New Kid on the Blog

Have you ever had one of those days where you feel like you have so much to do that you don't actually do anything? Well this afternoon is starting to feel like that. I've got admin, visits, preparation for tonight's worship leading course, preparation for a Bible Study tomorrow and various other bits to do and i really don't want to get started. But i will, just as soon as i've said something about it... That's not to say my day so far has been unproductive, prayers with colleagues to start the morning, followed by a trip to our largest local hospital in Cambridge to visit someone from one of my parishes. The nice thing was that he didn't expect a visitor - being a parishioner but not a member of the congregation - but was glad of the company. That took up my morning with the travel in and out, have had an hour off for lunch and now back to slaving over a hot keyboard. Admin needs doing first, because it is the thing that, given a choice, i would igno...

Am taking a few minutes out of my Sunday to blog, normally this is family time, but i have a shed load of expenses to sort out - now have realised that my regular overdraft is pretty much what i am owed due to not having submitted an expenses claim for three months. In an effort to delay the inevitable facts and figures sorting I'm here to share a few reflections on my Sunday experience. Was interested this morning when i arrived to take my second service of the morning when one of the congregation asked if one my colleagues was coming back soon or whether she was on maternity leave. I did explain that her due date wasn't until February and that she only occasionally visited that particular parish and asked why he was so concerned. He responded 'her sermons are very erudite..' Of course i took the bait and asked 'so what are mine?' to which he responded (with some enthusiasm) 'yours are very practical and laid back and straightforward' to which i mu...

So, I continue to think about the encounters of last week. It was a very helpful conference in lots of ways, not least because there was no compulsion to go to anything! I went to all of the Bible Studies, some of the 'worship', and just over half of the keynote speakers! Just over half because there were four - one i missed due to being over tired and one i had to leave because i felt nauseous and flushed. I'll probably say more about all the different sessions another time (then again, maybe not - i can just keep you all on tenterhooks then - whatever they are) but I had revelation this last week as to how I have changed in these last few years. Three years ago, when we had our last Clergy conference for the Diocese of Ely, I went to everything - mandatory or not. At that time I identified myself as a 'Myers-Briggs E - Extrovert' meaning that my energy came from being with people, and in case of tiredness i would head for the nearest group of people and feel...

My trip away for the Diocesan Clergy Conference reminded me of one thing - I've still got so much to learn. I knew this anyway (one of the things i say when i visit couples preparing to have their children baptised is 'if i ever claim to have everything all sewn up about faith then its time for me to give up as i've obviously misunderstood faith completely') but the sessions that were offered, the conversations I had with my fellow Clergy, the times of worship, and the opportunity to sit and read gave me that chance to refresh my ignorance that reminded me that after 30 or so years on this Christian journey i am still always beginning. One of my late lamented Theology lecturers, Fr Michael Nevin, put in his Ph.D thesis that no one ever becomes a Christian, there is just the daily possibility of becoming Christian - a reference to his interpretation of St Augustine's theology. That resonates with me as i constantly wonder at the daily offering of God to myself, and...

It was a fantastic few days away and i will go into detail at another point, but have been struggling to keep awake for the past two days, so am going to continue the hiatus for another day or two. Pretty stupid staying up until midnight, but there are some things I don't seem to be able to get out of the habit of....

apparently... My Personality Neuroticism 43 Extraversion 47 Openness To Experience 65 Agreeableness 91 Conscientiousness 5 Find your MySpace/Xanga/Hi5 soulmate / pysch twin Test Yourself Compare Yourself View Full Report MySpace Surveys , MySpace Codes and hi5 by Pulseware Survey Software