More laughter in church

At the Lizard in Cornwall, on the very tip of England, a joint Anglican and Methodist church service was held this morning. It was in a small marquee flying the black and white flags of Cornwall in the centre of a rally for veteran steam engines and cars. The rally had opened at the same time as the normal church services, so the ministers moved their service to the rally.Sylvia, the Methodist minister, wore highly coloured patterned Wellington boots with her dog collar. Bill, the Anglican rector, brought a small kettle to demonstrate on a camp stove how a head of steam could be brought to personal faith as well as to the steam engines outside. There were guitars and wind instruments to accompany the hymns. The kettle took a very long time to boil. One of the guitarists gave a whistle which seemed to come from the kettle - but it hadn't. When it did, there was applause. The mike broke out with an explosive noise just as Sylvia was talking about powerful expression of faith.The result was laughter. Instead of the usual small group of Sunday worshippers, at least 100 were crammed into the tent and more came in as the service went on. They sang and laughed until the tears ran down their faces. They stayed totally silent for prayers and personal thoughts.So why can't Church services often be like this? How about holding question times instead of giving sermons so that people can ask about their doubts and dilemmas? And why, in most churches, is there no laughter? This is may seem all Revivalist in concept, but laughter and music and participation in church could be the solution to bringing back the congregations.

Are Icelanders Terrorists?

So Gordon Brown has said he is willing to use anti-terrorism legislation to freeze the assets of Icelandic companies operating in Britain. He wants to recoup money lost by public bodies and charities here who invested in the Icelandic banks.Which confirms the suspicions of the sceptical among us that the "anti-terrorist laws" are seen as a useful tool more easily to control the already over-controlled population. It's already been used for local offences against parents and people careless about their litter. What next? The proposal to bring in 42-day detention without trial? (Now, happily, that has been defeated!)Pity, in that case, that Gordon didn't use the handy anti-terrorism laws to bring those reckless speculators in the City into line. It might have helped to avoid the crash?

Speaker's procession

When moves finally go ahead to bring Parliament into the 21st century, the first idea might be to get rid of the weird daily procession, complete with lavish robes and trainbearer, as well as a mace bearer dressed in 16th century uniform, which crosses the lobby at the House every day on the Speaker's way to the chamber. What is the point? Why should so many people be involved in this simple walk?