Change

So I’ve messed around with the blog for a while… I’ve changed the theme, colours, pictures and more.

And then simply came back to what it was.

I think that’s often a really good benefit of change. Making yourself try out some new things. Its fine if the old stuff works best.

Bob Jackson (well known CofE chap) makes this stark statement:

“Most churches need to make a choice between having a comfortable death and uncomfortable life”

He cites statistic after statistic showing that churches who won’t change decay and decline. Those that do change grow. I’m now part of a “context” based training group that looks to work out the theology of the classroom in the cut and thrust of the real world. Both churches are great places that long to have an impact on the city of Bristol and do so in very different ways. The leaders in both churches are up for being uncomfortable but alive.

How about in our individual lives… are we willing to “comfortably die” or experience life with all the discomfort and challenge that it brings?

Final quote from Bob Jackson… think it can apply to both our church communities and our own lives:

“We do not advocate change for the sake of change; we see change as the condition for survival”

Change is as good as a rest

That is definitely true for me…

Spent the last couple of weeks at different groups at Woodlands and met some great people. Unsurprisingly I found God amongst these great people too.

Highlights…

Football in the scorching heat on a concrete pitch. I scored more in 60mins than the last 2 years put together.

A group for those with challenging issues ranging from mental health problems to addictions.

Simply hanging around with church leaders… learning lots.

Just tomorrow left…

New Church Placement

Had a fantastic time at my first placement – St Peters Henleaze. It felt VERY strange leaving last Sunday to go somewhere else. I’m at Woodlands Church now for a fortnight… and I’m having a great time!

I’ve been to a few meetings with different people, helped for a day loading a van and delivering stuff for a venue at the Glastonbury Festival and getting a bit of a feel of the place.

Visiting a pastorate tonight… and will try to get back blogging more regularly about it.

Catching up…

Haven’t blogged since last Thursday about my church placement so thought that I should go through the last few days.

Sat – At a diocese event in Chippenham learning a new piece of choral music… reminded me of my days as a choirboy. If I’m honest, it was a bit too full on for me – sometimes wondered whether our object of worship was God or the music… shouldn’t be so judgemental really.

Had a lovely walk along the Bristol Avon fish-spotting as well.

Sun – I attended every service at St Peters beginning at 8am for their early morning communion. I rapped, read and served the bread at the family communion at 945am. In the evening I led evening prayer… all about God’s OUTRAGEOUS grace. We looked at the passage in Mark 7 where the “sinful” woman annointed Jesus with perfume. Really good evening.

Mon – Visited a couple of people who are members of St Peters, including a 95yr old lady who has an MBE and has been on “This is your life” for her work in Bangladesh. That was a good afternoon! In the evening I went to a group studying the prophets.

Tues – Morning consisted of morning prayer (as per every day), an “accountability group” which works to ensure that things get done at St Peters. Then I went on  a visit. I attended a funeral in the afternoon, and in the evening went along to the pre baptism preparation being done with two families.

Weds – Day off and FISHING!!!

I’m really enjoying the challenge of being part of life at St Peters… really starting to build some relationships.

But I’ve got to leave on Sunday for another place.

Funny how God seems to do that sometimes…

Curry

My day yesterday finished with a superb curry with a few guys from St Peter’s in a great curryhouse in Henleaze near to the church.

Started with morning prayer and a communion service – I led the intercessions. As part of the service, Mark (vicar) got each of us into pairs and got us to write positive things about the other person and then pray for them. Considering the lady I was with had met me once for 5mins, she wrote and prayed some fantastic things about me!! I was greatly blessed!!

I sat in on a “hall redevelopment” committee and then visited the David Lloyd centre in Southmead (not Westbury on Trym as they claim on the sign outside the entrance!!) to plan for a youth group meeting next Saturday… hopefully the start of something for St Peters.

The evening saw me at Deanery Chapter (gathering of people from churches in NW Bristol) which was looking at the parish system in some detail. Boring? Not really… great presentation and raised some fascinating questions using data and looking at how so many of us commute to church across the city.

Then to the curry… and how I enjoyed that!!!

Day off today… loving it!

How do you explain…

communion, what the table/altar is in a church, the cross, Jesus’ death and resurrection, and what it all means to me in five minutes to infants (5-7s)?

No idea? Well I had to try to do just that this morning FIFTEEN TIMES!!!

I visited a church family just after lunch and then prepared the service for Sunday evening… really excited about it.

Tonight was a small group that are looking at The Shack

Doing a four week placement in two weeks is fun but a bit tiring!

More tea vicar??

Ok, so I’m ticking the box of every “what a vicar does” stereotype – toddlers and Mothers Union (which by the way is one of the most formidable Christian Organisations in the world today – especially in Africa – doing more to combat poverty and injustice than most are). The group I went to today was a nice social tea and cake (proper nice cakes and biscuits) and a chance to chat with some of the ladies there.

I had some great conversations with some great people. I have made the decision to throw myself into everything and not shy away from anything that made me feel uncomfortable. I have to confess that I didn’t feel comfortable when I arrived, but by the time I left I did…

The home made Rocky Road was awesome!

Teddy Bears and U2

Both of the above were central today at my church placement. But not together.

Went to the “Teddy Praise” this morning… lots of little children with action songs, butterflies, prit-stick and shiny stickers. Lots of people, both church and non church people. Really enjoyed it and took part in the action songs. I made the 2 year olds look like professional dancers.

This evening I went along to a small group who were looking at the theology of U2’s latest album “No Line on the Horizon”. I had a great evening – firstly because there were nice ales on offer but also because Mark (the vicar) had put together a great session together on three of the songs on the album. Plenty of fantastic stuff to chew over, with lots of lively discussion, great music and God speaking…

“The Kingdom of God is like a banquet…”

Church Placement

As part of my first year at Trinity College, I spend the month of June at a local church… being greedy, I’m spending a fortnight at one church (St Peter’s Henleaze) and a fortnight at another (Woodlands Church). I visited both churches over the last few weeks, but today was the start.

I’m going to blog regularly about the kind of things I’ll be doing and some of my thoughts and experiences.

Highlight today was chatting with a lovely guy called Jack – he’s 90 on Weds!

Tomorrow I’m going to Teddy Praise… puns on a postcard for that one!! Looking forward to it!

A long day…

Back from college after my 13hr marathon which includes 4 subjects with copious amounts of caffeine. Today (and for the next 4 Thursdays) I will be doing more Biblical interpretation, Greek,  sex marriage and society (good fun in the graveyard afternoon slot), and to finish………..

Worship: tradition and practice

Which is better than it sounds.

Our Church

We’re part of “Crossnet” – an Anglican church with a different flavour. Check out their website for more info…

Click HERE for the link.

Great to go to church for a nice cuppa, cake and comfy chair all on a Sunday afternoon (rather than rushing up in the morning). Slowly starting to get involved… excited about all that God has in store for us as a church in the future.