no place like home

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It’s been great to be back home.
My own bed, my family – it’s where I belong!

This morning I caught up with emails and made a few phone calls while the children played up the road. This afternoon I went out with the children and we had fun on roller blades around the strand – or rather they did as I wandered along behind. Felt like summer – lounging in the sun, eating ice cream blah blah blah. (Tonight I’m going to work to make up for what I could have done this afternoon. I will get a lot more done as distractions will be zero!)

The children have been wonderful today – like a dream. No one has argued and its just been a fantastic day to catch up with each other and I realised hoe much the children change in just a week. There really is no place like home – a place where you feel totally secure and where you should be.

return to civilisation

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Day 8
My Birthday – 42 today!
After lunch I’m going home!

Day 6 and The Borg!

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A day on marriage.

The highlights of today was the talent evening and a thought came to my mind – why are all these creative and talented people becoming vicars – they could use their gifts in much more creative initiatives. In many ways this is quite tragic!

I then thought that it could, though, be very exciting and a great opportunity. If these people continue to use their God given talents after they are ordained it could have a fantastic impact on their mission. I really hope this happens, rather than a Borg assimilation into a world of Common Worship and doing things the correct ‘Anglican way’.

My prayer for today :

‘Lord, protect me from being assimilated into the Church of England’

Day 4 and 5

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An interesting couple of days at SEITE.
I’ve been discussing Issues in Theology with Simon Barrow of Ekklesia, looked at the armour of God in my bible study, sat in a fantastic coffee shop in Canterbury thinking about mission while reading a couple of chapters of Exiles, and heard some great insights from 2 Muslims, Saira Malik a lecturer from Kings and Dr. Usmani from Maidstone Mosque who told us that Jews Christians and Muslims should get along well together as we are all cousins and have no need to fight each other with the common ground that exists.

Simon was good and I found it interesting to see that some did not accurately listen to what he said and became defensive on issues such as church schools. He was arguing for a different thinking whereas people heard ‘I am against and we should not have these’ rather than ‘if we have these they should not discriminate as that is not a Christian value’

I feel God challenged and spoke to me in the ‘3rd space’ of the coffee shop(you’ll have to read Exiles for a definition) – which makes me smile as I have not been able to find God in most of the structured and tightly controlled worship that we have experienced this week. I know that is an issue with me rather than the people planning and leading worship as I can see that others are being incredibly challenged and the worships sessions themselves are well planned. It’s just for me, at this point in time, I feel I need quiet and time to listen from scripture rather than fill space with words.

Highlights of the last 2 days …
sitting outside Buttermarket with good friends people watching!
a Wetherspoons Curry!
laughing over silly things
Old Specled Hen AND Bishops Finger on tap – a pub from Heaven!
speaking with those that have widely different theological views from me – and yet having friendship of respect and love which will hopefully exist beyond SEITE – that’s got to be a sign of the Kingdom of God!

And now … 7.20am so off to the Crypt! Have I metioned that the lectionary readings are Song of Solomon for the mornings! St John of the cross has interesting interpretations which do not seem to tie in with the immediately obvious interpretations which are a bit much at 7.30 in a cold cathedral crypt!

Blogs that make me think

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I have been tagged by Dave as a blog that makes him think. I find the idea that I make people think interesting in itself – but thanks Dave.

So, 5 blogs that make me think – in no particular order of preference here.

Dennis always makes me think. His comments are always fresh and provoke some good thinking for myself. Den is a good friend too.

Gordon also makes me think with his reflections on mission. Gordon is another fresh and questioning thinker who is also a practitioner. Gordon has become a friend through blog world!

Michael is a pioneer minister in Gloucester. His relections on his ministry are insightful and challenge me to think about where I am going and what it will all mean.

The stuff from the Moot community members is another source of provocaive and challenging thinking.

Ryan Bolger sneaks in as my fifth. Again, the aricles here have produced seeds of provocotive thoughts over the least few weeks.

Day 3

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Well … I was right!
God was asleep yesterday morning!
It’s probably the thought of singing hymns at 7.30 that put him off.
The rest of the day was spent looking at childrens work.

The real highlights of the day were the bible study and the case study that we went through in our small groups. I don’t think I learnt anything today in the main sessions that we could not have taught each other as a group with the skills that are already existing in this gret bunch of people. Once again experts came in, but I think that it’s in the sharing of ideas amongst ourselves and thinking aloud together tht the real ‘training’ occurs. If colleges could get their head around this they could save a lot of time and money!

It’s interesting that in training we are reminded that we are all individuals – yet we all have to do the same training so that we can be sure we all cover the same stuff. Bizarre! I feel a rant coming on so best stop!

The major highlight was escaping to the pub last night and playing Jenga while supping Tanglefoot Ale!

Anyway – must dash to the cathedral for prayer … 8am this morning – God must have made a complaint!

SEITE Easter School Day 2

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Well morning prayer happened at 7.30 and I was there physically!
I heard a gentle snoring and wondered if it was God being gently woken and wondering why people have to worship Him at such an early hour! Apparently Rowan Williams was around – so maybe as a pioneer minister in training I can grab him for a coffee and chat about where he sees things going in the future and how pioneers can be both effectively trained and recruited!

Monday was funeral day – so we’ve looked at funeral services, looked at coffins and caskets and asked all the questions we would want to ask from a very helpful funeral director. The day was actually very useful and nowhere near as morbid as you might expect. I think I have learnt quite a lot today.

I’ve been forced to think a lot about death recently and feel my ideas around what is happening and what the Bible says are evolving. In many ways it is not something we think about often – probably due to our belief that things will not happen to us. Interestingly in my conversations with people death and what happens are becoming topics and do not seem to hold the big taboo that they used to. I find that quite intriguing? Is this a consequence in a bigger interest in spirituality and health and all that?

Highlights of the after hours program was the watching of The Life of Brian while Jeremy and I ran the bar for the night and part of Casino Royale while enjoying some nice whisky. Nice to end a thoughtful day back with the fun basics of good friends and good laughter!

SEITE Easter School day 1

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Just arrived at SEITE Easter school and have the delight of staying in the accommodation of Kings School Canterbury. I’m staying in Meister Omers. If I throw a stone out of my bedroom window I’m pretty sure I will hit Canterbury Cathedral. It’s a privilege to be here.

Despite the privilege it was hard to leave Sarah and the children today. I didn’t want to go. 8 days is a long time and I’m missing being at home already.

Monday we are looking at funerals – this will certainly be the most ‘interesting’ bank holiday I have spent! And … tomorrow is an early start – morning prayer at 7.30am in the Crypt! Is God even awake at such a silly hour!!!!

the waiting is over

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The waiting is over
Jesus is here
Up from the depths
leaving darkness behind

Hallelujah
He is Risen

the morning of questions

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Confusion?
Anger?
Depression?
Fear?
Cheated?

How did the disciples feel on the Saturday?

We know the end (or is it the beginning) of the story and what happens on Easter Sunday. But, the disciples did not.
Jesus was dead.
The Messiah in the tomb.
The King slain by the Romans.

How did they wake that morning?
‘If only?’
‘Why?’
‘Was he wrong?’
‘Was I wrong?’

A day of emptiness
exhaustion
disbelief
disillusionment

a dark dark day
staring into nothingness
wishing
thinking
willing
‘If only …’

And was the world without God
while he was in hell?
was creation on timer
until his return?
was heaven in silence
with no one to praise?
did the angels watch in fear
fading hope for his return?

Saturday
Jesus entombed in darkness
disciples bound in their gloom
humanity unconscious in the shadows
creation screaming out from the night

what have you done to my Lord?