Back to Work!

This week has been I think one of the busiest weeks I have had in London!
Last Sunday morning it was great to share in the Annual Covenant Service. It was here at Kings Cross- there were only 4 of us- but I was reminded how what we are doing is part of the much bigger picture- we can say it here with just a few of us- yet there are thousands of Methodist's (and others!) who say the words of the Covenant Prayer at the begining of the New Year. For me I found myself reflecting upon the words and the impact they have upon our lives a weeks prior to this- remembering the commitment I had made last year- which were still coming into completeness as 2007 drew to a close.

"I am no longer my own, but yours.
Put me to what you will, rank me with whom you will;
Put me to doing; put me to suffering;
Let me be employed for you or laid aside for you,
Exalted for you, or brought low for you;

Let me be full, let me be empty;
Let me have all things, let me have nothing;
I freely and wholeheartedly yield all things to your pleasure and disposal.

And now, glorious and blessed God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
You are mine and I am yours. So be it.

And the covenant made on earth, let it be ratified in heaven.
Amen."

Before Christmas sometimes being in London was challenging- yet I had pledged myself to go where God sent! SO as I said these words this year I was aware that in just 5 months time- God willing the Methodist Church will send me to theological college- I was looking ahead to that, as well as being aware of the more immediate commitment I was making.

The words are powerful, demanding and challenging!

The week continued to be busy, I started work in another of our social projects with alcoholics, I was at the hospital for my day a week. Also helped with the Night Shelter which is hosted at Kings Cross one night a week during the first 3 months of the year.

I had missed not working in my two weeks off and am pleased to be back again. Part of my placement this year that has been helpful in my discernment is working as a hospital chaplain one day a week. Having not been at the hospital for several weeks I was shattered by the end, but gain so much. Its a privillege to be able to take Holy Communion to people (its reserved sacrament). I receive so much from what people share within the hospital. Part of this discernment is helping me to think about where my longer term ministry may lie. One of the good things about Methodism is the way that it can combine circuit work and chaplaincy together!

Has been a really good week- I went home for just over a day too! Then have led worship today at Hinde Street and taught the Senior School Children of the Chinese church today. Was great to be with them- we are looking at prayer during January. so today we looked at the Lord's prayer- the teenagers then wrote some of their own! Including a chav version! Very interesting.

Any way, tonight there is a house meal and meeting! So best go! Will update soon!

New Year!

It's been a while since updating my blog- So HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Part of the reason that I was away for a week and then in at the deep end with work!
Last time I posted I had just arrived home for Christmas. Christmas was good- Church in the morning and then 15 people at my parents house for dnner! Was good fun and great to all be together! Even if I had only had 4 hours sleep! I still get excited at my age!

Any way just after Christmas I headed up to Lancaster for 6 days, for new year. It was great to see people and catch up with people. New Years Eve itself I spent with some university friends- we gathered, ate, played games, shared favourite moments of 2007 and hopes for 2008. I miss my university friends! New Years day morning (as in 5:30am!) some of my friends decided it would be good to climb a hill in the Lake District- so after 3 hours sleep we all got up, sorted and headed for the Lakes! It was dark and rainy. The hill that my friends Jez and Adam had thought we would climb turned out to be impossible because of poor visibility. So we chatted for a bit and then instead we drove down to Lake Windermere and walked around part of that- still crazy o'clock in the morning! We also prayed for one another and for 2008. Although it was extremely early, grey and drizzly it was good to start the year this way. The picture here was taken on our walk! Then it was back to where Lois and Ali's (friends who I stayed with for 4 nights). There we played DUTCH BLITZ! A favourite card game of mine! I hadn't played it for a while, so it was good to play again.
I spent an evening with some other friends! How crazy they are! We were all very hyperactive on sugar and am looking forward to seeing them all again at Spring Harvest! Five days of complete craziness!
I finished off my time in Lancaster by visiting the Charman family- Steve was my mentor last year, Jennie was a colleague in Junior Church and Hannah and Peter were both in my Junior Church class.
Was great to be able to catch up with people again, I miss Lancaster very much.

Another great thing whilst I was in Lancaster was the air! Over the past few months I have had a cough- a result of my asthma- whilst in Lancaster my asthma seemed to be really good. Back in London- it seems to not be so good again!

So it was back to Cambridge on the Saturday, out for a meal with a friend then back to London early on Sunday morning!

Ready for work!

famous people!

Over the last term I have seen various well known people! Living directly opposite St Pancras, me and a friend went across when the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh came! So I saw the queen- she also went by recently as I was arriving at the WLDC!
Earlier in the term I had seen Cardinal Murphy O'Connor, I was due to see the Archbishop of Canterbury but was ill!

Preaching in London

Going from the setting of rural Lancashire to the inner city of London was a shock for preaching! My first preaching appointment in London was at a Church very very close to the Emmirates (Arsenal’s ground!) it was a half past eleven service and Arsenal were playing Sunderland at twelve o’clock. As I began my sermon so did the football match, I found myself competing with the crowd, and I could tell you when the goals went in! This was a very different setting to Lancashire, I found it a bit distracting I must say!
Reflecting back- this setting is the back drop to all Christian preaching and speaking today- a busy noisy world! The challenge is to make the Gospel heard in a relevant way and in a way that can be heard.
Since then I have preached several times- most recently I preached an evening service at Hinde Street- technology permitting the sermon may soon be heard on the Churches pod cast. Preaching and leading worship is very different in London- the congregation make up is drastically different,its amazing how people drift in throughout services! It means progression in worship is hard to create! One of my experiences has been that rather than being in the majority I am sometimes in the minority- makes me stop and think about cultural relevance and how we seek to be inclusive and culturally relevant.

A full update!

My work in London is varied, this term I have done 2 days volunteering at the day centre see information at: http://www.wlm.org.uk/wldcent.htm I also work as a Free Church representative as a Hospital chaplain 1 day per week, I also help out with a women’s drop in group hosted at Kings Cross. As well as some of the other usual tasks of a presbyter- meetings, leading worship and preaching. When I write this down it doesn't seem that I do that much- part of my time in London is theological reflection. There have been many challenges which I will share later- they will be quite lengthy!
http://www.wlm.org.uk/documents/Report07_001.pdf
The circuit has recently had its annual review so much of the work I am involved in can be seen! The observant among you may even find a couple of pictures of me!

I am also fortunate to have the opportunity to go to the Guy Chester Centre each month to share with other students training for ministry. This is highly valuable, the friends I have made there are great and there is usually a lot of laughter! The Friday's we spend doing a variety of things. Friday mornings begin with Morning Prayer, coffee and biscuits! Then we continue working through a pastoral care course- this helps us in developing our pastoral skills but also to help in caring for one another. Friday afternoons are spent theologically reflecting together- different members of the group share something of their work/life and then together we reflect. Recently one of the group led us in a Boys Brigade session! This was great fun- making paper aeroplanes, figure marching, team games! It was a fun session- some of the group acted just like Boys! We then have a psychology kind of person come in and look at scenarios in ministry and placement. She leads us in reflecting and looking especially at the deeper things and unconscious at work!
After our evening meal we then have a time of "Cell Church", this follows through a series on "Our Calling" of the Methodist Church. (http://www.methodist.org.uk/index.cfm?fuseaction=opentogod.content&cmid=11)
After this we follow in good Methodist tradition and retire to a pub in Muswell Hill.
Its then back to GCC for Hot Chocolate, people begin to retire to their beds- although some of us sit talking till the early hours. Saturday is an early start for breakfast, some more people arrive- the Saturday incorporates EDEV (extending discipleship, exploring vocation) people. The day is a “QUIET” day, but with some of us around- quiet is fun! We are led in a variety of different ways to pray and are following- Margaret Silf’s book Wayfaring. The book I would recommend to people strongly- I have found it renewing and find GCC as a whole a place of nourishment. It’s good to be able to share with others, feeling a sense of isolation and considering ministry and discerning ministry. I am the only pre-ordination training student- discerning ministry for me is discerning the type of Presbyteral I feel I am called to and where my gifts and weaknesses lie. Any body offered the opportunity to go to Guy Chester centre- take it! The centre runs a variety of quiet days and courses: See the website for more details!

Home for Christmas!

So finally I am home for Christmas! Its been a long and busy term, but have finally written an update!
To those who read: May you have a happy Christmas and good new year!

I am in Cambridge for the first week of 2 for festive holidays and am then heading north to Lancaster for my second week! Am very excited to see friends and catch up! I miss Lancaster!

Long time no blogging....

whoops, I haven't blogged for a very very long time! so now lots to catch up on!