Today we celebrated and gave thanks for love Gillingham.
the local councillor and Deputy Mayor, Steven Kearney, thanked us all for our hard work and great attitude.

The best story I heard came from the children’s team working in Balmoral Park. On a daily basis this park has a group of people drinking on benches who give no hassle as such, but certainly give off the ‘leave us alone’ vibes. On the Friday some of the drinkers brought their children to the park and they joined Sarah and her group. The team had some chats with the adults.

That afternoon the whole group with their children came to the BBQ. One of the ladies said to Sarah that she was incredibly surprised at her children. The quote went something like this:

‘My kids are really shy. They don’t talk to no-one, they stay away from strangers. In the park though we could not keep them away from your lot. There was something different about you. My kids recognised it, like you had something different to others.’

No gospel presentation, no Biblical teaching, no tracts, no open air service, no invite to anything other than play a few games and a BBQ. Nothing, other than general acceptance, respect and love. Yet, God met with these people in a way they can understand.

Fantastic!

We got from left to right using
God’s love and energy
30 people
5 days
10 skips
a variety of tools
a mini digger for 2 days
a real desire to achieve
a godly willingness to co-operate

and by being at peace with ourselves and each other

Day 5 has happened. The area of land is clear, its fairly flat, and it is very usable has been the most exciting day. So many stories and so many experiences.

Before going out today, in our morning together we shared communion. The children served us and one of those children who received before serving was wearing his wellies. Sarah due attention to how powerful an image this was. Here was Jonathan dressed and ready to go out and get stuck into the community just after receiving the bread and wine. A great reminder to us all that our faith demands an action.

To end the week we held a BBQ on the land that we had cleared. We did a quick count and round 70 people in addition to the team turned up. This was only from a couple of streets too. At the BBQ we had loads of chats and got to know people a little better. It was a great experience.

Today has been a day of reactions. I have been struck and moved by the following:
People walking past and smiling.
An older couple coming to us and thanking us for doing what we were doing.
The tool hire company loaning us 3 wheelbarrows at a 50% discount.
A schoolboy thanking me for clearing up his ‘hellish’ route to school.
A local resident bringing a thankyou gift of a tin of sweets.
Another resident apologising for arriving drunk.
A young man asking where he can send a donation to say thanks.
People offering to pay for the BBQ.
Looks of joy on people faces as they walk down the alley.

The Love Gillingham Projects now come to an end. We want things to continue. We want things to progress from jut an annual event. We want to hear hoe to support residents who wish to take things on.

This morning team members had loads of ideas, the two most important being that this had to continue and evolve, and that we needed to hear from the community how this should move on.

This is really going to be a beginning, it certainly is not the end.

You can read the press release here.

Todays photos have been uploaded as well.

This morning I spoke about being called to be, rather than called to tasks, roles, actions or jobs. I shared with the team that I thought God was desperate to have a relationship with us and just chill out with us; in fact I think God loves us just sitting on his lap an chilling out, pretty much how my children do. Words are not needed when one of my children choose just to lie n my hands, we just sit and ‘be’.

Today I have become even more impressed with my team. Despite tiredness, despite the monotony, despite wet and then hot weather, each member of the team continues to work hard, continues to smile, and genuinely continues to enjoy themselves. This is a team that is at peace with itself, and I think that peace is attractive to others as they come across us.

Today we used the digger to attempt to flatten the ground, I took a team to clear outside the back of someone’s house, and Ellie went of with a team to clean up a park.

Today I have been thanked by lots of residents who have come out of their way to say hello. It’s been great to see God in those living in the community. Its been beautiful to hear the thanks and see the amazement on peoples faces.

Day 4 was again very hard work, but we kept going. We cleared a lot more rubbish and leveled some of the round. Tomorrows task is to clear the rubbish and level the ground so that we have a community BBQ there tomorrow evening. I hop that during the BBQ that we can meet more people and start to get to know them.

Tomorrow is very much a day of what next. Where do we go now we have done this for a week? What do the residents do with the triangle? How does this impact on what we do as church each week? I’m looking forward to tomorrow, but not because it is the last day of the project, but because it could be start of something even more amazing.

Hard work today, we filled 2 more skips but the land does not look very different from when we started.

Everyone again worked so hard despite the feelings of tiredness. I’m incredibly tired, and I know the rest of the team are as as well. In fact, I don’t know why I am blogging as I have to think about a talk for tomorrow morning; but I will make a confession. I know Rich is jealous over the digger thing so I am just blogging to put the pic online!! I’ve got to buy myself a digger, they are just so much fun!

On a more serious note, something quite powerful struck and pleased me today, and it kind of goes with another confession as well. I hate DIY or practical work. In fact, I don’t know why Sarah put me as leader as the prctical team!! It’s pretty much a recipe for disaster! In addition to this I become irritated by people quite easily when involved in things like this and can normally find somebody to moan about or, worse, snap at.

For the last 3 days all I have been able to see is the best in people. The whole team is the same, no-one has fallen out with anyone, no-one has snapped at anyone; despite the tiredness, the meanial tasks, the wetness from the rain, the frustration at the speed of progress – the team, all of us without exception, have continued to genuinely smile and support each other. We have had a good time!

I find that amazing and such a fantatstic witness to those around us. I had a text from Sheena (a very cool and valuable friend) who reminded me that being in the wet would be a great witness. She was so right! Today really was Jesus working through us.

Today has been tiring and hard work – but today has reminded me how wonderful and fantastic people can be with the right motivation, and the right focus.

Oh … and Rich – someone gave a donation today hich means we can have the JCB mini digger back for Day 4 too!!!

I don’t do this very often, but today I looked at my counter and I got 90 hits which is at least 3 times the normal, and thats thinking like an evangelist on a very good day!

Weird – where have all these people come from and why today?

Day 2 was a harder day (we filled 3 skips today compared with the 2 yesterday)but still packed with loads of fun and stories as we got to know people more. The number of people who have stopped to chat has been quite amazing.

The area of land looks totally different and can be checked out in the Flickr album. Weeds and junk have gone, there are 20 odd less syringes, but there is still a lot of rubbish, and no doubt needles, to collect.

Our task tomorrow is to attempt to level a large part of the land. Tomorrow we have been loaned a digger for half a day and a very good rate which we hope will complete this task quickly or us. Leveling this quick will be a bonus and may encourage further the council with their plans for this piece of land. People have got so excited about it so it will be a real shame if they just leave it as it is to grow back again! Apparently today they met to discuss the land.

At the start of today I shared thoughts of being covered in the dust of your rabbi. Today, being covered in the muck and grime that whole idea seemed to be a lot earthier to me. To show love as a team to this community means we get to get involved. This involvement means we get dirty, hurt and rejected; although we are seeing a lot of acceptance while we are out on the streets.

Today I was tired but as I looked around I was very conscious that what we are doing is having a significant meaning for people living around the Traflagar Triangle. We met one old man who told us that he had lived on the triangle all his life. Apparently the land we are clearing used to have 4 cottages on which housed 20 children and this man was one of those children. He left the cottage to live in house across the footpath from the cottages and had been there ever since. In some small way, we were bringing back wonderful memories for this lovely man. He was living ‘good times’ again.

Today, seeing that old man look so happy made the hard work of today really worth it. I thought that was a result of love in action. I believe if he never meets God (which would be sad), or never comes to church or never speaks to any of us again – the fact that this mans life experienced a new love for just a few hours or days is surely what it means to experience the love of Jesus from the church in the community.

Tomorrow we still have a lot to do (did I mention we get a digger!!!???) The land clearance, litter picking, children’s work, pensioners activities are all important tasks – but tomorrow the real bigger job is showing the people we come into contact with that we love them.

Daily, for the last 2 and a bit years, I have followed the Northumbria Daily Office and these words from the canticle of Morning Prayer have taken on greater meaning in the last few days:

This day be within and without me
lowly and meek, yet all powerful
be in the heart of each to whom I speak
in the mouth of each who speaks unto me

Tomorrow I will be looking for Jesus in those that I meet.

Wow – what a day!
I think today has exceeded expectations for everyone. I’m guessing we are probably on first day highs but today has really gone so so well.
At the start of the day we got all the ‘glam’ bits out of the way. Things like the local newspaper and radio interviewing Sarah, the Mayor officially opening ‘the event’. This was great, though, as it showed everyone present how the local council were thoroughly supporting the project.

We ten moved into our project areas and my team went to the Trafalgar Street Triangle. The photos just don’t do the enormity of the task justice. In about 90 mins we managed to fill 2 skips. In just a few hours, though, I think the pictures show a little of the impact we made.

The great thing today, though, was that we spoke to people, we surprised people and we surprised ourselves. People were struck by the generosity of the mum and her 2 daughters who brought drinks out to the team of 30 working outside her back gate. People were struck by the loneliness of an older man who reminisced on what the area of land we were working on used to look like. People were amazed that we all came from a local church and had taken a week off work to clear up the mess outside their back doors.

Today was a small start to making connections, but a definite and real start. I really hope we can continue to develop the small amount of trust that has arisen. I while ago I read Provocative Church, I guess this was the kind of thing Tomlin could have been talking about.

I was excited throughout the day by what I saw happening: people interacting, age barriers falling, co-operation and understanding developing, and love for each other growing. I did not think it could get any better until I met up with my 3 children at the end of the day.

Beth and Joe had been with Sarah who was leading the team working and playing games with children in a local park. Tom was with Jim, working in a local retirement home.
They were just so excited over their taste of ‘mission’. In fact, I do not think I have seen them so excited unless we are going on holiday or approaching Christmas. All evening they have been sharing stories and it has been fantastic.

I have often thought that we protect children too much and are content to let them have stories rather than engage with the real issues. Jewish culture is very different and children play key roles in remembrance meals and festivals. The children we had with us today saw, copied and learned a simple fact that a lot of us easily forget – being a Christian means we live differently and for others.

Ok … off to bed now and wondering what Day 2 will bring, apart from rain! If you wish to see some photos of Day 1, the observant among you will have noticed a change of pics in my flikr album on the right.

Tonight in church we prayed for Love Gillingham.

Tomorrow morning it starts with a team leaders meeting at 930, and then a time of worship at 10.30 before team meetings at 11.30, lunch at 12 and starting on the first of our projects at 1pm.

I must admit to feeling daunted at the sheer size of the tasks ahead of us. My team has a lot of land to clear away; we do have a big team but that is not always a help.

I am apprehensive as to how we will be received. I hope team members, Christians, will be able to ‘shine Jesus’ as we work in the community. I will be stressing that we see the work as worship but also secondary to serving the community and speaking to individuals. I pray that team members will not just see people as pew fodder, but will love them, treat them with integrity and expect nothing in return.

I biggest prayer is that as get to connect closer to God, to ourselves,and each other that people whom we meet are really struck by how we act and show our love and care and that they find this love attractive to themselves.

I am under no illusions that this week will be hard. My intention is to share here both what happens and my thoughts and feelings, both good and bad, for comment.