Last Tuesday I conducted the funeral of Alice Bennett. Afterwards I went to the Library and whilst scanning the shelves found a book entitled "after the death of Alice Bennett" by Rowland Maloney (OUP 2007). Slightly shocked I borrowed it. 

My Alice Bennett has spent the last 6 years in a residential home in a world of her own - that strange in-between place that is dementia and her funeral was a mixture of sadness and relief and afterwards we told our funny sad stories of the days when we each tried to help Alice make sense of a world that was becoming increasingly confused.

The fictional Alice Bennett is a 39 year old wife, mother and teacher who seems to be in the prime of life. Her quick death from a brain tumour has devastated her family and community and the book tells the story of her ten year old son Sam who becomes convinced that his Mum is keeping in touch through text messages on her mobile phone. It is a poignant story that draws tears and laughter whilst exploring modern ideas about death, the place we go beyond this life and what contact there might be with the next world. 

The funerals I lead tend to focus on remembrance and allowing people to live on through the influence they have had on those who are still living in this world. It seems to me that whether we live on in a next world is in God's hands and I can not make judgement one way or another. Yet most people I come into contact with are convinced that their loved ones are in heaven - whatever they have believed or done in this life and that creates problems with orthodox Christian doctrine about heaven and hell. So I find myself giving a tentative hope that God's love is not ended by death and trusting that God continues to love and care for each person who has gone from us. 

But Sam, like most people I meet at funerals, wants to know that his Mum, rather than God, is still looking over him. I don't find that I can offer that hope.

John Milton is one of those people I've occasionally thought I should know more about - as I understand it he was a poet, theologian, political theorist, civil servant who inspired and irritated people in equal measure. Within the Reformed tradition earlier generations revered him enough to name churches or other buildings after him - the Congregational bit of St. Andrew's is one such and the road beside the church is still Milton Street (although I can't work out from the maps whether Milton Street was named before or after the church - I suspect they were named at the same time as they were developed together.) 

Last Wednesday was his 400th birthday and so those that understand him have been reflecting on his writings and influence. Andreas Whittam Smith: Life, liberty and the lesson of Milton contrasts Milton's views on censorship with the latest government rumblings about controlling the media and Celebrating Milton's birthday: on Milton and polit... will point you to Paridise Lost and reflect on his Politics.

Milton confuses me but the more bits I read about him the further he climbs 'the must look at' list.

Well I didn't manage a post every day - didn't really think I would and once real life kicked in I haven't really been inspired to find or write anything. The hope this week was to build on the John the Baptist texts and think about preparation - not one of my strong points unless a deadline is upon me - yet I seem to have spent this week preparing stuff. Monday was a quick visit to Coventry to pick some colours for the house and measure the rooms - which has then led into some head scratching wondering how we can fit our furniture into a smaller house. I was then back for two Elders meetings that evening, whose agenda's were making plans for me not being around. Two funerals brings more preparation and another one for next week. And tomorrow is our Christingle - always good fun - but that only comes from preparation and I think I know what I'm doing, with a bit of room for an ad lib.

However, nothing to do for Sunday as Lessons & Carols look after themselves and are looked after by the Choir - just a shame about two carol services I need to go to in the evening - no joy. This is where we give in to an overriding desire to ignore the difficult themes of Advent and race on to the nice cute themes of Christmas (whilst of course ignoring the difficult themes of Christmas - perhaps we will look at some of them here)

So time for some more preparation ...