Ruth Harley

Indeed. Isn't "complete separation from the Instruments of Communion" just... leaving, by another name?!

A black and white photograph of a female preacher in early 20th century dress.

A female priest wearing a badge which says "women priests have real presence".

Rounding off International Women's Day with the second opportunity of the week to introduce a group to the extraordinary, ground-breaking Maude Royden. And some feminist theology.

And I got to wear my favourite badge! A treasured inheritance from the late Sr Helen Julian CSF.

This is really not good. I slept less than 5 hours most nights as a teenager, because of caring responsibilities on top of school, and it was so bad for me that after my GCSEs the GP thought I must have some awful illness... but it turned out I was just really, really tired all the time.

In honour of #iwd26 I’m sharing my short article “10 Commitments of a Feminist Theologian” alongside some of the story of the founding of the Feminist Theology Network @feministtheology.bsky.social practicaltheologyhub.com?p=2081

This is such a good question!

For me: The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie. First read it at 13 and desperately wanted to be one of the Brodie Girls. Next time I read it I was an adult, and professionally responsible for young people, and... well... "hits differently" doesn't begin to cover it. 😱

Yes! The extraordinary daily-ness of love, in ordinary daily things.

To quote the great Ursula le Guin:
"Love doesn't just sit there, like a stone, it has to be made, like bread; remade all the time, made new."

Fun fact: in Kent the 11 Plus is referred to colloquially as the Kent Test. With the result that I didn't realise it existed outside Kent until I left Kent.

It really is a very good analogy.

And I say that as someone who definitely panicked (unnecesssarily) the first time I had to sign off an asbestos report. And has buried more than my share of people who died young of mesothelioma.

I'm happy with or without, really. In previous parish I did a mixture. And I certainly don't stick strictly to the script - but (hopefully) close enough to make it comprehensible for those following along that way.

I enjoy it. But I have folks here who need a copy of the text because they can't hear well enough to follow the sermon, so I always have a full text in front of me on Sundays now. I really had been looking for opportunities to keep my hand in. Although ideally in a more planned sort of way!

It was actually fine. I quite like preaching without notes from time to time. I never do it in Sundays here because I have folks who need a text in front of them due to hearing loss. So I had been thinking I should look for opportunities to keep my hand in... but ideally in a more intentional way!

a close up of a stuffed monkey wearing a green shirt and overalls making a funny face . Alt: a close up of a stuffed monkey wearing a green shirt and overalls making a funny face .

I guess sometimes accidentally locking your sermon in the vestry is God's way of reminding you that you've been meaning to practice your extempore preaching for a while...

Selecting some quotes from my PhD research participants to share in a presentation later this week. Struck again by the exceptional depth of wisdom and insight these women have offered, and the absolute joy and privilege of receiving these stories and reflections. What a gift! #TinyJoys #PhDLife

I was having a similar thought recently while discussing the awfulness of the present situation for trans people with an actual nun. (In fairness, I do know some nuns with some pretty radical views, but this is not among them.)

Wonderful! A beautiful day for it too. I will let the group know next week, they'll be thrilled.

A copy of "Lentwise: Spiritual Essentials for Real Life".

Loving this Lent course in the parish. Lively discussion today about sources of spiritual nourishment: psalms, Catherine Cookson, Rod Stewart, stained glass, knitting, plants, friends, communion, etc. And the group wants to know: does @helenannhartley.bsky.social find running spiritually nourishing?

My favourite ever toddler addition to the dismissal is "Biscuit time!" (followed by a swift dash towards the biscuit tin)

At the end of this morning's mass:
Me: Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
Congregation: In the name of Christ. Amen.
Toddler: All done!

When it comes to liturgical formation, start 'em young, I say!

#CofEpeeps #Narthex ✝️🕯⚓️

It took a while of them doing this consistently, clearly and explicitly before I believed they really meant it (because of, um, also past experience). But they do, and it's wonderful.

My parish is truly excellent at this. From the outset they made it explicitly clear they wanted a priest who has good boundaries around time off (due to, um, past experience, shall we say). And when I have held those boundaries they respond with "right, good" rather than "but can't you just to X".

My favourite is Shutte's "Rivers of Glory" sung unaccompanied any time I am asperging people (which includes every Sunday during Eastertide). Somehow it just really suits this congregation. Probably my most persistent liturgical earworm since arriving here!

Tbh I think our current repertoire of 3 (People's Mass for ordinary time, Gathering Mass for Christmas/Easter, Santo Mass for Advent/Lent) has got us covered in terms of mass settings for now. Plus various bits of Dan Schutte have made their way into other bits of the liturgy and really work for us.

Well, that would depend which liturgical season we are in!

That's a very fair point. Although, when I say 'together'... not necessarily all in the same key or at quite the same speed or anything. Heartfelt and worshipful, yes. Technically... um... ropey, I think would be fair. But I love it so, so much.

I will give it some thought.

I realise this is a fairly niche liturgical music situation! (They do not realise it is in any way unusual. To the extent that they didn't tell me before I presided there for the first time that they sing a mass setting. They just... did it. Because *obviously* that's what they do.)

I will be very interested in any liturgical bits and bobs which would work for a congregation of about 20 with no musicians and who don't read music, but are accustomed to singing an unaccompanied mass setting together each week and confidently tackle the litany of saints etc.

Oh, this is lovely! I can definitely see us adding it to our repertoire at my church which does a lot of unaccompanied congregational liturgical singing. Thanks for sharing.

It's a system designed by people who all know accountants, lawyers, doctors etc socially, for people who... don't.