finishing in London

Scarily I finish in London 6 weeks on Sunday- am supposed to be writing reports at present, ready for my end of year review. I cannot concentrate! Possibly tonight because today has been a busy day at the hospital, or possibly because I am easily distracted!

Next week the final decision should be made about where I will be next year- am looking forward to knowing for certain, at present I am not as certain as I was about where I will be. So am a bit anxious at present.

Lots has been happening over recent weeks, it was good to be in Lancaster for Lois' hen weekend and catch up with people. On the Saturday we went to Ambleside and did a walk, then onto Grassmere in the afternoon, for afternoon tea and went rowing on the lake. We then went out for dinner in Kendal at night. I managed to stay longer than originally planned which meant I got to go back to Lancaster Methodist Church. It was great to be back and catch up with people and worship there again. Lancaster Methodist Church has become my spiritual home and thats where I needed to be after a challenging week.
It was a good weekend and now I am looking forward to Jez and Lois' wedding next weekend. The wedding is down in Cornwall so more travelling! It will be the first time I have seen some of my friends since last August! SO am really looking forward to seeing more friends!
Any way ought to go get some sleep- I have a full day tommorow and then a Guy Chester Centre retreat this weekend!

Covenant Prayer

Recently we were invited to write our own version of the covenant prayer whilst on a Guy Chester Centre weekend, so thought I'd share it:


God I am your child,
I belong to you.
Give me the tasks that you would have me to do.
Place me with people to share life’s journey,
Help me to love and learn from others.
Let me work for you, for your purposes,
Let me rest with you
Let me walk wherever you lead.
May I hunger and thirst for truth, for righteousness.
Let me offer all that I can,
Let me receive as well as give.
Let me have questions,
Let me have knowledge.
Let me understand,
Let me have faith.
Let all that I m and all that I have be yours.
May it all be to your praise and glory.
Creator, redeemer, transformer.
You are my creator, I am created by you.
You are my redeemer, I am a child loved by you.
You offer new life and transform me.
I am transformed by your love and grace.
I am your child, you are my Father.

next year again!

Its been a busy few days but good! Yesterday I met with someone from Formation in Ministry who sorts out training! It was a really good meeting and I felt positive about it! Having realised last week that conversations had been happening about America without me really being aware I wanted to talk through all the options! Any way- the choices for next year have been narrowed down considerably at the moment. With only 3 full time training institutions in the UK and one of them having been ruled out- we are down to 2 real possibilities in the UK! So am waiting to hear from a College principal to go and talk further about training with that particular training institution! Although the final decision is not made till the 20th May when the training allocations panel meet.

Something I do really feel at the minute is I'd quite like some stability for a bit! Having been in Lancaster last year, London this and another next- the States would mean yet another and back to Cambridge! Then God willing another the following year when I am due to be stationed. I am not quite sure that I want all of my training to be in year blocks- which aren't actually years- september- may! I am not focussed here at present- am being distracted by next year! I thus feel it would help to be in one place for a couple of years to at least be focussed or a year before looking at stationing! However I haven't ruled out the states yet!

So its all go! Am off to Guy Chester Centre tommorow for one of our weekends there! Saturday's are quiet days! So I'm hoping for some space to pray and reflect about the decisions! Am home late on Saturday afternoon for a big family party on Saturday night! Then back to London on Sunday night! Time is going really quickly at the moment! I'm half way through my time here now!