School Assembly Experience

Up early this morning to find the village bathed in thick fog.  Sara took Thom to the Wallops today for his bus and I drove into Salisbury to join Paul Taylor at St. Mark's School Assembly and had the opportunity to meet the headmaster and view the wonderful community project he is overseeing - a coffee shop and "hub" for the parents, local community policing officers and anyone else who would like to use it.  As the school can be quite a focal point for the community - lots of parents dropping off and picking up their children, it seems a really good idea to have this extra facility.  St. Francis's is backing it and it was lovely to find so many of the school staff actually also members of the St. Francis congregation. After the assembly and meeting I drove Paul back to St. Francis's and then on to Sarum College where I spent six hours working on my Ethics portfolio and preparing for tonight's House Group. I also bumped into Penny Joyce, the Pioneer Minister at Old Sarum and attached to St. Francis's who was delighted to hear that I was finding my placement at St. Francis's very enjoyable. I told her that I shall be preaching at St. Lawrence's too on Sunday after next which will be a real test.   With my new spiritual adviser too, in Bristol, things are, hopefully working out.  I was due to pick up Thom at 5.40 p.m. so I left Sarum College at 4.30 p.m. and had half an hour in the fitness Centre's pool and steam room before going on to The Wallops.  When Thom and I got back home we found Mike from St. Paul's watching the film "Touching the Void" in  our lounge.  Sara had invited him over to see the film in preparation for joining our Lent Group this evening.  We are becoming truly ecumenical - Anglicans from three different churches (All Saints, Winterslow, St. Paul's, Salisbury and St. Francis's, Salisbury) the Winterslow Methodist Church and soon to join us a member from Winterslow Baptist Church.  It really does bring a richness of ideas and discussions and it is good to see the group growing in this way.  James could not join us this evening but Mile stayed on a little while for a brandy and a chat before returning to Alderbury where he is now living.  to bed quite late this evening with still quite a bit of the portfolio still to do.