Up early for the dawn service at St Mary's in Shenley Church End. Nick led us in a communion service with bread, fish and grape juice - followed by an amazing breakfast in the church with porridge, croissants, cereal and more...
We lit the six candles for the five churches of the Watling Valley plus Christ the Sower School. It was a wonderful parable of unity since people had to help each other keep their candles alight. And as someone from St Mary's pointed out - they were slow but burned brightly when they got going...
What do ministers do on their day off? They watch other ministers at work...
Today we attended the Harvest festival assembly at Christ the Sower Schools (why are all their events on Friday?) Nick was heavily involved in the organisation and we were treated to a brief talked based on his dog (puppet) Scrap who helped him demonstrate that we all need someone's hand in us in order to live...
One of the parents sang a gospel song about God's peace and the children read prayers and the parable of the sower. They also sang all the school harvest faves: Cabbages fluffy, the Lord of the Harvest and there's a song to sing. (Slightly older readers will not recognise these hymns, but in return, the children wouldn't recognise Come, ye thankfull people come - so this works both ways...)
The centrepiece of the assembly was the shoe-boxes for Link Romania. Nick played a video which showed how the boxes were delivered and received. I think this was more effective than words could have been.
All in all, this was a great harvest assembly. Nick did well, the kids did well. It was slick and professional and moving. Well done all!
Isla and I popped in to see Nick and Heather-Anne Adlem this afternoon who have now arrived in the Watling Valley and are living in Pauline's former house in Emerson Valley. It was good to see them again and they seem reasonably pleased to be here. Nick will be welcomed as SCM minister and Chaplain of CtS on the 30th August.
Also - had a phone call from Nigel, Archdeacon of Newark, to follow up a conversation from 18 months ago. It was good to hear from him again and very interesting to note that the Diocese of Southall is restructuring. They're going from 14 to 9 deaneries (I think) and appointing half-time area deans in each - which mirrors our thoughts here and what I know is also happening in Canterbury. All very interesting...
Up early for the dawn service at St Mary's in Shenley Church End. Nick led us in a communion service with bread, fish and grape juice - followed by an amazing breakfast in the church with porridge, croissants, cereal and more...
