Hi folks, I hope you are keeping yourself safe at this difficult and confusing time. This week we start a new way of working by using Zoom software, to meet for SUNDAY@HOME! So If you haven’t got your favourite tipple sorted for Sunday night, why not pop along to your local independent shop and purchase something lovely!
If you want to join our zoom gathering please do let me know, by sending me your email address or mobile number. We have a good number of people who are joining us, some for the first time. There is a Zoom app that you can download if you want to access it through your phone. All you do for both lap top or phone is click on the link!
When you come on everyone will be muted so we can control how it works, but if your video is working you can wave at people and the chat function is also available for banter, when we have a few folks accessing it we will explain how it will work…Please though bare with us as we are learning as we go!
On to the blog which is written by Karen! she has entitled it:
Harry Potter (my hero)
My Harry Potter journey started in 2000. I vividly remember reading the first book on a sunbed in Portugal. Since that time I have read all the books at least twice and watched all the films more times than I could say. I have copies of all of them if anyone wants to read or watch. I’m currently working my way through the audiobooks narrated by Stephen Fry by listening to a chapter every night in bed. It helps me focus on something other than what’s happened that day which is especially important right now. It doesn’t matter if I fall asleep as I know the books so well I can just start with the next chapter the following night.
I remember reading and rereading all the Enid Blyton boarding school books (St Clare’s and Mallory Towers) when I was a child and Harry Potter is all of that and more. I love the magic, the mystical creatures, the ongoing battle between good and evil and the way the main characters and their relationships develop over time. We visited the Warner Brothers Harry Potter studio a couple of years ago and whilst I loved it I have to admit that I was a little disappointed by the lack of magic – the props and scenes were interesting but it’s the story that brings them all to life.
There was a backlash from some Christian groups when Harry Potter first came out. Some believed the series’ depiction of witchcraft was dangerous to children and there were at least six book burnings in the US. Others felt that Harry Potter promoted the religion of Wicca, and that keeping the books in public schools violated the separation of church and state in the United States. Education attorney Victoria Sweeny said that if schools were to remove all books containing reference to witches, they would have to ban Macbeth and Cinderella.
So some questions…
- Harry Potter is definitely my literary hero – who is yours?
- Describe your Harry Potter ‘journey’.
- If you’re a Harry Potter fan who is your favourite character and which is your favourite book/film?
- In this time of social distancing I will be immersing myself in Harry Potter and all my other favourite films – what’s your staying at home top tip?
- If you had an invisibility cloak for a day what would you do?
- What did you make of the Christian backlash at the time?
- What are you currently doing to help you switch off from all that’s going on in the world?
- Would you describe Jesus as magic?
- Personally I don’t think of prayer as a superpower, what do you think?
Peace Rob and Karen
Rob Wylie is the founder of BeachcomberFX and guides its leadership team. He has worked in the North East for over 20 years and has vast experience from various roles he has held. He has a passion for Fresh Expressions of Church and Pioneer Ministry as well as beer, beaches and Miniature Schnauzers.