St Paul 's and the Revolving Door!

The Vine Trust Diamond Jubilee Appeal for 2 million pounds was launched last Thursday evening with a Dinner at St James'Palace. It was well received by all who attended. It was a very successful evening. Raymond Blanc the world famous chef was in attendance having overseen the menu for the evening. As Chair of the Vine Trust I'm so grateful to Orient Express for their generosity in picking up the cost of the evening. Already we've received substantial pledges. Its all such a contradiction here i am engaging with the corporate world looking for support and finding some very generous people willing to help. Yet at the same time I'm writing on the blog reminding the country that " Humankind cannot live on bread alone" Its never far from your mind when your in London these days. Whose on the right? The protest outside St Paul's acts as a timely reminder to all of us not to build up treasure on earth. Yet somehow we can't get away from money we need it to make things work. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cgjin59RReU&list=UUEP7RyXysg0pfAPVXtCEjnA&index=1&feature=plcp[/youtube] I must admit I was a little disappointed after going through the swing doors at St Paul's. The lettering on the glass doors is quite inspirational then you find yourself coming to a ticket barrier. You can't go any further unless your willing to pay. It got me thinking about the inherent contradictions that we all live and work through. How is it if this is a gateway to Heaven I've got to pay. Surely it should be free - I mean going into the House of God should we really have to pay? Yet we need funds to keep these large magnificent buildings open. So what should I do turn away and reflect. Perhaps God might be outside the walls of the cathedral inhabiting one of the tents. What an interesting picture the tents make they remind us that we have no abiding city. Heaven is not made with stones and bricks. Its a different place.

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4 Comments
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Posted By: italker   On: 13 Mar 2012   At: 10:49pm

Interesting comment Gordon. Traditionally the Christian Church has always operated o the premise that worshipping God is free. I wonder about the over commercialisation of worship. I know costs have to be met but there is just something within me that jars when I think that someone is being charged to enter a house of prayer.

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Posted By: Gordon   On: 12 Mar 2012   At: 11:54am

Some of the “contemporary” churches charge for attendance at services, particularly Saturday night ones. They are still church services, but they sell them as performances and in some cases the events are sold out.

It could be that something considered free is considered of low value in todays society.

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Posted By: Helmut   On: 24 Jan 2012   At: 9:38am

As far as can remember from my last visit to Britain a dozen years ago, signs at Salisbury Cathedral and York Minster expressedly stated that if you had come for prayer etc. you did not have to pay. And I cannot remember paying for entering the High Kirk of St.Giles then. At least then they were trusting their visitors?

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Posted By: Jim Stewart   On: 24 Jan 2012   At: 8:00am

In South Africa during apartheid a black woman was crying outside a white Church. Jesus asked why she was crying and she told him. In dismay he shrugged his shoulders and said, “I know how you feel my child. I’ve trying to get in there for years.’

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