You might remember my writing about Washington National Cathedral last month. I was reminded of a funny conversation that I overheard. I should say that it is not difficult to overhear conversations – they speak so loudly here! Referring to the glass a lady asked ‘Do they have to paint the glass every so often?’ […]
Ten things you probably didn’t know about Chicago
Posted on by James Woodward
This is the city’s flag Here Wrigley’s invented chewing gum Charlie Chaplin made some of his films here Adler and Sullivan invented the skyscraper here The tallest building in America is here Louis Armstrong recorded some of his work here This was Al Capone’s backyard The atom was split here in the University of Chicago […]
Who will rule the world?
Posted on by James Woodward
This is a very fascinating race for the White House and the most powerful position in the world. The rules and regulations that surround the election seem to an outsider as very complicated. I get my main US news from CNN and Chicago public Radio. The only thing that I am clear about is […]
Presbyterian Homes
Posted on by James Woodward
Ever keen to connect with the developing culture of care and housing for older people I am invited to travel north of the city to visit Presbyterian Homes – or more precisely – Westminster Place in Spokie (an Indian word) in Evanston. My guide is Dr Celia Berdes who is the Director of Research […]
Make it Rock – Baby – on Trinity Sunday !
Posted on by James Woodward
Chicago is a segregated city and as you move south from the University of Chicago you move into the heartlands of Black African America where white faces are the exception. I travel half an hour to an Episcopal Church on South Dante Avenue – the Church of Messiah – St Bartholomew. Most of us can […]
Things I like about America
Posted on by James Woodward
Do you understand anybody that exists without making a list or two or even three?? I thought I would offer one by way of a little lighter read: Here is a list of my top twenty likes – Coffee Cheap and efficient public transport Steak The American Episcopal Book of Common Prayer M and […]
At Seventy
Posted on by James Woodward
At last – a text as rich in wisdom about age as I have seen. May Sarton At Seventy is a journal of the poet and writer’s life. She takes us through the ordinary ups and downs of life in Maine starting in on the 3rd of May 1982 (her birthday) and ending a year […]
Jimmy’s: The Woodlawn Tap
Posted on by James Woodward
I am sure some of you may wonder what life is like out here – well it has its ups and downs – things that make one smile and others that bring a slight frown! I was in the library for most of yesterday struggling with a very dense book entitled Narratology: An Introduction to […]
Democracy
Posted on by James Woodward
Many of you will be familiar with this face – Dr Madeleine Albright. She was the 64th Secretary of State in the Clinton Government and, at that time, the highest ranking woman in American politics. She has a reputation for no nonsense speaking – and her achievements in Government are regarded as very significant. Her […]
The Beulher Centre on Ageing,Health & Society
Posted on by James Woodward
The Centre is somewhere in this picture! Part of the joy of sabbatical time is the opportunity to network with people who are leaders in your area. I have tried to balance my interests – pastoral theology; housing and care for older people; Church life and the spiritual journey and my main focus – the […]
What is in a story?
Posted on by James Woodward
The rain has stopped and there are promising signs of sunshine – I rise early and have some breakfast in Starbucks which at 6 45am is too full! I share a table with a young black woman who is reading her Bible. This, I have found here, is very common. How many of you […]
St James’ Cathedral Chicago
Posted on by James Woodward
Woken early by the extraordinary amount of rain falling from the sky – and three hours later it is still coming down. I thought it was supposed to be wind on Pentecost Sunday ? I pop upto Starbucks for my morning coffee and look out over the wide roads and cars struggling with the water. […]
Cloud Gate
Posted on by James Woodward
I wrote on the 6th May about the Millennium Park in Chicago. Its highlight for me and many others is this sculpture by British Artist Anish Kapoor – his first public outdoor work installed in the United States. A 110 ton elliptical sculpture is forged of a series of highly-polished stainless steel plates. In it […]
North Western University
Posted on by James Woodward
My adventure starts early as I need to get north of the city into a suburb called Evanston – it is the location of this University – a large campus stretching over many acres. The journey demands that I negotiate the quite complicated public transport system. An overground double decker train into the centre […]
My Small House
Posted on by James Woodward
How much space do we need in which we can live? How many things do we need for fulfillment? Perhaps most of our lives are cluttered in some way or another – waiting for the next Jumble Sale to off load this and that. I read recently that we only have space for about thirty […]
The thing about life is one day you’ll be dead
Posted on by James Woodward
I was going to have a rant about the annual accounts from the Church of England (see news item 6 May on at www.cofe.anglican.org) and how much it costs us to keep Bishops – if someone can explain it to me without causing a minor stroke I should be grateful – but I resist […]
Living Regretfully?
Posted on by James Woodward
I sometimes wonder whether it is worth adding to the vast amount of material written – especially when so much of it ends up in the second hand bookshop (if you are lucky) or the scrap heap waiting to be pulped. Isn’t it extraordinary to think of the human struggle and engagement with life and […]
Lunch in Marshall, Field and Co (MACY’s)
Posted on by James Woodward
I have been waiting to catch up with Sam, an Episcopalian priest friend, and we decide on lunch in the large department store in the centre of town – Macys – on the fifth floor in a restaurant called The Walnut Room! It is good to chat about the sabbatical, church life, ministry and its […]
To speak or not to speak on a lazy Sunday?
Posted on by James Woodward
We all have our habits and mine is a large coffee absolutely first thing. Thankfully we have a Starbucks a block away and it has become my regular haunt – ‘ Its my English sugar’ exclaims the waitress ‘speak to me – I love that English accent’ – friendly but a bit forward if you […]
The Art Institute of Chicago
Posted on by James Woodward
Not quite the full picture of this spacious building but an impression for virtual visitors – you could, of course, visit the web site and never move from the living room chair ( if you have a lap top) – if this is you preference the ignore the following and visit www.artic.edu ! I […]