chaplain day

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I spent a day with chaplains and those interested in chaplaincy at a training day put on by Kent Workplace Mission at Aylesford Priory.

As I think I have said before I am not a chaplain but I do carry out a chaplaincy type role in some of the places I hand out in. My role is different to that of a chaplain, however, in that as a pioneer I am also seeking out those people that are interested in developing their faith and creating a new way of being church.

Today was interesting and I learnt stuff by chatting with other people. I was encouraged and resonated a lot with what Elaine Hutchinson shared who has started a chaplaincy in Birmingham from scratch. It seems she has started a s a chaplain in Birmingham in a very similar way to how I have started as a pioneer in Rochester.

I also met a woman over lunch who is exploring Fresh Expressions with older people. I was excited by her story as she told of running holiday clubs in retirement homes, which sounded very similar to childrens holiday clubs such as Sarah is running at the moment. I loved the idea and could sense the joy of these people as stories were shared.

It was not a bad day and it has given me some stuff to think about.

if it be your will

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I have been catching up on blog reading after a lapse due to portfolio compiling and other things. While catching up with what Graham has been writing I came across this post so thought I’d check out the track …. its from Leonard Cohen and it’s simply beautiful.

from dreamcatchers to angels

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Pub theology happened again last night, and again I was surprised by the stuff we ended up talking about.

We talked a little about Dawkins’ ‘God Delusion’ but felt as the person that had asked us to read it was not able to make it due to illness (hope you feel better soon!) that we would leave much of that discussion to another time.

We had 3 people turn up that we have not seen at Pub Theo before and it seems word is getting around but what we are up to.

Last night, as I said we started by looking a little at Dawkins’ reasons for believing there is no God and the conversation moved in various ways to angels, dream catchers, spiritualities other than those that are obviously Christian. I can’t remember everything.

What I particularly love about this group is that we don’t really know each other and this is the only time this actual collection of people get together – in a pub to talk about God, spirituality and stuff and the conversations always seem to be amazing. As with previous pub theos the discussion is quite fluid, starting as a big group topic then people near each other branching off in discussion and then all coming back together again – not in an organised way but seemingly very naturally.

Maybe it is the group of people, maybe its the location, maybe it is actually what we are doing …. but I really love being part of this.  The next pub theology is on Monday 29th November at 7ish in Wetherspoons …. put the date in your diary!

pub theology tonight …

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why not come along

starting with Dawkins’ “God Delusion‘ but who knows where we will go from there!

7.00pm till whenever we decided to stop talking

Wetherspoons, High Street Rochester

in case we fool ourselves …

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Asbo Jesus again reminding me of the reality of situations.

leadership in Bruges

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I have returned from 4 days at St Andrew’s Abbey in Bruges.

The time away was an experience and there is lots to say (and not say!) about the few days but some highs and lows:

lows:
the exclusive nature of the food which meant a couple of our group with dietary needs were excluded.
Vespers in Flemish – I’m sure the service was great but I couldn’t understand a word …
meals in silence  – personally I love silence but meals are a time for conversation, in my opinion
a packed program with little space for reflection

highs
being in a monastery in a totally different setting
I always enjoy the monastic rhythm of life which seems to energise me
space to consider things again about God and leadership
time to laugh and drink with friends and catch up with their stories

The topic of the few days was leadership and we discussed a few papers written by various theologians, although too many of them seemed to be from a Yale and Episcopal background and there are significant differences between the Episcopal model and the Anglican parish/FX model which cause me to question the validity of some of what the papers were suggesting.

On the last day we discussed a lecture given by Rowan Williams at Cuddesdon in 2004. I think this was by the best discussion we had as we considered Archbishop Rowans suggestion of priests needing to be released to be a lookout, an interpreter and a weaver. Essentially here, the Archbishop is saying that leadership is about seeing the landscape, engaging with culture, interpreting what is happening and looking for links as he shows people where Christ is working in communities today.

Any lecture that advocates any of us taking time to watch and attempt to understand before acting is worth considering in my opinion … so why not go and have a read. I think I found it encouraging too as Archbishop Rowan has given me a language to articulate what I have been attempting over the last 2 years.

It’s good to be back in Rochester. The time away was ok, I can’t say it was great as it wasn’t, but being with friends who both know when to laugh and when to be serious was a good experience – thanks guys and girls!

Photo Friday: Architecture

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This weeks entry for Photo Friday gets posted on the proper day!

I’m off to Bruges!

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The blog will probably be quite quiet this week as I will be spending most of it at the Monastery of St Andreas in Bruges.

I am on a  residential course with the other curates in my year as we start the third year of our CME (continuing ministry education) course which is concentrating on leadership. We have used a more local place in the lst couple of years but the diocese has found that traveling to Bruges and staying at the monastery there is a lot lot cheaper than going back to the same place – which seems pretty mad!

So … today I am driving to Bruges with 4 other curates in sarah’s car. Please pray for our safety … and I guess that we find the monastery!

I’m looking forward to 4 days in Bruges!

Rachel Chesney

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I’ve just discovered Rachel Chesney via Naked Pastors blog and love the sound she creates … a strength which is quite vulnerable, if that makes any sense at all?

I don’t really need to add anything to what the pastor says on his blog …. apart from echoing you could download this for free – but don’t…. please pay for it.

Go listen here!

what makes a good weekend?

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The weekend has been a great one for being with friends and spending time with the family.

The weekend got off to a great start with a ‘blokes’ curry night at the best curry house in the world where we ate and drank well. It’s been a while since we have done this and all agreed we need to do it more regularly!

On Saturday we watched Despicable Me at the cinema. A good and funny film if somewhat predictable …  there are only so may different ways to spin the same sort of story of person presenting an evil persona in order to protect themselves from their past. It’s worth a watch.

This morning at the cathedral was tinged with sadness as Dan conducted the girls choir for the last time in the 1030 Eucharist. Dan goes on to new things and I will miss his skill and passion around the place. God’s speed matey!

Watching the football this afternoon was good, even though the result was rubbish! Spending time with other friends later this afternoon was good and mad as well.

What makes a good weekend? Time with God, laughter and chilling with friends and family ….. this weekend had all of that so it was a top weekend!