just the rev

ah harvest.....one of those full on weekends. church harvest supper here tomorrow night for about 25. sermon for sunday morning to finish and our first all age service to finish sorting as well as the Lab. Avoided a harvest theme for the Lab instead we are taking a break from nooma to look at psalm 137 and what we feel about exile and singing a new song in a foreign land......

got given a cheque for 2000 yesterday towards our part time schools worker that we are keen to get underway...PTL!

off to my mate Rob's school for a quiz night fundraiser....useless at this sort of thing....might be okay for sport and religion I suppose!

Gr8 weekend! Had Sarah, Blaise and Lily staying..,,also had our first children's event at St. Paul's - Harvest Messy Play. were thrilled that some young families actually came and seemed to nejoy themselves! next up is our harvest all age service this Sunday. Lab was very quiet last night - not sure where everyone was but had a good time of worship and watching Nooma 3 - Trees. thanks for the photo John.... a bit shakey but you get the idea!

what a goal!
made up for Phil beating me at squash yesterday!

L's uncle and aunt have been staying. richard was my spiritual director when I was training at ridley. Sort of bloke whose is so very wise that you need to remember anything he says to you. He said to me this morning he felt God was opening doors and quoted Revelation "I have opened a door for you that no one can shut."

feeling exhausted but encouraged.... ready to step back from meetings, planning etc and going to the fair with the kids later!

Local Salvation Army are exploring cafe church and are asking me to look in on it soon. Life has become one gigantic meeting.....but some good stuff this week. offered some serious funding by an individual towards an outreach worker and some stuff shaping up for when I take over as priest in charge of St. Paul's. Got my bro working on a soundtrack for an alternative eucharistic service - could be fun....

Well, an interesting comment from Mr B on my last entry suggesting selling the anti alpha clergyman but I am neither a football manager or bishop.....a drop of patience is what is called for

finding waiting pretty tough. I don't do waiting. Today we went for a barbeque with our friends the Morse Family by the Usk. Found it very hard to wait for the charcoal to light! Am finding it quite hard to wait and not try and speed up the lighting of the Lab or St. Paul's......a drop of patience is what is called for

I so want to see Chelsea firing in lots of goals... (Sad to admit but was happy that Arsenal drew even with Gallas!!)...a drop of patience is what is called for....anyway at least (unlike Liverpool) we won!

The threat of an own goal.

Mixed opinion about whether we are better off without Gallas.

Was a bit taken back this week by a local clergyman saying that he would be active in stopping people coming on Alpha. Had been ready for church leaders to say that they were unable to join in but this seemed something like a threat of an own goal.......

was cracking on this week with some paperwork and admin when yesterday I had a really difficult conversation with someone and ended the day on a real low. This morning I got up feeling not much better and was beginning to give into that aweful disease that clergy especially seem to suffer from - taking myself too seriously. Went swimming with the family today to Newport Leisure Centre. Not a bad pool - its got a wave machine and a slide. Went down the slide and as I did I felt a weight lift from me; I felt a sudden burst of joy and relief as I let go. Was praying with my mate Rob afterwards and he text me a reworking of Psalm 119:32 - it goes like this "I slide down the water chute of your commands for you have set my heart free." Thank God for swimming pools and water chutes and for his freedom.