Promises

How do you teach a bunch of 3-6yrs about what the covenant service is all about... When many of those in our congregations struggle with it. The words are not easy and  leave us all with food for thought.

I am no longer my own, but thine.

Put me to what thou wilt, rank me with whom thou wilt.

Put me to doing, put me to suffering.

Let me be employed by thee or laid aside for thee,

exalted for thee or brought low for thee.

Let me be full, let me be empty.

Let me have all things, let me have nothing.

I freely and heartily yield

all things to thy pleasure and disposal.

And now, O glorious and blessed God,

Father, Son and Holy Spirit,

thou art mine, and I am thine.

So be it.

And the covenant which I have made on earth,

let it be ratified in heaven.

Amen.

Hard words to say they should be. Just take another look at what your saying. Lord I'm yours, all that I am, all that I have is yours. I give up any rights that I think I have. The fact is it's not about me  at all.  No it's all about you, your will. I'll accept what comes my way and  no matter what I'll follow you. That is some promise that is being made. What if, just for a moment what if the church actually lived that way.. if I truly lived that way... what a statement that that would be to those around us..

What is a promise, why do we make them? How do we make them.. 

All important questions questions that tomorrow in junior church we are going to look at.. under 5 points... 

1) Think - why I am making this promise

2) Time - do I have time to keep the promise or will I make the time to keep it 

3) Energy - is your heart in the promise 

4) Materials - do I have what is needed to keep the promise

5) Know how - how do I keep the promise 

For the children we'll say this tomorrow

Thinking about the covenant prayer how to explain to this bunch of 3-6yr olds redefines what it means and the difficult words it holds. how ever you comes to it it is not a simple prayer. 

chick chick chick chicken

chick chick chick chicken lay a little egg for me.. well this one wont lay a egg for me but its great it was a gift for looking after the hens for the rector and his wife... 

made out of recycled metal I love it ... 

Sometimes its the simple things that mean the most......

That's the one !!!!

That's the one is a phrase that was used by one boy at Archbishop Sumner school where I was leading the school Assembly.... It being Epiphany I decided to take three presents with me.. and asked the head to choose three children to help me.. so they looked in the bag and chose a present to open. Now these three presents were very different, one was wrapped in brown paper, one very nicely in sparkling paper, and one nice but with two types of paper... 

I asked them the question "why did you choose that present" there replies "I liked the paper" and "it looked expensive so there might be something valuable in side"

what really struck me was the comment by one boy... they say "out of the mouths of babes" come honest answer and truth well that was so evident yesterday. The reason he chose the brown paper present " cos that's the one Jesus would have chosen" wow 

And He was right.... 

it wasn't the point to what I was going to say it had passed me by I was focused and had missed something so simple...

Santa's and chicks

Christmastide doesn't officially finish until 6th January the twelfth day when we remember the wise men bringing there gifts. Theres still chocolate santa's at a reduced price on the shelf... so I thought I was caught up in some strange time warp when I went into Tesco's to pick up some flu meds to find a shelf full of chocolate bunny's eggs and cows... I was glad the lady next to me also stopped looked and exclaimed surly i'm seeing things.. It wasn't just me..

yes the manger and the cross are intimately woven together in our history without there being christmas celebrating Christ with us God taking on human form that He may draw us back to himself there would be no easter no offering of new life through the cross... We do remember this at christmas in the making of the christingle the red ribbon that represents that sacrifice...

but chocolate chicks on 3rd january 2011 this was a little bit too early for me... 

What would you give

Today I went to two VERY different fellowships for worship...

The second was a little bit different as it's aimed at the gay community and meets once a month in the methodist church building in vauxhall. I don't want to get into the different arguments and politics about the right or wrong of this so please respect that.. The sermon and service theme was based on epiphany and used the readings for today used in the rest of the parish and circuit and I must admit I enjoy the occasions when I get to go the welcome is always warm and the fellowship after over food is always fun even if I'm the odd one out :). At the moment there is a very interesting question being asked amongst the fellowship is how to open up to others so that all are welcome.. thats a vey real question for us all how do we make ALL welcome not matter what their background might be..

  As part of the sermon we were told " The wise men brought three gifts with them as they followed the star towards bethlehem" .. and then asked 

 "what gift would you give Jesus" 

What I loved was the response that came back from the congregation.. a hug, a meal, a place to stay, a drink, and my favourite from one guy a fellow traveller from nottingham :) was this

'' I'd give Him a foot massage as He would need it after all the traveling''

Those were not what I was expecting but really made me begin to think what would I give him.. those weren't what you would call text book answers the ones that I expect to here at a Bible college or study group... these were answer that came from the person they were real and from the heart..

we sing in the carol in bleak mid winter the words to the final verse are 

What can I give Him, poor as I am?

If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb;

If I were a Wise Man, I would do my part;

Yet what I can I give Him: give my heart.

What can I give Him? what ever your answer let it come from the heart 

U.F.O's over vauxhall

In the summer I posted about strange things in the skies on a sunday afternoon.. well tonight a reoccurrence took place floating past was more balloons but this time they were captured...  and now float in my living-room :) a proud moment as the prey was caught and brought back :) reminded me of trying to catch the dandelion seeds in the summer as a child. What it must of looked like as I tried to catch the bunch that came my way I don't know but i know those who tried to get the smaller bunches that were flying by looked very silly too :). 

We can be far afraid of being free of being playful of being a child when as adults there are so many things that can hold us back.. I heard this story recently

one summer on a daddy daughter day a dad took his 7 year old daughter to disney land . She headed straight for Space Mountain.  The dad got worried that his little girl would get scared but she loved it 

To her delight, they rode it twice.

the following summer they went again, now eight, again dragged the dad to Space Mountain. standing in the line she read the warning signs and began to worry. and turned to her dad telling him she no longer wanted to go on the ride. confused the dad asked why she had changed her mind when last year she had enjoyed it so much her reason this year I can read...

Things get in the way, maybe it's what people will think, maybe its we can now read we all have those but what if's that run through our thoughts taking ourselves way to seriously ... 

last year I went with a friend to wales for a holiday, while she sat and read I flew a plastic kite like the ones i used to buy with pocket money on holiday as a child... and built a sandcastle. while building it people stopped by commenting on it, with the same feeling "I wish I could do that" or "its good to just let go some times and not be adults"my friend came down to tell me it was really time we got going again, commenting on the castle she pointed out the gates   and bridge over the moat.. kneeling with hands on hips my reply proudly defiant that is a portcullis. 

I wish I could do that we all can let go and be like children trusting and just being free, just being living in the moment not thinking what others may think.. I wonder if thats why during the 90's karaoke became so popular it was a type of permission to do the silly songs and entertain like many children still do...

God wants us to be who he created us to be, to use all the senses and enjoy life yes we all have responsibilities that we have to fulfil but to be to rest to play to be like a child and live in that moment to enjoy life and not worry what tomorrow will bring or what people may think.

so the next time you see a dandelion seed floating o the wind you have permission to catch it hold it and blow it onto the wind again. or go window shopping with a friend arm in arm.. 

and yes this goes for those of us who are in leadership too we too need to be able to let go and be... 

New Years Eve part 2

We were just in the middle of communion when the fireworks went up in London to mark 2011 not just a new year but a new decade..

Before the service I had been invited over to a new years whist party which when I got the invite I hadn't got a clue what it was to be honest I still don't really get it but had a wonderful hour there.. before heading down the road to prepare for the service..

one of the big jobs was trying to find a robe that fitted I felt like part of the three bears tale too small too big just right. 

so for those who have joked about it here it is 

The curate preached a short sermon but longer was not needed the one thing stuck out are we able to look at the person before us and see good in them to see past race or religion and see the creator God see His image in them... 

In my new years eve post I said that understanding and hearing and listing would be on my wish list to santa... 

if we are there listening and hearing the wishper of God we may just be surprised where we see His and and voice this coming year 

New Years Eve

I'm sat in my living on the sofa trying not to fall a sleep and hoping the bug I've had all week will behave and it's only 18:30 at 22:00 I need to be at church to run through the service tonight for the first time I've been asked to act as deacon for the watch night service at the Anglican church.. Scary very.

But while I ate my supper I picked up a copy of the big issue that I by from a friend. I saw her today and found that it is her birthday tomorrow. 

One of the articles in this addition is a letter to santa written by the founder of the big issue John Bird he opens his letter 

Dear Santa

I am going to be greedy this year. Not content with a few bags of sweets and socks and hankies.I want big stuff in my stocking please.

Big stuff big Issues!!  as Christians are we willing am I willing to ask big things of God to step out with big requests expecting for them to be answered. What are the things that make us burn with righteous anger in our communities. To see the need and ask God to move and to go further and be the answer to that prayer. Are we content this year with staying where we are with God or moving deeper into Him deeper into that personal relationship He calls us into, or instead will we stay content with ''sweets and socks and hankies'' the choice is there for each of us.

What is the big stuff? 

for John Bird 

''I would like a big box of CLARITY. Followed by some LEADERSHIP. And then, you can never get enough UNDERSTANDING. I suppose the other big want, and I hope you are in a generous mood, is SOLIDARITY.''

What would I write

I would like UNDERSTANDING that we could have that empathy and concern for another even when it's hard for us.. To HEAR and LISTEN to each other and what the other is saying rather than what we would like to hear. That each of us would be JESUS with SKIN on to all we meet.

I'm not going to say the rest of the article to do that would ruining the ethos of the big issue if you want to read it go by it from a vendor or get a back issue.

Eat,Drink, Sleep..

Thats a bit different to how the saying is normally to be found  eat drink and be merry ...........

At the moment I'm trying along with a friend to read Beginnings and Endings daily readings from the start of advent to epiphany... I've not been doing all that well with it to be honest. It's not the format I'm used to that a bible passage to read and a reflection on it then time for my own reflection. Nor that it follows a theme for a couple of days then changes that I can cope with too.. So what is it ... to be honest I'm not all that sure.. but it is challenging..  Let me share with you the reading for December 12th 1kings 19:1-9  The reflection Eat,Drink, Sleep.. the prophet had challenged the people of His day to take God seriously God showed up in fire on the mountain then.  and now he's  despondent alone in the desert...  the answer from God was providing  food...water..... rest. the next part of the story is that again he finds himself on a mountain but this time God isn't in the fire but in the still small voice 


at the end of the days thought is this 

Life out of kilter? Need to find God afresh? Eat, Drink, Sleep. Don't forget that you are a body as well as a soul. The still, small voice is hard to hear when your body is exhausted and you are sleep-deprived. Increase your chances of hearing that voice by looking after yourself - body and soul.

maybe thats what the ouch was in reading these last few days and why its taken since dec 12th to write the post..


we may turn our noses up at the five-a-day healthy eating option and eight hours sleep but there may just be something in 5&8

On Friday (31st Dec)  New Years Eve many of us will make a new years resolution, things we plan to do or change for the coming year  I have already been asked this week if I have one.


How about the challenge that this year it's a 5&8 year  Increase your chances of hearing that voice by looking after yourself - body and soul.

The Lion Saves

I have a friend staying with me for the weekend so after a very late start to the day we took a walk along the Albert Embankment toward vauxhall bridge. I've taken this route a few times normally when walking my adopted fore-legged friend. Today though i chose to walk this way to avoid the slushy black mush that was being thrown up onto the pavement by the passing traffic there is nothing worse than when the snow becomes mush. 

Like it or love it the snow makes the place look so different... As we walked I spotted the lions that decorate part of the river wall with snow on them. So went to take a closer shot what i found made me smile. You can just see in the picture above that the lions have rings in their mouths. 

the one on the left though was what caught my eye and imagination instead of the stone ring like it's neighbour this lion has in its mouth one of the buoy's you normally find for rescue.. gripping it firmly in its teeth..

I wonder what was going through the mind of the one who placed it there.. had it been washed up on the slipway with the drift wood and other lost or cast off items. Did it just seem like a fun thing to do. I don't know it doesn't really matter. What I saw as I looked on was  

The Lion that Saves.. 

Jesus is referred to as the Lion of Judah. 

In the chronicles of Narnia C.S.Lewis uses this imagery with Aslan the lion who gives his life to save.

The week we come to the final week of advent as we think about Christ and His incarnation Jesus being born as a child, Emmanuel God is with us , the plan of God to save mankind to draw each of us back to himself.

That great act of salvation remembered at easter in His death and resurrection. Talking about the cross at christmas seems strange well maybe not as strange as you may think. 

Three gifts were given to Jesus by the Magi Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh. the significance of these gifts gold it's a gift fit for royalty He is King,frankincense Ancient people burned frankincense, believing it to carry their prayers to heaven. Its use as incense illustrates His role as our Priest. Myrrh was used in incense, perfumes and holy ointments and also medicinally. The most notable use for myrrh was for  embalming, and was used in Egyptian mummies. As an embalming ointment it signified that He was born to Die for the world., Myrrh is mentioned as one of the burial spices of Jesus (John 19:39).

So from the very gift brought those of the Magi the recognition of who the small child was and was to become.

who is He to you at this time...

Carols from Central

I love Westminster Central Hall... It's not as pretty as the buildings across the road... not as elegant... nor in many ways does it enjoy the prestige that Westminster Abbey and Cathedral see.. The Abbey will host a royal wedding early next year...

But central has something about it... there's always a warm welcome... until recently I had only been there once for a service in 2008 during a mission placement in Whitechaple. Yet the sunday I went one of the stewards welcomed me that said he recognised me it turned out I had spoken to him one coffee break that spring while he was on retreat at cliff... this summer I went back a year later and there was the same steward again with a warm greeting of a old friend... things like that matter.. yet this welcome went out to all those who came through the door and each was spoken to with a greeting that would have been said at least a hundred times but with a individual touch...

Tonight was no different... 

I was there for the traditional Carol Service which was truly wonderful to see the great hall full and the sound of not 'o for a thousand' but over two thousand tongues to sing was to give a glimpse of heaven on earth of what it will be like to sing before the throne of God. Do I pay too much of a compliment that's not like me..

The service was recorded and will be transmitted at 1pm GMT Christmas day on Premier Radio

The sermon was by Rev Martin Turner he spoke about 'what does it matter' what does it matter about the state of our community when I can close the door and hide... what does it matter about my life when so many think that about themselves... the spinoff from that the Am I bovvered? to use the phrase of Lauren when deep down that's actually where she is hurting that she's not been invited hurting that no one notices.. what does it matter if the Son of God came if He makes no difference in our lives, what does it matter if angles sing yet the song of heaven doesn't reverberate within our souls... 


the close of the service was to send to send shivers down the spine as the lights dimmed and a flame was past one to the other.. I was sat between two strangers I was past a flame to light my candle from their's.. then it was past from  mine to my neighbours.. strangers yet together....

3 in 1

That not the oil for my bike.... 


but the time zone I have been in in one afternoon... Finland    +2hrs
                                                                                          Denmark +1hrs
then finally back in London and back to GMT+0 


was a long day of travelling but like many on the flight we were glad to be on a plane that was going to fly...  so rather than my normal route of Turku - Helsinki - London and time wandering around the shops I was upset not to fly via Helsinki I was eyeing up a Raindeer skin so maybe it's a good thing that Helsinki was out.


so as with other trips this was out the window at Copenhagen 

The colours from this don't really show through but they were great.......


back in London things didn't go quiet as they should... we had to wait to be let off the plane for a while... grrrr


but back now after a trip to tesco ( I nearly wrote prisma lol) I have supper... 


now it's off to bed..... 

Strikes

Right now I should be somewhere above Finland on my way back to London...Rather I'm sat with Glögi and Pepparkakor on my friends sofa. 

This is the first time that I've ever been stuck anywhere. For the past week Finnair have been on strike. So now I have a ticket for Friday evening and hope that a arrangement can be made so I can fly. 

Earlier this year I had two guests stay with me, they were stuck in London due to the volcano that erupted in Iceland they were with me a week. 

they joked on sunday that we seem to get tuck in each others countries.... 

my friend already has a house full of 'waifs and strays' plus hubby and daughter oh and the three doggies. Yeah it's tough at times.

but here is a feeling of home.... a welcome.... a place to lay a head.... to be warm..... 

Hospitality is a gift that often goes unnoticed... but its one that my friend has in abundance even when tired... 

I'm thankful that even when plans are thrown out that here is always a welcome..

Greeting from the frozen north

I'm on my travels again :)


I'm in a and of snow where the country doesn't come to a standstill and everything carries on as normal when the fluffy rain comes. ok maybe not all one school yesterday did close as it was too cold the heating wasn't working and it was about 10c in the classes. 


outside it was almost -20 most of the day though my friends doggies din't mind too much and enjoyed their walk and rolling in the snow.


the evening was great it was my friend and fellow bloggers birthday and we went out for pizza at Dennis's in turku ( made even more famous by the fact that the Beckham's ordered takeout while david was here having a op in the summer you can even order the same pizza the 71. BECKHAM SPECIAL ham, fresh tomatoes and fresh basil) I had to go for one pizza that you wont find in the local pizza shop MAAHINEN and it was great ( go and look it up :) ) 

out and about

I've been a bit under the weather the last couple of days, and hoping and very much praying my voice lasts the weekend as I'm preaching...


But today I got to escape as I had a visitor for the day :)... and we went into london.. Piccadilly Circus, regents street and oxford street yup on a saturday and this close to christmas it was nice though even with all the people.. though I did get told off by my visitor for the mole, hamster and duck step impressions when people got in the way... 


the lights are up and a Narnia theme this year yay ( hoping to go see it next week when I visit my friend in finland hint hint) 


At Hamley's the biggest toy shop we came home with a new friend.. A beanie boo


Born May 11th 

and called waddle 
I love penguins there great always psychotic love the one in the film madagascar 


the christmas tree was a treat too

 And the window display bears carol singing :)

A nice day :)

EMPEROR ‘AUGUSTWUS’ BEGINS ONLINE CHRISTMAS STORY

Around 2000 years ago, the Emperor Augustus announced a census and called everyone to return to their towns of birth to register and respond. Now, on social media sites, the Natwivity (an up-to-date Nativity play) has announced it’s very own… could this be Emperor Augustwus?!

Tweeters and Facebook users can respond by visitingwww.natwivity.com and copying and pasting the details to update their status.

Please feel free to blog, tweet or press this news.

or follow the link on the blog... get the daily updates and messages as we journey together 

Jack Frost

Today I woke to a carpet of frost and clear blue sky... giving my patch a very different view to normal... Though there was very little else that I could see due to the fog...  The heating went on as well it's been on a few times recently but today it was on for 3 hrs.  Even put the liner back inside my coat......

Today the patch looked different for another reason...

for sometime about 10 yrs I've had a nagging to candidate as a Ordained Minister in the Methodist Church. To go before the Church last night was one of the scariest moments I've been through.. many of my friends and family have known for sometime that this was what I was thinking praying through.. to have what I've felt on my heart for this time now to before openly examined to begin that being discerned  by the church is a scary place to be... 

Today I woke to the first part of this discernment within the local church taking place and the church giving me there blessing to continue. Sometime in February I'll go to meet with the district candidates committee and the process willl continue.. before then I need to get my portfolio complete and sent in in triplicate ( have to admit that makes me smile all I can think of with that is Klinger off the tv series M.A.S.H moaning about things being in triplicate for the army)

We will remember

All Fell silent to day at Westminster and  along Whitehall as the sound of 11am rang out from Big Ben as the act of remembrance took place ... It is a awesome experience standing at what is a very busy junction for tourists and locals alike. 

Remembering those who hold the Burma Star this one means a lot as my grandfather served and was awarded the burma star and atlantic star

Row upon Row of little crosses each with a single poppy lay in remembrance of fallen comrades, brothers, fathers,Uncles, sisters, mothers....  Some  from many years ago some from just a few days lay in the grounds of the Abbey ... 

That we stop this day to remember is a poinient time.. to forget what has happen would be far worse than many of the things that take place.. when we forget our history when we forget these horrific events WWI was the war to end wars when a million men died in a few short hours. the events of WWII, the atrocities around the world that continue today... Yes that 11-11-11 was the signing of the armistice which ended WWI today it is also a time remember those killed across the generations and time.. of friend and of foe... today there was a patch of ground marked for other nations there were crosses for german russian Italian.

Duke of Edinburgh Leaving the Abbey 

Whatever we feel are the rights and wrongs of past and present conflicts no-one truly wins in war let us remember lest we repeat history 

Saints and Soldiers

I Got the dvd of this yesterday and watched it last night it wasn't what I expected...

The film is based on actual WWII events, the film tells the story of five of Allied soldiers ( four americans and a british pilot ) trapped behind enemy lines with information that could save thousands of allied lives. they try to make their way back to their own lines. saints and Soldiers is set  In mid-December 1944, as Hitler's Army makes it's way through the Ardennes Forest in Belgium, ithe starting of a offensive that will come to be known as the Battle of the Bulge. The German soldiers open fire on the unarmed prisoners,  now known as the Malmedy Massacre. 

What struck me through the film was the link in lives and events that drew friendship and hatred together... hiding in a farm two german soldiers come to search one is killed as he tried to attack the women harbouring the Allied soldiers. the other ran into the woods to be caught by one of the others in the band and brought back to the farm...

this is where for me the story really had a human touch deeper than anything we think possible... one of the americans recognises a friend from before the war when he was a missionary they talk and pray.. while the rest of the group are suspicious and want to killed the german... during the night the german is let to escape after giving up valuable details. 

Suspicion grows and threatens to brake the group they continue to make there way through the forest and come across germans again and a fire fight ensures leaving one badly injured when it seems like all is lost it is this german who was allowed to escape that provides a way out to get to the allied lines... 

there is a constant tension between the medic and one of the soldiers nicknamed "Deacon" a christian comments made about what was so interest in the book he was reading....

at the end of the film all but the medic and the british pilot die but something striking happens the medic who was the strongest in the hatred becomes the one who aides the now captured german solider.... and takes the bible from deacon....

Forgiveness, friendship hatred all mix in this film.....

And something much deeper the grace of God actively present in the worst places of human life. 

Tempus fugit ludus .... Musa sapientum fixa volat instar fructus

This time last year I was just coming to the end of my first month here in lambeth... I'd written to a friend to say I was moving part of that note said something along the lines of what a privilege it was to be moving to London a stones throw from the houses of parliament. You can walk not far from here and find the embassies of many different nations... The embassy I work for is based in north lambeth not as flash as some of those that are near by theres no driver and limousine... no special perks or diplomatic amunity why should there be many of the ambassadors of the king who sent me to london face imprisonment suffering and death....

but paul writes that we are all ambassadors of Christ and therefore should live lives that that represent the one who calls and sends us to a hurting world....

I don't know what this year will bring ... but do know one thing where God calls he equips... that if we stop and listen in the midst of all that is going on around us he will and is there... though we don't always see him... 

He promises that he will never leave us or forsake us that if we draw near to him he will draw near to us...

The choice is will we choose to spend time with HIm....

That we can be salt and light to the communities to the patch that we are called to be in.... in the times of reaping and the times or toil 

Nhaaaaahbours

I have a new neighbour.... Just before half term my favourite horse at the city farm Dolly retired.... Today I met  Pimms a four year old pony.... pics to follow as I dint get chance today 

Cardboard and Glue Guns

I got home from scouts today to find a e-mail from a friend and former workmate from last summer I guess you could say my old patch. 

We'd worked at a place which mad up cardboard advertising posters and frames the ones you see in supermarkets with DVD's on and those big ones in the Cinema's... the few week's I was there were fun and tough. 

Fighting with glue guns for 8 hrs a day or double sided tape which decided no matter what you did wouldn't stay in a straight line. 

But tonight it was great to hear that some of those guy's have semi perminate contracts rather than the wait for the call on your way home to find if you were needed the next day... they were and are hard working guy's... 

the other side of this was to hear the news of my friends family and how the grand Kids were growing... that he had got a new job...

we never know as we journey through life how lives cross and mingle but what impact they leave on our lives... but even though it was just a few weeks that I was there in Benfleet there will always be a part of that place in me i still have the scars from missing the a and hitting my hand with the hot glue...

I learnt a lot form those guys but most of all to be real, what you saw with them was what you got  and it was great... you got there respect by doing the same by pulling your weight... yeah there were grumbles and jokes I was on the end of a few.... questions and conversations...  one of the ways a question was asked was by starting with I don't mean to be rude but ............ genuine questions from real people 

one of my favourite conversations was a group telling me what they knew of the easter story what we got to was this...

that there were these guys who arrested  jesus and they took him to another guy who was in charge ( pilot) and then loads of people wanted him dead so they got some wood and put him on a cross.... 

we got the story down to the wood coming from B&Q and the crown of thorns well.... we got being made from stolen barbed wire off a near by warehouse fence...

it was a real meaningful way to hear the story being retold as it came gritty,rough and ready and most of all it was very real...

we often as leaders and preachers struggle to find relevant ways to repackage and share the message of the gospel to people day after day last summer I had it shared by those I worked with..

I'm so thankful that I got to spend a few weeks in their patch last summer there's a lot that the church can learn from being open honest and real... not projecting a false image but actually saying this is who we are a group a people journeying together hurting together and after a 14hr shift you hurt laughing together teasing the boss.... and being supportive they may not have got what I wanted to do but the day before I came for my interview there was no place else I'd have been than with that team in Benfleet and after the writer of seethroughfaith they were the first to be told I got the post in my new patch...

All Souls

Last night at the local Parish church of St Peters we celebrated all souls.... I went last year for the first time it was really interesting as those who through this year had lost loved ones wether friend or family joined together to celebrate and remember their lives as part of the service a list of names was read it was a simple but special service on the service sheet it says this 

welcome to our service of remembering those who have died. During the service there will be an opportunity to light a candle. Why do we do this ?

Lighting a candle is a prayer 

when we have gone it stays alight... kindling in the hearts and minds of others the prayers we have already offered for them

lighting a candle is a parable  

burning itself out it gives light to others.

Christ gave Himself for others 

He calls us to give ourselves

lighting a candle is a symbol

of love and hope  of light and warmth