Catch up

Well, I had a great and tiring time with the youth yesterday as we travelled to Weston. My mind however was drawn to Tuesday nights church meeting. I don’t get to lead many of these so I always lack a bit of experience and confidence. The meeting was generally fine, however I always like to take what people have said and wrap it in a neat sentence. I’m not sure if this is helpful or right to do, or whether sometimes I just need to let the conversation go as it is and realise there may be no real way of summing up all the thoughts into one package.
Just finished a first draft of Sunday’s sermon and have done a PowerPoint to go with it (which is fairly unusual for me!) we will see how people respond. A bit tired now though!

Telephone

I have ran around quite a bit today, and am preparing for the Church meeting this evening. But one of the most important things I think I did today (so far) was to pray with someone over the telephone. I am going to see this person soon (was not just lazy ministry) but it was a quiet and special moment that I believe helped this person.
Jose (the preacher from Sunday) preached on being a community of love, something that I have started to try and express in different thoughts. I can't help but think this all links together.

A noticeboard to Sacred Space

So, my first day back in the office and already there are 2 new notice boards going up as I type (thanks to Ken G) and the cabling being installed for the new TV screens that will adorn the corridor and Cafe area. It’s quite amazing when things in your head start to become reality and especially when it happens so quickly. I suppose there are links to ministry there, you have a vision for individuals or communities and when it comes to fruition, there is such a sense of amazement at how God gives vision and see’s completion. Sometimes though, I am aware that we do not always see completion for one reason or another. And so my thoughts now turn to how to open Sacred Space back up, we used to open the sanctuary for prayer and meditation. I am thinking of doing this between 11 and 1, Tuesday to Thursday, and with a 30 minute led meditation at 10.30 on a Tuesday. Any thoughts, any comments, any ideas, any concerns, anything that you have done before in your context, please let me know... what would you need to have sacred space?

Post Holiday

Well, I am back in the office tomorrow after what was an incredibly eventful holiday that included most of us being sick and not really being able to do alot! Anyway, as I return tomorrow my thoughts are around the people I need to catch up with (if you think that is you, let me know) and also around the internal communication and noticeboards of the church. All this needs to be done through the focus of God and Christ. What does the God who communicates with us teach us about the way we communicate to each other, including the use of noticeboards... discuss.
Also, I am now using twitter to update people on what's going on in the church and when I have blogged. I am @revtimp hope to see you on there.

Ministers Conference

I have just spent some time with the other ministers of the WEBA area. This is no reflection on the speakers, but one of my favourite bits is catching up with old friends and making new ones. This is not an excuse for a jolly, but gives opportunity to charge batteries, see what other people are doing and how things are going. I recognise that I am in a very privileged position to do this, but I suppose the question is where do other people get the opportunity to do a similar thing? I would like to think the answer was church, but am I being naive in that thought? Is it a place where people feel charged and able to connect with others, and more importantly God.

Packing

Over the last few days I was packing to go to the WEBA ministers conference where I need to take a piano. I went to a box, which I know I packed neatly, to fin all the cables tangled together. It's amazing how cables, like things in our life, can become muddled and complicated if we do not attend to them often.

Burdens

During our N:counter group this morning I was taken by a discussion that we had about worries and concerns. I was reminded of the old hymn “What a friend we have in Jesus”, there is a line that says “have you trials and temptations, take it to the Lord in prayer”. I reflected on how easy it is to take our burdens, worries and concerns to the cross, but then how easy it is to then want them back again. We pray and ask Christ to help us, but then we want to take it back again and try to sort it out in our own way. Over time, maybe we are happy to leave a bit more each time, and there are occasions when we want to take a bit more back. It’s easy to take it to the Lord, much harder to leave it there and not want it back again.

Transfer Market

I am a football fan... but seriously, the money spent in Britain on transfers (200m+) I can't help think would be so much better being used for something else. There were players who have only played in top flight football for 6 months being sold for £35m. I wonder if football played out in church...
Dear church
This is my written request for a transfer to another one down the road. I have been your minister for a little while now, but feel I would be better treated and have more opportunities there. This has nothing to do with the larger amount of money they are offering or the huge transfer fee you will get, I want a new opportunity. I know I have only just last month promised I will be here for 5 years, but these things happen...
I await your response, if it is yes... great, if it is no... I will just sulk, stomp my feet and wait for them to make an offer you can't refuse, obviously I would still continue to give my all!!

Kind Regards

Your faithful minister