just the rev

Monday night went to a teen challenge presentation with my mate Del (the Methodist minister). Was a really good evening. TC are going to take their bus into the city centre for ten nights leading up to Chrimble Day 11pm -3am. Del and I signed up for the 21st Dec! Yikes!

Good day yesterday with my parents and granny! Showed them around the church after everyone had gone home and fell in love with it again!



Caught up on priest idol having videoed most of it. If it can happen there, who knows it can happen......

(by the way if you have no idea about priest idol (shown on C4) you missed something special...to find out more check out http://www.channel4.com/culture/microsites/C/can_you_believe_it/debates/priest.html

Nant Coch evangelical church is just where I have got back from. was invited by Tony the youth worker to speak at their youth service about suffering. Tony's wife Mel and some young people led the worship superbly. Tony and Mel are leaving Newport for Hong Kong in January - nice for them I suppose, a bit of a bummer for me! Anyway a very good place Nant Coch (http://www.nantcoch.org.uk/index.htm)......

St. Paul's this morning: there was a baby/toddler. The next youngest person was me! Time perahps for some new (younger) faces....

musing about our church building a bit at the moment....
great pics from http://www.btinternet.com/~smallritual/section5_menupage.html
.....St. P's I think has made a huge and impressive start on having a building that has a life outside of Sunday mornings. Just feel we have a huge way to go if a faith community of young people are ever going to feel comfortable with it.....don't really feel ready for the politics of a building at present. Lord give me strength



second team meeting tonight and first bit of equipment for our sound system arrived today....so things ticking along nicely.

not perhaps then so much about getting young people into church, even a youth church(!), but more about them finding themselves in Christ and experiencing all the freedom and security that that gives.

Took my first morning service at St. Paul's....didn't feel I connected with many people at all. Maybe that's just me rather than them....

hoping to put a bid in for some govt. money for a year out youth work scheme....

Luce, Phil and I had our first meeting to talk about The Lab. Felt really encouraged. Chatted through ideas around the fact that this was an experiment to find God. Possible themes around experimenting to look at initially are: testing, risking, failing, dreaming, hoping, creating, imagining, probing and changing! talked through the whole issue of sung worship - what sort of songs, how many of them, what interaction to hope for etc. Looking for a possible lab launch of 22 January. Plenty to do and think about before then.

O for a few more crazy scientists in the church....people who will take us places we have never been before....people who can pick up the scent of adventure...

the above book (And Now Let's Move into a Time of Nonsense: Why Worship Songs are Failing the Church) is by Nick Page. saw it at my line-manager's house and ordered it through amazon. looks a goodie. will keep you posted as I read it.

busy weekend of partying! Great time back in gloucester with our mates. thanks again Si and Amanda for hosting a really good evening. Sister's party went well. Had scanned in 50 pics of her over the last 40 years and then with a bit of help had managed to burn the imovie onto DVD. was so pleased with the result have ordered some software so I can do the same!

things getting busier job wise too and a few speaking invites have come in which is cool.

been a frustrating day so I thought I would blog just before bed. Last night Phil and I went out for a drink at the Walkabout which apart from a party of 20 was quite quiet given that it was student night! Went on somewhere less studenty for our 2nd which was very enjoyable. Bumped into an old street preacher called George who was witnessing to a group of students who were out doing an assigment with video camera etc. We listened for a while. George spoke with a passion for Jesus. he told them John 3:16 which they had never heard before and then they asked him to make it more simple! Phil and I a good chat with them after George was done. Turns out there assigment is research into what young people think about religion! Gave them my details and invited them to follow the story of the youth church at St.Paul's as it unfolds....really hope they get in touch.

off for the weekend. Party in Gloucester and then my sister's 40th in Kingston on Saturday....will be great but part of me would rather be here. Phil has got three weeks temping before he starts at the bank which is cool.

just to let you know that the diocese are supporting me in the purchase of some equipment for our new service and whatever else we get upto next year. Getting the equipment is nice but what makes me feel really good is that there are some senior chaps here who are serious
1. about the job/ vision which they have asked me to pursue
2. about me and my judgement

was a bit nervous cos this was like a wee test for the future....so it looks like we are on track.

really wonderful to pray with Phil this morning. L is in Gloucester having her hair cut. I don't know whether I will be allowed to blog the new look!!!!

ever thought that church leaders are just like those in politics? its just a question of the bland leading the bland......

perhaps it is the bland guides who strain out a gnat but swallow a camel....(matthew 23:24)

anyway Phil has officially arrived in Newport today! and is in the process of moving into his flat... I feel like a premiership manager who has just pulled off the biggest signing of his career!

our plans to start an informal service on a Sunday evening possibly called "The Lab" received a massive boost when young Phil K got a phone call to say he had landed the job at HSBC! he plans to move into a flat in Newport next week and we can start making some concrete plans for THE LAB and some stuff too. The Lab is not a youth church but an attempt to provide something from which one might grow. It will hopefully be a mix of church/laboratory/playground.

Just off to meet my Norwegian buddy who is over in Bristol for a few days. haven't seen Stig for a very long time. first met him during my YWAM days and a few years later flew out to norway to be his best man.

Mike if you read this....the new car is fab. number 12 isn't it?! Not ideal for a youth worker though - more a set of wheels for an associate priest!

more thoughts on THE LAB soon

"You have an idea, and then you just put one dumb foot in front of the other and course-correct as you go." said media mogul Barry Diller

I never expect to be a person who is planned but I do hope to be prepared....at the moment I sensing some kind of confrontation is looming over my position and role and I want to be prepared.



knowing how and when to stand up is crucial. your prayers please.

still waiting for the money from the diocese for the equipment and still waiting to hear whether Phil has got his job a the bank. On Monday L and I saw Arthur Edwards (area dean), then I had a meeting with my line-manager (we talked about my curacy and I found it very refreshing and reassuring) and then we had the Methodist minister Del and her hubby Tony over for a meal (seem to be getting on well with Delyth and I imagine we will work well together). Yesterday was my day off so I painted Zoe's room with a bit of help from dear daughter...



our friends Geoff and Emma will be here soon so must dash. Tomorrow we have a house full of youth workers from lots of different churches. will let you know what happens with that