Not for sale

That was the message that is being sent to the local movement by members of the community and the one of our MPs Kate Hoey. 

The site behind is an old school site which the local movement want to sell. Yet on the oppersite side of the road is Archbishop Sumners school (ABS) who want and need to expand into a two tier entry school. School places are limited in Lambeth and steadily rising school age population mean this will continue. Leaving some children with NO school place. 

Over 2000 signatures have been collected in support of the bid by ABS.

The wonderful demonstration of the lack of school places with the use of Kate Hoey's mini and getting as many children in as possible.

mystic moggy

A friend posted this on FB

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yeah it's very funny and I do love cats and the very silly things that they do. 
But it got me thinking.....What image of God do we give to those in our patches. There are many stories in the world about the con artist. About those who fake the things of God who add things to thier storie of what God has done in them the "amazing" change that took place since they met with God.. But why embellish the work of God..  or the other side and the dumbing down of the gospel message. 
Its a sad place to be but I have heard people do both, and people I have know a long time. 
More than anything we need to be less like the cat in the video, not giving a performance of "god". We each you and I need to be showing the truth of God day to day in our lives in the little things. Honesty at the till if too much change is given. we are quick enough to complain if the casher gets it wrong and gives us less. Integrity in our speaking in public and in private.
I recently had to get medicenies from the hospital I wasn't expecting to have a perscription made and had no money on me I went to the dispencery and they let me have my meds but took my name and address. three days later i went back to pay. they lady was shcoked and said no one comes back to pay... 
It was a chance to share the gospel with her that opened up.
paul tells us in his letter that we are ambassidors for christ in our patches 
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
how we live matters... the God we show to people matters ... 

12.7/1

That's the ratio of people per vacancies in Lambeth My current patch falls in to the borough of lambeth (read here)

Region       Unfilled Vacancies    Total Jobseeker's              Ratio
                                                         allowance Claimants  
Lambeth              932                       11.799                           12.7

it put's us in the top 40 of the table for the worst place to find a job in the country London as a whole tops the list at almost double the national average

Region       Unfilled Vacancies     Total Jobseeker's               Ratio

                                                         allowance Claimants    

London              22,401                     226,182                        10.1

it's hard reading and with the population of lambeth being one of the highest in density in the country  and the council looking at selling more land for housing things set to look to continuing to be as hard. Much of the housing many of those in the community i work with would only dream of owning.

I joked today with a friend who had to find a home in the area when her husband relocated here just after I did they have two small children and that the price for my new house to rent in leicester was really expensive we both laughed as she knew I was on a wind up. My two bed house with a garden frount and back two big bedrooms is cheaper per month than the council rented flats in my block..  And is for many of the places to rent a short walk away the same as you will pay a week.

I do wonder what will be the outcome for this patch over the next few years and for those who I have come to know. Some of whom I know work two jobs to make ends meet.....

Fledglings

Today the service was lead by the young people...

For me it was both joy and sadness... I've called the small group who come and share fellowship at the film and food night my boys... I've seen the grow so much over the last 18 months and they are a real privilege to have journeyed with.

There was the sense of fledging as one of my boys gave the message. His friends called him "pastor " as a joke, yet this young man brought a message that so many of us "older" members of the body of christ miss.. He spoke about unity... the unity of the Spirit... that the Holy Spirit did not come to divided but unit the believers though they were from many backgrounds just like us meeting today are not divided because of the differences but united by the Spirit.

today he fledged the nest and its wonderful to see him wondering and questioning in his faith and sharing those gifts with the church.  my prayer is that he will continue to walk in the light listening to the Spirit and sharing that with the church.

The rest of the youth yet again to did wonderfully today they were themselves no masks when they were up front just themselves and that was great too... they didn't pretend it was real and from the heart.. I loved the end of the service as one of the younger youth said the closing prayer with me just three lines but very special.

Easter day

In March over on 365-my patch I took a photo of one of the allotments just down from my flat. The ground was stating to be prepared for planting it was towards the beginning of lent then. Today I went past the same allotment and it looks very different. Laid out each plant and vegetable in its patch in a place where it can grow and  develop. I'd spoken to the tender of the allotment and he said to watch out for something he had just built a frame a frame that looked like a gallows. 

Thursday at the globe I heard Esther recited. A gallows was built in there for much darker reason as someone who wanted power plotted to do evil in order to get it and ended up hanging from the gallows he built for another. Friday, Good Friday saw another image used for destruction the Cross. 

Yet both were used so very differently both the gallows and the Cross saw in them the beautiful. 

The tender of the allotment used for growing tomato's.

The cross a sign of suffering and pain and shame. bring forth the beauty of new life new hope through the resurrection of the one who died who shed his blood upon it.

¹ Now on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they, and certain other women with them, came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared. ² But they found the stone rolled away from the tomb. ³ Then they went in and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. ⁴ And it happened, as they were greatly^[b] perplexed about this, that behold, two men stood by them in shining garments. ⁵ Then, as they were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth, they said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? ⁶ He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, ⁷ saying, ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.’”⁸ And they remembered His words. ⁹ Then they returned from the tomb and told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. ¹⁰ It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them, who told these things to the apostles.

What this easter day is there in your life in my life that can be changed from something that is a seemingly harmless past time or a object that as you read this you recongnise as being like the gallows or the cross and needs that change that turning over to God so that He can reshape it into somthing beautiful.

How does that allotment that was being prepared look now well....

Urban farm

I wrote a few time now about the local city farm here in vauxhall it's been great to get to know the team that works there over the last few months. Today coming back from visiting in the community there was a sight I wasn't expecting. Now i am used to seeing the pony and horses being walked around the estate or even ridden. but to see two cows walking down the middle of the street was something very new. I love it :). whats so great is that in a inner city area the children get to touch and see so many different animals. I grew up going away on holiday or getting out of the city some weekends so saw animals in the feilds or on the farms. many children and families don't get that when most weeks they are finding it difficult to make ends meet. having the farm in the community brings them a place to go and meet the animals and for a short time get a brake form the city. a brief respite from the daily grind.

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...

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)

That was the week that was

I'm a little bit too young to remember that this was the name of a BBC programme in the 1960's ( find a snippet of what it was here) 

I haven't manage to post here or on my daily photo blog all week...

Friday night was film night and 6 teenagers and the lion king it was sick! ( under good authourity that means its a great film) we spoke about forgiveness and knowing who we are.

it's been a busy week here in my patch this week Last weekend was our harvest festival so saturday saw teams coming in during the day to set up different things ready for sunday morning...

After the service was a superman style change into by scout uniform for a trip out with the cubs it was to be a walk along the river looking at different things around our patch which would go toward one of their badges.

Unfortunately the weather wasn't as helpful as we would have liked so it was on the bus to the science museum 


Cubs on Tuesday night saw a visit from one of the local police officers it was great to see the young cubs asking some really great questions and getting to try on different parts of the uniform... 

 my prayer is this will be the only way that these young lives will get to wear this type of jewellery 

thursday some friends from finland ( not the normal visitors they arrive next friday)  arrived  they leave monday I'm away for three days in between and really wondering if I'll manage to catch my tail at some point... 

last night we watched shrek the third very funny film well I say we watched.... half of us watched while the one who wanted to watch it snoozed.....

Turku

This time last week I was in Turku. 

Turku was the capitol of Finland until it was moved to Helsinki. 

It is also the home of Moominworld airport not far is is the town of naantali 

I've had a fascination with these little guys for a long time... last winter I got to eat a picnic on the porch of muumin house :) 

For 2011 Turku will be the European capital of culture.. and while I was a way this weekend I got to plant a bulb at Ilpoinen school..

Photo By STF

It was a great morning lots of activities and lots of parents turned up to support what was taking place. 

I was told that I have a nose for coffee and pulla as yet again I found where it was being sold ( when on holiday in Tenerife  last year I found a church selling Finnish coffee and homemade pulla)

I also got to have a really nice bread with berries in it and sausage with apple juice 

Photo By STF school meal 

not only did I get to plant a bulb at the school I got to help in my friends garden doing a bit of pruning :) and gathering leaves. Living in a flat I really miss this side of life this weekend 3rd october is the harvest service in north lambeth. 

Photo By STF Pruning 

Ok so that may be a little pushing it for pruning, though cutting back can be very good for a plant : good job my friends hubby was away for the weekend...:)

part of the open praise of praise that we will use is 

God of the harvest we thank you for all those who represent us all in tending creation.

For gardeners and allotment owners

For foresters  and For farmers

For fishermen

That all might share from your garden

We thank you and praise you lord

and a couple of helpers with the leaves 

brownies & pizza

Together yes but not of chocolate sorts

monday night is brownies......

tonights activity was making pizza.....

fun... not in a way you would normally think of making it...

nice big cobs, tomato paste, cheese, ham, pineapple, baby tomatoes.....

put in oven....

it was great to see in their sixes the way they put their pizza together, so many different ways of putting those few ingredients.  and for some most of it never reached the bread as they happily munched away on the baby tomatoes..... others had cheese first, some had the cheese last...

and then you get the one, there's always one.......

Who turns theirs into a face :)

they did taste great.... Tonight was also the circuit meeting here and the brownies snuck me one in :)

the brownies have a lot to teach us through the promise they make and the law they are to try to live by.... recently I've done a lot about the means of grace and rules of life what though covers all encompasses all more than the brownie promise 

The Brownie Promise is:I promise that I will do my best:

To love my God,To serve the Queen and my country,

To help other people

and

To keep the Brownie Guide Law.

The Brownie Guide Law is: A Brownie Guide thinks of others before herself and does a good turn every day.

what if each of us promise to do OUR best at work at home at play 

what if we truly set out to love God 

To serve others  not just in our own country but all countries. thinking about what we buy, how we live, 

to be like these little brownies tonight, joining in, helping each other, laughing, being part of something that is bigger than ourselves yet being very different, 

as I watched and talked with them during the night it was hard not to think of the bible passage that speaks of a body having many parts each being valuable each being needed each unique yet all working for the same purpose.

Furry friends

Today was the first day back on the vauxhall city farm, unfortunately there was a problem with the hot water on the farm so it was closed to the public which meant no riding lessons. For me this was an unexpected bonus. I was able to wander round the farm and found some new residents four little ferrets who were very funny to watch. 

It was also a chance to learn how to groom and turn out the horses jobs that I never normally get to do. 

I still prefer animals that are a bit smaller and less stubborn than me, but it's hard not to love danny who's very naughty, I almost lost another hoodie as he tried to nibble it and Dolly the old lady who is cheeky.

around My Patch, Allotments

I got the idea for the name of this blog while on at a lay conference at the beginning of the year... Where we looked at the place we had been called as a allotment patch and the different ways we approach things and people we will meet. From the parable of the sower

A few minuets from the flat where I live is a small allotment patch broken up into private patches. 

 

What I love is the variety of things that grow in this small area, that each persons own thoughts ideas and expression comes through. So many different plants edible and decrotive grow together... 

it's a wonderful picture of what community is what church community could and should be like

walkin round the small area was a real surprise finding that there were grapes growing along the wire fence I'd not realised that this was what the plant was.

Jesus in john's gospels speaks that He is the vine his people are the branches here in the heart of my little patch is a reminder... of what I am called to do what we as a community of believers are called to be and do. To reach out take His love and goodness out. 

The vine had broken out in places from behind the fence the grapes growing the branches spreading connected to the main vine. but on the outside of the fence... and they were different from those on the inside.. not formed quite right a bit grubby from being knocked about and the mud and grim off the road. 

It's a picture a message that in the church we need to recognise  where God is moving and be there along side. 

there is a reality check to this as well as each of the little plots has a compost heap where the waste the unproductive where that which is pruned cut back is put... 

I don't want to end up in God's compost heap being recycled.....

around My Patch, South Bank

Today on the way back from the office I went down the south bank of the themes. Theres a great smoothy bar ( in a trailer) I like. So with it being nice off I went. It's still very strange even almost a year on waking to the sound of Big Ben walking through Parliament Square seeing those who govern the country, those who I've only seen through the papers or TV.  

So parliament isn't really part of my Patch ( it's the wrong side of the river) but what happens there has a ripple effect to those in my patch. 

Some of those I know work there in different ways from MP to cleaner. Without one the other could not do what they do.

The decisions that are made here have lasting effect on the community that stands within the sound of the  bell of Big Ben. 

To be able to walk here an pray for those in leadership, that they may rule and vote not for their own gain or self interest but that they will stand for justice and peace that they will have the courage to make the difficult decisions and stand by them.

we are told to pray for our leaders what a reminder here in our patch each time the chimes ring.

Hospitality

That is the theme for Sunday

This hangs in the lady chapel of one of the anglican church every morning I sit and look at it. Until I came here last year I hadn't seen the image... I love it the warmth of the colours the sharing only one cup or bowl is present.  

My dissertation last year was based on Jesus meals with sinner: table fellowship in the 21st century. 

the introduction to the paper is this 

There has been a rapid decline in the use of the family meal table throughout the latter half of the twentieth century and into the first decade of the twenty-first century. In May 2005, after a series of different contributory factors
had been highlighted by the British government as causing the increase in the ‘yob Culture’ found within society, the disappearance of the traditional family meal become the main focus.  The 2004 National Family Mealtime Survey, found that only

20% of those asked sat down to eat together just once a week or less. The poll, by parenting organization, Raising Kids, found that children often had meals alone in their bedrooms while watching TV or playing computer games. Of those who did eat together, TV was the preferred dinner guest, with 75% eating while watching it[1]

Thus, as part of the Queen’s speech, her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II stated ‘My Government is committed to creating safe and secure communities, and fostering a culture of respect.’[2] This was attempted, in part, by the tackling of the issue of the family meal, along with other new initiatives that were introduced. 

It's a interesting place to begin that to tackle the difficulties in family and community the use of the meal table was one of the places that organisations began to look at. 

I wonder what would be the impact if the community of believers began to eat together regually opening there table to the community, that all may come, 

it would be a lot of work, but to have the service based on a meal together even once a month now theres a challenge.

around the meal table many things take place the building of friendship,  of meeting. within the gospels context it is a place  is a place of welcome forgiveness, hope, restoration, Repentance, salvation and justice of acceptance.  The meal table is a place of an  ‘acted parable of God’s unconditional acceptance’[3].

---

[1] http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/4551727.stm, accessed 10 October 2008.

[2]http://www.number10.gov.uk/Page7488, accessed 14 April 2009.

[3] W.C.K. Poon, Superabundant Table Fellowship in the Kingdom:
The Feeding of the Five Thousand and the Meal Motif in Luke,’ The expository Times Vol 114 (2003), p. 227.

OUCH!!!!

A very Big ouch too.....

Most people know that I really hate Medics and tests more than I hate those eight legged things that invade my bath or sink...

And I'm Not the best of patients either....

Last night was know exception to that...... As one of my colleagues put it 

 " I hear you  have been fighting with tarmac which is never a good idea :) "

I feel off my bike while waiting to cross the road " don't ask"

I've been so blessed here in my patch with people from all different backgrounds and christian traditions.. What never Stops to truly amaze me though is the heart of the church here.. That at 930 last night so many people we willing to come out and stay with me.. one sitting in A&E until 12:30am when I finally gave in to the fear and discharged myself... others who brought my bike home and others who rang or sms'd to offer to bring tea and sympathy ( or to make shaw i stayed off my foot) others who though they are not in the area have sent text messages asking how i'm doing. 

It's a reflection of what the church does at its best reaching out taking, care of... it's not the first time I've been on the receiving end of this heart when I moved here I was suffering with fever and had many offers of soups and meals and shopping to be done for me.. at the time by strangers who now have become so wonderful friends.

the Bible speaks of entertaining angels unaware in this week lectionary ( Hebrews 13) and NO I'm no angel... and it's not a closed heart each winter the churches together get involved with the Robes Project.. providing shelter and a hot meal for homeless in south london over the winter months in the church 

Waiting at St Toms another  A&E to add to the list of ones I visited....

No real harm done though a bit of bruised pride a cut up sox  and sore foot :)

again a real big thank you to all those who gave a hand last night.....