This evening, I’ve done something I have never done before: I led a service of BCP Evensong.
Nothing unusual in me doing that you might think, what with me being a vicar and all. Ordinarily, that would be true but it was the context that made this Evensong so unusual.
This was a Flash Mob Evensong outside St Paul’s Cathedral. For a little while, St Paul’s has unfortunately had to close as a result of the Occupy London Stock Exchange protests. Now, I’m not going to comment on the rights or wrongs of the protest or its aims – those who know me or read this blog regularly will be able to guess where I stand – but that it has resulted, however indirectly, to an interruption in public worship is unfortunate to say the least.
Enter Kathryn Rose who on Sunday organised a “small but mighty” guerilla Evensong at St Paul’s. This was followed up with a larger-scale one today. Four days’ notice meant that more people were able to come and help and the new FlashEvensong Twitter account provided a focal point for the organisation.
I happened to be the first ordained minister to arrive and so it ended up falling to me to lead – and preach at – today’s service. It was terrifying and fun in equal measure. What is more, I think it was important that, although the Cathedral building may have been closed, worship of the One in whose honour it stands was able to continue. After the service, I spoke briefly, as did others who were involved, with members of the press and I understand that some footage of the service will be on ITV News tonight. This was no publicity stunt however, this was a real service that, judging from the reaction on social media was well received and welcomed.
When we finished, we learned that the Dean of St Paul’s has issued a statement expressing optimism that the Cathedral will re-open on Friday. I hope this happens – and that it is achieved without force having to be deployed against the protesters.
I also did a little AudioBoo after the service:
Steve Jobs, co-founder of Apple has died at the age of 56 after a battle against cancer. This is a tragedy for his family and friends – I know from my own life (my father died of cancer in his 40s) that cancer is an evil corruption of life and while its ultimate defeat comes only in the resurrection, we can fight its effects in this world by supporting 
Secondly, there was the iPod. The Legend Of Jobs effectively tells us that Jobs invented the digital music player. Of course, they had been on the market for about five years before the launch of the iPod. What Apple did was make one that people were happy to be seen to be using. There’s nothing wrong with that of course but let’s not confuse it with innovation or invention.
Next up is the iPhone, an integration of a mobile phone and digital music player. Again, this was not the great leap forward we are supposed to believe it to be. In the same year as the first iPhone was released, the Nokia N95 was also released (for example). The idea of using a mobile phone as a music player or camera was by no means new and only the usual Jobs launch speech and Apple marketing machine lent any significance to its existence.
Finally, of course, there is the iPad. This is, depending on how you look at it, either nothing more than a large iPhone without the ability to make calls or the most innovative thing that Apple have actually produced. Actually, the true innovation here came in persuading the world – very quickly – that it wanted a device in this form factor when none had previously come to market in a credible way. Even Apple’s previous attempt, the Newton, had failed miserably. I adhere to the overgrown iPhone notion but that doesn’t stop me wanting an Android based tablet.
