A Good Weekend

The title of this blog is 'A Good Weekend' but not this is not because Vicky left the museum on the Friday.  Good luck to her in her new role in Kent. She was great fun to work with and had a sharp wit.  

After her farewell do it is off the Reading.  We have a pint in the Greyfriar, Reading, a great pub for ale then it is time to go to the Hexagon to see the wonderful Bellowhead on their farewell tour.  I am not much of a music person really but do appreciate this band, they are lots of fun.  Is it folk rock?  How would I know?  Traditional music electrified. 

Next morning I am on the high street handing out leaflets and engaging with the public over the EU referendum. Gunther is doing a better job.  He has recruited a volunteer! 

In the afternoon I am volunterring at Sandham. See my blog post 

http://carrying-on-as-best-i-can.blogspot.co.uk/2016/03/sandham-memorial-chapel-stanley-spencer.html

Sunday involves a trip to Harris Manchester Chapel, Oxford for the Unitarian service.  You can read more about the chapel and Unitarianism here.  

http://www.ukunitarians.org.uk/oxford/

The chapel has lovely Burne Jones windows, though this is not a very good shot. 

We learn about the fourth and fifth century desert fathers and mothers.  Paul of Thebes is often credited with being the first hermit monk to go to the desert, but it was Anthony the Great who launched the movement that became the Desert Fathers.  Sometime around 270 AD, Anthony heard a Sunday sermon stating that perfection could be achieved by selling all of one's possessions, giving the proceeds to the poor, and following Christ (Matt. 19:21). He followed the advice and made the further step of moving deep into the desert to seek complete solitude. Over time, the model of Anthony and other hermits attracted many followers, who lived alone in the desert or in small groups. They chose a life of extreme ascetism, renouncing all the pleasures of the senses, rich food, baths, rest, and anything that made them comfortable.  They instead focused their energies on praying, singing psalms, fasting, giving alms to the needy, and preserving love and harmony with one another while keeping their thoughts and desires for God alone.  Thousands joined them in the desert, mostly men but also a handful of women. Religious seekers also began going to the desert seeking advice and counsel from the early Desert Fathers. By the time of Anthony's death, there were so many men and women living in the desert that it was described as "a city" by Anthony's biographer.

This was really interesting.  Ascetism did not work for the Buddha; he chose The Middle Way. This 

could be the subject of another post!