Natwivity

No that's not my bad spelling again but rather the name of a way of spreading the story of christmas...  through interesting thought from mary and joseph to the wise men through modern media, Facebook and twitter the messages given in 140 characters the limit for a tweet 

What's it all about 

THROUGH THIS PROJECT WE AIM TO…

• Reinforce the story of Christmas
• Allow the 21st century audience to engage with the story in a new way
• Create a space for Christians during a cluttered time of the year to remember the story
• Create a way for Christians to engage their friends with the story in a thought-provoking, yet fun way

Want to join in then follow the links 

through the link at the top of the blog 

or 

Facebook 

Twitter 

Web

If it's not for you then pass it on to someone else who might :)

Writing this I'm thinking this doesn't really have much to say about my patch or does it... 

I think it brings a very relevant question about how we relate to those living in our patches..  How we share the message of Gods love in the world both by word and by deed...

How do we pass on the message to those in the 21st century who are inundated with so many other things vying  for their attention, time, loyalty....

to present the gospel in a way that is accessible to those who are now so far removed from having any connection with a Christian community... who no-longer no the "stories of old" those that even my generation can just about remember.. those like the young boy who walked past us at easter and turned to his father asking dad why are all those people standing round that cross?? an innocent question but one his father couldn't really answer.. or the young girl walking past a nativity scene asking mummy why is that baby surrounded by animals.

Introducing the gospel to a new generation in a fresh way.... the gospel is always relevant how we present it and live it isn't always.

Tonight at guides was a moment when one guide present a argument as to why the part of the guide law she had to defend was important spoke about caring for creation being good users of resources. and then said this is important as in genesis 1 God said thats what we were to be.... then looked at me, and semi puzzled semi questioning said i got that right... the grin when it was affirmed was worth the cold walk up on a dark night. Questions coming from this group over the last few weeks have been a mix.. from what the bible says about tattoos and pearcings, to s-x before marriage.... it started by being real, trying to live and speak the gospel... 

being relevant, not trying to be cool, or trendy, but real......

Epsom part 2

early tomorrow I'm off to Epsom again for the second part of my placement... Looking forward to it. one of the really interesting things about doing the placement is seeing how others use their gifts and skill and how they work in their patch. 


as indifferent parts of the country the soil is different more acidic or clay based so to with the way we live and are.


so that somethings that work here in my patch may not work in others... just as in the garden some plants will in acidic soils but not in clay soils.


so it's early to bed and early to rise :)

Westminster Central Hall

I'd planned to be at the service at Central Hall today for quite a while... I'm just completing my studies to be a local preacher, and as part of completing the section portfolio i have to write areport on a service that I haven't lead or been a part of... having done this for my last three sections and used my colleagues' services to give feedback on, I thought I'd make the short journey over the river to central hall and see how they do it there ....

I've been at at a service here once before (two years ago while on placement at the White Chapel Mission).. It's a place that doesn't really do what you expect it to do. Let me explain ...

It's a central London church. It's a HUGE building, set just past parliament and Westminster abbey .

The first time I went there, I was pleasantly surprised by the warm and friendly welcome that was given by those who were at the top of the stairs to welcome everyone. They seemed to make a extra effort to speak to those who they didn't recognise. I know this might sound a strange reflection but, trust me, I've walked into churches and had no one speak from the moment I arrived to the moment I left... but here in the heart of London was such a warm acceptance...

This was reflected in something that was said during the sermon by a visiting preacher

Any stranger should expect two things when they walk into the house of God a welcoming acceptance and the presence of God

That was my experience today!

One of the stewards had attended the Wesley course at Cliff (which I'm now studying too) He was there while I was a undergraduate and he made a point of come to talk to me. That's always a special touch isn't it? I did not think that he would remember but he did :).

The service today was actually the anniversary of the church. Central Hall was built in 1912 and is now 98 years old.... it was specially good as Ron Frost (the father of a man of God who had a impact on me and so many of my generation and went home not so long back )was there and we sang happy birthday to him. Not quite 98 but not far off...

To hear his story about his trial service to become a preacher - a sermon that was interrupted by the sounding of the war alarm was great! He's been preaching since a teenager and still going strong

After the service I met with my friends from Finland for lunch and wandered home ... back to my patch on this side of the Thames

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 

critters !!!!!

As most know, just down the street from my flat are the Spring gardens... I had to smile today, walking through the park. Two workmen were trying to cut down a Horse Chestnut. ... and not finding it a easy job. They did have a large group watching from a distance!

I loved Horse Chestnuts as a kid and would go conkering.

There were lots laying around beneath the tree

As a kid these wouldn't have stayed very long on the trees or the ground. Today though they were coming down faster than normal.... why? Two very noisy critters were not happy about the destruction of their patch... these two little squirrels had weapons of mass destruction in their paws, and were happily hitting passersby with conkers!

All creatures great and small :) Today, though they may have lost a tree, the squirrels for me defiantly came out on top...

helsinki-vantaa

One of the redeeming things of coming back from finland on monday evening was a beautiful sunset over Helsink.i I was on the wrong side of the plane to watch it finally set but watching the colours dance over the city was special!

Take off, still climbing ....

Up over Helsinki. 2hrs 35mins to London

which ways Home ???

I arrived back from Finland late last Night....

it was great to go visit... though how much it is possible to do in four days? Seems that time went a bit fuzzy.. :)

updates to follow but right now it's back to work and the grey skys of london rather than the wonderful crisp autumn of Turku

Come fly with me

In my patch we are sat underneath the flight path for Heathrow.... I love watching the planes come over....

Right now I'm sat in terminal 3 at Heathrow.. waiting impatiently for the gate number to come up on the board for the 10:20 Finnair flight to Helsinki :)

and a weekend off :)

at 5pm Fin time (3pm bst) I'll be on my way to Hesse with a friend....

Will be strange though as this will be the first time that I land in Finland when the author of see-through-faith wont be picking me up..

haven't got a clue what we will do this weekend :)

more to follow on this trip later

my Patch out and about pt2

Two days in Epsom was a very different time... Just 30 minutes by train from Vauxhall , but it could be a million miles away....

I was meeting the minister I was to shadow at mid-day but arrived a hour early which gave me time to walk around find the meeting place- to get my own first impressions.... One thing I loved was the town centre, Theres were different stalls the three mornings I walked through it. A open air cafe and bread stall selling rye bread which though tempted with buying a loaf a resisted that... ( but if my house elf is reading this maybe next weekend :) ) a great place to be out and meeting the community being available in the "third spaces' what a third place in the book exiles frost puts it like this

Third spaces are the most significant places for Christian mission to occur because in a third place people are more relaxed, less guarded, more open to meaningful conversation and interaction...................It's in the third place that we let our guards down, it's here that we allow people to know us more fully. it's here that people are more willing to discuss the core issues of life, death, faith, meaning and purpose. (p.58)

Think about it how many times did Jesus end up in the market place talking with people healing restoring challenging ....this was very much the case over a lunchtime meeting....
Walking out from the station one of the first things to strike me was the freshness... though it had been a lovely morning leaving My Patch, arriving in Epsom a very different feel was to the place one of being able to breath..

What do I mean by that......

Here in My Patch life I find is fast... much faster than I have been used to... London is busy, high building, the tube feels feels like large sardine tins ( though I think sardines get more room) it's the same which the buses and paths... people every where...

Coming into Epsom the buildings where lower opening to the sky.... less shadows cast by them... the high street though bustling there was space to sit and be ( yes there are places along the south back to do this ).. Life here was slightly slower... a pace that I'm a bit more used to..

This view was held to by someone that we met for lunch who had explained they had done the commuter thing had lived in Clapham for a short time but found life here in Epsom less frantic.

That for me was a intresting conection as we were a similar age, and with their job would be possible expected to live more centrally based...

MY Patch out and about

For the next few days My Patch is off to visit another patch and found out how they work their patch. The patch they have I think will be very different it's in Epsom not far by train from My Patch but different images come to mind.

so more on my trip soon

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.

Get Connected......

Yesterday was spent at Westminster central Hall for the London District youth event  Get Connected... This was the first event.....

What was great about this was that it fell the same day as the Synod (a meeting for all the methodist ministers and a member of the congregation). So we were able to talk to a larger group of people as they came out of there meetings ( and on occasion grab some willing "volunteers")

To have a mix  of 80+ youth across the district coming together to learn new skills meet others. Was a great sight... working with old and new colleagues.... sharing in the setting up to  praying with people, working as team in the very best sense of the words no job was more important non so menial as not to under someone was a real blessing to be in.


there were times of high jinx as well.... even for those who were meant to be as a couple of comments say 

" and I thought you were both so busy stewarding ;-)"

"You just can't get reliable staff these days!"

But It just had to be done 

Four workshops took place, gospel choir, dance, praise and worship, and Jesus in the quiet in space set out for quiet to just be.

During the worship in the evening the dance workshop showcased what they had  done in JUST 2 hours and it was fantastic.... 

The "sermon" was part dvd/talk challenge from the Hillsongs  "I care Revolution"  team. 

The I Care Revolution is a movement of OUR GENERATION who have been moved by INJUSTICE IN OUR WORLD and who want to MAKE A DIFFERENCE. Despite the depravity of growing up in London and all the challenges we face every day of our normal lives - we can make a difference. This website is designed to help you be part of a revolution of young people who CARE and stand up for what's RIGHT.

the dvd used fear/love (10mins) filmed against the back drop of inner city london follows the lives and struggles of three young people are they find out who they are becoming 

The challenge 

• One in ten children between the ages of one and 15 has a mental health disorder 

- The Office for National Statistics Mental health in children

and young people in Great Britain (2005)

• Estimates vary, but research suggests that 20% of children have a mental health problem in any given year, and about 10% at any one time.

- Lifetime Impacts: Childhood and Adolescent Mental Health, Understanding The Lifetime Impacts, Mental Health

Foundation (2005)

• Rates of mental health problems among children increase as they reach adolescence. Disorders affect 10.4% of boys aged 5-10, rising to 12.8% of boys aged 11-15, and 5.9% of girls aged 5-10, rising to 9.65% of girls aged 11-15

- Mental Disorder More Common In Boys, National Statistics

 Online (2004)

Those are a ouch... 

Are we going to care do we care.... will you be the friend... will you be the one when no one else will... but it has to come from the inside out... from a revolution of the heart... from a relationship with God..

That wasn't just a challenge to the young people there last night but to all of us there....  The challenge for those who are already in leadership in any form in the church is to help those both here last night and in the schools and clubs who stand and take this challenge to Heart to disciple equip and encourage. 

For those who missed this, keep a eye out for further events from the district... You missed a great night........

Neighbours

I will make justice the measuring line 

       and righteousness the plumb line; 

       hail will sweep away your refuge, the lie, 

       and water will overflow your hiding place.

Isaiah 28:17

That's the passage that I used over on my photo blog (here). 

Today has been my day off. So I jumped on the train down to Putney, my favourite place to get away. I do the same thing every time I go more or less. charity shops, coffee at sally's, watch the river, up to the exchange, then back on the train home.

What's with the passage and how does that fit in with a day off ?

walking home from the station I walked through the train arch and into the local park.  Passing by other residents other neighbours. neighbours that to most people are the bottom of the pecking order as they pass by. 

Today was a good day, it's warm and dry, yesterday it rained heavy, soon the long cold nights will draw in and the days are often not much better.

but for today at least there was time to rest and sleep. 

I don't know the story of the two guys asleep on the bank. Last winter I did sit and listen to those who ate with us at robes, story's of heart ache, life, of bad choices, of redundancy, of false promise. 

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.

Tracking =>

Tonight was the first night of the new term for the cubs. For those who don't know cubs are 8-11 year old scouts.. And very funny little critters. For most I haven't seen them since camp. Some I bumped into when shopping it's funny to see them being silly then stop as you walk round the corner or trying to figure out if it's Hathi ( my jungle book cub name ).... as one conversation went yesterday... I shouted over your mums right its me :)

Tonight they were learning about tracking... following signs.... making a path for others to follow after them....

each week on a Wednesday I attend the weekly Saints alive communion where we look at the lives of saints and martyrs and the directions the message of their lives that they left us....

sometimes like the cubs the directions we are following seem to get muddled or lost... it's then that we need to step back see where we came from where we are and then look forward to where we need to be walking.... some times as with the track that was set out tonight to stop and take a carful look for the next marker is needed ( the cubs made some very small arrows to follow) trust that the way where following is right.... even when the signs are only small... that they are further apart. or to step back onto the right track again....

Theres much to learn from these little critters.... 

Over at See-through-faith they came to a similar thinking in todays blog post (here)

Ouch!!!! update

 

So today is two weeks since I managed to fall off my bike... and this is still the colour of my foot...  it's not as sore as it was thankfully but still doesn't like to be twisted or turned. :( but am out on the bike again. 

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.....

Time Flies having fun....fruit flies like bananas

September already doesn't seem all that long ago it was christmas or easter.Nor does it seem all that long ago that the new minister came for a preliminary visit and realised that we had met briefly at cliff during a missiology (study of mission) seminar and question time. And time for more preparations in a few hours time we welcome the new minister at Lambeth Mission St Mary's.