Came across this little ditty from that well known home of un-PC High Church humour, St Stephen's House Oxford. If you're easily offended, skip reading it. It's sung to the tune of the Pet Shop Boys "Go West". Which I heard them perform live after the Pride march in London on Clapham Common when I was a curate. ("Them" in this context means the Pet Shop Boys, not St Stephen's House Oxford!)
Face East! When you sing the Mass!
Face East!, wear retro tat!
Face East! Latin Chasuble!
Face East! Swing that Thurible!
Face East! Use the Roman rite!
Face East! Common Worship's s**te!
Face East! with your acolytes!
Face East! like the Archimandrites!
Proposition 5 I do not agree with - I suggest "Face East! Use the Scottish Rite!". Other than that, it's roughly where I was in my own mind 15 years ago tomorrow when I was ordained deacon. And have I changed in the intervening period? Well, I'm still the same me, with the same sense of humour and things that hack me off. I'm a bit older, slightly greyer, a stone heavier and a wee bit more tolerant - I'm happy to face west and I now quite like the Blue Book! I've visited the USA and Uganda - not bad for a wee boy from Gutenberg. I'm actually celibate as opposed to officially celibate, I'm honest about myself with both my parents and the Vestry (unthinkable 15 years ago). I've been in love and seen it not work out. I've lost a parent - my 1st really close bereavement and I've admitted to myself I have some rather traditional working class male weaknesses which I'm working on. So yes, I've changed and no I haven't.
And the future? God knows and she ain't telling! But it's been a heck of a ride so far and I'll just keep on with it.
