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Friday, December 4th, 2009
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12:17 pm - Street Pastors
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There has been some negative publicity about Street Pastors this week. For a summary of the debate and what, exactly, Street Pastors do and don't do, there is an excellent blog here.
Our church supports Street Pastors, and several of our members have trained or are training as Street Pastors. They are wonderful people, not out to proselytise, but to show love in a practical way, perhaps in a way people least expect, without any agenda except to live and love as we believe Jesus has taught us. It is emphatically NOT "evangelism," ie setting out with the purpose of preaching to all and sundry and asking them to change their lives or beliefs; rather I would say it is an example of Augustine's exhortation to "Preach the Gospel at all times. Where necessary, use words."
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| Friday, November 20th, 2009
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7:56 pm
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| Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009
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6:09 pm - Half Term
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Half term week was spent doing wedding shopping! We had a plan and everything, and therefore Stuff Got Done. It all seems a bit weird and real now :)
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| Thursday, October 29th, 2009
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8:23 pm - All Hallows' Eve
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If you know of any children (or more to the point, their parents) who would like a non-occult way to have fun on 31st October, our church is having a party 5:30-7:30 on Saturday. I unfortunately can't be there, but please please send along any kids you think would enjoy a party! Costumes welcome, lots of fun and games planned!
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| Tuesday, October 20th, 2009
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6:08 pm - YES!!!
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| Tuesday, October 13th, 2009
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8:09 pm - O_O
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![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif) big_gay_dana informs me that Newstead is to go co-ed 6th Form. BOOOO.
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11:03 am - In which pride comes before a fall (but the resulting time to read is very much appreciated)
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I was beginning to feel inwardly smug about having not succumbed to any of the various lurgy my pupils have been carrying. It is surely just desserts for having been so cocky that means I now have a cough. The cough itself is tiny, almost inconsequential, barely worth talking about, but has the unfortunate side effect of having made my throat go red and a bit numb. So I'm taking a morning off work (possibly the whole day, I'm not sure yet), talking as little as possible, and expecting that this early caution will let me get back to work tomorrow!
In the meantime, I have finished a book my future MiL lent me, Plain Truth, which had a good twist at the end. Mind you, I say it was a good twist but I'm really quite gullible and tend not to see what's coming in books so maybe don't take my word for it. Next up is Gloriana's Torch, which I picked up in the summer at the loveliest secondhand bookshop in the world, Barter Books. I love most things set in the Tudor period, and of course adore Philippa Gregory's books but there are only so many of those, and I've already got them! I'm also picking back up The Challenge of Jesus - I'm starting to need something mildly intellectual to get my teeth into again. Finally, I'm using this month's Bible notes from church, Just Give me Jesus, written by one of our ministers, Julia. I find it quite a struggle to stick to something as disciplined as Bible study every day, but after a short catch-up at the beginning of the month, I'm now really enjoying the (short) passage and (short!) reflection as I start my day.
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| Thursday, October 8th, 2009
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10:53 pm - Nothing much but hello anyway :)
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Been busy, just with life, wedding, work etc... Mum and I saw Cliff and the Shadows last week, which was IMMENSE. And now I'm watching him on telly, which is great :) It was just ridiculously exciting seeing him LIVE!! and singing along, and being ridiculously stunned by how young he looks. Oh, and the Shadows too - Hank Marvin just making that guitar sing! I enjoyed the instrumental sets as much as hearing Cliff's beautiful voice. Mum and I just had the best time :D
Also (so I don't write about Cliff more than my beloved), ajmnewma has written a good post about grumbling...!
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| Wednesday, September 30th, 2009
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10:49 pm - VAN!
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Drove a van, got furniture!
( clicky )
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| Saturday, September 5th, 2009
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10:52 am - Funtenary
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Big party today at Crystal Palace Park to celebrate 100 Years of Guiding! Read more about the history here. I'm slightly daunted by the prospect of looking after 15 Brownies at such a huge event, but I hope I'll be ok. What's really exciting is that our launch party is the one at Crystal Palace Park, where it all began in 1909.
ETA: BBC News story!
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| Wednesday, September 2nd, 2009
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5:55 pm
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Greenbelt was good. We heard some good talks, participated in some lovely worship of many guises, had fun with some comedy and really good times catching up with our friends. I feel very blessed and strengthened at a time when that is exactly what I need. Greenbelt is such a beautiful thing to be part of, such a wide and joyful community and expression of God's love. I am so grateful for it and never more so than now.
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| Tuesday, August 4th, 2009
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8:24 pm - T'North
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Sat/Sun: Whitby. Never been before, small but enjoyable.
Now til NEXT FRIDAY(!): Embleton, Northumberland. Look it up, it's stunning. I'm tweeting and facebooking but don't expect to keep up with LJ so please text me with any important news! Love to all and blessings (with all the Northern saints!)
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| Tuesday, July 28th, 2009
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4:25 pm - HURRAH!
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I'M INSIDE OUR FLAT!!! :)
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| Monday, July 27th, 2009
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11:46 pm - Checking in
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- Playing parish eucharist went well
- Preaching went well I think, some feedback from people who found it helpful
- Completion day tomorrow!
Goodnight all - I am still reading, I just tend not to comment from my phone because it's fafftastic.
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| Thursday, July 23rd, 2009
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6:41 pm - Sorry ...
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We have been SOOO busy! The end of term was exams, rehearsals and concerts. Now term's over, but we've exchanged on our flat and are completing on TUESDAY!!! Very exciting. My cousin got married on Saturday, and we've been going to lots of the Proms, which is an indulgence we may not be able to afford quite so much next year! This Sunday I'm playing at another church, so I've been practicing hard, and then in the evening I'm preaching at Elm Road on Psalm 107, so despite not being at work this week I'm still rushing around like a mad thing - in a deeply contemplative manner, of course. But it's good that so many wonderful things are happening for us so, despite the odd teary moments of "ARGH TOO MUCH TOO MUCH!!!" it's lovely to be able to see such obvious blessings in our lives :)
PS: I tweet much more often than I post here ... but you'll need an account to read my entries which are protected!
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| Thursday, June 25th, 2009
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9:07 am - Meme
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Dad posted this a while back and I've been meaning to do it. So here it is!
1. Started your own blog (doy)
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band (if you count the worship team at church)
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyworld
8. Climbed a mountain (Just a small German one)
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables (Collective effort by family!)
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight in your underwear
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Ran a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors (What even counts as this? More of an American thing I guess)
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied Ah, the untold riches of the student loan ...
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted (Don't think sketches count!)
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris It was snowing!
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business I am officially registered as a business!
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies (Not in this country, but what about all those coffee mornings with Brownies at church!)
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favourite childhood toy (Never had to, my parents are as softhearted as I am!)
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job (What's the difference between being given notice and being fired?)
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper (As a Brownie!)
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life (My own - allergic reactions!)
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous (Alan Rickman being the most famous)
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Seen Mount Rushmore in person
101. Learned to play an instrument (!)
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| Friday, June 19th, 2009
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6:51 pm - CONGRATULATIONS
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... to Luke, who got a 2.i for his degree! YAY!!!
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| Monday, June 8th, 2009
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5:31 pm
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Bishop Alan posted about Wordles the other day. I've decided to start making Wordles of Biblical texts. Here's the first offering, a fairly famous text:
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5:24 pm
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Maggi posted this lovely poem:
They tuck you up, your mum and dad
They read you Peter Rabbit, too.
They give you all the treats they had
And add some extra, just for you.
They were tucked up when they were small,
(Pink perfume, blue tobacco-smoke),
By those whose kiss healed any fall,
Whose laughter doubled any joke.
Man hands on happiness to man.
It deepens like a coastal shelf.
So love your parents all you can
And have some cheerful kids yourself.
Adrian Mitchell
Isn't that a nice reinterpretation of Larkin's famous rant? On a dark day for UK politics, it's good to be reminded of everyday beauty like this.
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| Thursday, June 4th, 2009
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2:57 pm
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Thank you all for the encouragement. I will shortly be going to vote.
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