The wanderer returns

I'm back!

After the longest break I have taken in years I have returned home to the routine and busy life of running the church here in Walmer. Three days from my return the break all too quickly fades into a distant memory as life gets consumed by pastoral matters, planning for the autumn programmes and, of course, the need to finish my college Portfolio.

But what of Hawaii and the Baptist World Alliance Congress you may ask?

Well having spent two preliminary visits in Honolulu researching both hotel options and travel arrangements in and around Waikiki there were no real surprises on the logistics front.

Having secured accommodation in a hotel within walking distance of both the beach and the conference centre I was able to settle into the routine of long sunny, summer days very quickly.
With over 48 hours before the start of the Congress there was amply time to hit the beach and play 'Spot the Baptist'. It proved quite challenging at first to identify any Baptists although as the opening night of the congress drew closer some obvious groups from the Caribbean and Africa became more noticeable. American Baptists were less easy to identify and Brits were clearly in very short supply. All changed when the Congress identity badges were issued along with Congress bags and it was easy then to know who was who although of course the rebel in me kept folk guessing refusing as I did to add a new bag to my collection or to wear my badge unless forced to in the Congress Centre. That said, close contact when I was wearing my Walmer's Pastor t-shirt gave the game away but I was careful who I got close enough too to reveal that!

With all large scale events of this nature there were highs and lows. Whilst the Congress theme was 'Hear the Spirit' and we were enthused on the final day to believe how many had heard it I came away wondering whether we had given sufficient if any time to be still and actually hear the Spirit of God speaking amidst, when we were assembled, an almost continuous round of worship sessions, key-note addresses, Bible studies and Focus Groups.

That said, attending one of the Focus Groups on Inter-faith dialogue was refreshing, not least as it showed that in countries where there is a stereotypical view of hostility particularly to Muslims, on the ground there is reasoned dialogue building mutual trust and respect between those of the Abrahamic religions. (Less conciliatory tones were evident which is a worry but my hope is that those more conservative thinkers might 'Hear the Spirit'.)

According to Jonathan Edwards our own BUGB General Secretary, around 40 Baptists had registered from the UK. I think I saw around 12 including three retired folk from the north of England who joined me in regular seats at the back of the auditorium, happy to avoid the daily rush for front row seats to be nearest the platform and stand a good chance of being a face on the big screen when the cameras panned around! From the back it was possible to resist the frequent calls to stand and sing, clap, greet (even hug!) our neighbours and also beat a hasty retreat before the mass Exodus after each session.

The almost 400 strong children's choir from Korea was a memorable sight and sound, beautifully turned out and regimentally organised, singing in perfect dictionary English.

Informal conversations with fellow Baptists from around the world were illuminating even if Indian Pastors were at time a little pushy in their approach to wanting support for their ministries! 'Amen' affirming ladies from the Deep South who went around in packs were useful sidestepped and I have to confess at times were on the verge of affirming both negative and positive statements from the platform when they got into 'Amen', 'Hallelujah' auto-pilot.

On the whole I'm pleased to have experienced the event, proud to have been able to represent our small church in the South East of England and have that noted by both the General Secretary of BUGB and the Director of BMS World Mission and I shall make every effort to attend the next Congress in 2015 in South Africa.

Two days after the Congress and after most delegates had either left the Islands or slipped into anonymity without their land lards, I returned to the West Coast of the US and what is to me the familiar surroundings of San Francisco.

My hotel has had a make-over since my last stay and become Hotel Frank which reminded me of Bloomsbury and I half expected Mr Brown to appear from the lift at anytime. The four full days I had scheduled in San Francisco were 'Seyan time'. I know the city well enough to navigate without a map or guidebook. I know the weekday service times at Grace Cathedral and when the prayer Labyrinths are likely to be quietest. I know where to eat for good value food that caters for my diet and of course there's the opportunity to check-up on how Ryan and Amy Parker are doing.

It was good to spend an evening with them exchanging news and enjoying a delicious home-cooked meal (thanks Amy!).

All too soon the long flight home was called and although I'd not been successful in securing a place beyond the waiting list for a first class seat on any flight on the return trip I has an empty seat next to me which meant I could wriggle more and spread out although as is the norm any attempt at sleep proved impossible.

Now back home, here and elsewhere I need to report on my BWA experience and attempt to be positive and less cynical. More importantly right now the deadline for submitting my Portfolio for my first year looms as the end of the month fast approaches.

At church, today we have a photo call with our Knitters and the local paper, we are finalising our church outing plans for next week, I've started planning for Back to Church Sunday and Harvest and ordered banners and invitation cards. We also have a visit from friends at Bloomsbury, a Strawberry Tea and the East Kent Network Celebration we are hosting to enjoy over the next few weeks.

As ever, I hit the ground running fresh from my travels and will try and post an update here again soon.

Where does the time go?

For the benefit of Ros (and anyone else who might read this blog) I am finally posting an update. Quite where the time goes I really don't know and despite the best of intentions of try to have the discipline to update this blog every week or so I have clearly failed.

So here goes with an update on the last three weeks which comes with a warning that as I am away from this weekend a further update may not appear for another three weeks!!

Since I last wrote, I have had the opportunity to deliver face-to-face updates to many Bloomsbury friends at their summer party in Ealing which I was able to attend. It is always good to share news first hand and show that there is a living breathing person behind these virtual updates.

Life here in Walmer has been hectic. Without the formal discipline of study that two days a week in London enforces in term-time all too quickly I have fallen into my default mode of 24/7 work for the church.

Work on the summer project for the college on my Portfolio and Journal is getting some attention (I need to report this in case anyone at the college reads the blog), but it doesn't have the urgency attached to it that it might just yet as the submission deadline is weeks away.

We have marked Sea Sunday when we benefitted from the insights of into maritime life from a former cross-channel ferry captain who until recently, when he retired, been an Anglican vicar of a Kent village.

We also, as the BU encouraged all churches, shared in The Big Lunch. This nationwide event seeks to build and strengthen community cohesion by bringing together friends and neighbours to share lunch together. Whilst, despite our best efforts, our immediate neighbours did not respond to our invitation members of the fellowship did bring their friends and family along and we had a super time of fellowship together out on the church lawn.

We have started a summer series of Hymn-Sings on Thursday afternoon which are proving popular and attracting friends we have lost touch with back into the fold.

We have welcomed a new member into the fellowship - the fifth of this year - and someone else has started a conversation with me about joining.

We anxiously await news from the BU about our application for a BU Ministry Grant to help us meet the challenges of paying a half-stipend in order to keep me here. The Deacons have met with the Association visitors to put forward our case.

On the building front, Church Meeting has agreed that we explore the feasibility of moving the church kitchen to a more appropriate location in the building and work on the replacement of the garage roof nears completion. (We plan to make the garage a games room to store the former youth group equipment.)

With three days remaining before I jet off to the Baptist World Alliance Congress there is what seems a mountain of things to organise and do before I go so for now blogging must cease.

As ever I ponder, where does the time go?
(And I've only been here ten months today!!)

It's another glorious sunny day!

...and what am I doing. I'm stuck indoors writing this blog! Not for long!!!

It's been a full week beginning with Baptist Together events. Firstly the annual Barbq for our three cluster Baptist churches, this year hosted by our friends at Mongeham. The sun shone!

We had our united service on Sunday evening, again at Mongeham, and it was very warm with a good crowd from all three churches packed in the chapel on another very hot day.

Alan, one of our industrious workers has finished staining an old pew which has been languishing in the garage. It now has pride of place under the office window in the garden and has already become a popular resting place for weary gardeners and reading Pastors. Hopefully passers-by will soon take to using it too.

We've finished our LIFEsize series of studies appropriately in New Testament church style sitting outside under a gazebo in The Manse garden. It was a good reminder to us that whilst we have a large building it is not necessary for us to be 'church'.

Plans for our hymn-sings which start next Thursday are well in hand with a team of teamakers and cake bakers lined up.

We've also sent out our invites to our 'Big Lunch' Barbq we're holding on 18 July.

The 9 July is Sea Sunday and we have a former Vicar and retired Ferry Captain coming to preach and the town will be busy with the annual Royal Marine Band Concert on the bandstand.

There is much to do and I'm now off to do some of it in the sunshine. A fresh update will come soon (sooner if we get a wet day!)

OK it really is over now...

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.

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.

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...

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.