A day in the sun

Another lovely sunny day – quite hot at times.  I had no appointments at all today and spent the whole morning in the warm sun – first washing our two cars and then gardening – mowing the inner lawns front and back.  I kept working until 1.30 p.m. and at the end of this time had a garden refuse bin brimming with weeds and grass cuttings.  I had a very pleasant surprise in the post this morning – a cheque for £200 from the Salisbury Masonic Association having won first prize in their recent 400 Club Draw.  This is the biggest win I’ve ever had in anything.  Sara wants to buy a new mattress so I guess the money is already spoken for.  I went into Salisbury this afternoon to bank the cheque and pick up Mary and her friends who had gone into the city after school.  This evening four of us met for an evening of Pub Theology but unfortunately those members of the group for whom these sessions are designed were not there.  We discussed how we can try and encourage more men on the edges of the Faith to attend. I felt quite achy again tonight after all the physical labour of this morning.

Education, Education, Education

The weather certainly seems to be improving and it is getting much warmer.  Felt achy after yesterday’s marathon mowing of the rear grass bank. No appointments today so spent the day putting my church doctrine portfolio together which I managed to complete at 4.30 p.m. – just in time to drive up to Mary’s school for her assessment evening.  Very pleased with her reports and she seems to be excelling at PE and RS – just like Thom at Test Valley.  Physical Education and Religious Studies seem to the topics which most interest them although both have a flare for mathematics which both Sara and I hated at school!  After the meeting we ate fish and chips in Sara’s car and they went off to West Tytherley for discussion about the Cheerleading Fete which Sara is organising for June and I drove into the city centre for a dress rehearsal of a ceremony which my lodge is performing on Wednesday evening.  As Church House is just across the road I was also able to drop my portfolio in there.  It’s always a wonderful feeling to “drop and run” a portfolio.  Will just now have to wait for the mark.  The rehearsal finished at 9.15 p.m. and I was home well before the 10 p.m. I had predicted.  Sara has been speaking to her Dad and Andrea over the Skype system and it now appears that they will be coming over during the second week in June as originally planned.  We have much work to do in the house to get it ready for them – more decorating and culling of junk.

Grimsby to stay a Non-League Club

A free day as far as the Clarendon Team is concerned – no services to take and no sermons to preach.  I decided to go to St. Paul’s this morning and enjoy their informal style of service.  Sara and Thom had intended to come too but Thom has invited some friends over and Sara decided to stay behind – she is even more exhausted from last night than I am.  A great service at St. Paul’s with a baptism and Andrew’s excellent sermon on Isaiah 49 with illustrations from his visit to the opticians. After the service I got chatting to a former BBC cameraman over coffee before calling in at Waitrose to pick up some bits and pieces for tonight’s curry.  Sara and I had a light lunch of smoked haddock soup and fresh crusty bread.  This afternoon I tackled mowing the grass bank which proved to be a really heavy task.  With so much rain and then recent sun, the grass on the bank has grown to a level which made it difficult even for the motor mower to get through and I really struggled.   It took me over two hours to complete a task which would normally take about 35-40 minutes.   After I had completed this I watched the Newport v Grimsby Second Leg Play-Off Final from Newport on Welsh TV.  It was not a very good game of football and Newport managed to score one goal throughout the whole match to secure their place at Wembley against Wrexham – an all-Welsh final therefore with both Grimsby and Kidderminster having been beaten.  Another year for Grimsby in the Blue Square Premier Non-League Division.  Tonight Sara and I watched a Poirot film with Peter Ustinov before going to bed relatively early.

Ontology and Quizology

A day at college today grappling with the Trinity and ontology (the study of change).  I received the marking sheet for my essay, a whopping 66% - a great surprise (but pleasant).  I also received the reviews of my sermon at Stapleford (which, as expected, were mixed).  We had a really good day with seminars from Jane Charman and Philip Jones on the topic of being an LLM.  Some quite thought-provoking stuff.  The day started with a Morning Prayer service in the chapel, which I had written, and ended with me reciting an “Ode to the Examiner” which Sara had given to me and which I adopted to give it a local relevance and which received a large round of laughter and applause.  By attending college I missed the Southampton v. West Bromwich game and Richard kindly took Thom along.  I’m glad I did and Saints lost the game 0-3 with three red cards being administered – two to Saints players (Fox and Ramirez).  A very poor performance by all accounts.  Tonight Sara’s Cheerleading Group hosted a Quiz and Chilli Evening at the Lord Nelson which was massively attended.  The place was packed.  My team consisted of Myself, Andrew (the Curate), Klynn, Richard (Klynn’s friend) and Thom.  We came second in the conventional quiz and won the dingbats round and received a small bottle of wine each.  Felt absolutely exhausted tonight.

A Great Dinner Party

No appointments today – so a day at home apart an hour at Kay’s (her 60^th Birthday) when I cycled up to hers.  Did quite a lot of work on my portfolio this afternoon – everything done except the Summative Reflection and still awaiting the marking sheet for my second essay.   Portfolio due in today but I should have it finished and delivered by Monday if the marking sheet comes back to me.  A wonderful evening at Mandy and Stuart’s dinner party tonight – in the company of four of their Pitton friends including Mark and Claire again (we had dinner with them last week too!).  Hilarious evening.  The wine flowed as did the conversation which was quite bizarre at times.  A lovely way to end the day.

Down to Bournemouth

Sara and I returned to The Guildhall this morning to attend a seminar by Claire Riches on how to make the best use out of social media for our businesses.  Both Sara and I are great users of social media but we are conscious that we do not market our business in the best way possible and have not used it in any great measure to promote Complex.  A most interesting session from which we took away copious notes and good intentions.  Following Claire’s session, we were treated to a half hour talk from Ian Newman about how we could and should promote Salisbury City Centre.  Unfortunately, and ironically, we had to leave before the questions session had finished as my car parking space was fast approaching its expiry time.  We called in on Natasha on the way home at Bishopdown Farm to deliver Tye’s birthday card and present.  I worked on my portfolio once I got home and this evening went down with John H to Bournemouth to attend the Boscombe Lodge’s Sarum/St. George’s Evening.  John drove me down after I had parked at his home in Harnham.  A lovely evening as usual with the standard fayre we have on those evenings – oxtail soup, steak and ale pie, bread and butter pudding and cheese and biscuits. 

Big Business Event Breakfast

 
Up early this morning to attend the Ambassadors’ Business Breakfast at The Guildhall in Salisbury as part of the Salisbury Big Business Conference.  The meeting was well attended and ended with Tony Field of Icon Business Solutions who talked about the need to have vision in running a successful business.  After the meeting I had a quick look at the various stalls before returning to my car.  Sara had had an appointment with the doctor this morning in connection with her breathing problems and she had just come out of the doctor’s surgery as I was walking past!  We arranged to go to Waitrose’s coffee shop and sat and had a coffee together before returning to Winterslow. The rest of the morning and afternoon were taken up with proof-reading my essay, sending this off to my University tutor and I started to put together the rest of my portfolio which I have targeted to compete by the end of Friday afternoon.  I had given my apologies for missing a Staff Team Meeting today as I wanted to concentrate on my academic studies.  I gave myself some time out this afternoon to mow the back lawn – a heavy task as the grass has grown up again quite a bit.  Tonight I drove over to Seend near Melksham for the third session in my pastoral care module.  We discussed the human life cycle as described by the German-born  development psychologist who had identified eight stages of life – infancy, young child/toddler, play, childhood, adolescence, young adult, adult, mature adult. Of these stages, Sara and I are at No. 7.  A good evening with some thought-provoking studies.  On my drive over Salisbury Plain I managed to have a good long telephone conversation with Mum who has to go to the DVLA Test Centre on Monday to have her eyes tested for her driving licence.  She has to be able to read a car number plate at 20 metres.  I re-assured her that this was about the distance between the stumps of a cricket wicket and shouldn’t present her with any problems.  I have hope and pray for her as I know that being unable to drive was a great frustration for her.

Essay Writing

A day at home this morning, with a visit from our Financial Adviser to look at one of our investments.  Afterwards, Sara went into Wilton for a mammogram and I wrote some letters and walked down to the village shop to buy stamps and post them.  This afternoon I worked on my second assignment for the Church Doctrine module at Sarum College library (until 7p.m.) after which I picked up Mary from her friend’s house off Devizes Road.  Back home, I had a snack meal and then spent the rest of the evening completing the first draft of my essay and sent it to Sara for proof reading.  Sara was putting the final touches to the Parish Magazine.  I watched a little of the Bayern Munich v. Barcelona Champion’s League Semi-Final (First Leg) which Bayern won convincingly 4-0.  Couldn’t sleep very well tonight and so watched some of the St. Louis Cardinals at Washington Nationals baseball game which, when I eventually went back to bed the Cardinals were winning 2-0.

Rose Croix in Salisbury

A bright but cooler day today.  A quiet day at home today writing letters and writing up my Learning Journal for the Pastoral  Care Course.  Mary stayed off school today with mild flu-like symptoms – probably aching after her full day of gymnastic training on Saturday.  This evening, I attended my Rose Croix Chapter in Salisbury – Sarum.  I was welcomed as a new member and enjoyed the demonstration of parts of the perfection ceremony.  There followed an excellent Festive Board which included roast beef and Yorkshire pudding and I was able to chat with the recorder, a Yorkshireman from Sheffield, who as an engineer had been involved in the design and construction of the Anchor Steelworks in Scunthorpe – which I had seen being built in the early 1970s.  A most enjoyable evening.  Back home I watched a very interesting documentary about a small group of American servicemen who had defected to North Korea in the 1960s.   Fascinating and interesting to try and separate truth from untruth concerning their lives in that oddest of countries.

England's Green and Pleasant Land - No biting please, we're British!

  A very bright and sunny day today.  No rush this morning as I was just preaching today over at Stapleford in the Wylie Valley at their 11 a.m. Holy Communion Service as part of a pulpit exchange with their trainee who was preaching at the Winterslow 9.30 a.m. Eucharist.  Sara came with me and we arrived at this Wiltshire “chocolate box/jigsaw” village at around 10.20 a.m. where we were greeted by the Churchwarden who, I think, thought we were potentially new congregants until Sara explained that she was the preacher’s wife!    The church is very old with parts of it dating back to the Norman period.  The bells were in full flow when we arrived but, unfortunately, the bell ringers did not stay behind.  There were about 13 in the congregation – a similar congregation to that which I am used to at West Dean and my sermon lasted about 9 minutes – the sort of time I was told they are used to. No peace was exchanged – except verbally from the pews, and there were no chalice bearers – the priest administering both the bread and the wine.  Reactions to my sermon seemed favourable and they seemed to be pleased with having a different style and a sermon which spoke of recent events – I talked about the Boston bombing this week as having challenged the faith of people.  The full text can be found at http://pulpitmichael.blogspot.com.  There was no coffee or refreshments afterwards and Sara and I slipped away after I had signed the preaching register and got unrobed. 

This afternoon, after gathering up to loose grass cuttings on our back lawn, I watched the Liverpool v Chelsea football match which was steeped in controversy – especially Suarez’s biting of Chelsea’s Ivanovic!  He also gave away a penalty with a hand-ball but went on to equalise in the 97^th minute by an amazing goal.  He is both a great asset and also an appalling liability!  Sara cooked me a lovely smoked haddock fishcake for supper which I ate hurriedly whilst watching the game as I had to attend the Annual Parochial Council meeting at St. John’s.  After this meeting, which took the usual format and allowed me to relinquish my position on the Standing Committee, I met with Richard in the Lion’s Head for our usual end of the week pint and chat about football and other important issues!

 

Anniversary Party

Thom and Sara were up early again this morning as Thom had his paper round to do. Mary is on a sleep-over with her friend Lucy in Salisbury. I spent the morning in the study writing my sermon for tomorrow – deciding to keep it topical and referring to the vents of this week – especially in Boston – and relating them to the scriptural passages which were on the theme of faith and being part of the shepherd’s flock.  I am glad that I did complete the first draft as Sara and I spent the rest of the afternoon over in the Village Hall at the 50^th Wedding Anniversary Party of Norman and Pam Thorne where there was much wine and champagne as well as excellent food – salmon, chicken salad, quiche and hot potatoes and salad followed by lemon tart, chocolate trifle, cake and coffee/tea.  We didn’t leave until nearly 6 p.m.  Not much got done this evening – Sara proof-read my draft sermon and I did make a few amendments to it before printing it off ready for tomorrow.  This afternoon, Southampton managed a 0-0 draw which gives them 39 points in the Premier League – 8 points above the relegation zone with four games left to go (2 Home and 2 Away).  Saints are all but safe but mathematically could still go down.  Grimsby Town won their game against Newport County 3-0 which means that they will play Newport again on Tuesday at Blundell Park in the first leg of the Play-Off Semi-Finals.   I am not optimistic of their return to league football but it would be the icing on a really good season for my teams if they did.  Hull are as good as promoted to the Premier League and Bournemouth arte promoted to the Championship.  Exciting time ahead over the next couple of weeks.

Boston bomber killed

Spent he first part of the morning in my study preparing for my meeting with Nils followed by the meeting itself at The Rectory where we reflected on events and studies over the last month.  In particular we reflected upon pastoral care issues and agreed that I would attend various meetings at which I could see pastoral care at work.  I called in briefly at the Lord Nelson for a bowl of chips and a quick chat with Sara and Bill Z before returning home.  This afternoon I drove up to Andover to bank some cheques and then on to Durrington to meet with the prospective candidate for our Lodge and his wife.  I also met their four lovely cats and we chatted for nearly two hours over tea.  He seems very relaxed about next month’s meeting and I was as informative as I felt I could be – certainly I gave him more information than I had received before I joined!  Tonight, Sara and I joined Andrew (curate) and his wife Sarah, Richard and Linda and Mark and Claire from Pitton for a lovely meal.  Four ministerial trainees together! We had promised that we would not talk about church – but how can you avoid it with four trainees together!   A wonderful evening and a chance to get to know Andrew and Mark and their wives much better.   Back home we watched the news as the events in Boston unfolded further.  One of the marathon bombers has been killed and the other is being hunted in the Watertown area of Boston.  They appear to be Chechnen brothers living in the USA.

Watery Themes at House Group

A lot to pack into today.  I was up early this morning, wrote up yesterday’s blog and then finalised Complex’s accounts before driving over to Frome in Somerset to deliver the signed accounts, taking with me Sara’s passport as photo identity of her existence as a director. Sara received a commission today to roll out some training courses for small businesses which could be quite lucrative for Complex if we get enough work from it.  I also did some shopping and banking whilst I was in Frome – especially purchasing some stationery as the local Staples in Salisbury  has now closed.  I arrived back home at around 1 p.m. and had a tortilla (Spanish omelette) with Sara.  This afternoon I attended a Clarendon Greater Chapter Meeting at Farley taking Bill T with me.  It was a very interesting meeting giving the retired clergy and LLMs an opportunity to find out what is going on in the Team and voice their views and opinions on some of the initiatives and developments – especially helpful was there reflections on Holy Week.  Tonight we had a full house group – eight of us – looking at Mark’s Gospel.   The course looks very good and we had some very interesting debates and reflections on the topic of trusting in God which arose out the readings of Exodus (parting of the Red Sea) and Mark 4 – Calming the Storm.  The theme tonight was very “watery” with all the readings referring to the sea, storms and water.  I felt very satisfied that we had had a very good session indeed tonight.

The day they buried Margaret Thatcher

Today saw the Ceremonial Funeral of Baroness Thatcher take place in London which, I was delighted to see, went off without any major incident – just a small number of protestors on Ludgate Hill and some celebrations in the former coal mining villages and towns of Yorkshire – Goldthorpe for example where an effigy of the former prime minister was burned after a mock funeral procession.  Because of a long staff meeting I had to attend in Alderbury, I missed the funeral service itself – only seeing the cortege take the body from Westminster to St. Clement Danes and the beginning of the gun carriage procession towards St. Paul’s Cathedral.   I was picked up by Debbie outside the Methodist Church and together with Nils we drove over to Alderbury for a meeting which lasted until 2.30 p.m.  Arriving back home at 3 p.m. I had a telephone conference with a client.  I then wrote up my sky at night article for the Parish Magazine before having a home made Chinese meal prepared by Sara.  I then drove over to Seend near Devizes for my next tutorial session in which we discussed the meaning of the term pastoral care and started discussing “personhood” – what does it mean to be a person and how does this differ from being any other animal and finally the concept of “health” – what is a healthy person?  This brought into play a number of questions about ethics, healing, reconciliation and so on.  Quite a philosophical and psychological session.  Finally arrived back home at 10.30 p.m. and watched some of Baroness Thatcher’s funeral on the television and proof read and sent off my magazine article.

Seriously Worrying to Seriously Funny

The weather was much milder today but still quite windy.  I hoisted the Stars and Stripes to half mast following yesterday’s tragic bombing in Boston.  Now 3 dead and 170 injured.  It appears that the bombs were contained in pressure cookers inside trash cans to cause maximum destruction.  There are still not ideas as to who was responsible.  Worked at home this morning and this afternoon Sara drove me to Salisbury Hospital’s eye clinic where I was to have tests for glaucoma following a diagnosis of high eye pressure by the opticians.  It is a mandatory precautionary measure when the eyeball pressure readings get to a certain level.  Sara dropped me off and then went back home to pick up Thom and bring him back to Salisbury to buy some shoes.  I had been told that as my eyes would be dilated, I should not drive for at least two hours after the tests. I was subjected to three or four tests – measuring the pressure in my eyes, and other thorough tests.  At one point I was given a small booklet on coping with glaucoma and explaining what it is and how it is controlled (but can’t be treated).  I must say, it wasn’t the most comforting of reads!  After further tests with my eyes dilated the doctor gave me her verdict.  Apparently I have rather thick corneas which mean that a greater pressure has to be exerted by the optician’s instruments and thereby gives a false high eyeball pressure reading.  They will therefore write a letter to my GP and optician to keep to show that higher readings than normal can be expected but that there is nothing at all wrong with my actual eyeball pressure and no sign of developing glaucoma.  After reading the booklet they had given me, the final verdict was quite a relief.  Tonight, Sara, Esther, Debbie and I went to St. Paul’s church to see Adrian Plass and Jeff Lucas in “Seriously Funny”.  Some old gags which we’ve heard before (we only saw Adrian Plass last week at Minehead) but still amusing.  We also met up with some old friends and had a thoroughly enjoyable evening.  Tonight I heard that Cardiff City have been promoted to the Premier League and Portsmouth relegated to League 2.  How football can change in five years.  Five years ago Portsmouth (Premier League) beat Cardiff City (Championship League) in the FA Cup. 

Sara's Birthday - And another disaster strikes!

Sara’s 54^th birthday today – and also a day of anniversaries of disasters  - Lincoln’s assassination, Titanic sinking, Hillsborough Stadium disaster.  Unfortunately, today another one was added to that list – the Boston Marathon bombing and as I write this the full effects of these double explosions is still to be revealed.  I worked this morning on finalising my church history essay which I sent off to my tutor.  Sara and I then drove to Romsey and Chandler’s Ford to photograph the various houses in which she had lived both with her parents and later on her own or in her previous married life.  We did get a few worried stares from neighbours as I got out of the car and took photographs – especially in the Close where she had lived with her parents next door to Myrna (see photograph).  After our photographic expedition, and a brief stop at Asda’s for some important shopping, Sara and I went to the Water Margin Chinese Restaurant in North Baddesley for a light meal from their business lunch menu – soup, a main course and coffee/tea.  I must enjoyable meal and an opportunity to chat.  It is always good to take time out from our busy schedules.   We stopped briefly in Romsey to post letters and get some birthday cakes from Waitrose to take back for tea with the kids.  I felt really tired after not having slept very well last night so slumped on the couch and watched the baseball game from Boston (Boston Red Sox v. Tampa Bay Rays).  Boston won 3-2.  I was amazed to see so many families at the game on a Monday until the commentator told us that it is Patriot’s Day in the USA.  Little did I know that Boston would hit the headlines only a matter of a couple of hours later when the two bombs exploded in Boylston Street downtown.  We watched on TV as the horror unfolded.  Sara’s Somerset flag will be replaced by the Stars and Stripes at half-mast tomorrow.

Leading and Preaching at West Dean again

I officiated at the West Dean Morning Worship service today with Sara coming along to support me.  We had a small congregation of only 10 but as I know each member of the congregation quite well now it was a pleasant affair and seemed like a house group.  Everybody made both Sara and I feel most welcome which is lovely and I had quite a number of compliments about my sermon.  As I have told them, it is really God’s word and I hope that they can take something away from what I have spoken about to them.  Today I spoke of the brokenness of Peter and Paul when they were first called to be Jesus’s apostles (the full text of the sermon is available at http://pulpitmichael.blogspot.com) and this seemed to strike a chord with some people.  Sara said she enjoyed the service and sermon.  After coffee and biscuits, Sara and I went our separate ways – Sara to Fordingbridge to pick up Mary and I return home to change out of my smart clothes and wash the car and mow the lawns – quite heavy work.  This evening we had roast pork for a late lunch/early supper, Mary went to Rockface to tell the members there all about Spring Harvest and particularly the role of Compassion UK and the family’s sponsoring of Shima in Bangladesh.  Tonight, instead of going to the Pub Quiz, I decided to stay at home and try and finish my University assignment.

The Hammers not quite hammered!

It is supposed to be getting much warmer this weekend but this morning was very wet and windy.  Thom did his paper round this morning and Mary slept in although today she is going to a swimming party in Ringwood and staying over with a friend in Fordingbridge.  Thom and I drove into Southampton to go to the Premier League match at St. Mary’s (Southampton v. West Ham United) but had much trouble in parking.  There are roadworks at the Redbridge Roundabout at the bottom of the M271 and it was reported that it was taking over an hour to traverse the M271 which can be no more than 2 miles long!  This meant that we had to drive through Maybush and Shirley Warren where we picked up heavy traffic trying to find an alternative route into the city centre.  We arrived at our usual parking spot in Rockstone Place to find it occupied by three cars and the vacant garages which we use in Brighton Road as an alternative were also fully occupied.   We eventually parked in a pay and display car park in Bedford Place which was, surprisingly, empty.  A useful tip for the future  when we find it difficult to park – although it did cost £4.20 and is a little further to walk to the football stadium.  We arrived at the chippie at 2 p.m. absolutely soaking wet as we had walked through persistent rain from the car park to St. Mary’s Stadium.  Our friend Andy was not there this afternoon and John told us that he had been very poorly and taken to hospital with a suspected appendicitis and heart problem.  I managed to get his home address from his son Euan and will send him a card.  The game was quite even today with Saints scoring the first goal in the second half which prompted an equaliser from the Hammers about eight minutes later.  The final score remained 1-1 and Southampton, tonight remain in 11^th place in the Premier League with West Ham just below them on the same number of points but having a game in hand.  I feel fairly confident now that Southampton will survive this year and can look forward to another season in the Premier League next year.  Worked on my sermon and service for tomorrow at West Dean.

Back to Sermon Writing

The weather remained cold and overcast this morning with some drizzle. I hoisted the Union flag to half-mast in memory of Baroness Thatcher and then, after breakfast,  completed my application form to become a volunteer chaplain for the homeless charity, Alabare, after speaking first to my two lay referees I  then drove into Salisbury to deliver the application pack to their offices and also to bank some cheques.  I treated myself to a coffee in Café Nero before returning home via the Lord Nelson to see Sara.  Whilst in town I met Andrew (our curate) and his wife Sarah and Andrew told me how he has osteo-arthritis in both his knees and welcomed me to the club.  This afternoon I worked on the service I am taking at West Dean in Sunday and also wrote my sermon based on the commissioning of St. Peter and St. Paul.   I finished my sermon at 8.00 p.m. just in time to stroll (or hobble) down to the Lion’s Head for a chat and a few jars with Richard. 

A Working Day

A busy day in the office today dealing with a considerable amount of paperwork which has built up over the last six days or so.  Sara and I both had doctors’ appointments in the Winterslow Surgery this morning and so went in together – Sara for her breathing problems and me for my knee.  Sara needs to have another chest x-ray and the results of my knee x-ray indicate that my right knee has basically worn out!  In other words I have osteo-arthritis.  There is little they can do at the moment as it is moderate and not severe except take ibuprofen and exercise it.  The doctor is referring me to physiotherapy at Salisbury District Hospital.  I shall, continue to exercise by walking and cycling whenever possible and take pain-killers.  The pain seems less now but it could be that I am simply getting used to it!  I delivered the Bible Reading Fellowship resources to those who receive them this afternoon and tonight I presided over our house group.  We had a full house tonight and there was a warmth, grace and humour which showed Christian fellowship at its best.  We completed the study of C.S. Lewis’s Narnia books with a reflection on some of the issues facing Christians from sceptics – including our own voices of scepticism.  However I had the post-Spring Harvest blues descend upon me yesterday and today,  wondering where my ministry was going to take me, but tonight’s house group really did perk me up.  I also realise that the power of prayer is really important particularly as I consider my future principal ministry - be it in the Team or elsewhere.

Back into Local Politics (by dafault!)

First day back to some normality – Mary is back to school but Thom has another week off before he goes back.  He still has much revision to do – as I have essays to write.  In the post this morning I received a letter from Wiltshire council advising me that as there were fewer nominations than seats for the Winterslow Parish Council, I would be formally appointed at a Winterslow Parish Councillor together with Ivan Moody (from the Methodist Church), Richard Sheppard (from the Baptist Church) and eight others.  I attended the Mid-Week Eucharist at St. john’s this morning (there were only five of us!) and then on to Debbie’s for a Clarendon Team Staff meeting.  Nils wanted to know what we had learned at Spring Harvest which might be of use to the team and we also did a brief reflection on what had been the highlights of the Holy Week celebrations. I am keen to see a much stronger ecumenical movement within the village and Sara and I have discussed how this might be achieved. Mess Church and Bite-Sized Church seem to have declined and will be put on hold for the moment. I had good intentions of getting a lot of paperwork done this afternoon by it just didn’t seem to happen– I just picked at bits here and there.  I must get more focussed.  It is always the same when you get back from a holiday or especially from Spring Harvest.  Richard came around for a coffee late this afternoon to tell us about his medical news.  I had to rush away as I begin my eighth module for the Foundation Degree tonight at Seend, near Melksham – Pastoral Care.  We have quite an erudite tutor, Revd. Dr. Howard Worsely, who is more used to teaching ordinands and deacons preparing for the priesthood.   He is quite clear on what he wants us to do and another essay (a theological reflection) is required to be completed in five week’s time!)  A couple of my fellow students from my first module – Michael Paige and Liz Starling are joining me on this module. The weather turned really unpleasant this evening – high winds and rain.  I finally got home at 10.30 p.m.     

 

Spring Harvest Day 6

Last day at Spring Harvest – it has come all too quickly this year. The news of Margaret Thatcher's death is still buzzing.   It’s been a good week with great teaching and despite feeling physically and mentally tired, I do feel spiritually refreshed and so want to use some of what I have learned as part of my forthcoming ministry.  This morning, after the usual search for trollies and packing things in the respective cars (I had to push my trolley all the way over to the large car park where Cynthia’s car was parked) we went to the big top for the final morning celebration and Holy Communion.  The final speaker of the week was Krish Kandiah and we were entertained with lively worship songs from Noel Robinson to send us on our way.  We ended the morning (as we started Spring Harvest) having fish and chips (an enormous portion) with Cynthia and Paul before setting off on our journeys back to Winterslow - arriving there at around 3.30 p.m.  Quite tired tonight.  Sara and I watched a few episodes of Ever Decreasing Circles over a bottle of Cava tonight – deciding to simply chill out, get a good night’s rest and start work again tomorrow. I did manage to get a copy of the Times Special Tribute Edition on Margaret Thatcher’s life and times.  She remains a most controversial figure – even in death – with many socialists deploring the public military funeral which is to be accorded to her.   

Spring Harvest Day 5

 

 

I can’t believe how quickly this year’s spring harvest has gone – to think that tonight we will be packing to leave tomorrow.  Sara has arranged to have Paul in the car on the way back and I will journey back with Cynthia – to allow me to have a natter about quite a few things surrounding the Ministry Team.  Again, we missed the Big Start but watched it on the chalet TV.  Down to the Big Top in time for the last of Gerard Kelly’s four bible study sessions – what an amazing speaker he is and he has really brought John’s first Epistle alive for me.  I’ve read it a number of times but his exposition of it over these past few days has been such a revelation.  I feel so empowered by it and I will buy the resources of the DVD and study guide to share this experience with the House Group.  After coffee in the Skyline, Sara and I went to Whitehall for the final session with Ruth and Duncan (the Think Zone). About half way through this we received a tweet that Baroness Margaret Thatcher had died and a great sadness came over both of us.  Eight years ago,  whilst at Spring Harvest we had learned of  the death of Pope John Paul II.  During my years as a Conservative politician, I had admired the way in which, as Prime Minister, she had led our country through economic revival and great standing in foreign affairs.  Her stance on the Argentinian invasion of the Falkland Islands had been magnificent.  An era ended this morning.  At 87, she had lived a good age and her passing was very reminiscent of that of Winston Churchill in 1965.  A shock but not a surprise.  Many people who didn't like her have started to say and write horrible tweets and posts.  Whatever you may think of her strident politics, she was still somebody to admire.  Our current political leaders do well to have the courage of their convictions- as she did.    We had a quiet afternoon, deciding to stay in the chalet and look round the stalls for resources. During the course of this, and following Wess Stafford’s talk last night, Mary and Thom decided that they wanted to sponsor a little girl living in Bangladesh called Shima.  We became the 100^th family to sponsor a child this week and official photographs were taken for Compassion’s website.  We gave the Big top a miss tonight – the speaker was Debra Green whom I do not find all that inspiring – certainly not after Wess Stafford’s talk last night – the best and most inspiring talk I can remember for quite some time.  Instead, Sara and I went to the Sports Arena to listen to Malcolm Duncan again expound on his views on same sex marriage.  Whilst he is prepared to embrace homosexuality and accepts gay people as God’s people he cannot condone nor will be officiate at same sex marriages as there is simply, in his view, no scriptural authority for doing so.  An interesting debate which will go on and on, I’m sure.  I share the same view as Malcolm – unless scripture can convince me that same sex marriage can be ordained I struggle with the concept.  Leaving aside scripture for a moment, I just don’t feel it’s right either.  An evening or more packing after we got back to the chalet.  The one thing we haven’t had much of this year is the party discussion in the evening over drinks and nibbles. Each of the four groups who have made up our party have been quite separate this time.   

Spring Harvest Day 4

Day 4 of Spring Harvest already and the day that the SH Blues normally set in, except this year they have nor appeared!  Either I am not taking it seriously enough or have now become immunised against them.  The only blues this year are that I haven’t been stewarding – I really have missed that. Another wonderful talk by Gerard Kelly this morning as we continue to explore 1 John with a great story about how a rubbish dump in Caen was converted into a wonderful park – illustrating how god can convert our brokenness into something wonderful if only we allow ourselves to be inwardly changed.  Today Sara and I had coffee in the Skyline before going to the Think Zone where we explored how we can evangelise both privately and in the public (this was followed up in the afternoon by another great seminar from Krish Kandiah on the theme of public evangelism.  I took the rest of the afternoon off (although I did write a further 75 words of my essay!).  Tonight we had an outstanding speaker – Wess Stafford, the Chief Executive of Compassion – who spoke with absolute passion about his lifelong work with the unfortunate children in the world and his work in organizing worldwide sponsorship for them.  Every year I have seen the big blue elephant which is their symbol but tonight’s passionate plea brought the whole charity alive.  After a glass of wine with Paul in our chalet, Sara, Thom, Mary and I went to see Adrian Plass in Centre Stage.  What a great show – I have never laughed so much for such a long time and I am really delighted that we are going to see him again at St. Paul’s in Salisbury next week.  I ended the evening watching the end of the film Dead Poets’ Society on TV finally going to bed at 1.30 a.m.   

Spring Harvest Day 3

We watched some of the Big Start from the Big top on the TV this morning during a simple breakfast of pop tarts before we left for the Big Top ourselves for the second day of bible study.  A most inspiring talk once again from Gerard Kelly who is rapidly becoming my favourite Spring Harvest speaker.  This was followed by another session with Malcolm Duncan and Ruth Valerio in Whitehall where we seem to spend most of our time if we are not in the Big Top.  Thom came with me and we left about ten minutes early in order to go across to the Sun & Moon pub to watch the Reading v. Southampton Premier League game whilst drinking shady (me) and coke (Thom) and eating a bowl of chips each.  This was Nigel Adkins’ first home game as manager of Reading – against his old team too – which resulted in a defeat for his side and a very good 0-2 win for the Saints.  With Norwich drawing and Stoke losing Southampton find themselves in 11^th place in the Premier League although still only seven points from relegation.  I feel that they are, however, pretty safe and that we can almost feel fairly assured that they will be playing in the Premier League next season. A great win. These three back to back wins are the first time this has happened for Saints in the Premier League since 2003.  This afternoon I went to watch the Watoto Choir singing and performing in Centre Stage before returning to our chalet to watch the Grand National from Liverpool.   A really moving performance especially when one of the group prayed for somebody from the UK who is struggling with their faith.  A wonderful evening of celebration in the Big Top tonight with a group formed out of the XLP Mentoring programme performing and a very passionate speech from Patrick Reagan who runs this initiative.  Many people tweeted what they were standing up for – hundreds of these tweets appearing on the stage screen.  Sara and I decided not to attend any After Hours events tonight as we are both quite tired and we spent the evening with Cynthia, Jane, Debbie and Paul drinking wine and chatting.  Gail, a former work colleague who is now a priest north of Salisbury, also joined us for a time.  Back in our chalet I watched the highlights of the Reading v. Saints game on the TV.

Spring Harvest Day 2

Second full day at Spring Harvest today.  Woke at 7 a.m. and made tea, showered and watched the news on the chalet TV as well as the Big Start from the Big Top.  Today we begin our four days of bible study with Gerard Kelly in the Big Top unpicking the theme of “The Source” through a study of the First Epistle of John.  Today we started looking and what “Being” a Christian means.  Brilliant teaching, as always, followed by a further discussion in the “Think Zone” with Malcolm Duncan and Ruth Valerio.  After a light lunch I wrote another 200 words of my essay on Christian doctrine and having had tea and biscuits went to the Check-In for another seminar led by Malcolm Duncan on “gay marriage”.  Malcolm is very clear in his views – he accepts homosexuality but cannot accept that same-sex marriage can be truly marriage in the biblical sense and quoted a number of biblical references in support of his view.  A great night in the Big Top Celebration tonight – more wonderful worship songs with Noel Robinson and another brilliant talk from Rob Parsons.  Sara, I, Thom and Mary went to see Tim Vine again tonight together whether Sophie, Ethan and Petra. Sophie was telling us that she had bought 17 sheep which were now on their farm in Carmarthenshire and that they were aiming at being totally self-sufficient.  Enjoyed a couple of glasses of wine before going to bed again at 1 a.m.  There is no Internet connection on the chalet which is hindering me checking some details for my essay.  Will try and get the answers I need tomorrow.

 

Spring Harvest Day 1

The first day of our Spring Harvest break saw us set off at 10.30 a.m. for Minehead.  Because of my right knee problem, Sara drove and I navigated us to the Somerset resort – arriving at around 1 p.m.  We checked-in and parked the car next to the Big Top close to the second entrance to Butlin’s site.  As we could not enter our chalet until 4 p.m. we walked along the seafront (with Petra and her son and friend) into Minehead town centre to have lunch at Jaws – the fish and chip café on the High Street.  The temperature today seems close to freezing with a bitingly cold wind whipping up the sand from the beach.  We struggled to walk back to the Butlins’ site after lunch but after we had returned to the car we then managed to place everything on two trollies and push them along to our chalet in Oyster Bay (where we have been on numerous previous occasions).  With the exception of Petra, who has a Silver De-Luxe apartment, the whole of the Clarendon Church group is situated in the same building with Sophie and family next door to us and Cynthia and the other members of the Clarendon ministry Team in the flat above.  Tonight we all went to the Big Top Celebration with excellent worship music from Noel Robinson and an excellent keynote speech from Gerard Kelly.  I felt very uplifted by both the worship and the message from the speaker.  This week we shall be trying to get back to the basics of Jesus’s life and teaching as “The Source” of our theology.  A broad church approach – breaking down the denominational differences and getting back to the concept of the true meaning of Christianity.  Cynthia and Debbie joined us for a glass of wine and nibbles (pretzels from Debbie) and Sara and I went to see Tim Vine and John Archer performing in the Crazy Horse. Most amusing and a great way to end the day.  Really looking forward to the rest of the week – although I will need to take time out for study and writing up my church doctrine essays. 

Back in the dentist's chair

Another long and busy day.  Up early this morning for a dentist's appointment in Salisbury for a filling at 8.20 a.m.(which took the best part of half an hour as it was the tricky filling of tooth right at the back) and then I walked up to the Royal Mail parcel office to collect a bundle containing the deeds to our house (the mortgage having been paid off at last).   Then to Homebase for a new padlock for our gate and back homer in time for a meeting with Yvonne to show her around All Saints Church where she will be preaching on Sunday 21st April.  I also showed her Truffles Coffee Shop and Farley Church.  This afternoon Sara and I got out the cases for our trip to Spring Harvest as well as putting away some of things which we had rescued from the Family Room in our clear-out.  I went into Salisbury again at 5 p.m. for a meeting with Ashley to hand over copies of my notes taken at the last  tutorial which he had missed.  We had tea together and chatted about our studies and parish training.  Tonight I attended a meeting of Sarum Lodge where we rehearsed an Initiation Ceremony ahead of  our real initiation of a candidate at our May meeting.  I left the meeting after Grace and the Loyal Toast in time to tidy up some paperwork and get things ready for packing tomorrow morning.  I've decided to go to bed early and get up early to pack.  I am much better in the morning.  Sara has bought some Anadin joint relief pills which seem to have helped the pain in my right knee.  I hope to get a good night's sleep tonight.

A trip to St. Mary the Virgin, Stapleford

A busy day today.  This morning was bright but with thick frost on the cars.  Sara had an appointment with the dentist for some root canal treatment and I had an appointment at Salisbury General Hospital to have my right knee x-rayed.  The whole process at the hospital took about ten minutes in total. I met Sara for a coffee in Costa Café in town.  Sara had to use a straw to drink it.  She left me to go to Ilana's to reconcile the fundraising monies for the Streetz Cheerleaders' fund and I went to the bank and then drove back home.  This afternoon I drove out to Great Wishford to see my fellow ministry trainee, Yvonne, and to go with her to Stapleford Church where I shall be preaching on 21 April. It is a large cold church with Norman arches and so dates back several centuries.  I shall preach from the pulpit to a quite traditional congregation at their Morning Eucharist with an NSM (Non-Stipendiary Minister) taking the service.  All I have to concern myself with is the sermon itself.  We went back to Yvonne's for tea and biscuits and I then drove into Salisbury to do an hour's work in Sarum College Library (I managed to write another 300 words of my essay). Tonight I attend the installation meeting of Stonehenge Chapter and I was press-ganged into acting as Second Assistant Sojourner.  Fortunately I didn't need to do anything except sit in a chair dressed in a surplice - something I shall get quite used to as time goes on!  An excellent meal afterwards - samosas, roast lamb with mint sauce and vegetables, ice cream and strawberry meringue with toffee sauce and cheese and biscuits.  So much still to do before we go to Spring Harvest.  I will be spending much of my time there writing essays I think.

Easter Monday

A brighter day today - although still bitterly cold.  I set myself a number of tasks to complete today - some of which did get completed but not that elusive essay!  Amongst the tasks completed were - cleaning the car, mowing the rear lawn (a really tough assignment as the grass has grown so long.  It took me a good hour or more and my poor knee took quite a hammering), some bills paid and letters written, investigations into flights to Nassau in the Autumn - we will still try and go direct by British Airways to avoid changing at Miami or elsewhere in the States.  Sara did some gloss painting in the  Family Room and also used the opportunity of free access to the 1901 and 1911 censuses on line to do some family history research including researching my maternal grandmother's ancestors.  We found out that both of our sets of parents had lived for a time, at the turn of the 20th Century, in east London - close to the 2012 Olympic Park.  I did ring Mum to let her know what we found as much of Grandma's life is still veiled in mystery.  Unfortunately all this research did rather knock me off my plans for today.  I ended the day, after a hot bath to soothe my leg, watching the opening games of the Baseball Season in the USA - Phillies at the Atlanta Braves.  Went to bed before learning the result although Braves were winning 1-5.