It's official! I don't need to return to Spurgeon's until the start of year two in October.
I still have work to do here in Walmer completing and submitting both my Reflective Journal and my Portfolio by the end of August but trips to London for lectures and study are off the agenda for the whole summer.
So I look back on the last few weeks...
Church Anniversary - a great celebration for us as it marked the completion of Phase 1 of the Spire works. With all the bills paid we DID have enough money in the fundraising account to do the job without using any general church funds. Paul Kerley our Regional Minister re-dedicated the spire for us.
Alan and Beattie's 67th Wedding Anniversary - another excuse for a family celebration and a delicious church lunch. It was great to welcome friends new to the area to join us on their first Sunday with us (and they've been back!)
We've been working hard at smartening up the building and grounds, or at least Alan, Derek and Kathleen have. The beautiful hanging baskets now adorn the brackets either side of the church doors and I been given one for The Manse too. The hedges are all neatly clipped, sunflowers planted and of course the doors are looking wonderful thanks to Alan's care with sander and varnish.
The local authority have stated a series of Baby Massage classes in our facilities on Thursday mornings which is bringing mums and babies into the building which is an exciting mission opportunity.
We are preparing to roll out our Summer programme dominated by Hymn Sings every Thursday when we hope the locals will come for informal afternoons to sing their favourite hymns.
We're planning for The Big Lunch, our community BBQ on 18 July.
Someone has suggested we might organise a day trip out which sounds a great idea.
And we are looking forward to welcoming from friends from Bloomsbury who will visit on one of their outing days.
Sea Sunday looms when we have a former Vicar (also a former Ferry Captain) preaching for us.
For me, and for the church, there is much to do and we are enthusiastically getting on with the job of being a Christian community, for the community, in the community.
Monday, 21 June 2010
Friday, 4 June 2010
We've been busy....busy... busy...
With college lectures finished for the summer (except a few days on Child Protection and Racial Justice in June) life for me becomes more church focussed - as if it wasn't already!
We've had a run of major festivals to mark in the church calendar - Ascensiontide, Pentecost and Trinity Sunday.
The image of the congregation all blowing bubbles in church on Pentecost Sunday will live with me for a long time! We were showing that the spirit was moving amongst us although without the help of the bubbles we didn't always recognise it!
We've also been getting ready for the Church Anniversary when we will be re-dedicating our spire after the completion of the first phase of the restoration work.
The builders have removed the scaffolding and we have spent a great deal of time, tidying flower beds, cutting hedges, mowing lawns, dusting rooms, shampooing carpets, throwing out lots of rubbish, re-staining doors, painting gates and redecorating the vestibule.
You can't fail to notice the work that has been done.
After 106 years it is a privelage to continue to serve the community of Walmer and we will celebrate that this Sunday with our Regional Minister, Paul Kerley as guest preacher.
We are also launching our Annual Thankoffering Appeal. It's an appeal with a difference as everyone is being given £5! This is their talent to 'grow' over the summer and we will gather in the 'harvest' in October at our Harvest Festival Service.
We're half way through a series of small church studies called Lifesize produced by BUGB that are starting to produce ideas about how we might do 'new' things to connect with the community which is encouraging.
With the sun shining we are in a positive mood as we continue to move forward under God's direction and leading.
We've had a run of major festivals to mark in the church calendar - Ascensiontide, Pentecost and Trinity Sunday.
The image of the congregation all blowing bubbles in church on Pentecost Sunday will live with me for a long time! We were showing that the spirit was moving amongst us although without the help of the bubbles we didn't always recognise it!
We've also been getting ready for the Church Anniversary when we will be re-dedicating our spire after the completion of the first phase of the restoration work.
The builders have removed the scaffolding and we have spent a great deal of time, tidying flower beds, cutting hedges, mowing lawns, dusting rooms, shampooing carpets, throwing out lots of rubbish, re-staining doors, painting gates and redecorating the vestibule.
You can't fail to notice the work that has been done.
After 106 years it is a privelage to continue to serve the community of Walmer and we will celebrate that this Sunday with our Regional Minister, Paul Kerley as guest preacher.
We are also launching our Annual Thankoffering Appeal. It's an appeal with a difference as everyone is being given £5! This is their talent to 'grow' over the summer and we will gather in the 'harvest' in October at our Harvest Festival Service.
We're half way through a series of small church studies called Lifesize produced by BUGB that are starting to produce ideas about how we might do 'new' things to connect with the community which is encouraging.
With the sun shining we are in a positive mood as we continue to move forward under God's direction and leading.
Monday, 17 May 2010
Centrefold Celebrity
It will surely be the first and last time that I have found myself a centrefold celebrity. With the return of our newly restored weathervane, its goldleaf finish glistening in the sunlight, the photographer from the local paper was keen to get clicking with his camera. He was also keen to climb to the top of the church spire to capture some unique shots of the local community from the vantage point 80 feet up that the scaffolding afforded.
So in the current edition of the East Kent Mercury the entire centre pages have been devoted to pictures of Walmer, our weather vane, the Spire restoration and if I'm honest rather too many picture of the Pastor! (A search of the on-line photos at www.eastkentmercury.co.uk will reveal all!)
The press coverage has been great and good publicity for the church. The scaffolding has started to come down today and so the community will be able to see the work that has been undertaken in this first phase of work on the exterior of the building.
Inside we have been busy too...
On Saturday we held our new Fundraising Group's first event - a Table Top Sale. The weather was kind and throughout the morning we welcomed a steady flow of friends, old and new, to the see what was on offer. Tempted by my 'bacon butties' - yes even a vegetarian has to make sacrifices to raise funds for the church - the generous attenders helped swell the coffers by £315.
Over the last two Sundays we have taken the opportunity to focus on the mission of the church in the wider Church. We marked the start of Christian Aid week using their resources on work in Kenya. Every member of the congregation was given their own 'flying toilet' to take home along with a collection envelope to gather 2p's every time their toilet was used last week. This past Sunday we joined with friends in London and across the country celebrating the founding of the London City Mission. Walmer has long supported this work and we have retired LCM Missionaries in our congregation.
For me, formal studies for year 1 conclude tomorrow. I am eager to finish my final assignment due in on 1 June this week if I can. That said I have the joys of Child Protection training organised by SEBA to distract me later in the week plus the need for some creative thinking on how to celebrate Pentecost on Sunday.
Anyway, it will be good to be spared the regular journey to and from London for the summer and focus on the work in Walmer.
Watch this space for another update soon...
So in the current edition of the East Kent Mercury the entire centre pages have been devoted to pictures of Walmer, our weather vane, the Spire restoration and if I'm honest rather too many picture of the Pastor! (A search of the on-line photos at www.eastkentmercury.co.uk will reveal all!)
The press coverage has been great and good publicity for the church. The scaffolding has started to come down today and so the community will be able to see the work that has been undertaken in this first phase of work on the exterior of the building.
Inside we have been busy too...
On Saturday we held our new Fundraising Group's first event - a Table Top Sale. The weather was kind and throughout the morning we welcomed a steady flow of friends, old and new, to the see what was on offer. Tempted by my 'bacon butties' - yes even a vegetarian has to make sacrifices to raise funds for the church - the generous attenders helped swell the coffers by £315.
Over the last two Sundays we have taken the opportunity to focus on the mission of the church in the wider Church. We marked the start of Christian Aid week using their resources on work in Kenya. Every member of the congregation was given their own 'flying toilet' to take home along with a collection envelope to gather 2p's every time their toilet was used last week. This past Sunday we joined with friends in London and across the country celebrating the founding of the London City Mission. Walmer has long supported this work and we have retired LCM Missionaries in our congregation.
For me, formal studies for year 1 conclude tomorrow. I am eager to finish my final assignment due in on 1 June this week if I can. That said I have the joys of Child Protection training organised by SEBA to distract me later in the week plus the need for some creative thinking on how to celebrate Pentecost on Sunday.
Anyway, it will be good to be spared the regular journey to and from London for the summer and focus on the work in Walmer.
Watch this space for another update soon...
Sunday, 2 May 2010
Greetings from Plymouth
I don't think I have been this far west in England before! That said, Plymouth is not the end of the world and appears to be a thriving diverse community. Arriving at a popular easting house in the midst of a stag party with the 'guests' in fancy dress which left little to the imagination it was highly amusing to see sober Baptists lining the bar to place their orders for food alongside men scantily clad in stilettos and suspenders! What an introduction to Assembly!
That said it served as an introduction to an assembly weekend which proved to be refreshingly different to previous experiences.
From the outset the musical worship element was presented as thoughtful, reflective and, for those of us who appreciate these things, not too loud!
An evening of Taize chants and the opportunity to share in Liturgy from the Northumbria Community was refreshing as was the opportunity to sing well-chosen more traditional hymns often appropriately accompanied on the piano rather than the more awkward worship band accompaniment of recent years.
And with Assembly Listeners, frequent 'pauses' for silent reflection and the reflection boards there seems to be a definite attempt to listen to both one and another and to God - less being talked at more being listened too!!
It has been good to gain insights into the mission opportunities and development ideas being promoted by BUGB and BMS World Mission.
The seminars and plenary sessions have been helpful and at times stimulating for future theological and practical thinking.
From Tuesday I will be back home, engaging back with my community. I shall return to assignment writing and college studies.
Plymouth and Assembly has proved a refreshing and positive experience this year which for me at least is a welcome surprise.
That said it served as an introduction to an assembly weekend which proved to be refreshingly different to previous experiences.
From the outset the musical worship element was presented as thoughtful, reflective and, for those of us who appreciate these things, not too loud!
An evening of Taize chants and the opportunity to share in Liturgy from the Northumbria Community was refreshing as was the opportunity to sing well-chosen more traditional hymns often appropriately accompanied on the piano rather than the more awkward worship band accompaniment of recent years.
And with Assembly Listeners, frequent 'pauses' for silent reflection and the reflection boards there seems to be a definite attempt to listen to both one and another and to God - less being talked at more being listened too!!
It has been good to gain insights into the mission opportunities and development ideas being promoted by BUGB and BMS World Mission.
The seminars and plenary sessions have been helpful and at times stimulating for future theological and practical thinking.
From Tuesday I will be back home, engaging back with my community. I shall return to assignment writing and college studies.
Plymouth and Assembly has proved a refreshing and positive experience this year which for me at least is a welcome surprise.
Wednesday, 28 April 2010
Assembly looms...
As the thrilling prospect of a cold, wet Bank Holiday weekend in Plymouth is just days away there is just time to post an update.
Last week saw us gather in church meeting. Everyone was in good heart and it was encouraging to us all that we will need to consider meeting in a larger room next time, every seat being taken which made us feel rather cosy.
The church agreed to welcome two friends as members which increases our membership by 4 in the year to-date. We reflected upon our Easter activities and services and made plans for our summer programme with a mix of social and spiritual activities.
We were very pleased to learn that the Spire works are almost completed and that the scaffolding should be coming down well in advance of the 4 June deadline.
Find of the week was a tiny sketch of the Kaiser found behind panelling in the church kitchen when we removed the organ blower. Doubtless drawn by a builder in 1914 it has been hidden for almost 100 years.
The week afforded the opportunity to meet Bloomsbury friends on Saturday as they celebrated a member's birthday and also to see them briefly at the end of evening worship on Sunday.
One of our flock has been in Kings College Hospital for open heart surgery at is was good to be in London to visit her.
College studies start to wind down for the end of the semester as we have just two weeks worth of lectures to go and assignments to hand in.
Both members here in Walmer and my supporters group at Bloomsbury have been enlisted to help provide evidence for my Portfolio which needs to be handed in by the end of the summer.
The sun continues to shine in Walmer which bodes well for one last climb of the spire tomorrow to replace the weathervane after its gilding which will be followed by a lively discussion in the evening at our Churches Together Election Hustings!
Last week saw us gather in church meeting. Everyone was in good heart and it was encouraging to us all that we will need to consider meeting in a larger room next time, every seat being taken which made us feel rather cosy.
The church agreed to welcome two friends as members which increases our membership by 4 in the year to-date. We reflected upon our Easter activities and services and made plans for our summer programme with a mix of social and spiritual activities.
We were very pleased to learn that the Spire works are almost completed and that the scaffolding should be coming down well in advance of the 4 June deadline.
Find of the week was a tiny sketch of the Kaiser found behind panelling in the church kitchen when we removed the organ blower. Doubtless drawn by a builder in 1914 it has been hidden for almost 100 years.
The week afforded the opportunity to meet Bloomsbury friends on Saturday as they celebrated a member's birthday and also to see them briefly at the end of evening worship on Sunday.
One of our flock has been in Kings College Hospital for open heart surgery at is was good to be in London to visit her.
College studies start to wind down for the end of the semester as we have just two weeks worth of lectures to go and assignments to hand in.
Both members here in Walmer and my supporters group at Bloomsbury have been enlisted to help provide evidence for my Portfolio which needs to be handed in by the end of the summer.
The sun continues to shine in Walmer which bodes well for one last climb of the spire tomorrow to replace the weathervane after its gilding which will be followed by a lively discussion in the evening at our Churches Together Election Hustings!
Monday, 19 April 2010
Holiday is over...
It's back to college time! After the joy of the Easter break and all that has been happening in the life of the church its time for a reality check as college studies resume.
Post Easter the weather has been glorious and the summer wardrobe has come started to appear along with my legs in a new range of shorts for the 2010 season.
It has been good to spend some time tending the garden - earthing up the potatoes, waging war on the dandelions in the front lawn and preparing a new flower bed outside the dining room window!
Deacons have met and we continue in positive mode towards a full summer programme of events and activities.
It was good to have the opportunity to lead worship with friends at Victoria and encourage them to do things a little differently. It is good too to have a date in the diary for a Deal Area Churches Together Election Hustings which will be held at Trinity in a couple of weeks time.
Knitters still knit with enthusiasm on Wednesdays and parcels of knitwear have been dispatched to Debbie Smith working for Habitat for Humanity in South Africa.
Despite the 'Ash cloud' all of our cohort have returned for the last round of lectures before our summer break and we journey towards that in the care of Chis Voke, the Vice Principal, Nigel Wright being on study leave.
It was reassuring to sing in worship today 'Will your anchor hold...'!
Post Easter the weather has been glorious and the summer wardrobe has come started to appear along with my legs in a new range of shorts for the 2010 season.
It has been good to spend some time tending the garden - earthing up the potatoes, waging war on the dandelions in the front lawn and preparing a new flower bed outside the dining room window!
Deacons have met and we continue in positive mode towards a full summer programme of events and activities.
It was good to have the opportunity to lead worship with friends at Victoria and encourage them to do things a little differently. It is good too to have a date in the diary for a Deal Area Churches Together Election Hustings which will be held at Trinity in a couple of weeks time.
Knitters still knit with enthusiasm on Wednesdays and parcels of knitwear have been dispatched to Debbie Smith working for Habitat for Humanity in South Africa.
Despite the 'Ash cloud' all of our cohort have returned for the last round of lectures before our summer break and we journey towards that in the care of Chis Voke, the Vice Principal, Nigel Wright being on study leave.
It was reassuring to sing in worship today 'Will your anchor hold...'!
Friday, 9 April 2010
Easter in Walmer
It's been busy...but the memories are positive! As readers of the local Churchscene bulletin had been commenting for weeks, there was a lot going on at Walmer Baptist this Easter.
We began with our Fellowship Meal with our friends from Mongeham and Victoria. Sharing Communion throughout the meal and the adjourning to the church for our 'in the Garden' reflection proved a moving experience for some.
On Good Friday in sombre mood befitting the day we gathered to witness the 'Reflections of a Carpenter' which sought to connect us with the Good Friday story in dramatic form. Again for some a moving experience.
After much earnest prayer, the sun shone brightly on Easter Saturday for our Easter Egg Hunt. With over 350 coloured straws for the children to find buried in the church lawn we'd set ourselves a challenge to which many wondered whether the children would come to.
We were pleased to have over 70 'hunters' with parents and grandparents in tow and by all accounts everyone left with a plentiful supply of chocolate and had had a fun afternoon.
Easter Sunday started with light rain which didn't dampen the commitment of 18 members and friends who gathered in the park under umbrellas for our Sunrise Communion before we gathered back in the hall for a hearty Easter Breakfast.
The highlight of Easter was of course our Family Service during which Kate professed her faith through Baptism.
Befitting the season the Hallelujahs rang and we were blessed with a good congregation to witness the Baptism and continue our Easter celebrations.
A dry day on Easter Monday afforded us a pleasurable stroll along the beach and over the downland to St Margaret's for our Ramble. We made good time and had lunch in the bus shelter before catching the bus home.
Today the sun shines again as spring flowers burst forth in the church garden, the men continue to work hard on the spire (which I climbed again yesterday in the sunshine), Pastor and people are in good heart.
Christ is Risen, Alleluia!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)