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The
World Cup
write this as the
world cup gets under way and Wayne Rooney’s metatarsal has filled the
headlines and columns of many of our newspapers. For those who are fans of
football it is all very exciting. It is a great sporting event. It is a
clash of all the best foot-balling nations in the world. It gives endless
opportunities for comment and articles and herewith is another one.
A Religion or a Sport
In the ‘Guardian’ newspaper I read of two theological students who were keen
supporters of soccer who had written a service for churches for the World
Cup. They argued that football had within it some of the best attributes of
the spiritual aspects of religion and in particular Christianity. It
brought people together in a united way. It gave people a sense of purpose
and a sense of hope. At times when the game is at its most sublime it even,
they claimed, gives its followers true spiritual experiences. It was Bill
Shankly who once famously said football is not a matter of life and death –
it is more important than that.
On
the other hand there was an article in the Church Times which argued the
opposite. With the headline ‘Football is more a drug than a faith’ The
writer argues ‘that for millions it has become a sort of surrogate
religion. The faithful regularly process to a cathedral-like spaces to
“worship” their idols and their icons. Devoted fans sing praises to their
teams and stadiums are regularly referred to as “shrines” and this
“hallowed” turf. I think you can gather the gist of the rest of the
article.
Those of us who do try to practice our faith could envy some of the effort
and devotion and resources that followers of soccer put into their love of
the sport. My own view is that these great sporting occasions allow rivalry
and even sometimes even hostile feelings between nations and even continents
to be managed in a creative and safe way. They give millions of people all
over the world great pleasure and sometimes great pain. The whole event is
marketed and milked by the commercial world for all it is worth. Churches
may have something to learn from the good parts of this process and also
what to avoid from the darker side of the marketing world. Sales of St
Mary’s car flags will be launched at a later date!!
St Mary’s Choir
The choir are busy this month singing in Coventry Cathedral on Saturday the
first of July and having a recruitment day for the choir a week later. We
are grateful that Karl is sharing his enthusiasm with us all.
Canon Peter Southwell-Sander RIP
As you all know Canon Peter Southwell- Sander a former Vicar of St Mary’s
died on Thursday 8th June. At the time of writing our prayers
are with all his family and friends. I will keep you informed if there is
to be a Memorial service for Peter at a later date. May He rest in peace
and rise in Glory
Your
priest and friend
Tom
Leary
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