Friday, December 16, 2011

Holiday challenges

I'm a bit behind with my blog, but though term may have finished I have still been working hard! No putting my feet up just yet!

In the past two weeks I have experienced two aspects of ministry that have led me to sit and reflect. Firstly, I started my special context placement at the Hospice. Secondly, I returned to the north (before it snowed) and preached at my 'home' church.

Ten weeks into my training was I really ready to face what it means to live with a terminal illness? The honest answer is no. How do you approach people? What do you say? From my first day I learnt 'be yourself' and that a smile goes a long way and from my second day it important to listen, but not just to what is said, but what is unsaid too. Though these are important things for me to remember when I go back to the Hospice in February to complete my placement, they are also important lessons for ministry. If I can't be myself or am not able to listen to the silence as well as the chatter, being a minister is going to be even tougher!

The second challenge of my first two weeks of the holiday was returning to Newcastle and preaching at St George's. Going back to what has been 'home' for the past seven years, you'd think would be easy and would ease the pressure on it being the first time of preaching since starting college. Err no... I think it might have been one of the hardest services I've had to lead so far and one from which I have definitely learnt. Going back as the visiting preacher is definitely not easy!

So life's little challenges continue, but soon it will be Christmas and then the New Year! As I don't think I'll get back to my blog till after Christmas now, to all my readers may a wish you a very happy and peaceful Christmas.

Friday, December 2, 2011

It all started over 2000 years ago in the Holy Land...

So here we are, the end of term! I am now a 12th of the way through my ministrial training! Where have the last 10 weeks gone?!

We are now in the season of Advent, travelling the road to the manger, the first of so many journeys within the New Testament, as well as being the start of THE journey. But for me and for I think I can safely say my fellow students and even lecturers, journeying is not just what we read and study about in the Bible, we are all living a journey. It is a personal journey, but at times we have fellow travellers, sometimes they are great company, other times you wish they would just leave you alone. But with our fellow travellers we share the highs and lows of road.

This to me sums up what I have experienced here in Cambridge over the last 10 weeks. This journey that I'm on started 30 years ago and I have met many fellow travellers along the way. Some I am still travelling with, some I've parted company from. However, now I am on a new piece of road, travelling with a new set of people with whom to share my blister plasters. It has been tough, but there have been some great views and words (oh and puddings) that have kept us going.

So as Christmas approaches and we travel towards the manger--to my fellow travellers (past, present, future), thank you for your company, it has been great!

Thursday, November 24, 2011

It's week 8...

Only a week to go and term is finished... I can't quite believe it, was it not only yesterday that it was week 1?! Yes, week 8 started today and I really could do with it still being week 7, too much still to do before next Wednesday!

It's amazing how quickly time goes by and I'm just getting into the groove of it all. Oh well, at least I have half a chance of hitting next term with some knowledge of what I am doing!

As Advent fast approaches (yes, the first Sunday in Advent is this Sunday!), my thoughts have turned to Jesus! Ok, maybe that's not entirely true, but all the books I'm currently reading have Jesus in the title, which I'm finding quite bizzare, but then I guess part of the reason I'm here is to learn more about Jesus.

Anyway, back to Advent... a time when we start to prepare for Christmas, to look forward to celebrating Jesus' birth. But what does that really mean to most people out there? How much of Christ really makes it into Christmas these days? A question that many preachers will consider over the next few weeks and maybe try to unpack them in their sermons. Will I? Not sure as I've not got to writing my one Advent sermon on my to do list yet, but maybe I should. If the Shepherds managed to leave the stable praising God and tell everyone about Jesus, then maybe we should be do be doing the same on a Sunday morning as we leave church! So there is a challenge for me!! And if anyone finds themself at a loose end on the 11th December and in Newcastle, you can come and see if I manage it!

Saturday, November 19, 2011

Chocolate pudding with chocolate sauce...

Well what to talk about this week? No idea... has been a fairly uneventful week. Lectures have been lectures, supervisions have been supervisions, Greek's still been all Greek and reading, well there is still loads of that to do!

The end of term is now fast approaching and the days in the library are getting longer.. so maybe now is the time to just sit for a moment and be still... to actually have a bit of 'Sabbath' time... have a nice mug of coffee or even some of my Mum's chocolate pudding with chocolate sauce!

Lesson from my week is everyone needs some time off, some "Sabbath" time, even God! So why not take some now and do something you enjoy!

Thursday, November 10, 2011

A wobble free week...

Well we are now officially on the downhill to the end of term... week 6 started today, which means three weeks till I have finished my first term as an Ordinand! Oh my! And after spending the last five weeks doubting whether I can actually do this, I think I may have turned the corner thanks to Church History and the words "don't forget you have 4 years - you don't have to do it all in the first four weeks"!

Now you would think that it would be some revelation from unpacking a piece of scripture that would lead to this and not the Late Medieval Church, Wycliffe and a facebook message from my big brother - but theology isn't just about the Bible you know! Sometimes people say the words you really need to hear at the time and/or you achieve something which you thought was possible impossible. This is what has happen to me this week. I've discovered I can read books that are over 200 years old and then write a really good essay (according to my Church History Supervisor not me, honest) and I do have 4 years to get my head round it all!

The next three weeks aren't going to be a walk in the park - I have two essays to write for starters and at least three more walls to plaster with Greek - but it is all possible and I will survive!

So, after spending time this evening learning about using visuals in worship, and pictures are generally lacking I feel in my lectures and books I have to read - here is a pictorial summary of my last five weeks...