majority of its own funding. 12 GOOSEoose As a result, it exists on a provisional basis, only taking Bits & pieces about things Wild Goose ... on events for the coming twelve months at a time. The WGRG welcomes donations and other forms of financial 13 CELTIC Perspectives on Death & support (Gift Aid) towards its work. If you are interested Dying (part 1) in supporting the work in this way, please contact the JOHN L. BELL on Scottish/ Celtic practices. Group at the address below. 17 LITURGY gander: Orders for Personal Prayer WGRG prayer orders for each day. WILD GOOSE RESOURCE GROUP c/o Iona Community, 21 Carlton Court, Glasgow G5 9JP, 21 CHANGE Without Decay Scotland. News of the WGRG’s 2017 week on Iona. T: 0141-429-7281 22 SHHON, The Sheepdog: A E: [email protected] Moving Tail (episode 2) Welcome to GG39 ... an expanded 36-page, He has been working on a new book of song texts bumper edition, in recognition that there’s been a wee which can be sung to familiar tunes, to be published Web: www.wildgoose.scot Further curious events ... interregnum since GG38. Our apologies for that are both by Wild Goose Publications (in the UK) and by Wild Goose Resource Group 26 NEW SONG gander due. We’re also writing with excitement from our new GIA (in USA). This will be called ‘Known Unknowns’ WildGooseRG Base (above) in Carlton Court. Jo (see her article on (see page 22 for an example). At the beginning of A song taster. page 24), is particularly thrilled that WGRG is based this year, he also embarked on a short sabbatical. in the hay loft of this former Clyde Shipping Company 28 SO LONG, Savoy stables. Come along and view it for yourself at the WGRG material is in demand elsewhere around the JO LOVE says farewell to our former base. weeWONDERBOX new series of weeWONDERBOX events in our very globe, too. ’Un Petit livre de célébrations’, a French Web: www.wildgoose.scot/weewonderbox own new hame (see page 25). Already, there have edition of ‘A Wee Worship Book’, no.4, was recently 29 weeWONDERBOX been visits from groups of Finns, Danes and Germans published in Switzerland & France, and firm links with GRAHAM MAULE on this new wonder. weewonderbox (‘Hei’, ‘Hej’ and ‘Hallo’ to all of you), and we look the Danish Church are being established. Kirkefondet, wee_wonderbox forward to welcoming some nearer neighbours as our Danish publisher colleagues recently published 30 TALKING matters well to this year’s continuing programme. a second collection of WGRG and Iona Community JO LOVE on a basic human practice. liturgical resources entitled, ‘Gudstjeneste Fra Kanten’ If ever you need to know about the upcoming (‘Services From The Edge’) 32 CATALOGUEgander schedule, of course you can check www.wildgoose. scot for weeWONDERBOX and other events. Do We hope you enjoy GOOSEgander 39. 33 DR. BELL’S Surgery visit and sign up for eNews updates or via this link: The Doctor’s usual cures for liturgical https://eepurl.com/byreMj As before, a downloadable (extracted) version of ailments and constipations. GOOSEgander is available. Visit the GOOSEgander It has been a particularly busy time, so if you were in page on the website: www.wildgoose.scot 35 GANDER at the Calendar touch during the flit and aftermath, thank you for your A selection of Wild Goose & understanding. weeWONDERBOX events April-July 2017. There is ongoing interest in the work of WGRG in North America and John continues to be invited by www.wildgoose.scot churches and others to lead events and courses there. GOOSEgander Spring 2017 GOOSEgander Spring 2017 4 MAIRI MUNRO: A Tribute

Mairi Munro was a member of the work Wild Goose Worship Group from at its birth in 1983. She also fulfilled telling roles in the work of both Wild Goose Publications and the Wild Goose Resource Group. She died at the beginning of April this year. Here, John L. Bell & Graham Maule pay tribute to their friend and her unique, feisty, infectious life.

Mairi Munro was fifteen when she came among us.

She was a regular at a large monthly youth event called ‘Last of the Month’ (LOTM), which took place in central Glasgow. Up to 400 teenagers came – most of them from outside the city – and Mairi was one of a contingent who were driven in from a church in Hamilton.

She was a keen singer and instrumentalist in choirs and bands and sometimes played her flute in whichever scratch ensemble led music in the LOTM closing worship. She was notable for her vibrant strawberry blonde/ red hair and fearless ability to try anything – something which had surfaced at the age of fourteen, when she travelled, unaccompanied, on public transport all the way from Scotland to France to visit her pen pal. FIONA EVANS During her years at university, she became one of aged people to try new things in worship, and were the first members of the Wild Goose Worship Group (Above) Mairi in able to get music out of the most petrified of stones. – a loose-fitting collection of young people, many of 2015; (Top right) whom initially claimed they couldn’t sing, but who Mairi in typical She had a unique ability to be no respecter of began to passionately experiment with new songs, mischievous mood; persons, whether they be bishops or bus drivers. This different methods of prayer, and a variety of ways was evident when she led groups, workshops and to share Scripture. She endeared herself to every- (Bottom right) events. Her lively theological mind and her love of body by her careful practiced irrelevance, genuine Rehearsing in Iona the Bible were married to her ability to find the right kindness and forthright way with words. She was not Abbey with the register of language, using appropriate and incisive the kind of person from whom you could walk away WGRG, 1999. means to encourage discussion to identify and dis- neutral. miss what was shallow, predictable or evasive. When in the late 80s, the Iona Community was On one occasion when one of Mairi and Alison’s looking for someone to take charge of its fledgling male colleagues was delayed from leading a singing publications department – Mairi got the job. Within event in Inverness, they assumed responsibility. The a few years, she then changed offices and became a repartee, of these two irrepressibly feisty young wom- member of the Wild Goose Resource Group (the full- en on a stage openly disagreeing with each other, time wing of the Worship Group), joining around the visibly unsettled the men in the hall until they realised same time as Alison Adam. For a wondrous decade, that these were women daring to be playfully and together and apart they cajoled, teased and encour- disarmingly funny in public.

GOOSEgander Spring 2017 4 MAIRI MUNRO: A Tribute 5

Mairi Munro was a member of the ings Bunda. The centre where Mairi worked was one of the few places that had a photocopier. Mairi spent work Wild Goose Worship Group many late nights reproducing campaigning materials for the progressive forces who eventually overthrew from at its birth in 1983. She also the dictator. fulfilled telling roles in the work Later she would visit Guatemala, the Philippines and of both Wild Goose Publications South Africa, always returning with stories and songs and the Wild Goose Resource and testimonies to indigenous people’s cultural and political resistance in the face of tough odds. For her, Group. She died at the beginning going abroad offered the possibility of encountering of April this year. Here, John L. Bell and embracing other cultures – their food, music, dances, traditions which made the world a bigger & Graham Maule pay tribute to place and the church a more clearly and intentionally their friend and her unique, feisty, diverse community. infectious life. She loved being in mixed and all female company, in equal but different ways. In the former she delighted in taking the rip out of her male peers when they Mairi Munro was fifteen when she came among us. indulged in ‘boy’s talk.’ Her frequent rejoinder in try- ing to explain the aberrant or silly behaviour of the She was a regular at a large monthly youth event opposite sex was summed up in the phrase, ‘ I blame called ‘Last of the Month’ (LOTM), which took place the parents!’ in central Glasgow. Up to 400 teenagers came – most of them from outside the city – and Mairi was Her ability to say what others avoided was a defining one of a contingent who were driven in from a characteristic, whether that was to register a protest, church in Hamilton. help a silent friend to articulate what was in their mind, or inform her male colleagues that her iras- She was a keen singer and instrumentalist in choirs cibility was caused by ‘the time of the month.’ She and bands and sometimes played her flute in could explode with laughter, weep without embar- whichever scratch ensemble led music in the LOTM rassment, pout and be moody with equal ease and closing worship. She was notable for her vibrant total openness. And she could take people along with strawberry blonde/ red hair and fearless ability to her, trusting in their generosity of spirit, as happened try anything – something which had surfaced at the when in a church meeting the congregation were age of fourteen, when she travelled, unaccompanied, being asked to consider what kind of minister they on public transport all the way from Scotland to should call. Mairi magnanimously suggested that France to visit her pen pal. ‘if we were to discover that the person we wanted

FIONA EVANS was gay, I’m sure that would be no problem to this During her years at university, she became one of congregation …’ aged people to try new things in worship, and were the first members of the Wild Goose Worship Group (Above) Mairi in able to get music out of the most petrified of stones. – a loose-fitting collection of young people, many of 2015; (Top right) She was the kind of person who could have a party whom initially claimed they couldn’t sing, but who in an empty room. A vast repertoire of songs – folk, Mairi in typical She had a unique ability to be no respecter of began to passionately experiment with new songs, religious, nonsense, pop – were at her disposal, but mischievous mood; persons, whether they be bishops or bus drivers. This different methods of prayer, and a variety of ways these were best used when she initiated spontane- was evident when she led groups, workshops and to share Scripture. She endeared herself to every- (Bottom right) ous ceilidhs among the most unsuspecting of people. events. Her lively theological mind and her love of body by her careful practiced irrelevance, genuine Rehearsing in Iona Given enough warning, she would also ensure that the Bible were married to her ability to find the right kindness and forthright way with words. She was not Abbey with the her cooking (predominantly vegetarian) and baking register of language, using appropriate and incisive the kind of person from whom you could walk away skills added to the enjoyment of an evening in her WGRG, 1999. means to encourage discussion to identify and dis- neutral. company. miss what was shallow, predictable or evasive. Mairi had a passion for the world beyond Scotland. When in the late 80s, the Iona Community was In August 2005, she married David Ashley, an art On one occasion when one of Mairi and Alison’s She spoke French, German and Spanish, and spent looking for someone to take charge of its fledgling teacher, whom she met in a bus going to stag party, male colleagues was delayed from leading a singing a year as a volunteer in Malawi, where the local publications department – Mairi got the job. Within which preceded a wedding on Islay in which she was event in Inverness, they assumed responsibility. The women were delighted to meet a white girl who a few years, she then changed offices and became a to be ‘best man’. They settled in Ellon, a town north repartee, of these two irrepressibly feisty young wom- didn’t look anorexic. member of the Wild Goose Resource Group (the full- of Aberdeen, where Mairi subsequently did some en on a stage openly disagreeing with each other, time wing of the Worship Group), joining around the advanced music training in the Kodaly method, and visibly unsettled the men in the hall until they realised At that time, a crucial democratic election campaign same time as Alison Adam. For a wondrous decade, started a group for the parents of small children to that these were women daring to be playfully and was underway in the African state, with the people together and apart they cajoled, teased and encour- struggling to replace the repressive regime of Hast- enable them to sing to and with their offspring. She disarmingly funny in public. also went into schools to encourage reticent adoles-

GOOSEgander Spring 2017 GOOSEgander Spring 2017 6 ALISON ADAM

(Top left) Mairi and and sing in recordings made by the Wild Goose David on their wed- Collective.

MAIRI MUNRO ding day, Udny, In her fondness for company, she exhibited one of 2005; (Top right) the great marks of Christian faith, namely that right Alison, Graham, relationships are more important than correct theol- John and Mairi ogy. She was a sister, cousin, auntie, niece, counsel- looking ded cool, lor and occasionally thorn in the flesh, as people and situations required. cents to sing. With defiant eleven and twelve year old Iona, mid-90s. boys, she would play to their dawning machismo, Over three years ago, Mairi was diagnosed with insisting that if they were to be men, they should not brain cancer, and made aware that though medical sing the same tune as the girls. Thus she quickly had procedures could extend her life, there was no cure. classes singing African songs in at least two-part She bore this awarness with stoicism, determined to harmony. rid herself of what was surplus, to make her remain- ing years enjoyable with her family and friends, and The experience of having lived in and learn from to live life to its fullest until she died. three southern hemisphere nations and, through international conferences, meeting with people from After four weeks in a small hospital not far from her the global church confirmed in Mairi a strong belief home, she moved from life to Greater Life on 3rd that justice and reconciliation were integral to living April, the day on which members and associates of out the Gospel. This showed itself in her immediate the Iona Community would name her in their prayers. affection for people from the developing world. Our mutual friend and colleague, Christine Reid For a while she shared her house with Chitra and spent significant time with Mairi (and two other Sharda, a Nepalese couple who came to live in friends, Christine Carson and Ruth Clement) prepar- Glasgow while Chitra, the husband, studied to be an ing her for her death and helping her make decisions evangelist. And in Ellon, the same passion enabled about her funeral. her to help her new locality become one of the first Fair Trade Towns in Scotland. About her Christine remarked that, ‘Mairi could be many things. But the one thing she could never be Her marriage was blessed by the arrival of two chil- was other than herself.’ dren, Euan and Eilidh, who share their mother’s hair colour and spectrum of temperament and who were May she rest in peace, rise in glory and enjoy the her pride and joy. But she stayed loyal to the wider company of heaven. non-genealogical family of which she was a part. So, when circumstances allowed and help with the

children was at hand, Mairi would come down to the Central Belt to meet up with her ever-loyal friends,

GOOSEgander Spring 2017 6 COLUMBAFEST 7

News of the arrival of our forthcoming seasonal celebration of faith, culture politics and creativity, courtesy of the weeWONDERBOX programme.

ColumbaFest is a new weekend festival to celebrate the anniversary of St Columba’s death.

St Columba is the holy man who came from Ireland to settle on the island of Iona, and in time, established the religious settlement there. He christianised Scotland; and the mission work of his followers spread out from there to reach parts of central and southern Europe. ALISON ADAM Following the theme, ‘State Of Play: Scotland and and sing in recordings made by the Wild Goose (Top left) Mairi and the world today’, the festival, through workshops and Collective. David on their wed- other events will explore themes from Columba’s life, such as learning, mission, exile, prayer, spirituality MAIRI MUNRO ding day, Udny, In her fondness for company, she exhibited one of and political engagement. And in echoes of his and 2005; (Top right) the great marks of Christian faith, namely that right the Celtic Church’s emphasis on incarnation, we’ll Alison, Graham, relationships are more important than correct theol- explore issues that are also of importance in the ogy. She was a sister, cousin, auntie, niece, counsel- John and Mairi contemporary context and culture of Scotland, and lor and occasionally thorn in the flesh, as people and looking ded cool, which have broader resonance further afield. situations required. cents to sing. With defiant eleven and twelve year old Iona, mid-90s. boys, she would play to their dawning machismo, Over three years ago, Mairi was diagnosed with Contributors insisting that if they were to be men, they should not brain cancer, and made aware that though medical sing the same tune as the girls. Thus she quickly had procedures could extend her life, there was no cure. Workshop leaders and performers confirmed so far: classes singing African songs in at least two-part She bore this awarness with stoicism, determined to harmony. rid herself of what was surplus, to make her remain- • Alison Phipps & Rob Swinfen … activists and ing years enjoyable with her family and friends, and Iona Community members, working in the area The experience of having lived in and learn from to live life to its fullest until she died. of asylum-seekers & refugees, education and three southern hemisphere nations and, through housing. international conferences, meeting with people from After four weeks in a small hospital not far from her the global church confirmed in Mairi a strong belief home, she moved from life to Greater Life on 3rd • Ashton Lane … one of Glasgow’s finest home- that justice and reconciliation were integral to living April, the day on which members and associates of grown modern country music ensemble, Esther out the Gospel. This showed itself in her immediate the Iona Community would name her in their prayers. and Tim O’Connor and compadres. affection for people from the developing world. … keep checking the ColumbaFest events page Our mutual friend and colleague, Christine Reid • BERT and other Scottish base Christian on our website (and for tickets): www.wildgoose. For a while she shared her house with Chitra and spent significant time with Mairi (and two other communities ... on living together corporately, scot/event/weewonderbox-columbafest and our Sharda, a Nepalese couple who came to live in friends, Christine Carson and Ruth Clement) prepar- compassionately and sacrificially. Facebook events page: www.facebook.com/ Glasgow while Chitra, the husband, studied to be an ing her for her death and helping her make decisions events/427257524295398 evangelist. And in Ellon, the same passion enabled about her funeral. • The In-Laws … Suzanne Adam & Steve Butler her to help her new locality become one of the first (of Fischy Music, Lies Damned Lies lineage and Alternatively, email at: weewonderbox@wildgoose. Fair Trade Towns in Scotland. About her Christine remarked that, ‘Mairi could be fame). scot or phone us on 0141 429 7281. many things. But the one thing she could never be Her marriage was blessed by the arrival of two chil- was other than herself.’ • John Bell & WGRG ... on Big Singing and other dren, Euan and Eilidh, who share their mother’s hair faithful glories and challenges. Times: Friday 9th June 2017 @ 7.00pm – Sunday colour and spectrum of temperament and who were May she rest in peace, rise in glory and enjoy the 11th June @ 10.30pm. her pride and joy. But she stayed loyal to the wider company of heaven. • Pádraig Ó Tuama … Leader of the Corrymeela non-genealogical family of which she was a part. Community, peace, reconciliation & LGBT activist Venue: The Ground, Iona Community, 21 Carlton So, when circumstances allowed and help with the and poet. Court, Glasgow, Scotland G5 9JP, Scotland and children was at hand, Mairi would come down to the others. Central Belt to meet up with her ever-loyal friends, More exiting contributors will be confirmed soon

GOOSEgander Spring 2017 GOOSEgander Spring 2017 GRAHAM MAULE 8 SHHON, the sheepdog: A Moving Tale (Episode 1)

I’D JUSHHT COME DOWN FROM THE ISLE OF SHHKYE, I’M NOT VERY TALL AND I’M AWFY SHHY (SHHEEPISH EVEN, YOU MIGHT SHHAY ...), AND ALL THE LASSHHIES SHHOUT, ‘OCH AYE! SHHONN’S IN SHHAUCHIEHALL SHHTREET .... !’

THE NAME’S SHHONN ... SHHONN ... THE SHHEEPDOG I SHHEPHERD SHHEEP ... AT LEASHHT, THAT’S MY ‘COVER’. YOU SHEE, I’M REALLY A SHHECRET AGENT ... FOR M.I.SHHTICKSHH ... I GO BY THE NAME ‘DOUBLE BONE SHHEVEN’ ...

I TRACKED THEM DOWN TO AN ANONYMOUS OFFISH I CLIMBED UP A DRAINPIPE, BUILDING CALLED THE SHHAVOY SHHENTRE ... PAUSHHING FOR A SHHECOND AT THE TOP TO CHECK THE COASHHT WASHH CLEAR. IT WASHH. I SHHLIPPED IN A HANDILY OPEN WINDOW ...

THE SHHTREET WASHH FULL OF SHHITIZENSHH AND A SHHERIESHH OF PLEASHHANTLY-TUNEFUL BUSHHK- ERS LINED THE SHHOPPFRONTS. CARSHH AND BUSHHESHH THRUMMED BY IN THE DISHHTANSHH AND IN AN ODD WAY IT REMINDED ME OF HOME ... SHHKYE ... BUT NOT VERY MUCHH.

GOOSEgander Spring 2017 GRAHAM MAULE 8 SHHON, the sheepdog: A Moving 9 Tale (Episode 1)

I’D JUSHHT COME DOWN FROM THE ISLE OF SHHKYE, I’M NOT VERY TALL AND I’M AWFY SHHY (SHHEEPISH EVEN, YOU SHHOMESHHING WASHH ‘SHHEALED AIR’??? YESHH, I LEAPT UP ON MIGHT SHHAY ...), AND ALL THE LASSHHIES SHHOUT, ‘OCH AYE! SHHONN’S IN SHHAUCHIEHALL SHHTREET .... !’ DEFINITELY GOING ON IN SHHOMESHHING VERY, VERY SHHOME BOKSHHIES THISHH DANK AND SHHMELLY FISSCHHY WASHH GOING ON. MY ... TO SHEE WHAT THE NAME’S SHHONN ... SHHONN ... THE SHHEEPDOG I SHHEPHERD SHHEEP ... AT JOINT. BOKSHHIESHH WERE EARSHH TWITCHHED. A VERY I COULD SHEE ... LEASHHT, THAT’S MY ‘COVER’. YOU PILED HIGH EVERYWHERE I SHHUSHHPICHHIOUS SOUND ... SHEE, I’M REALLY A SHHECRET LOOKED... AGENT ... FOR M.I.SHHTICKSHH ... I GO BY THE NAME ‘DOUBLE BONE SHHEVEN’ ...

THERE WERE SHHIGNSHH OF DODGY_DEALINGSHH

I’D BEEN SHENT ON A MISHHION TO GLASHHGOW ... TO FIND OUT THE MOVE- SCHITTY SHHENTRE ... MENTS OF A SHHADOWY AND SHHCURRILOUSLY NEFARI- OUSHH SHHYNDICATE RE- KNOWNED THROUGHOUT THE THE SHHABBY SHHCOTTISHH UNDERWORLD, WHO GO BY THE NAME OF ... EVERYWHERE!!!!!!! THE WILD GOOSH- ... TO BE PRESHHICHHE, THEN THE CLINCHHER! BUT NO SHHOONER HAD I GRASHHPED SHHAUCHIEHALL BERRIES !!!! OF THISHH, SHHTREET!!!!!! THE IMMENSHHITTY A NEW TERROR SCHHIRROCKED AND SHHATTERED MY POOR WEE EARSHH? I TRACKED THEM DOWN TO AN ANONYMOUS OFFISH I CLIMBED UP A DRAINPIPE, BUILDING CALLED THE SHHAVOY SHHENTRE ... PAUSHHING FOR A SHHECOND AT THE TOP TO CHECK THE COASHHT WASHH CLEAR. IT WASHH. I SHHLIPPED IN A HANDILY OPEN WINDOW ... A FRIDGE!!! A COLD SHHIVER RAN DOWN MY SHHPINE.

THE MOST EVIL CRIMINAL ACT CONSH- HIEVABLE! I KNEW WHAT THISHH MEANT.

THE SHHTREET WASHH FULL OF SHHITIZENSHH AND A SHHERIESHH OF PLEASHHANTLY-TUNEFUL BUSHHK- ERS LINED THE SHHOPPFRONTS. CARSHH AND BUSHHESHH THRUMMED BY IN THE DISHHTANSHH AND IN AN ODD WAY IT A WAILING, SHHRIEKING BANSHHEE LAUCHED REMINDED ME OF HOME ... SHHKYE ... BUT NOT VERY MUCHH. HERSELF OUT OF THE DARKNESHH TOWARDSHH ME!

GOOSEgander Spring 2017 GOOSEgander Spring 2017 10

EVERYTHING SHHTARTED HAPPENING TOO LATE!!! I’D BEEN SHHPOTTED! NIMBLY, I ESHHCAPED AND TOO FASHHT. I FLUNG MYSHHELF TOOK REFUGE IN A DEEP BEHIND AN UP-TURNED TABLE. PACKING CRATE.

MORE AND MORE OF THE THUGSHH WERE SUDDENLY ONE OF THE THUGSHH HAD AN IDEA. POURING OUT OF THE WOODWORK NOW...

... RIPPING DOWN CRATESHH TO TRY TO FIND ME. THE DISGUISHHE WORKED ...

BEFORE I KNEW IT, A BOKKSH SHHNEAKED UP BEHIND ME.

THEN EVERYSHHING WENT DARK!!!!!

I FELT COLD SHHTEEL AT MY SHHROAT.

GOOSEgander Spring 2017 10 11

EVERYTHING SHHTARTED HAPPENING TOO LATE!!! I’D BEEN SHHPOTTED! NIMBLY, I ESHHCAPED AND WHEN I WOKE UP, I COULDN’T MOVE ... MY SHHOUL SHHUDDERED - OUT OF THE CORNER OF TOO FASHHT. I FLUNG MYSHHELF TOOK REFUGE IN A DEEP MY EYE, I COULD SHEE ... BEHIND AN UP-TURNED TABLE. PACKING CRATE.

.. COULDN’T EVEN WAG MY TAIL OR HAVE A WEE SHHNIFF OR SHHKART. THEY’D SHHLIPPED ME A MICKEY-FINN (OR SHOMESHHING SHHIMILAR). EVEN THOUGH I KNOW I’M A SHHEEPDOG, I KNEW I WASHH NOW ALSO A SHHITTING DUCK ...... A VASHHT ARRAY OF TORTURE IMPLIMENTSHH!!!

AND SHHO THE NEXSHHT DAYSHH AND NIGHTSHH SHHO ... THISHH WASHH TO BE MY SHHORRY FATE ... (HOW MANY I CANNOT SHHAY), BROUGHT A SHHEEMING- LY ENDLESHH SHHERIESHH OF CRUEL AND INHUMAN TORTURESHH AND INQUISHHISHHIONSHH. OF COURSE, I KNOW THAT I AM A SHHEEPDOG, BUT THESHH WERE PUNISHHMENTSHH YOU WOULDN’T METE OUT MORE AND MORE OF THE THUGSHH WERE SUDDENLY ONE OF THE THUGSHH HAD AN IDEA. TO A DUMB BEASHHT ... POURING OUT OF THE WOODWORK NOW...

AT LASHHT IT SHHTOPPED. THEN I HEARD A VOISHH THAT I RECOGNISHHED AS THE BOSHH (AKA. HEICH_ PUDDOCK) OF THE WILD GOOSHHBERRY SHHYNDICATE ISSHHUE THESHHE TERRIBLE WORDSHH ..., ... RIPPING DOWN CRATESHH TO TRY TO FIND ME. THE DISGUISHHE WORKED ...

BEFORE I KNEW IT, A BOKKSH SHHNEAKED UP BEHIND ME.

THEN EVERYSHHING WENT DARK!!!!!

I FELT COLD SHHTEEL AT MY SHHROAT. AND NO DOUBT ... UNTIMELY DISHHPOSHHAL!!!!!!!! TO BE CONTINUED ....

GOOSEgander Spring 2017 GOOSEgander Spring 2017 12 GOOSE oose

JANNE MARK The purpose of the book is primarily to enable small congregations where there has been no new hymn book for decades, and where musicians are in limited supply, to be able to sing contemporary texts to known tunes. Hence all the melodies are from the best known hymn and folk traditions in the British Isles.

In NEW SONG gander on page 22, we include one of these news texts (with music) for your interest.

ANAGRAM CHALLENGE

... And now for something new, daft and completely different! You may not know this, or you may know it only too well, but Jo is an anagram addict, and brings you this challenge.

Can you come up with a witty, wacky, wordcrafty Janne Mark is a name we might be hearing more anagram of WILD GOOSE RESOURCE GROUP, and about in the future. She is a Danish Lutheran who is send it to us. Results in the next GooseGander - and musician in a central church in Copenhagen. During prizes too! the Resource Group’s week last year on Iona, she delighted the company by singing several of her songs Here are a few rejiggings Jo has composed just to in Danish. The clarity of the melody line and distinc- get you going, and giggling: tive Scandanavian texture of the harmony more than compensated for them being in a language few LO! WE GO SUPER GOOD CURRIES participants could understand. ‘O GOD’ SWORE ROUGE SURPLICE OO-ER ... SLUG RECOUPS WEIRDO However there are now seven of the songs nearing LOWER OUR PRICE! GOOD GUESS complete translation in a project between Janne and GORGEOUS WORLD PIE SOURCE the Resource Group. The process of translation is never easy, as it is essentially a poem with stresses appropriate to its designated tune which has to be represented in a totally different language. But Janne, who is fluent in English, has been very helpful CORRECTION/ CLARIFICATION in her scrutiny and comments on the English texts. In John Bell’s article, ‘Turning The Tables’ in the last It is hoped that sometime in the New Year several of GOOSEgander, alert reader Marjory Williamson her songs and some from the Resource Group will spotted this deliberate mistake ... be recorded by her and her associated musicians in Denmark. “John’s very interesting sermon reminded me of the old song we used to sing, Goliath of Gath, where in And we may be sharing one or two examples in the last verse, ‘Slim David ... took off his helmet and future GOOSEganders! Watch this space. cut off his head” and we always accompanied these words with actions of pretending to lift up an imagi- nary helmet and then slicing off one’s own head. Similarly I don’t think Jael hammers the tent peg KNOWN UNKNOWNS through her own head as the printed wording says!”

This phrase, borrowed without permission from the meanderings of a former American Secretary of State, is the title of a forthcoming book of a hundred songs, now being prepared for publication. Half have never been published for congregational singing before, and those which have are being ‘re- tuned.’

GOOSEgander Spring 2017 12 GOOSE oose LITURGY gander: Orders For 17 Personal Prayer

JANNE MARK Here, for The purpose of the book is primarily to enable small congregations where there has been no new hymn individual and book for decades, and where musicians are in limited supply, to be able to sing contemporary texts private use, we to known tunes. Hence all the melodies are from the offer two basic best known hymn and folk traditions in the British Isles. WGRG prayer orders for the In NEW SONG gander on page 22, we include one of these news texts (with music) for your interest. start and end of the day. In future GOOSE- ANAGRAM CHALLENGE ganders, there ... And now for something new, daft and completely will be different! You may not know this, or you may know it only too well, but Jo is an anagram addict, and examples of brings you this challenge. additional,

Can you come up with a witty, wacky, wordcrafty optional daily Janne Mark is a name we might be hearing more anagram of WILD GOOSE RESOURCE GROUP, and prayers on about in the future. She is a Danish Lutheran who is send it to us. Results in the next GooseGander - and GRAHAM MAULE musician in a central church in Copenhagen. During prizes too! various themes. the Resource Group’s week last year on Iona, she delighted the company by singing several of her songs A MORNING ORDER FOR PERSONAL Here are a few rejiggings Jo has composed just to PRAYER in Danish. The clarity of the melody line and distinc- get you going, and giggling: tive Scandanavian texture of the harmony more Should I make a request of you, than compensated for them being in a language few LO! WE GO SUPER GOOD CURRIES you will give me a hearing; participants could understand. ‘O GOD’ SWORE ROUGE SURPLICE should I turn away from you, you will never lose sight of me. OO-ER ... SLUG RECOUPS WEIRDO Opening Meditation However there are now seven of the songs nearing LOWER OUR PRICE! GOOD GUESS You know me better than I know myself; complete translation in a project between Janne and GORGEOUS WORLD PIE SOURCE therefore I trust you. the Resource Group. The process of translation is Before I speak, never easy, as it is essentially a poem with stresses before I listen, O Lover of my soul, appropriate to its designated tune which has to be before I praise my Maker, so that my heart might be clean, represented in a totally different language. But I let myself become aware take from me any deceit, pride or arrogance; Janne, who is fluent in English, has been very helpful CORRECTION/ CLARIFICATION that God has brought me safely to this day, take from me unjust anger, in her scrutiny and comments on the English texts. that above me is the song of angels, coveted hurt and self-loathing. In John Bell’s article, ‘Turning The Tables’ in the last that around me is the song of creation, It is hoped that sometime in the New Year several of GOOSEgander, alert reader Marjory Williamson and within me is the song of faithful people. Wash me clean of all that demeans me her songs and some from the Resource Group will spotted this deliberate mistake ... and discredits you; be recorded by her and her associated musicians in (Pause) and eradicate anything which prevents me Denmark. “John’s very interesting sermon reminded me of the from accepting that I am loved. old song we used to sing, Goliath of Gath, where in It is to that worship that I now join my voice. And we may be sharing one or two examples in the last verse, ‘Slim David ... took off his helmet and I am not alone; (Pause) future GOOSEganders! Watch this space. cut off his head” and we always accompanied these heaven and earth are here. words with actions of pretending to lift up an imagi- Now clothe me nary helmet and then slicing off one’s own head. (Pause) with generosity of spirit, Similarly I don’t think Jael hammers the tent peg with encouragement and hope, KNOWN UNKNOWNS through her own head as the printed wording says!” with godly desires and safe affections. Prayer This phrase, borrowed without permission from the Wonderful you are, meanderings of a former American Secretary of Lord, you have examined me and know me: for you cherish and renew my spirit. State, is the title of a forthcoming book of a hun- resting or waking, you see me, Words are never enough; dred songs, now being prepared for publication. believing or doubting, you understand me, yet with all that I am I will praise you. Half have never been published for congregational in strange and familiar places, you accompany me. Amen. singing before, and those which have are being ‘re- tuned.’

GOOSEgander Spring 2017 GOOSEgander Spring 2017 18

Psalm Portion (or another) So, help me to live with a sense of proportion: to know when to speak and when to be silent, I waited patiently for God to promise no more than I can manage, and God bent down and listened to me. to forsake anything which would diminish me, On my lips a new song was put, and to confront injustice wherever it is evident or a song of praise to my Maker. subtle.

Happy are those who put their trust in the Lord (Pause) forsaking the attraction of false deities. O Holy Spirit, present throughout creation, You, Lord, have done great things: be beside me in all that I do, all that you intend is for our good; be between me and all that I fear, your kindness is beyond my telling. be within me and all whom I love, today and forever. God, I desire to do your will; Amen. let your word take root in my heart. Silence A Reading from Holy Scripture Morning Blessing Silence God, bless to me today my eyes and my seeing, my ears and my hearing, Prayer my lips and my speaking.

God my Maker, God, bless to me today I open myself my hands and my holding, to the untold potential of the day before me. my feet and my moving, my body and my health. I do not know whom I will meet, what I will encounter, God, bless to me today what news will upset or inspire me. my mind and my thinking, my heart and my loving, Open the eyes of my mind, my soul and my believing. my perception, my understanding, Amen. for I do not want to miss the ‘more’ in the world I have yet to discover; or to treat as predictable a day I have yet to experience.

(Pause)

Jesus, lover of my soul, make me aware of the untold potential within and around me, for you have intended me for kindness not constriction, for wonder not boredom.

I do not know whose burden I might carry today, whose joy I might share, what new thoughts may surface or what rogue desires may need to be subdued. GRAHAM MAULE

GOOSEgander Spring 2017 18 19

Psalm Portion (or another) So, help me to live with a sense of proportion: AN EVENING ORDER FOR PERSONAL to know when to speak and when to be silent, PRAYER I waited patiently for God to promise no more than I can manage, and God bent down and listened to me. to forsake anything which would diminish me, On my lips a new song was put, and to confront injustice wherever it is evident or subtle. a song of praise to my Maker. Preparation Happy are those who put their trust in the Lord (Pause) forsaking the attraction of false deities. In honour of God, O Holy Spirit, present throughout creation, I make this space You, Lord, have done great things: be beside me in all that I do, all that you intend is for our good; be between me and all that I fear, (Here a candle may be lit) your kindness is beyond my telling. be within me and all whom I love, today and forever. In honour of God, God, I desire to do your will; Amen. I take this time. let your word take root in my heart. (Here a watch may be removed or a clock Silence covered) A Reading from Holy Scripture In honour of God, I wait in hope and wonder. Morning Blessing Silence (Here a cross or an icon may be placed) God, bless to me today my eyes and my seeing, my ears and my hearing, Prayer my lips and my speaking. Silence

God my Maker, God, bless to me today I open myself my hands and my holding, Prayer to the untold potential of the day before me. my feet and my moving, my body and my health. O Holy God, I do not know whom I will meet, you have been present to me what I will encounter, God, bless to me today while awake; what news will upset or inspire me. my mind and my thinking, and you will watch over me my heart and my loving, when I sleep. Open the eyes of my mind, my soul and my believing. my perception, my understanding, Amen. So, as darkness falls, for I do not want to miss the ‘more’ in the world I thank you for the privilege of the day now done, I have yet to discover; remembering what delighted me or to treat as predictable a day and what disturbed me… I have yet to experience. (Pause) (Pause) remembering what familiar things assured me… Jesus, lover of my soul, and what new things intrigued me… make me aware of the untold potential within and around me, (Pause) for you have intended me for kindness not constriction, remembering the faces of those I met… for wonder not boredom. and the faces of those I missed…

I do not know whose burden I might carry today, (Pause) whose joy I might share, what new thoughts may surface All of life and all who live are your gift to me. or what rogue desires may need to be subdued. So, whether today has been full of joy, or whether I have known more by way of disappointment, I thank you, my Maker, for every experience GRAHAM MAULE

GOOSEgander Spring 2017 GOOSEgander Spring 2017 20

which has nourished insight, interest, Prayer concern and understanding. Into your care, O God, And because you know me through and through, into your care I surrender to you any anger, resentment, I place those whom I love envy or self-loathing those for whom I worry present within me… those from whom, in time, place or affection I am distant. Take them away so that they may lose their grip on me (Pause) and I lose my fascination with them. Into your care, O God If there is anyone to whom I acted wrongly today, I place what in the world grieves me make me sorry enough to undo the harm I caused. … and what inspires and excites me.

And if there is anyone who today offended me, (Pause) help me to be truly forgiving even as I, in my mother tongue, Into your care, O God, pray the words Jesus first prayed in his: I give myself.

Our Father in heaven, (Pause) hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread Night Blessing and forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. I lie down with God; Save us in the time of trial and God lies down with me. and deliver us from evil, for the kingdom, the power and the glory I lie down with Christ; are yours and Christ lies down with me. now and for ever. Amen. I lie down with the Spirit; and the Spirit lies down with me.

God and Christ and the Spirit, A Reading from Holy Scripture all three, with me. Listen, my soul, behind the words of human speech, for the voice of God. Text copyright © WGRG, c/o Iona Community, Glasgow, Scotland. www.wildgoose.scot Listen, my soul, not for shallow talk but for deep speaking to deep.

Listen, my soul, even if you do not understand.

(Reading)

Silence

GOOSEgander Spring 2017 20 CHANGE Without Decay 21

And if there is anyone who today offended me, (Pause) help me to be truly forgiving even as I, in my mother tongue, Into your care, O God, pray the words Jesus first prayed in his: I give myself.

now and for ever. GRAHAM MAULE Amen. I lie down with the Spirit; and the Spirit lies down with me. ... is the title of the 2017 WGRG were to call people to repentance (which is a substantial turn-around) and ‘to make all things new’, it God and Christ and the Spirit, A Reading from Holy Scripture week in the Abbey and MacLeod is important that people of faith do more than have all three, a knee-jerk reaction to change. It should be a central with me. Centres on Iona. We’ll be explor- dynamic in our life. Listen, my soul, behind the words of human speech, ing various aspects of change in This is what we will explore together as it affects the for the voice of God. Text copyright © WGRG, c/o Iona Community, the liturgical life and discipleship worshipping life of a community, drawing on and Glasgow, Scotland. www.wildgoose.scot exploring what we have seen and enabled, such as Listen, my soul, of congregations ... the redesigning of space; solo performer ministries not for shallow talk becoming shared endeavours; reluctant assemblies but for deep speaking to deep. For many people in churches, change is a no-go becoming oases of song. area, a source of stress and the cause of major Listen, my soul, disagreement. Yet change is the central dynamic of These examples come from our long history of even if you do not understand. the Christian faith: Jesus both changes people and working with local churches in developing different in the resurrection moves from being a corpse to a approaches to congregational song, corporate shar- (Reading) living body. ing of scripture, lay leadership in worship and the re-structuring of places of worship to meet the chal- For many people (especially in the churches) mention lenges of the world today; and will include examples Silence of change evokes an immediate negative reaction. of good practice in Scotland, the United Kingdom Some have put that down to the couplet in verse two and elsewhere. of Abide With Me: Change and decay in all around I see; Oh thou who changest not, abide with me. If you’re interested in the theme of this week, please contact us at the address on Given that among the primary purposes of Jesus page 2.

GOOSEgander Spring 2017 GOOSEgander Spring 2017 22 SHHON, the Sheepdog: A Moving Tail*(episode 2)

(*Shhurely, shhome mishhtake? Shhould it not be ‘A wagging tail?’ - ED)

THE SCHHENE WE’D LEFT BEHIND ...

I FELT MYSHHELF BEING WASHH ONE OF TOTAL DESHHOLATSHHUN ROUGHLY MANHANDLED ... THE SHHILENSHHE OF THE TOMB HUNG ALONG THE HALL AND DOWN HEAVY OVER THE SHHAVOY SHHENTRE. THE SHHTAIRSHH ...

THEN EVEN MORE ROARING, MASCHHINE-LIKE SHHTRONG BLASHHTSHH OF FREEZING WIND ... SHHTAIRSHH ... SHHOUNDSHH ... SHHO MANY VOISHHES ... SHHO MUCHH BUCHHLE AND MOVEMENT. DARKNESCHH DESCHHENDED AGAIN ... THEN I HEARD A VOISHH SHHAY:

THE NEXT STATION IS BRIDGE STREET.

MINUTESHH LATER, I WASHH I WENT INTO A SHHWOON ... MY WHOLE LIFTED AGAIN. A GRUFF LIFE SHHWAM BEFORE MY EYESHH. VOISHH WHISHHPERRED:

HERE WE ARE. DUMP HIM ON THIS DEMOLITION SITE ... BESIDE THIS PILE OF RUBBLE. THOSE BULLDOZERS ...

WILL START UP SOON AND CLEAR THE AREA. THEN IT’LL BE CURTAINS FOR ‘DOUBLE BONE SEVEN’ ... OR RATHER, ‘LANDFILL’!! HAHA! NEKSHHT SHHING I KNEW, A LIGHT APPEARED ASHH IF AT THE END OF A LONG TUNNEL OR SHHEEP-PEN. WASHH HELPLESHH, I RESHHIGNED THISHH MY FIRSHHT SHHIGHT OF HEAVEN, THE SHHIM- MYSHHELF TO MY SHHAD MERING, SHHINNING PEARLY GATESHH???? I FELT FATE ... MYSHHELF LIFTED, GENTLY, TENDERLY ... UPWARDSHH ...

GOOSEgander Spring 2017 22 SHHON, the Sheepdog: A Moving 23 Tail*(episode 2)

(*Shhurely, shhome mishhtake? Shhould it not be ‘A wagging tail?’ - ED)

THE SCHHENE WE’D LEFT BEHIND ... FOR THE FIRSHHT TIME IN WHAT SHHEEMED LIKE FOREVER, I HEARD FRIENDLY AND KIND WORDSHH ...... YOU’VE BEEN THROUGH MY NAME’S GAIL ... A TERRIBLE TIME. BUT WHAT’S YOURS? IT’S ALL OVER. YOU’RE HELLO ... SAFE NOW. YOU’RE OK NOW.

I FELT MYSHHELF BEING WASHH ONE OF TOTAL DESHHOLATSHHUN ROUGHLY MANHANDLED ... THE SHHILENSHHE OF THE TOMB HUNG ALONG THE HALL AND DOWN HEAVY OVER THE SHHAVOY SHHENTRE. THE SHHTAIRSHH ...

“SCHHONN”, I SHHAID, SHHLIGHTLY SHHEEPISHLY ... SHHE SHHMILED. “THAT’SHH A NICSHHE NAME ...”, SHHE THE NEXT STATION IS SHHAID ... BRIDGE STREET.

THAT’S A NICE NAME ... MINUTESHH LATER, I WASHH I WENT INTO A SHHWOON ... MY WHOLE LIFTED AGAIN. A GRUFF LIFE SHHWAM BEFORE MY EYESHH. VOISHH WHISHHPERRED: WE ARE THE WGRGG - THE WILD HERE WE ARE. GOOSE RESCUE GUERRILLA DUMP HIM ON THIS GROUP. WE’RE THE DEADLY DEMOLITION SITE ... ENEMIES OF THE WILD BESIDE THIS PILE OF GOOSHBERRIES, WHO RUBBLE. THOSE CRUELLY KIDNAPPED BULLDOZERS ... YOU.

SHHEE CONTINUED, TELLING ME THAT THE WILD GOOSHHES’ WORK WILL START UP SOON AND WASHH (AND ISHH) IN COLLABORATSHHION WISHH THE SHHOOPERB, CLEAR THE AREA. THEN IT’LL INTERNASHHIONALLY-RENKNOWNED IONA CONVALESHHENSHH RE- BE CURTAINS FOR ‘DOUBLE FUSHHGE FOR OPPRESSHHED AND SHHAINTLY CREATURESHH. BONE SEVEN’ ... OR RATHER, THEIR JOINT AIM - A KIND OF RESHHCUE PROJECT TO PROVIDE NEW, ‘LANDFILL’!! HAHA! SHHAFE AND SHHTIMULATING PUBLIC SHHPASHHES FOR THESHHE NEKSHHT SHHING I KNEW, A LIGHT APPEARED ASHH IF AT WEE BEASHHTIES TO QUESHHTION AND CHALLENGSHHE, HAVE FUN THE END OF A LONG TUNNEL OR SHHEEP-PEN. WASHH AND FROLICS, FREE OF THE DEAD HAND OF THE SHHTATUSHH QUO HELPLESHH, I RESHHIGNED THISHH MY FIRSHHT SHHIGHT OF HEAVEN, THE SHHIM- INCORPORATED - THE SHHADOWLY, SHHELF-SHHERVING, COMPLASHHENT MYSHHELF TO MY SHHAD MERING, SHHINNING PEARLY GATESHH???? I FELT CONSHHTITUENSHHY THAT WGRGG’S OPPONENTS, THE DEMONIC WILD FATE ... MYSHHELF LIFTED, GENTLY, TENDERLY ... UPWARDSHH ... GOOSHBERRIES SHHO EFFECTIVELY REPRESHHENT.

GOOSEgander Spring 2017 GOOSEgander Spring 2017 24

GAIL’SHH WORDSHH WERE MOSHHT REASHHURING. SHEE INVITED ME TO ‘TAKE OFF MY CLOSHHE’ (WELL, MY BUBBLEWRAP) AND MAKE MYSHHELF ‘AT HOME’ ... OF COURSHHE, I SHHTILL HAD MY SHHINY COLLIE COAT ON ... BUT, I HAVE TO ADMIT I WASHH SHHTILL A BIT RELUCTANT, BEING SHHLIGHTLY UNSHHURE AND - YES, EVEN YET - SHHLIGHTLY ON THE DEFENSHHIVE.

FIRST ...... BONNIE (BEASHHTIE POCK- ET MONEY CONTROLLER) AND LYNN (BEASHHTIE INFO MAN- AGER), RAB, THE RABBIT AND KIT, THE CAT ...

... SHHANDRA AND SHHUSHHIE, WHO WORK SHHO, GAIL SHHED I ON THE SCHHUBVERSHHIVE, SHHZAMID- SHHOULD MEET SHHOME ZSHHAT DISHHTRIBUTION OF TESHH- OF HER OSHHER FRIEND- TIMONIES AND TECHNIQUESHH OF WEE SHH & COLLEAGUESHH ... BEASHHTIE RESCHHUE ...

THEN I MET THE LOVELY KAREN, WHO’SHH RESHH- OF COURSHHE, BEING PONSHHIBLE FOR BEASHHTIE FOOD MENUESHH & THE IRISHH SHHECOND NUTRITSHHION. UNFORTUNATELY, SHHPELLING COUSHHIN OF A ISHHN’T HER SHHTRONGESHHT POINT .. PREVIOSHHLY RESHHCUED GLASHHGOW GIRAFFE MIGHT ALSHHO HAVE HAD SHHOMESHHING TO DO WITH THISHH ...

CHRISHH (THE YOUTH BEASHHTIE DEVELOP- MENT WORKER) WASHH ESHHPESHHIALLY KIND. HE MOSHHT GENEROUSHHLY VACATED HISHH SHHLEEPING SHHPASHHE TO GIVE TO ME.

GAIL INTRODUSHHED ME TO SHHEVERAL OSHHER NEW FRIENDSHH, BUT GIVEN THE HIGHLY SHHEN- SHHITIVE, TOP SHHECRET NATURE OF THEIR AC- TIVITIESHH, IT’SHH ADVISHHABLE NOT TO PUBLISHH THEIR PHOTOGRAPHSHH.

GOOSEgander Spring 2017 24 25

GAIL’SHH WORDSHH WERE MOSHHT REASHHURING. SHEE INVITED ME TO ‘TAKE OFF MY CLOSHHE’ (WELL, MY FINALLY, JOHN (THE WILD I WASHH BEGINNING TO FEEL BUBBLEWRAP) AND MAKE MYSHHELF ‘AT HOME’ ... OF COURSHHE, I SHHTILL HAD MY SHHINY COLLIE COAT ON ... GOOSHHES BEASHHTIE VERY MUCHHH WELCOME ... BUT, I HAVE TO ADMIT I WASHH SHHTILL A BIT RELUCTANT, BEING SHHLIGHTLY UNSHHURE AND - YES, EVEN RESHHOURSHHE YET - SHHLIGHTLY ON THE DEFENSHHIVE. WORKER), REGISHHTERED ME ASHH A FULL RESHHIDENT OF THE FIRST ...... BONNIE (BEASHHTIE POCK- LOVELY WILD GOOSHHES ET MONEY CONTROLLER) AND AND THE IONA LYNN (BEASHHTIE INFO MAN- CONVALESHHENSHH AGER), RAB, THE RABBIT AND REFUSHHGE FOR KIT, THE CAT ... OPPRESSHHED AND SHHAINTLY CREATURESHH. HISHH SHHPELLING, IS NOT MUCHH BETTER THAN GRADUALLY, THE CHAOTIC MESHH OF KAREN’SHH, THOUGH ... THE OFFISHHES WAS TIDIED ...

OUTSHHIDE, THE SHHUN BEGAN TO SHHINE. INSHHIDE, I CAUGHT SHHIGHT OF THE MISHHION SHHTATEMENT OF THE WILD GOOSHH AND IONA CONVALESHHENSHH REFUSHHGE.

YESHH, I NOW FELT SHHAFE!!!! I COULD DROP MY GUARD AND LOOK THE BIRDSHH SHHANG ... AND FORWARD TO A BRIGHT FUTCHHURE THE SHHWEET SHHOUNDSHH OF CONTENTMENT, COMPANIONSH- OF WORK AND FELLOWSHHIP HIP AND SHHECURITY. I WASHH FILLED THE AIR ... HOME!!!!

CHRISHH (THE YOUTH BEASHHTIE DEVELOP- MENT WORKER) WASHH ESHHPESHHIALLY KIND. HE MOSHHT GENEROUSHHLY VACATED HISHH SHHLEEPING SHHPASHHE TO GIVE TO ME.

GAIL INTRODUSHHED ME TO SHHEVERAL OSHHER NEW FRIENDSHH, BUT GIVEN THE HIGHLY SHHEN- [ED: HOWEVER IN AN OVER- SHHITIVE, TOP SHHECRET NATURE OF THEIR AC- SHHLOWLY, GRADUALLY, LOOKED, SECLUDED CORNER TIVITIESHH, IT’SHH ADVISHHABLE NOT TO PUBLISHH I FELT ALL MY PROTECTIVE THE SHHTAFF CHHATTED AND OF THE WILD GOOSHH BASE ... THEIR PHOTOGRAPHSHH. LAYERSHH FALL AWAY ... BUSHHTLED HAPPILY ABOUT ... TO BE CONTINUED ... ]

GOOSEgander Spring 2017 GOOSEgander Spring 2017 26 NEW SONG gander

Here is a hitherto unpublished text 1. that will soon be published in a We sing for those whose song is silent, forthcoming new WGRG book, whose hidden hurt no tune could bear — children whose innocence of loving ‘KNOWN UNKNOWNS’ - a has long since gone beyond repair. collection of 100 texts that can God, who conceived and gave us birth, allow congregations (and primarily listen for those who’ve lost their worth. small ones) to be able to sing contemporary texts to known tunes. 2. We sing for those who lives were mangled when friendship turned to vile abuse, We offer it at this time as its first as those they trusted traded kindness use was for a gathering of people for cruelty beyond excuse. in a community in which child sex God, in whose image all were made, abuse had been prevalent. It was feel for the ones who’ve been betrayed. a time of prayer and healing for the survivors. 3. We sing for those who bear within them scars in the body, mind and soul, Given the recent news of wide- fears from the past and, for tomorrow, spread accusations of abuse in the yearnings that they might yet be whole. sports (particularly football) world God, who in Christ was touched by pain, as well as the ongoing frustrations make your hurt children whole again. and controversies surrounding the 4. major UK enquiry into past We pray for those who know temptation abuses, it may be an appropriate worse than our earnest words can tell, text for our time. who covet power, who lie in waiting with evil lusts designed in hell. Jesus, through whom the world is saved, conquer the sin, heal the depraved.

5. We sing that through believing people lives may be hallowed as they should; and ask that God in every victim shall see faith, hope and love renewed. This is our prayer, this is our song to God, to whom we all belong.

GOOSEgander Spring 2017 26 NEW SONG gander 27 We sing for those whose song is silent

Words & Arrangement: John L. Bell, Melody: 'NEUMARK', GeorgeWords &Neumark Arrangement: (1621-1681) John L. Bell, Melody: ‘NEUMARK’, Georg Neumark (1621-1681) Here is a hitherto unpublished text 1. Gently that will soon be published in a We sing for those whose song is silent, ° forthcoming new WGRG book, whose hidden hurt no tune could bear — b children whose innocence of loving b 3 ˙ ‘KNOWN UNKNOWNS’ - a & 4 œ œ œ œ ˙ œ #œ œ œ has long since gone beyond repair. œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ ˙ œ œ œ collection of 100 texts that can God, who conceived and gave us birth, We sing for those whose song is si - lent, whose hid - den allow congregations (and primarily listen for those who’ve lost their worth. small ones) to be able to sing con- child-ren whose in - no - cence of lov - ing has long since temporary texts to known tunes. 2. We sing for those who lives were mangled ? b3 nœ #œ ˙ nœ ˙ when friendship turned to vile abuse, ¢ b 4 œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ We offer it at this time as its first as those they trusted traded kindness use was for a gathering of people for cruelty beyond excuse. 6 in a community in which child sex God, in whose image all were made, abuse had been prevalent. It was feel for the ones who’ve been betrayed. ° ™ bb ™ ™ œ œ œ ˙ œ a time of prayer and healing for & ˙œ œ œ˙ œ #œ ˙™ œ œ œ œ the survivors. 3. œ œ œ ˙ We sing for those who bear within them hurt no tune could bear scars in the body, mind and soul, % Godwho conceived and Given the recent news of wide- fears from the past and, for tomorrow, gone be - yond re - pair. spread accusations of abuse in the yearnings that they might yet be whole. ™ œ œ sports (particularly football) world God, who in Christ was touched by pain, ? b ˙ œ œ ˙ ™ œ œ œ œ as well as the ongoing frustrations make your hurt children whole again. ¢ b ˙ and controversies surrounding the 4. 11 major UK enquiry into past We pray for those who know temptation ° abuses, it may be an appropriate worse than our earnest words can tell, bb ˙ œ ˙™ œ ™ text for our time. who covet power, who lie in waiting & œ™ œ œ ™ œ œ #˙ œ œ˙ #œ ˙ with evil lusts designed in hell. J ˙ œ œ œ ˙ œ œ œ œ œ ˙™ Jesus, through whom the world is saved, conquer the sin, heal the depraved. gave us birth, lis - ten forthose who've lost their worth. 5. œ œ We sing that through believing people ? b œ œ œ œ œ œ œ lives may be hallowed as they should; ¢ b œ œ œ œ ˙ ˙™ and ask that God in every victim shall see faith, hope and love renewed. This is our prayer, this is our song to God, to whom we all belong.

GOOSEgander Spring 2017 GOOSEgander Spring 2017

JO LOVE bids a fond (well, mibbe not ...) farewell to the former offices of WGRG and the Iona Community. This may be read as an ‘aternative version’ - and no less true than that - of Shhonn the Shheepdog’s story on pages 4-9 and 18-21. MICHAEL MARTEN

Is it really a year ago already?! Rewind to February quieter! We will long be cracking jokes about inviting 2016. Staff meeting. Well, folks, it’s like this. Our back a panpipe player or a tuneless crooner to ser- lease at Savoy House expires on 26th February. We enade us for old times’ sake. Aye right. The bye-bye asked the landlords for a short term extension. They to the buskers is the sweetest part of the parting with have now said we can have a five-year extension or Savoy! be out by 26th February. So either we’re stuck here for another five years or we manage a complete of- And our new home is an old stables, much to Jo’s fice move in the next three weeks. delight as a horsewoman! Where now we have our event space on the ground floor and most of the Iona If it was ever in doubt, it’s now official – we like a Community office space on the first floor with WGRG challenge! Carlton Court had come to our attention on the second, a hundred years ago these three lay- about two months earlier and all seventeen of us had ers housed the carriages, the horses and the hayloft visited at least once and voiced our cautious ap- respectively! proval. The landlords were certainly eager to have us, and to find ways to address the questions we raised, Needless to say, for the four of us on the top floor some of which were not yet settled as we sat there in there is lots more elbow room. At one end is Gail’s February considering what was truly a no-brainer – room, with our small stockroom at the far end. In three weeks it is then, we are moving. between, Jo’s papier mache desk tidy adds a splash of colours to the spacious blue-carpeted, white-walled There was no time to do the previously planned central area, with our coffee table over by the French thorough sifting of every shelf, drawer and cupboard. window and balcony overlooking the courtyard. No time for the clearing-out of everything that really Graham’s appearances tend to correlate conversely didn’t need to come with us. Still, there was a jubilant with the number of unopened mystery packages on level of bin bag filling and dusty box emptying! The his desk. John murmurs from time to time about a hot tea area became the plastic crate area. The Leader’s desk, but has so far enjoyed the new sofa in Gail’s office became the tea area. Team challenges were little oasis of order and calm. met on a daily basis… has anyone got another screw- driver? How do these shelves come apart? Where A year in and we are still experimenting with what does this cable actually unplug? Can I get you some goes where. In a stunning display of recycling and more bubblewrap? Hit the kettle, will you! upcycling, the Savoy stockroom alcoves were dis- mantled and came with us, now rebuilt into a variety Looking back, the short sharp shock of a three week of new storage units, on casters of course, for an window was probably better than the luxury of longer endless variety of easily-manoeuvred configurations time to think about it. A working office became a and games of office dodgems. One unit houses our stack of crates and bare furniture, and so came the extended team the menagerie, members of which week of all systems down to allow for all systems go. clamoured to appear on camera (above) with us.

The advance party at Carlton Court were greeted with a big welcome basket of goodies from our new landlords! (In a much more recent fire alarm practice, Tunnock’s Snowballs were handed round for our inconvenience!)

Our new home is lighter, brighter, bigger, airier and

GOOSEgander Spring 2017 28 SO LONG, Savoy weeWONDERBOX 29

JO LOVE bids a fond (well, mibbe GRAHAM MAULE tells more about of folk, weeWONDERBOX aims to celebrate and build living community in the flesh through repeated, not ...) farewell to the former an exotic, yet also indigenous new accessible, embodied encounters, where compelling and ultimately meaningful relationships might offices of WGRG and the Iona arrival on the WGRG scene ... be started, sustained and cemented. We believe it’s Community. This may be read as this kind of face-to-face encounter (or critical mass) At Pentecost 2016, the Church celebrated yet another that ultimately has to be the ground of all stages of an ‘aternative version’ - and no birthday. In parallel with this irrepressible annual human interaction and change-making. less true than that - of Shhonn the event, a similar nativity occurred in ‘The Ground’, the new event space at the Iona Community’s new An evangelical project Shheepdog’s story on pages 4-9 Glasgow base in Carlton Court. weeWONDERBOX and 18-21. — a joint initiative between the Iona Community’s weeWONDERBOX aims to multiply the ways, means Programme Development Team & the Wild Goose and occasions to ‘touch the lives of all’. This ‘all’ Resource Group — was born. Since then, a braw

MICHAEL MARTEN obviously includes those in the Community and clanjamfrie (ie. beautiful, varied chaos) of open, pub- WGRG stables, but also other faithful folk who might Is it really a year ago already?! Rewind to February quieter! We will long be cracking jokes about inviting lic events have been held. welcome increased opportunities for public, 2016. Staff meeting. Well, folks, it’s like this. Our back a panpipe player or a tuneless crooner to ser- communal engagement: those who might not have lease at Savoy House expires on 26th February. We enade us for old times’ sake. Aye right. The bye-bye It’s not possible to list all of these past (or future) encountered the approaches of concerned, asked the landlords for a short term extension. They to the buskers is the sweetest part of the parting with events, but details can be found on the Wild Goose contemporary Christian faith and practice. have now said we can have a five-year extension or Savoy! website at: www.wildgoose.scot/weewonderbox be out by 26th February. So either we’re stuck here A small, organic project for another five years or we manage a complete of- And our new home is an old stables, much to Jo’s fice move in the next three weeks. delight as a horsewoman! Where now we have our CONCEPTS & INTENTIONS event space on the ground floor and most of the Iona In many ways (and totally unapologetically), wee- WONDERBOX will also be opportunistic, occasional, If it was ever in doubt, it’s now official – we like a Community office space on the first floor with WGRG But, perhaps more interestingly here, I hear you say, random and (as the name suggests) small-scale and challenge! Carlton Court had come to our attention on the second, a hundred years ago these three lay- what are the ideas and hopes behind weeWONDER- organic. We recall Jesus’ example of the mustard about two months earlier and all seventeen of us had ers housed the carriages, the horses and the hayloft BOX? Well, we might summarise as follows: seed, reassured by the knowledge that ‘small is beau- visited at least once and voiced our cautious ap- respectively! tiful’ (and powerful). In any case, physical resources, proval. The landlords were certainly eager to have us, A participative project funding and capacity do not allow for too much else and to find ways to address the questions we raised, Needless to say, for the four of us on the top floor at present, but we hope this will change. some of which were not yet settled as we sat there in there is lots more elbow room. At one end is Gail’s While practically conceived as a joint Iona Commu- February considering what was truly a no-brainer – room, with our small stockroom at the far end. In nity & WGRG initiative, we equally want We envisage that a wide range of regular, occasion- three weeks it is then, we are moving. between, Jo’s papier mache desk tidy adds a splash of colours to the spacious blue-carpeted, white-walled weeWONDERBOX to offer a renewed opportunity al or one-off formats of varied themes and content for both Iona Community folk and progressively- will make up weeWONDERBOX events. Liturgies, There was no time to do the previously planned central area, with our coffee table over by the French inclined, interested others to get involved – not only discussions, reading groups, creative workshops, thorough sifting of every shelf, drawer and cupboard. window and balcony overlooking the courtyard. through attending but, crucially, also in devising, activist gatherings, wee sings, walks, pilgrimages, No time for the clearing-out of everything that really Graham’s appearances tend to correlate conversely enabling and making events happen. Opportunities interviews, talks, presentations, book launches, con- didn’t need to come with us. Still, there was a jubilant with the number of unopened mystery packages on to collaborate with other groups & organisations also certs, ceilidhs. You name it, we’re interested in it! level of bin bag filling and dusty box emptying! The his desk. John murmurs from time to time about a hot becomes more possible than has recently been the tea area became the plastic crate area. The Leader’s desk, but has so far enjoyed the new sofa in Gail’s case. The full realisation of this depends on many folk Issues covered will range from biblical exploration, office became the tea area. Team challenges were little oasis of order and calm. working on this ‘demanding, common task’. faith, politics, culture, environment, technology, met on a daily basis… has anyone got another screw- media, peace, justice, reconciliation, economics, edu- driver? How do these shelves come apart? Where A year in and we are still experimenting with what cation, human creativity and imagination – in short, does this cable actually unplug? Can I get you some goes where. In a stunning display of recycling and A modelling project the whole gamut of pressing issues and challenges more bubblewrap? Hit the kettle, will you! upcycling, the Savoy stockroom alcoves were dis- mantled and came with us, now rebuilt into a variety Not dissimilar to the tactics of Jesus, weeWONDER- we face in God’s world – to seek out the compelling connections between human life, society, faith and Looking back, the short sharp shock of a three week of new storage units, on casters of course, for an BOX seeks to create real examples and demonstra- discipleship. window was probably better than the luxury of longer endless variety of easily-manoeuvred configurations tions of the kind of event that can be physically time to think about it. A working office became a and games of office dodgems. One unit houses our experienced, learnt from and replicated at other Although most initial events will take place in The stack of crates and bare furniture, and so came the extended team the menagerie, members of which times and in other places. The conversational ap- Ground in Glasgow, it’s possible that similar events week of all systems down to allow for all systems go. clamoured to appear on camera (above) with us. proach that JO LOVE’s article on page 26 describes, is a fundamental approach that is at the heart of could ripple out into other places dependent on funding, capacity and a shared vision of participation. The advance party at Carlton Court were greeted weeWONDERBOX. with a big welcome basket of goodies from our new If you want to keep posted on upcoming events, you landlords! (In a much more recent fire alarm practice, A public project can do several things; you can sign up to our eNews, Tunnock’s Snowballs were handed round for our at www.wildgoose.scot/weewonderbox or by follow- inconvenience!) As UK and Western culture tends increasingly to ing this link: http://eepurl.com/byreMj privatisation, compartmentalisation and the isolation Our new home is lighter, brighter, bigger, airier and

GOOSEgander Spring 2017 GOOSEgander Spring 2017 30 TALKING Matters How well does your church community know the real you? Where, when and with whom do his wedding day to coincide, so it was with a blissful residue of optimism that I entered into the regular diet you have your best of ‘Resourcing Worship’ subcommittee meetings in the autumn. With just six of us and four already familiar conversations? Have you recently faces, it was full immersion with no shallow paddlings had any unexpected, surprisingly first! The main piece of work I was immediately caught up in was putting together a resource with deep exchanges, with a stranger, the working title “Conversations in Worship” – an perhaps, or someone with whom attempt to give congregations a structured framework you usually don’t get past the for enabling people to share their real stories - about God, worship, resonances between scripture stories Where, when small talk, or even someone at and our own – all that stuff shied away from at your average church coffee time and rarely allowed to church?! JO LOVE wonders about breathe within traditional worship services. What and with whom do you these compelling questions that happened, then, when the material we initially put together - a simple four-question session lasting 60-90 have your best we ignore at the mortal peril of minutes - was piloted with eight groups from Orkney our engaged, public living in to Glasgow and Aberdeen to Skye? Not being part conversations? of the pilot sessions, I had the thrill of listening to the society and in the Church. astonishment of those who had, reporting back time after time, “people really appreciated it!” “they really took to it!” “even a stalwart Western Isles elder was nearly in tears of joy!” Without exception, people How would you describe the conversational habits of warmed to the opportunity to talk. the congregation you know best? Could you confi- dently describe it as a community of people who can On our WGRG weeks on Iona, I’ve tried out a few and do really talk to each other? A place where deep workshops around simply giving a framework which sharing is part of the norm? A context where our true invites people to have meaningful conversations. Back selves can show up, openly and freely? What if all in 2012, guests began a ‘Pondering and Wander- How would you of our churches had the reputation for being places ing’ session by sifting through question cards in five where people share stories and experiences, thoughts categories – God, Prayer, Bible, Discipleship, Com- describe the conversational and questions… about our encounters with God; the munity. Choosing whichever question ‘grabbed’ them demands and delights of discipleship; the daily bread most from the given selection, they then paired up and habits of the congregation that is feeding us, what is making our souls sing. went off for about 40 minutes of walking and talking. Regrouping for a short time, we didn’t debrief on the you know best? Conversation – rich, deep, face to face conversation content of those conversations, but there was much – the need for it, the longing for it, the reclaiming of enthusing on the experience of ‘just talking about the it – seems to be a recurring theme, an insistent and basic stuff of faith that we never talk about!’ and how growing thread, of recent years. Or is it just me and a the dynamic of the conversation felt different ‘on the bunch of particular landmarks along my way? hoof’ from sitting down to talk. ‘When you’re walking, the silences are no problem’, ‘you get that sense of In June 2014 I attended a fascinating three days’ the discussion moving, because you are!’ training in the “Art of Hosting” which ‘blends a suite of powerful conversational processes to invite people As an aside, I was intrigued to discover the top three to step in and take charge of the challenges facing questions that ‘grabbed’ people! — them.’ Other commitments prevented me from attend- Have you recently ing any follow-up events until a one-day gathering 3. How well does your church community know last November. Twelve people, one circle, leaning in, the real you? What makes that so? had any unexpected, knees touching, hearts on fire. 2. What has been helpful or unhelpful in the surprisingly deep In June 2015, with some reservations and not a little ways you’ve been taught to read and sense of dread, I said yes to an invitation to serve on understand the Bible? Have you had to unlearn exchanges, with a the Mission and Discipleship Council of the Church anything you’ve been taught? of Scotland. Hope had a surprising win over skepti- stranger? cism during my first experience of the Council! It was 1. What is it, in a nutshell, that persuades you a two-day conference and for most of day one, we that God exists? were in small groups with some seriously good discussion questions to chew on. I missed day two, the Busi- In the Holy City season of 2015-2016, we revisited ness Meeting, thanks to my nephew having chosen the idea of discussions on the move, and ran a series

GOOSEgander Spring 2017 30 TALKING Matters 31 How well does your church community know the real you? Where, when and with whom do his wedding day to coincide, so it was with a blissful of seven “ROOT 66: Biblical blethers on the hoof” ‘Open House’ guided conversations. I’ve heard how residue of optimism that I entered into the regular diet events. We tramped gorgeous gorges, heathery Canongate Church in Edinburgh ran an early evening you have your best of ‘Resourcing Worship’ subcommittee meetings in the hillsides, sunny shores and wooded wilds, teasing out ‘Dinner Church’ (Pot Luck Supper by any other name!) autumn. With just six of us and four already familiar tales of Lot, Job, Peter, Manoah and his wife, sharing for about two years. Deeper conversations can’t be conversations? Have you recently faces, it was full immersion with no shallow paddlings how we mark Lent, how we describe the divine, how manufactured, but people do tend to welcome what had any unexpected, surprisingly first! The main piece of work I was immediately darkness can be as valuable as light, how we might is set up in recognition of the importance of a space caught up in was putting together a resource with honestly answer if Jesus asked us, “Do you love me?” for sharing and discussing issues of life and faith more deep exchanges, with a stranger, the working title “Conversations in Worship” – an Our hikes included the hilarity of composing tabloid openly and honestly. There’s nothing quite like having perhaps, or someone with whom attempt to give congregations a structured framework headlines about Lot’s daughters and role-playing Job’s a great conversation. you usually don’t get past the for enabling people to share their real stories - about Comforters of 2016! God, worship, resonances between scripture stories Where, when How does all this resonate with what is happening small talk, or even someone at and our own – all that stuff shied away from at your In late 2015 I read the sobering and insightful where you are? Below is a flavour of some workshop average church coffee time and rarely allowed to newly published book by Sherry Turkle, “Reclaiming content. If you wish, make use of them for getting church?! JO LOVE wonders about breathe within traditional worship services. What and with whom do you Conversation: the power of talk in a digital age.” talking, whether for a first or umpteenth time, and these compelling questions that happened, then, when the material we initially put Without doubt, the plethora of initiatives in churches whether it takes a little or a lot of courage… in a small together - a simple four-question session lasting 60-90 have your best and society to encourage face to face engagement, group, over coffee or a meal, out on a walk, or even we ignore at the mortal peril of minutes - was piloted with eight groups from Orkney is a crucial response and antidote to our increasingly in church! our engaged, public living in to Glasgow and Aberdeen to Skye? Not being part conversations? online lives. This new year, research suggested that of the pilot sessions, I had the thrill of listening to the more people resolved to quit social media than smok- Share a story about ... society and in the Church. astonishment of those who had, reporting back time ing, with the desire to get back to “more reading and after time, “people really appreciated it!” “they really talking.” In similar vein is one of the most reiterated • a memorable encounter with God took to it!” “even a stalwart Western Isles elder was quotes, and sure to be among the most enduring, from • a time you longed to be close to God. What nearly in tears of joy!” Without exception, people Obama’s farewell speech - “If you’re tired of arguing did you do and was your longing satisfied? How would you describe the conversational habits of warmed to the opportunity to talk. with strangers on the internet, try talking with one of • a time when a story from the Bible connected the congregation you know best? Could you confi- them in real life.” It only dawned on me about a week strongly, and perhaps spoke deeply, to a situation dently describe it as a community of people who can On our WGRG weeks on Iona, I’ve tried out a few after the ‘Art of Hosting’ reunion, how refreshing and you were going through. What came of it? and do really talk to each other? A place where deep workshops around simply giving a framework which how significant it had been to spend the whole day • how you have made peace with a big regret. sharing is part of the norm? A context where our true invites people to have meaningful conversations. Back with mobile phones out of sight and out of mind. • what has helped your hurts to heal. In your selves can show up, openly and freely? What if all in 2012, guests began a ‘Pondering and Wander- How would you experience, is time a great healer? of our churches had the reputation for being places ing’ session by sifting through question cards in five On Iona last summer after a year of development with • a significant experience of forgiveness, where people share stories and experiences, thoughts categories – God, Prayer, Bible, Discipleship, Com- describe the conversational ‘Conversations in Worship’, ROOT 66 outings and whether you were the forgiver or the forgiven. and questions… about our encounters with God; the munity. Choosing whichever question ‘grabbed’ them reading, I tried out another workshop, with a greater • a time you felt spiritually very alive! demands and delights of discipleship; the daily bread most from the given selection, they then paired up and habits of the congregation focus on exploring the practice of having times of • a time you really argued with God. What that is feeding us, what is making our souls sing. went off for about 40 minutes of walking and talking. conversation within worship services. This is quite came of it and did it change your understanding Regrouping for a short time, we didn’t debrief on the you know best? the norm at my home church where we’re posed a of God? Conversation – rich, deep, face to face conversation content of those conversations, but there was much relevant question to chat about in twos and threes, • a time when an author or poet was a particu- – the need for it, the longing for it, the reclaiming of enthusing on the experience of ‘just talking about the arising from the Bible passage or as a lead in to hear- larly helpful companion on your faith journey. it – seems to be a recurring theme, an insistent and basic stuff of faith that we never talk about!’ and how ing it. Yet there are still occasions when I’m reticent What was it that you found helpful in their writ- growing thread, of recent years. Or is it just me and a the dynamic of the conversation felt different ‘on the to offer my most honest response – usually when it’s a ings? bunch of particular landmarks along my way? hoof’ from sitting down to talk. ‘When you’re walking, particular good and penetrating question! I put it to a • a time when suffering (your own or someone the silences are no problem’, ‘you get that sense of bunch of ministers recently - what helps people talk at else’s) expanded your sense of God. In June 2014 I attended a fascinating three days’ the discussion moving, because you are!’ a deeper level? Someone commented, “The willing- • a time when you have experienced God as training in the “Art of Hosting” which ‘blends a suite ness of someone to go first.” Yes. I was reminded powerful… or as powerless. of powerful conversational processes to invite people As an aside, I was intrigued to discover the top three of the Sunday I opened my mouth and went first. A • an experience that enabled you to “become to step in and take charge of the challenges facing questions that ‘grabbed’ people! — little vulnerability goes a long way, I discovered, as like a child”. What have you seen in the childlike- them.’ Other commitments prevented me from attend- Have you recently my conversation partner, far from looking at me like ness of others that inspires or unsettles you? ing any follow-up events until a one-day gathering 3. How well does your church community know I’d just taken all my clothes off, nodded thoughtfully • coming to grasp a truth that has set you free. last November. Twelve people, one circle, leaning in, the real you? What makes that so? had any unexpected, and offered back a similarly naked honesty. I’m both • a memorable experience of praying. What knees touching, hearts on fire. heartened and hounded by the memory. Heartened compels you to pray? How has your praying 2. What has been helpful or unhelpful in the surprisingly deep because it happened. Hounded by my own disquiet changed you? In June 2015, with some reservations and not a little ways you’ve been taught to read and that there hasn’t been a Sunday since when I’ve sum- • experiencing profound certainty or uncertainty. sense of dread, I said yes to an invitation to serve on understand the Bible? Have you had to unlearn exchanges, with a moned the same courage! But I’m convinced that a What made it a good or a bad experience? the Mission and Discipleship Council of the Church anything you’ve been taught? mustard seed of courage is the crucial catalyst. of Scotland. Hope had a surprising win over skepti- stranger? cism during my first experience of the Council! It was 1. What is it, in a nutshell, that persuades you Where possible, I’ve been following the stories of a two-day conference and for most of day one, we that God exists? a few newish local happenings around this desire were in small groups with some seriously good discus- to encourage rich conversation, such as the Café sion questions to chew on. I missed day two, the Busi- In the Holy City season of 2015-2016, we revisited Church and Pub Theology gatherings of Erskine Parish ness Meeting, thanks to my nephew having chosen the idea of discussions on the move, and ran a series Church, and Kelvinbridge Parish Church’s first year of

GOOSEgander Spring 2017 GOOSEgander Spring 2017 32 CATALOGUEgander

• Harvesting The World – on har- vest (No.10)

• God And Her Girls – on ignored women of the Bible (No.11)

• Spare Change And Gilt-Edged Grace – on money (No.12)

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GOOSEgander Spring 2017 32 CATALOGUEgander DR. BELL’S surgery 33

• Harvesting The From Achiltibuie to Auckland and I looked it up, sadly to discover that this was the first World – on har- line of verse two, not of verse one. O bother! vest (No.10) from Nantucket to Nanjing, the So, to help me and other enthusiasts for this seasonal • God And Her acute insight and counter-intuitive kazoo activity, can you suggest – for my eyes only – Girls – on ignored liturgical analysis of the incompa- carols beginning with ‘X’ and ‘Z’ for next year. women of the Bible (No.11) rably lugubrious DR. JOHN BELL Yours xtra zestfully,

• Spare Change has been met with widespread Willhemina (Billy) Blawhard (Mrs) And Gilt-Edged global acclaim and the occasional Grace – on money (No.12) bowel infection. In this, his ongo- Dear Willhelmina, www.wildgoose.scot/ ing liturgical surgery, he dispenses Looking through The Encyclopaedia of Christmas product/wgrg-liturgy- his timeless and insightful wisdom Songes and Canticles (1645 edition, ISBN no. booklet-bundle 777 3124 8b) I discovered the following which about common dilemmas, mala- may be of use, to the tune Dix (As with gladness, dies and ecclesial, theological men of old): A SEASONAL constipation. Xenophobia none could see DOWNLOAD when the wise men bent their knee. RESOURCE (Had xeroxgraphia been around proof of this would have been found.) Also available for those Dear Dr Bell, After these men’s gifts were given wishing to celebrate St Xylophones were heard in heaven. Columba Day on 9th At Christmas some friends and I spent a jolly hour or (Catalogue 420B item 7) NEW TITLES visitors make their way NEW TO SHOP • Remember Me June, we have WGRG two playing a game I would like to commend to oth- to Iona and many are Today – a Holy Liturgy Booklet (No.1) ers. All you need is a kazoo for every participant. More especially I am sure you will be thrilled to available in download know that the eminent ethno-musicologist and IONA ABBEY changed by their time WGRG LITURGY Week reflection form. Focusing on baroque specialist, Icelle Doughpp, recently took WORSHIP BOOK - on this small Hebridean BOOKLET (Bundle) - (No.4) After rolling a dice or tossing coins, the designated themes drawn from part in an archaeological dig in the St Thomas Various island which has been a Wild Goose first performer picks up his or her kazoo and plays Columba’s life, this is Church in Leipzig, where Bach was musicus. Book, 272 pp: £11.99 powerful spiritual centre Resource Group • Pictures Of God a Christmas carol tune beginning with the first letter a liturgy that has been He and one of his postgraduate students, Eyein over the centuries. The 9 x Booklets: £22.50 – on our images of of the alphabet – ‘A’. The others have to prove their subsequently and regu- Hale, claim to have found a hitherto unseen This, the latest edition Iona Community believes God (No.5) recognition of the tune by joining in and harmonis- larly used by congrega- cantata by Bach which also uses the Wachet Auf of the liturgies and that we are brought to This bundle features all ing where possible. tions and groups, since chorale. resources of the island Iona not to be changed the WGRG Liturgy • Sweet Honey its original publication services reflect the Iona into ‘religious’ people, Booklets currently in And Hard Plac- We all had a jolly time, especially since my daughter in 1997, on the 1400th Here is Isel’s translation in English of the first Community’s commit- but rather to be made print (a total of nine). es – a collection of and I had both sung in choirs and were confident in anniversary of the saint’s verse. It is quite amazing that whoever the poet ment to the belief that more fully human. Our short liturgies on offering David Willcox’s descants to ‘Hark the Herald death. was for the 1732 manuscript had such a global worship is all that we common life – including Each booklet contains the Psalms (No.6) Angels Sing’ and ‘O Come, All Ye Faithful’ (which vision. To the tune Wachet Auf: are and all that we do, our services – is directed a full scripted liturgy were the contributions for ‘H’ and ‘O’ respectively.) both inside and outside to that end. on a specific theme or • A Road To Check out the Wild Zulu hearts and drums are beating the church, with no biblical topic, with full Roam – an in- However, we were all jolly stumped on three occa- Goose web shop site for while zebras bray their praise in greeting division into the sacred This new edition of the instructions for lead- house pilgrimage sions. The first time it was ‘Q’. Special Prices on some the advent of this blessed day. and the secular. The Iona Abbey Worship ing, symbolic action, on liturgical space of these materials: Zephyrs blow the whole world over material draws on many Book has been exten- movement and music as (No.7) Still, I saved the day when I suddenly brought to especially in the Straits of Dover traditions and aims to sively revised and rear- required. mind, from my French O Level days, ‘Quelle est cette (the French prefer Le Pas de Calais) help us to be fully pres- ranged. About 80% of • Fencing In www.wildgoose. odeur agréable’. Regrettably I could only favour the While some may zap their zits ent to God, who is fully the text is new material The Bundle price is a God’s People company with the first line. scot and others comb out nits, present to us – in our which has been devel- saving of £7.50 on the – on 3000 years all so zealous, neighbour, in the politi- oped by members of the normal total price for of wall-building But what about ‘X’ and ‘Z’? These proved impos- the zouk in every zone is found; cal and social activity of Iona Community since these 9 booklets. in Israel-Palestine sibly difficult, although a friend of ours – a native of all Afric’s zipcodes thus resound. the world around us, the previous edition. (No.8) Germany – said that in Bach’s cantata ‘Wachet Auf’ and in the very centre The Liturgy Booklets (BWV140 BC A166) there is a Christmas text which, I hope these unknown texts will bring you suc- and soul of our being. www.wildgoose.scot/ included are: • A Family Affair in English, is translated, ‘Zion hears the watchmen product/iona-abbey- – on the Prodigal singing.’ cess in next year’s seasonal kazoonery, Each year, thousands of worship-book-2017-bk Son (No.9) Yours etc.

GOOSEgander Spring 2017 GOOSEgander Spring 2017 While this reveals that Wesley was re- 34 markably prescient about early 21st century US political developments, such unashamed bias in a hymn is surely un- acceptable and I’m not sure how to deal with it. Any helpful suggestion would be appreciated.

...... What concerns me is the mention of our new President’s name which threatens to divide those of Dear Dr Bell, European descent in my congregation and totally enrage those African-American and Hispanic origin. I have inherited a ‘traditional’ choir – robes, hats and handbags for the women etc., etc. They make quite a Any helpful suggestion would be appreciated. worthy but not very exciting sound. Yours truly, Wesley Wawsright Any clues as to how I might creatively excite or inspire them? Dear Wesley, Sincerely yours, Tom Wilde. From recent visits to the USA, I discover that there are other names which could easily be Dear Tom, substituted for Trump – names such as Philanderer, Con-Merchant, Bankrupt, Bully, Why don’t you live up to your name? Appear even K-K-Kiltie – this last partly resulting from a one night dressed for the choir practice in noth- picture of his arrival in Scotland two years ago ing but leopard skin and say that you’d like to when he clambered down the steps of a small do a getting-to-know-you game. Ask everyone jet which had landed in Skye with one hand to put their books down and stand in a circle. clutching his toupee and the other holding down his kilt, both of which were being buffetted by Then say that you are going to put out the light totally seasonal weather. at which time everyone must take off their clothes and pile them in a bundle in the middle of the But as you will have undoubtedly noticed, none floor. of these suggestions are monosyllabic.

You will then kick the bundle in the air, and the So I’d like to propose a completely new line first person fully-dressed can turn on the lights which might win the approval of most of your again. Then give people a minute to undo their congregation: shoe laces as you close any curtains in the room. We then shall hear the archangel’s voice: Apart from that, some of my friends advise ‘That chump and fraud was not my choice.’ itching powder discreetly dusted inside the choir robes, and substituting Fishermen’s Friends (Ex- Please claim copyright in your own name to pre- tra Strength) for the peppermints usually passed vent the President from being distracted from the round during the sermon. duties of state by having to allege defamation of character in a Scottish court. Do let me know which method brings most suc- cess. Yours etc.

Yours etc.

...... Do you have any questions for the Doctor?

Dear Dr Bell, Can he offer help and (in)appropriate remedies for your liturgical symptoms? I am writing to you from the USA, as it would be costly to me to have this letter published in an Ameri- Do write to the Doctor: can religious journal. c/o GOOSEgander at the contact address As a cradle Methodist, I am very worried about the on page 2. political implications of the Charles Wesley hymn ‘Rejoice, the Lord is King.’ We sang it last Sunday and all went well until the closing couplet in the final verse:

We then shall hear the archangel’s voice: the trump of God shall sound, ‘Rejoice.’

GOOSEgander Spring 2017 While this reveals that Wesley was re- 34 markably prescient about early 21st 35 century US political developments, such unashamed bias in a hymn is surely un- GANDER at the calendar acceptable and I’m not sure how to deal with it. Any helpful suggestion would be appreciated.

...... What concerns me is the mention of our new A selection of Wild Goose April 2017 relevant part of the community. June 2017 President’s name which threatens to divide those of & weeWONDERBOX 7.30-9.30pm, John leads a Big Dear Dr Bell, European descent in my congregation and totally events from April to July Sing with songs from the Iona enrage those African-American and Hispanic origin. 2017. 24th-28th: SKIPTON, N Community. Both events part I have inherited a ‘traditional’ choir – robes, hats and Yorks, Scargill House of Ainsdale Methodist Church’s handbags for the women etc., etc. They make quite a Any helpful suggestion would be appreciated. The full weeWONDERBOX 150th anniversary. worthy but not very exciting sound. programme can be found on ‘Nameless Women & Missing (Cynthia May, cynthia- Yours truly, Wesley Wawsright the WGRG website at: Men’. John L. Bell opens up sto- [email protected]) Any clues as to how I might creatively excite or ries of little known Biblical char- inspire them? www.wildgoose.scot/wee- acters, which might challenge Dear Wesley, presumptions, and encourage wonderbox/ 17th-19th: RIDING MILL, Sincerely yours, Tom Wilde. our discipleship. Shepherds Dene Retreat From recent visits to the USA, I discover that weewonderbox@wildgoose. (Scargill House, 01756 House there are other names which could easily be scot 760500, admin@scargillmove- Dear Tom, substituted for Trump – names such as ment.org) ‘Reclaiming the Bible’. In this Philanderer, Con-Merchant, Bankrupt, Bully, Local contacts for events are retreat John L. Bell explores the Why don’t you live up to your name? Appear even K-K-Kiltie – this last partly resulting from a shown in brackets, otherwise varieties of text and how best one night dressed for the choir practice in noth- picture of his arrival in Scotland two years ago details can be had from the 30th: PRESTON, Central to read them, deal with some ing but leopard skin and say that you’d like to when he clambered down the steps of a small WGRG office: Methodist Church of the ‘awkward bits’ which do a getting-to-know-you game. Ask everyone jet which had landed in Skye with one hand people tend to avoid, and try to put their books down and stand in a circle. clutching his toupee and the other holding down 0141 429 7281 ‘Songs from the Iona Commu- a few straightforward ways to his kilt, both of which were being buffetted by nity’. John L. Bell leads worship explore the Bible together. Then say that you are going to put out the light totally seasonal weather. at the Bicentenary Celebration [email protected] (Jane Easterby, Warden, 01434 9th-11th: GLASGOW, The at which time everyone must take off their clothes Service. Ground, Iona Community and pile them in a bundle in the middle of the But as you will have undoubtedly noticed, none 682212, jane@shepherdsdene. www.wildgoose.scot (Sue Griffiths, 01772 774285, Base [weeWONDERBOX] floor. of these suggestions are monosyllabic. co.uk) suegriffiths@mybroadbandmail. ‘ColumbaFest’... The first in com) You will then kick the bundle in the air, and the So I’d like to propose a completely new line what will be an annual festival first person fully-dressed can turn on the lights which might win the approval of most of your 20th-21st: HADLEIGH, weekend around the anniversary again. Then give people a minute to undo their congregation: Suffolk, St. Mary’s Church of Columba’s death. 30th: PRESTON, Calder shoe laces as you close any curtains in the room. Vale Methodist Church John L. Bell leads sessions on The themes of the saint’s life such We then shall hear the archangel’s voice: scripture in music & worship, as worship, prayer, political wit- Apart from that, some of my friends advise ‘That chump and fraud was not my choice.’ ‘Songs for the Real Jesus’, a including ‘Rediscovering the ness, social concern and faithful, itching powder discreetly dusted inside the choir workshop including psalms, Bible’, ‘Why Do God’s People incarnational discipleship will robes, and substituting Fishermen’s Friends (Ex- Please claim copyright in your own name to pre- world music and WGRG songs, Sing?’, and ‘Psalms, Hymns & be explored through workshops, tra Strength) for the peppermints usually passed vent the President from being distracted from the led by John L. Bell. Spiritual Songs’. conversation, worship, music round during the sermon. duties of state by having to allege defamation of and creativity. character in a Scottish court. (Edith Gorst, 01995 602078, (David Atkins, 01473 822535, Do let me know which method brings most suc- [email protected]) [email protected]) Contributors booked so far cess. Yours etc. include Pádraig Ó Tuama of the Corrymeela Community, Alison Yours etc. May 2017 27th: PERTH, St. Ninian’s Phipps & Rob Swinfen, the BERT Cathedral Community from Glasgow, Ash- ...... Do you have any questions for the Doctor? 12th: SHEFFIELD, Cathe- John L. Bell (keynote speaker) ton Lane, the In-Laws (Suzanne dral and Jo Love will be at The Adam & Steve Butler). Dear Dr Bell, Can he offer help and (in)appropriate remedies for 7.30pm. John L. Bell talks on Gathering for Scottish Episco- (More info: 0141 429 7281, your liturgical symptoms? ‘The Tangibility of Jesus’ at the pal Diocese of St. Andrew’s, weewonderbox@wildgoose. I am writing to you from the USA, as it would be Godly Play Childhood Dunkeld and Dunblane. Please scot; www.wildgoose.scot/ costly to me to have this letter published in an Ameri- Do write to the Doctor: Spirituality Conference. register through the Diocese. weewonderbox) can religious journal. c/o GOOSEgander at the contact address (www.godlyplay.uk) (http://standrews.anglican. As a cradle Methodist, I am very worried about the on page 2. org/the-gathering, 01738 20th-22nd: BANGOR, PA, political implications of the Charles Wesley hymn 632053) Kirkridge Retreat Centre ‘Rejoice, the Lord is King.’ We sang it last Sunday 13th: SOUTHPORT, Ains- and all went well until the closing couplet in the final dale Methodist Church ‘The Anatomy of Change’. In verse: this retreat John L. Bell will look 2-5pm, ‘Keeping Faith in the at change and resistance, iden- Age of Consumerism’ - John L. We then shall hear the archangel’s voice: tifying ways in which we can the trump of God shall sound, ‘Rejoice.’ Bell looks at how the Church can still be an important and GOOSEgander Spring 2017 GOOSEgander Spring 2017 3236 GOOSEGANDER & LITURGY BOOKLET SUBSCRIPTIONS GANDER at the

You can now get GOOSEGANDER in 2 ways! If you want the whole bhuna (ie. complete contents), you can subscribe (see ORDI- calendar (continued) NARY/ ORDINARY+LITURGY/ SUPPORTING below) and you’ll two full hard-copy issue, by post. If you become a registered WGRG ONLINE SHOP customer, you can download an extracted version of GG. This contains the contents of the hard-copy version, minus the main feature articles. See: www.wildgoose.scot understand and enable change a central dynamic in our life. to happen. There is no need to send this slip if you are already a subscriber. This is what the WGRG will (Kirkridge Retreat Center, 610- explore with participants from all 588-1793, janetl@kirkridge. over the world as it affects the So to subscribe to the hard-copy version of GG, choose from below: org) worshipping life of a community. Yes, I’d like to subscribe to GOOSEgander @ 2017 rates. The WGRG will draw on and ORDINARY, £4.50, 2 issues of GG (hard copy), UK postage paid.* explore what they have seen 24th: KANATA, ON, ORDINARY+LITURGY, £8.50, 2 issues of GG (hard copy), plus a copy of and enabled, such as the Kanata United Church that year’s WGRG liturgy booklet (worth around £4.50), UK postage paid.* redesigning of space; solo SUPPORTING, £40, 2 issues of GG (hard copy), plus a copy of that year’s ‘Moving Forward in Song’ – a performer ministries becoming WGRG liturgy booklet (worth around £4.50), and 10% off all purchases of day led by John L. Bell, with shared endeavours; reluctant sessions on how to positively assemblies becoming oases of WGRG books/CDs, (UK) postage paid.* cope with change, and ‘Songs song. That Matter’ which help enable *These rates apply in the UK only. Overseas postage is additional. Overseas (Application forms from WGRG, a larger understanding of God’s 0141 429 7281, wildgoose@ subscribers should contact WGRG office for the appropriate subscription rates. See presence in the world around us contact details below. wildgoose.scot) (Kanata United Church, 613- I enclose a cheque for the above amount, payable to the Wild Goose Resource 592-5834, www.kuc.ca) Group. (If also ordering WGRG mail order goods, please send TWO separate cheques. Thanks.) July 2017 NAME

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POSTCODE 15-21st: Abbey & MacLeod Centres, Iona PHONE ‘Change Without Decay’, a week with WGRG exploring E-MAIL how to create and manage changing practices in worship Tick for further information: and training. Ways to financially support the WGRG For many people in churches, The Iona Community change is a no-go area, a source of stress and the cause A free copy of GOOSEgander sent to a friend (please append their address) of major disagreement.Yet change is the central dynamic WILD GOOSE RESOURCE GROUP, of the Christian faith: Jesus both c/o Iona Community, 21 Carlton Court, Glasgow G5 9JP. changes people and in the T: 0141-429-7281; resurrection moves from being a E: [email protected]; corpse to a living body. Web: www.wildgoose.scot; Given that among the primary purposes of Jesus were to call people to repentance (which is a substantial turn-around) and ‘to make all things new’, it is important that people of faith do more than have a knee-jerk reaction to change. It should be

GOOSEgander Spring 2017