Placement

Oops its been a very long time sing I last blogged!
Queens continues to be a really good place to live, learn and be! I love it.

So much has happened since I last blogged- Methodist Youth Conference, I was on the worship leading team for Holiness and risk (see more at holinessandrisk.org.uk) and now I've moved to Handsworth for a term. I'm on placement here- living in the vicarage and on placement in the local circuit, you can see more here: http://www.queens.ac.uk/ordination/contextual.php

I will hopefully blog some of my reflections of placement here over the coming weeks.

Time flies when you are having fun!

So for news from Queens!
Much has happened since I last blogged! Just a couple of links to share!

Since I last blogged I celebrated my Birthday! It was a rather different Birthday to any before! The night before we had a joint British and Kenyan celebration! (It was another Student-Japhet's Birthday on the same day!) This was fun- having jelly and ice-cream, a Kenyan tradition, (thats hard to put into words!) Its a bit of a dance and a hilililili! Ok so now reading this you'll think I've gone mad! Then on the Friday during the day, I went on a foundation trip. See the link: http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/7803
It was an amazing experience, really powerful and challenging. The Prophetic Action that this was, is a requirement for

In the evening it was supper with the president and vice-president of the Methodist Church at the Chair of the Birmingham districts house!

http://methodist-presandvp.blogspot.com/2008/10/grace-of-birmingham.html

So as I say- rather a different way to spend a Birthday!

Coming up, we have the Methodist Youth Conference, this is something I am looking forward to! Before then I have some work to do for a workshop for the weekend. I've been asked to lead a Workshop on vocation, as someone who is eligible to be a Member of Youth Conference and also a Student Minister. The workshop is called: "Too young to serve? You Called?
I shall share in this with Mark Wakelin. Mark is now Connexional Secretary, but I know him from last year at the Guy Chester Centre.

For now back to work! Lots to read and so forth!

Queens!

Will update about the last few weeks at some point! For now- I've moved to Queens. Term has begun and its fantastic! Thats all I have to say for now as it has been a bit frantic with induction, this continues till Wednesday!

Queens is brilliant!

Quite overwhelming

Inspired as I stood on Glen Nevis.


Surrounded by the hills,
Enormous,
So high.
All encompassing.
Standing beneath all,
Is me.
Compared to them,
I am tiny!

Yet God almighty,
Who made the heavens and the earth,
Cares for me.
Overwhelmed at the majesty and enormity
of creation.
I stand and cannot really grasp God’s love for me.
Yet God knew me, before I was born.
As tiny as I was.
I stand overwhelmed at God’s love.
God’s love for little me,
God's love for creation.
Then I am reminded:
A child of God, created as were the hills, treasure
And loved today and everyday.

Glen Nevis

One afternoon we were walking on Glenn Nevis. The experience was quite something- such large hills, made me feel very small! Psalm 8 came to mind:
“3 When I consider your heavens,
the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
which you have set in place,
4 what are mere mortals that you are mindful of them,
human beings that you care for them?”

As we strolled along, I started to think. There are mentions of the “hills” as part of the scenery and setting of the gospels! This was the context in which the journey of discipleship is set. As somebody growing up in Cambridge- hills was not part of my daily experience! Once I was in Lancaster they certainly were. But I found myself reflecting as we walked, about the disciples, journeying through the hill side, travelling from place to place. Sometimes it was uphill and others down hill! For me and my journey of faith- there are ups and downs! It got me to think about, the ups and downs, and the reality of following Jesus. It’s not always easy! What are the up hills and down hills in my life?
I was also eaten by some midgies! Not fun- I wonder what they midgies might be likened to in my journey of faith?
So often having been in the flat land for a while, I forget, the disciples weren’t on a gentle stroll on flat roads! Sometimes such simple things I forget, I need reminding!

Some images

The first two pictures are from Skye- reflecting the light- reflecting the glory of God! It was quite stunning. The last a wonderful blue- blue is my favourite colour! I thought it was rather nice!

Dolphins and faith! A bit random maybe...

One of the joys of my holiday was walking on the shore- (as is seen elsewhere!) watching dolphins. The first time I saw them (two years ago) I was just struck at the awesomeness. Whilst we were walking along the beach at Rosemarkie- once again we saw dolphins! AMAZING! The beach was busy with people dolphin watching. As I reflected and watched the dolphins- leaping out of the water and then losing sight of them as they went down- I was inspired to think about the journey of faith.
Our faith can sometimes be like dolphins; sometimes it glides along, it can be seen clearly. With leaps and jumps. At other times it can only be seen slightly- like the tops of the fins of dolphins- breaking the surface. At other times its barely visible or not visible- yet its always there- still moving along, in the depths of the sea. I’m Reminded of those words; “even when we don’t believe in God, God believes in us”. I’m Reminded that at whatever stage of our faith- God sees us and knows us- whether our faith be visible or not. Eventually it surfaces again! Just as the dolphins do- further across the water!