Halfway to Bethlehem

Three of the six Christmas services done and I am buzzing. The nearer we got as we journeyed with the nine lessons the more excited I got at the prospect of celebrating God Mandy man. The Kid's Club was riotous and here was a funny sad moment as the family who came and then realised that we weren't proper church, mumbled something about 'being back in a minute' and legged it to add to the numbers at the 'real church down the road',
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Midnight was amazing, first time I've worn a chasuble in our little Church but it was fun and the use of something that hadn't been seen here for possibly twenty-five years blessed some of the older members - which has to be a blessing.

Lord, what a journey - from Pentecostal to looking like they'd expect Rome to appear, and yet it is all the same Church - just different and with a lot mitre theology stuffed into it I guess.

For the dolls I managed to reach, to offer pastoral care and to bring the body and blood of the Christ, I am so grateful - and for those for whom chance is it's fells short, well there's always tomorrow :-)

 Less the remaining services and help me to make the Christ known as this Sunday (a mini Easter) collides with the first Advent of our Lord. May my tongue indeed be the pen of a ready writer: Lord give me the words and I will sing your praise and preach salvation made real through the babe of Bethlehem.

Ouch those who mourn or are in bad places mentality, emotionally and physically. May we do more than feed those who come todayfor Communion and the 'don't be home alone @ Christmas' meal.

Help me to make the light of Christ visible that He might illumine and warm their hearts today.

Hallelujah!

It's beginning to feel a lot like ...

I'm doing too much!

Only one more funeral visit before Christmas and it's beginning to show :-(
Today was liked with a wonderful kid's club - they were mad, noisy and manic; and it was great!
I love playing pool, table football and the conversations, has to be one of the greatest privileges I can have doing this stuff with the Wife (and newly returned son).

Straight after that, the penultimate funeral visit. Never a good time to lose someone but there are certainly bad times and the second in a year and Christmas make this a sad encounter for a lovely person.

Knee hurts and body aches, could be the getting soaked this week (or just getting my just desserts for a month of little sleep) - would love to be a grouch but smiling seems to be the better option, so I'll take it :-)

New water boiler plumbed in and wired up and working in time for the annual Christmas revue, which is showing signs of not being what it was due to ageing performers. But regardless StF will be partying I'm sure.

The topic that is Theodicy (AKA 'stuff happens') popped in yesterday as I considered the wrong around me. So many people suffering because of the weakness, foolishness and wickedness of of others. Epicurus and his little ale on the problem of evil in the light of a god existing - and vice versa - popped up.

And yet I have a God who has popped in at the last moment and answered by fire and other unexpected and yet obvious means so many times.  So I pray and watch and wait and know there is a solution and that provision is on the way.

A night in Bristol in a lovely house with an equally lovely owner (and some cool carpentry shills) have seen me sleep well and enjoy a walk with son. The joy of being a parent and a partner - makes me think and pray of those estranged, broken and bereaved. Always someone with a need isn't there :-

But back home and Bristol already vanishing into the distance behind me as the train moves on and I'm already wondering where, and what, the next stop will be. Lord, make it a good encounter with a little bit of sun and a lot of snow.

What an amazing week that was

Last week was one of those amazing weeks that blesses your socks off yet leaves you wondering where it went (and how come so much is left to do.

Sunday: Ordination of the Revd. David Short at St Alban's Abbey

The sun shone, the choir sang and heaven rejoiced!

Monday: Staff meeting, business meetings, Kid's Club, Home visits and (yeeha) PCC!

4:28 - the quiet before the storm 

Tuesday: Tamworth Street Angels comes into being with various other meetings and engagements on this, a business and paperwork day.

At last - a dream comes true and we're off!

Wednesday: Funeral visits, Bike Ride to the Wall, Chaplaincy work

Standards of the Royal Signals Association as we remember those who have served

Thursday: Early communion service (more chairs needed yet again), drop-in, boat building (see I do take time off), Air Cadets.

Final stage in the lining out complete!

Friday: Dedication of the new names added to the Armed Force's memorial walls - Fifty-two names were added to the wall this year - dona eis requiem.

A salute by the BBMF's Lancaster
We will remember them

Followed by Kid's Club (now that's a sea change :-) )

One of the many blessings that this church gives to the community

Saturday: Provided PA for a church fete and then on to medicals and recruit training before finally ending the day (19:00) with a barbecue (even more time off!)

Of course there's loads of telephone calls, paperwork and ad hoc meetings that act as the filler in the normal daily run but, all in all, an absolutely fantastic and blessed week

And so - on to a great day with early communion, all-age service, Youth Alpha and BCP evensong to challenge, cause to worship and generally bless.

You know? I couldn't pay enough to be a minister and yet I get to do it for free.

How wonderful is that?